Sunshine and stability

Oncology review day rolled around again..... As ever, I woke up with a mix of relief at the thought of getting another one over with, combined with nerves....just because. 

It was a long drive down but we arrived early which is always better....... nothing worse than starting off any more stressed. 

When we got there we saw an older couple in the corridor, clearly not too sure where they needed to go.  We stopped to ask them if they needed help. Turned out they were going to the same clinic as us but their appointment was earlier. We started to direct them but decided it was easier just to walk them up there. The RVH is confusing for anyone. A higgeldy piggeldy mix of old and new buildings, joined together with walkways, escalators  and lifts. 

As we guided our new friends, Andrew and Josie, through the warren of corridors, he suddenly stopped walking and leant against a trolley, saying he felt a bit dizzy. My hero of a husband went back to the front doors to get him a wheelchair while I waited with them and told him just to rest and take a moment. He did brilliantly; had the sense to just stop and take a moment, instead of trying to batter on. 

It’s a long walk to Outpatients on the 7th floor of the old building. Plenty of time to stress....... I usually find my anxiety tears start in the miles long car park queue and then bubble up again in the lift.... Thankfully today there was no car park queue (unheard of!) and we were too busy with Andrew and Josie to worry about what was ahead. We delivered them safely and then went for a quick cuppa before my appointment.

In the cafe, hubby spotted a former teacher of his and I recognised his wife as my childhood best friend’s piano teacher when we were kids.   In keeping with the completely over friendly folk we’ve become, we struck up conversation. The connections were made and we laughed at how frequently we’re reminded of how small Northern Ireland is! 

A nice start to the day. Meeting friendly folks and helping people just like we have been helped so many times. Paying it forward....

Thankfully my appt confirmed stability, despite the disasterous scan! Next one in June so I get to enjoy a few months without overthinking the prospect of Infusion Services putting dye into whatever weird and wonderful vein they can find...... *yikes* Plenty of fun times planned between now and then though....Dublin, Belfast, London...... we’ll see them all!

We came home after a bit of retail therapy (when in Rome....) and enjoyed a lovely cup of tea in our back garden. (Yay, Spring at last!!!) Best teabags ever.... Barry’s. I told my friend we’d bought some in Dublin and they made a damned fine cuppa.....In an amazingly thoughtful way she bought me a box for my birthday, along with a lovely seaside mug and some sweets for my desk (because I don’t like her brandy balls or clove rock!)

Plans for Triciafest2 are coming along nicely, we’ve secured some great items for the auction/raffle and the bands are cracking.

Living with...... 

Freckles

Since childhood I’ve had a smattering of freckles across my cheeks and nose. As I kid I hated them....... no amount of calling them ‘angel’s kisses’ could fool me into believing they were cute!! As I got older I just got used to them. I’m Scottish. Like the Irish, we often stereotypically have freckles. It’s in our genes. Also true to my Scottish genes, I have milk bottle white skin in the winter months..... and sometimes in the summer months too, depending on the Northern Irish weather! 

Last weekend we were in Dublin. Although there was a cold breeze and some winter showers, it was very pleasant in the sun. We spent sporadic, short periods, basking in this Spring sunshine; wrapped up against the wind in warm coats, gloves and hats, sitting on sheltered park benches, our faces turned up to the sun, drinking it in. 

On our return home, after a few days I noticed my white winter face was starting to see a few freckles. Probably for the first time ever I realised how healthy they looked. A face that has been touched by the sun. Very far from a tan, but a slight brightening of a previous pallor. Over the past few days others have mentioned what they’ve described as “a brightness” and I’ve enjoyed lots of compliments about how much better I’m looking. How lovely! Spring is springing and I’m ready to embrace it. 

Winter is coming?? No way!! Winter is going and I’m glad to see the back of it!

Living with...... xxx

Good karma

The best things I’ve learned since diagnosis? That there are wonderful people all around. That the horrible ones don’t matter. And that life is for living.

The past week has given me numerous examples of the first and third of these points. On Tuesday I got the train to Belfast for work. On it I had the company of a guy who shared a love of music. He doesn’t get to many gigs now because he has three young children. I told him of our weekend plans to go to Country 2 Country Festival in Dublin. By the time he got off the train he was looking into taking his wife down for tonight’s show, headlined by Chris Stapleton, as a surprise for her birthday! 

On the way home I enjoyed some first class comedy whilst eavesdropping on an older man a few rows in front of me.  Country folk for sure. He was full of stories and I found it impossible not to have a wee giggle..... personally I think his best comedy moment was when he said this; 

“I’ve got three brothers. But we all have different fathers. They talk about your forefathers........ well in my house we actually HAD four fathers......!!!” Classic. He’s wasted on a train, he was better than Mrs Brown’s Boys any day of the week!

On Thursday I met another lovely stranger. I’d been to help my dad with something and was waiting for a taxi home. An older lady was walking up the footpath and a car with trailer pulled up to park. The driver mounted the kerb and almost clipped her, giving her a fright. She stopped to talk to me, giving off about what had happened. I offered to talk to the driver for her and point out what he’d almost done. She declined and apologised, saying she was ‘just crabbit today’ I told her I’d had a fairly challenging morning myself and not to worry about it. I offered her a lift in my taxi but she hadn’t far to go. Then this very sweet lady thanked me for helping improve her day and told me she loved the colours of my woolly hat! Such a short, simple conversation, but yet it lifted both of our days.

Last night we enjoyed our first night at C2C, singing along to ‘Friends in Low Places’ and enjoying the vocal harmonies of the headliner, Lady Antebellum. This morning we had breakfast baps the size of my head and enjoyed a beautiful springtime walk around St Stephens Green. This afternoon I had a hot chocolate in Bewleys that probably met my sugar quota for the month! Now we are chilling in a nice hotel before heading back out for more music. 

#livingwith xx

What a difference a year makes....

This time last year I’d just had my second brain surgery. The awake one. It’s fair to say I’d felt better.......

This year? 

I’m working 4 days a week. I go to gigs. I spend time by the sea.  We even recentry sea swam (ok, ok, I toe dipped..... it was cold!!) with comedian John Bishop.

I’m preparing for this year’s charity gig....

I’m bursting into Spring! I have 2 planned trips to Dublin in the next two months; one for a music festival and one with my sister and brother in law. Then I’ve a trip to London. Now we’re planning a quieter few days away at the end of the summer...... possibly Galway. 

Living with xx

Update, 14/03/2019- 

I’m a numpty. It’s not a year, it’s two!! Time flies!! Xx