Category Archives: health & happiness

fucks sake

15 Thursday Oct 2020

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fucks sake (1)

I have always been SO CAREFUL with my mandolin. I use that little guard thingy so my hands don’t get anywhere near the blades, never slice veg while under the influence, etc. Except for yesterday. Don’t ask. I had thinly sliced some potatoes, then some onions (without the guard as the onions are pointy and, again, hand doesn’t get near the blade). Then I decided to do one more potato and, yep, forgot to use the guard thingy and … BLOOD EVERYWHERE. Seriously, it was like a teen slasher film in my kitchen.

Eventually got the blood staunched and managed to find some alcohol to disinfect the wound (gaaahh, with a big chunk of skin just barely hanging on), found some gauze and a few bandaids and, well, you can see the result above. I covered it with more gauze when I went to bed, but in the morning it was still quite throbby and frankly I wasn’t keen on taking off the bandaging again without professional supervision.

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world mental health day

10 Saturday Oct 2020

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Hey, it’s World Mental Health Day folks! That means that for the other 3 out of 4 of you… well, I guess we have to remind you about it. Again.

Yeah, I get it. Was the same when I had cancer. Makes people uncomfortable, they end up saying inappropriate and sometimes hurtful things, and so we end up not saying much either, even when feeling just a little bit understood would make all the difference.

And hey, not really your fault guys, since we are all conditioned to not show the cracks, to keep a stiff upper lip, to appear NORMAL at all costs.

But you know what? Sometimes that costs too much.

Last time I “opened up” to someone about the shitty time I was experiencing one day a couple of months ago their response was that I should talk to a professional. So I’ve pretty much buttoned up since then. Well, except for here. I can say whatever I want here, which is the whole point of this blog.

All my adult life (since I left home at 15) I have heard this…
“But you always look so strong and calm”.

Well guess what? It’s called a coping mechanism.

For those of you who know what this is like, how it feels to be told this, remember that you’re not alone. And that asking for help is not weakness (I’m still working on that last one).

It’s only been recently (post cancer) that I’ve been able to admit to suffering from chronic, sometimes crippling, anxiety, even though it’s been with me since I was a child growing up in an abusive home. I’m still not doing great with it, should probably be doing things better, but today I am doing this. Letting you know you are not alone. Just keep talking.   ❤

la puerta de jerez

29 Tuesday Sep 2020

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So I had my CT scan today at 5 pm, which is a bit of an awkward hour because I always like to “treat” myself after a hospital ordeal, either going out for a tapita or a cold beer. But as I was in and out in fifteen minutes that meant that all the bars (or ones that I would want to go to) were closed.

So I walked home to get my steps in, taking photos along the way to send my friend Julie @woollygee, who was virtually walking home with me via Whatsapp. Anyhow, this photo op caught my eye because of the colourful flowers. I guess despite the pandemic city workers are still keeping Sevilla beautiful. Should have scan results late next week.

face brackets

12 Saturday Sep 2020

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Has anyone tried these? Yet another “discovery” made while scrolling through Twitter in the wee hours. The face bracket! Apparently it makes mask-wearing much more comfortable, giving you more space to breath. Washable and reusable. I’ve looked at a few on Amazon and the silicon ones seem best, five in a package for about 12 euros. Might give them a go, especially for my long river walks, unless someone tells me they’ve tried them and they’re crap.  🙂

turmeric galore!

31 Monday Aug 2020

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Well, or at least a teaspoon a day for starters. Thing is, I’ve heard whisperings about the benefits of turmeric for years, specifically with combatting inflammation, which it seems I have in spades. But it was only when I happened upon a tweet about it couple of days ago (yep, in the middle of the night) that it finally clicked that I should get on this. Or at least give it a go.

So I bought some turmeric the next day and proceeded to make some stuff, adding it to my usual salsa az, adding it to some garbanzo flour batter… but I needed more. I wanted to know how I could get my required daily amount in one go, and also what that daily amount was. Turns out it’s about a teaspoon of ground turmeric a day (which is what I’m going with) or as a supplement 250-500 mg. So now I am working out how to get that teaspoon all at once, like maybe in a shot of tomato juice in the morning? And I will continue adding it to my cooking, but that will be for bonus benefits. So, while I may be ten years too late on this, will report back in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, my white cotton summer dresses are already looking nervous…