Merry Christmas!

I had a wonderful Christmas day and am now relaxing at Anne and Johns for a couple of nights. Lovely to spend time with all my family....and I still have all the New Year Celebrations to come. I do tend to spend some time thinking of how life used to be before the transplant because it is at this time of year that the difference becomes so much starker. I think of the Christmas before my transplant and how unwell I was - I had to have my presents handed to me while I sat in the chair tethered to my oxygen and really struggling to even open a parcel. This year I bounced around the house chattering non stop and basically behaving like a small child. It was fabulous.

Scene from window on Christmas morning!

I went to bed around midnight on Christmas eve but I was so excited I had to take a Nytol to get to sleep. I am not kidding. I woke around 6.30am but I am not allowed to wake anyone until 7am so had to lie there for a while. Andrew and I opened our stockings and then dressed Seb up in his Rudolph antlers and reindeer hooves so I could send him in to wake mum and dad :-) It is a tradition that I have to wake them with a Christmas tune on the piano so this year they were woken to 'we wish you a merry Christmas' - unfortunately there were several bum notes so I must practice for next year. Mum and dad then get their stockings from me - this is a new tradition I started a few years ago but in my opinion no one is ever too old for a Christmas stocking. Then some fresh coffee and mums pancakes to give us some energy for the present opening! I was thouroughly spoiled (as usual) and mum has basically revamped my entire wardrobe so I will need to do a little clean out when I get back. Andrew got me a shiatsu back massager - it covers an entire chair and you sit there and get your whole back massaged. It is brilliant! I suffer from a lot of back and shoulder pain so this will be fantastic. I was also treated to a lovely jacket and boots. Frances Ann used to say 'you can never have enough jackets' and I have tagged boots onto the end of that. Myself and mum are also going to Stobo castle for a treat which I am really looking forward to. There was a general theme of clothes, pampering and de-stressing! I don't know where anyone got the idea I like clothes...

Having a shot of Anne's new head wear..

Me and mum on Christmas day

Christmas dinner was absolutely perfect as usual and the special sago pudding was my favourite (Granny's recipe never fails). We had it a bit later this year as we had popped up to visit my uncle in hospital as he had a heart attack just before Christmas and wasn't allowed home. He was doing ok though and it probably is the safest place to be at the moment - they are also hoping to do some surgery so fingers crossed this will be allowed to go ahead.

The sago pudding being lit before serving

Seb seems to have enjoyed Christmas and has been enjoying his new toys. I gave him a parcel first to keep him amused but then he thought every parcel was for him and had his nose in everything I tried to open haha. He also sported his little bow time all day and looked very dapper ;-)

Seb relaxing with all his new toys

I am now chilling out at Andrews mum and dads before heading back to mums for New Year (although have to go to work on Wednesday - bah humbug) but I will have another few days holiday after that. Although it is a busy time of year it is nice to have some time away from work and all the worries. This is just a time to think of family and friends....and be thankful I am here to enjoy it all. Please spare a thought at this time for my donor - she has made all my Christmas wishes come true and I cannot be more thankful.

One More Sleep!

I didn't quite get time to update in the past week so this is just a quick update before I go to bed for one last sleep before Santa comes!

Last weekend was my work Christmas night out. It is the first work Christmas party I have been to in several years so it was nice to be able to join in for once! I had a great night and lasted to the very end - still dancing :-) Andrew and I were also supposed to be meeting up with my friends for a Christmas dinner on the Sunday but none of us could make it to the restaurant because of the snow! We made a pretty good effort but when the road markings on the motorway disappeared we thought it better to turn around. I was really disappointed we missed it but I did still catch up with everyone today as it is a Christmas tradition that we all meet at mums house and exchange our gifts, which we have been doing this for well over 10 years now :-)

The weather has been extreme but I am rather excited that it is going to be a white Christmas. Mum and dads garden looks like a magical winter wonderland with frost laden branches, icicles hanging from the windows and a blanket of powdery snow. I know it creates havoc on the roads (I had to get the train to work this week) but it does look rather beautiful.

