I was woken up at 7 am this morning by a baritone chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ – Jamie’s voice is SO deep now and Thomas is not a morning person! They gave me wonderful presents and cards as they all scrambled into bed with strawberry cream scones. I refrained, which they expected, and enjoyed my rooibos. After they’d gone I lay in bed reading H’s present – an anthology of poems by Mary Oliver – which I swear made me feel better than I’ve felt for ages.
Had a really enjoyable tea-party yesterday: 10 of us, all strawberries and cream and pretty china, with cupcakes and little sandwiches and good tea! Others did all the work and all I had to do before was have my nails painted and make-up so well done that everyone said I looked really good! I’d asked for donations instead of cards and we raised over £200 for Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres. Didn’t feel great, but enjoyed it all nonetheless.
I’m really not well. Can’t eat anything much and weight’s dropping off too quickly. My tummy just won’t work properly so have to take medication and still not right. Feel pretty uncomfortable most of the time, and quite weak. All the medics on board and v supportive and we hope this bout of SABO (sub acute bowel obstruction) will pass, or will have to consider alternatives. That all sounds very stark, but I know that sometimes the blog makes me sound better than I am.
I have very good friends, near and far, and feel very lucky. Thanks to all who have been in touch and phoned and texted and sent cards and presents. And thanks to D for coming to stay…..
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Hi Flick,
Thanks so much for choosing to ask for donations to Maggie’s for your birthday. I’m sorry that you didn’t feel great, but pleased that you enjoyed your day.
I work on Maggie’s Online Centre and think your blog is excellent and would help others undergoing treatment for cancer. Would it be OK for me to link to it from our conversation on blogs worth visiting?
http://community.maggiescentres.org/conversations/viewconversation/7186039437579128/0
Best wishes,
Tom
Hello Flick,
just checking your blog again. Sorry to hear youa are not feeling well but I still think you are a very strong woman and an example for many.
To give you some of our update on this lovely day but indoor in the office while my manager have his daily chicken soup right beside me on his desk. Can be bored to do any work today…
Anyway. Dont know if you know but my mother has arrived with her two friends in Scotland for a long six months. Her two friends have made the tour in glasgow and in Edinburgh but is now in manchester with Theresa. My mother is in John now but will go for a holiday in Portugal with John, Susam and Paul on Sunday. Wil stay another while in Scotland but will stay the majority of the time with Theresa down in Manchester.
My last adventure is that I decided to make coxinha (brasilian chicken snak) to sell. It can be for take away, restaurant, cofee shop to resell or mini snacks for individual parties. I am on the stage of practising and find the right product. Convince the brasilians of the product is quite easy but convence the scottish or other nationalities is another thing. I ve made some to work and people liked in general but I personaly think can do better. made some with sheese only to a friends Birthday which everybody liked but just cant see coxinha without chicken! Apparently I am not suppose to use my own kitchen to manipulate raw food as is high risk and the council would not give the Food and Hygienne certificate. Just have to live with it!
I woke up on Sunda with a click on my brain. There is a new brazilian restaurant on Glasgow, and there will be a brazilian footbal game on Tuesday. I phoned the manager, said I do coxinhas but is just starting and he order me 100 units!
I put my heart doing then and what experiece!!! Took more time than I though and cost more than I though. When I did the delivery I clarified themiscalculation of costs and also that I don do delivery and he was ok with the new price and that he would have to make the colection next time. Just hope there will be next time. Oh well, I have ordered a small chest freezer to strta buit stock. too early to say anything more concrete but I feel positive. BudinessGateway is giving me good advice and I will put my studies on hold for the next six months.
Say hello to Thomas, James and Henry. let see if we can arrange something this summer after my mother returns from holiday to see you. Let us know when is best.
Lots of love.
Atala
Hello Flick,
Just looked in to your blog to see how you were. I’m sorry to have missed your birthday. Good to have had your friends with you – and poetry is always a great present. I enjoyed the poem especially the lines about ash and leaves.
I passed my very first OU course – Intro to Bookkeeping and accountancy. All a terrible rush so I am very smug about it. That’s 10 points on my score card. I think I’ll do some Maths next and have a plan to use that as inspiration for some writing.
I had a wonderful weekend in London with my middle son Greg . Piggybacking on the Milton Keynes marking meeting enjoying the Uffizzi drawings at the British Museum then a Middleton revival at the National Theatre. All a great distraction from getting the Edinburgh flat ready to be a city apartment.
Please don’t worry about replying to this Flick – I just wanted to say hello and send love. I’ll look into the blog to get your news.
best,
Hester