MY BLUE HIBISCUS...

...is in full bloom and looks great. So too agapanthus. Bees in seventh heaven! Just realised its been over two weeks since I updated blog. Sorry to those who check regularly. Recovery slow, but moving on. Still very shaky on my feet, so not managing to walk much: pad around the house, up and down the stairs and occasionally I do a length or two of the garden (which is small!). But basically I move from bed (upstairs) to chair (downstairs). Brace is heavy and uncomfortable, so can't sit for too long without back aching. I have an X-ray booked for 4th September to see how the healing process is going. I am hoping they may say brace can come off, though likely to have to wear it for another six weeks or so. I have managed to sort myself out some 'community physio' - so as of next week will get a physio visiting at home with a gentle exercise routine. Green wrist cast is off, replaced by a lighter skin coloured splint. Wrist still swollen and looks odd. X-ray next week to see how well it has healed. That's my bones update.

Down to weekly visits to HOP clinic. Hurrah! Last bloods all good. Haemoglobin now back to normal level. Neutrophils and white blood cell count dive bombed a couple of weeks ago, but have since recovered, albeit slowly. Least going in the right direction. Go in for blood test tomorrow, so hoping that results will be good. The constant up and down of results is psychologically exhausting. Roller coaster riding.  My lungs still causing problems - get very breathless at times, which limits my physical activity (unable to walk round the roundabout). Consultants seem to think I may have GVHD of the lung and are treating me as such. I still have a mountain of daily medications to take. Nausea rules. Often wake up feeling lousy, full of ache and general discomfort; other days feel much brighter. Get tired easily, often have long afternoon catnap. Appetite still poor, lost lots of weight and muscle tone. Jeans hang off my skinny legs and my bum has all but disappeared.

My studio no longer exists due to a fire that happened way back in February. The studio above mine caught fire (dodgy Christmas tree lights) and was completely burnt out. Luckily my studio wasn't fire damaged, but was badly water damaged. Lost a few pieces of work, but most materials and print equipment ok.  Ceiling caved in and covered everything in filthy dust, grime and muck. So my beautiful studio - already for me to restart with a creative recovery programme - has been pulled apart and packed away. The landlord will get it fixed up eventually but will probably sell all the units on as one big live/work space...way beyond my budget. Half the equipment and work is stored in my garage while the rest will go into a storage unit in forest hill next week. It is heartbreaking. I had worked so hard to get the studio set up. It was already to run small scale workshops, with bespoke workbenches, etching press, kitchen area, badge making area, a mezzanine floor housing a tiny print 'library', computer and printer, and a great music system (drowned by firemans hose). Now it's all in bits and pieces and packed away in different parts of forest hill.  I can't see it ever being restored. In fact I sometimes wonder if I will ever print make again. I don't feel an ounce of creative juice coursing through my veins. The very thought makes me exhausted! But perhaps I may start with some small scale lino cuts which I can hand print on the kitchen table. Back to basics...nothing wrong with basics.

That's my blog update for now. Have seen lots of friends over the past couple of weeks, which has been great, even though I have been sat like a trussed up chicken in my granny chair and probably not the most aimiable of hosts! Special thanks to Lu for cutting my toenails (can't reach them), sorry I squeaked so! Big hallo to everyone out there and thanks as ever for all messages which contine to fly in via text, email, blog and real live snail mail. Love hearing from you all. Keeps the days rolling by. Little by little and bit by bit. Off now to give myself stomach injection. Back soon. Ciao tutti. tch. XX