My Kidney Transplant Journey......

As I have said in other post I was diagnosed in 2012 so I have been ill for 4 years, but I was the Transplant list for about 18 months. These photos were take in March 2011 before I was diagnosed. I was told that I had severe food allergies. This is what happened as my kidneys were failing, my face would swell to the point on this occasion I couldn't actually open my eyes. I had gone to a walk in centre and they just sent me home with antihistamine. This was quite an regular occurrence and they had said it was Urticaria.

Unfortunately it wasn't this was my Kidneys failing and the swelling was the build up of fluid my Kidneys couldn't get rid of and the rash with blisters you can see in the photo is all the toxins building up in my body and skins. 


Flash forward 4 years, I was put on the
Transplant list in April 2015, I was on the waiting list for about 18 Month. While I was on the list I was on Dialysis 3 times a week for 4 hours a session. I found I was coping ok until earlier on this year 2016 and started to struggle with the waiting time.

 I had just started to get my head around the waiting list and that I would be waiting another 2 years for my Kidney Transplant when I was on my way to work after being off for 10 weeks for the summer break I got the call at about 9.00am. I was looking at my phone and I just had a bit of dumb moment and just said to my husband while we drove to work "why are Bristol calling me?" When I answered it the Transplant Nurse and she just said that there was a good match for me and that I needed to get to Bristol asap. So I ran into the office at work and then burst into tears, told them I got the call and then I ran out to the canteen and then ran to my friend and told her and then ran back to the car. We then rushed back to the house and I just threw loads of stuff in to my bag that was packed. Most of the stuff I didn't even use or wear. So I got there on the Tuesday midday and then waited till about 6 because I was told it was going to take place this in the evening. I then got told that it would be Wednesday during the day, then as I waiting I turned around and saw the Kidney in its bag go past. I burst into tears, I think the reality just sunk in and I knew that I was going to get my Kidney Transplant there and then. Up until that point anything could have happened for it not to go ahead.

I went into the surgery room had some drugs to put me to sleep and then then next thing I knew I woke up in recovery, a while later I was wheeled back to the ward and I remember seeing my Husband and giving him a thumbs up and then just feeling quite sore and attached to lots of beeping machines. I had a neckline in and other monitoring gear on me and oxygen for a while. I was alert straight away and chatty but I was still quite anaemic due to losing quite a bit of blood in surgery, but I was lucky because I didn't need any drains in. I only had a catheter which I wanted to pull out after the 3rd day, it was so uncomfortable but it came out on the 5th day and then I was able to go home and cooperate from there. I then had to go back to Bristol 3 times a week for 6 weeks and I am now in my 6th week and I get my stent out on Monday and then I get Transferred back to Dorset. I generally can't wait because then it feels like getting back to normality. My next thing to do is write a letter to my Donors Family, I want to take my time so that I get it right and say it in a way that is sensitive to their lost but show how grateful I am.

These Pictures below from Top Left

This is me before my transplant nil by mouth-hence the sad face. The next 2 pics are me after Transplant with Oxygen on and monitoring gear on and a neck line-looking slightly glazed from the strong pain killers from the magic button.

The Bottom 2 pics are of me going out for the first time on a wheelchair to get a Costa Coffee-very novel as I wasn't allowed Coffee on dialysis and the last pic is the 5th day ready to leave-back in normal clothes after having my catheter out. 

The next part of my journey will be in the next blog. The Recovery Process.

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/register-your-details/ 

Becoming an Organ donor......Receiving an Organ Donation

I wanted to write this post to raise awareness on becoming an Organ Donor. As you guess Organ Donation is very important to me and very close to my heart and to my family.  In 2012 I was rushed into hospital and was told that both my Kidneys had failed due to Chronic Kidney Disease and that I would need to go on to Dialysis and I would need a Kidney Transplant and be on the list within the year. My Adoptive Father had also been diagnosed with Kidney disease but due to have Multiple Myeloma (which is a blood cancer) which meant my Father needed a Stem Cell Transplant. Unfortunately my Brother and I were ruled out due to being too young and my Mother wasn't a match to donate our Stem Cells. However my Father was able to have his own Stem Cells harvested which were taken out of the blood and then after each round of Chemo they would then give the Stem Cells back to him through a drip.


As you have have guessed from my previous posts, on the the 14th September 2016 I received a Kidney Transplant after being on the Transplant Waiting List for about 18 months. When I was put on the list, I was told that it would be approximately a 3 year wait due to the number of people waiting which was higher than the number of people registered as donors. The total people waiting for all Transplants is just over 6000 approximately and the total of people that received an organ was just over 4000 approximately. When I was told that I would need a Transplant I immediately joined the Organ Donation Register, I felt that I wanted to give the Gift of Living back, especially as I would receive the Gift of life when I received my Kidney Transplant. This creates a kind of Pay it Forward (if you like-if that makes sense) You could also be a Living Donor this means you could donate a Kidney, Part of your Liver and Tissue.

By signing the Organ Donor Register you are saving lives, not just one but you could save up to 9 peoples lives who are waiting for life saving Organ Transplants.

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/

Awkward School Reunion 2013 blog and update now in 2016....a few surprises...

