I haven’t been updating this blog regularly. My mojo has been missing, and writing has taken a bit of a back seat. Since last summer, I’ve been seriously ill, but it wasn’t until a few days before Christmas that I finally got a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I have written about my experiences so far in my articles for North East Bylines. I’ve also written a few poems but I am stalwartly NOT writing about this disease. Other poets write misery poetry. I’m not sure that’s for me. Maybe with the soft focus of hindsight, if I get through this.

Being immunocompromised has kept me in my own personal lockdown over the last few months. I’ve gone nowhere except to the hospital for my chemotherapy, and to the Tesco click and collect. I already know that I need further treatment, and I’m waiting to hear what that will be, but it will probably ruin the summer.

We are still in Malahide, by the beautiful beach, but I haven’t seen much of Ireland since we got here almost three years ago.