Hello again! Thank you for coming back, and I really do mean that, you made an effort to come back again, and that makes me really happy and proud. So thank you.
A few things have caught my eye in the press of late, both pertaining to bowel cancer. For obvious reasons I am drawn to all and any information about it.
Obviously my interest is piqued because I have had personal experience with colorectal cancer, but also because I have heard of so many younger age people being diagnosed with colorectal cancers since my diagnosis nearly 15 years ago.
I am always listening, learning and yearning to find out why I ended up with cancer at 36, and why it’s so prevalent now?
There must be a reason, but whether we will ever know for sure why it happens is anyone’s guess.
So the two things which caught my attention were these;
*Of course I’m not saying everyone who gets cancer is responsible for getting it, that’s ridiculous. But finding out there are factors involved that we could change are very interesting to me.
I have to admit, to my shame, that when I used to see people smoking I’d think they were completely and utterly insane and asking for trouble. Not that I’ve ever thought someone deserves it, only that I couldn’t get my head round why they’d risk it.
But I feel far less judge-y about smoking now, mainly because if I felt that way about smoking I’d have to apply that same energy to many other factors that we also know about;
BBQ-ing on an open flame and charring food, taking too many vitamin supplements, eating too much red meat, eating processed meats, like sausages, salamis, processed sandwich filler hams and other assorted processed meats, even smoked salmon.
So with more information my opinion softened.
Every day, every one of us are making choices, choices which could cause us harm…or for that matter could do us good…(and still sometimes cancer, the absolute thunder **** that it is just decides to show up anyway, whether the factors highlighted are present or not).
I think a lot of it just comes down to bad luck. After all babies get cancer, children get cancer. My own son, Sam was diagnosed with cancer aged 13, before he’d had any chance to indulge in alcohol or other things.
Cancer does just happen sometimes, there is no need to apportion blame. There is very little point in the blame game. What purpose does it serve? Absolutely none!
I’m personally on a pathway of avoidance if I can, because I don’t want to go through cancer ever again, and I will pursue that to the best of my ability.
I welcome more information about potential risks, so people can make informed decisions and choices.
I gave up alcohol 8 years ago. At the time it wasn’t a cancer risk related decision. It was because I have issues with self control and self regulation.
I drank too much. I realised that, and I made a conscious decision to stop, and very handily it comes with health benefits.
The only downside I can find is other people’s opinions on alcohol use.
I have lost count of the amount of people who have been negative about it.
People who boldly call me boring or weird for not consuming alcohol.
Which always tickles my fancy. Alcohol is the only drug on the planet where people want you to carry on using.
Very few people would say “oh no!! You’ll be so boring now you’ve given up heroin - crack - angel dust (add any other drugs)!!”
But tell someone you’ve given up alcohol and that’s very often the take.
I welcome the findings of this study, and the subsequent advice from the US Surgeon General.
Because knowledge is power.
If you want to drink alcohol, do as you please (it’s no one’s business but yours) but be armed with the knowledge that it could potentially cause harm.
A bit like the advice on cigarette boxes.
People still smoke, in spite and despite of the facts. But at least they know them.
So I found that very interesting when this was posted, although I could hear the groans of “Oh what a killjoy!!” And “Everything causes cancer so what’s the point in worrying?!”
Know the risks and make your choices.
The other study released was this one…
And no this study wasn’t funded by “Big Farmer!” Oh Come on!! That was pretty good!! 😂
I’m very happy with this study. Mainly because I drink a glass of full fat, Jersey cow, gold top milk a day!! Yay! I’m ahead of the curve!
I can’t claim that I knew about the bowel cancer benefits, I drink it because it’s utterly delicious and I’m now addicted to it. But how fortuitous for me is that!
I can’t recommend gold top Jersey cow milk enough (Not to be confused with raw milk, that I wouldn’t touch, you do you, but I prefer mine to be cleaned first).
There is a lot of noise around cancer prevention, sometimes it’s absurd. So I recommend getting information from actual medical professionals.
I follow Nichole on instagram as she gives very helpful advice and information.
Also dr_Idz is fabulous, he debunks the loons - providing actual facts and evidence, he follows Nichole’s account so that’s very promising.
I personally don’t believe that it’s possible to absolutely prevent cancer, shit happens unfortunately, but I will do my best to try.
I’m not obsessing over it, I’m not pinning every hope on it, but I feel that it’s best if I try and do what I can. And live my life to the fullest while I do so.
Chris and I cut out Ultra Processed Foods over a year ago now. Mainly because I felt they were partially responsible for our weight gain (the other part was eating too much).