Written in 2013

An old school friend is organising a school reunion. I am dreading going to it when it finally happens. It's going to be the standard questions of "What are you doing these days?" "Married?" "Home owner?" "Dream job?" "Children?" My response is "Oh yeah I'm married...... yeah life is good oh yeah apart from having kidney failure and waiting for a transplant but life is good....!!" I just feel like it's going to be like going back to school. Are really school reunions fun or are they just plain awkward? Is it just a big competition to see who is doing the best in their lives? I'm not even sure I want to go but then I think I have over come so much since leaving school. Dealing with various issues including losing my dad, and getting ill.....I think well maybe I'm not in a dream job or own my own house but I have amazed my self at how strong I have been through out this last year and I know that's an achievement in it's self. In fact I should be proud of my self and this is a new path I am on and I should embrace it. So with that in mind I decided once I have had my Transplant I am going to do the British Transplant Games and then I hope to go onto then the World Transplant Games.....so I am going to start training I think got to pick a sport though....!!!

Written in 2016

Well that was 3 years ago and a lot has changed since this Blog that I had never actually published! Well I am now living by the sea in Dorset in a lovely town. It just feels me with joy and I had to keep pinching my self, this is where I call home now. It was a big decision to move down here not knowing anyone but it was one of the best decisions we ever made. Not long after moving down we found our first home and we were able to buy our first home. It was a massive dream of mine to have my own house and being able to decorate it with my ideas. The biggest news is that after being on the Transplant List waiting for Kidney for just over a year I got my call. It was the biggest shock and I had been waiting all summer holidays but after a day of going back to work at College for a day I got 'The call.' I was so emotional I couldn't stop crying. So the next biggest thing that I will be able to do is start trying for a baby-well in about 18 months when my Kidney Transplant. So in the mean time, I think the plan is to go on as many holidays as possible and do all the things we couldn't really do when I was ill. Going on holiday was just a nightmare and going any where more than 4 hours away form my Transplant Hospital was out of the question so mini romantic weekend get away's were out of the question. So first on my list is Edinburgh and then I want to go to Italy-either the Lakes or Sorrento. I also some days out I'm desperate to do like go to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio, when its dressed for Christmas, Oh and proper Afternoon Tea in a posh Hotel somewhere. I also definitely want to do the Christmas Market somewhere and go back to the Christmas Home Show and Winter Wonder Land in London and do the Ice skating either at the Natural History Museum or Somerset House. Oh, I also want to see the Cursed Child Theatre production-if I can ever get tickets. Well that's some of my adventures planned and my other plan is getting my qualifications to become a lecturer, so watch this space. Oh and I have signed up for the Transplant Games.

Life is very different now and I am very proud of where I am in my life today. I am proud of who I today and what I have been through and coming through it with grace and poise (most of the time-lol.)

Toodles xx

Kidney disease, eating and cooking

Living with kidney disease, means that eating food can become a bit of a chore and a bit of  a hassle and cooking is even more of a challenge. I had many restrictions of what I could eat and drink, my main restriction was I was only allowed 1 litre of fluid a day. That was very difficult because I was constantly thirsty. The other main restriction was that I couldn't eat salt because that would make me more thirsty and I would retain fluid which would have to be taken off during dialysis, but keeping the balance right was difficult and any extra fluid go on our lungs or heart which give us shortness of breath. This could cause a lot of issues and make you awful as well as be dangerous.

The worst thing about kidney disease is that we would not be allowed to eat certain food such as, tomatoes, avacardos, bananas, chocolate, coffee, raw veg, dried fruit, nuts, mushrooms, exotic fruit, potatoes, marmite, hot chocolate,kidney beans, baked beans, pulses and sauces with high salt. Other veg had to be boiled to reduce the potassium and also reduced phosphates, cheese, milk, cola, seafood, processed food, pizza, ice cream, custard. I had also had to reduce my salt, so a lot of gravys and sauces where ruled out.

This means that cooking vegetables would have to be boiled and then cooked in a pan or roast them after but it mean a lot of the flavour and nutrients was lost. We had to cook a lot of our own food to limit all the restricted

We made home made food that was lower in the restrictions. This meal produced 4 portions. These worst part was not being able to eat most of the Christmas food, as most of it was restricted.

Life is very different now, I'm 26 days post transplant and all but a few restrictions have been lifted. I can't have grapefruit,pomegranate,star fruit, unpasteurised cheese, pate and smoked salmon. The first few days I couldn't decide what to eat. I think my first breakfast was a BLT, I hadn't had one in such a long time, it was delicious. Now cooking seems fun again and I can't wait to try a new recipe. It's going to be stuffed pumkin baked in the oven. Yes no carving pumpkins here it will be delicious!

foods.

