Webs In My Face

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

I have now finished my radiation treatment and I am enjoying my first day of freedom from not having to go every day to Oncology.

I've been warned that I might not feel well for up to a month. I must just do what I feel I can but take it easy.

That sounds good to me.

There is sunshine and warmth and a pretty garden to sit in and many books to read.

If only there weren't so many spiders about.

They are everywhere right now and whatever I try to do outside, I seem to brush my face against a web.

Isn't that the most awful experience? Maybe you like that feeling?

The Unexpected Gift

Photo copyright: Maggie May

I was so surprised when one of the teachers from the school where I work came quite unexpectedly to visit me last week. She had planted this lovely stone tub with narcissi and hyacinths herself and she stayed to chat for a good while.

It was her own present to me and nothing at all to do with the school. I was so delighted with it and the tub is on the patio outside and I will be able to really enjoy it from the back room where I sit.

Wasn't that kind?

It is good to see the sun although it is very cold here. I have all sorts of jobs lined up for when I get stronger.

The sunshine seems to give out strength.

Hope many of you ae enjoying sunshine too.

Sewing Strips

Photos copyright: Maggie May

In my last post I was saying that I would be resting in front of the gas fire while I recovered from chemo. Well that just didn't happen. The weather turned out brighter and it wasn't cold. This time I felt quite reasonable till day three, so I was able to get on with a few things.

My son, Sam had announced that he would be requiring a rag jacket for his Morris Dancing on May Day.

So it was with this in mind that I had bought a *job lot* of suitable colours from a Charity shop some days ago and thought that it would be therapeutic to cut them out into strips and to start to sew them on to the green shirt we were using as a base. The object is to completely cover the shirt with strips of different colours (predominately green). When dancing, the strips twirl about. Some of the dancing can look quite aggressive with sticks and poles and one occasion Sam received a blooded nose as well as various bumps to the head.

Anyway, it did turn out to be therapeutic, cutting and stitching until day 4, when the going got tough. However this time round, I didn't seem to have the chemo brain syndrome, so some things went much better.

When this jacket is finished, I have to make one for Amber, as she had to borrow one last May Day. Now she has decided that she wants her own.

Go here if you'd like to see May Day last year and get a glimpse of the raggedy jackets.

It was good to see the sun streaming through the windows while I was recovering this time round and although I won't feel really well for a few days, I know that things will improve.

Walk to the Park

Photos copyright: Maggie May

Last Tuesday, exactly one week since chemo 2, I started to really pick up energy and I decided to go to a nearby park. It involved a few hills that I tackled quite easily. It seemed strange that I was out when I would normally be at the After School Club. There were no children anywhere. In fact there were very few people out and about.

There was a sharp coldness to the afternoon and a strong breeze, yet the sun was shining in spite of that.

Just being outside in those conditions made me feel alive again. I could feel the health coming back to my body.

Everything seemed good.

I felt better.

I was better.

I had taken my camera with me as I wanted to snap something really unusual. A beautiful bird, or maybe if I was really lucky, some other wild creature that wasn't often seen.

Unfortunately the only thing that seemed alive, apart from me, was this large crow. Oh well....... perhaps next time.