New Years Resolutions

Well now I am living in the 'Burgh, I am turning my nose up at the tourist fest in the city centre today, I'll be dissing the Festival by next August (I think not!!)

Instead I am off to a paaaaaaaaarty, gonna get all dressed up and have a great time.

I have a list of resolutions, most of which will not be achieved but I  will try for some of them...

1. Finish chemo and radio and get on with living (this one will NOT be broken)

2. Grow some hair !

3. Lose weight

4. Get Fiit (geddit?) and lose weight

5. Do more papercrafting commissions for magazines

6. Grow some veg

7. Book on a stand up comedy course or get back into am-dram

8. Expand my cooking repertoire

Well that's about all from me from 2008. I wish you all a fab evening and a happy and healthy 2009, thanks for reading this piffle and writing your lovely comments................xxxxxxxxx

Techno Techno Techno

Well hubby and I have had a go on the Wii Fit today, our major athletes have nowt to fear, I am soooo bad. No wonder I was the dunce in PE, it's laughable really.

I am totally in love with twitter at the moment - check it out here www.twitter.com, great fun on a phone or PC.

We had a scoot round to some more neighbours this afternoon for a drinks party, it was lovely and my first time in a tenement flat, how amazing!! The Scottish really have a knack for unusual building that didn't even figure in England.

Off to see a panto tomorrow (oh yes I am!!) which will be the first time Alex has seen one. Should be a right giggle.

2008 goes down as first sober Christmas in years for me, chemo gives me hideous heartburn which doesn't go well with my usual tipple of white wine......someone suggested trying margheritas ha ha ha!!!

Seasons Greetings!

Well I am a lucky gal, I managed to get through Christmas without any yucky side effects. I made Christmas lunch and stuffed myself, even managed to sip a couple of glasses of fizz - yay!!

I was thoroughly spoiled, I got Wii Fit (currently I am Wii FAT) , I also got tickets to see Russell Brand, lots of fabbo vouchers and nice smelly things too.

Yesterday morning we all went to our neighbours and had a couple of drinkies and nibbles, and we watched Dr Who at another neighbours later on. I LOVE our street, so sociable!!

Today we have mainly spent sitting on our bums, although we did go to the park and the most amazing thing happened, Alex learned to ride his bike!!!! Best present yet! We have been trying for ages, we actually started last new years day but he just didn't like being on his bike, bless him. Today, it just "clicked" and he had such a big smile on his face when he did it, and there was no stopping him.

Sorry it's a bit late but I would like to wish you all a VERY merry Christmas, and thanks so much for all of your lovely comments, you've really kept me going over the last two months - you are FAB!!!

It's Nearly Here

Housework all done, if anyone dares to even breathe on ANYTHING and mess it up, they're dead! Ironing all done and so is the shopping (smug? me? never!!) Just got a bajillion presents to wrap, ugh...I am not fond of that job.

This year, having ordered a turkey and a goose for 3 adults and a 6 year old, I lay in bed one night and thought "stuff that", no pun intended. I was going to have to queue for it and it was going to cost lots. So I cancelled my order and Alan was appointed official Christmas hunter gatherer and was dispatched to go forth and find a turkey crown. It is now in the fridge and if he whines one more time about having to eat turkey, which he does every year (yawn!) he gets strangled with tinsel.

I had chemo number three today, that leaves only one more of the strong stuff, then just 4 more to go. Keeping everything crossed that I will not have any yukky side effects.

Jingle Bells

So school is now finished until January and so am I yay!!!!

We went along to the nativity play on Wednesday morning, it was so funny and also a "kleenex moment"

I went to see the Jean Muir exhibition at the museum in Edinburgh on Thursday after coffee with some of the other mum's . We then took our kids for lunch, they were just about reaching melt down by the time we left. Dreadful weather too, totally peeing down most of the day. When we got back it was veg on the sofa with White Christmas and Lemony Snicket. 

The door bell rang and I jumped up (wigless and hatless) and opened the door. I don't know who was more astonished, me or the guy standing with a brace of pheasants, a case of wrong door matey!

To top that off the Mormons arrived yesterday morning...............do I look like a pheasant eating Mormon to you?

Right , gotta hit the shops (joy of joys!)......

Trick or Treat?

I have had a very nice and ahem! a slightly too much wine to drink weekend. Really it's not good form when one is on chemo to go and get blotto. So it's on the wagon for me with the occasional small lapse over the festive season. Mind you I have chemo on the 23rd so I don't think I shall be indulging on Christmas Day.......poo.

