Well, my blog site locked me out for a while so I’ve loads to catch you up on.
Plus the photos are all loading on wrong, so I’m right pissed off with SquareSpace.
Here goes…
Firstly, Chris had 6 spinal injections on Thursday 7th October. He’s like a new man now. They seem to have done the trick.
We stayed up in London in a hotel round the corner the night before. What with traffic and the possible delays caused by the eco nuts blocking roads, we just wanted to make sure Chris would be in London in time.
So the night before his procedure we went to Chutney Mary for a curry, where else really?
Then on the day of the injections. Chris went off to the hospital and I went off to the shops. :)
So while he was face down, under general anaesthetic, I was having a fine old time in Selfrigdes and Primark…what can I tell you, I have eclectic tastes.
*No idea why the photos are condensed, but it you press on any of the squashed up photos and hold it you can see the full size version.
Coat from Gant, Dress from French Connection, Boots from Russell and Bromley, Bag from Jimmy Choo
I’m really rather pleased with the coat. Pure wool, really good quality.
Gant is a moderately expensive brand. This coat? £25 from the Gant outlet at our local designer discount mall. :)
As you can see, £25 is an absolute barg!! :)
Anyway, I filled my time shopping for last minute holiday bits.
I then walked to the hospital to collect my newly bionic man!
So far so good. The results of the injections have been life changing. He was in crippling nerve pain from a disc problem for many years, but it was exacerbated by the massive disc prolapse earlier this year.
He’s a little cautious at the moment because he doesn’t want to get too carried away with the excitement of finally being free of pain.
The timing of the injections was a bit poorly planned. But he grabbed the first available appointment. Which just happened to be the day before we flew off on holiday to Rhodes.
So we literally didn’t know whether he’d be able to go until he stepped foot on the plane.
Thankfully he was in fine form. A bit tender where the injection sites were but other than that he was in good spirits.
So off we went, on our first foreign holiday in nearly 2 years. (I used to go to our house in Spain every 6-8 weeks, so this break from flying has been quite a shock to the system).
Flying is slightly different now in so much as you fill out lots of forms Pre flight and wear a mask throughout the airport and journey (a good thing too I say, I don’t want people’s stray spittle on me, and I’m sure they could do without mine too).
I wore my little cosy tracksuit for the trip. It’s very comfortable, and perfect for flying.
With a stoma of any kind you need to feel confident that you’re not going to end up with any mid air complications.
I always prefer loose fitting clothes for flying, and travel in general.
A fresh bag change just before we leave home and I’m good to go. :)
The airport was a breeze. We had heard that getting through security can take an age. So we bought Fast Track security. Plus booked into a lounge, just in case it was packed at the airport.
Both of these are an added expense onto a holiday but one that we feel is worth it.
(We also bought Fast Track Passport control for the way home too. This is usually more worth while when you’re only flying with hand luggage. But we felt uneasy about queuing with loads of other people. And apart from being on the plane itself we have been able to avoid crowds in enclosed spaces).
We’ve never been to anywhere in Greece together before, but we’d definitely go again. The hotel was wonderful. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly.
The area of Kalithea is spectacular. And so close to Rhodes Old Town, for a look round.
The main objective of the trip was for Chris to unwind and relax. He works hard, and the stress of being in pain for years really takes its toll.
He needed some proper R&R.
Now don’t get me wrong, I loved the holiday, it was wonderful. But, and yes there is a but, but if we are just going to lay there baking in the sun we might as well be on our roof terrace in Spain, for a fraction of the cost.
So although this was going to be a relaxing holiday, I did insist that we pop to look at old stuff in Rhodes old town, on one of the rainy afternoons. It’s a long way to go to not see anything.
We made the most of the sun shine days. The weather forecast had said that there would be storms in the latter part of the week. And they were not wrong.
So we hit the ground running and laid out in the sun to bake as soon as we arrived.
Can you wear a bikini with a colostomy? If you buy a bikini you can, yes!
Can you swim with a colostomy? Yep! Just try and stop me, I dare you to! ;)
This was my first time to Greece. Chris had been previously, to Rhodes in fact. He went about 30 years ago with his previous fiancé…after they had very acrimoniously split up. Neither wanted to give up the holiday. So they both went.
