I am putting this thread up again to say thanks for your support and to give a bit of an update. Today I got back from the clinic from the test which cleared me of any further suspicion of intestinal cancer. We all have to wait our turn for these things, but as you can imagine, I found the four month wait no more fun than anyone else would have. It's a very good day for me, but it is not the only good thing which has happened this summer.
    After years of suffering from Graves Illness (a horrible disorder of the thyroid gland), my girlfriend, Ina, has been declared free of it. It could return, but she was actually on the point of having radiotherapy to effectively destroy the gland when the blood test showed the hormone levels were back down to normal.
    On the musical side, I did go down to Linz with my old band and it was a blast. They are great guys and we can still do it together. I have not been out busking. The television show of the one man band show in Trier duly went out. It is a nice souvenir (on video) of a good day and I have been thinking that maybe that is the way to go out of that sort of one man banding. I have no doubt that singing with tensed muscles in the shoulders and neck, leaning forward with twelve kilos of drum on the back, is everything that the likes of Don Firth and other experienced singers would advise me against. It does not necessarily mean the end of busking, but I will need a new show. I can do it, but it will be an enormous challenge to my confidence. I am feeling positive but I do appreciate any help I can get.
    With several Mudcatters facing health problems, I am really glad to be able to give some good news. I think a lot of Rick, Walking Eagle and Kendall and all the others who need a break too. Bless em all - and thank-you too. Alan.