The 12th & 13th; Where to begin?

The 12th of February.

Where to begin? I have been reluctant to start this because I feel like it might dilute the memory or I’ll forget stuff.

The journey down was nice and straightforward. The chap was even there with the ramp when we arrived at Euston! We got a taxi to Jen’s in Highgate, where I was going to try on fun clothes in order to find an outfit for the show. I was shown into a little room, one wall full of clothes, one full of shoes, plus a rack of dresses, the floor covered in more shoes and bags and jewellery behind me. First I picked some favourites to try one, because I had to be selective. I looked at four or five in the end, but eventually decided that the first one I’d worn was the best. A navy blue midi dress from Libelula covered in sequins with pink piping, plus some Nadia Vodianova shoes and massive clip on earrings and a two-finger ring. I left with a promise to leave it at the hotel reception in the morning.

We had lunch at the nearby Cafe Rouge (saw so many good dogs), then another taxi to the hotel. When checking in, we each were given a fresh warm cookie, which I ate on my bed very messily. Unpacked, then collected what we needed for the show. Next stop, Union Chapel!

When we arrived, we rang a buzzer and were met by Bea, who works the evening shows. She showed us the backstage/dressing rooms, the facilities, and of course the chapel itself. They had built me a massive ramp to get onto the stage, and I met the sound guys so handed over my old iPhone, plus the cable and power pack.

There was no point going back to the hotel, so I sent Mommy and Daddy to get coffee, then it wasn’t long before the Anthony Nolan team and Christine arrived (separately). I finally met Lucy, then she and her colleagues set up all their tables and banners, and I got changed into my spangly dress. I had a practise run up the ramp, then got talking to lot of Anthony Nolan volunteers, remembering some from previous events. Then the doors opened and it was time to meet my public! For a while, I just watched strangers coming in which was brilliant because they weren’t obliged to come, they were just supporting the cause. Then I started seeing people I knew, like Emmer, Charlie, Denise, Amy, Joy, Lauren and Hannah. Mark and Shereen came over and I gave him a huge hug. I’m so glad he could come. Acaster arrived, then Suzi and Flick, and I went backstage with them. Soon Nish appeared, and before long, it was time to start the show! First up, aside from our lovely host, we had James, during whom Sara arrived, and then Felicity. Nish then introduced me, and I drove up (nearly off) the ramp onto the stage, giving a royal wave. The cheer was immense, and I had to tell them to stop because I was going to cry. I said most of what I’d planned, plus I gave Mark a shout out because he deserves to know what a hero he is. In hindsight, there are things I wish I’d said, but no matter. Everyone said I did really well, and I was happy.

In the interval, I gave Josh the bear for his baby, and met the Anthony Nolan patients who’d come backstage and lots of photos were taken. Josh opened the second half, followed by Suzi and Sara. Everyone was brilliant, it went better than I could have hoped. I said goodbye to the people who had waited at the end, and Nish, Sara and Suzi.

So many hugs. And it was all over. I put my socks and boots back on, and we made our way back to the hotel. Pyjamas, Graham Norton, wind down, bed.

The 13th of February.

I didn’t fall asleep until about three, and woke up at seven. Made myself a cup of tea, and got everything packed back up. I left the garment bag for Jen at reception, then we had coffee next door at Saint Espresso. Breakfast was required, and as it was pancake day, we went to The Diner nearby. We went past The Breakfast Club and its huge queue, but found The Diner nice and quiet, where I had buttermilk pancakes with bacon, maple syrup and whipped honey butter. So good, but I couldn’t finish them.

A last cab back to Euston, where I got another coffee, and we trundled home. This afternoon, I have put all my warm clothes on, curled up in my armchair. So happy.

 

The 16th & 17th; Things are just getting worse.

The 16th of February. 

A much quieter day! But just what I needed. I was woken up by Radio WM calling to hear about my weekend so I told the story in brief in a rather sleepy, groggy state. I was then completely woken up from my Zopiclone slumber so I spent my morning writing about yesterday and pinching myself to prove it was real. 

After lunch, we went on a brief trip into Sutton to swap Grandma’s hearing aid (such excitement, I just know) and for me to get some new cleanser as my skin has gone completely mental. I blame HRT. 

This afternoon, I have made the arms of a bunny and written another summary of my life post for the new masses. I shall probably get the feet of the bunny done tonight during Only Connect. Joe Lycett was interviewed on WM this afternoon to talk about yesterday, and he was so lovely. Oh and Aisling Bea tweeted me to invite me to Channel 4’s Comedy Gala! Bwahaha I will slowly make all of the comedians my friends. 

The 17th of February. 

Pancake Day aka one of the best days of the year. Did not begin brilliantly. Mommy had gone out to take Grandma to Parkinson’s clinic by the time I got downstairs but had left me batter and other kit including the perching stool. However, I completely failed at making them – mine were more like omelettes. They were consigned to the bin. I had got out some prosciutto though which can’t really go back in the packet so I put it in a toasted muffin and had that for breakfast instead. 

For the rest of the day, I have been finishing the bunny I’ve been doing for a lady on twitter, so that needs to go in the post. Must start the aardvark now,that’s next on the list. 

For lunch, Mommy had a go at the pancakes and succeeded, so I had them with crispy parma ham and maple syrup. And yes, we’ll be having crêpes for dinner too. 

Alison came over while we were watching Super Cute Animals because we haven’t seen her for a while as she didn’t want to bring any bugs from school round. We heard about the saga of Jamie’s new phone, and basically, Yodel are incompetent. 

I spoke to Andrew Willis’ secretary this morning, but she doesn’t organise the procedures. She said she’d email the coordinator with my number and she’d call me. I haven’t heard anything, so tomorrow after my PIP assessment, we’re going to clinic because things are just getting worse.  

The 3rd & 4th; Tonight has been pancakes!

The 3rd of March.

Again, did not want to get up but did so as Angela was coming round at some point between nine and ten and I felt that I ought to be presentable.

She arrived at about quarter to ten, bearing gifts of wedding cake which I had a slice of at lunchtime and it was, as she warned me, very boozy and rich. It was tasty but I couldn’t eat a bigger piece.

So we spent the morning watching Jeremy Kyle and This Morning, putting the world to rights and she told me a bit about her brother’s wedding and how her training for the half marathon is going (she’s running it for me/Anthony Nolan, go sponsor her here).

Her brother came to pick her up just after one, and I had some lunch of a ham omelette as my tummy was grumbly.

After lunch and an episode of Criminal Minds, Mommy went to see Grandma and I got my ukulele out and played a little. Had to remind myself of some chords but it wasn’t too hard to pick back up. I’m still quite shit though.

Tonight I’m going to watch Mary Berry, then have a massive sleep. Well that’s the plan.

The 4th of March.

Today has been really rather unproductive. I slept until half past nine, which was a joy, then I spent the morning watching tv and looking out of the window for the people who came to collect the Be Child Cancer Aware charity bag to see if they looked reputable. Well the van seemed clean and the guy who took the bag looked as reasonable as one can, when wearing a grey hoodie and jogging bottoms. I could not glean masses of information.

This afternoon was much the same, except without the staring out of the window and the addition of the washing of my hair and reading of Heat.

Tonight has been pancakes! Cheese and leek ones to start (the greengrocer’s reaction when Mommy bought the leeks and mentioned savoury pancakes was “…Why?”), then I had one with just sugar, then one with chocolate spread, then one with sugar and lemon. I love pancakes so much. I remember two years ago I couldn’t have any as I had my bile ducts reconstructed the day before Shrove Tuesday and I wasn’t allowed to eat yet. So traumatic.