Holiday day 8

First of all my apologies for 1 day delay with the  previous post. Yesterday was a very busy day from the very morning and I simply didn’t have chance to write the blog. 

No later than 10 am we should be at Dave’s (Alex and Terry’s friend) for the Royal Wedding brunch reception. We were getting organized from the very early morning in order to be on time. Champagne, lots of champagne, very nice british breakfast cooked by Dave (although i still can’t get over the fact that he forgot the eggs...) and then more Champagne. TV was on and we all watched the the weeding commenting on it, as well as checking FACEBOOK updates about it. David cousin Mandy is very good on updating FACEBOOK with her comments on such events and she didn’t disappoint this time either. Later on i have learned that FACEBOOK reached another record of status updates per second during the wedding. Over 650 thousands updates in 4 hours...wow.

After the ceremony we hit the Canal Street where the street party was well on the go. Few more beers and by 5 pm we were ready to go home. We stopped at a chippy for something to eat and then jump into a taxi and came back to the flat. We were all drunk and and simply crushed into beds. The plan was to go out later on at night, however feeling hangovers after some sleep we decided to stay home. Good call as i started to get dizzy again. This is just an observation at this stage, but i think i will need to change my drinking and partying habits (not that I really have a drinking habits). Yesterday i was find the whole day long and i had few drinks. The pills in the evening however, still cause the dizziness, hence by midnight I really need to be in bed. So, I am thinking that in the future, when meeting friends or organizing a party I should be thinking of am afternoon instead of evening. Hmmmm. Let see if that is achievable.

Holiday day 7

After long yet very pleasant drive we have arrived in Manchester. I have to say that so far the whole journey from Scotland to Southampton the Bournemouth then Portsmouth, Chichester, Haywards Heath and now back north we hardly have had any problems with the traffic. Even the famous M25 around London was very quiet on the part where we were driving. I guess we have been very lucky. Alex was not long in and Terry has just arrived after us. It is sooooo good to see the boys again. It has been long time. Last summer party if I am not mistaken, was the last time we have seen them. Welcome G&T (2 of them actually) and the latest gossip exchange. Love it ! David with assistance of Alex cooked a very nice dinner. We heard all about the FAB holiday in Australia and New Zealand and discussed the seats in different airlines and classes. I think we are going to settle for Virgin premium economy for our next year trip. It sounds very reasonable. Very nice afternoon and evening at their flat. Alex and myself went out for a while, but it really was a very short night out (around 40 minutes) as i started to get dizzy after taking the pills. Good Night sleep was required before the Friday Royal Wedding Brunch at Daves...

Holiday day 6

Lazy day around the house. Martin is working from home. Louise went for her doctor appointment and after that she is going to her office for the first time after Isla was born. So David and I were just lazying around and to be honest it was great. SO far we had a very busy holiday. Quiet time at friends home, reading, surfing the net, watching TV... nice !! I have checked some work emails to see if there is anything urgent and important. I’ve deleted the junk from the mailbox so when i am back at work I don’t have hundreds and hundreds unread mail.

The rash which seem to bother me for past few days (yes, yet again another rash) has also eased down a bit. The skin still looks a little red, but the itchiness is away.

Have just called up my clinic in order to check the blood results after last blood samples were taken (2 weeks ago). The nurses confirmed my request and i need to call back tomorrow to receive the numbers (CD4 count and Viroload). During my last visit at the clinic (4 weeks after starting the medication) I was told that i probably will not see a great difference in the CD4 count as the 4 weeks period is simply to short for the pills to make any difference, however they would expect that the level of virus in the blood is reduced to a level of 1000-2000. I guess everything is ok, otherwise they would already contact me wanting to come and see them. I really can’t complain, as overall the side effects I have experienced so far weren’t very bad. I am however a little annoyed about this rash again.

Martin has explain to me the general idea of the ‘Twitter’ community. I am thinking of perhaps introducing the blog to a bit wider audience, perhaps also people interested or affected in any way by HIV and different treatments. It turns out i still can do this anonymously which at the moment is very important to me.

I finally did have chance to start working on the summer party invitations. Yes, we have decided to host the party once again this summer. For past 5 years we are hosting our Annual Summer Bash (as we like to call it). I have to say that for past 4 years for me it was a great opportunity to see our friends. Working abroad makes my social life very difficult sometimes. At our summer party I have chance to see and have some good time with all our friends. It has been tradition that I am preparing an official invitation for the party and this year I am not going to fail either (although I have to admit it is late as usually the invites for july are out by now). Anyway, i have prepared 3 different designs which I need to show to my hubby for the proof reading and final editing comments. Last year I haven’t done it and there was a date discrepancy on the actual invite... 

Hitting the road again today... next stop Manchesterford !

Holiday day 5

It was a very nice Easter Weekend we have spent with Isabelle, Michael, Nathalie and Mike. We had a great time. Having said that i was looking forward to the next part of the holiday. Visiting Martin and Louise and their new born baby daughter (Isla Niamh).

We have left Southampton around 10 am with no particular plans. Tom Tom set for Haywards Heath. Not very long distance, so we have decided to take it easy and stop in few places just for a wee breaks. Before arriving at Martins in the early afternoon we had a nice walk around the historical sea front in Portsmouth, did some shopping in a lovely town of Chichester and had a great lunch in a Black Horse Pub in a village of Amberley.  Really lovely part of the country.

We arrived in Haywards Heath after 3 pm. Welcomed by Martin only as Louise was still out with the baby. We sat in the back garden enjoying the sun catching up on the busy life of the happy couple (trio actually)...and then Louise came and... well the most gorgeous and delicate wee thing i have ever seen was introduced. I don’t have much experience with babies and i was a little bit afraid taking her on my arms but gosh what a great feeling having her laying on my forearm sleeping, looking happy. Few minutes latter David (who is far more natural with the babies than i am) was sitting on the sofa, holding Isla and feeding her (No, don’t worry - i didn’t mean breast feeding). She was sick a few times (as babies are) all over his shirt but it didn’t matter. He absolutely loved it.....and so did I to be honest.

I was holding her close to my chest with her head on my shoulder tapping and rubbing her back so she would burp and she also was sick over me as well but again, it didn’t matter.