My copious beverage supping was done in a succession of neighbours houses - hence I felt like I was trick or treating. I would like to publicly apologise to the 4 neighbours who were treated to my inebriated self. I didn't get into any fights or anything but my Saturday evening began in the Living Room on George St and went downhill rapido after that.

Apparently I watched Strictly, I remember most of that, then I watched X-Factor (details a wee bit blurred at this point) although I do remember that Alexandra won, how AWESOME was her singing with Beyonce?

SO I had a bit of a sore head yesterday, but I still managed a big trip to Sainsburys and a pile of ironing so at least I was a bit productive.Going to be good from now on - promise........................

PIGGY

OMG!! I cannot STOP eating, I am deffo going to look like humpty dumpty soon

Bewilderingly (is that a word?) I still feel fine after chemo 2 - as those over the pond like to say "huh? What gives" I think it's all a ruse, someone is going to jump out and say "hey!! April fool"

Yeah I wish!

Seriously though I have a ravenous hunger like aaallll the time, and don't get me started on my problems with wind and heartburn - yuck! Apart from that I feel fine.

Got some good news yesterday my best friend Janey is coming next week and I am soooooo excited. I've got lots of things planned for us to do, including a couple of girls nights out, we haven't done that in ages!

Christmas prep is in full swing, got to order my turkey and goose this weekend then I can relax. Most of my Christmas cards are made, but not yet written, that's the crap bit.

I have been having a bit of a nightmare with one of my wigs, the long blonde one was expensive and still looks "wiggy", it's OK with a hat, but I can't go on a girls night out with a flippin wooly hat on, they'll chuck me out for being a right nerdy.

Yesterday I decided to wash it to see if it would calm down a bit. I stuck in on a vase in the bath to dry. A few hours later I walked in to the bathroom and saw it out of the corner of my eye, I got the shock of my life, it looked like the back view of severed head!

I am reading a great book at the moment called "Nella Last's War", its the diary of a housewife from Barrow during the war as part of the mass observation experiment. I love history, and if I had the chance I would love to work as a TV researcher for documentaries (bliss). Victoria Wood made a TV drama based on the book called Housewife, 49 but I haven't seen it, it was on last week and I missed it - drat! Talk about "make do and mend" it is a brilliant insight into making do with very little, something we may all have to face soon. I have an urge to grow my own veg, I must be getting old.......

Stampin Up Offer

Thought I would share an offer with you. Stampin' Up! are doing a great deal right now, spend £150 before postage and you get

1. A free stamp set
2. A free hostess set from the catalogue
3. £15 worth of free merchandise

A list of the free stamp sets is here
http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/eng/5750.asp

ALSO because this is the Season of Goodwill I am offering FREE postage on ALL orders until the end of the month.

You can order from me wherever you live, your goodies will arrive at your house, no need to host a workshop! If you have a crafting friend or three combine your orders to make the £150 total if you like!

Right I have a squillion Christmas cards to make, I'm off!!!

Arthurs Seat

So on Saturday hubby says "I know let's go for a walk up Arthurs Seat" for non Edinbuggers , Arthurs seat is a small mountain by the parliament and HolyRood palace. My response was "I know let's go shopping" but he won.

You know those TV programmes where they drag overweight teenage delinquents on a walk and they bitch and moan all the way..................yep that's me.

Well first off, even though I have posted pics of my baldy head and my wigs on t'interweb, quite frankly the thought of anyone looking at me with a wig on giving me the "ohhh I think you might be wearing a wig look" was not something I relished. I was bad tempered and horrid and almost refused to leave the car. It was a cold day and I was bundled up with loads of layers, a big scarf and my wig and hat.

So by the time we were half way up the damn mountain I was sweating buckets I whipped off the wig and hat (after making sure no-one was about) and stuffed it in the rucksack, then I put another hat on.

Here's the view from the top ( in the background you can see the castle), crap pic with my compact camera rather than my DSLR. If I had dragged my big camera up the hill I was in such a foul temper I think I may have jumped up and down on it.

The vultures were ready to pounce..............OK so they are crows...

I was rewarded with a trip to the Christmas market and mulled wine and german grub - yum!

We then went on the big wheel and it was FREEEEEEZING. Wigless and wearing a thin wooly hat was not warm at all. Cue arty big wheel pic.

