Old roman bridge on the winding countryside river

 

FOx cubs and badger come out to play

 in oils .

Windy day

 So this afternoon we got the winds, gosh it was blowing a gale and with the rain really nasty, it’s still windy now but sunny. So no little walk, instead a bit of joe wicks, one of his 7 day senior, but due to my arm and bones modified, I can only stand so all exercises are modified for this. I wish he do a video for cancer people. When you think I use to do marathons.

Which brings me to another point , on going for my second Covid jab I was met by this woman, who really upset me, the first thing she said to me was your fat, do you do any exercise and what do you eat. She than told me I could only have the jab if I knew my weight as I would need a different needle. She than disappeared for ages, another lady was watching and eventually help me to a chair as I can not stand for too long now. When this person reappeared she had made up a weight , so as my nurse explained later was wrong. I told her that I did exercise by walking most days and by doing joe wicks, that I had cancer in the later stages and it was not tattooed across my forehead, I had run marathons, did bike rides and she should not jump to conclusions. In short when I told my cancer nurse, she said this was a little woman with a little knowledge, trained up for this role and it had gone to her head. The motte never judge a book by its cover. 

Today was painting day, this one is about the sea hitting the shore land on a rough day. It fits the day. 

Making up weekly tablets

 This morning we are suppose to have wild windy weather, not much happening outside it’s very quiet weather wise. Friday morning is make up weekly pill morning. From going to never seeing a doctor or taking a pill, to being kept alive by pills.

The are cancer tablets to slow the spread, the is no cure for me only buying time. Although I have begin to realise that this can in fact mean several years for some people and not so for others. Sickness tablets to stop the sickness , the bone cancer makes me sick. Pain killers for stopping the pain. Heart tablets.

Making the box up of the weekly tables can be boring to very therapeutic, depending on how I feel. Today it’s therapeutic. 

cancer the group session with make up

 Maggies who help people with cancer, a bit like Macmillan’s, I joined them for a group session on make up. This was my first time in meeting up with other people who have cancer, it was a small group of 8 people, may be due to Covid. 

We where each given a beauty bag full of facial cleansers and make up. THe items where donated by companies such a clarins, benefit etc. Then we learnt how to take our make off, using our products, to putting our make up on from foundation , concealer, eye shower, mascara, lipstick. All this and so much more in our little bag.

But what made this was yes the amazing free goody bag full of lovely make up. IT was the contact with other people going through the same thing. Ladies needing help with make up to hid facial cancer. Another lady who had been going through cancer for 8 years I think she said. For her it was a real treat and at 71 years old she was having fun with the make up. For another younger lady who was just starting her treatment, it was about looking good. But for all of us it was the chance to learn, to pass on usful information, from where to get a decent bra. The hospital give you a bra but they are not that good. 

I have lost the mobility in the right arm due to the bone cancer, I can no longer lift the arm over the head I can not zip up trousers that are zipped up from the back , as my arm will no longer go behind me. I needed a bra that fastened in front, it took a lot of research on my own, as the normal shops did not have what l needed, I eventually found what I needed on amazon, who have specialist companies. Other ladies had similar experience and had to look outside the normal shops and hospital etc to get what they needed. Which makes me think surely it would be a good idea for Maggie and Macmillan should have a fact finding sheet to help cancer patients found what they need outside the norm.

So it was a nice two hours of make up, and chatting and learning and not feeling alone.

 I am going back to my blog after several years away, during the pandemic I was admitted in to hospital, during a 6 week stay I was diagnosed with cancer level three, in the bones, breast and endocrine system. Since then I have been living a different life, as many people have during the pandemic. I do not think many people would realise the changes to their lives this pandemic would bring. For me the pandemic brought hospital, if the had been no pandemic I would not of gone to hospital, and never had know I had cancer. I was too busy working. If this is a good thing who can tell, would I be dead by now, who knows.

I have started painting again, as my life has slow down a lot.

This painting I finished yesterday. THE ancient woodlands

Oil painting done whilst dealing with cancer

Wild seas

Across the bridge