A dog's life

Rocco!!

He's arrived.....welcome home Rocco.  After quite a nervous week, then an exciting few days before we picked him up, we had everything ready.  Mum and dad even joined Tim and I at his pre-adoption talk where the Dogs Trust discuss dog owner responsibilities and also try and manage your expectations of taking on a rescue dog.


We headed off to pick him up on Thursday morning.  We both had the day off so we could settle him in.

We had to fill in some paperwork and pay our adoption fee.  He came with a  lead and collar but we also bought him a Dogs Trust harness as he's super strong and when he pulls, a collar on its own really digs into his neck.

Giving me directions on the way back from the Dogs Trust

Getting ready, with a note from mum and dad and some more toys

We've now had him a week and we are both so glad we've rescued him (apart from when he digs up my garden!).  I get really excited to see him when I come home from work.  Mum and dad have been taking him out for a walk during the day when Tim and I are both at work and also checking up on him in the afternoon before we get home. We are really enjoying our early morning walk with him before work....mind you, it's super scorchio at the mo so it's lovely to get out, remind me in six months time when the weather is crap that I love these early morning walks!!

The first couple of nights were really hard as he whined so much and seemed so sad, but we fought it and didn't go down to him (even though we were awake from 5.30am hearing him whimper), but the past two nights we haven't heard him at all and he seems to have settled right at home.  He doesn't pull as much on the lead now either.

I had the pleasure of taking him to the vets for his second set of jabs on Tuesday and I think I was more nervous about the whole thing than he was.....

Having him has already been really therapeutic as it gives me something else to focus my attention on.

We are taking him for his first training session next week....Let's see how that goes.

Oh, and the poo thing - well, it's not great, but it's not nearly as bad as I thought.  However, his farts are legendary (nearly as bad as mine!!! hahahahaha) 💩

Content

Welcome home

He needs to work on his selfie face

That's a bit better

Cute

Our first walk with Rocco

Hello

Tim's first walk on his own with Rocco

Not content with a normal bowl of water, he goes for the bird bath!

Asleep (again)

Chillin'

Going for it around the garden

Birthday surprise

So my CT scan appointment arrived in the post.  It is the day after my birthday at 8.20am in Kidderminster! Jeez.... FUN FUN FUN.  I can't change it as they say it will be at least another five weeks before I get another appointment.  I wonder if they'll see prosecco swilling around my insides?? 😂😂😂

I haven't had my back cement appointment through yet, but I'm hoping it comes in soon.  My back is cack and is really uncomfortable for a lot of the day. I'm living on codeine at the moment but even that doesn't seem to be touching the spot as much as it was and I don't really want to go back on the morphine!!

However, my back did manage a lot of dancing at a terrible 80s and 90s night I went to with my choir chums recently.  Honestly, it was so bad - they played 70s music and served cold food, but we made the most of it and had a right laugh - it was one of those 'it's so bad, it's good' nights... AND I was driving and therefore sober too....at least I didn't have a hangover.  I managed to dance all night, but then I was in my trainers in my 80s gear!!

'It was acceptable in the 80s'

'Choose life' - how apt

More wine?

We had lots of fun at a charity wine and cheese evening at Bottles wine bar recently raising funds for the breast unit.  I helped Lexi (the charity fundraiser) to sell raffle tickets outlining that a blow dry and not a blow job was one of the raffle prizes!!  We had a great time, and then carried on to Boleros wine bar for some more wine and a sharing platter.  I did feel a bit delicate the day after. Oops.

Don't mind if I do

Lovely Lexi

You know it makes sense

oooo, cheesy

Chin chin

Ace friends

Cheers or cheese, I'm not sure which?!

Humbling

This past weekend I volunteered at the Wildgoose Rural Training Open Day at Top Barn in Worcester with some of my work colleagues.  What a wonderful day we had (despite the rain).  It is such an amazing facility and it was very humbling to be there and be part of it.

They offer all sorts of training for those with mental or physical disabilities, the vulnerable, or those that just need help.  They have a small farm, a wood workshop, allotment type areas amongst other things.

I was working the bar and BBQ mainly and I bought Tim some of their homemade cider and myself a lupin.  During some of my time off from volunteering I even made Rocco an identity tag in the workshop.

My handiwork 

A thoroughly rewarding day.

Honestly, if there is one thing you should do with your life, it is volunteer or fundraise for a good cause. It makes you feel so good.