Very relaxing rest of the afternoon and evening. Lou and Martin are very happy as Isle is a very quiet baby and she sleeps a lot. After the dinner we just sat and.....watched the wedding video (which Lou and Martin also haven’t seen yet),then talked about the next year trip to Australia, a little bit about the football, royal wedding... I know i am staring repeating myself with this statement but well... yet another great day of our holiday.

Holiday day 4

Yesterday morning we have dropped Isabelle at the Bournemouth airport.... Nice times always pass so quick (sad face)

My God, I take it all back what i have said about Edinburgh Airport (a dirty robbing bastards and all that stuff) because they are charging a £1 for drop off zone. Here in Bournemouth they beat that one... £2.5 for drop off and there is no other choice. In Edinburgh there is a free drop of zone, ok You need to walk for a bit but you have an option. Here you don’t have choice unless you want to walk through fields....

Apart of that, Bournemouth is a very very very nice seaside town. Once again the weather was awesome. The pier, the promenade and the beach full of people (some of them even swimming in the sea). What we have noticed however that at least 75% of those people were Polish, I am not exaggerating. At some point David looked at me a bit confused as it easily could be a beach in Sopot (Poland) and not UK. We had a Ice Cream at the beach and a bit later a nice Haddock with chips for lunch. After that walked through the town to the car park where we left the car. On the way back we also stopped in a lovely little village called Christchurch with beautiful marina and very old priory church. We had a nice walk through the village, visited the church and i was sooo happy and relaxed and just ..perfect holiday mood. Yes, the ‘until’ is coming... in the church David said i should read a short poster. He said its a story about how the church was build. And the bubble has burst.... long story short they wanted me to believe ‘Jesus’ was helping them at the building site....

In the evening we have met with Nathalie, Mike and their friends, had nice pork burgers (double burgers that is) and say our goodbyes. It was a great Easter Weekend.

Heading towards Gatwick this morning... to meet the BABY :) 

Holiday day 3

After a very ‘not good for you’ but tasty breakfast yesterday - McMuffines with sausage and eggs from Macdonalds eaten at Mike’s and Nathalie’s flat we took a Taxi downtown to the ferry docks. The regular ‘Red Funnel’ ferry service at 12:00 from Southampton left on time. We were sitting on the top deck enjoying the weather and the views of the Southampton Waters. In the distance the ‘Queen Elisabeth’ cruiser getting ready for the departure, lots of small sailing boats all over the the water as the weather once again was simply awesome. We docked in East Cowes 40 minutes later. Another 5 minutes journey on the bus and we stand just outside the gates for the Osborne House Estate. Initially £11.50 seem a lot for a ticket, however we have decided to go in since we are already here anyway. I am so glad we did. It is no wonder it was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s favorite country retreat. The house and the gardens are simply GRAND !!! Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne and its estate from Lady Isabella Blachford in 1845. In 1848 the old house was demolished and a new three-storey pavilion with flagtower and main and household wings was built. The tour of the house takes round 90 minutes and it is very interesting indeed. I have to admit that i was kind of surprised to see a shower (or shall say one of the first attempts of it) in queens bathroom as well as manually operated lift for her. All I can say poor people that had to pull the old women up and lets face she wasn’t a light weight either. At the very end of the tour we have reached a breathtaking Durbar room... It was build as a celebration of her role as Empress of India and as i have said it is simply breathtaking ! After the tour we were sitting in the garden terrace enjoying the magnificent views of the grounds and the white sailing boats in the distance made the picture even more idilic. Back in the village we had a nice fish and chips close to the marina and then took fast service ferry back to Southampton. Yet another great day in great company.  

This morning  we have already said cheerio to Michael who was taking the taxi to the Southampton airport. In about 2 hours we will be taking Isabelle to the Bournemouth airport as she is flying back to Barcelona. The first part of our holiday is almost over and so far i am having a great time.

Holiday day 2

Yesterday started with nice morning coffee in the garden with Isabelle and David where I wrote my yesterday post. I am sitting in the very same spot today, the only difference is that i am alone. Well, it is 7:15 am after all and they all still in bed. I am awaiting the sun to come up any minute now from above the roof of the house across the car park, to start drying the the cars covered in the morning dew.

My friend John was right when I talked to him last week, there is really nothing to see in Southampton (no offense to anyone who was born or lives in this nice town) ! Nevertheless we had  great day yesterday. After a really good breakfast at a Greek/British restaurant and a short photo session in the park nearby we walked down the 'high street'  and of course we couldn’t  resist to visit some of the shops. We simply can’t pass a TK MAXX on the street without getting in and have look. It’s our favorite shop in Glasgow (gosh....until now i haven’t realized how sad that actually sounds) and when ever we see one we are getting in. Two designer t-shirts later we arrived in a PRIMARK (or how my friend Nathalie calls it: PRIMANI) browsing through the stands and stands of cheap clothing wondering, how the hell it is possible that these are sooo cheap (Yes, we do know the answer, but we like to be dramatic sometimes).

Mike was sitting outside, waiting for us, starting loosing the will to live.... thanks God the Primani is kind of at the end of the shopping street. After that it was pure touristy stuff, as much as it can be in Southampton. We walked the ruins of the very first city walls with nice view over the Southampton water and the cruiser port. On the way we have past a very old building, now made into nice traditional pub where Jane Austen has lived for the whole two years (1807 - 1809). It was actually very nice and old part of the town, with many nice cute little houses (David wanted to buy them all) with lots of coffee shops and the pubs (yes, we have stopped in few of them for a shandy). The final destination of that walk was a pub cold ‘GRAPES’ where Leonardo di Caprio won his ‘Titanic’ ticket in the game of poker, however before we have arrived there we were crossing a one of many, the town of Southampton has, parks and we felt like a little break. We have lied at the grass and simply relaxed, listing to the birds singing and the wind penetrating the newly born leaves on the trees. I have to say it was a very, very fine moment. Overall we really have walked some distance. We were enjoying the shandy in the ‘Grapes’ when Mike stated that the walk back will take at least 45 min ( and he is toll and has long legs) we unanimously have decided that we need a cab.

The whole day i was a little itchy all over as i have rash, however i don’t really think this rash is related to the medication. It has been very hot day and i believe this is heat/sweat related reaction. Earlier in the day I have finally spoken to Michael, a very good friend who till now did’t know about my HIV. We had a very long chat while walking and i am very glad I have told him.