My kidney disease diagnoses and where I am now

So where do I begin? So in 2012 I was working in an art gallery in a posh town, but I was commuting a long distance because we wanted to move back to the area my husband and grew up in. I managed to get a job in the area first and it was going well until I became ill at work, so I drove to my mums house because she still lived in the area and I felt to unwell to drive. That night I was in so much pain all I all I wanted to do was go to bed but I couldn't sleep because my back was in so much pain. I had to get up in the night to go to the bathroom, I noticed the toilet was just red. I screamed down to my mum and I just pointed to the toilet. She looked shocked and went and got some pain relief. We decided to call my doctor back up where I was living which is a 50 mile trip. I decided to drive back home and I said I would be OK for her to go to the Chelsea Flower show with my Aunty. So I drove back home but by the time I got back home I couldn't even stand. So my neighbour drove me round in her car to the doctors surgery. I was called in to the doctors office and I got out a urine sample I had done when I got home ( which was still bright red-basically just blood)  and put it on the desk and said that was my urine. The doctor looked shocked and tried to do my blood pressure, he looked puzzled and said this can't be right let me do it again. So he tested it again and got the same result so he got a different machine and again got the same result -250/200 approx. It kind of gets a bit fuzzy after that but I remember there being several doctors in there by the end and I remember saying "I really don't feel well." I remember they said they needed to print a letter and send me to the local hospital. The doctors said it would be quicker for my friend to take me than wait for an ambulance. So I got to the hospital but my friend had to go and pick her child up from school so I had to walk in by my self  with no idea what was wrong with me. I was put into a wheelchair because I was in so much pain I couldn't stand any more. I was wheeled round to A and E, where the nurse handed the doctors my letter and I waited there for what felt like an internity before being told to get on the bed. I called my hubby and he came straight from work, when he arrive he called my mum and we tx my work telling them I was in A and E, waiting to find out what was wrong. Little did we know how serious and near to dieing I really was. After what seemed like for ever and an uncomfortable situation having a catheter put in, a doctor came in and told me the scariest news I had heard "your kidneys have failed." I was so scared and burst into tears, the next few weeks were an emotional roller coaster. I then got moved up to a side room on a ward for about an hour before two paramedics walked in and told me that the Specialist Hospital wanted me at the specialist renal ward right away. So I was taken in the back of an ambulance to the Specialist Hospital and remember they kept saying to me to keep talking, I remember just feeling so tired I just wanted to sleep but the paramedic kept talking to me and then I heard the sirens go on to get through the traffic and then I remember I must be very ill.

Getting to the specialist Renal (kidney) hospital, the next bit was a bit fuzzy but I had an emergency neck line put in and the first night I was woken up every hour for them to take my vitals! I had dialysis through my neckline and I felt horrendous after and kinda went funny almost felt paralysed but I had lost control of my arms, they felt heavy, I did freak out but it was the equilibrium (the balance of all the electrolytes. It turned out my Creatine (toxic levels) were at 1000, normal levels are under 100. I was told about a year later I was about 24 hours away from dying, even now it makes me tear up-just how close i was to not being here, They also said they were surprised I was still standing when I walked into A and E. So I was in the Specialist Hospital for several weeks, I was there on my first wedding anniversary which I was allowed to go out for a meal with my husband and my parent in laws but I did have to be back the next day. I remember I still had my neckline in so I had to keep my scarf on so people didn't stare at me because I looked like I had a little antenna. It all feels a bit surreal now, I can't believe everything I been through. I never thought I would ever have it in me to be as brave and strong as I have been. Don't get me wrong there have been some days where I just wanted to cry but I would pick my self back up and dust my self off and start again.

Over the following weeks and months, I became more stable and then did training to do home dialysis. This is when I met my lovely friend who I did my dialysis training with. We became good friends and she then got a double kidney and pancreas transplant a few years before I got my call ( that's another blog.) So after missing all of the Jubilee Celebrations, most of the London Olympics and being sacked from my job at the Art Gallery (while I was in A and E-nearly dying) I went home to recover. I did manage to see one live London Olympic event but that was a bit of a disaster but I've already blogged about that so won't repeat my self.

I was off for a while, about 18 months I think in total from May 2012 to September 2013 . I think this was when I was out of work and decided that doing sales was not for me and being ill made me re-evaluate what I wanted to do with my life. Around the same time, in September 2012 my kidneys bounced back, they went from 5% back up to about 30% and I stayed stable for 2 years. So while I was stable I did go on a few holidays, Greece, Belgium, Hungary and the Croatia (when we moved to Dorset.)

(After that I did try and go on 4 other holidays but due to getting peritonitis I missed a cruise, Tenerife the flights were too expensive as it was so last minute, Cyprus from brother in law and sister in laws Wedding-I couldn't go because I got a massive clot in my arm from my elbow to my collar bone.)

While this was happening, I realised that when I was in the police (2007-2009) the best bit about my job that I enjoyed the most was working with the youths and doing youth initiatives. I decided I wanted to go into education but I knew looking at my CV that I wouldn't get a job with out any work experience or qualifications in that field. I decided to get a placement in a school by doing an apprenticeship. I called round loads of school but I got lots of no's. Eventually I got a yes and started my course in September 2013 and completed it a year later, summer 2014.

We then decided to try and move out of the area to the south coast to have a better quality of life for my health. We ended up moving to Dorset in the summer of 2014. So again I looked for a new job in the area and had been complaining to my kidney transplant friend, that nothing was happening and I was finding it difficult. Well that same day literally after that call, I got the call to say I had got the job I had gone to the interview for. So I started my job in September and then on around the 23rd December I was meant to have some regular blood tests done but my GP couldn't get any blood from me so he sent me to the local hospital to get bloods taken.