Volunteering with Kev and Matthew

Rosanna was working the headdress making and mask painting barn

Jenn and Tim brought Fenway along for a look around

Model behaviour

Did I tell you that Susie and I have been chosen from 250 people to represent Breast Cancer Care at their flagship event in September?  EEEEK so exciting.  Over 1700 people will see us model several different looks at The Show.  It's a fashion show with entertainment, celebrity hosts and a sumptuous meal at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster. There are two shows - one at lunchtime and one in the evening.  Mum and dad are coming to the lunch event and Timmy B is coming to the evening show....yippee.

If you'd like tickets to come and see us strut our stuff, they are on sale now. Details are here. All of the models, male and female have received a breast cancer diagnosis which makes the event even more powerful.  Last year they raised £403,000, so we'd love to help them better that this year.

We're collecting donations for Breast Cancer Care via our JustGiving page here if you'd like to donate to this wonderful charity.  BCC have been so helpful to me since my secondary diagnosis - I have read many of their leaflets which has provided me with much needed information.

Do me a favour?

So, have you got two minutes spare?  I know you have cos you've spent some of your precious time reading my inane ramblings.... Right, get yourself clicking on the web link below and nominate the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven as one of TSB bank's charity partners.  It would be amazing if the Breast Unit was chosen.  The deadline is 30 May and all of the details you need can be copied and pasted from this:

Go to: http://www.tsb.co.uk/charity-nomination-form/

Charity's full name: Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven

Registered Charity Number: 1171155

Organisation’s email address: alexandra.craigie@nhs.net

Best person to contact: Alexandra Craigie

Organisation’s phone number: 01905 733 786

What does the organisation do (max 250 characters, suggested description here, feel free to write your own): WBUH is Worcestershire’s local Breast Cancer Charity raising funds to support the people of Worcestershire with their breast care needs. They provide clinical services, assistance & invaluable support over & above what the NHS can offer.

Charity postcode: WR5 1DD

The closing date is 5pm on Wednesday 30 May 2017, so we need to be quick.

Thank you sooooo much.

Love to you all. xx

How to answer a question

How are you?

The simplest of questions, but now filled with all sorts of complications.

It's one of those questions that we ask, and probably answer, without normally thinking about it, it's just a natural part of conversation when you greet someone.  But, what on earth do I say now?

To people I know in passing e.g. one of the delivery men at work - 'I'm really good thanks, are you?'

To people I don't know that well. - 'I'm good thanks, are you?'

To people I know quite well - 'yeah, not too bad thanks' or 'my back's hurting a bit' or 'alright thanks'

To people who know me inside out.... well, this can span from 'loving life' to 'actually not too bad given the circumstances' to 'fucking shit if I'm being honest with you'....  hmm.

Where there's a will, there's a way....

Or more a case of, there needs to be a will.  I still haven't made one and it is playing on my mind.  I want to get it sorted so it's just something I don't need to think about again.

I'm not sure if I told you but when I met with a financial adviser to talk about pensions, the earliest time I can draw on those is 55!!  I have therefore decided to stop investing in a pension!  I've already got a fair whack in my various pension schemes and as I'm unlikely to be able to benefit from it, then I would rather have the money now and spend it on me, family and friends.

As mum has been giving me a lift to work recently (as dad is working) we've had all sorts of conversations you don't expect to have with your mum when you're 40, mainly consisting of what I want at my funeral!  Fun topics.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

For the early May bank holiday we spent Friday night having dinner (and far too much prosecco) with some amazing friends of ours, the Crowes (along with Susie and Chris), and then for the next two nights we were in Swanage....we had such a wonderful time, courtesy of my fellow calendar girl, Jacquie, who has a place down there and let us stay in it for a couple of nights.  We literally did everything 'seasidey' - we played crazy golf, skimmed stones in the sea, had fish and chips on the prom, sat on the pier, it was wonderful.  We also spent a day walking (in the rain) in the Studland area visiting Old Harry Rocks and, in glorious sunshine on bank holiday Monday went to Lulworth Cove and the stunning Durdle Door.  The UK is so unbelievably beautiful.  There's still so much of it I want to explore.

Just arrived, straight to the beach for stone skimming

Calming

Hola

Hole in one?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Old Harry

On the pier

F&C

Durdle Door

Beautiful

There was one poignant moment when we were on the cliff tops and a family were scattering some ashes (or getting covered in them as it was quite windy!!).  I had a little tear to myself at this as I know I want to be scattered in the countryside and not put in the ground somewhere.