Icicles!

My garden

Chaffinch

Goldfinch in the snow!

Seb quite likes the snow (being Tibetan and all) but we have recently learned that he isn't so keen on the slush. Mum took him a long walk yesterday and about 1/2 mile down the road he decided he didn't want to walk any more and mum was literally dragging him along. So she had a brain wave. She stopped at my cousins and asked for 4 freezer bags (they actually only had orange nappy bags) which she then tied around Sebs paws like little snow shoes. He did actually start walking again but the bags didn't stay on long enough. So then she had another brain wave. She had a canvas shopping bag.....and in Seb went! He sat down in it quite happily and allowed himself to be carted around - all 1 stone weight of him. I have never heard anything quite so ridiculous. I think perhaps I should get him some wee welly boots instead...



Well I am off to watch our Christmas film and then off to bed and try to sleep. I am 30 and still can't sleep on Christmas eve. I know I must though or Santa wont come.

I would like to sign off by wishing everyone peace and joy this Christmas!

Final Countdown!

Where this week go? I can't believe there are only 7 sleeps until Christmas! I have had a busy wee time of it over the last week and am so tired - but looking forward to a well earned long lie tomorrow :-)

Last weekend we had mum and dad over for dinner and a trip to see 'A Christmas Carol' at the Imax (3D cinema). I had a go at making mulled wine which turned out quite well for a first attempt so we had with mince pies in the afternoon. We then had roast ham for dinner and I tried a new recipe for individual pineapple upside down cakes which have coconut in the cake mix - yum :-) By this time we were all so full we couldn't even fit in any popcorn at the cinema! The film was really good and worked well with the 3D effect. I had a very embarrassing moment though when my phone alarm (to remind me to take anti rejections) went off half way through the film! I had my phone on silent but I forgot that the alarm will still go off regardless. To make matters worse I had this giant bag where you can't find anything so I was raking about for what seemed like an eternity before i found the phone - and of course the alarm gets louder and louder until you switch it off. Very embarrassing.

On Tuesday I had a great afternoon as it involved clothes and buying clothes. My friend Alison has just set up a business as an agent for clothing stores - mostly supplying those small quirkier style shops. She also has a website with vintage style jewellery and purses - click HERE to have a look (5% profit goes to Live Life Then Give Life and Cancer Research). Anyway she was selling off the autumn/winter clothing samples and since they are all small sizes she invited me over for a look. I could have happily bought most of the stock but had to try and curtail things a little. I say a little. I got a few tunic style tops which I like at the moment and a couple were quite quirky - one grey tunic covered in little owls and another top with russian doll print which is really popular just now. In between trying on clothes I was playing with her 5 month old Boston Terrier - Elvis - who is so cute! We then met Andrew and her partner Neal and had some dinner at an Italian which was really nice. So that was a lovely day out for me.

Last night I also met up with my friends Lucie and Lauren for dinner, which again was lovely. I am sure I am going to put on quite a few kilos over Christmas! I was a bit upset later though as this pain has been worse again in one of my wounds from the fundoplication surgery last January. It comes on if I eat anything more than my normal and then is like a stitch pain when I walk. It is so so annoying but I think I will have to learn to live with it. The surgeon wasn't sure what was causing it other than perhaps scar tissue - either from the laparoscopy or the peg tube repair. It's a shame that after I get an appetite for the first time in my life I then feel like I can't eat very much in case I get this pain. At least the surgery should help protect my lungs though which is more important in the long run!

Today was the last PBL before the Christmas holidays so I am glad to be having a short break. I am still enjoying it but it has been quite hard work so far. I am facilitating on topics I have long forgotten so am doing a lot of background reading so it's nice not to have any 'study' to do for a few weeks. My last day at my 'proper' work will be Wednesday so I can't wait - I think I deserve a wee holiday now :-)

Parcels, trees and exhaustion!

