Hello to all. Mark is still in hospital but he wanted me to put something on here this evening (I am Megan, Mark's other half).

We still have no answers which is very difficult – though reading some of your comments I'm realising that perhaps we didn't understand that this is going to take some time. Mark had his CT scan today, more blood tests and another chest x-ray. He is having more scans and tests tomorrow. I know he will want to update you all when he is allowed home.

I've never posted on a forum before, but I have been amazed at all your supportive comments. All I can say is thank you, they really do make a difference. I would also like to send my best wishes to all of you who are going through your own difficult times at the moment, thank you for sharing your own experiences and showing Mark (and me) that he is not alone.

Hopefully next time Mark posts he will be out of hospital with some good news!

Megan

Good Morning!

Last night was a lonely and difficult night at the hospital. I didn't manage to sleep much, and the ward sister was kind enough to let my day release start at 7.00am. So I walked out of the hospital and down into Tunbridge Wells, which was very still and serene. The sunrise this morning was amazing. Meg then picked me up at the train station, and an unusual feeling of calm has taken over us both. Bear with me…

Firstly, it's important for me to let all of you know how significant your responses have been for both Megan and myself. I initially posted on here with the hope that folks could offer advice and knowledge on how to deal with the situation we're both going through. What I didn't expect is the sheer volume of supporting posts from all of you. I am a hard, pragmatic and difficult man to move, yet I have cried a fair bit when reading your lovely posts. I feel very privileged to have been the focus of so many positive comments, so thank you.

For those of you that have had cancer, and have beaten it, thank you. Yours are the tales that I need to get through this, and asking people to share what are sometimes very difficult and painful memories is asking a fair bit, but you all have provided me with really good things to focus on.

Those that have shared their experiences of 'being the other half' in the relationship have given us a unique and vital insight into the way this kind of problem is dealt with. This has been really important for both of us – all I've felt since Friday is guilt; like I've let my Megan and family down by getting ill and putting them under undue pressure. I realise that this is stupid and irrational but I'm not too sure that anything is rational at the moment! We will definitely be in contact with those of you that have kindly offered to correspond with us during this time.

Oh and one other thing.

Meg, who is at best 'sceptical' about the concept of a STW forum, actually checked this thread last night when I was in hospital. Result!!!
More later,

Mark

I'm off back to the hospital now, hopefully to get some sleep.

Thanks to all of you. I'm not too sure how today would have gone without your advice and words.

'Til tomorrow!

Mark

Thanks folks,

My other half and I have just sat here weeping at all of your responses.

I'll add more details as they come.

Mark and Meg

Thanks folks,

My other half and I have just sat here weeping at all of your responses.

I'll add more details as they come.

Mark and Meg

When I was looking for a Combo Crew van, the main priority was for windows in both the sliding doors and the rear doors. As mentioned previously, it took me over 6 months to find one. Worth it though; all the light of an MPV, so much nicer in the long run….

The 19 is the don.

Got mine on Gumtree. Always worth a punt…

Good Luck!!

1.7; although you wouldn't know it. The turbo is a low compression number which is supposed to aid overtaking, not going quickly. My other half has a 1.4 TDCi Fiesta which is a brick-load faster, and I've been told that the 1.3 is a better engine.

The van was previously owned by a coach company up north, but if I were you I'd look at either ex-Network Rail or BT vans. The GPO vans have usual had the sh*t kicked out of them, which is why they're so cheap. Trust me; it took me over 6 months to find the right one, and the price was a fluke. For the same reg van with 82K and FSH you'd be looking at between 4-4.5K

Right then…

I bought one recently for the very reasons you've stated. I was lucky enough to pick up a white one with sliding door windows on a 56 plate for £3K!!!

It's a CDTi, and very economical (55mpg+); I drive from Wadhurst to Crystal Palace and back every day (94 miles)on £44 worth of gas. You can fit 5 bikes with wheels in the back with the seats down, or three broken down and keep the seats up. It's a very nice drive, but quite gutless and in no way a race car…

I bought it because we decided to take bikes and the dog up to Scotland this summer. I'm converting a Fiamma rack to hang off the back, so that the dog and bags are comfortable on route. I'm absolutely stoked with it; all my mates like the idea, and its the best of both worlds.

Hope this helps!

£10K.

For that amount I know a fella that will sort out whoever it is thats blabbing. Chicken-wire, concrete mix and a lake in Cumbria; hey presto! your problem is sorted….

If this isn't the type of silence you're after, can we just forget this ever happened? :!:

Pig in knickers!

Christ. Are you lot mental?

She is, without question, the manliest-looking woman on TV….

'True Tales of American Life'

Paul Auster (ed)

So emotional it'll blow your nutsack off.

'buttery smooth'

Off of a duck?

Surely that's the way to go.

No middle-man, no fuss.

Last comment is very true.

