Day 73 - Sudofed etc.

March 14th 2013

I stayed at home today. I really really hated doing it, I hate not being in school because I love my job, and I hate leaving the others to sort out someone to come in instead and whatnot. But there really was no way I could go in. I got an hour's sleep the previous night, and at the worst end of the night. I took ages to get to sleep, then woke up at 12:30 and lay there for the rest of the night and morning. I tried getting horlicks and propping up all my pillows and everything. I can't go to sleep now without having something on the tv... I'm not exactly watching, just pretending that I'm being read a story. It's not my dad and Neverending Story, but it'll do. But tonight, I watched everything.

I watched Dave till Dave wasn't on anymore. This meant I watched something about extreme kayaking over a weir in Putney. I think. I also watched something called Ben and Kate, and Being Erica and Happy Endings and even Jeremy Kyle. I was going absolutely mental by morning. I got a little sleep after confirming I wouldn't be in that day. Thankfully.

Yucky yucky day. I did the steaming my face thing, I had a long bath and some chicken noodle soup. My whole day consisted of Sudafed and temperature and Olbas and ergh.

Unpleasant day, I had decided I would go back into work on Friday but was worrying that I would have another sleepless night and a useless day at work. Being ill is just...the worst. And you - you right now - appreciate not being ill. Appreciate that your nose isn't blocked and your head and face doesn't hurt and your head doesn't hurt and that your throat doesn't hurt. Cause we just don't appreciate that until we are ill and we can't appreciate it. Ack.

Stephie

xxx

Day 72 - Sinusitis

13th March 2013

So I got into school feeling absolutely terrible, in a lot of pain and completely drained. Arm was still enslingulated and achey...there was no energy to be had. At lunch I came home, trying to get an appointment with the doctor or something. I'd had enough of being ill and it was time.

I managed to get a phone appointment with a doctor...who said it seemed like I had sinusitis. She said if I still had a temperature on Friday to get an appointment, but until then get some stuff over the counter. So I did. I got some bits and came home and promptly fell asleep after sitting down for about 3 seconds. Most of the rest of the afternoon was spent snuffling and blowing my nose and trying to steam my face off. Not a nice day. Bleurgh.

Stephie

xxx

Day 71 - Bebe

March 12th 2013

Zuzi will love the hell out of me for this. In my defence, I take my camera for my picture that day and then they complain about me taking pictures so I am forced to take what I can get. Let this be a lesson to you.

So Tuesday rolled around and it was Bex's turn to cook for us. What was extra brilliant was the presence of Kyle. Kyle has moved to London, yay! Now we can see him aaaalllllllll the time, as opposed to when he appears from Coventry. Which was, admittedly, pleasingly often. But now it's more. Woop.

I made it over to Leytonstone, just about avoiding calling out to a stranger I thought was Kyle. The problem was I had been pondering along my walk whether I would recognise my friends by their walk. Then a bit later there was someone in Kyle's coat and a bobble hat that could have been him and it might have been his walk - mere seconds from Bex's house. I was this close to shouting his name with Glee, but then he crossed the road millimetres from the right door and I was so glad I pondered the bobble hat a little longer.

Dignity intact, I made it to Bex's. She made us deliciously delicious stuffed butternut squash. We played with a calculator. I love my friends.

About half way through the evening the cold I've had for the last month or so (seriously, it's not been my week for health) started to really make itself known. My face hurt so much it was difficult to focus on the hilarity ensuing.

We headed home and I got on my long old tube home. I got a good napping spot, but failed to sleep due to the big headache happening at me. Bleurgh.

Stephie

xxx

Day 70 - Slung

11th March 2013

So not quite what I expected from today. I am currently enslingulated. What's happened? How did it happen? You tell me.

During the afternoon I was sat with some children...not doing anything, not holding anything, one of the rare times I was sat still. Suddenly my arm started aching more and more, right in the middle on the side, so badly I thought I thought I might be sick. I waited it out for a little bit, in case it was just one of those twinges, but soon realised that I couldn't do anything any of the kids asked of me, it hurt too much. Eventually I called NHS direct and they asked if I had done anything to any part of my arm. I had whacked the back of my hand on the side of this..thing..it had hurt but nothing else. This was about 45 minutes before my arm started hurting. They thought it could be something to do with this, soft tissue damage or something. To be on the safe side she advised I go to the hospital for an X ray.

