Song of the day: I'm into something good - Herman's Hermits
I heard a comment yesterday from someone complaining that my blog wasn't up to date. Here comes a bit of grumpiness......it actually takes quite a bit of time to update this. Whilst I enjoy it, I've been knocked much harder with a cold/ cough, which has meant that I've not really felt like writing. However, I'm thankfully coming out the other side of the cough/cold so here's last week's update. Grumpiness over. Roger that. Over and out.
You can tell when I'm not feeling so good as I don't get bored so easily. Today I wasn't feeling tip top it had to be said. So I had a lazy morning, even succumbing to some daytime TV...that is a low!
I had an oncology appointment this afternoon as well. It was a week earlier than it should have been due to my oncologist going on holiday but nevertheless it was a good session. Debbie kindly agreed to come with me and made arrangements for the Grierson Jnrs to go to a friends. Thanks so much D! It was wonderful to see her as I'd not seen her for a couple of weeks, so it was great to catch up with her and receive a massive hug. Plus it was great to have someone with me for my second wig outing...Debbie had arrived slightly early so I was mid wig donning as she knocked at the door. Argh! So hurriedly I put it on and rushed downstairs to let her in. Thankfully it is a pretty swift process!
It was good news at the appointment. The tumour had shrunk to 2.5cmx2.5cm, so not as much change as last time but the time of measuring was technically a week early. I was happy with this. I also asked for Dr Davis to feel my right boob. Sure, I know all the scans etc have thankfully come back clear but I wanted to know if that's what a boob should feel like. I think sometimes my medical team despair of my incessant questions but Dr Davis had a feel and confirmed it was all fine and dandy. Good to have a point of reference if nothing else. The other good news was that overall my blood test from Friday had come back fine. Phew. I had been having a lot of backache and I wasn't sure if this was a chill linked to the bug, so I asked. Apparently that's where the bone marrow is produced and mine is going into overdrive currently, so I was reassured this was fairly normal. The other point of discussion was the contradiction from Thursday night. I could tell that neither Dr Davis or Jane were happy with what had happened and the point was reiterated to me regarding going straight to Dunedin. I raised the issue around my insurance company not allowing me to be treated there, to which Jane said that they would look into it for me. Another problem offloaded. Overall a good meeting.
We then headed to the imaging department to book my mid treatment MRI. It will be interesting to see what this shows...so all fingers and toes crossed for 30th April. Whilst waiting Jane came and chatted to me and asked for the nurses name that I had spoken to on Thursday night, reaffirming that this was going to be looked into. I don't want to get anyone in trouble but clearly oncology protocol hadn't been followed, so I hope this is resolved for other people's sake.
Debbie and I had time for a good natter in the car on the way back before she headed off. Then it was time for my next visitor to arrive, the delightful Rachel Aldridge who came with cookies and a beautiful bulb garden. Great combo, thank you! It was wonderful to catch up with Rachel, she's been such a great support and encourager right from the start of the process so it was great to have some quality chat time!
By the time Rachel left, I was feeling a whole heap better than I had that morning, so overall good progress made!!!
Tuesday 8th April
Song of the day: Fighter - Christina Aguilera
I felt a lot better this morning thankfully, so did a couple of hours of work. Today was going to be the first time for me wearing my wig into London. It was also going to be the first time that I would be going somewhere where I would be meeting other ladies going through the same thing, as I was due to go to The Haven in Fulham. Just thinking about walking from my house to the station seemed quite a bit of effort but I knew once I got to the station then most of the walking would be done. My house is only a 15 minute walk to the station, so something I'd never really think about normally but clearly I wasn't on max power!
Getting on the train I tried to find a seat away from others but First Great Western only believe in 3 coach trains so this was practically impossible. Amongst the people who sat next to me one of them was coughing...do I stay, find somewhere else to sit...or am I just being OTT?! In the end I decided to move, may as well move out of the danger zone. Thankfully no other train traumas and I got off at Ealing Broadway, dashing to get on a district line train. I got on a train and realised I hadn't zapped my oyster card. I didn't have time on my hands so decided to let fate take it's course. Arriving at Fulham Broadway I explained to the lovely lady at the gate and kindly she let me through. Phew. It's also small gestures such as this that makes you realise the kindness there is in the world. We're sadly programmed to be on the lookout for things that may happen rather than focussing on the genuine goodness that is in most of us.
