wagwaan?

"Great Aunt"?? Sounds like someone in their nineties

My birthday has come and gone, and I've not been on here at all because that lurgy I came down with just went on and on and on.... I wasn't going to visit the doctor until I'd had the cold for at least a week, because I thought there was no point.  However, on the Friday I felt (and looked) so ill that I had to admit defeat and go home to bed again instead of being a guinea pig for the medical students' revision exam. That evening, Dr O called me and said she was worried about me and that I should get my chest checked out. I duly called the out of hours doctors and was given an appointment for the Saturday, where my chest was listened to and Amoxicillin prescribed.  I thought I'd feel better after a couple of days - that's what usually happens and you have to remind yourself to finish the course of tablets. Unfortunately, though, this cold had other ideas and I had to start on the steroid inhaler to stop my asthmatic cough waking up the whole neighbourhood. I had to return to the GP this morning and she doubled my asthma meds and gave me the delightful news that this type of cough can go on for six weeks. Lovely. 

In the meantime, I had a lovely day for my birthday, despite feeling so rough. Claire gave me her present early in the morning, before she went off to work, and I was so delighted because she bought tickets to go and see Mamma Mia in the West End. What a great time we had.  I have pictures but I've been so busy packing for the move and being poorly in bed that I haven't had the energy to upload them. I will, honest.

We also, the night before Mamma Mia, went to see our friends Beth and Simon compete in a charity dancing competition. They did a great job and I think they were robbed of a place. The people who came 3rd were ok, but the couple who came second were rubbish!  It was all "jolly good fun" and for an excellent cause; I just wish I hadn't felt so ill because I couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have. 

The biggest and best news of February, though, is the birth of my gorgeous Great Nephew, Joel, just before my birthday. We are all so excited for his parents, my niece G and her husband. We can't wait to meet him but for the moment we have to make do with pictures. We had planned to do a newborn shoot but what with my lurgy (I don't think I'd have been allowed anywhere near him!) and lack of funds due to the cost of moving, it's been put on hold. No matter, this Great Aunt will get gorgeous pictures of him whatever age he is when we finally meet. 

I start a new job on Monday, so what with packing and being ill, I really do have rather a lot on my plate. Not that I'm complaining, mind.  It's just that I don't have the will to come and post so often, so if you will bear with me, normal service will resume shortly. Thank you :)

 

Update

Wow, how long since I last blogged?  Sorry about that but I have a lot on my plate. I mentioned before that life has thrown me a huge curve ball and I thought I'd do a little update to tell you I'M MOVING!  Too complicated to go into on here, but I have found a rather nice two-bed maisonette in a really nice part of town, for a decent rent. I have put down my deposit for the admin fee and now all we have to do is fill in the reference check document and wait for the green light. If all goes to plan we will be moving at the end of the month. Crazy!  It's not so convenient for work but it's closer to the town centre and to the station, and there is more greenery around. 

In other news, today marks the second anniversary of my SAH. In one way, I feel like it happened to someone else, but in another way it's very real.  It also seems like a lifetime away and I am so happy and grateful to be "back to normal".  I don't really dwell on it, but I am still reminded every day of what happened purely because a) my head still does that "tick tick" thing so it's impossible to ignore, and b) when washing my face or putting on moisturiser my fingers run over the dent in my skull and the lumps under the skin where the metal plates are (oops sorry if that's a bit gruesome for some of you!!). Apart from that, no one would know because the scar is practically invisible and I was lucky enough not to have any paralysis. 

You know what this means of course? This means that my birthday is 3 days away. I'm not planning anything this year (except maybe starting a new job, of which more anon), although a couple of my friends say they want to celebrate, so we shall see.  I have, however, treated myself to a little birthday gift and ordered some Project Life pocket pages. As PL hasn't been available yet in the UK I've been doing my own cards etc in advance, but I am so glad the pockets are now available and ready to be shipped!  I already have a binder I think will work, and on my wish list remains the core kit. This is because it's only available to pre-order so I'm holding on to my cash until they are in stock.  I can't wait to get all this so I can truly start recording what promises to be a momentous year. It's such a brilliant (and fast) way to scrapbook, although I expect I will still do the odd layout when I have time. 

I haven't really got any pictures to share right now, except for a couple of pics I did to put in PL: I have printed it on 6x4 paper but I don't know yet if I'll leave it that size or cut it down into two 3x4 pictures for the smaller pockets. We shall see.

 

(The weather has since changed to absolutely freezing and a bit of snow that has been laying for days now...)

Right, well that's all I have time for right now. I have come down with the dreaded winter cold lurgy and I am coughing my guts up every five seconds. In fact, I had a bit of a fever earlier and had to call it a day and go to bed.

Anyway, watch this space!