A personal note

Life is  a pretty random affair … there you are trundling along, and suddenly life throws something at you from the sidelines that you didn’t even think about.

I had a great time building up my watch business in 2012, and, most of all, I have enjoyed the contact with clients, watch enthusiasts and colleagues from all over the world. It’s been a fantastic ride, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Unfortunately, my wife has been diagnosed with cancer last Thursday, and it looks as though it’s advanced. This means a year of chemotherapy, operations, and radiotherapy.

My financial mainstay is my software business, which provides most of the income for our family. As these new circumstances will change our family life considerably, I will have to scale back the watch business during 2013.

That means that I won’t take on any new work until we have settled back to some sort of normality again, and we know what my wife can and wants to take on. I will certainly have to take on more childcare, and general work in the household. So cooking healthy food for my wife to see her through all this is one of my new priorities, and my frequency of changing nappies will also go up. Less watches, though.

I will of course deal with all the watches in my workshop, and provide the same level of service to all of you that have watches with me, so not to worry. It might just take a bit longer, and I know you will all understand.

The good part is that we are financially in a stable enough position to see all of this through, so all we really need is your thoughts and good wishes for us. We are also in the excellent hands of the oncology unit of the NHS in Cheltenham, and everyone working there has been fantastic, and I can’t thank them enough.

My wife has been incredibly brave so far, and she is determined to put up a good fight. On a positive note, our relationship has grown a lot stronger over all this, and we will be each other’s rock during the difficult times that lie ahead.

27/08/2013

A little update – my wife has almost finished her therapy, and we are two weeks away from the end of her radiotherapy. I have started to take on work over the last months, so please feel free to contact me again.

Thank you for all the messages of support!

36 thoughts on “A personal note

  1. Hi Christian I’m a casual visitor in your blog that I enjoy soo much.

    I’m soo sorry to read your bad news but I hope next year you will write us good news to all. Last year I was diagnosed with cancer too and a year later i can say I am well recovered and I want with you all my courage because the cancer has cure and the most important things are the family and friends and their support, with they near to you we understand that life deserves to live for they and it gives soo much strength to beat the cancer.

    Good luck.

  2. HI Christian, Thank you for repairing my FM King Cortez Chronograph watch which I received back safely in the post.

    I wish your wife a speedy recovery, tell her to be strong and she will come out of it. This is a great read for inspiration – Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh who battled cancer and came back to playing cricket for his country again – It can be fought off and I sincerely hope she fights this off.

    http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/626068.html

  3. I am an occasional visitor to your blog, which I really enjoy, but have not been in a while. I am so sorry to hear of your wife’s illness and just wanted to wish both her and you the very best outcome. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

  4. I’m a bit late but I am really sorry to read these terrible news.
    We do not know each other, but be sure that my warmest thoughts are with your family and you.

  5. even though u never heard of me but i am a long stalker on your blog as i took up watchmaking as a hobby. very sorry to hear about what happened. hope your wife will get a speedy recovery.

  6. Just stumbled upon your blog and had to reply to this post
    wish the two of you the best in these difficult times I’m sending you thoughts from Denmark.
    in four years i’ll be a doctor and do what I can to fight cancer!
    take care

  7. Hello,
    I have read your blogs, really enjoyed them and wanted to talk to you about a Patek Philippe but your news about your wife now makes my enquiry totally insignificant.
    I sincerely hope your wife has a speedy recovery and life returns to a more normal pattern as soon as possible. My thoughts are with you all.
    Bob.

  8. Oh my! Really sorry to read this kind of news.
    I wish all the best for your whole family – first things first!

  9. Christian – very sorry to hear the bad news about your wife’s illness. Sincere wishes for a full and speedy recovery. I will think positive thoughts every time I wear the Moeris watch you expertly rebuilt.

  10. I’ve really enjoyed your blogs and they have been an education / entertainment all in one. Best wishes to your wife and good luck to both of you for the times ahead.

  11. Hi Christian,
    I am so sorry to hear the sad news. I wish you and your family strength and a speedy recovery to your wife.

  12. Christian,

    I am really sorry to hear this news and wish your wife a speedy recovery. As a BHI student I have been fascinated by your blog and I rate it very highly. I will keep checking your site for activity and look forward to reading your exploits again.

    Best wishes,

    Jim

  13. My prayers are with you. I have a slight idea of what you are going through as my wife went through a cancer episode two years ago. She is doing well. I pray that your wife will respond well to all of the treatments she will face and will have full recovery. Prayers for you too as you face the challenges of childcare and patient care, also for your children as they go through this struggle with you.
    I find faith in God to be of great value as one lives life and the unexpected things that come with it.

  14. Christian, i heard this news from a friend the other day – i am very sorry for this huge complication you and your wife have to get through. I hope your wife has a swift and complete recovery with your support. Thanks for all the help this year, and good luck with the cooking and nappies….

  15. Hope all goes well, Christian.
    She’s up for the fight, so that’s half the battle.
    Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

  16. I wish your wife the swiftest of recoveries. If she receives the same sort of care and attention that you give to your watches then she is in good hands.
    My mum and dad both recovered from cancer and I’m sure your wife can, too.
    Stay positive.

  17. i discoverd your fantastic blog middle of last year,will miss the read and generouse hints and tips.im sure you will do the best for your wife and children,i wish you all the best for the year ahead.gods love and streath be with you both. hope to see the blog return in the future.

  18. Hi Christian and family, my best wishes to all and hope that recovery isn’t a long one. By the way both Omega’s are running well still after your work.
    Best wishes, Andrew

  19. Terrible news. Hopefully the treatment will work, and you and your family might grow even closer during all this.

    I think it’s really brave that you share all this with your (mostly anonymous) readers and fellow watch enthousiast. My thoughts are with you, your wife and your children.

  20. So sorry to read this news. Please pass on my best wishes of a speedy recovery to your wife, and indeed to your family.

  21. Very sorry to hear that.
    I have been reading your blog most of 2012, also more into watches and specially vintage watches over the past year. Have learned a lot with you and its a pleasure to read your blog, first time I comment.

    Now the most important is for you wife to get better and overcome the difficult times ahead. I wish all the best and strength for you and your family and for your wife to be strong and wish her a speedy recovery.
    A friendly greeting from Portugal!

  22. Really sorry to hear your bad news Christian! 🙁 I to would like to wish your wife a speedy recovery! I work for the NHS myself and although not directly connected to cancer care I do see a lot of patients who are receiving cancer treatment or have just finished cancer treatment and in my experience people with a strong positive attitude do far better and have better outcomes from their treatment.
    All the best to you and your family at this difficult time.

  23. Very sorry to hear that. Having gone through chemotherapy myself, I know what it’s like. I hope for the very best for your family.

  24. I am so sorry to read this news. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, and I wish your wife a speedy recovery back to full health. Take care.

  25. I’m so sorry to hear about your wife’s illness. I just discovered your blog a few days ago and took great pleasure in reading your entries with each repair. Now it’s time to get your wife on the mend instead. I’m familiar with the role of family support in this area, having spent hours at my mother’s side last year as she underwent chemotherapy treatment. Things went well for my mom and her cancer is now in remission. I sincerely hope for a similar outcome with you and your wife. Stay strong and don’t hesitate to rely on friends when necessary. I’ll be sending you many positive thoughts from Kansas in the weeks ahead.

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