Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Well this time next week the fat bloke dressed in red will have distributed his presents and now be troughing on a hearty five course Christmas dinner........ But enough already about the profligate Christmas Day goings on in footballer Wayne Rooney’s family home! I spent a couple of hours at lunchtime today in a store at... Continue Reading →
No hospital visit with Bert & Mavis today. Thankfully for the octogenarian Yorkshireman he has the weekend off from his radiotherapy treatment. He will spend this respite from his gruelling routine doing what he loves best; watching sport, imbibing the occasional glass of red and ensuring Mavis is cooking the meals in the right pans. Likewise, radiotherapy... Continue Reading →
I commenced the penning of this narrative on 2nd December at 15.39 GMT, whilst residing in the waiting area/reception of a state of the art oncology unit in West Yorkshire. I sit with an aging couple (who I shall call Bert and Mavis) and a younger couple (who I shall also call Bert and Mavis just... Continue Reading →
I’m currently sat with two family members in situ of a Radiology department waiting room. Treatment requirements presently dictate that our residence in this area of the oncology unit are frequent of late. I pass my time jotting down notes for a future narrative to incorporate as content to my website writesaidfred.org . As I... Continue Reading →
An over cautious approach by a family member, meant arriving considerably earlier than necessary for their hospital appointment this morning. I’m a big advocate of punctuality, organisation and planning; however arriving an hour early for your scheduled treatment is slight overkill in my book. Despite this though, my family member, who for the purposes of anonymity... Continue Reading →
The Strachan family have been on a trip out with a difference today. Ordinarily, St James’ Hospital oncology unit wouldn’t be my first choice of a location for a family outing, but years ago I was taught on team building course that bonding can occur in the most unexpected of environments........ That being said, I don’t expect the... Continue Reading →
Yesterday evening I attended the inaugural action group meeting of MacMillan’s Leeds fundraising section. During an informal overview in the setting of a city centre hotel conference room, the Leeds fundraising manager initially reminded the team of the vast array of MacMillan support and services at the disposal of cancer sufferers and their families. Six years into my wife's cancer journey, I... Continue Reading →
I pen this narrative from a waiting room in the nuclear medicine department of a state of the art oncology institute in a burgeoning West Yorkshire metropolis. As I sit awaiting Karen returning from her scan, the soothing music of a grand piano emanates from the main reception area, calming the soul and providing a pleasing backdrop... Continue Reading →
Hospital visits a plenty this week for my significant other. Yesterday saw her undergo a blood test; while today we shall spend an hour or so, on the hottest September day in the UK for 50 years, bathing in the strip lighting glow of an oncology unit waiting room. The strip lights are far less of a skin... Continue Reading →