Sometimes, standing still is the best way forward. Even a statue outlasts the storm.

Done! I'm now making a swift exit to walk Hetty! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Today, I head off for my 69th immunotherapy 'spa' treatment. I’m not in the best shape for this one as pleurisy has thrown a spanner in the works, but I'm not missing it. There's more than one battle to fight.

Even when cancer blows the wheels clean off, a stabiliser - routine, hope, love, purpose - can still keep you upright.

When you uplift others, you don’t lose your strength, you multiply it. Empowerment isn’t a transaction; it’s a chain reaction.

Despite the pleurisy, I still managed to do a bit of pro bono work in my community this morning. No one will know it was me - it might not even be noticed at all - but that’s not the point. It simply feels good to quietly do your bit.

Pleurisy 1 Johnny 0 Thankfully, that's not full-time, and I'm looking to equalise and take the lead. The game’s not over. It’s just getting interesting.

Feeling pretty bashed up and kicked in with pleurisy today, which has me doubled up in excruciating pain. It can be a side-effect of my treatment, so coupled with jaw pain, it is a bit of a tester. Please continue to share & support, thank you. gofund.me/ac9edc38e

Brush it off, hue got this!

Install optimism. Run compassion. Debug despair. Be the upgrade people didn’t know they needed.

Tin hats on - a new week, new battles, same relentless spirit. We’re here to do life business and just get on with it.

Weekend manoeuvres with Mrs D and Hetty, Part 2. We lapped it up!

Mrs D and I on weekend manoeuvres in the hills and getting plenty of fresh air!

MRI was on Monday, just waiting for results- no idea when they will be reported on. Trying not to think too much about it, so plodding on. Please continue to support & share if you can, & massive thanks to everyone who has helped me get so far towards my target 🙂gofund.me/366bcf001

Remember you are the boss of you. You are The Governor, Mon General, El Jefe. You are in charge of you. Be the Commander-in-Chief of your own mind, the CEO of your decisions, the Governor of your grit.

GRIT Dosage: One stubborn capsule twice daily - more if the day fights back. Take with a full glass of determination. Directions for Use: – Swallow whole - do not chew or sugarcoat – Do not skip doses, even on bad days — especially on bad days – Can be safely combined with failure

Today’s a rare coin - don’t waste it in the wrong slot.

Morale isn't found in speeches, it’s brewed and every campaign starts with a cuppa. A teabag is first aid for the spirit and the smallest weapon of resilience.

Today, I'm MRI-ing & living the dream lying perfectly still in a giant magnet scanning for answers, not setbacks. If you've not had a scan on your head before, this is incredibly noisy as the vibrating gradient coils bang, clank and knock. It's an experience and a privilege.

I trust everyone is in fine fettle today and taking strength from some fresh air.

The tiny acts of daily living that most people just take for granted are what head & neck cancer patients dread. These moments rarely make headlines, but they define survival: eating, chewing, swallowing, speaking, breathing. Chronic courage is fighting the same battles every day & still smiling.

Battle on, come what may. Today is still worth the fight.

I’m not here to wait for a bridge, I’m here to build one I’m not here to chicken out, I’m here to ruffle feathers I’m not here to give up, I’m here to give more I’m not here to breakdown, I’m here to breakthrough I’m not here to ask “Why me?”, I’m here to ask “What’s next?”

Docs have ordered a priority MRI to try and understand more about what is causing me so much pain in my jaw although clearly it is related to the jaw necrosis. Please continue to share and support - many thanks 😊 gofund.me/33c28bfc9

Liverpool Cathedral is magnificent and breathtaking inside!

It's been a very busy and exciting couple of days helping our daughter start her next adventure at university! She took about this amount of luggage with her! Lots of great times ahead, and Liverpool is now our second home!

A street full of hope and a place full of hope. That will do nicely!

Hetty says anything is paw-sible if you set your mind to it.

1000 years old and still standing...Lincoln Cathedral that is, not me!

Been there myself - hang in there, mate.

68th treatment underway - body in the chair, head in the fight. Banner still raised.

I'm just heading out for my 68th immunotherapy 'spa' treatment - not finished, not beaten, still showing up.

Always look up - the sky never runs out of room. That's where hope and defiance both live.

Cake it till you make it Don't go baking my heart Cake me up before you go-go

Celebrated my birthday today at Doddington Hall, and we've had a great time. Another milestone!

Paying our respects to the Royal Air Force personnel from WWII at International Bomber Command. Legends never die.

Daily priority: keep going. Everything else is window dressing.

Too often, we identify ourselves by what we lack instead of celebrating who we are. Far better to be known for what we carry: optimism, resilience, and the grit to keep going.

Courage is measured in footsteps, not finishes.

With head and neck cancer, pain is unavoidable. Never complain. Use it to fight. Use it to fuel. Here is my 'note to self' about dealing with continuous pain: 1. Use it to sharpen your edge 2. Use it to toughen your will 3. Use it to build your mental armour 4. Use it to outlast the darkness ...

2 jaw infections in a month have really messed up my training for treatment prep & keeping match fit has been out of the window most days. 1 week to go before my next treatment. Pain still 24/7, jaw still exposed inside, infection going. On a walk now & I'm as determined as hell.

Stumble. Stand. Step. Grind. Graft. Glory. Hill. Heart. Higher. Crawl. Climb. Conquer.

Built from pain, shaped by resilience and powered by purpose. Never underestimate a cancer survivor.

Since being told I had just two months to live (five years ago now!), I’ve probably battled 20–25 brutal jaw infections from the radiotherapy. My jaw is fractured & breaking down. I can’t really complain, I’m still here but the truth is these infections are excruciating & they always knock me back.

Pre-infection photo as I'm looking rough today. Hoping to get back soon and back to my old self

Today's mission: No 1. Grant pain no foothold 2. Give fear no oxygen 3. Offer doubt no shelter 4. Yield no ground to self-pity 5. Offer fatigue no seat at the table 6. Show no quarter

My jaw infection for context: mandibular osteoradionecrosis is a devastating complication & severe late effect of radiotherapy characterized by exposure & crumbling of the jaw, severe pain, repeated infections, weight loss...... Please continue to support me if you can: gofund.me/ae4b8a2d

Yesterday, I started to feel unwell again & knew immediately another infection was brewing. Little wonder I've been in serious pain. This one has spread quickly, so I'm hoping a double dose of antibiotics brings it under control. Jaw necrosis is anything but easy.

Code your algorithm to positive.

Swallowing setbacks and calling them fuel is Michelin-star resilience.