We have finished the day in a very and i mean very nice Italian restaurant owned by Nathalie’s and Mike’s friends. The restaurant is called Buon Gusto and it is located on the 1 Commercial Road in Southampton. It is really worth recommending, so if you're ever in this neck of the woods I suggest you have a lunch or dinner here....

Today, we are taking a ferry to Isle of Wight and spend a day there... really looking forward to it.

Holiday day 1

Yesterday morning we have left Glasgow at 8 am. Car packed to the roof. It is soooo much better if you go for your holidays with no  luggage restrictions !!! Of course 3/4 of the stuff is mine. David always travels light, as some of you might now he did the trip around the world just with a small bag. The traffic was simple great, I don’t think we ever have been that lucky traveling down south to Manchester or Hereford and we do LOVE the the TOLL road around Birmingham. As David said: ‘The best fiver we ever spent’. We arrived at Natalie’s and Mikes at 3:30 pm the sun was shining. We checked quickly in the B&B above the pub and then sat in the garden with shandies waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive.

It was soooooo good to see Isabelle. We haven’t seen each other for exactly a year. Last year we have spent our Easter with her in Barcelona. We decided that this is definitely to long time without seeing each other. We do talk on the skype with cam, however this is not  the same. 

Natalie has made a great dinner and Mike was great host......and  and i got a shot of original FISHERMAN too. We ate a little bit late (just after i took my pills) and i became dizzy very quickly. I have learn already that much, these pills should be taken on empty stomach.  We left at around 11:30 and came back to the B&B and went straight to bed.

Woke up this morning fresh as a daisy, sun was already filling the room at 6:30. 

The weather forecast is really good for this weekend and Natalie has planned few attractions for us. It should be fun. Just hope that amongst the attractions there aren’t too many pubs. 

Right now, i am sitting now in the garden with coffee...David and Isabelle talking about...how bad the shower is in our room (it really is bad), about the tasteless coffee, etc... very nice morning in a perfect company. Let’s see what the day will bring.

Happy Easter

Lech Walesa Airport in Gdansk certainly deserves the name of it’s patron. Simply a disaster. New terminal is getting build due to the EURO 2012 football championship and i do pray they will get it right this time. No doubt the biggest contribution to the disaster have the security forces, but i have described this already in one of the previous posts in the blog. I shall simply relax now and forget all the drama. I am leaving for 2 weeks holiday and that’s what matters now.

This morning during the shower i have noticed a strange rash on my arms, i am getting tired of this side effects now. I would expect all to be settled by now. I really need some more answers from my doctor.

Apart of that i am great. I am really looking forward to the next 14 days. Southampton, London, Manchester and Madrid. It will be great fun ! I will continue posting on the blog, however it could happen that some of the blog might be short due to the lack of time to write them. Not that these were particularly long so far, however i think i have managed not bad. In past 5 weeks there was only 2 days that i haven’t post anything but there were days that i had 2 posts. This is lots of writing.

I would also like to use this opportunity and wish everybody a very Happy Easter. Hope you will have great weather wherever you plan to be during this holiday and that you will have great time.

Still have my own teeth.....

38 yo. today and i still have my own teeth !!! Nice !!!! You might laugh, however i am being very serious. With the history of paradontosis in my family i am really lucky i can say sometimes i have toothache !!! I have few creepy stories about it, but i will spare you the pleasure.

I’d like to thank all of you for all your great wishes that i have received today via post, phone, e-mail, facebook, etc...  I am very touched !!!

It’s special day, however i don’t plan any special celebration today. I am flying home to Glasgow tomorrow and won’t be back in Poland at work until Monday 9th of May !!! So, I have lots of packing to do as well as tiding up and finishing some house chores. Half day tomorrow in the office and then of to the airport to board a RyanAir flight to Edinburgh....I am so happy !!!!!

The vertigo and dizziness are almost gone today. Feeling much better !! I have a gut feeling that my eyesight is causing this problems and not the medication at all.  I will have to check that asap. Lets face i am an old man and it’s only natural that my sight is getting worse. I already hardly have any hair left, I am taking all kind of medication every day, I can’t drink without suffering for few days afterwards.....(well,  at least i still have my teeth !!!) It is very funny, last weekend in Poznan, I went for nice walk in the afternoon and i was wearing 3/4 shorts and ‘SuperDry’ trainers (Hi-Top ALL STAR CONVERSE type)... and i felt really really awkward. Never before in my life i’ve felt that way... and all because of the trainers. I’ve felt people were looking at me and laughing to themselves. Am I being paranoid ? Perhaps I am ! There is only one thiing i have to say to those people who laughed.... I might be wearing very young cloths for my age, however at least I have a good taste !

Döner kebab vs. Specsavers.....

Exactly the same time as last week, the weird feeling of dizziness and vertigo has happened today. Not as strong as last week, still it wasn’t very uncomfortable especially when my line manager was visiting the country and the office. Last week the feeling lasted 2 days, i hope however that i will be fine tomorrow. As i said it wasn’t as strong as last time. I really want to pin this down. What is actually triggering and right now i have 2 theories:

1. Food - last monday (as well as yesterday) i was eating a kebabs. Last week it was an Indian kebab in Scotland and yesterday a Turkish kebab in Poland, however the meat is used now for the kebabs is very similar. Alternatively there is some kind of spice (used in Indian cuisine as well as Turkish) which doesn't agree with me
2. Eyes - i remember last week playing ‘Angry Birds’ (game) on my iPhone and yesterday i have played ‘iStunt 2’ also for long while. perhaps my eyes are getting so tired that it cause such reaction. I have noticed last week as well as today that when i feel like that my vision is not as good. I need few seconds to adjust my eyes to the text when i put the glasses on 

Lets see if i will get the vertigo in the future and if any of the above could affect that. I really do hope it is not the food. I had to give up the grapefruits already, I hope i don't need to make another cut. I can live with the loss of grapefruit from my life, but how the hell anyone can expect me to survive without a kebab ???

Modern Family....

Recently i have started watching ‘Modern Family’ - an American comedy sitcom. It’s something about it that is catching my attention but i can’t put my finger on what that is.

