….And relax…. — Gladrags & Bags

Do you remember a few weeks back I went to Venice for lunch? How could you forget, I’ve banged on about it enough. ;)

Anyway as I reported back then it was a cracking day out. I dressed for the occasion, to the point people stopped Leonie and I to comment how lovely we looked, now it could be that Venice just makes people super friendly with its enchanting-ness. But I really felt I looked good, I felt good too, that was until we walked the 22 thousand steps we walked that day and I ended up with the chub rub from hell (I’m no flamingo, when I walk my legs chafe together).

The injuries to my inner thighs were horrendous, swollen, bleeding…they burned so much.

Well I loved the day, I didn’t enjoy the wounds sticking together on the flight home. :0

I’ve given it extensive thought and research. There’s a couple options…including trying to lose weight of course…1, is cycling shorts but I have concerns about the tightness pressing in my bag for the day, although Leonie did suggest I follow my own advice and cut a hole for my bag to go through as I do for tights. Or 2, I found theses…

Unlike long knickers or cycling shorts that go over the bag, these individual bands just go round the thigh. I have high hopes for them. I haven’t tried them out yet as I thought I was fatter than I was and ordered large and extra large so I need my mum to take them in for me. Hahahahaha, sewing skills not my forte.

I need to come up with a solution soon as I’m back off to Venice for lunch in October and off to Copenhagen for lunch in October too.

And so the adventure’s continues.

This last week hasn’t been particularly adventurous. But I’ve had a lovely time none the less.

I met a friend for a catch up last Thursday and it was fantastic. Friends and food are two of my favourite things in the world.

When wanting to enjoy both in peace and quiet I find dresses are my safest bet.

Theres no point in my trying to push my luck in skinny jeans, yes, I do wear them but not generally ideal for eating in.

If I’m chewing - I’m pooing, a little fun fact for all my friends and eating buddies.

It’s called peristalsis, we all do it, it’s just mine has an immediate impact.

I class my ability to stay at the table almost a superpower, and it’s definitely a bonus of bag wearing, many a meal, usually breakfast Chris has to make his excuses and dash off…me? Nope, I get to sit and enjoy a leisurely feast without any hurried dash to the loos.

I’m very pro colostomy wearing, I suppose that’s because I can see so many benefits and bonuses to having one.

Would I go back and be “normal” (uuuurrrgh! What a detestable word!!). No, I probably wouldn’t. Easy for me to say because there is no going back for me but there has been innovations made that will make bag wearing part unnecessary, like the TIES stoma system for example. And I’m not leaping at the chance of that.

In an ideal world where bowel surgery was straight forward and easy maybe I would, but bowel surgery is hard.

Bags can be annoying I grant you. But right now it’s the only thing allowing me to literally live my best life, so I’m going to live it to the fullest I can muster, bag and all!

We had a fabulous catch up and lunch. Jacq works now which makes a mid week lunch date a rare and wonderful treat.

Then Friday I went into work. Like I said I wear skinny jeans. But I’m careful for what occasions I choose them for. I certainly wouldn’t choose to wear them for a long brunch date or evening meal.

I could of course just unzip them to allow free flow while I eat. It’s do-able, I’ve done it many times, but it’s not ideal.

Friday I wasn’t intending to eat anything at work so skinny jeans were perfectly fine.

Shirt from Ralph Lauren, Vest top from M&S, Jeans from Topshop, Shoes from Tods, Bag from Goyard

Then came Saturday, well where do I start on this one. My darling husband, love of my life, my rock, my heart has a weird…I’d say obsession (he wouldn’t, he’d just say he enjoys it very much, but as I’m so dramatic and this is my blog obsession it is hahahahaha).

Since his childhood he’s loved War of the Worlds…do you remember it? It’s this weird sci fi, alien invasion thing. I think it’s been in many forms, radio broadcast, TV, film etc.

But what ever it’s incarnation I can’t abide it, and in fairness he’s only ever tried to play it to me once (see, I told you he was obsessed!! Has he actually met me?! He shouldn’t have even attempted the once in my opinion Hahahahaha).

Dreadful, dreadful, I’m not one for sci fi, I mean I used to love watching ALF on a Saturday morning as a child but that’s about as far as I got with science fiction I’m afraid.

Anyway a few weeks ago he comes across an advert for a War the Worlds immersive experience…he bypassed me completely for the invite list hahahahaha. And booked him and our eldest in.

Now, with Ben and Kaitlyn away in London for a pre 21st birthday treat for him I decided to make the most of my free time.

So whilst Sam and Chris were fully submerged in VR headset heaven I booked myself into a day spa.

My day…..

……hot stone beds to rest on after massage…

Their day…. Hahahahaha hahahahaha…literally shaking my head……I think I can spot the winning day out! :)(All joking aside they said it was amazing, the VR head sets are mind blowing, it’s in London somewhere if you do fancy it). — Their day…. Hahahahaha hahahahaha…literally shaking my head…
…I think I can spot the winning day out! :)
(All joking aside they said it was amazing, the VR head sets are mind blowing, it’s in London somewhere if you do fancy it).

I can understand why if you’re new to stoma-ing or even if you had it a while that a day spa or a visit to a spa in general might seem a little confronting. I used to find them confronting long before I ever had a stoma, but actually I love them now.

I simply explained to my masseuse that I have a colostomy, she wasn’t bothered in the slightest, and indeed why should she be? It makes no difference to them.

I’m not in any way embarrassed or ashamed of my body…you’re probably thinking good God woman you should be but no, sorry not sorry, I love it, yes it’s way too big right now, but it does such a wonderful job of storing all my bones and organs, and it transports me from A to B - I think it’s bloody marvellous! ;)

On Sunday Ben and Kaitlyn we’re still up in London on his birthday treat.

I felt somewhat better than I have been as my latest B12 jab had kicked in so I suggested we come up and meet them.

So that’s what we did. We had such a lovely day. Started off in Selfridges, which was rather fortuitous as Cartier had a big launch of their Clash De Cartier collection…it’s not a set that appeals to me I’m afraid but they did have a photo booth type thing set up so we took full advantage of that none the less.