Skipping through the blogger-sphere?

There's a funny thing that happens on the internet. You read something and you think you know all about it. You see a small snippet of someone's life, and you think you know that person. Well, I think I can safely say, that you don't know me. How could you? I've lived 99.9% of my life outside of the Twitter-and Blogger-sphere. But now that I'm here, I want to share more with you, and I would like more of you to share with me. My profound Blogger observation of the day: blogging is interactive. There was recently a discussion on the Mumsnet Bloggers Forum about this, about how we Bloggers paste a link to our latest blog post, and run, without even looking at the entry above ours. I have to say I have done this, mainly because at first, I did try and read a good half dozen or so, and comment, and almost never got a comment back. I still read the front page of Mumsnet Blogs, as they roll over, and I do like the Featured Blogs, and I comment on most blogs that I read, because someone has taken the time to write something original. 

But the best way of connecting with like-minded people, not just Bloggers, does appear to be on Twitter, the micro-blogging platform (see my new Twitter local heroes here). Clever people can say a lot in 140 characters, or less!

With another hat on, I write a blog about life in an English village with two Boxers (dogs not fighters, as one Twit said). My latest blog post is about locally sourced and produced food, and why I think pubs and restaurants should be proud to use local ingredients when designing their menus.

In my most recent past, I was a scientist. I love Science. I am and always will be a Biologist, one of those traditional scientists who wants to understand the basics of Science, and teach others all about it. Now, I use writing to interact with others about Science, about how Science is all around us, and how we all use Science everyday. I have recently written about the use of Mind-body interactions in chronic illness, a subject very close to my heart.

And in (almost) another life, I dabbled in the art world, a world I felt so at home in, although not a very good artist myself. But I connected with people through their art and mine. Painting and drawing have always been part of my life. My doodles are legendary, they unlock my inner self, much like a meditation. I have always felt strongly that more people should be encouraged to create; it is a way of expressing yourself even if you can't find the words to say how you feel. 

So the next time you are tempted to just gloss over someone's blog, stop, read and interact. People are amazing, and each one of us has an important story to tell.

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My blog in 2012

So, you may be wondering how much more can I write about Mom's cancer. Well, in case you haven't been paying attention, Living with Mom's cancer is all about how we as a society or community deal with cancer in people we know and love. Its bigger than Mom now, and that is very exciting.

Sunset, 2010, Lesley Beeton

Friends have heard me going on about this for some time now, so they will be pleased to know that 2012 is the Year of Action. Mumsnet Bloggers Network have been asking bloggers about our hopes and plans for our blogs in 2012. Some have said they want to get more readers, yes, of course. Some want a publishing deal, wow, yes please. I would like to use my blog to press for changes in care for cancer patients in hospital.

Oncology is mostly done on an outpatient basis, so patients come in for blood tests and if everything is OK, will go for chemo or radiotherapy. Almost everyone will have a bad cycle of treatment, however, which will mean a hospital stay to stabilise things before the next onslaught. I was reminded of this when I read Ellie Jeffery's new post about her latest miserable stay in hospital. I recognised in Ellie's description some of what we experienced when Mom was in hospital. There is no easy way for bed managers to find exactly the right place for a poorly cancer patient. Sometimes, cancer patients have respiratory or cardiac or other medical problems, and will need to be cared for by these specialists. You might expect that the oncologist will be aware of this, but not in the NHS. The wonderful cancer specialist nurses do their best to keep cancer patients well cared for, but it is very difficult to do.

I observed some first class nursing, but also some less than average nursing. That is to be expected. What I would like to see is a cancer patient support team, not reliant on nurses and doctors, but a human approach. Some one who understands the environment of the cancer patient, who has experience of their fears and concerns, and who can raise these issues with the clinical team. There is little or no emotional support for in-hospital cancer patients. The clinical teams are just too busy with very ill patients.

I would like to explore the possibility of setting up a pilot program and survey to understand how this can fit into the NHS cancer patient in-hospital care, and with this is mind, my resolution for 2012 is to use this blog to generate interest in and awareness of my endeavour.

I would be very grateful for your comments.

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