I am kind of hooked already after watching half of the first season. Its made like a semi diary / semi documentary where apart of the story line, the characters have their own say about different issues / problems in front of the camera (like an interview). These are every day problems and issues that so many families are facing every day. Last night i have suddenly started think about our families (mine and David’s) and i became a little sad. Why ? Well, I have realized that apart of the fact that we don't have kids, we also don’t have any nieces and nephews (David is the only child and my brother also doesn’t and won’t have any kids). We don't really spend much time with our families. Well, i don't, anyway. Although recently my father and i are getting along pretty good and finally me talking about 'we' (meaning me and David) doesn't cause any arguments, so i am seeing them more often. There is also a language problem. David's Polish is very limited and only few of my cousins  speak some English. 

Yes, we do have many straight friends with small and big families and we love them very much. We spent time together and, do things together and going on holidays together.... Somehow however this isn’t the same.... Never before, thinking about it has made me sad, until yesterday. I haven’t spoken about it to my hubby...and i will probably get into trouble that he is learning about my feelings from the blog and not from me personally....but i want to share it with you all right now...I think I would like to have kids.... Why are we all working so hard and are chasing the money and the careers if at the end of the day we don’t have anyone to pass our experiences and leave behind our achievements ? What is the purpose of our existence ? .......and please don’t worry, this is not depression talking - far from it in fact.

Glastonbury ?..... not this year !

I woke up this morning fresh as a daisy. As indicated it wasn’t a late night for me, neither was a boozy night. Between 10 pm and midnight i have drunk 2 bottles of Miller and 1 bottle of Dessperados beer.... and a a glass of tomato juice. So i think i can easily state that i was on my very best behavior. Back home just after midnight.

Leaving Poznan shortly as a home cooked lunch at my parents. I am soooo looking forward to this one. As usual my mum, knowing that i am coming, will cook one of my favorites and i will be leaving for Sopot with leftovers which will do me for the rest of the week. She just wonderful, my mum !

I am feeling very good, no hangover, no dizziness or vertigo, no stomach pain or diarrhea or any other potential side effect.... so i guess it is not  alcohol which triggered the side effect last week. 

For almost 1 hour and with help of Alex and Terry i was trying to get the tickets for the Glastonbury festival. The cancellation tickets from the first sales in October went on re-sale at 9 am this morning. Alex was calling the booking line as well as trying to log via website. I was trying to log in via the website (the telephone number for bookings didn’t work from abroad), hitting the refresh button every 10 seconds... after 1 hour i got through only to learn that tickets are SOLD OUT. It would have been nice to attend the event together with Alex, Terry, Rory and few other friends. Simply perfect companion. But, hey... it’s ok... perhaps next year.

Now back in Sopot relaxing, have just finished talking to the boys who are dying today with hangover. For some it was a boozy and late night (3 am) and for some, it was a boozy night and late.......morning (9 am). LOL..I can already imagine all of you saying right this moment ‘Oh My God !!!’ and quiet rightly so, however the main thing is they had a great time and from what i hear and read on the Facebook the night was a success

April weekend in Poznan (part 2)

What a lovely morning we had, sitting at Poznan Old Town Square...with scramble eggs and bacon (lots of scramble eggs) and tea with lemon. 

Its late afternoon and i am sitting on the balcony, watching the fishermen sitting at the river (most of them with beers and cheap wine) and the cars and the trams crossing the bridge. The front of the cathedral fully exposed in the afternoon sunshine.  Beautiful !

I guess a wee nap is in order. I am going out with the boys tonight so i need some rest before that. It won’t be a long night, i am still not comfortable with the side effects i have experienced during the week. Yes, these are now gone however it is very possible that something has triggered the dizziness and the vertigo, especially so late into the treatment. It could be that i have ate something that doesn’t agree with the tablets, perhaps it is a drink.... the doctor said that the alcohol doesn’t interact with the pills but i am not that sure about that. So i just want to be careful and stay alerted. I will still have fun, i will be with my friends and that’s what matters. 

Tomorrow a lunch with at my parents (my mum is cooking something special...i can feel it in my water) on my way back to Sopot. 

Starting monday it will be last 4 days of work before my holiday. I am flying out on Thursday 21st April and won’t be back till Monday 9th of May... don’w worry, no need to panic... i am taking my laptop with me and i will write the blog...as often as i can that is. I will be busy, you know. You surely don’t expect me to sit in front of the pc when i am drinking Fishermans with my friends Nat and Isa...... or when i will be playing with Martin’s and Louise’s new wee daughter......or when i will party in Manchester with approx 1000 BEARS from all over the world who are attending Great British Bear Bash.... or when i will be exploring the beauties of Madrid.....do you ? Yes, busy holiday indeed and i am soooo looking forward to it.

April Weekend in Poznan (part 1)

It’s 8 am and the sun is already very high. Pure blue skies and the sun is getting warmer with every passing minute....I think it will be a lovely day.

Very shortly i will be ready and showerd and will be heading out for breakfast. And i feel a McMuffins are on the menu today. Yes, i know is fast food but this breakfast menu in Polish McDonalds is simply FAB. In fact... just text Wiktor and Tomek and offered to pay them a Good Morning visit with the McDonald breakfast.... Lets wait if there will be an answer..... Well i guess we have agreed even better solution. We will walk to old town to have nice breakfast, sitting outside, enjoying the sun...

Ok.. i better get ready.... and as usual i have empty wardrobe, nothing to wear....

Will be back later...

T G I Friday....

I am sooooo happy it;s Friday. The the reflection of sun shining through the window on my laptop screen in the office this afternoon didn’t bother me at all. It simply reminded me that in few hours the so long awaited weekend was about to begin. I’ve left the office at 4:45 pm jumped into the car and within minutes i was on the Gdynia - Gdansk ring road heading for Poznan. The drive was rather good up to Torun i had a company of my co-worker Lukasz and his girlfriend as they were heading to their home town for a weekend too. 3 hours after i have dropped them off i am sitting in the living room of our Poznan residency with my laptop writing my blog.

I am looking forward to this weekend as once again we have kind of re-union with my best friends. Well.. my ‘sisters’ actually. One of which is traveling from the capital with his husband and the other one just arrived from Spain on Monday and today is picking up his husband as he is arriving tonight from Spain in Wroclaw. I know - complicated, but the main thing is we have great time. I was lucky enough to see Robert and Antonio in Gran Canaria just after Christmas but since we all live in different countries every moment spent with them counts. I am also very lucky that Wiktor and Tomek are staying in Warsaw (only 4 hours drive from Sopot) and since i moved to Poland i have seen them few times. In fact my first weekend on the treatment i spent with them in Warsaw. 