I called Daniel as I left the station as I was feeling nervous about going to The Haven. His advice...if you're not comfortable just leave. Ok, good point. I can do this. I found The Haven fairly quickly. It's a former chapel on a residential street. On walking in I felt like I had left the stress of the world firmly on the outside. It's such a beautiful place to go into and everyone was so welcoming. My first appointment was a session called Look Good Feel Better. It's basically a makeup master class, which I have to say was the best one I've ever had. On the lift down, another lady got in the lift with me and we started chatting. Little did I know this lady was about to become a special part of my life. A kindred spirit. For now I will call her B. She had had her first session of chemo and her hair had started to fall out. Due to circumstances she hadn't had time to find a wig. I mentioned that I was wearing a wig and she was taken aback and kindly said she wouldn't have known. This really made my day, as I was still feeling fairly nervous about wearing it.
We walked into the room together and sat next to each other. The ladies who were running the session were so lovely and created a positive and friendly atmosphere. It was 2 hours of really good fun. There were other ladies there who were at different stages, some who were out the other end and some like B and I who were in the midst of treatment. We watched, laughed and I think it's fair to say all left feeling a lot more confident than when we had entered the room. We were all given a bag of the makeup we had used and I was bowled over with the contents...Clinique/ Lancome/ Estee Lauder makeup. Unbelievable. B and I exchanged number and email addresses as I really wanted to stay in touch with her. It's funny how you meet people and fairly instantly strike up a connection.
After the makeup masterclass, I waited for my introduction appointment. I was greeted by a lady called Nadia who wanted to know my story so that we could work out some complimentary therapies that might help. I explained everything, succinctly...which you won't believe! I expressed my emotions that I was seeking to protect Daniel as much as possible. I am going to share what Nadia said to me as it really went to my core....she called me an angel. Now, you all know this is not the case but sentiment of what she said hit home and I thank her for saying it. We worked through the many treatments available and settled on a few to start with. The amazing thing about the Haven is that they give 10 hours of treatment for free for anyone going through breast cancer. They also provide support for partners. So for anyone reading this who is going through the same thing as me, I would really recommend a visit to one of the Haven locations. It's a truly wonderful place.
I left the Haven feeling like a new woman. It was good to meet other people and understand their journeys, some uplifting others going through more difficult times but it showed the resilience of us humans. I was also blimin hungry as I realised I hadn't had lunch!!! I had spotted a new Whole Foods that was opening that day so went in to treat myself with a good sandwich...for those of you have never been to a Whole Foods, it's the most amazing supermarket (with prices to match) and it's a true foodie experience. I found the sandwiches...pulled pork wrap, yes please!!! There was a guy crouching in front of me. Wait a minute, I recognise that platinum blonde hair and jacket...oh my goodness it was Jamie from Made in Chelsea...ok I admit it, I'm a fan! Had it been Spencer I don't know what I would have done! ; )) Jamie was really polite and offered to move out of the way and so I kept it together and did the right thing...not say anything and casually walk to the till!
Chelsea were playing that evening, so the whole area was buzzing and had a really good vibe. My sandwich and I hopped on the number 14 bus to head up to Hyde Park Corner to meet Daniel. The timing couldn't have been better as I got there literally as he was just finishing. I was feeling really good, no tiredness just a super husky voice. It was lovely evening and there was no rush to get back, so I asked if we could go to look at handbags in Harrods, a guilty pleasure of mine not Daniel's!!! There was one bag in particular that I had my eye on, so wanted to go and see it. Sadly Harrods only had it in a colour that I didn't particularly like, so we took a walk to Harvey Nichols. Daniel needed the loo when we got there, so having discovered that they also didn't have the bag I was after I waited in the jewellery area. For whatever reason this was the only time that I felt slightly vulnerable that day. Otherwise I relished the camouflage of walking around the city knowing the chances of bumping into someone I knew would be minimal.
Rob called to see if Daniel wanted to play tennis, which I was more than happy for him to do but by the time we would have got back etc, it would have probably been too late. So Daniel was kind enough to keep us on the handbag quest and we drove up to Selfridges. Whoop, whoop they had the various colours of the bag I was after......so the inevitable happened and I purchased one...a very lucky girl!