A pain in the back

A couple of week's ago I got in touch with my oncologist as my back is really starting to play up again.  It's a weird feeling - I can only describe it as a sharp ache that feels hot with pins and needles, but it means it can be really uncomfortable.  He therefore brought my appointment forward and Timmy and I headed to the hospital at the end of last week.

I am now back on the codeine (er, and the senakot as I don't want a repeat of the gloved finger!) and he referred me for an MRI scan to see what's what and another CT scan.  He's also referring me up to the Royal Orthopeadic hospital in B'ham as I'm likely to require vertoplasty where they inject my spine and fill it with cement.  Now doesn't that sound delightful?!

Dr P thinks that it is a pinched nerve (I hope it's that and nothing more serious! gulp) but obviously wants to run the scans to see what's going on!!

Timmy was worried about me as we headed to the hospital and I'm worried he's dealing with it alone as the 'partner'.  It's so hard.

Another first at 40

I made sorbet.... mango sorbet... It was amazing (even if I do say so myself).  This was consumed along with a beautifully made thai meal by Susie, with our fellas and our ace friends Jim and Corinna, last Friday.  Again prosecco-tastic times.  We had such a laugh.  After my comment at the end of the my last blog we have all been falling about laughing about JCB grease...I'm gonna leave that there and not exaggerate any further!  Sooooo funny.

In other news, I can't believe I will be 41 soon....this time last year I was busy arranging my fab 40th birthday party.  Time flies when you've got incurable cancer!!!!

Tea for two

This Saturday saw the launch of afternoon tea at Primo in Worcester and to mark the occasion they put on a tea where 10% of the proceeds were for the Breast Unit.  They are then donating £1 from every afternoon tea they sell until the end of the year.  Ace.

Susie and I had a wonderful time.  The tea was lovely and the prosecco even more so!  They had a fab duo playing acoustic guitar and singing to accompany the afternoon and they were amazing.  I was so fortunate to have two of my awesome Uni friends up for the tea (all the way from Reading and just south of Manchester), we had a great laugh.

Susie and I gave a little speech at the beginning.  I stated the speech off but then faltered and started welling up so Suze had to take over.  We are the dream team.

Cheese

Mez, me, Angy (together since 1994)

Just one or two....

Yum

How is that even possible?

Today (Monday) I was called to go for my MRI scan.  They called when I was at work and wanted to know if I could go in for 3pm.  Now that's quick work.... Mum came to pick me up and we headed over there.  I started to get really nervous when we were there and had a couple of trips to the toilet... so glamorous!!

I got into the machine just after 3.30pm and while I had a slight panic attack for the first 10 mins or so (as I was worried I was going to be sick), I then proceeded to fall asleep on the machine!  Now, anyone who's had an MRI will know how bloody loud they are, so how on earth I did that I don't know!  However, I was conscious that every time I dropped off, I jolted awake and I was supposed to be still! Oops.

Rocco

But the main news is that yesterday (Sunday), Tim and I finally ventured over to the Dog's Trust centre in Evesham.  We've been talking about having a dog for a couple of years and I've finally given in!!

When we got to the centre we had to fill in a form with our details and things like whether children visited our home and how long we were out of the house etc.  Then we were allowed to go through to see all the dogs currently up for adoption.

As soon as we walked through the doors, I burst into tears.  I had a lot of emotions going on.  There was sadness that the dogs had been abandoned and were 'up for adoption', then there was the symbolic nature of us having a dog.  It's not a child substitute in any way, but it will be nice to have something else to focus on and something to fuss over and also to keep us company in our dark days, both Tim and I, and it's quite possible that the dog will outlive me so for Timmy to have a companion will mean so much to him.

He had a dog growing up, but I've never had one.  I have to admit, it is quite daunting as it will be a big lifestyle change for us and the thought of picking up warm dog crap makes me feel queasy, but I think it will be so rewarding (having a dog, not picking up the crap).

Many of the dogs available had already been 'reserved', but we absolutely loved one called Rocco who was new to the centre.  When we got back to reception they told us that he'd been reserved earlier that day, darn it, but only for 24 hours while the family decided if they wanted him or not!! We took a punt and were allowed to be 2nd reserve.  We then got the phone call this morning that he's ours!! The other family dropped out.  We are so, so happy.  Here he is....

Rocco

We should hopefully get him in a week or so.  I'll put some proper pictures on when we have him home with us.

Another exciting chapter awaits.

Until next time my lovelies. xx