Luckily for me, Tom lives with us now, is a driver and had a day off. He was a GEM and picked me up and took me to Hammersmith where I sat next to a man hacking and hocking a lung out. It was revolting. He said he was "choking slightly". I had a problem with this, I don't think you can choke slightly, you're choking or not and if you are, you can't say "excuse me, but I think I'm choking slightly". I was seen pretty quickly, and sent for an X Ray. By this point painkillers had kicked in and the pain wasn't so extreme, just an odd twinge. I haven't had an X Ray for a long time, but I remembered in full detail that they always want a horrible angle when my arm was, kindly, maneuvered into a position that brought that aches back well and truly.

Upon looking at my X Rays it was determined I hadn't managed to fracture my arm whilst sitting still, phew. I did however have some swelling on the bone at my elbow. Just another location to throw into the mix. Elbow doesn't hurt at all, so not sure what's going on here.

They didn't exactly clarify what they thought had happened after this...just gave me a wrist support, put me in a sling and said I should keep it in that and take it easy for a few days. They were perfectly lovely people at every step, but I do wish I knew what had happened. Maybe they don't know exactly what it was. Mystery.

Tom was an angel again and came to collect me. I got home and had a lot of tea. I'd been craving it all afternoon.

I knew that the only photo that would suffice for today would be of the sling. It was pretty difficult. I considered a timer, but thought that the ridiculousness of the photo merely emphasised my one handed state at the moment.

Here is a photo to better illustrate the whole scene.

A-okay.

Stephie

xxx

Day 69 - Such a Sunday

March 10th 2013

First things first, Happy Mothers' Day to my wonderful Mama! I know everyone says their mums are the loveliest, most wonderful, caring, beautiful mums, but what makes me stand out is that I'm the only one that's right.

I love my Mama more than words can say, and miss her immensely every day. All too often I find myself thinking "I just want my mum...". Sometimes a hug from your mummy is the only thing that will do. A meal made by her is next on the list. Nothing is as delicious as when your mum makes it. Or mine.

Can't wait to see you again Mama, love you most!

See, I do wear pink on occasion.

So today has been quite a Sunday-ey kind of day. I woke up earlier than I would have liked, but relaxed in my new big bed and watched some telly. After a little while I got myself up and had a shower and a perfect breakfast of orange juice and crumpets. Mmm. Whilst eating, we indulged in a little Community. Get used to this people.

Self sorted and looking presentable I headed out to Victoria to meet Danielle and Paul. Danielle was among the girls I lived with right the way through uni, right from our little Flat E-7 in Langstone Halls in Portsmouth, through to the Herb Mansion. It was because of Danielle that I will find myself saying I am going into 'toyn' or that I'm going for a 'shar' or perplex people by saying 'Snow Patrol are from my toyn!'. In case you haven't picked up on it, Danielle is Northern Irish, the first of my two flatmates from Norn Iron. I hadn't seen her in far too long, so when she said she was going to be in London with Paul, her fiancé (though we'll just say boyfriend eh Danielle?) I jumped at the chance to grab a drink or some food with her.

Though, thanks to the move, grabbing a drink is all I had time for. The tube took an hour as opposed to the half hour it should, and they had to be off to Madame Tussaud's before it closed. I had a very nice, but far too short, time chatting with them about all things Pompey before heading back to the flat.

 

This is going to be among the best things about Tom living with us. Chef Tom is, in actual fact, a chef. I have had the great pleasure of partaking of meals cooked by Tom before, and when he said a roast was going to happen I was quite excited. As I arrived home this was being finished up and I was able to settle down with a big plate of happiness. It was all so delicious that I am fighting sleep. 

The Tardis is one of Tom's additions to the flat, I wonder if you've noticed a theme? This is now a main feature in my eyeline from my spot and it pleases me. Apparently it's Yahtzee. The dice have aliens on them? Or something? It has been explained to me, but I'm still not 100% what makes this Doctor Who Yahtzee as opposed to Yahtzee with a Tardis. 

I'm now off to finish watching some rugby and sort some more of my life out. I am still managing to fight this cold and all I really want to do is get into my pyjamas and go to bed, but it's still a little early. Sigh.

Stephie

xxx

Day 68 - Room move pt. 2

9th March 2013

Today was the big move. I heard Samantha get up and leave for her first run and snoozed a little bit before getting up myself and making a rare breakfast. I'm not really into breakfast. I have a brioche and some orange juice when I get to work during the week, but will only really have breakfast at the weekends if I have something I have to get up for but that takes place in the house, or I accidentally get up early. Because that is always an accident.