I had actually been to see Michael Buble concert in London that weekend and I had felt quite rough but still enjoyed it. We had Christmas hats on because we thought he would do all his Christmas songs-he only did a few.

 Little did I know that when I got sent to the hospital I would then be told that my kidneys had failed again and they were at 5% again. It was yet another shock, so yet again I had to have emergency necklines put in and yet more emergency dialysis. I then needed 7 blood transfusions because I was so anaemic that I was dangerously ill again, my haemoglobin was 5. I then needed 7 plasma exchanges (which each exchange had 15 bags of plasma) because my platelets were so low I wouldn't clot. It again was scary and a lot of uncertainty. I spent several weeks in hospital, through Christmas and New Year's Day. It was very hard and as I felt less ill I started to get bored. I was off for about 3 months recovering before I went back to work. I went back on to home dialysis but again it didn't work, I had several ops to try and sort it but in the end I got peritonitis and missed the cruise we were meant to be going on the follow day I ended up back in hospital! Around the same time I was put on the transplant list and then it was a case of waiting, doing dialysis 3 times a week in hospital and trying to live life as normally as possible! I was told it would be at least 3 years.......

The next blog is about my wait on the list and living as a normal life as possible and cooking food and what restrictions I had- it was no picnic.

Mini New Yorker's island adventures

We went to the Isle of Wight for a week but as per usual I packed for about a month and as per usual I forgot things I really needed. I packed for winter because it was so cold and miserable in Hertfordshire but I ended up sitting on the terrace enjoying the sun and a cup of tea. I think I would find it easier to just leave things there just in case. I might suggest that for next time, I leave things I don't wear that often. We decided to go to lots of different touristy things, so we went to the Needles on such a bright sunny day. I captured this lovely photo of the Needles and the bay.  I felt slightly queasy going on the stair lift on the way down. As I looked down it made me suddenly realise I was dangling by a few wires and that was it, what a terrifying thought. It felt like we were in the south of France or Spain, it was so warm that we tried to do a bit of sun bathing but I just got too hot. My parent in laws have a fabulous house which looks out onto the Solent. I can image the amazing parties that were once held there back in the 20's.
I enjoy exploring the Isle of Wight and taking beautiful pictures in many different locations. The picture was taken on the beach at the Needles. I thought the different colour sands were very pretty. I was then lucky enough to go back to my parent in laws' house and to my surprise they had prepared deliciously fresh lobsters straight out of the Solent. It felt like I could have been in Maine, it gave me great ideas for when I host my own dinner party. The next time I go, I definitely will stock up and put them in the freezer. We also went to a bar and had some lovely cocktails (mocktails), one was called Dark and Stormy but there was no grey cloud in the sky that day. Yet another great trip full of fun and adventures.

Mini New Yorker.....Feeling like a big water melon

Now girls this is a question that need to be answered and a very important one....

When should you start to wear spanks? With Valentines coming up you don't want to look like a sausage being squeezed in your lovely new dress or skirt that you bought for that amazing romantic date. I have recently discovered tights that have shaping technology in them but they only thing with these is that they really do cut in. So is there some thing a bit sexier to wear that will keep you in?

Well I did a bit of research and the only way to keep your self looking glamorous and slimmer is a corset. I have just bought a lovely red one for Valentines. It's hard as with all these scars I now have, feeling sexy at the best of times is not easy. Not just that but with my weight fluctuating with all the water retention can make me feel like I just feel like a big water melon.

My aim is to be ready for our holiday in the summer...so going to start jogging and swimming although got to wait till this snow clears.I really don't want to end up in A&E because I fell flat on my face. I've also tried doing the Zumba on my Wii but its hard work and I'm not coordinated at all so I look like an octopus when I try and follow the instructions. The only problem is going swimming I will have to wear a swimming costume....meuhhh!!! Once I loose the weight I want to go on a shopping spree....yay-in desperate need of new clothes...!!! I have seen so many nice things but just feel too big to buy them right now...!! Liking the maxi dresses.....covers up all manner of sins for me.

I have found make up that covers up scars....especially good if we want to be in bikini's this summer.

I'm off to go for a swim xxx

Mini New yorker....and delicious sticky roast duck....

So cooking kidney friendly recipes can be tricky but I am trying to cook everything from scratch. So the plan is to check the recipes out for the following week so we can get what we need and then I can cook it for hubby when he gets in. Today's Sunday roast is going to be roast duck breast with a red wine sticky sauce. I have never cooked duck before and I think its one of my favourite meats now. It was just so juicy and with the sticky sauce was just mouth wateringly delicious and it was very kidney friendly. The Recipe was from my new cook book 'Mary Berry' and it was definitely a hit. You don't have to follow it 100% if there's thing you think that aren't good for us.

Roast duck Breast

Any way Sunday lunch was done from scratch and no added salt was used and it means I can still enjoy some of my favourite foods. I am trying to loose weight too so trying to be ultra healthy now.