I had a beautiful rottie called Sophie many moons ago; very friendly, gentle, but she destroyed her litter over a 48 hour period, despite us leaving the mother and pups alone.

You shouldn't let her breed again. But also remember that she is your dog too, and doesn't understand that what she has done is unacceptable.

Grosse Point Blanke.

"buttery smooth"

"props"

"do-it-all bike"

Stop moaning fatty…

Right.

A couple of thing that might help.

Firstly, if you genuinely want to lose fat, walk quickly up hills with a weighted rucksack. The threshold for burning fat is relatively low (around 55% VO2 MAX), and the simple reason that people don't lose fat (not weight; this is different)is because its boring to train at this intensity.

Secondly, do you need to lose fat? What is your bodyfat%? Fat-free mass (muscle, bone)weighs considerably more that adipose tissue (fat)and therefore your weight isn't the important factor; BF% is. According to the Body Mass Index (BMI), I'm morbidly obese, but it doesnt take into account my muscle mass (high; ex pro rugby player) or BF% (low).

So don't panic! There are many factors that affect your weight. Your activity levels seem quite high compared to the ordinary man.

Qualifications:
Research team, Carnegie International weight-loss Camp, LMU
PE Teacher

I too have had massive issues with the Halifax. I used a letter on the BBC website (Search 'bank charges') to claim back £3500 worth of charges; basically when I was at university I used to get 4/5 charges a month for being overdrawn. At £28/£35 a shot it soon added up!

Eventually they offered me a settlement of £2500 which I accepted. I have another account with them that they closed through my bad financial management, and I'm claiming back the £800 on that too.

The test case is likely to go in the account holders favour, as the financial ombudsman has stated three times that the charge should be no more than the cost of a letter and postage. I've found that using the template letter and its correct jargon really made the Halifax respond to my needs as a loyal customer!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6170209.stm

Any spaniel really. I'm wasn't a massive fan, but they go forever and rarely stop…

Have a look at Charlie the Bike Mongers website. I've had loads off him and they've been ace!

Pinnacle Mean Streak 1.0 SS.

Brought of a frenchman in Canary Wharf for the princely sum of £30!

I found a hornet in my shed the other day. It made a noise like a Spitfire. It looked at me, then came for me, and when I shut the door and looked at it through the window it followed my movements and kept headbutting the window

Emptied a full kettle on it whilst it was on the floor a couple of hours later. Left it where it was, and when I went back later the bloody thing had gone…

VW Derby
Ford Escort 1.3
Ford Escort XR3i Estate
Ford Escort RS Turbo Van
Ford Fiesta XR2 Mk 1
Mini
VW Polo Saloon
Fiat Seicento Sporting
Fiat Punto
Skoda Cube Van
Skoda Fabia 1.9 TDI
Vauxhall Combo Crew Van 1.7 CDTI

I had a Cube LTD race from Velocity Cycles in Huddersfield. Fantastic bike, amazing spec, and eventually when it came to upgrading to my Whyte 19 I simply swapped all the components.

Very quick, very reliable…

DMR Trailstar. I like ’em but I don’t find many other folk do. Cheap, fun and takes a fair kicking…

With difficulty.

Unless your eyes are fookin’ massive. Like binoculars.

I know sweet f%$k-all about your legal position.

But my other half, sitting on the sofa beside me, is an employment solicitor.

And after reading through all of the posts on here, she can’t believe excellent most of the advice is. So follow it, and she reckons you’ll be okay…

And you’ll be fine fella. All the time there are muppets willing to offer heart-felt and informed advice on STW (instead of doing the dinner/ironing/cleaning the car/watering the plants/insert relevant task…)you’ll have your support.

Cube LTD Race.

Had one three years ago before they got bigger here in the UK.

Light, fast, great spec…

In a sock.

That was then flung into the high branches of a fir tree in the Brecon Beacons.

t might well still be there! :o

Oh yes….

Work has been sooooo slow today…!

I think that you might regret this.

Bad luck fella…

When you and your family are ready, get yourself down to the Dogs Trust. There are plenty of old pups there that require the care and love that you gave to your little ‘un…

I’m doing it in support of my cousin, who’s a little ‘weighty’. I don’t have a number, as I tried to register too late.

Can I be stopped from riding with him? Presumably because they are public highways I’ve the right to pootle along with him?

enfht – I’ll use your missus’ number if she can’t do it. I’ll even wear a wig and dress!!

I’m doing it on my singlespeed too…

I’ve done more cover this bloody term than in the whole of my career.

Thankfully nailed all my planning earlier this term…

Was it the person who got the last 14T sprocket ahead of my order? How am I going to do the London to Brighton next week without?

Grrrrrr…..

Picked it up today.

Blindin’!

Just picked the missus up from the pub, and although she’s pissed, stated that she was ‘feeling tearful she was so happy…’

Tragic and beautiful…

I was all ‘steel is real’.

And then I got my Whyte 19.

With Rev U-Turns its a, er, revelation… :?