We are very happy with our new way of eating. No junk food, no fast food, no ultra processed food.
For 95% of the time we eat home made, made at home food - with some nice restaurants thrown in for a well rounded life.
I made these ‘tacos’ last year for the first time, and we really enjoyed them, so I’ve kept them on the menu.
As this abuela can’t even make the food of her own ancestors, so I hardly think I’m in a position to start home making taco shells, so we improvise and substitute.
Serve with homemade guacamole, salsa and ice cold 0.0 beer 🍻
I used turkey mince for this one (I don’t eat red meat and haven’t done for over 30 years. I only eat poultry and fish), you can also substitute the mince for black lentils to make this dish and it works just as well.
* I personally don’t add the salt to this recipe because I believe the onion and garlic powder have salt in them to start with.
You could make your own onion and garlic powder, but it would cost a fortune in oven usage dehydrating them.
I don’t have any magic wand to prevent possible cancer diagnoses. I wish I did.
But with the medically advised actions I will give it a go.
Eat well, drink less, exercise and wear sunscreen. That’s all we can do. The rest is in the hands of the gods.
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We’ve had a great year so far. So happy new year to you too, hope it’s been treating you well.
We met up with Sam, Milly, Zak, Erin and Ben for lunch on New Year’s Day.
I absolutely detest New Year’s Eve, I can’t bear the false jubilation. I don’t stay up for it…unless by some miracle I’ve been persuaded to go to a party.
I don’t see in any other day, so I make no exceptions.
I do however enjoy New Year’s Day. But then, I love waking up every day, I find it a blessing every morning, so it’s not a surprise I enjoy NYD.
We started a tradition of watching the New Year’s Day parade in London, on Ben’s very good suggestion, but it was forecast to pour down with rain this year, and blowing a gale, so we ditched that part and just went for the lunch bit of the day.
Jumper from Tommy Hilfiger (this jumper does have a hole in it by the waistband, but it’s fine other than that, so I’ve kept it for using when tucked in), Skirt from Ralph Lauren, Boots from Karl Largerfeld, Bag from Dior, Bag Strap from Dior.
We met with Sam, Milly and Zak in my place of worship…I was having a quick look through the Harrods sale. I came to the conclusion that I have enough clothes, and buying more would be a foolish waste!! (I’m evolving).
And then went to Harvey Nics to the Madhus restaurant there for lunch. The Thali is out of this world.
It was such a nice day, despite the weather. Hopefully next year will be better and we can go back to the parade. We are fair weather paraders.
I’ve been wearing a lot of trousers lately. On days I feel bold I take the risk. There is more jeopardy involved with trouser wearing. But I factor that in and take the risk anyway.
I do make sure I have plenty of supplies with me.
There are probably loads of downsides to stoma owning, I just personally choose not to dwell on them, or even notice them. But taking a bag of supplies is probably on the list.
Sometimes it’s frustrating, it’s like having to take a nappy changing bag with you everywhere you go as a mum, it’s not a big problem but sometimes it feels nice to be free of it.
If I have the car nearby I can risk taking a smaller bag of supplies out for the day. If I haven’t got the car I do make sure I have spares, and spares of spares just in case.
Top and Trousers from H&M, Shoes from Kate Spade.
Top from Gap, Jeans from Topshop
Top and Jeans from M&S, Shoes from Ugg, Bag from Goyard.
Top from Gap, Jeans from M&S, Shoes from Chanel.
Top from Hollister, Jeans from M&S, Shoes from Ugg.
I can report that even with extensive trousering I have had zero issues or problems.
We had a really good day in London at the new Monet exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery.
It’s a limited exhibition, in so much it’s of Monet’s work from his stays in London. So it’s pretty much lots of paintings of only two different views.
Although the Courtauld gallery does have some exceptional artwork from Monet and other impressionists painters, so it’s always definitely worth a visit.
Judging by the artwork on display, Monet didn’t go in for going out and about much, seeing as a lot of the paintings were painted from his suite at The Savoy.
His extended stays at The Savoy are something that I hadn’t known about before.
Jumper and Cap from Aime Leon Dore, Jeans from M&S, Coat from Boss, Boots from Dior, Bag from Goyard.
The paintings in the exhibition are of these two views.
This was my favourite painting. The colours are incredible in real life.
He painted it from his top floor suite.
We have stayed in one of the suites just below where he stayed, not knowing his history with the hotel.
It’s a really interesting exhibition.
We came out of the gallery and headed down towards the Thames and The Savoy to take a look through new eyes, to see what he would have seen.
