and she's back at uni!!

Dear all, sorry there was no post yesterday, but as I have put two random posts up this week, I didn't think you'd mind too much!!

Ok, so what has happened in this last week, hmmmmmmmmm

I had my cousin (Tave) up to see me over the weekend which was really nice, and Milo and Lottie (his ex) came up on the Sunday. I cooked, well me and Tave cooked, what I have to say was rather a yummy lunch! Roast chicken with mashed potatoes, carrots, and yummy yummy creamy tarragon sauce!! It was soooooooo good!! I also got from Milo my little bag of goodies! Series 5 of 24, so I have 2 series to watch with Mummy when I go home for easter. 36 hours of Jack Bauer(I think that's how it's spelt), I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! Along with some other dvd's, and some yum fruit from Lottie. For those of you who haven't looked at this since last week, look below for a rant on the price of food!! This rant occured after a very exciting trip to Tesco. Yes it was exciting as I hadn't been to a supermarket since the christmas hols, and yes my life is that un eventful at the moment and yes I am sad enough to find it exciting!!

Anyways, so after my hospital check up last week did nadda, Tave arrived on the Fri mid pancake cooking....I really felt like some! And on we did nothing other than watch dvd's...series one of the office, very very funny!!! Saturday was filled with Tesco, and watching series one of Extra's, highy highly amusing!! And went to see Music and Lyrics, also very funny. I don't know if any of you have had the cold slush puppy type drink that Fanta does at the cinema?? Anyways, it's amazing cause not only is it cold and sweet, but fizzy too!! Crazyness, anyways, I wanted one of those rather than eat anything as it seems, no matter how poor I'm feeling, I HAVE to buy something at the cimena! Yes, I know it's completely rediculus, but there we go....so I asked for one, but the machine had only just been turned on, and wasn't cold enough, so I had to buy some galaxy minstrels...£3.1o it cost!!! I'm not even going to start ranting about that!! I should have taken a bag of hula hoops from home, but as I wasn't going to eat anything I didn't bother, and then I HAD to buy something, and oh god!! I tell you what, my life is sooooooooooooooo strenuous at the moment! All you with jobs etc have no idea, you think your life is sometimes a bit stressful, try being me and being forced into buying non needed stuff at the cinema, not by someone else, but being forced into it by myself!! It's tough!! So anyways, film watched, enjoyed, home, bed.

Sunday, spent the morning doing the food, mucking around on the internet, eventually having a shower, and waiting for Milo and Lottie. Ate far too much, felt sick, (tave left for her train) made milky tea, forced some buscuits down my gob whilst watching a film, Confetti, with Milo and Lottie(very funny, fely very single after it, sob, won't start my rant on that!!) and felt less sick. Don't know how that one works, but there we are! After that M and L left, had supper and went to bed.

On monday went to the disability office for a needs assessment test, basicaly, yes I do need a new laptop, scanner/printer combo, digital voice recorder, book allowance, photocoping allowence, someone to get stuff from the library for me, and photocopy stuff for me as I have no energy and need to work form the flat/home/maybe hospital if I spend more time there etc etc which is all rather groovy!! And then I .....wait for it.....I...went....to....a......shrink, no but maybe I should, hmmm shall ponder on that one....a....LECTURE!!!!! Yes I did, I am officially back at uni, WOO!!!!! The uni have lent me a digital recorder til I get mine, and I recorded the lecture so I don't exhaust myself listening and writing notes!!! It was sooooo good to be back!!! I have also been to 2 tutorials since, which do really tire me out, but I need to go otherwise I'll go crazy, miss more work, stress myself out etc etc etc And I enjoy it, well not the getting tired bit, but the learning bit. I can also drive in now and park behind my building which is sooooooo much better than waiting for the bus getting on the bus, getting off the bus, walking down the street, and then doing all of that on the way back. It's also cheaper!! As the bus is one squid each way, and that all adds up pretty quickly!

Tuesday went to a tutorial, and I can't remember what else, can't really remember what I did on Wed either, hmmm....not a lot probably!!