Knowing it would be an extremely late dinner if we waited for us to get home, we decided to have a quick noodle dinner at Busaba Eathai. So good!
Photo no.94 - Guava Collins sooooo good and some tasty noodles!
To Daniel's surprise I also lost my voice...I think this was the first time this had ever happened so aside from his initial concern, he enjoyed some quiet time (it came back in the morning)!
A great day and a new friend made.
Wednesday 9th April
Song of the day: Heaven - Emeli Sande
Plus a bruce bonus 2nd song of the day for you disco lovers out there...Don't look any further - Dennis Edwards feat. Siedah Garrett
This bug is a stubborn b*ggar! I was feeling ok but still could feel that the bug had a hold of my lungs. Go away, you're not welcome!
Big event of today - first wig wear into the office! Debbie was really sweet and offered to come and meet me to walk in together. However, having worn it for the past 3 days I was feeling strangely confident about wearing it. So I went solo. Deep breath...of course it was fine as I work with such a lovely bunch of people. Another thing done. Good. This was my first day in the office of round 2, so naturally there was some catching up with people to be done. I love going into work as it gives me some normality back and something else to focus on for a few hours.
Arriving home, we had a visitor...Lars was over for a few days. Daniel had gone to the Haven after work so we ended up all having a late dinner together, as I picked Daniel up from Heathrow to make his journey quicker. Dinner was provided by my mother...thank you! So it was a case of reheating a yummy chilli con carne. Good times.
Wearing the wig is very much an out of the house accessory. I had been wearing bandanas around the house but tonight I felt it was time to bring out one of the many headscarves that I now own! Something that people are often asking is how comfortable is the wig. Pre hair loss it was too tight, so even an hour was a mission. Now, it's fairly comfortable to wear and it's not hot, which is also a frequently asked question! On Tuesday I had worn it for 9 hours, which is probably my limit. It is nice to come home and take it off and put something more comfortable on...as with changing into some joggers having worn some tight jeans. I do feel I should wear it more around the house for Daniel's sake but he seems ok with the current state of play.
Photo no.95 - headscarf time!
Thursday 10th April
Song of the day: Somebody else's guy - Ce Ce Penniston
10.30am meeting booked at work...early start! I had a really great session at work and felt like I was back in the swing of things. Daniel and I also received some really good news that morning, which will make life easier. I had a beautiful drive through Windsor Great Park to get to physio, the whole area is absolutely stunning. A good session with Diana and a couple of cords snapped so only one big one to go!
It was then time for tea with Juliette at her very stylish house. Plus a bonus was a game of I spy with Max and Daisy...potentially the hardest game of I spy that I have ever played, as Max took the game to a totally different level. I was so glad to play with Daisy as I felt more on her level! A lovely afternoon with the Toft family.
It was then time for me to get cracking on dinner. I thoroughly recommend the chicken tikka salad from Jamie's 15 minute meals, taking out some of the ingredients. The cashews are definitely not a requirement in the dressing! I'm considering rewriting the book with the actual ingredients that you need! Plus always half the quantity of citrus Jamie recommends...that man like a whole lot of lemon!
Friday 11th April
Song of the day: no song offered....well there was one but it's too obscene to put on here....shocking Homer!
The same symptoms of the cold/ cough were still not budging so I booked a visit to the GP for after work. My voice was still sounding like Marge Simpson, though others thought differently and were requesting me recording messages for them...enough said! I said to my GP about sounding like Marge and replied with the fact that people think he looks like Bart Simpson...hilarious!
Coming home I decided I need to start mastering the art of a selfie as mine have been somewhat dodgy! So here goes....
Photo no.96 - wig selfie - not cut shorter, just seeing what it would look like!
It felt like it had been a busy week...not as busy as life BC had been but a lot of firsts had been achieved, so we decided to stay at home for fajita night! I had given Daniel the option of chicken or beef, he had opted for beef. However, when I got to buying the meat I decided to go for pork, which was thoroughly disapproved of by DW....sigh! Still the pics below show that they looked pretty good and I enjoyed them. Lesson learned though...DW turned into a petulant child and refused to eat most of the meat.
Photo no.97 - fajita time!
Photo no.98 - the only way to eat it...so elegant!!! Tasty!
