EP0057-201 Phase 2A Trial - Cycle 3, Day 1, fifth infusion day - 9 December 2021

Didn't get in quite as early as asked. Left late and traffic was terrible - looks like the people's Plan B has been to get in their cars.

Hardly any queue in phlebotomy and FBC sample was whisked off for speedy analysis. Bit of a wait during which I used up too much phone battery deleting messages which left me a bit short of juice later, when I could have done with plenty to record the great excitement!

Anyway, eventually blood results came back, Hb still 93 sadly (but I had measured that physiologically going up North Hill to Highgate very slowly and noisily on the way in), neutrophils 1.56 so back on track. Had to be signed off by doc and pharmacist before the EP0057 could start to be made up and olaparib prepared, so another long day in prospect.

All went pretty predictably - cold day and my veins had retreated, so it took four attempts to get a cannula in - the final one done by the go-to healthcare assistant they turn to when others have failed. A soak in hot water, pummelling with a rough towel to dry, disdain for gloves and visible surface veins, a fine sense of touch and a feel for deep veins and their shape and direction. If it happens again, I'm going to sugest that I drink my flask of hot choc first because I think that brings roses to cheecks and plumps things up very nicely.

Around half three there is a sudden excitement - siren alarms sound at high volume accompanied by the flaps on the side of the building going down with a whomp! In normal  circumstances these just look like the infill wall panels under the windows. Now they are suddenly horizontal, having hinged out over the pavement below, revealing a more open view of the building across the street. So glad I'm sitting, lying, sitting/lying by the windows and looking in the right direction! Usually I'm reading, dozing or looking away when interesting things happen. The sound of big fans comes in - sounds like the building's taking off. Shame I don't seem to be able to add a video to posts but here's a picture looking out from the inside - you'll have to use your imagination from here.

I guess the metal panel with long oval cut outs is there to prevent anyone falling out or taking an ill-advised peer over the flaps.

Nurses didn't seem fazed and came round with more blankets but strangely it didn't seem particularly cold given that the sides of the building are letting in le plein air. Assume this is a special measure to mitigate effects of smoke in a building where it might not be possible to evacuate everyone quickly. I once heard of such special ventilation arrangements on a visit to the London Fire Brigade building in Southwark where they had put in a full height atrium with open plan office floors around it. The woman being treated in the next chair tells me that there's a tender out for the fire alarm on the building - is there a link?

Anyway, eventually the sirens became plaintive and  intermittent and finally stopped altogether although the sound of rushing fans continued for some time.

Later a wiry chap, in polo shirt and functional trousers, armed with a nylon rope fitted with a carabiner hook came round with a building  manager type - suit, big belly and Christmassy tie . It appears this building is smart enought to ventilate itself automatically but it can't close itself up again. High tech problem, low tech solution. You can just see in the pic a bar running across the inside of the building flap from its outer to its inner edge, hinged at the outer edge. There's a hole you can't see on the inner end and the carabiner got attached to that by the wiry chap reaching through the perforated metal wall sheet and clipping it on. Once they'd got me, my reclining chair, adjustable table and bike panniers out of the way, it was then a two-person heave to pull the flap up using this hinged bar, upon which a  short servo noise was heard, but clearly not enough as the flap did not re-engage but descended into the open position again. A bit of head scratching, then another go, which generated no servo noise at all, then a further three-person (not me) pull which resulting in a resounding slam, followed by the bar parting company with the flap at the hinged end and flying gently into the interior along with the rope in a proper Laurel and Hardyesque moment where the three pulling persons staggered back with the sudden release of effort. I'm guess I'm glad they didn't actually fall over as the floors are hard, but it would have put the icing on the cake.

They were able to demonstrate how it should work on the next flap along - one heave and the flap was back in place with a really purposeful servo motor noise after which the flap stayed up.

A nurse came along and blocked the remaining gap with a wheeled screen. And just before I left, the wiry chap came  back with his mate and two plywood sheets and got to work to block the gap until a proper repair could be done. 

Exterior view as I made my way out:

You can see the panels forming part of the walls under windows and the panel still flapped out horizontally at second floor level. I woz there!