Thursday dawned far to early, had to be up at 8.30 as I was getting the bus to my apointement as for once the 2 quid on the bus is cheaper than a taxi (12 quid total) 0r a parking ticket cause there is no where to park ,which I discovered in previous weeks!! So left home at 9.30 in the rain to walk to the bus stop, not only did I get up early to go, it was raining AND my umbrella was broken, so I looked stupid with it! I look stupid with is anyways cause I bought it from a tourist shop (was near it when the heavens open in the first year, only option and it cost 6 quid!!) and was therefore bright red tarten! Now I can hear some of you saying that you like red tarten, I'm sure it is nice, but not on an umbrella in Edinburgh!! So I suppose I'm quite happy it's broken cause I shall get a new one! (thanks Daddy!!!) And I looked stupid cause one of the arms had snapped so one side hung down...anyways... so I got to the bus stop! And met my friend Martha there. We had a great time waiting for my appointment, hang on, that was another palava....the stupid receptionist had not listened to me properly, cause she was on the phone whilst booking my appointment, and booked me in not for yesterday even though I had said for NEXT WEEK after my last appointment, but for in 2 weeks time, so I got in trouble!!! Which I thought was unfair as I don't have a functioning brain at the moment, and didn't know that yesterdays date was the 22nd not the 27th (which was what was written down) so after lots of sighing and humphing and screwed up facial expressions, they managed to fit me in. So I had to wait AAAAAAAAAAAGES, but on the plus side me and Martha took full advantatge of the toys they have! Well, of the paper and crayons anyways. Yes we were acting 22 years of age, not 5, I promise!! So after playing games I finally saw Dr. Shepherd.

My white cell count is now down to 16.5 which is half of last weeks count, which is great!! It also means that my check ups are further apart, my next one is in two weeks, and yes, I did double check that!! I also saw my clic sargent yesterday who is a social worker and she is sorting out money for me, and a disabled parking badge, and is going to see what other grants and allowences I'm able to get. She is very aware that students need every penny, and she said she doesn't want me to miss out on even 5p, which is wonderful!!

Yesterday afternoon we had shrove thursday (as Iona, my flatty was busy on Tuesday) which was really nice, but unfortunately I was dead on my feet from my busy morning and seeing Patricia (social worker person) so when everyone arrived, I was useless and did sod all to help. I did wash up later, so I suppose that's something!!
As I was up at 8 this morning, (I went to a tutorial that starts at 9), and as I was so tired last night, I was in bed by 8.45, and asleep by just after 9, so check out the party girl!!

I think that's about it really, I hope my next post will be written on my lovely new laptop, can't wait!!!

Lots of love, laughter and smiles,
XXXXXXXXXXx

Another thought

For those of you who don't know, and are wondering why I haven't gone home it's because my consultant up here is the leading consultant in CML in Europe, if not the world!! If I've said this already...sorry, remember I'm a goldfish!!

Next big post tomorrow, bet you can't wait!!!

XXX

a rant...but indulge me please!

I know you are thinking, another post?!?! But it's not Thursday!!!! Well for those of you who can't comprehend this, pretend it's Thursday!!

Ok, so yesterday, Saturday, me and my cousin (Tave) went to Tesco...the first time I've been in a supermarket since the Christmas holiday, so as you can imagine I was pretty excited!!! So I thought, ok buy fruit as you get a box of organic veg a week. I also got a chicken and a couple of other things. As I loaded up my trolley, one of the little ones, not a big one, so I did show some restraint....I thought, well it's pointless eating crap food, get food with nutrience in so went for the organic option. There is a reason why only people with lots of money eat organic. It costs a fucking fortune!!! NINETY NINE pounds my bill came to....ninety nine pounds for some fruit and a couple of other things!! MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! No wonder there are so many mal nulriched (or however it's spelt) fattys in this country. It's cause with the amount I spent on fruit, you could go to iceland or farmfoods and buy enough frozed food to feed a family of 5 for three months!!!!! I'm still in shock!!! So to feel better went to the cinema, and for once though how cheap it is!

