Up The Farway Tree

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Warning: This is a VERY long post. What can I say? I had a busy week.

This week I had the daily mail interview, filming for the awards and the photographer taking pictures for the newspaper. So much for a week off work to recover from this chest infection. I am feeling absolutely shattered today, but my chest does seem to be improving, so hopefully a quiet weekend will get things back on an even keel.

I had the Sunday Mail interview over the phone on Thursday morning. It took 1 1/2 hours and she asked me so many questions I lost track of what I had and hadn't said. I think it will be very much a human interest story, as she wanted to tell my life story chronologically with facts about CF interspersed. She did explain that in order for people to read the article, you have to have that human interest angle, but I think I will find it very difficult to read, as I like to underplay any difficulties in my life, where as a good newspaper story will only serve to high light such issues. In fact the interview itself was emotionally draining, as she asked so many questions about both my sisters, and although I don't mind talking about them, it is hard to divulge such personal details to a complete stranger. On the positive side however, she was extremely interested in the issue of raising organ donor awareness, particularly as she has known someone who lost their fight with CF while waiting on a transplant. I hope that this message will come across in the article, and I will then at least feel that it has been worthwhile. I am not yet sure when the article will be printed, but it will be in the Tuesday health section.

I had arranged for the Daily mail photographer to come yesterday afternoon, after the filming for the awards, as I thought I could just wear the same outfit and my hair would at least be clean. However then journalist then informed me I had to "dress smartly, preferable wearing a skirt" with "no denims, no black, a pale top and plenty of make up". Ok then, that's me told! I then have a phone call from the "hair and make up artist" who would be popping round before the photographer arrived. This was getting more and more surreal, and I was becoming increasingly nervous about what was going to happen. As arranged the make up artist arrived yesterday afternoon just as the filming team were packing up, so I had to do a quick dress change and sit still to be 'beautified' before the photographer arrived. The make up was very nice, but far stronger than I would ever wear (although I'm reassured this is necessary for newspaper as the print quality is so poor). I am stating this now, in case I look like a dolly bird and anyone who has never met me thinks that my 'normal look'. Anyway, the photographer then arrived and promptly asked if he could take his shoes off so he could stand on my furniture. Okaaaaaaaaay. I then had to pose in various positions holding my nebuliser mouthpiece, while the make up and hair lady kept diving in between photos with a lip gloss and comb, to 'touch things up'. I kid you not. At one point I was standing in my bay window looking forlornly through the glass, while pretending to nebulise. Unfortunately my neighbours across the street chose this exact time to unload their supermarket shopping from the car, and I could see them looking over, wondering what the hell I was up to.

The 'photo shoot' then moved into the garden, where he asked me to sit on the grass. Seb having been shut outside in the garden clearly decided he would be left out no longer, so casually wandered into shot and lay down facing the camera. The photographer seemed to think this looked good and preceded to take lots of photos, asking me to move Seb into various positions. Have you ever tried to get a dog to sit where you want and face the camera on request?? Not an easy task. Seb however, played up beautifully for the camera, prancing around and jumping up on his hind legs to lick my nose repeatedly. When we moved onto to some other shots, that did not involve Seb, he decided it would now be a good time to steal the photographers bag and run round the garden at high speed so no one could catch him. Fortunately the photographer saw the funny side of the situation and in fact left me standing like a stooky, so he could go and take photos of Seb's antics as he raced round the garden, spurred on by the attention being focused in him again. Talk about stealing the lime light.

The filming was probably less stressful in a way, and not as bad as I had expected. They would pose a question, which I would have to incorporate into my answer, so that it looks on the film as if I am talking unprompted. This didn't take too long to do and I think I came across ok. Although I was inadvertently trying to put on my 'TV' voice. I am not sure what this will sound like, but I was going for 'polite and intelligent' and suspect I may just have achieved 'polite but pretentious' instead. I hope not. The cut away shots should be amusing, as they largely involved Seb. I was feeling particularly smug about this, as both Emmie and Anders (fellow CF'ers also going to awards) set the challenge that I would not be able to get Seb into the film. I didn't even have to ask, because as predicted Seb forced his way into the limelight by running back and forth in front of the camera. They asked me to throw a ball for Seb. I did so and Seb just looked at me, looked at the ball and ran off in the opposite direction. Prima Donna. They then asked "does he do any tricks". Tricks? Of course he does tricks I reply. So there followed a Seb variety show, involving play dead, hide the treat, dance, spin and generally look like a circus dog. I personally didn't think he was really up to scratch, being confused slightly by the outdoor setting and the strange people, however the camera man seemed delighted with his efforts. I always knew he was destined for stardom......Hollywood here we come.