Social whirl

I know I have not blogged for a while but I have been busy and tired in equal measure.

The last week has had some ups and downs.  Let us start with:

Saturday, 10 April 2010

One of my best buds came over we watched the Grand National, even though neither of us had a horse in our respect office sweepstakes, by the end we found out that my husband had the horse that came third but hats of finally for AP McCoy for finally getting round and coming first.  Before, during and after the race we played a game of Scrabble, a hard fought game with some very interesting words, and more to the point NO cheating.  The day was finished with a Chinese take away, not sure if it is something I should be eating but I enjoyed it all the same.

Tuesday, 13 April 2010

After a couple of days of playing on my laptop and sorting out files from my laptop on to the wireless external hard disk.  Also worked on my family history with some success but still working on how the software works and the reports it produces.

For today it was all about catching up with friends I had not seen for a while.  They are members of a PowerTalk group in Cheshire but also members of my club, Rovers.  We discussed the recent weekend in St Andrews which I had regrettably missed.  It was nice to see old friends and know that whatever is going on each other’s lives we can just chat about anything.

While in Knutsford I was very naughty, well not so naughty.  I visited one of their many antique emporiums and did a little bit of window shopping. I found a couple of Birmingham silver pill boxes, which I am partial to and then I saw a Victorian laptop, okay writing slope, but I just thought it was a little too expensive, maybe next time I visit I might have the confidence to barter.

Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Gee the days are rolling by. Today was another busy day. I spent my time relaxing before finally making the decision to go into Manchester latter than my original plans.  Ordered the taxi and then caught the train to Oxford Road.  Unfortunately it was the stopper, so all places between Warrington and Manchester were covered.  Did my usual trick of doing my make on the train, normally to the dismay of other passengers and if I have friends with me them too.  Wandered to my usual Starbucks and had a rest and my treat of Classic Hot Chocolate with Peppermint syrup.  While walking on to my next project I bumped into an old work colleague who thought I looked really well. I have to say that I don’t think I looked that good but they do say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I did not have a mirror handy to see what I looked like.

Went to another of my favourite places, Waterstones the bookshop, I bought a poetry book I had seen the day before in Knutsford and I also got an up to date copy of Romeo and Juliet in lieu of going in July.  Just for background.

After my little spending spree I then sat for a few moments in one of the nicest churches in Manchester St Anne’s Church.  If you have seen The Forsyte Saga with Damian Lewis, it was used as the location for a family wedding.

My friend and husband joined me in Pizza Express for a bite to eat before going on to the Royal Exchange to see Shakespeare’s ‘A Comedy of Errors’.

Thursday, 15 April 2010

I definitely did too much the previous two days and spent the day sitting relaxing catching up on TV.  The highlight was a visit from a couple of girls from work, so we sat in the conservatory and had a good chat. Very much appreciated.

How many women in the UK diagnosed in 2006?

In the UK in 2006 more than 45,500 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, that's around 125 women a day.

- Data from Cancer Research UK

Night Out

Well yesterday was all about getting ready for a night out.

I had an idea of what I was going to wear and had to change it as it just did not suit me since the op.  It looks like a new wardrobe is in the offing.  Still I had a relaxing bath and the usual ablutions.  I even went to the time and trouble to put make up on.

My chauffeur picked me up bang on time and we then made our way into Manchester.  Orators (Toastmasters) meet at the Rainbar, (if you want to come they meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month) in the boardroom on the top floor.  The one thing I was worried about was the stairs to the top, which taken slowly were no problem at all.

Fellow members were surprised and happy to see me, one even saying that I looked better now than I did before the operation and treatment so far.  What were they getting at?  (Answers on a postcard please...).

I took part in the Table Topics, extemporaneous speaking of up to 2 minutes.  The theme of the evening was Community and I had to talk about what virtual community I would invent on the internet.  As I have started this blog and got into the swing of using FB and other networking sites I wanted to leave it as it was and use what was already there with the community set up with fellow bloggers etc. We have the ability to comment on blogs and share ideas through the words we type and the feedback we get from other likeminded people.  I have "virtually" met so many people through my blog and FB that I come to see that the world is such a small place.  Well words to that affect.