To be honest since being diagnosed and having to check what I am eating...it's amazing what you discover. A few weeks ago I did a little experiment with my mum's cereal and my brother's cereal and actually my brothers less healthy cereal was actually better for kidney patients. I was shocked. Especially as my mum's one are the one's being advertised as really healthy.....not so much!!

I have been feeling very inspired to cook and make some recipes I have never tried before. I might even give making pasta and pastries ago. With my new book it has step by step on making and baking all the things that look difficult but actually could be really simple.

Right off to have some time on my wii.......xxx

Mini New Yorker....Spring New Shoots....

I started to think about decorating and what else I could do to our house after going to a friends and feeling slightly desperate to get everything finished. I have fixed the curtain rail and put up some ceramic rose hooks. So now I think I am going to put some new art work...... may be some of my photos as I now have my lovely mac back with photoshop on it which I have been wining about for years since I thought I had lost all pictures after I broke my Mac power cable.

Now that Spring is on its way and the winter cob webs have blown away,I felt I needed to look at my colour scheme for our living room is duck egg blue but I want to thrown in some splashes of royal blue and turquoise (which happens to be my favourite colour right now)
Maybe this picture to replace the "Granada-Alhambra Palace" that I painted a few years ago as I think it goes really well the colour scheme. It's so fresh and with having the winter blues and the threat of snow at the weekend it gives me great comfort those beautiful blues and great greens that spring is not far away. When the last of the snow covers the old fallen leaves  and the spring shoots start to appear with there vibrant flashes and greens......a little glimmer of hope that there is a new beginning. Spring is a lovely time of year when you see things started to come back to life after baring the cold winter months. The air feels crisp and fresh and with that comes the yearly spring clean.

For me this year is a bit more about looking after what is important to me and to enjoy my self. With having an illness the winter felt like the fog that been surrounding my feelings about my diagnoses. With some good news from the hospital the fog cleared and those little shoots of hope have once again given me the sign that a fresh start (in regards to my health) maybe in order.

I can now go back to work and they doctors have given me to all clear to try for a baby when we are ready. But the best news is that I won't need a transplant for the time being. I am so pleased although in the back of my mind I still feel like a ticking time bomb in regards to health when will my kidneys fail again, it's only a matter of time.

Any way I'm going to dash......xxx

Mini New Yorker...Winter Wonderland and ice skating with Bambi

Feeling rather Christmasy we decided we would brace our self and head into London with all the Christmas shoppers and go to Winter Wonderland!! We pre-booked our ice skating and I nearly took my own skates (wish I had) was great though to go round the rink.....we hadn't been since we had been together hubby and I!!! So we had a great time although it was like skating with bambi a bit....I think I was a bit rusty.....I didn't fall over though...! Which is good because when I went in Oxford I went flying into a big wet puddle...drenched from head to toe with no fresh clothes....only drenched but in front of all of my friends who thought it was rather amusing I however did not! This time round I had about six layers on to keep warm and make me bounce back off the ice if I had fallen over.

Any way...after the ice skating we had what was meant to be one or two drinks at one of the traditional beerkeller turned out to be massive glasses and I had chocolate waffles instead (because I don't drink)

It was soooooo good.... and the chocolate was warm drizzled on top, it just tasted like a dream!! Mmmmmmm!!!! I think hubby was quite happy with his beer too then while we were enjoying our food/drinks we suddenly realised we were at the live bar...and well the guy singing was brilliant......he could do every type of song....female lyrics, male lyrics, rapping, ballards you name it he could do it. We left much later than we had planned as we were bopping away.

We are defiantly going to go again. Any way off to make waffles toodles xxxx 

Mini New Yorker......Country Living and a Homemade Christmas

Well being a country girl myself and having suddenly fallen back in love with the country retreat theme this Autumn I am desperate to update every room.  With this is mind I decided I wanted to buy a dresser for the kitchen as my mum has a gorgeous one in her kitchen, as does my mother-in-law and I also want a drinks cabinet for the living room as every sophisticated household should have one for entertaining. I have a little plan that if I was given a pot of gold then I would get a few new bits to create my little bit of countryside in suburbia.To create a chic country Christmas I have been making lots of different things including these cute little felt stockings to put sweets in and hang them on the tree. I am very pleased with my creative skills so far although I did have a bit of a disaster with some of my clay presents......yes some how part of it exploded and ended up in bits so got to start again...very disappointed in my self to make a hash of it...so no rushing.