I asked Chris what it was like in Rhodes. Turns out he had no idea, because he was in an alcohol induced daze from the moment he got to the airport, till the moment he got home after.
Another reason I felt it was a good idea for a look round. At least he has a picture in his head now of what it’s like there.
I was introduced to the wonder of Greek salad. Yes, I think it’s fair to say I’m quite late to the party on trying it. But where better to start a love affair with a new food than in its place of origin. :)
Greek salad is delicious by the way, but then, you already knew that didn’t you. Hahahahaha
We definitely made the most of the sunny days. The temperature was perfect, 25-26 degrees, not a cloud in the sky on the good ones.
This is my favourite sunbathing temperature. Any hotter and I give up, all sweaty and grumpy. :)
I have an amusing story to tell, when don’t I ? Hahah
Anyway, these photos look idyllic don’t they? And they are, and it was. But what you can’t see in them is I don’t seem to be able to walk on the beach, I have lost all ability. It’s not sand, it’s made up of tiny little stones. I had read a review of the hotel before I went, and one person said “bring rock shoes”. So not knowing what they were I ignored this sage advice and just packed my Christian Dior sliders.
Moral of the story, read the reviews and actually take the advice given.
I didn’t want to ruin my sliders. So I had nothing to wear from the cabana to the sea.
This proved a problem as I couldn’t stay upright on the little tiny stones.
I’m having a bit of bother with my knees at the moment. I know I am a grandma but my body doesn’t have to join in and give me the full effect!
I’ve got trouble with my teeth, and now my knees feel like someone is ramming screwdrivers into them. But as I always say, getting older is a privilege so I can’t complain.
But dodgy knees and uneven surfaces are not a great mix.
Off I toddle to the sea, only to get to the waters edge, lose my footing and fall over. Not once, not twice, but every single time!
I was rolling round on the floor crying laughing, Chris had to come and get me back up as my knees couldn’t take the strain.
Oh how we laughed. :)
I had been swimming in the sea loads, and falling over plenty.
Just after lunch I decided to pop back to the room to grab another can of sun cream and change my bag (I don’t like a full bag on show).
I thought I’d have a quick pee while I was at it.
I pulled down my bikini bottoms, sat…and heard a whooshing and a wet plop noise. A very unfamiliar noise to me these days I have to say.
Where my bum hole was sewn up during my AP resection up I must have, unbeknownst to me, a little crevice.
What I didn’t know (I didn’t feel it at all) was that it had filled up with the tiny stones and then emptied down the loo.
The toilet was now full of tiny tiny stones and there was nothing I could do about it. The flush was incredibly weak (turns out that wasn’t normal and the maid must have arranged it’s repair, but not in time for me to get rid of a toilet bowl of tiny stones).
It was quite pretty really. A bit like an aquarium, add a couple of fish and you’d have a very quirky tank.
I panicked because, well, that’s what I do.
I went back to the cabana and told Chris what had happened. He found this very amusing.
We then spent a considerable amount of time that evening once we’d finished on the beach shifting a kilo of gravel out of the loo. I say we, but you knew I meant the royal we, right?
For popping to the loo, or for going to lunch, I will always take a beach dress or sarong. The rest of the time I am happy to be seen in my array of bikinis.
I took 15 with me for the 7 night break. I think I wore 5 over the course of the 3 days of sun.
And this is how I spent a lot of my holiday. Hahaha
I did learn from previous mistakes, and shook my bikini bottoms free of the very invasive stones before going for a wee. :)
Beach dresses are great for popping to the loo or at lunch times.
The hotel website said something about dressing for dinner, and men having to wear long trousers. So I thought oh goody. A chance to get dolled up in the evening.
Yeah, that was just me then.
There didn’t seem to be any effort made on the whole. But when have I ever let that stop me? :)
Looking at old stuff.
Rhodes Old Town is spectacularly beautiful. It’s a World Heritage Site. And definitely worth a visit.
We really did have a mixed bag of weather. Glorious sunshine for the first part of the holiday.
Then an earthquake tremor, whilst we sat on our sun beds. Definitely an odd sensation. I thought my vertigo had ramped up a bit, but then I looked round and other people felt it too I knew I was safe, then I realised I might not be that safe because there had just been a tremor. It’s was a conflicting and confusing couple of seconds.
