I’m now fully recovered from my super cold and in fine fettle. I’m in no mood to catch anything else though. I have enjoyed my dry spell of bugs for the last 2 years, and would very much like to get back to that. :)
I had a pretty quiet week. I had a few meetings, and a vaccine centre stint but on the whole a very quiet time.
Ben has been using up remaining holiday days left at work, and decided to take last Friday off. He asked me if I fancied doing something. The answer will always be yes!
For one, I treasure any time I get to spend with my children. And 2, I have quite a lot of time on my hands (hence my volunteering at the vaccine centre and for Bowel Research UK to start with).
We offered each other various options of things to do, and settled on a day of culture (well, technically, a morning of culture, and an afternoon shopping in Selfridges).
I chose an outfit for comfort, not just the feel of it, but emotional comfort too. I want to have as low a risk of leaks as possible.
As per, I asked Chris to take a photo ‘for my blog’.
It was at this point I noticed my bag was showing through in some lights and angles.
I always make a point of avoiding this, but I also make plenty of the fact I am unbothered by my bag showing.
My preference is that it shouldn’t show through. But that’s not based on fear of anyone noticing, or shame or embarrassment. Nope, it’s none of those things. I just prefer smooth lines.
I don’t want my knicker line to show through either. And it’s on the same level as that.
A preference for smooth edges and lines.
I can assure you, this lady….
Is not bothered by this…
I prefer smooth lines. I do not feel any need to hide away my bag, and really the question is why should anyone feel embarrassed or upset by it?
Social conditioning to believe poo is bad, poo is secret, poo is dirty.
Well how about we all get over ourselves and just be a bit kinder to all ~ remember if food goes in us all, poo comes out of us all.
By whatever means available. Mine just happens to be from my abdomen. And very happy I am about that too. :)
It’s not a choice for me as my colostomy was never going to be reversible like some stomas. And nor would I want it to be, bums aren’t all they are cracked up to be! (Pun most definitely intended) ;)
I very much enjoy the freedom my colostomy brings me. So when I dress I’m not covering it up out of shame. I’m simply a stickler for smooth lines.
Ben and I headed off for our day of fun.
Dress from H&M, Tights from Tesco, Boots from Gucci, Coat from Moncler
We headed over to Tottenham, to, as it turns out, a shabby, ex futon factory, for the Michelangelo installation.
I cackled like a witch when I saw the VIP entrance. I’m not sure it was erected for shits and giggles, but it certainly made me laugh.
I maybe would have gone along the ‘Pre booked’ and ‘non Pre booked’ line had I been producing the show.
The little velvet VIP rope saw me off! Hahahahaha
It wasn’t a bad exhibition. It was a bit basic. But actually quite informative.
It broke down the the Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings into small digestible parts. and at a lower level so you can see the panels in all their glory.
The exhibition guide explained that Michelangelo didn’t want to paint it (nobody did), but he was forced to by the pope.
Which might explain the sheer amount of penises painted on a church’s ceiling. I doubt the pope noticed them at the time from 60 feet below.
But when you can see the paintings up close you notice just how many he actually painted. Perhaps this was a personal interpretation and expression of being forced to paint it by the pope.
I’ve been to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican. I found it a huge turn off.
The sights are incredible, awe inspiring, but as you view more and more treasures, you realise just how much they are sitting on and how much good they could do if they sold some of it off.
It’s said they are priceless, and therefore can’t be sold, but let’s face it, everything has a price.
I bet there’re a few maniacal billionaires that could and would willingly spend their space leisure money on them.
Anyway, this little pop up gallery in Tottenham was actually quite good, informative, easy to understand.
Not terribly interactive, like the Van Gogh experience a few weeks back, but breaking down each panel was interesting. It also seemed a bit wrong looking at something the person that had to paint it didn’t want to paint to start with.
I especially liked this bum hole-less angel. I feel so seen! Hahahahaha.
I’m hoping that will catch on as my new nickname. Maybe I’ll change my name on my socials to it. :)
The Bum hole-less angel herself
From there it was back on the Tube and off to the shops. There is only so much culture anyone can take in one day. :)
I bought a blazer in Zara. Why? I have no idea. I’m not really the blazer type in practice, but in theory I totally believe I am.
I’m determined to actually wear this one. ;)
We had a lovely day. A spot of lunch at Busaba, a Thai restaurant we love, then a slow walk to Fortnum and Mason to claim free toppings for our ice cream.
All that and no bag leaks. I’m pretty sure that’s a prize winning day out.
We headed home where I crashed out on the settee, having walked miles. How come I can easily walk thirteen thousand steps round London, but take me to a selection of fields and countryside and expect the same of me and I crumble. Hahahahaha.
Saturday was spent pottering around.
A friend of mine was/is having some trouble with a reluctant stoma. I asked on Instagram if anyone with an ileostomy could offer any suggestions to help.
I have a colostomy, so my stoma is very low down, it behaves differently to an ileostomy.
Ileostomies come from the small intestines, the ilium.
My stoma is a colostomy, which comes from the colon.
My output is pretty much the same as someone with a bum. An ilesostomy is often more liquidy.
I was hoping that someone could shed light on something that helps blocked ileostomies.
I was so grateful to the many many people that offered suggestions.
All very good ideas. Coca Cola seems to be a very commonly used flush.
All ideas passed on. Most had been attempted but to no avail.
But I did feel so thankful to all those who offered help.
Imagine having problems in this world without an internet to turn to.
Sunday was spent in cosy, stretchy clothes. I was a bit backed up myself (not to the same degree as my friend, but definitely in need of loose fitting clothes). My B12 injection was a overdue and at this point I start to feel sluggish, like a slowly deflating balloon.
It also effects my insides too.
We’re heading closer to the festive season. Where for the last 30 or 40 years I get very anxious. I have no idea why, but I believe it’s perfectly normal, or common, rather.
I find this time of year a time to reflect with gratitude for the people that walked into our life, and equally too, the people that walked out of it. ;)
I’m trying to put things in place now to reduce my weird Christmas anxiety.
Number 1 on the list is not eating mince pies. I love them but they give me terrible gut ache. So by Christmas, having eaten about 30 packs of them I start thinking that there’s something dreadfully wrong with me because of the pain.
I didn’t eat any last year, and guess what? No bad belly at all. Which sounds a very silly thing. But when I get anxious it very quickly becomes about my health.
If I can ward off dips, just by making small changes it definitely seems worth a try.
Will I get anxious this year? Who knows. Maybe. But I’m going to try my best and prevent it. I’m being proactive.
I have let friends know I won’t be about after the 12th December. Mind you, most people who know me know that anyway. My festive anxiety is not new.
I have arranged things for Chris and I to do so we don’t feel isolated over the Christmas period itself.
And most importantly I am aware this happens. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of it. I very rarely get embarrassed.
I mean I did blush a bit when an eighty odd year old man at the vaccine centre jokingly asked for my phone number last week - But above everything else I thought ‘good for you fella!!’ Hahahaha
I feel confident that I am doing my best for myself. Will it pay off? Who knows. But I’m already happier in myself for trying to change a habit of a lifetime. :)