We went along to see Dr P this afternoon to check how the Enzalutamide is going. He had some encouraging results from my last blood test. After two weeks the PSA has gone down from 7.2 to 3.2, a drop of 55% by my arithmetic. This has been accompanied by absolutely zero side effects. (I was supplied with a fancy little diary in which to record does times, dates, and side effects. After the first one, I had nothing to record.)

I will have my next Zolodex as scheduled on 1 September. Fingers crossed we can get away for a two-night break in a week or so (within Victoria, obvs). The arrangements are all made, but all of course is contingent on no more mystery cases, or people not being stupid. As I saw in an article somewhere or other — it is all down to the single males. (Apparently this is the the group most likely to party, not observe social distancing regulations, and thus be COVID spreaders.)

To be watchful of single males is also a maxim that everyone who learns German comes across early on. The masculine singular form of articles in the more exotic German cases (accusative, dative and genitive) do tend to be the most at variance with the plain old nominative forms. Crazily, this complexity is a reassuring thing into which to immerse myself. I’ve never been a crossword person — they just don’t grab me — but I imagine the feeling of finding the answers to a puzzle is similar.