I’ve had a busy week!…and this time I’m sort of not joking. It did however start off a bit slow, the proof of this, were it needed is I went along for a the car ride while Chris was getting some tests done. Would I normally go with him in non pandemic times? Not sure really. I might have done. Hard to say now.
I think I just felt like getting dressed and leaving the house.
Unfortunately due to some excessive eating during lockdown I now struggle to find any of my real, out doors clothes that fit.
Thankfully this dress must have had a bit of growing room in it to start with so that’s handy.
So that’s one outfit! Tick! :)
I’m going to have to limit going out even if I wanted to go! Hahahahaha
Dress from TK MAXX, Shoes from Hermes
The rest of the week was really good, I got to catch up with some of my favourite people on the planet, at a social distance in the garden.
My mum and dad popped by, which was lovely.
Michelle came over with Elle, I haven’t seen Michelle in four months, so it was lovely to have a natter and a cuppa. We had such a good catch up, and hopefully we’ll do it again before another 4 months passes. :)
Add to that Leonie came round for a catch up. Again, I’ve not seen her for four months. The last time we saw each other we were on our boating “holiday”.
Who knew that was going to be our only holiday this year?
As weeks go, this one had plenty of highlights, they are maybe more pared back highs than I was used to but they were much appreciated.
My Ben had his eyes lasered last week (not something I wanted him to do because I’m super squeamish but as they are his eyes and more importantly his money he can do as he wishes :) ). He’s now loving his new and improved perfect vision, it’s nothing short of life changing.
The handy thing is whilst he was getting them done Kaitlyn popped off to the shops, which worked out very well for me, she was sending me photos of things I might like, I chose a lovely summer hat.
I really quite like this personal shopping service. I do need clothes but not keen to be in shops.
I really fancied something a bit different.
I do struggle with hats as I have a tiny little pine nut of a head, and I don’t have the budget for made to measure so my lovely new one size fits all hat is perfect!
The only slight problem was it doesn’t fit, I could move my head, completely independently of the hat, it stayed completely still, but for £4 who’s complaining, certainly not me.
I then did something I’ve never done before. Usually I’d either never use it after buying it or I’d ask someone else to solve the problem, but lockdown has turned me into a strong independent woman! Hahahahaha, no, seriously, it’s made me put my time to good use.
I Googled a solution. I gave it some thought and felt pretty confident it was something I could do myself.
Love the girl in the video on YouTube’s heart…and I shouldn’t laugh because she has actually solved my tiny head - big hat conundrum, but she did make me laugh. She starts her video with what you will need; some scissors and some draught excluder, only she pronounced it drought (dryness) rather than draft (as in the breeze under a door). What ever you call it it’s bloody genius!
I now have a perfectly fitting hat, which I’m absolutely in love with.
Use the draught excluder under the trim just inside the hat.
Custom made hat from Primark, Top from Ralph Lauren, Skirt from Tommy Hilfiger, Shoes from Hermes
I am a very happy bunny. Problem solved!
I encountered another problem during the week…I’ve gotten such a big grown up girl I can no longer do up half my clothes. This is a slight problem-lemo.
Instagram verses Reality hahahahaha
Oh yes, lovely outfit, looks great…doesn’t do up mind you, but, whatever, it still looks great. Simply add a top that covers the offending open zip. Job done! I won’t be beaten, I’m now this new and improved strong independent woman…I solved this problem by myself too…
…I guess you could have thought I was going to say I set about losing weight, but no, I ordered a pack of button extenders instead! Hahahahaha
Seeing as I’m hoping that my weight gain is just temporary, there seems little point in rushing out and buying a whole new wardrobe of clothes. These will tide me over until I can drop the 7lbs of lockdown living.
I think you and I both know this is just wishful thinking on my part, and that new clothes are on the horizon. Hahahahaha.
Ben had to go back for his eye check up the day after his laser treatment. He and Kaitlyn headed to the shops afterwards, where they again sent photos of all the lovely things you can buy if one dares to venture out. I chose a rather lovely dress, again from Primark, and a total bargain of £15 thank you very much.
Funnily enough I was meant to be at Henley Regatta this week. I literally don’t have a thing to wear (for actual real this time). I think this dress would have been perfect!
Dress from Primark, Shoes from Jimmy Choo, Bag from Chloe.
(This bag cost an absolute fortune. I got it for Christmas and it’s never actually been out the house, well, technically it has been on the front door step for this photo). What a waste of money.
Will I waste money in future? Probably, I am who I am after all. BUT I do think I will be more conscious of what I spend and on what.
Dress it up with stilettos or down with trainers.
Dress & hat Primark, Shoes from Louis Vuitton
OK, so it didn’t get a day out to Henley but it did get a trip to Ikea, and that’s almost the same hahahahaha.
Ben and Kaitlyn wanted to get a bed for their spare room and needed a big car boot to put it in.
We queued to get in, it was fine, wasn’t too long a wait and completely orderly and at a social distance, there were hand gel all dispensers all over the place and it wasn’t busy inside due to the queuing to get in. It was one of the nicest trips to Ikea I’ve ever had. Shhhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone but I want to keep all the social distancing and hand gel even after the pandemic has burnt out.
It was on the way to Ikea that I noticed a Memory on Facebook that it was 10 years since I headed into hospital for my AP resection and Oophorectomy for stage 3 bowel cancer the following day.
So Sunday was 10 years since my operation, I think it’s fair to say I’ve bored my family to tears with my constant talk of daring do, bravery and survival against the odds. Yeah, yeah yeah, we’ve heard it all before. ;)
…But for me personally it felt incredibly special. It was a time to reflect on where I was and how far I’ve come. It felt incredibly profound. Ten years of extra time, Ten years of extra memories, 10 years of gratitude & never taking things for granted and 10 years of people sadly lost along the way.