I had my second dose of chemo today............now I sit and wait to see if I am going to be feeling OK - fingers crossed everyone!

You Asked For It!!!

Well not aallll of you asked for it, but you know who you are Aky!!!

Here's one baldy pic and 2 wiggy pics and(you have been warned!!)

Don't mess with me I is WELL 'ARD.......

Halloween anyone?? Think this one is best with a hat, check out those streaks!

This is my sensible, "let's not frighten the neighbours one", blondes have more fun...................

Wanna know something reaaaaaally spooky? When I bought the "Halloween" wig the other night at a place which is a charity, I wrote my name on a list so they can claim the tax wotsit back. The name of the lady on the list above me was the same name as one of my Mum's bridesmaids, and it's not a common name..................how weird is that?

Brittany

Well I've shaved my head, I was beginning to look very odd and picking the hair out of my head was making me feel like some distressed monkey ha ha!!!

So I got the electric clippers out this morning and I now look like GI Jane - don't mess with me. I'll have to video myself singing "nothing compares to U" a la Sinead O'Connor and post it on You Tube.

Feels a bit weird but I kinda like it, was sick of trailing about the house moulting anyway.

Yesterday morning I was driving into Edinburgh to drop Alex off at school and I was waiting at the traffic lights next to a big church on Princes Street and a group of nuns walked past, dressed like Mother Theresa, they were looking around them at the castle and it made me smile to see them all. I looked one of the nuns straight in the eye and smiled and she beamed back at me, it made my day!!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow....

I know, it's a terrible pun but it's true, my hair is falling out, by the weekend I reckon I'll have a head like a billiard ball.

Hey ho, I knew it would happen and I've been a wig shopping! OMG what fun! I have been to two places and I have practically wet myself laughing both times.

I suppose I should have more decorum really, but my take (not everyones I confess) is to have fun with this. Although I think I may feel a little sad when I finally have like NO HAIR!!! I've always wondered what shape head I have, knowing me, I'll have all sorts of lumps and bumps like a football that a dog has chewed.

I have 2 wigs so far, a long brown one, which has a slight "oh is she dressed up for halloween?" feel about it, and a perky blonde mid length one. They are probably less "wiggy" when worn with a hat, so good job it's winter.

So I am literally "pulling my hair out" - I am pretty gruesome and I have been making a pile on my desk which is size wise mid way between a merkin (look it up) and a guinea pig. Oh I am awful..............

I promise to post pics in me in my wigs soon - we might as well have a laugh eh??

Stampin Up! AND a Giveaway

I have made a couple of Christmas cards so I thought I would share them with you. The first one was inspired by a card sketch challenge from Beate.

And this one is a bit of a rip off from the current idea catalogue

Both of these cards use the "Season of Joy" Stampin Up! set which I love. Plus I have used the big Polka Dot background stamp for the brown embossed circle on the card above.

There are a few things going on with Stampin' Up! right now that I thought I would share with you.

NOVEMBER PROMO

Firstly we have a great promo on Rubons and Textured Card from now until the end of November - spend £20 on goods and get 20% off rubons and textured card . The textured card is lovely, very like Bazzill and new this catalogue in all the colour families.

WISH LIST

Also I am setting up a wish list service, if you would like friends or family to buy SU! products as your Christmas present I can organise this for you. Send me your wish list and I will make contact with your loved ones! I have a handy gift list in PDF format which I can email out too which lists gifts under £50 and gifts under £25 from the catalogue. Let me know if you are interested and I will send one via email.

FREE CATALOGUES!!!!!!!!!!!

As a little thank you to all my blog readers I will send out a free catalogue PLUS a colour chart to the first 5 people who email me using the link on the right hand side of the screen. No need to answer any question or tell me in 50 words or less why you deserve one LOL!!! Just email me and I will post em out.

Wooohhhhhh.............

OK someone has been slipping alcohol into my tea, I feel a teeny bit weird at the moment, kinda woozy. Apparently this is normal and it does feel kind of fun..........

It's a lovely day here in Edinburgh so we are off to the pub for luncheon.

People Are So Kind

I have to admit that I am simply blown away and humbled by the kindness I have been shown in the last month or so. Thanks to all of you who stop by and read my daily drivel and for all of your lovely comments, it makes my day, I do know some of you but others I have never met have also taken the time to write the kindest things. Thank you doesn't seem enough really........