Now creating this style is very easy and quite fun.....its all about vintage shopping, which includes looking around vintage shops and charity shops to pick up some great glasswear and vintage style accessories. Especially getting ready for Christmas, you want your house to ooze glamour. So one of my favourite people is Kirstie Allsop and she is so full of  wisdom, so I am definitely going to take a leaf out of her home-made leather bound books (yes I am rather amusing I know.) Anyway I am right in the middle of making my Christmas presents, which I hope that with my hand-made gifts and unique wrapping will blow their Christmasy socks off with sheer surprise and pleasure. But this year I am not only just making Christmas gifts I have somehow opened my very talkative mouth and said that I would also make my friends' wedding presents.....yes I am mad and that is why I am already panicking about getting it done in time. I have finished the bear I made for my sister-in-law's baby which will be born at Christmas so I made a very festive bear which will be wrapped and given as a very special first Christmas bear. I also have to finish a quilt which needs to be finished to give to my mum as one of her Christmas gifts. I hope that all my gifts because of how personal they are will bring great cheer to my family and myself when everyone unwraps them on a very magical Christmas morning. I am also pleased to say that I am still going to get a stocking from my mother as I very much look forward to getting all the little bits and bobs early on Christmas morning and I'm not too old even if I am married. I also hope I can make some Christmas stockings to hang above the fireplace. Now with me all this planning started back in August time and last January when I started making this quilt.

I not only have been making plans to make Christmas presents, wedding present but I have also said I am going to have a dinner party (for a select few). It's going to be a festive feast and an evening of fun and fabulous presents. I think I must be mad to try and do all of this but I just love this time of year. I have so many Christmas ideas for decorating our house  and creating a magical Christmas my brain is going to burst! Thank god for Pintrest.....!! Anyway I am off as I need to window (internet) shop for more ideas.

Toodles xxx

Mini New Yorker....Our little adventure to the Olympics London 2012

So After spending most of the summer in and out of hospital we thought we would grab this rare moment and actually go to the Olympics (after being offered some tickets.) I hadn't really even got into it until it started. Any way we decided to venture into town to purchase this ever so lovely wig. I tell you what though you wouldn't even know the Olympics were on...not a shred of support in sight. Which was made apparent when I looked for GB inspired nails and lip tattoos and tops.....I tried most shops but no one had anything apart from Primark...!!

Me and my blue wig

GB Nail art

So with my wig and my nails and a flag bought I was armed ready to go....! Perhaps that I should have checked our tickets while I was preparing for our little Olympic adventure. Never mind...it was quite an impressive feet that we got into London so quickly...we enjoy the game but it would have been nice to soak up the atmosphere first but hey. 

So after the game at Wembley we had a meal at TGI Fridays.....we ate so much we could barely move. It was nice to be apart of the Olympics and we can show a children what it was all about when we have them in years to come.  The atmosphere was good but it was a shame GB team didn't make. Lots of people were in sombreros and cheering the Mexican team but we wanted it to go to extra time but unfortunately it didn't.

Any way it's nearly time for my yummy roast so off I go....tooooodles xxxxx

Us at Wembley London 2012 Olypics

My Kindey Failure

I was reading Cosmo today and there was an interesting article about ladies with scares which were from various situations and it made me think after being diagnosed with Kidney failure at the end of May. I will need a transplant soon as my kidneys will crash again so I too will get a massive scar. I already have had several small operations which have lefts a few scars and I have viewed them as a little reminders as to how much I have already been through and I think how much I have surprised my self as I have been quite brave and strong. Weirdly I was talking about this with a friend and how when I get a Kidney transplant I saw someone with a tattoo along their scar of a little scissor with a dotted line and underneath the words "cut here" like in those craft instructions!! It made me chuckle....!!! I wouldn't get a tattoo because I'm not brave enough to do it.

Any way this article made me think about what I have been through and how much I have surprised my self on how I have just got on with it. I think that having my dad go through it was a blessing in disguise as I knew what he had already been through and I used to sit with him while he did dialysis and now my hubby sits with me while I do it, to keep my company. My Dad's bravery gave me my inner strength.

I tell you what.... go get your hair done and get some lovely make up and some nice beauty stuff to buff and bronze you self as it certainly will give you a little boost. Treat your self to a new top or something.....emotionally I have been through the grinder but physically I felt like I have gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson when I came out of every operation....bruised and bashed but just shattered too. Even after haemodialysis you feel like you have been on a roller coaster for a few hours non stop....I remember going onto it straight after having my operation to have the line in (which me looked like a bloody alien with a little antenna)....for the first time I felt horrendous after, being sick and not being be able to move it was the weirdest feeling ever.....its the equilibrium being off balance which makes you feel like hell!! It got better nearer to the end of me coming off it and going on to PD dialysis but I am glad I am off it......a tip for any one who is about to go onto it take the anti sickness drugs and sleep through it.....it will get better but I'm not going to lie it's no walk in the park.

Any way I came out the other side and dialysis free for a while as my kidneys decided to give it another go...think they must have come back from holiday or woken up from the hibernation or something.....!! Any way for the time being every single tube has been removed and I can go back to my daily business until they (they being my kidneys) decided to play silly buggers again. In a weird way I kinda just want to get my transplant now and get back on with my life as I can''t go on holiday for about a year after and I can't have children until I have it and we can't move to where we want to as I am lucky enough to be under the care of a fantastic renal ward so we can't move because it's important to be with the staff that know me and understand what I have been through already.



So with all that in mind we have decided to redecorate the house and enjoy our time as much as we can while we are here. So I think we are going to join the national trust so we can enjoy nice walk etc. And bring a little glamour to our lovely little garden which we have started  to do with a lovely new table and chairs set. This is my plan for our garden just brighten up the boarders and make it more enticing to sit out even in our summer weather. I think I could stick the iPod on and paint and draw while I am signed off. So that is plan:

1. Sort the garden out-make it into a little sanctory.
2. Decorate. 
3. RELAX and ENJOY......

I like 3 most. So I think I will need help to plant things but I like my plan so gonna put that into action soon.