Ten years on from that incredibly traumatic day. Which was both hands down the worst day of my life, but also the best!
Thank you for all the lovely messages if you left one on my socials by the way. I felt very emotional reading some of them because I know what you’ve been through and I was rooting for you every step of the way.
I don’t discuss the operation in gory detail and it’s recovery on here for a very good reason.
Some of it is because I don’t dwell on the rough times, and some of it is because I don’t want to be like one of those mums who find out you’re pregnant and give you all the gory, horror stories.
I have never shied away from answering honestly questions that I have been asked privately, but I don’t want to put the fear of God into people that need surgery.
Let’s face it, if you need bowel surgery it’s not cosmetic or by choice, it’s not that you fancy a smaller more shapely bowel, no, you need it to save your life, as in my case or for improving quality of life.
Suffice to say the operation and recovery are a mountain to climb.
As I said in my post on Instagram and FB I don’t have any photos of my time in hospital. I was broken. I was a wreck.
I can prove it by telling you that the gardener we got in to trim our hedges mistook me for my mums mum, and wished me well. Hahahahaha I was not a pretty sight.
I am incredibly grateful that I don’t have any photos of me at that time. I’m glad I never have to see it for myself, I saw it plenty in the mirror back then. It was quite enough of that thank you.
Only forwards, only the future, only happy things. I think it’s one of the keys to my success in the subsequent 10 years.
That and getting moving as soon as my catheter was out when I was in hospital. As soon as you can please, I beg you get up, get moving and get out of there.
OK, so I was hobbling around, apparently like a seventy something but I was up and on my way to the beautiful butterfly you see before you today! Hahahahaha
You can do it too. You are strong and you are incredible and you will get well again.
* I am always happy to talk about the op and recovery if you have questions, that’s what I’m here for.
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We spent a lovely day back in London after the lockdown break.
London must have known it felt like a special day for me because we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
It was absolute heaven walking down deserted streets. It felt very unusual and special. It must be what it was like to have had a McDonald’s birthday party as a child or a roped off VIP section in a club. Hahahahaha
I have now experienced an empty London. I have a feeling it was a once in a life time opportunity, we had the place almost entirely to ourselves.
My friends from Mumbai experienced a deserted London when they walked round on Christmas Day, but the shops weren’t open then so that’s a different experience altogether. It won’t stay deserted of course, because the pubs, bars and restaurants all open up this Saturday. Alcohol and social distancing are going to work out brilliantly!
God help us all!! ;)
Old Bond Street - all mine!
Top from Anthropology, Jeans from New Look, Shoes from Tods.
Burlington Arcade - all mine too.
New Bond Street - still all mine
We parked on a side street near New Bond Street, we went off for a lovely walk. I wore shoes that as it turns out I haven’t worn much before and ended up with massive blisters.
We ended up at Piccadilly Circus and the big Boots was open. Which coincidentally I was just about to do a big order online, so I’ve saved myself the postage on that! Bargain! Plus I bought my plasters and we carried on wandering about.
We went to Fortnum and Mason, it’s very fancy but firstly they have a toilet and second we’re suckers for their Chilli Lillie (hot piccalilli) and ALL of their biscuit range.
I had a look in their Toy department, they have the little car I bought Zak.
(I’m not sure if people that regularly shop in F&M, for things other than biscuits need to shop around for the best price, but my advice would be to do so).
We stocked up on biscuits and lovely nibbles to save the postage. We are so frugal. Hahahahaha.
We got to the till and the girl serving was marking down some marzipan sweets, I love marzipan (I appreciate that’s an incredibly controversial statement to make), anyway the sweets are coming to the end of their sell by date so instead of £10 a pack they were 50p!!
I bought seven packs! Literally an impulse buy by the check out. :)
You could, if you wanted to pay slightly over the odds by buying in F&M! :o
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I thought I had paid a lot until I saw their price!
That’s a saving of £64!! I’m on fire with bargains today!
We dropped the shopping off to the car, so handy driving up, and then carried on for our walk.
Wandering aimlessly and then heading back to the car to go home.
We then continued our sightseeing tour by car, with the roof down. You get an amazing view of London that you don’t usually get to see in a car with a lid.
All in all a lovely way to spend a Sunday…and it’s how I’m spending this Sunday coming too with an added extra of dinner at…yes!! You guessed it!!…Chutney Mary!!!!
Apart from my kids, grandson and friends it’s the only thing of my old life I’ve missed.
I can’t wait!! Chole here I come!! x
As I’ve mentioned a few times, I have put on 7lbs in lockdown, I also became aware that I am very unfit.
My horrifying bike ride has scarred me.
I am determined to get a bit fitter.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to get fit straight after bowel surgery. I didn’t, I didn’t know that bowel surgery often leads to a loss of fitness.
I’m now seeing the incredible Sarah Russell, the author of The Bowel Cancer Recovery Toolkit book.
With Sarah’s support I am doing more than I’ve ever attempted before, want proof? Well today I rode 11.33 miles!!
That’s the furthest I’ve ever been in my life! My previous life time PB was 10 miles, when I was 18, and that was by accident as we took a wrong turn. Hahahahaha.
It is vital to keep your fitness up, even if like me you weren’t particularly into fitness beforehand (never did anything fitness wise at all).
Doing something, anything is going to help you long term.
I don’t want to be an endurance cyclist or anything. All I want is to be fitter than I am now. I want to be able to walk upstairs without getting puffed out.
