Category Archives: health & happiness

happy feet 2013

27 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in health & happiness, shoes, shopping

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happy feet 2013This is one of my happy-looking feet enjoying a dip in the Med during one of my summer trips to Málaga. But the truth is, this foot was less than happy – despite happy red toenails – because its owner (ME!) continuously failed to provide proper footcare over the summer months and, just like most years, by the end of June the heels were in shreds and other bits weren’t feeling or looking to great either.

But not this year! Why not? Well, unlike most winters when my not-so-happy summer feet have had time to recover, I ended up developing calluses because of the shape of the insoles of THESE SHOES, which kind of rode up on the sides and rubbed the edges of my feet until they defensively built up a whack of hard and quite painful deposits. And well, too much is enough already. I can’t have both cracked and bleeding heels along with crazily painful calluses.

So I have purchased all kinds of magic creams and exfoliants and have started lavishing attention on my usually neglected tootsies. And I think they are quite enjoying this! But I wonder why it took things getting way out of control (pain-wise) before I took action. Though it is oft said that our feet tend to be ignored until they kick up a fuss. How about you? Do you take care of your feet properly?

another day off!

22 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, friends, health & happiness, home, hospitals, life stuff

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a bit bigger
I’m going to have to stop taking days off … they’re too exhausting. As it turns out, today is my only day off this week as I have tapas tours booked from tomorrow until Sunday (eep!). So of course today I had to GET THINGS DONE. This started off with answering a few emails (yes, work related stuff, but when you’re freelance these things need to be done) and then I decided it was a good time to wash, iron and rehang all the floor-to-ceiling white living room curtains.

That done (they look fab now!) I scooted off to the gym, thinking I’d have just enough time before heading over to the hospital for the monthly chemo port cleaning. Which I did. Just.

After that I walked over to Pablo’s to see the kittehs since he lives in the general vicinity of the hospital and I hadn’t seen the wee darlings for a week. As you can see, they are a little bit bigger now, though what you can’t see is that they are much more wide-eyed and frisky and checking things out. But it was feeding time when I arrived and they were less than thrilled about me “unplugging” them so I could hold them and take a closer look (still can’t decide which one is MINE!). By then it was lunch time so Pablo and I headed out for a nice tapa lunch in his barrio, handily a place I’d been wanting to update on Sevilla Tapas for some time, so okay, that was kind of work related, but it was also lunch.

After lunch I decided to walk home, which took a good hour or so. A lovely long walk past the park that I hadn’t done in ages. Then I stopped off at the Flamenco Museum to book and purchase tickets for one of Peter’s tours, which yeah, was kind of like working. But it was ON THE WAY and anyhow was a lovely afternoon and perfect walking weather.

Finally got back home and dealt with a few more biz emails (yeah, yeah I know!) before heading out to get my hair cut. And (just like my curtains) I look fab now! Then I had to pick up a few summer lingerie essentials and also had a quick look around to see if there were any nice summery clothes in my SIZE that I liked. There weren’t. So it was back home again to feed the cats, change my sheets (it’s Monday!) and have a second shower after all that running around.

And now, if you don’t mind, I think I shall pour myself a lovely chilled glass of rueda and put my feet up. Cheers!

azahar-less az

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in azahar, health & happiness

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azahar in bloomI think the worst part of this now more-than-week-long crappy ear/sinus infection thing is that I CAN’T SMELL ANYTHING. Which also means I can’t taste anything. But to not have a sense of smell during the very brief orange blossom season here feels cruel beyond belief. I LIVE for this time of year ever since my first springtime in Sevilla. And now I walk around looking at all these pretty delicate blossoms and listening to people comment on how amazing their fragrance is, and I want to weep.

I did get a bit of a preview when I was in Málaga a few weeks ago as the azahar was already well in blossom then, and thought of it as a bonus. But maybe it’s all I’m going to get this year? That is too sad to even consider.

I’d say the azahar here is good for at least another week or so, as long as heavy rains and wind don’t remove them prematurely. What rotten luck! 😦

rx

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in health & happiness

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RxI hate taking antibiotics. Probably the last time I did was after that last freak operation – can’t really argue in that situation. So last week when I was hit with cold-flu symptoms (again!) I wasn’t concerned and only started taking Ibuprofen when a couple of days later it turned into a very painful ear thing. Which got worse, and then worse.  And then I lost my voice! This didn’t stop me from doing two tapas tours, though Peter came along to help “translate”. In retrospect, this probably wasn’t a good idea as I think this made me sicker and I spent the rest of the weekend in bed.

Then today I finally gave in. The clincher was when I woke up this morning with my right eye glued shut with oozy gack and my ears still blocked, hurting and ringing. So I called Dr Agustín and he gave me some drops for the eyes, a three-day course of antibiotics and more Ibuprofen. Which I hope works fast because I actually have TWO tapas tours tomorrow – morning and evening. Tonight Peter’s taking out a Flamenco & Tapas tour that came through an agency. I just couldn’t do it.

I can’t figure out how or why I got so sick. I’ve already had flu once this year, though this is clearly an ear/sinus infection that got carried away. It’s getting more than annoying and I can’t smell or taste anything. But mostly I just hope I’m well enough to properly do my tours tomorrw. Off to bed (again) soon…

all clear!

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in cancer, friends, health & happiness, hope, hospitals

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pili and meHUGE sigh of relief… my PET scan was clear today and so I get another six months. I do wonder if this is becoming “routine” for those reading and – like with some people I know  – I get the “oh, don’t worry, you’re going to be fine!” thing beforehand and the “I knew you’d be okay!” afterwards. Which I know is a way of people saying that they are hoping for the best. But sometimes it feels like it is diminishing my own feelings about these tests.

I will be having PET scans every six months until next year and, if all is still well by that time, the scans will then be reduced to once a year. Why? Because I am still considered very high risk for recurrence. And why do I worry so much when I’ve had clean scans for the past four years? Because I’ve already lost a dear friend who was “cancer-free” for four years and another dear friend has been struggling through his latest recurrence for the past year or so. Trust me, these tests are very expensive. They don’t just do them as a matter of course – you have to be considered high risk.

Which is me.

botaniAnyhow, I went off in the rain early this morning and was thrilled to see that the lovely Pilar was a part of my PET team today. She is such a lovely person and a long-time friend. You may recall that back when I was sick on chemo and desperate about how I was going to get through the summer she gave me a month. So it was great finding out that she was on duty today. After my first run through the PET machine I sat with her in the computer room watching my scan images spinning around… first time I’ve ever done that. Pili showed me how this bit was like this, another bit like that. Kind of cool and also a bit freaky. Then we went off for breakfast and after that I had to go through the machine again (this almost always happens because I have a dodgy area that needs rechecking) and then suddenly I was okay!

But you know, after all the build-up of stress and worry it actually takes awhile for the Good News to sink in. So Peter met up with me and we went for a celebratory glass of Botani at the Vineria San Telmo, and then it was a walk home in the rain…

Now I’m here all cosy and thankful and kind of floppy, to be honest. This whole ordeal really takes it outta me. So I think I’ll just take it easy this afternoon and evening. The Next Six Months can start mañana…