So I watched some Community (new addiction) over some tea and porridge, and waited for the Flood to return so I could get on with my move.

As she returned and emptied her room of the last few things Tom arrived, so there were a lovely few minutes of moving people in and out simultaneously. We had a genuinely heart wrenching goodbye.

Samantha has only lived with us since about July, and I absolutely adore her. We've had so much fun and done so many exciting things together, it feels like we've known each other a lot longer. I have no doubt that we will see each other a lot and I don't have to worry about missing her, but I really really will. We are such children in our sense of humour and our taste in hot chocolate. Dunno about you, Severe Precipitation, but I am sure I have another new friend for life. Don't stay away too long, I have too many immature left jokes to make.

This obviously leaves a gap in the house, one Tom is filling. We live with a boy. I've shared houses with boys before, but not this flat. This flat has been a girls flat for a long time. It didn't take long to make the change. Neither Lynsey nor I are particularly girly, nor do we shun such activities at all, but within about 5 hours of arriving, we had had two games of rugby on, had gone for a beer run and Mortal Kombat was being played in the front room. I love rugby and beer and video games are brilliant, but it is always a lot of fun when stereotypes are fulfilled.

I've known Tom for about two years, he's a friend of Nichola. What is awesome is that he is also a Medwayite, like Samantha. What is boggling is that we have discovered links between our families. When we first met we discovered I knew his sister when we were younger. His dad was in the same class at primary school as my aunt, the same school where my grandma was Head and his was a Dinnerlady. After that my Grandad would drop his aunt off at secondary school with mine. What?! That's insane. Just some other random I met from Medway. We were chatting today and discovered it is not impossible that our great grandparents may have crossed paths. At first he said this and I told him that was where we'd end our links, as my Grandparents moved down from Glasgow with my mum and her siblings when she was 5. That's when he brings out that his great grandparents were Glaswegians. Man alive.

After our little genealogy chat, I was able to start hauling all my stuff into my new room. It took awhile. When it all first came in I could not believe how I had managed to fit quite so much junk into my tiny room. I know most of you can believe this of me, but even this would amaze you, I'm sure.

I have managed to unpack and sort about 70% I reckon. It is mostly done, but there are still bits here and there to do, and still some washing to sort. Hopefully I'll be done soon and can settle down in comfort.

It is very very strange to be in here. I've known three other girls to live in here, how is this now my room?! How do I now have so much room in my bed?! It's now so cold! My room was like a sauna, the heating could be on for ten minutes and I'd be sweltering, now I'm considering an extra blanket. There's a little electric heater, but it sounds like a cat dying a highly unpleasant death, so I don't think I'll have that on tonight. Maybe I'll get a routine sorted for it.

Fingers crossed.

Stephie

xx

Day 67 - World Book Day

8th March 2013

Now I know that everyone else did World Book Day yesterday, but my school likes to do it at the end of the week. We had a whole week of book and education based things, so our children could go in dressed either as book characters or scientists or inventions or all sorts. There were some brilliant costumes, and as I work with the babies some exceedingly cute ones.

I myself headed in as the Mad Hatter. I was one of three, but we were all very different, and I never really see anyone above Reception anyway. Above is my teapot, which I love. I decided to keep in all the chaos of the flat at the moment so that you'll feel my pain. Below is me!

I was boiling all day. But it was worth it. The kids laughed at my hat and a few could not tear themselves away from my nails. Worst part of the day was when in the assembly all the adults had to get up on the stage, by themselves, and have the kids guess who they were. 500 children judging your ability to cobble together a costume is intimidating man. They all guessed, but they had just had another Mad Hatter to guess so not so difficult.

When I headed home for the day I was completely ready to be there. Unfortunately for me, I took my camera in yesterday to get some photos of the kids, and left it there. ARGH. I feel a little bit like I'm missing a limb, shows how much doing this photo challenge has changed how I see my own relationship with photography. I loved it before, but I actually feel like I can call it my hobby now. I realised too late to get back into school to pick it up. So now you will be treated to a weekend of iPhoneography. I know there are some people that can really rock the iPhone camera, but I'm not one of them. It can't handle low light at all and that annoys me immensely.

Sigh. Only a night left in the baby room. Tomorrow I shall be all moved in, Samantha will be gone, sob, and Tom will be here, hooray!

Stephie

xxx