The Trowie Mound Murders*

“So, it won’t be as bad as last time,  will it, since the cancer wasn’t even in the skin on my left side?” I say.  Am at the hospital, talking to my radiologist about upcoming radiotherapy. He stares at me.  “On the contrary, we didn’t zap all the cancer in your skin on your right […]

The Unpleasantness At The Bellona Club*

“That’s all healing up nicely,” says Jackie the plastic surgery nurse after she’s peeled off the steristrips.  Clipping the plastic stitches with her tweezers, she sticks pink micropore tape over my almost-healed scars. “That’s a relief,” Mum says, looking a bit less miserable for the first time in days. “Oh good,” I say, looking down […]

The Beauty Of Murder*

“Would you like a little wheelie suitcase?” Mum says as we sit having our lunch.  “I’ll ask your father to get it down from the loft and…” “No, it’s OK,” I say.  “I’ve got that weekend bag, it’s…” “This is a tiny little one,” Mum says.  “It’s better – you don’t have to carry it.” […]

Poodle Springs*

“So, how are you?” The lovely young doctor says, pen poised over my notes.  He’s the same one who I saw last month: tall with blue eyes and brown hair. “Well my mood has dropped,” I say, “so I’ve put my antidepressant dose up.  So I need some more of those, if that’s OK please? […]

A Scanner Darkly*

It’s cool, calm and quiet in the waiting area for MRI scans.  Am the youngest person here by at least forty years, as usual.  The only sounds are the squeak of doors opening and closing; the patter of footprints and the thud of walking sticks up and down the corridor.  Listen carefully and there’s a […]

Don’t Look Now*

Unfortunately the last scan has flagged up possible bone mets.  There may be cancer in my spine.  So, need MRI scan to investigate this further.  Here are some nice things though: 1.  Am with my Seb by the seaside. 2.  Am staying here till Monday. 3.  We have walked down to the beach a couple […]

Deadly Heat*

Looking at my phone, I see that the time is 5.15am.  Have been awake since 4.04am. To attempt to return to sleep have: 1.  Put the fan on its highest setting. 2.  Am not even that hot anyway due to my new thinner duvet – 4.5 tog.  Thank you to my Aunty for this. 3. […]

Allergic To Death*

“So, that’s an eclectic collection of tablets that you’re taking,” the allergy doctor says, in a slow, kind voice.  We’re sitting in his high-ceilinged-book-lined consulting room.  There’s a clay bust of a unicorn on the windowsill.   Gazing at Harold Macmillan and The Cecils and Napoleon I say: “Yes, well I’m on carbamazepine and duloxetine […]

Devil In A Blue Dress*

Some nice things: 1.  Just had a lovely long cuddle with the fluffy monster.  My blue dress is now covered in orange fluff. 2.  Achieved scan. 3.  A floor-length rainbow-striped dress arrived in post.  It’s gorgeous. 4.  There is an artichoke waiting for me at the flat. 5.  Saw Lily today for the first time […]

Endless Night*

 The door creaks open in the silent darkness.  A huge fluffy monster squeezes through and pads across the floor.  He bends down, shoves his face into the bowl and crunch crunch crunches his way through some food. I’m sort-of awake.  As the loud crunching happens, I wake up a bit more.  Drenched in sweat, I […]