So tomorrow will be a great day...i just wish David could be here too....

I was worried that i won’t be able to drive to Poznan this weekend mainly due the side effects i was experiencing 2 days ago but the dizziness as well as teh vertigo feeling are now completely gone. I have read many forums and blogs over past 2 days and learned that the side effects may actually appear at any time of the treatment. I have read about cases where first side effects appeared even as long as 4 years after the treatment...so i guess i simply need to learn to live with such ‘bad’ days as i had on Tuesday and Wednesday. I know now that it might happen and that helps a lot. I will not deny that i was really worried that i have to stop taking the pills and discuss with my doctor another treatment. thanks God i don’t need to now.

So i’d like to wish you all a great weekend, i am sure my will be great !

Spring weekend in Glasgow...

I didn’t really get drunk last weekend in Glasgow...although i really wanted to :)

It’s middle April, the day still young

The choir of  birds performs their song

The smell of fresh grass is filling the air

The sun is stroking my thin blond hair

Out in the suburbs of Glasgow town

So Spring, so quiet and so very calm

It’s middle of April, I am going out

I’ll have great time beyond any doubt

The town is buzzing, the bars a full

Two lagger tops please. I’m feeling cool

In very heart of Glasgow town

So Spring, so pissed, I am so going down

It’s middle of April, my head is sore

I’ve never suffered so badly before
Hard to believe it ? Cut me some slack !

I am on the meds now, I need to cut back

Out in the suburbs of Glasgow town

So Spring and hangover, I need to lay down

The Spring will pass, Summer, Fall, Winter

My meds will stay, 2 pills per day, after dinner

But I’ll still party and I’ll still have fun

Just need to take it easy, I need to slow down

Out in the suburbs of Glasgow town

So positive, so happy and so very calm

RR, April 2011 (It was sunny weekend in Glasgow)

Something wrong ????

I have to admit that i am a bit nervous since yesterday. After 4 weeks with practically no side effects i am experiencing something strange. It started yesterday. The dizziness is now started to last longer. Now even during the day i have the vertigo feeling. The whole yesterday and today....  i have found different forums on the net as well as some study reports. Some of these reports say that 32% of patients develops the vertigo feeling between 4-8 weeks since starting the Sustiva treatment. There is also planty of forums about side effects of Sustiva and the dizziness and vertigo feeling. However none describes these side effects happening during the day. The reason of taking my meds in the evening is to reduce the potential side effects, meaning i will be sleeping during the dizziness and i will be fine in the morning... I am not scared, i am just nervous as it affects my daily life and causes difficulties with concentration. I have created a post on one of the HIV treatment related forums and i hope to get some answers. I will keep you posted....

Made in Scotland from girders....

Alarm went off at 4:45 am, i have jumped out of the bed, toilet, half sleeping... shower, still half sleeping, dressed and went downstairs to make a coffee for my hubby. I asm not a big coffee drinker, hence i have decided to wait till i get to train station and get a latte at Costa.

Train journey went smooth... GBP 3:35 single to Prestwick International Airport and that with discount when you show the travel documents. The train connection with Prestwick Airport is really good, you can not deny that , the only trouble is when you have to catch very early flights. First Ryan Air flights are leaving at 6:00 am so there is no chance you can use the service unless you decided to arrive with the last service at night and sleep at the airport. My Wizz Air flight is leaving at 7:55 therefore the first service from Glasgow is simply a perfect timing. There was a queue at the security and same as last week bit of chaos as 3 flights were leaving at the same time. They have brought out more ground staff this morning than last week, however that didn’t help much. Lots of fighting with passengers flying to Riga about the weight and size of hand luggage. Once again, whoever says that ‘priority boarding’ is a rip off and will not pay the fee as a principal, surely never flew to any of Eastern Europen destinations. It is sooo worth it.

Anyway up on 37000 feet right now, the weather is fine, flight time 2 hours 5 minutes. Stewardess confirmed to me that there is no wind in Gdansk. So, i am sitting here happy as Larry in the first row as usual in order to be first off the plane and out of the terminal as quick as possible. ....and just so you can put Your mind to rest in case you are worried, I have triple checked my backpack and haven’t forgotten the keys.

My mind is starting to get into work mode, i am preparing in my head ‘to do list‘ so i can get on with it as soon as i am back in the office. Lots of phone calls to be made today.  

It has turned out to be a very busy day at the office indeed. The early rise has also added to general feeling of crapness (I know, I would not get any point for this word if i play Scrabble, but you know what i mean.. don't you ?) and tiredness the whole afternoon. I am so glad i am home now. I’ve fall into a chair, feet up, the laptop on my lap and writing the blog.....there is somethnig missing though.... i could murder now for a nice, cold can of Diet Irn Bru. I know i am just back from Glasgow and i should buy some  at the airport to take it with me. Well, a sparkly water ‘Kropla Beskidu’ will have to do the trick. I am back in Glasgow in 10 days i will have to deal with it. I will need to start a support group.

> Hi ! My name is McGlap and i am Irn Bru addict <

> Hi McGlap <

> I have been clean for 14 hours. That’s 14 long hours without Irn Bru. I can’t stand the feeling any longer, however there is nothing i can do about it till next week. I will be visiting local supermarkets trying to find a substitution fizzy drink. <

Hmmmmm........There is actually an idea....there is so many Polish people living in Scotland, so many is traveling back to Poland for holidays or coming back permanently. For sure i am not the only one addicted to it.... perhaps a business opportunity - Exclusive distribution rights for Irn-Bru in Poland. 

Yes, I know, I have FAB idea I will log into a Youtube.com and start watch the old Irn Bru TV adverts. That always cheers me up.

8 weeks.....

I am coming back in 8 weeks. Yes, its all good.

This morning was a little bit nervous. I was trying to keep calm and positive however i would lie if i say i was totally cool this morning when Douglas was driving me to the hospital. I was nervous, very nervous in fact. I really want this to work. I don’t want to have one less option of the treatment just after it started.  Well had a chat with my doctor  about the past 4 weeks and how i feel and she didn’t seem to surprised. She said that they really didn’t expect any complaints from me. I can only assume that this statement was based on  the developments of my previous blood counts... and on the fact that i DON’T SMOKE and the positive attitude of course.