Right best get on with something productive....tooooodles xxxxx

Mini New Yorker.....pretty in pink

My PINK nails

So as my reputation proceeds me as a lover of all things pink I thought I would continue to live up to it by painting my nails a very bright pink which I got free from Cosmo. I think that as I now have started growing my nails then I should have as much fun with the colours to keep it interesting.

My PINK headphones

I decided to paint them today in preparation for my hospital over night stay as I it's nice to be pretty in pink even  if I am going to be under a general for some of it. I have spent a lot of time in and out of hospital recently and have more visits planned I think its important to remember my style and fashion sense even with dialysis tubes in my tummy and scares all over me from my operations I have had since I was brought in since May. I also like the idea of these nail wraps things and as I am going to the Olympic Semi Final of the Mens football I think it would be fun to get Some GB nail wraps and possibly a GB lip tattoo (which are temporary) I may even push the boat out (a pun as I am watching the Olympic rowing-haha I am hilarious) and a blue wig just to get into the patriotic spirit. I am actually looking forward to it now. I hadn't actually bought any tickets but I got given some. So as I missed on the Jubilee celebration as I was in hospital for all of it I think it would have been a shame to miss out and its an excuse to dress in a silly out fit....!! I am going to go shopping tomorrow to find the wig and nail and lip things....!! I had a look at wigs on line because just to get an idea but I also had a thought as apparently I may loose some of my hair when I have my kidney transplant as it's a side effects of the drugs so I may do a "Samantha" from SATC and try lots of different wigs as I love my hair but if it does happen I might as well have a bit of fun and wear some cool wigs.....!!! May go blonde as they always have fun....apparently!!!

It's hard for me as normally you wouldn't even catch me in jeans or any casual clothes. However I can't keep lifting  my dress up and flashing my pants every time I would need to do dialysis so I have had to wear jeans and tops but I soon will be able to go back to my glamorous self and my old style of the 1950's, retro and Hollywood glamour and all things that will be a bit of a head turner. I remember when I was working and I had a bit of a thing for funky tights and I had quite a few people turn to look as I walked past while I was walking by the castle. I was out the other day and I was waiting to cross the street at the traffic lights and a bloke shouted out of his window "look at her tights" I looked at my mother in-law and laughed!! I think what's the point in blending in why not stand out!! 

Any way enough about my pink nails as I have to dash .....I need my eight hours beauty sleep.  xxxxx

Mini New Yorker.....One click.....how not to become a shopaholic

So I have been (Internet) window shopping and making wish lists on my pinterest. I have got so addicted but it great as its like a 21st century wish list that you used to write on a scrap of paper which you would no doubt loose at a later date. I have even started putting together Christmas present list for my family which is handy as I can then remember where I saw things...last Christmas I was copying links into a word document by the time I went present shopping I had forgotten all about the list as I am the most forgetful person alive .

I have also banded my self from going into shops unless I know I have a budget other wise I seem to come out with the whole shop and that's not an exaggeration. I think I have a slight problem...! However I'm not as bad as Rebecca Bloomwood particularly when she smashes the massive ice cube with a stiletto which has a frozen credit card in it. Although I think I have certainly come close to that a few years ago.

I have got better over the years and now being married is kind of like having a personal bank manager. When you get a joint account you have to be more considerate of how much you spend. So this has worked in my favour. So I haven't bought loads recently but I have become quite obsessed with wearing outrageous tights at work so when I was considering spending £40 on a pair of tights I knew I had a bit of an issue.

So no smashing ice cubes although it looked like so much fun.... any way off to find zebra tights.... tooodles xxx

Mini New Yorker....Making the perfect Christmas (getting ready for Christmas 2012)

Ok, you may have read that title and said "are you mad? We have only just finished Christmas." Well yes we have you're very right. However I decided because I felt bad about going out and buying every single present this year....wait hang on I mean last year......well this last Christmas gone...any way I want to make them for 2012!!! I also got hooked on Kirstie Allsopp craft ideas and her "Homemade Christmas" show. I think I'm now slightly obsessed with trying to make this Christmas the best Christmas ever.....!!! I remember one Christmas fairly recently I was rather broke (not much has changed) I decided to give everyone paintings I did and put them in frames (which I bought gradually.)

Well I think most of my relatives were surprised I could actually paint rather well....lol!! I think they thought I had been doing finger painting in my art GCSE or something....!!! Any way they went down a storm...in fact one of my little cousins stole his parents presents and put it in his room...lol!!