The earthquake itself was miles away. We just felt a tiny tremor. I wouldn’t say it was an unpleasant feeling at all. In fact, it was quite nice, once it was clear we were fine.
Then we had massive thunderstorms. We don’t really often get proper storms in the UK. We have a lot of rain and drabness but no big cracking thunder and lightning storms.
So we enjoyed it, sat on our balcony watching.
The storm raging behind me.
And after the storm had passed.
All in all in was a fantastic break away. And as it was our first holiday in two years it was much appreciated.
My wonderful friend, and travel agent Jane Sheffield of Travel Counsellors was fantastic. She picked the perfect resort for us. Plus we went away in the full knowledge that if something went wrong she was there to help.
I loved the holiday, we had a wonderful time, but if I am just going to lay baking in the sun I think I’d prefer to save the expense and lay on my roof in Spain.
Whilst the storms raged on, Chris and I had spa treatments. We had planned the activities according to the weather, which was very handy.
So, we knew we had a bit of a tight schedule for when we were getting home.
The original plan was to fly out from Rhodes at 11.15pm, then get home about 2am, then up at 7am, and collected by the driver at 8pm for a day to Ascot.
It was causing me some considerable angst, so I had a bright idea of abandoning those flights and booking some new ones at a better time for us.
Which is what we did. So instead of flying out at 11.15pm, we booked ourselves onto the 8.15pm flight. Genius!
You know that saying “we make plans, and God laughs”
Well we lived that saying!
Another storm came in as we arrived at the airport. Our plane was able to land, after circling for a good hour. But unfortunately due to the thunderstorm, and lightning, they couldn’t refuel the plane.
But all while this was going on, the staff checked our boarding passes, put us out onto the ramp that lead to the plane. Only for them to have to take us back inside.
To re check the boarding passes. Three times!!!
As you can imagine this was too much to bear for some passengers, who then started shouting at the staff.
Fun and games.
We finally took off at 11.05!!!! Just ten minutes earlier than our original flights.
But in fairness that plane was delayed too, so we still got home earlier than we would have done had we not paid out for the new flights.
So then we had a bit of sleep. And then back up and out bright and early for Champions Day at Ascot.
Kim and I loved these photos. They give off a real VE Day 1945 vibe…
I’m still very much teetotal, 5 years now! No matter what impression these photos may give. :)
We had an absolutely amazing day! It was my first visit to Ascot, I have to say, hands down the weirdest place ever. Have you ever been?
We turn up, we’re driving along the high street. A high street that looks much the same as any other in England. The driver said “here we are, I’ll drop you here”
I was a bit confused as we were on a high street through a suburban town, and all of a sudden through a gap in the buildings we could see this monolithic stadium! It’s huge!! So just behind the row of shops and banks and opticians is a massive horse racing venue. And weirdly behind the track is just farm and park land. It’s a very odd experience. A bit like being at Disneyland or on a film set.
I’ve been to Newmarket many times. And although the town itself is quite steeped in horse racing history, the track is out of town and in the countryside. Ascot was a very new experience.
I’m not the biggest fan of horse racing. I’m not a gambler. In fact when we used to go as a group, the women would be handed an envelope of money to gamble with. I would bet £5 of it, then take the other £145 home. That way I knew for absolute certain I would always be taking home winnings. I like certainty, gambling isn’t my thing. But I do love the pomp and ceremony.
The queen was there, and although I’m not a fan of the royal family at all, she does add a bit of drama and gravitas to the day.
You really don’t need to wear a hat for normal Ascot, like you do for Ladies day at Royal Ascot, in the summer. But as I fear we’re heading into a shocking winter I wanted to go all out glam.
It was so nice to spend the day with our friends, and some family. Ben and Kaitlyn came too.
It was a real treat of a day. I was so grateful that we got home in time to go.
The day was wonderful, apart from the fact that I seem to be suffering from a series of unfortunate events. Which actually has really rocked my mental well-being. Don’t worry, I’m fine, I will be perfectly fine. But I’m having a bit of a blip.