Apparently i should not expect any huge changes in the CD4 counts, however the viroload should drop down to approx. 1000 - 1500. I will only be able to learn that in 2 weeks time. I have to call back the clinic to find out the results. In the mean time i don’t need to be back before 8 weeks time. The nurse came to take my bloods, I got the prescription and made appointment for the Monday 6 of June.

During the conversation  with the doctor i have learned that it will take some time for night sweats to go away, i have learned that there is something in the grapefruit juice that might stop the enzymes in my stomach to breakdown the meds in the way they are working in the most effective way. I have also learned that the alcohol does not interact with the meds at all. It was really funny as the doctor worded it that way that it sounded that basically i can get pissed with no consequences at all. When she realized what she said she started to back truck it, giving me a lecture that excessive drinking is bad for you regardless if you are taking medication or not. She noticed that i was amused and we started laughing. Eventually she said: You know what i mean ! I have confirmed that i know.

I came out very pleased with what i have learned. Douglas took me back to town to see my hubby and after that he took me home. Once again i would like to say THANK YOU for taking me to the hospital so many times before. Also big THANK YOU to my pal Gordon who also has helped me commuting to the clinic on so many occasions.

The rest of the afternoon i have spent at my laptop reading some work emails and also trying to resolve few issues with regards to my work. One of the emails i have found in my mailbox was very much unexpected... in a positive way. It looks like i might be head hunted. I know, i think is incredible.... it's too early to disclose any more details about it however just the fact that such thing has happened makes me feel......GOOOOOOD !!!!!

Upstairs downstairs....

What a great day we had yesterday. The weather was simply wonderful, as much as middle April day in Scotland can be. Of course, typically Glasgow style we had our shorts on, but this is not unusual, first sun is out and the whole Glasgow is in shorts and t-shirts.

The lunch was typically Italian style gorgeous and also very much Italian style expensive, but what a great time we had. We’ve ended up in our back garden with more G&T’s and lager shandies for me. Very nice day indeed. 

It looks like the weather will also be nice today...... this is second consecutive sunny day in Glasgow. Are we having summer in April this year ? ....or perhaps a side effects of global warming ? In any case i would suggest to all Glaswegians to make the best out of it. If you are not planing any holiday in Spain this year this might be Your only chance to wear shorts. The funny thing is that everyone else thinks that i am kidding, however Glaswegians know that i am being dead serious. It is 8 am right now and sunny and i would not be at least surprised that by 10 am we have grey skies and and the rain is tapping into the windows...

Am i being negative ? No, i don’t think so, i am being realistic.  You see, i was lucky enough to live in some very nice places in Europe and yet despite crappy weather,  Glasgow and Scotland is my home and always will be. Past 3 years i am spending a lot of time abroad with my work and miss Scotland and Glasgow terribly. I know i am repeating myself when i say that, but i really feel it is time i return home permanently. 

Anyway, i have promised myself not to get upset and sentimental this weekend. The situation at the moment is at it is. I have some responsibilities i have accepted and i need to make sure i will do the best job i possibly can. I will be back home soon.

In the mean time lets just enjoy my time in Glasgow especially on such nice day. We are meeting some friends for lunch however i  think an episode or two of the ‘Upstairs downstairs’ new series is in order first. I really loved the original series and am very happy to see that the story continues.

Its 6:30 pm and we are just got back home with a fish and haggis suppers. 

What a lovely day it was. We had a very nice lunch at Garfield hotel with Dougie and Wayne. We have met the ‘in laws’ at the Forge Market. We were in the Apple shop looking at iPhones 4 and iPads 2 and we even have managed not to buy anything. After that we have met Fiona and sat in Merchant City outside a pub catching up. The town was simply buzzing. Every single cafe had the tables out. People chatting, laughing. It was nice to see the town waking up from a long cold and wet winter. Yes, i know i wasn’t here, but i was receiving daily reports and know exactly that it is one of the first nice spring weekends in Glasgow. 

Tomorrow’s appointment  was not in my mind at all the whole weekend, and even now when i am writing about it it doesn’t really make me nervous. 

Let simply see what tomorrow will bring.

I am back....

Did you miss me ?? Common tell me you missed me !!!

As briefly described in the previous post i was lacking time in the short 24 hours days to write the blog. Mainly due to the work arrangement i had and that i will get back to writing latest Saturday... and here we are Saturday 4:45 am , Gdansk Airport (Poland). Just went through security and having a nice latte in the departure lounge. Gosh they have loads to learn here in this country yet when comes to attitude of airport security. Yes, we got it, we need to take the shoes off, but a simple ‘Good Morning  back’ and perhaps a smile would make a hell of a difference. No, this is not because their shift is almost over, i am convinced they are trained not to smile ! As my hubby would say: 'Give them uniforms and they will go mad with power'. In my opinion they should be forced to travel to Western Countries of the Old Continent during their induction curse to learn about attitude of public servants.. Next Year Poland will be hosting one of the biggest European sport events - football tournament - EURO 2012 and i would suggest to all football fans who will be in Poland for that event, to leave to the airport at least 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. Otherwise you might miss your flights. I can guarantee you all, that the Polish boarder forces will ensure that the queues will be very long.

Anyway, another weekend at home and therefore let’s not waste any more time on the negative energy around me. In about 3 hours i will be on the train from Prestwick to Glasgow Central. That’s what matters.

As you probably have gathered from the previous posts this is a very significant weekend for me. On Monday i have my blood checks after starting the meds. I can not believe it has been 4 weeks already. Over all i feel great, had really only few small side effects  and in fact i am not sure if some of these were actually related to the medication at all. The feeling of dizziness at night is less and less strong, there was only one outburst of a skin rash i had in the second week. I guess the biggest disappointment for me is the fact that the night sweats are still here. Ok, not every night as it was for past few months before treatment, however still very uncomfortable. I can not say that i am cool about Monday clinic appointment. I am getting nervous. I do hope the sustiva and kivexa combination are working and that my immune system is getting stronger. Starting the meds was a great hurdle for me to overcome, a mental hurdle. I think i have handled that very nicely (also with help of this blog) and i wouldn’t like to learn that my strain of virus is ‘smarter’ than my medication. I will try to stay positive (LOL) till Monday. 