It was a nice enough day too, so we decided to walk to Chutney Mary, it’s only a couple of miles, but London miles, and countryside miles hit differently for us. We can do many more city miles.
Lunch was amazing as always, the gallery was really good. It was a very nice way to spend an overcast January Saturday.
The new year doesn’t come with a list of changes that I wish to make.
I just simply don’t value that. For example, when I wanted to make changes to our diet I started that on 17th December 2023. I saw no point in holding off till the new year to start.
I wanted to make changes, so I did, there and then.
So new year, same me, if something needs sorting out I’ll do it as and when it crops up.
The yoga class I like started back up after the Christmas break, and some plans I had changed which meant I could attend the session, which was really nice.
Outfit all from Tesco.
Am I any good at yoga? No! Absolutely not, I’m very uncoordinated and lack the bendiness of some. But I do enjoy it and I find it very invigorating!
I get loads more done in the week following yoga than if I don’t go. It energises me.
And it gets me back into a rhythm of exercising. So even though it was minus 2 I still went out for a walk Tuesday morning.
Even though I was achy from the day before, it was so nice to be out in the fresh air.
My level of exercise is limited to walking and the yoga. I’m not a gym bunny. But I am hoping to get a new bike soon so I’m looking forward to that.
The week was pretty uneventful, I did my shift at the Food bank, which was perishingly cold, but I remembered it probably would be so I wore two vests and all my top clothes.
I love doing things for charity because it makes me feel like I haven’t wasted being given more time on the planet.
It feels good to help others. I recommend any kind of charity work because of the feel good feeling.
It won’t cure depression, but it can help lift a person’s spirits.
We had a really very chilled out weekend, we got loads of life admin done, we went out and walked (yes!! In the countryside).
One of the reasons why I wish to be at home more is because of the budgies.
When my dogs died I hated being home, it’s too soulless and empty without a pet in it.
I knew I definitely didn’t want another dog, although I loved the 17 years of having dogs, they are a huge tie, and I’m too flighty…so the budgies were the perfect choice (the pun was most definitely intended).
Dogs are great, but they take a lot of energy and input from you and others, with pet sitting while you holiday or on extended days out.
They can only be left for about 4-5 hours at a time.
The birds are great companions, but can be left alone for a good while. So last minute weekends away and mini adventures are instantly doable.
The house is now full of noise and it feels homely again. My weekends are happily spent indoors with them.
Plus this weekend we went to my cousin Emma’s 50th birthday party.
I was in my pyjamas all day Saturday, I looked an absolute shambles of a woman. It was nice to get dolled up and go out.
I have been very pleasantly surprised by how well I’m able to dress with a stoma. I really didn’t think it was going to be like that.
I enjoy dressing, I like putting outfits together, and stoma-ing hasn’t dented or thwarted that enthusiasm, or diminished my ability to.
Dress from Missoni, Boots from Hobbs.
This version of me is what most people see, the swamp creature is saved just for Chris, lucky man that he is!
It was a great party, Emma got caterers in to serve curries, it was perfection. Honestly that was a stroke of genius. If I ever have a party I will be doing the same.
Happy birthday Em, 50 looks good on you!
We couldn’t stay too late because I struggle with loud music. I have to wear ear plugs to concerts or I get terrible vertigo and tinnitus.
I forgot to take my earplugs with me so ended up with tinnitus. I probably should carry them around with me in my stoma bag for emergencies.
I woke up the following morning with the most intense headache. I felt rotten, even though I don’t drink, I felt hungover and rung out.
It was so beautiful out Chris suggested we go for a walk…yeah, another one! In the countryside!
Perhaps we are doing a new year, new us after all!?
Hat from Lairds, Coat and Gilet from Holland Cooper, Jeans from Tesco, Jumper from Ralph Lauren, Boots from Dubarry, and Scarf from Salvatore Ferragamo.
It was such a great walk, we were only out about an hour and a half, but the fresh air and scenery did us the world of good.
We came home and I said to Chris that what we needed now was a roast dinner…unfortunately I hadn’t actually bought any of the ingredients for that, so Chris quietly took action and 25 minutes later the Deliveroo driver turned up with a Toby carvery for two.
It was absolute heaven. It’s not the best roast dinner you will ever eat, but it’s definitely not the worst, and this way there is no prep time and the washing up consists of two plates and two lots of cutlery. So I’m going to take the win.
When I got ready for the walk I said to Chris does this outfit look okay, and he was very complimentary about it and said I looked like Lady Sabrina from the tv series The Gentlemen…
I’ll take that 🥰
Joely is a style icon in that series!
I think series 2 is being filmed this year, so hopefully we’ll see it in 2026.