Thoughts with a friend. I have a good friend who has been living with cancer for several years. She is around my age, has two girls just like me and I know she is having a painful time these last number of weeks. But I also know she is in the right place – the Marie Curie Hospice and she has the attention of a brilliant group of palliative care doctors, nurses and the wider team. In the hospice she is safe, they are caring and compassionate, family can come and go as they please – a home from home. I hope to call and see her later today and more importantly I trust that her pain will reduce over the days ahead as the team do what they do best, they keep trying until they get it right. Marie Curie Cancer Care, just like other palliative care and charitable organisations of this kind is one that we should all be very grateful for. So as I ride my bike this week, I’ll think of my friend and I’ll hope the very best for her.