So, the good news is, I still feel fine...................long may it continue, feel slightly "wool headed" but apparently that is normal and I am still working.

This weekend I think I need to start my wig hunt, that should be fun! I think my hair will probably make an exit over the next 2 weeks - c'est la vie, I shall see if I can get a couple, different lengths and colours just to confuse people hee heee heeeee!!!!!!

So Far So Good

OK , phew, so far no horrid side effects. The puke fairy has stayed away. I am takings my tablets religously, wearing seasickness accupressure bands on my wrists and drinking gallons of ginger ale BUUUUUUUUUURP!!!

My wee was the colour of blush wine right after the chemo was in, I had to show Alan, he said "OH MY GOD" ha ha ha!! Didn't take a pic you'll be relieved to know.

So I felt a bit woolly headed for a while yesterday but not too bad, taking it easy on the food front, no vindaloos for me for a while (ick!!). Today I am in front of my PC intending to carry on as normal with work....................let's hope it stays that way. It's a gorgeous sunny day here and I can see the see from my office window so life feels pretty cool right now.

That Pea Ain't Gonna Rule Me

Saturday, I felt pretty darn low. I lay on the sofa under a blue blanket, weeping big silent tears, convinced that this darned "C" is gonna come back and get me.

But then I thought ........it was the size of a pea, it's out, and gone and now I am about to do the chemo thang to blast any "floaters" (ewwwwww-sorry toilet humour) out of my system. I have tied myself up in knots reading about statistics and all that depressing stuff, but last Friday I visited the Maggies centre at the Western General Hospital. I spoke (through lots of tears) to a lovely lady who said "statistics don't really mean a lot, they act as a guide, everyone is different and you can't compare yourself to others"

So OK I am still wishing I hadn't got this "thing", I am terrified of the consequences, but I just gotta get on with it now.

10:30 this morning I get my first dose of the chemo, apparently my wee will be red this time (yay!) There's a photo opp ha ha ha!!

In the meantime I have been cheering myself up with the latest India Knight book called "The Thrift Book", very interesting, lots of ideas and I love her writing style, she is very clever and very funny with it too. It's half price in Waterstones at the moment and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Great Night Out

Lordy my head feels a bit sore. Alan and I hit the town last night, and crikey I think I had a few too many glasses of vino. Firstly we went off to a "do" at my friends furniture shop BeSeated in Edinburgh, he makes all his own very groovy furniture (he actually says his job is mending chairs - nutter!

Anyway we had a great time, met loads of great people and we got the chance to chat again with Craig Hill (super funny comedian) he had me in stitches -god love him. Hark at me name dropping. We also chatted to the lady who is running the Jean Muir exhibition at the museum in town. So our plan was to leave there at 8pm and go for din-dins, we staggered out at 11pm and skipped din-dins. We wombled to our neighbours house who was hosting his "lad's poker night", I was officially dubbed "geezer bird" by one of the guys, promised to keep my mush shut. Well I ended up dueting with another neighbour to "Endless Love"....................blimey what a lush I was.............we arrived home at 3am..........hic!!!

Quiet night tonight zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Mrs Potato Head

In anticipation of losing my hair when I start Chemo next week, I have had my hair cropped, not very keen to be honest but what can I do? The oncologist said not only will I lost my hair but I will be on steroids and will get the menopause early so I may put weight on............great, bald AND fat, I am gonna look like Humpty bloody Dumpty. Currently I think I look like a spud with hair (most attractive eh?)
I am trying to be a big brave girl about all this, but I have to admit to feeling rather low at the moment. At the moment I am "cancer free" which I am of course utterly grateful for, however I am under a black cloud of "what happens if it comes back". I want to see my little boy grow up................I just can't even go there.

So fingers , toes and eyes crossed that I will be one of the long term survivors, I don't care if I don't make it to 85 but another 20 years would be such a gift.

Enough of the pity party eh?

Flippin eck!

Looks like it's chemo................. bummer.....

I WILL lose all my hair and it's long and (fake) blonde

I may throw up and anyone who knows me knows I am TOTALLY vomit phobic arrrrgggghh!!

HOWEVER it will save my bacon (hopefully)

AND drying my hair is a total drag........as is shaving

so if you have any happy chemo stories please share because I need them, my chemo is going to take 6 months UGH!

I am just going to get on with it and at the end..............bloody BIG holiday yay!!!

(can you tell I am putting a brave face on...???_