We had two good speeches an Icebreaker (first speech) and a final speech.  All very well executed and enjoyable showing how people can develop using the workbook within Toastmasters.  All the speakers, including the other five topic takers, were evaluated by other members.  Another learning experience for all, one to see if you agree with the evaluator and two to see if you spotted some of the same things.

At the end of the evening there is usually a vote for best Topic Taker, best Speaker (if more than two speakers so was not done last night), and best Evaluator.  To my shock and horror I won best Topic and my chauffeur won best Evaluator.  After years of not being very good at Topics I have now won best Topic two meetings on the trot.

The meeting finished early and managed to get home before 22:00.  I have had a slow morning but not feeling too bad today.

So far today I have watched the last episode of a series on Sacred Music by BBC Four.  All about one of my favourite composers J S Bach.  I recorded it a few weeks past and only just got round to watching it, along with the three previous episodes about the development of Sacred Music.  What a way to wake up in the morning!

Relaxing after Easter

I am sorry for not posting anything over the past couple of days but I have been a bit stupid.  As I posted on my Facebook status the other day I ate an extra portion of stupid on Monday morning.  I woke up early and decided to settle down on the sofa and catch up on the recordings from the night before.  The only problem was that I fell asleep, for some this is not an issue, but I fell asleep on my bad arm.  When I eventually woke up my arm was not well.  Finally today it does not hurt.  Before you all start telling me off, the pain enough to know that I have to watch what I do.  I have spent the past couple of days doing nothing and recuperating.

Easter Weekend

I have been thinking a lot about the Easter story this weekend, as well I should I hear shout at the computer monitor, but I think this year it has meant more than anything.  Not that I am religious but I do pray in my own way.  It is surprising that when I say this I am considered as some sort of freak or not even religious only on the grounds that I do not formalise my prayer with going to church and be told how to pray and when to pray.  My only other thought on the matter is that some unknown man we call Jesus died for something he believed in, I believe in chocolate, that Sunday should be a family day if not a religious day and that we should love our fellowman/woman/person (sorry Mrs Harriet HarPERSON - watch Matthew Wright for reference) no matter what.
Soapbox dismounted with full double back flip scoring 6 from the Russians (must have been impressive).  I am now sitting on this Sunday afternoon in the conservatory with iTunes on shuffle and the cat (he has adopted us) sitting next to me.
What a weekend.  Not only did the trip to buy the all important post operative underwear went better than expected but had the opportunity to play with my nephew on the wii and watch the grand prix (what were you doing Webber next time drive like you are an A380 so that Vettle can not pass you on the first turn and Button remember you can overtake a Ferrari when there is downshift problem just have the nerve you had in Brazil last year), sorry Murray Walker just took over there or something.
Finally I settled down to the listen to the chocolate voice of Mr Richard Armitage in the final part of Clarissa, as Valmont before him he stuck the rapier in deeper than it need to!!!  As much as it was a wonderful adaptation I have to that Sean Bean just edged it as Robert Lovelace, but I think that is because I could see the wonderful costumes.  They do say that radio has the best pictures but sometimes it can be a little difficult.
As with all things during this time I have set myself some small highlights and objectives my first one will be this week.  I will be attending my first Toastmasters meeting since the operation, I have a fellow member picking me up and will bring me home when it is all over.  I am really looking forward to seeing a room full of people and even getting the opportunity to see if I can still give a 2-3 minute speech.  To some this sounds like torture but believe me when you have taught the butterflies to fly in formation it gets easier (not easy but easier).
Please do follow the links on the left to some of my favourite blogs, websites (for more information) and have a go at the vote it is after all only for fun.

Shopping

Today I have had yet another shopping trip.  This time to WomanZone the mastectomy underwear specialists.  Took a friend with me who also benefited from their expertise.  Very friendly and very relaxing, a must for anyone, not just post operative underwear.  I have added their link to left for more information.
Race for Life
I have just seen on Facebook that my friends from work are taking part in the Chester 5K on Sunday 13th June.  If you want to sponsor Team Laura then please visit http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/teamlaura and please remember it is going to a good cause for research in Breast Cancer.

Good Friday

Well this is turning into a period of surprises.  My husband has gone to the lengths of baking today.  Not quiet to recipe but we will have to see what it tastes like.  In the meantime I have been sitting watching Sound of Music, I know it is cheesy but it is Easter after all.  Still suffering from heartburn of the major kind and now living on Rennie.