The parcel arrived! End of DHL saga :-)

The Christmas tree is up! We spent last Saturday morning putting it up and I am really quite pleased with the finished article. I decorated it with gold and red beads instead of tinsel and then just added all the ornaments. I think it almost looks old fashioned like something from the Victorian era (although we don't have actual candles on the tree!) I like sitting in the evening just looking at it and thinking of all the memories associated with each ornament. This year we were able to add a little glass angel from Nice, a wooden angel from Berlin and a glass beaded heart from Tuscany - another three memories from my post transplant adventures. Just as well the tree is 7 foot because I have so many more memories still to collect :-)



I spent Sunday wrapping up presents but unfortunately didn't feel very well by the evening and had to go to bed early. I think the bending over all day had gone for my sinuses and my head was so sore! You should have seen the room though - it was like Santa's grotto. I tend to get carried away at Christmas but it's half the joy :-) I am not sure if I triggered things off but my head/face has been so sore this week. I haven't heard from the pain clinic yet although my CF consultant was also going to drop them a note explaining how much it is affecting my post transplant health so I hope that might hurry things up a bit.

I got to the end of last week in one piece and am really enjoying the PBL facilitating! I have a great group of students who are making my job much easier. I am feeling pretty exhausted though as I am not used to getting up and out the house every day. I think it just feels extra busy because it's Christmas time so lots of organising and general busyness other than work and my wee body is not quite sure what I am up to :-)

Little Seb has to get his yearly vaccines today and I was dreading it. As expected he did make a drama - dancing around the table, trying to jump off and tossing his head around - while wagging his tail at the same time! He insisted on being examined while standing on his hind legs with front paws on Andrews arm and the vaccine itself had to be administered while I mashed his head into my face to distract him. The vet said that his heart rate was actually quite slow which would indicate that most of the dancing around is Seb putting on a show for us and he is not as anxious as he might seem! I have said it so many times before...drama queen.

Seb's foot stool had to be moved so he has moved into the tiny leather chair!

Losing the plot: My DHL saga

I made a purchase online, to be delivered by DHL. I tracked the order and waited in on the expected delivery day. I waited and waited. I saw a DHL van in the street but it turned and went away... I logged in at the end of the day to see the update 'attempted delivery - no one home'. I was outraged and a series of irate emails ensued. I was reassured an attempt is always made the next day. No such attempt was made. I received an email from DHL telling me to call and rearrange delivery - I called. The number was no longer in use. I phoned customer services and was given an email address for the local depot to check they had correct address (no card had been posted through door). I emailed. It bounced. I went onto the online chat on DHL and spoke to Colin. He was very nice and said he would get the depot to call. The depot called when I was out and when I called back it rung out. At this point I said to Andrew that I felt like I was going mad and this was all some elaborate hoax for You've been Framed. He did comment that I seemed to be the only person to think this parcel existed. Shortly after I tried to call the depot again. I accidentally keyed in the tracking number instead of the phone number but it rang and someone answered 'switchboard'. I said they had a package for me - he said "I sincerely doubt that..this is a psychiatric hospital'!! I think someone is trying to tell me something...men in white coats coming for Jac...

DHL aside, I am nearly at the end of a busy week - only one more days work before I can have a wee long lie! I have been really tired but have still really enjoyed the week. My head is a bit 'buzzy' just now with work things and PBL things flying around at the same time, not to mention Christmas trees and fairy lights. I am not good as switching off and do really need to learn some relaxation techniques. I would like to look into types of meditation....but I don't have time haha. Seriously though - suggestions on a postcard welcome.

I have been restrained and not put the Christmas tree up yet but I did set up the crib last night. Luckily Seb doesn't seem interested this year - I have to keep an eye on him after the crib raiding incident a couple of years ago. He used to get really excited with the decorations going up but now he is getting old and grumpy and doesn't like anything that interferes with his routine! Just wait until I put the tree up and he realises he can't see out the window ;-)

I will leave you with a video clip of Emily - talking about organ donation. It may be selected for a 3 minute wonder on channel 4 and I think it would be a fantastic way of raising awareness. You might need a tissue..
Video