So anyway my lovelies off I go to check on the organic chicken (10 pounds!!!!that is the cost, not the weight, although thinking about it, it's not far off ten pounds in weight!) and enjoy every mouthful!! If this is the last blog it's cause I can't afford to pay for electricity!!! Donations welcome!
Much love and laughter and smiles as usual!!
XXX

And the white blood cell count keeps on lowering!

Well what to say? hmmm....have just had my lunch so no doubt post eating sleepyness will kick in and what I say will be all over the place!! Also had a hobnob, baaaad idea cause once you nibble you're nobbled, and I'm nobbled, bugger, must resist temptation of eating more. On a plus point, at the moment I seem to be eating an impressive amount of cake and buscuits and not putting on any weight, woo!! No doubt shall get my comeuppance at somepoint and balloon over night like I did with the water retention...those were a couple of stunning days...me thinks NOT!! Anyway...

Right, ok, what's happened since I was last typing, hmmm......memory has gone blank, so much so I'm giggling cause I can't remember last week! Oh god, I'm waiting for the men in white coats to appear!

Ooh, I remember (phew!) Mummy came back up and arrived last Fri morning, got an overnight coach, the loon! So Prison Break series one resumed, and what a rollar coaster of emotions that was!! It's amazing, not as good as 24, I'm still loyal to Jack, but Prison break is pretty good as well. (I kept on expecting Jack to turn up and save the day...special, I know I am veeeery special!) So series one complete, the arse is that I'm not sure where series 2 is on tv etc etc, so might have to wait for it to be released on dvd...oh and also, even if you don't like the series, it's nice just staring at wentworth miller!! (born near oxford, grew up in the states, no I'm not stalking or obsessing I SWEAR!) Moving on swiftly. So mummy was here, and we had a great time, saw my DOS (Director of Studies) who was great and has organised a parking space for me behind my building at uni, everyone is soooooo jealous!! he he he, mwah ha haha, yes I'm being very nice about it all! He also agrees that I can do my work whenever which is coolio. I aim to have my two course essays done by the end of term, and then do my project that I've meant to be doing all year, la la la la, over the summer.

Just been on the phone to my friend in Italy so I have completely lost my thread, but don't panic Mr. Mannering, I shall type some more rubbish and hope that I remember what I was going to say...

Ahh yes, the weekend with my munmy....so on Sunday evening just before she was due to go, my friend turned up from Newcastle to stay for a couple of days which was great as he ran around after me and made me cups of tea and helped make food etc etc He even combatted 'man flu' to do it (he sneezed a couple of times!!...ok, maybe he has a cold but anyways') We also had a play fight in Rapidos (most amazing take away in Edinburgh, and yes, pizza is highly nutritious, protien in the cheese and salami, vitamins etc in the sun driend tomatoes, red onion and artichokes, and carbs in the base!!) when he declared that he was far iller that me with man flu and needs a hip replacement (he hurt it, don't know how, probably by being a pratt!) and I retaliated with I'm worse, I have cancer and might need new bone marrow!!! Shop goes silent, lots of 'oh my god' looks, I laugh, and slope off to a chair and sit veeery quietly! Maybe I shouldn't make jokes about cancer loudly in public places?!?!? Anyways it made me laugh, and as far as I'm concerned, laughter is bloody good medicine, so shall continue to make really bad un pc jokes about it wherever I am! So having Pete up was great, got lots of nice hugs, especially after mummy left with the what appears to be customary blubbing!

monday consited of tea, buscuits, cake, oh and some fruit and veg and dvd's all day!! Was wonderful! Tuesday was pretty busy, I walked half way down princes street (the main shopping street) and managed to spend not a penny! Well done me!! Even when going past lots of clothes shops with so many pretty bags and shoes. there was many a sigh and whistful glance, and 'ooh Pete...they're pretty' hint hint, nudge nudge, but unfortunately all hints flew over his head as he was out to buy a present for valentines day for his girlfriend (vomit....sodding couples, and no, I'm not at all bitter!) but I did get a HUGE hot chocolate, so was a happy bunny after all. I did some gameboy perusing as I'm going to get one and it's going to be a COLOUR one, am soooooooooo excited. yes I am 22 you're point being?!?!?!? so that tired me out successfully. Yesterday I got up, only because I forgot it was Valentines day, I was going to stay in bed all day! And had a lovely supper with some friends with a HUGE chocolate cake which was amazing!

