Cant believe its over a month since I last posted on here. My memory is a bit shot these days and I am sitting here wracking my brains trying to remember whats been going on...Good news is that my last visit to HOP Clinic in the beginning to May saw my BEST EVER blood results. Everything sitting comfortably in the mid range of normal. What joy to be normal! I was so thrilled I could have kissed my consultant. I bounced out of Kings and sang all the way home in the car, with the roof wide open. I put a lot of this down to my new exercise regime at the gym. Its really helped control my fatigue levels and given me more energy, made me more steady, helped me to sleep better and best of all I am starting to shake off all those hot cross buns and other goodies that I was eating too often. Trouble is I am too self-competitive. I initially started doing 20 minutes gentle work out - then it went up to half an hour and started to include push-me-pull-you weight things. Each day a little more, upping resistance levels on the cross trainer and bicycle and pushing heavier weights (don't be fooled, 18kgms max for me!) Suddenly I was doing an hours workout. I was dead chuffed with myself. But my bones-all-over started to scream 'enough'! My knee kicked up a big fuss. I found myself hobbling down the hill to the gym. All of me ached. So I stopped for 5 days. Have now resumed a less strenuous half hour. Clearly I still think I can do more than I actually can. Recovery is a damn slow process. But I'm getting there. Oh, and steroids down to 1mg. Almost finished!
Cut all my chemo curls off a few weeks ago. I don't really like short hair, but it was psychology an important step. Looking in the mirror was a daily reminder of the whole transplant process. Now they have all gone, whats left is mine! A bit circa 1983 (wish I felt circa 1983 too) but it will grow. Much darker than before. That is a result of chemo/radiotherapy. Enough of hair.
My garden is full on colour at the moment. Everything coming up roses (literally). I go out everyday with a mug of coffee and chatter away to lavender, jasmine, allium, poppy, clematis, potentilla et al (my neighbours are used to my eccentric ways). May has been a really good month for sunshine and rain and everything is blooming. Unfortunately so too are snails and slugs. They are a never-ending battle. All plants have had a regular diet of Miracle Grow this spring which has really helped with prolific flowering (perhaps its helped the slugs too - they are enormous). I open the garden doors and get a heady whiff of jasmine in the morning. Heaven. On gardening theme, went to Chelsea Flower Show yesterday with Lulu and Julian. First time ever. Bit disappointed - thought it would inspire me with ideas. Sadly not. Unable to walk though 'show gardens' - you have to stand behind a rope and stare along with heaps of others jostling with cameras and mobile phones... much better on the TV. The place was also heaving with a jumble of stalls selling really terrible garden sculptures (I mean, just appalling): giant sandstone horses, life-size wire elephants, huge pottery lions (it was a jungle fest), towering glass alliums, twee little owls and robins and pots and planters - the list is endless. Bought a new slinky green covered garden hose (no kinks, it promises!) but decided against a packet of crisps for £1.90. The large marquee had some stunning flowers - but I was knackered but the time we got in there. Iris, banks of sweet peas, roses, and some fantastic vegetable displays. Despite failure to inspire, was glad I went. Flat out exhausted by the time I got home - slept solidly for 9 hours. First time I have done that in 18 months!
I have started a print course over in Blackheath. One day a week, just to get me back into the groove of work and printmaking. Thats another big step forward. Also underlines how much I miss my studio. Am on the lookout for a new space, but nothing appearing. I know I will have to set up a mini-workshop in my garage. I tried to do some work on the kitchen table the other day. Nightmare. Ink everywhere. Rollers and frying pans don't really mix.
Another first this month was a train and tube journey (have not travelled on public transport since July 2012!). Amazing how something so simple one just 'did' without thinking about it, now becomes a hurdle to leap, a cross to tick off (can you do such a thing?) a goal achieved. It was exhausting, but manageable. The Chilterns looked beautiful under blue skies and big Mr. Whippy clouds. Next on my list is a two hour drive down to Rye. I hope by next post that will be another tick to cross off.
Some of you have been asking about Luigi. I know I have not written about him for an age. Which is sad. I have not seen him since October - and miss him big time (but have got my independence back!) We are in regular, almost daily contact by phone. He has had a mountain of work problems. Moved from Venice to Milan. Looking for a new gallery. Been ill. Been ill some more. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will be over during the summer. Its almost two years ago that I went out to meet him in Venice, just before my treatment started. I wouldn't mind to be on a vaporetta right now, splashing over the Guidecca canal, off to have lunch with my dear friends Paolo and Marina on their roof top terrace... One day.
Va bene. Hope everyone is good. As usual, thanks for all your supportive messages. There was open studios at Havelock Walk last weekend. I met a number of people whom I had no idea have been following this blog regularly. So to you all, a big hallo and thanks for your continuing interest and support on this road to recovery. I am really touched. And to other unknowns around the globe, thank you too for taking the time to read. Australian cousins - see you soon! Donegal, Wales, America, Italy, Singapore, HK, SA, UK - high fives and warm summer lovin' to you all. Back soon. tch x (oh, and World Cup just round the corner - whoopee!)
photos of garden and hair cut...
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| Grassmount garden |
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| garden detail |
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| lilly |
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| rose |
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| cistus |
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| gerbera (on the way out) |
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| before |
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| after |
