I think we all know I think I lead a very good life, I bang on about it enough don’t I?
But I think it’s important, vital even, for people to be aware that living a good life with a colostomy is possible.
(I appreciate I’m not a great example of stoma life, because firstly I like mine, and secondly my one is very well behaved…basically what’s not to like?
I very much appreciate it might not be the experience of other’s. And I’m fully aware I am in a minority of people who prefer my stoma to normal plumbing. I’ve never even given a second thought to “I wish I could be normal again”…because I don’t consider myself abnormal.
I’m so much better off than that old me who feared the world and didn’t get to play in it.
So, yes, most definitely I would have preferred never to have had cancer.
But that was not what was written in my life story. I’m very happy in the here and now. And as long as no health curve balls come my way I’m a very happy little bunny).
I write about how much I’m enjoying life because I didn’t think this would be my reality. I feel it needs putting out there because of the negativity aimed towards stoma users and stomas products.
Most unbagged people would assume that having a stoma is very very bad…until they come across me…and many others who feel that this bagged life is pretty darn good.
I decided to go into London last week to pick up a few final bits for our Indian adventure. India, NYC and LA are my top three favourite places in the world.
(Jaipur tops that list by a mile. I can’t explain it, because it’s a feeling, a sensation. It’s a feast for every sense).
Dress from DKNY, Shoes and bag Dior
I headed up to London, got my bits and bobs, did my final viewing of the big shops Christmas decorations;
I’ve done the Fab Four now;
Harrods = nice enough
Liberty’s = lovely
Selfridges = incredible
Fortnums = nice enough
I am slightly obsessed with seasonal decor…more on that later.
I had a fabulous day pottering around up there. I shopped, I treated myself to lunch in Harrods Social, a restaurant in the basement.
A mocktail, a green goddess salad and chips (fries). It’s one of my favourite lunches in one of my favourite places.
I always order tap water in England. Which may seem cheap but that’s me, I am a bundle of contradictions, and I very unlikely to change. :)
Tap water in the UK is perfectly drinkable and free.
It was a day spent by myself, with no car parked nearby. Which means I have to carry all my spare stoma supplies with me. I find this very tedious, mainly because I’m very forgetful. But I write a reminders list the night before, and hope for the best.
On this occasion I decided to pack the bag removing wipes as I felt confident and positive that the bag I was wearing would last all day, and I couldn’t be bothered to carry the cab of spray all day.
If I’d had the car parked nearby I would have taken even less with me to carry around.
Spoiler alert; I’m lazy, I lack focus, concentration and dedication to anything that bores me…and stoma stuff is exactly that.
I hyper fixate on things that bring me joy;
Clothes, bags, shoes, themed decor. :)
This was my emergency kit for my solo day in London.
I had the best time, looking at Christmas decoration ideas was fabulous for my little whirring brain.
Then later that evening I met Chris for dinner at Chutney Mary, in St. James, our all time favourite Indian restaurant outside of India.
…and this is why I love my stoma life, because it’s simply my actual life, I get to do everything I should have been able to do in the 8 very painful, very distressing misdiagnosed years.
As if having to shit in a bag is going to stop me enjoying life…in fact it’s because of it that I can!
I am very lucky and extremely grateful to live a very happy life.
Then it was back home and the rest of the week was spent decorating for Sam, Milly and Zak’s visit at the weekend…I’m not one of those grans who bake, that’s my mum’s department, I’m not a chef, or even a basic cook.
I rely very heavily on take aways and Costco! ;)
BUT, I love to table scape, so I will do that, yes, for a meal I’m not prepared to cook…
I asked Zak earlier in the week if he’d like to help me with the outdoor decorations, which he said he would.
We had a very Halloween themed weekend planned. Starting with erecting the outdoor display.
You may think at this point I’ve lost my tiny mind. I mean fancy buying a 12 foot grim reaper for a 4 year old…well, I didn’t!
Chris enjoys my madcapness, and joins in…so he purchased as a surprise for me the reaper, then dug out of the shed the smoke machine…