Today, being Thursday was an important day as I had my check up. I am now only on Glivec and my white blood cell count is 34. I found out what it should be...10 so slowly but surely I'm getting rid of the little buggers. When I was admitted into the hospital, 4 weeks ago, the cell count was over 330, so I'm now a million times better now than I was. More cell count news next week!

Generally I've been feeling great and happy, the only arse is achey limbs and sore joints, but that's when my little buddy codine comes in. Oh by the way, whoever invented the codine bottle is a pratt. Neither me, mummy or Iona (my darling flate mate) could open it, so thank god I didn't need them til after Pete opened the bottle. What if I had been all on my own with NO ONE to help?!?! How do little old ladies get to their drugs????? Just thought I'd rant a bit on that one!

Well I think that's it...I can hear the hobnobs calling me....shhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

So me thinks I shall bugger off now! Thank you to those of you who have sent cards over the last week, on that note, have I thanked the rest of you?? Well of not, sorry, I'm shit, and am still a goldfish! But I hope you know that even if I haven't said it via this or an email, I am grateful for the cards and support etc etc etc

So until next week, much loves, smiles and laughter,
XXX

and another week has flown by

Well it's my second week (is it?? my memory is shot, I am a goldfish at the moment) out of the hospital and it feels like I was there years ago! It's also half way through the semester which is a little bit scary as we dont' have a summer term and after easter it's exams! Various four letter words come to mind, but I have to remember about who is reading this, so shall control my language, the occasional word like shit might slip out, but I hope it offends not!!

So umm yeah. What's happened this week?? Well last Saturday my little Mummy left, cue tears and highly dramatic 'I CAN'T COPE!!!! DON'T GO!!!!' sob, bawl (attractive puffy red eyes and snotty nose...NICE!!!) But alas, she was firm but kind, 'man up Katherine, man up'! Well not quite those words, but saying that makes it more interesting, and may even envoke a smile ot two from my beloved readers!..no? Oh well, all of you have rubbiish sense of humours! Anyways before I start abusing you all about not finding things that make me giggle (basically anything, and the more awful and unfunny it is, the more I laugh!) anyway I shall continue with my week. So Mummy left, but Claudia was here to look after me, and we had people over from Glasgow on Sat and Sun (thank you Daisy, Jonny and Tashi for coming over....) and a fun filled weekend. Milo came up on the Sunday as well. He has renamed Sunday present Sunday, which to be honest I think is a bloody good name for it!! So I have yet more DVD's and the most amazingly soft tights to add to my collection of presents. And I promise, this is not a hint for you all to rush out and buy me things, I of course won't say no if you do.....Sorry, need to get on with how I am or this will go on for pages, concentrate Katherine, concentrate...So monday dawned familyless and to be honest, I managed fine and have eaten and still consumed copious amounts of tea, so fret not!! My flatty has also been wonderful with looking after me, as have the flat across the road. I have also had a visitor from Italy who was up for a week, and a friend from home up to see me, so although the family have cut the umbilical cord, I am anything but alone!

What else, I'm sorry for the rambling and cutting from one topic to another, but it's how my mind is at the mo! Ooh yes, went to see my tutors, who have been fab, and basically have told me to PANIC NOT!!! Do the work when I can and get it in by 4th year, woo!! So that's amazingly groovy as I have nooooooo work pressure at all. I think if I'm not up to it, I'll be able to sit the exams in August if I can't in May which is also good as it gives me just a little bit more time....

