Update 4

Back in Norwich again. Sunday night.

I actually have news of my own to report: I came back to Norwich early today, "on the train" (1), to watch City "play" (2) Burnley.

(1) The train I intended to catch didn't run, and then I got on the wrong late one, and so missed the entire first half. I don't need to tell you, as "everyone" apparently knows (according to the railway, who therefore feel no need to publicise the fact) that there are engineering works on the line from Ely to Attleborough, and therefore a bus has "replaced" the service (it takes a full hour and a quarter longer, ie double the time, to make the same journey).

(2) Norwich lost 4-1 at home, following a mid-week ultimatum from the board that the manager had 2 matches to turn things around. One or two players (actually at least 8) may have played below their best in an effort to help the board come to a decision. So "play" is perhaps generous as a verb, given the circumstances.

But I'm not bitter.

Joe continues more or less well. The drugs are not making him ill. And he takes a pretty big tray of them (see photo). He is just starting to question the whole thing. It took an hour and every piece of cajoling, manipulating, wheedling, threatening and pleading I had to get him to take his meds last night. And in truth he only did it when I got up to take the meds back to the nurse and get Mummy to have a go. This morning he said very sweetly that he would take them all properly, straight away, so some of my manipulating worked in the longer term. One of the meds is horrible, one quite yukky, one Ok and two quite nice, and the really really foul one he takes as a tablet (luckily he can manage tablets), but he wouldn't have any of them at all. And the thing that freaks him out most of all? Antiseptic mouthwash! We have swapped the hospital's strong one for mild citrus listerine, but you'd still think it was sulphuric acid the way he carries on. But he has to have it as the mouth is a prime site for infection while his immune system is weakened.

Joe learned his meds quicker than me. We have wine gums for him to eat after the really horrible meds. He proceeded to con extra wine gums by pulling distraught faces after each med. Unfortunately he couldn't help but crow about how cleverly he'd tricked me, and so I now have notes on the meds, as listed above.

He has had visits from George (and Tom), Jack (and all Boyces), Grace & Katie (and Peacocks) since we last wrote. There has been more scooting and shouting of course. Also he has Burger King night on Saturdays (there is a Burger King in the hospital concourse downstairs from the ward, along with pizza shop, pie bar, jacket potato bar, cafe, sock shop, 2 convenience stores, bank, solicitors, travel agents, mortgage firm, Body Shop, gift shop, daily changing market stall, dry-cleaners). The doctors on the ward say that all eating is healthy eating: when you see some of the poor little slips of children walking around with feed-tubes into their noses you can see what they mean. We are so glad Joe has a good appetite. He has just wangled an extra Burger King from Uncle Dave who is sleeping over with him while we are here in Norwich for the night. He's no fool.

He is addicted to Junior Monopoly and meals at the moment. One of his meds is a steroid that has the side effect of stimulating appetite and weight gain. No idea about the monopoly, especially as he doesn't usually win (at least not when Jack Boyce is playing). He also plays pool on the little table they have for teenagers. And his other pastimes remain rude songs, winding up his brother and watching Tom and Jerry or Star Wars DVDs. Have tried him on the PlayStation, but he just isn't really interested. Bit of a blow as it's my only excuse.

Sue is sleeping better now. Still exhausted most of the time. We are eating well, thanks to all our supporters (bolognese: Chris, curry: Amy, lasagne: Abi, stew: Peacocks, coronation chicken: Boyces). Now that we are in the swiing of things, it's much easier.

Not much more now. Pete has come round. Sue is doing girly stuff with Penny and Angela.