Hello @DickM!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us within the safe space of the forum. It sounds like you are managing your life with Essential Thrombocythemia and it hasn’t taken your charisma away 
In your spare time since being diagnosed, how did you get involved with activities such as gardening, hill-walking, and cycling? Could you offer advice on places or community groups that got you involved? I know some people would appreciate the information in the living with blood cancer section of the forum.