I changed to all new, all singing and dancing HRT a couple of months back. Everything was going jolly well. Until my GP made a mistake with the dose of my patches. So instead of 75mg she gave me 25mg.
Now I tried to remedy this by using 3 patches, but it didn’t work out as well as I had hoped.
So I started spotting.
The complications I suffered during my operation, meant that my ovaries were taken during the op, but my womb (although broken and destroyed by radiation) was left behind. (I haemorrhaged, lost 9 pints of blood, therefore saving my life was obviously more important than worrying about having complicated reproductive organs to treat once I was recovered).
Which leaves me in a pretty rotten position really.
I have a new HRT which means I don’t bleed at all.
A bit of spotting every now and then but no bleeds.
I managed to get a private GP appointment and was able to get some more 75mg patches.
But I think things were obviously in motion already in there by that time. I had felt a bit niggly in my innards.
I then forgot to change my patch one day, and didn’t remember till the next day. My own fault of course.
Plus I didn’t know that you have to keep HRT patches covered up on holiday because UV breaks down the dosage.
All of which means I am having a full on bleed. I find this incredibly stressful and distressing. I know I shouldn’t be bothered by it. But it’s the only thing that does actually distress me about everything I went through.
I don’t care about a bag of poo glued to my abdomen. In many ways I prefer it to the old fashioned plumbing I had.
But bleeding? No, I can’t cope. It reminds me of everything I lost to cancer, and every bleak fecking moment I went through with treatment too.
It took away my baby making ability (yes, I am very lucky and grateful that I have children).
But my reproductive organs made me feel female and made me feel feminine. (I appreciate there are plenty of women without reproductive organs. I don’t speak for anyone but myself, and how I feel. I would never diminish anyone else’s lived experience of womanhood, I am merely sharing how I feel).
I appreciate that it’s unlikely I’d get mistaken for a man. I can think of two very obvious reasons for that.
But to me it felt like my femininity was ripped from me. I was 36 when I lost my ovaries to the operation and my working womb to radiotherapy.
It pains me to this day. So any reminder there of distresses me immensely.
Luckily before I went out to Ascot I had put a pad on, I haven’t needed one for 11 years, but I just had a peculiar feeling inside.
I had a wonderful day out with my friends, all whilst having a rotten time inside my own head. It’s not that I was faking having fun, but I was just having two very different experiences at once.
By Sunday the bleeding was much heavier. and so was my heart and spirits.
Luckily I am married to a very kind and intuitive man.
Before I’d even woken up, he knew I’d need cheering up. So he booked us into a pumpkin patch, for a day of picking pumpkins!
We’ve never been before, I usually grow my own but that didn’t happen this year.
I was so excited when he told me what we were going to be doing!!
I know, I’m 48, fully aware of that thank you. You’re as young as you feel. Never forget that. ;)
I invited anyone that fancied it to join us. And off we went.
I loved it! It was so much fun.
Ally came with us. Ben and Kaitlyn were busy so they couldn’t make it, but at least we had one child with us, even if it wasn’t one of ours, but one of Ben’s best friends instead. :)
Kim and the twins met us over there. We had a fine time picking the perfect pumpkins. The girls kept picking up marrows and gords, which Kim requested Chris get rid of out the barrow every time the girls went off in search of new specimens.
There’s a lot of hard work that goes into picking the perfect ones you know. :)
And with my perfect picks bought and paid for. I came home and merrily set about decorating the house. I love a good door scape as much as I love a table scape to be honest.
It was a great way of taking my mind off my wobbling womb.
Yeah, I still feel yucky and gross. But I also feel happy and thankful.
I am very lucky to have a very lovely life. With a very lovely man.
No one promised us a straight line. Life is full of ups, downs, lumps and bumps. The key is to focus on the good. And ride out the rest.
My pumpkins this year are the size of a small tangerine. But at least I had lots of lovely pumpkin foliage to use in my display.
I’m very much looking forward to a very happy Halloween. :)
Apologies for the photos all being a mess and scrunched up. I’m not a very happy bunny with this blog page provider right now.
Hoping to get it sorted ASAP x
Not sorted the problem as yet, but if you press on the squashed photos you can see the full size version. I have no idea why or how.
I just pressed on one and saved it to my phone and it’s perfectly normal size.
