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

 

Daffs

Riding a bike

New oil paintings

RideLondon for Macmillian cancer and British heart foundation

20/4/2015

This ride was for 10 miles.

I have been ill, a real bad cold that has got to my chest, I try to avoid colds as they always seem to go to my chest, as a child I suffered from bronchitis and than asthma, as a result my lungs are not the best in the world, but I am strong.

This ride was a struggle especially as my bike is so heavy and the wheels so large, it’s like driving a tracker in a long distance speedway race.

21/4/2015

10 Miles.

 Due to time shortage finish work have to get home for family time and still not a 100%.

First 5 miles – This was slow going, weather was good, bum as usually sore, eyes runing not sure if its from cold.

Second 5 - good.

24/4/2015

10 miles

Ok good  - not so well –all I have to say

27/4/2015

26 miles.

 Still recovering from sickness, fitness is not so good.

^{1st --} 5 miles – Good did this well. Get up early and off on the ride. Lots of rabbits, two playing chase in the farmers field, one pricked its ears when I called good morning. They are so use to the bikes. Some are small like babies others larger but no not hares.

2^nd –8 miles – Hard going dropped gears to level 3 especially on hills, fitness seems to have dropped off.  

Finally 26 done – want down by the river to finish the ride, watching the ducks.

29/4/2015 14 miles.

1 Mile short of agreed ride

1st phase over- Instructor up miles to 30 plus for 2^nd phase and restrictions on diet. Ohhps

3/5/2015 30 miles.

The morning started off raining, pouring down, I did not think I would get out, at 9ish it stop so off I want, thought I would see how it want but was looking for the 10 miles. But once out the going was good want off and did 7 miles in the first stage, Ok this was going well, the trees are looking green, two rabbits crossed my path, one small, one larger. The farmer’s fields are starting to show green shoots of what ever they have sown.

The next 10 miles, took a couple of stops to drink water, if I have decided to do the long ride, I would have brought some energy drink. Brought new cycling shorts, seem to be a bit more comfortable, have cycling shorts over cycling trousers. Smiled to myself as I saw a man who had placed a coat or something over his saddle, know the feeling.

Next 3 miles goes ok, I lost my peddle as my legs start to tier, its getting busier on the cycle path, so glad no body behind me as I lost control, lost my peddle and ended up on the other side of the path. Trainer says I need the cycle shoes, but this ride for charity is turning out to be costly and I do not really have the money. Still it’s for charity.

20 miles done and I still have 10 more to do, my legs are starting to tier. Riding down the hill towards the next hill, a jogger, two people with a dog and a cyclist coming down the opposite hill on the wrong side, I had to stop. I wanted to cry my legs are hurting, I did not want to stop would I get going again and I have still 10 miles to target, and I had to stop.

Get going, a bird I have seen it before A blackbird that looks as if he has had white paint thrown on his head, unusually a blackbird yes with yellow beak, but a strange white head.

Lots of people about now, quite a few men with small children, one has stopped to fix his daughters bike, saw him on my last leg, teaching her to ride, and other man with a boy, he looked like a cyclist, another with his son, resting at the side of the rode and yet another.

Lots of dog walkers.

The last leg – Kept going I am nearly there and do not want to re do this again tomorrow, want to tick box this off on my weekly ride training sheet, I have come so far silly to stop now. But my legs are starting to ache, by the last mile even coasting down the hills and not peddling the legs are aching, I have a sore bum, sweaty, tired, but yes, yes, yes I did it. 

4/5/2015 2 miles.

I had hoped to do 10 miles to day, but as I want out my legs had not really recovered from the ride yesterday, my bum is very cut up and sore, so did a mile to the gym. Some upper body and core and a mile back.

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