Everything seems to being going well on the drug front. Had a check up today and I think my consultant, Dr. Shepherd is happy with everything. The only arse is that I've started to feel side affects from the Glivec, but only achey (not sure about how that one is spelt! And no, I can't be arsed to look it up in the dictionary!) limbs, so have been given Codine if I need it. Unfortuately when in hospital and in pain due to my spleen being HUGE!! Ok, little diversion and some medical info, normally you can't feel the spleen it's that small, mine is not 1cm big at the mo. After it had reduced in size in the hospital it was 10 cm big, and at the hight of pain it was basically all the way up the left hand side of my torso! When it was huge it hurt a lot, so they gave me codine, and nadda happened, so they gave me liquid morphine!! I LOVED the taste of it, most people don't like it. Due to my liking it a liiitle bit too much they stopped me having it which really upset me, so today I was like oooh maybe I'll get morphine again, but alas no, they wouldn't. sob sob, bloody NHS bastards!!!

If I remember correctly my red blood count is 100 and my white is 124 ish so that's brill as 3 weeks ago the white cell count was 20 times as high, so the drugs do work, so sorry The Verve (90's band for those of you who don't know...) you were WRONG! (My reasoning for saying that is they sang 'cause the drugs don't work they just make you worse....' see where my logic went?!?!?...no?? Nevermind!)

Well ummm, I have no idea what else to say, and I think many of you will read that with great relief!! So untill next time (prob next thurs)....ooh just remembered something not that it's very interesting at all. Went with Claudia on Sun to the hospital as she had to have a blood test to see if she's a match to me if I need a transplant and I went back to my unit and saw all my lovely nurses. One gave me a huge hug and when I said I missed them all as I had such a great time on the unit (I DID!!!) I didn't want to go, she called me a peculiar child. I'm not am I?!?!?!?
Much love and gratitude for all the support etc etc blah blah blah
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (and no, I am not certifyably (and YES, that IS a word!!!) insane!)

been home for a week

Well I have now been out of the hospital for a week...it has been really nice to get home after the initial shock of being told I could go. What they don't realise in hospital is that you get very used to being there very quickly, and actually I wasn't too keen to leave my en-suit, my tv and dvd player, my fridge and all the lovely nurses that came to see me the second I pressed a red button! I also in a highly rational way thought that they didn't love me anymore and that they thought I wasn't ill, which hurt, A LOT!! But after being home for 5 mins I realised how nice it was to be out, to breath fresh air and to have tea in a decent sized mug! It also meant that my darling Daddio would head back south, which I didn't want, but would be replaced with my little Mummy which I was looking forward to as I hadn't seen her in a week. So what's been going on this week? Not much, everyone is still be as great as ever, coming to see me, making tea for me, bringing me presents...not that I'm keeping a record or anything!! (yes Milo, you are still winning by miles!!) I've been feeling much the same as I was in hospital. Not spending as much time is La La Land, and I've been able to read as well which means my concentration is coming back which is coolio. My temperature has stayed normal the entire time which is also great, cause they would probably haul me back in if it went up again. I've been on Glivec for a week and so far no bad side affects which is fab, as it means that crossed fingers, I won't have any.

I had my first check up yesterday and my white bllod cell count has gone up a bit, so I'm back on a drug with a name that goes on forever, one I can't pronnounce, and certainly can't spell, so for all of you who want to check everything online, sorry!! The drug kills off all white blood cells so will get the count back down again. I'm only on 2 pills a day instead of the 6 a day that I was on in the hospital, so it can't be too bad, or I wouldn't have been allowed back home.

A nurse/social worker type person has been to see me and is going to get as much money possible out of the government for me, so that's groovy. I also might be getting a disabled persons badge for my car which is highly amusing, and more money from cancer charities to help pay my phone bill etc I also get a disabled person (or something) allowence every month, so all in all this being ill malarky is proving to be really quite good!!

Off to the pub for a diet coke, as I had 3 sips of wine the other night and nearly fell off my chair! yes, she has become a one drink wonder, so she is going (not sure why I'm referring to myself in the third person, worrying, very worrying!!!!) to start drinking champagne!! Woo!!

So anyways, that's it for the mo, will type away again when there is more to say, ooh I nearly forgot, along with CML being most common amongst men aged 40-60, only about 500 people get it a year, so I am truely a very special person!!

Once again, thank you to you all for being so amazingly fab!

Loadsa Love and smiles, XXX