If you never been to Glasgow you wouldn't know however there is something about the Glaswegians that you simply fall in love them from the very moment i meet them. I remember this from all these years ago when i have first arrived in bonny Glasgea and this is still the case. They are very open and very friendly folk. (Yes, I have a great idea -  perhaps the Polish boarder security forces should be send to Glasgow for a month or two). Waiting in the ‘priority boarding queue’ i have met a lovely couple Stewart and Jackie from Glasgow’s West End who spent a week in Gdansk and they said they had a great time. Stewart had already a few bevies this morning as he doesn’t like flying and he was kidding the cabin crew who looked at him like he was from a different planet as they didn’t have a clue what language he was speaking. We talked about Glasgow for a bit and believe or not, no football team was mentioned at any point of teh conversation. Very quickly however, Stewart fell asleep, resting his head on Jackie’s shoulder. Aaawww, i have thought... how nice.....

Glasgow has welcomed me with usual gray skies, however by lunch time the sun burned off the clouds and the myst and its a beautiful spring day now. Going out shortly, taking my pal Gordon for lunch for his 60thies....aaaayyyyy.... i mean 50thies birthday (sorry Gordon). I am looking forward to a nice afternoon at SARTIES on Bath Street with a good company and some red wine. Wishing you all a very fabulous weekend.

First day without writing...

Dear Reader,
Due to some business arrangements i am unable to to write the blog today and tomorrow.  Please forgive me, however there is simply not enough hours in the day to do it. I will get back to writing Saturday 9th April latest !!!

Bumpy flight and a break in....

Another early raise. Woke up before the alarm. In fact woke up few time during the night as i was sweating a lot. I wonder why is that. I’ve honestly thought that when i start the treatment this will stop. Tonight i will begin 3rd week and i am still sweating. Ok is true i am not sweating as heavy and not every night, but i am sweating. Are the pills not working ? I need to add this to the list of questions i have for my doctor when i see him next week.

Quick shower, dress up and downstairs to make a coffee for my hubby who jumped into the shower after me. He dropped me off at the Glasgow Central at 5:42... The train was on time and as expected totally empty at this time in the morning. I have snoozed all the way to Prestwick. Went through the security fairly quickly, however the departure hall was absolutely moped and i sensed chaos. 3 flights were about to board in more or less the same time, The ground staff really didn't managed this very well. its true that the passengers didn’t make any easier for them. Especially the Eastern Europeans with their oversized and overweight hand luggages fighting with the ground staff, re-packing , putting extra layers of the cloths on in order to make their luggage lighter . You can say whatever you like about the low coast airlines being ‘dirty robbing bastards’ with regards to many things, however i will never ever book a flight without priority boarding.

For this extra 5 pounds (or whatever that costs) i have luxury of avoid the chaos. 

The weather in Prestwick was awful, rainy and windy and the take off was very shaky. It was good 30 minutes into the flight before the captain switched the ‘fasten your seatbelt’ sign off. Even the crew was told to stay seated. 

When i started my first assignment abroad over 3 years ago and started flying very often i have developed a slight phobia for this mode of transport. Especially the landing part. I have managed to overcome this eventually, however every so often especially when is windy my forehead is covered with cold sweat. Today was one of this flights. To make the things even more difficult the captain didn't speak during the flight apart of one order to the cabin crew at the beginning to stay in the seats. A few words from him telling about the turbulences would really make a difference. Now thinking about it the captain didn’t even welcome passengers nor introduce himself. Ohhh sorry... i take it all back, the captain has just spoken.....30 before landing. The weather in Gdansk is much better than Prestwick so the landing should be better than take off.

Landed safely, the weather in Sopot is very nice..... arrived at the office and half an hour later and the mood changed suddenly... No, not a side effect... i have just realized that i have left a key to the apartment in Glasgow, in a different jacket.... The land lord doesn’t have any spare keys and the only solution i have is a locksmith.  Few phone calls and 150 pounds later, i was in the apartment - the landlord has found someone who was able to break the lock. An expensive mistake......

Later on this week i have booked with my work colleague Lukasz, a squash curt in a local gym. Never played squash before and it was Lukasz who persuaded me to try it out. I definitely need some exercise, however my self-motivation level is very low, hence squash with Lukasz could be the good solution. I hear that the squash is not an easy game and requires lots of energy, so i expect to be dead sore on Friday morning. I need to google a good website describing the rules of the game.

I do realize that this blog has become more of a general blog instead of what the tittle of it is indicating, however as i have mentioned in one of the earlier posts, the treatment i have stared 3 weeks ago made less impact on my life that i have anticipated. At the same time i have discovered that i am enjoying writing, i have even wrote 2 poems.

Next week i will write again more on the main subject as it is my first check up since starting the treatment, but until then i hope i will not need to report any strange side effects and the daily updates will more like a diary....

Coming home

I woke up this morning at 6:30 and the sun was filling the room. I rolled over and blu sky brought a instant smile on my face. Still in bed started planning my day: breakfast, work emails, doctor appointment, then town shopping for my best man’s new born baby. I decided however that 6:30 is still too early to actually leave the bed and that another hour snooze won’t make me any harm.... So i fall asleep again. When i woke up, the blue sky was covered with dark gray clouds and i heard the rain drops tapping on the window. I know, i know, i shouldn’t be surprised, i live in Scotland after all.
The change of the scenery didn’t kill my spirit, i've jumped out of the bed and went to the bathroom, when brushing my teeth i have burped unexpectedly and a strange, acidy taste filled my mouth. Only seconds after i've felt an excruciating pain in my stomach. I don’t know what what that was. I had to lay down on the bed and curl my knees to my chest. The pain lasted approx. 3-4 minutes and as quick as it came, it disappear.... I took the shower and  came down to prepare my breakfast. The pain was gone.....
My doctor appointment was for 10:30 this morning, it was an appointment with my local GP regarding my blood pressure medication (yes, another pills i am taking on daily basis). One of the HIV pills is interacting with one of the blood pressure pills and the dosage had to be increased. I've arranged this appointment to check that the blood pressure is under control and the new dosage is working. .........and it is working. 

I am not sure if the earlier pain had anything to do with my HIV pills, however i didn’t discuss it with my GP. I have appointment in my HIV clinic next Monday to check the first results after starting the treatment and i will discuss this incident there. I have read that the stomach pain could be a side effect, however i find it strange that it appear only 3 weeks after starting the treatment. 