Having enjoyed a glass of wine, we retired to the sofas for some TV time. I was so tired I literally fell asleep at 21.30 and woke up again around 23.00. Sofa sleeps are my favourites but then it's always the worst bit dragging yourself to the bathroom to clean your teeth and actually get in bed...still it's worth it! Rock n roll Friday! Saturday 12th April
Song of the day #1 (LH): Spotlight - Jennifer Hudson
Song of the day #2 (VW): Keep your head up - Ben Howard
I was feeling so much better but still a bit tired so we decided to have a lazy morning. Later that day we were heading up to Milton Keynes to see Peter and Hilary's new pad. We had originally said we'd stay over, I was doing this as DW (going to refer to Daniel as this from now on) was really keen to stay. However, I had been feeling anxious about this due to not knowing the local hospitals and also just having to take a wig stand/ scarves etc....Additionally I realised that DW couldn't drink too much in case he needed to take me somewhere if anything happened...so feeling a bit vulnerable I mentioned this. I got a fairly blunt response as potentially I should have said my feelings in the first place but hey my intentions had been good. To do the right thing I called Peter to let him know that it was me who made the call not to stay. Once up in Milton Keynes some of these fears diminished but I was pleased to know that I was heading home....security blanket.
It was a beautiful day and we arrived at Chez Pillary late afternoon. We were given the grand tour of the house and then had a fab dinner cooked by Hilary (particularly the pear and blueberry crumble), with the salad of course made by Peter. Actually, you're probably wondering (or maybe not) who these guys are. Daniel met Peter pretty much on his first day of university and they've remained firm friends ever since...I had dubbed Peter, Perfect Rooster Pete as they often seemed to frequent fried chicken establishments on the Mile End Road, one of which was called Perfect Rooster. I think Mr Daniel would firmly like this removed from his association! We had some great times during university years, particularly a couple of nights at a club called Hombres just off the Tottenham Court Road, where beer was only served in half pints. Classy! Hilary is Peter's lovely girlfriend and we're so pleased that they've moved into their first place together, which was looking fab!
We headed out for a walk in the 'countryside'....for city boy like Peter the early mosquito's proofed a real Bear Grylls' challenge! ; ))
Back at Chez Pillary and it was time for some evening entertainment....so please enjoy the next series of photos. The After Eight challenge was introduced to us by Laura and Ally and it never fails to provide amusement, so here you go!
Photo no.99 - the After Eight challenge...on your marks...
Photo no.100 - get set...
Photo no.101 - GO!!
Photo no.102 - and they're off!
Photo no.103 - Peter looks like he's in the lead....
Photo no.104 - oh no what's this Mr Daniel....your After Eight looks precarious!
Photo no.105 - shortly after this shot, Peter's fell to the floor...back to the start Mr Daniel!
Photo no.106 - and the winner is DW...good technique!
Photo no.107 - victory is minty sweet!
A great time with fantastic company and good food! Thanks so much, we'll definitely be back for another visit! xxx
Sunday 13th April
Song of the day: Empire State of Mind (part II) - Alicia Keys
The Marge Simpson voice had transformed more into Mariella Frostrup, which was much preferred. Again we took advantage of the weekend and had a lazy Sunday morning. The weather was glorious again so a walk by the river was on the agenda!
We parked in Remenham and walked along the tow path into Henley. It was time for the first frappucino of the season...mine's a mocha thank you! I have to say I'm not a Starbuck's fan but no one can beat them on iced coffee drinks. We then had a mini picnic by the moorings, which was delightful. A brilliant Sunday afternoon walk with my favourite chap.
Photo no.108 - our special place.
Of course, the pressure was on for me as I had dinner to prepare. This is another Waitrose recipe and I'd thoroughly recommend it as it's easy to make but is delicious. We BBQ'd the steak but it's just as good if you don't. We had a bottle of Malbec by the Tapiz vineyard. It's a fabulous wine but we've not found it in this country so Daniel's parents bring it over from Sweden..bizarre I know as it's an Argentinian wine but it's so good. We visited this vineyard when we were in Argentina and I'd definitely recommend a visit if you're in the Mendoza area....it comes complete with a horse ride around the vines!
Photo no.109 - Sunday night dinner: Aromatic Asian Steak with Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad.
So week 5 was over. Another one to tick off! Overall a great week with lots of new and fun experiences, seeing old friends and making new ones. Thank you everyone who we shared this week with! Over and out. xxx
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