Hello dear readers, how are you doing? I hope you and yours are well physically and mentally. We are living in extraordinary times and will see incredible changes in the future. Rather scary stuff that. I also hope you can face these with optimism. No matter what is the case with you, my thoughts and prayers go for you and yours.

Let’s start with something positive, shall we? British artists are coming together to paint and draw NHS workers portraits to say thank you. What a wonderful way to immortalise these heroes:

It is Wednesday morning at 3am when I am writing this. I woke up at twelve to go to the toilet and take another painkiller. Then I went back to bed but couldn’t get back to sleep. Never mind. I felt the best way to get about this was to use the time for something I enjoy. So I got up; made a cup of tea, and played a little with the tv on. That is where I saw the report about the artists drawing portraits.

It’s strange how the best husband (Jeremy Clarkson voice) in the world and my sleeping patterns seem to have reversed. Usually, it is him staying up half of the night, and I am asleep. But he is working full time, still recovering from a severe operation and basically does all the housework now, and it takes its toll. I am in awe how he manages it all and deeply grateful for his love and support.

I don’t worry too much about not sleeping. I am basically bound to the house for the next four and a half months so I can write and read whenever it fits. Plus my sleeping pattern seems to be one night up one night sleeping. I can live with that.

Of course, I have a reason for being worried and not sleeping. I start chemotherapy on Monday, and in COVID-19 times nothing is straight forward. I need to have blood tests done before every session. Usually, I would just get an appointment with the surgery and go. I wasn’t sure though if they still do these. Luckily our surgery has a brilliant homepage. You can basically do everything online. So I asked and they told me they do, but they could also ask the community nurse to come around because I am now classed as vulnerable. At first, I wasn’t sure which I’d prefer but decided to ask for the services of the community nurses.

The hospital I am attending has lots of information as leaflets and online about their cancer treatments. Usually, they do an information evening in the radiology department and for chemotherapy but that’s not on right now. Also, chemotherapy is moved to a private hospital close by to keep vulnerable patients safe. The appointment letter I got told me though to go to my regular hospital. Confusing. So I called my oncology specialist nurse to find out. They are only in their office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and I didn’t expect a call back when I called on Tuesday. But a co-worker of theirs picked up the call and reassured me I had to go to the private hospital and they would call me closer to the appointment. I feel I can start working as a PA after all this with this much organising and finding information.

And then there is this little thing with shielding. I should hide in one room in the house once I start chemotherapy, not seeing the husband and only use bathroom and kitchen on my own. Our home is small. We have no en suits. I can’t fully shield and also start to realise how much close contact with my husband helps me to get through this. We cannot afford to both stay home as our employer wouldn’t pay him. ( Government advice is that family members can still work but need to stay away from the person who is shielding and as a groundskeeper, he can’t work from home.). We sill figure out how to deal with this. So what day is it anyway?????

Linda over at “Life in Progress” has started the “What day is it anyway” blog event. She invites us all to share a little of our new daily routines, struggles and successes. She writes: “

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!

Thanks Linda, your rock!

I can only encourage you to take her up on the offer 🙂 . Here is a list of her #WDIIA posts.

Now to something different. A blast from the past

I posted this first in 2017 and it is still so cool:

YouTube Tuesday was a blog meme back in 2012 that I took part in. It has stopped or the blog has moved or whatever, the thing is I can’t find it anymore but I love the video’s I had posted then and so repost them and just take over the YouTube Tuesday meme. If you like it, feel free to share your own choice of video and link to this post so that I can visit yours. Have fun!

thanks for the video to notblu via http://www.youtube.com

Find out more here:
http://www.blublu.org/

A short film by Blu: an ambiguous animation painted on public walls.
Made in Buenos Aires and in Baden (fantoche)

http://www.blublu.org/

music by Andrea Martignoni
assistant: Sibe

And that is it for today.

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks my dears, for staying with me until the end. I appreciate your presence. Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!