I got soaking wet when walking back home from doctors. I've felt cold, after talking to my hubby on the phone we have decided that we'll postpone the baby cloths shopping till next weekend. 
Today afternoon only relaxing and I think an hour in a hot tub later on is in order.

Tomorrow morning I am catching an early flight again....but the good news is that I am coming back home on Saturday again. yes, the flying is very exhausting however this is for sure the last 12 months i am doing this. It is time that my ex-pat experience came to an end. It is time i spent some quality time home with my husband and with friends. Last three and half years of me working abroad had put an enormous pressure on the relationship and the time simply seem to disappear. Life is too short to waste the time we have on this earth on chasing the career.  Don't get me wrong i do not regret the opportunity i was given. It was a great experience, however now it is time to come home.

I have decided to look into this right after our 2 week holiday over Easter. 

Spring cleaning....

Yesterday, 4 pm in the afternoon, the guests arriving at 7 pm and from the 2 vacuum cleaners in the house none is working !!! My hubby noticed very quickly that i am about to explode as i wasn’t in the mood for trying to fix these two especially when he admitted that he actually knew these are not working. He quickly grabbed a car key and said: I will be right back, I am going to to CURRYS (for non UK residents: thats home appliances, TV, computers, etc.. store).  He returned pretty quickly as he said and in the back of the car i saw not one, but two new DYSON vacuum cleaners. So now we have one each, or..... one for downstairs one for upstairs...Anyway we have finished on time and the house was nice and tidy for the boys arriving. 

3 weeks ago we arranged a night out, however in all the pubs we went to, the music was so laud you couldn’t even hear yourself thinking. There was no chance for any conversation without shouting to each other. I don’t know what wrong nowadays with the pubs. DJ-ing was a typical DISCO ‘thing’, now all the pubs have DJs and they all think that people are coming to pub to listing to them. This is not a DISCO or some gig boys and girls. People go to pub to meet with friends, to have drink, to unwind after work. So could you turn the music down...PLEASE.

Due to that noise disaster last time we have decided that this meet in the house for a drink in order to catch up will all the news. So this time we were due to play the hosts.

My hubby cooked a FAB Thai Green Curry Chicken with 2 different type of rice and noodles. There is always plenty of booze in the house so with a great a company of our friends it had to be a great night.....and yes it was. We had a great laugh the whole night.

It was good to see everybody in a good form, even our dear friend Ian who wasn’t well lately was here and had a good time. Not my HIV, nor my blog was discussed as not everyone is aware of the situation yet. I will be doing my second ‘coming out’  - this time with the news about HIV, however it’s not the time yet. Not yet.

One of the subjects on the ‘catching up’ agenda was: holiday. It looks like perhaps even more friends will join us in Feb/Mar of 2011 during a Mardi Grass in Sydney. This would be great.

I am still trying to be careful with alcohol. I do not want this to affect the meds and cause some reaction. I did consume 2 Smirnoff Ice and 2 Magners (large..or shall i say very large). I was a bit marry.... I was at the stage when you say to yourself.. i want to go for it tonight, just get drunk.... but i didn’t and i am glad i didn’t.

I took my meds on time and i was expecting to get the feeling of dizziness fairly quickly but i was keeping very well. I lasted till the last guests left

On Monday 11th April i will have the first tests after starting the medication and i am going to ask few questions with regards to my diet, lifestyle and alcohol. I guess i really can’t carry on  the lifestyle i prior the medication and i will have make some amendments. I just hope there won’t be anything too drastic.

We have a very nice weather today in Glasgow, meaning sun is coming out once in a while. I have fixed the water in the hot tub for a dip later on. ‘Inlaws’ are coming for their tea - Its Mothers Day in UK today. It is good to be home. 

Day 18

I somehow can’t get over the fact that today is already April. 2011 has only just begun. I still feel the the warm wind drying off my skin after swim in the Atlantic Ocean on 1st January during our vacation in Playa del Ingles and here watching jokes that TV presenters prepared for the ‘fools day’.

The time seems to pass faster proportionally with our increasing age. I know i am making any discoveries with such statement, but boy this year is going fast. In less then 3 weeks i will be 1 year older again. When i look on things from the mathematical point of you then i can say that over 26% of my life i live with HIV. Nothing really interesting about it, simply a fact. Yesterday i was looking at the statistics of this blog and i would like to share with you some of these numbers. Overall, the blog was (hit) looked at almost 350 times. All i can say is: WOW. I really didn’t expect that... This makes average of 19 hits per day. Even more interesting is the audience from the geographical point of view: United Kingdom, Poland, United States, Spain, Indonesia (!!!) India (!!!)

The stats provided to blog editor / owner can even provide info on internet browsers used to open the blog. Yes, i am not kidding. 205  times (60%) the blog was opened with Safari; 76 times (21%) with Internet Explorer; for the rest of 19% my readers used: Apple-PubSub, Firefox and Mobile browsers. There are many other stats and i don’t want to bore you with all these numbers. I just want to say is: Thank You ! Thank You for following my ‘blabbering away’ in my broken english. As i have recently said in one of the posts, i am enjoying it and i intend to continue to share with you my thoughts and feelings, news, poetry... and some statistics too ;)

Today i would also like to share with you a small article i have found on:  www.positivenation.co.uk 

Body's own immune cells could offer a potential cure for HIV

Researchers, from Oxford based company Adaptimmune Limited, have developed a new therapy for treating HIV using the patients own modified immune systems cells to fight the virus more successfully.
The therapy - which has proved effective in lab tests using human cell cultures - will be tested in a clinical trial of 35 people with advanced HIV infection, at the University of Pennsylvania, is due to commence next summer. The study was originally published in Nature Medicine.
Adaptimmune developed the therapy after investigating a patient who had resisted his HIV infection particularly effectively.When the company tested the T cells from that patient, it looked as if they were responding to a number of variants that normally escape the immune system.
Treating patients will involve taking a blood sample and adding an engineered virus containing genes for the improved T-cell receptor. The patient"s own T-cells then take up the genes and so are equipped with the improved receptor. These cells are then injected back into the patient.
Garry Brough from the Terrence Higgins Trust said: "This is potentially very good news for people living with HIV. The ability of HIV to mutate and become resistant to drugs is a significant problem, so any research which might lead to a new treatment option gives people a much better chance of staying well for longer."