Before that Patti had a 40 minute consultation with Dr Geoff Sharpe, her consultant. Dr Sharpe confirmed that the objective should now be not simply to extend life, but to obtain the best possible quality of life. Anna and I were both present, and were encouraged by what Dr Sharpe had to say.

The next consultation will be in early March, after a further baseline scan has been taken. By then the inevitable inflammation of the tumour should have subsided, so it should be possible for Dr Sharpe to assess the result of the radiotherapy.

By now Patti is quite weak in the limbs, as a result of high doses of Steroid. The steroid dose is due to be reduced on Monday 20th, and thereafter the dosage will be stepped down under the guidance of experienced staff from Oakhaven Hospice.

We hope now to use the time left to us to enjoy our lives together. We have been advised not to undertake long trips far from the medical support team here, so I have had to cancel our holiday in Canada and Alaska planned for next summer. Instead we hope Patti and I will take a series of short trips to places she has always wanted to visit, hopefully including a voyage to New York on the Queen Mary 2 in May.

What else? Well these last two weeks have been exhausting for us all. Yet we have managed to fit in some fun. One day four of us (Patti, Anna, Caroline and I) went out for lunch to the Master Builder's House Hotel at Buckler's Hard. Even more exciting, we had pancakes at home cooked by our head chef. See the photos below.