Any way I'm going to turn my hand at a few different crafts to create some nice Christmas home made gifts. Now there is some debate on some forums about it being for cheapskates however let me set this myth straight....!!! It isn't a cheaper alternative if you are new to each craft....eg. you have to buy things to do the craft so actually the outlay to start off with is high....and to say it's an easy root is not true...I tell you what, I tried to find a cream jelly roll for my quilt I wanted to make and it's taken about 2 weeks of scouring the net to find the damn thing. So not only is making stuff more of a hassle and more time and effort but also it can work out more expensive because unfortunately I'm not lucky enough to have Kirstie's craft goodies closet. I don't have a cupboard with stacks of fabric and buttons and pretty things so I'm building up my collection. However I have found a slightly easier way to do some of the crafts.....craft kits...YAY!!  Yes its slightly cheating but my gosh does it help, it actually is just pre-organising the items you need. The instructions are easier to follow as most kits are for children. I did make a teddy bear from a kit and at first I couldn't work out what went where but after reading it a few (hundred) times you get it.....!!!

So I have had a order for a new teddy bear for a friend in Aus. The next craft I am going to try is making a quilt however I am still waiting for my cream jelly roll which is in the post. And I tried to use my mums sewing machine and couldn't figure out how to set it up, any way I think I have made my point.

I think that sums up what home made crafts are actually all about. They are certainly more thoughtfully, probably more expensive and more time consuming but actually its more fun and much more a gift from the heart rather than from the credit card....!!! So I'm going  to try and give the ideas a go as I have got both her books now......I will be posting my progress or lack there of.....depending if I am good at each craft or a total disaster......!!!! I had an idea as fun day with the girls you could do a craft day or something and do face masks, cocktails (mocktail for me) and craft nights.....although thinking about it if you had had a few cocktails some of the crafts you make may not come out perfect but hey....!! I might put this idea into action when we move back and I can throw a evening like it with my girls...!!! Any way I'm off to do more crafts so Toodles xxx

Mini New Yorker....... Fake fur faux pas?

Well I realised that gilets are all the fashion at the moment and most are fake fur. I just wondered as soft and fluffy as they are, is it ok to wear faux fur?? Some people still think that it represents endangered animal in some far flung corner of the globe! Well you may say Katrina "the globe is not flat" which I am obviously aware of but are we still thinking the same way when the world was "flat"?

I recently walked into a shop and found my self faced with racks of fake fur gilets and coats with fur colars! I know it is fake so should you fell guilty....!!! I did because I know lots of charities are fighting to stop these things being produced to save some very endangered birds and animals. So do people really care about what happens across the other side of the globe or is it about the next fashion statement? I added up all the pro's and con's of wearing one and in the end I gave in....!!! It's warm and because its fake no animals were hurt so I guess I'm off the hook....although I was wearing mine in another shop and a gentleman was shopping with his wife (quite begrudgingly...all the same) he was unimpressed by his wife picking out a fake faux gilet and made some rather loud and slightly rude comments about them looking like road kill, then his wife looked at me as I think I may have gone a bit pink with embarrassment at which point she winked at me and then smiled...(as if to say ignore him, he's just in a grump cos I made him come shopping when he wanted to watch the grande prix....or some other sports)

I walked off with a little grin on my face....it made me laugh.....So I guess that's my conclusion.....so toodles xxx 

Mini New Yorker...her rules of engagement.....

As soon as you get engaged suddenly it feels like things go a million miles an hour. Now we have all seen the films with weddings but let me tell you its not as easy as it looks. I would suggest you buy a few wedding magazines, it helps you with wedding etiquette and how to do it properly. this book was free with a magazine.

The most helpful bit of the book is the check lists....and if you are anything like me and love making list then this is defiantly something you should invest in. You can pick them up in charity shops and this should be your bible when organising your wedding as should Cosmo bride magazine.

Now you will start off well at the beginning of organising your wedding but wedding brain will set in. So check lists are the best way not to forget anything.

You can type them up and print them out and hand them out to the people who need them. By being organised and doing it like this you don't need a wedding planner as this is another expense. My mother was my wedding planner really. She was able to help with everything from flowers, to picking things up to checking on progress of things booked, just a god send.....!!!

Now I was the first of my lovely circle of friends...(why do they call it a circle of friends?Any way...) to get married and a few months after my friend announced she was engaged....so now I can pass the torch on to her with all my wisdom gained.....!!! I can't wait to have another married couple to have dinner parties with...!!

Any way I am getting off track but there are so many things to remember....
So put all your thoughts into a wedding book...it's just a little mood board...but don't get to specific in your details as some may not be possible or in the end look right. I thought I was going to have a column wedding dress but ended up with the total opposite. Use magazine cuttings or print outs to remind you of things you have seen. Or stick in your own photos...I did take a few to get inspiration at a wedding fair until I got told off by security.....lol... oops!!!

The best tip don't leave things to chance or till last minute...that's when things go totally wrong and you could end up with some weird things happening.....!!!

So good luck ladies....I have have made my a friend a list and note and put it into a folder and I think she was surprised.....!! But as it turns out there where things she hadn't thought about...so a good job really....!!!

Any way I am off as I haven't actually finished my own wedding album and had any of them printed out so see you soon.....Toodles xxxxx

Mini New Yorker....My Creative side......from sewing a button to making a teddy

So I remember at school in textiles I was terrible I could barely sew a button on. I don't think I ever completed a project in textiles ever. So from going from that to making a teddy bear....I have to say how cool am I now??? So again after seeing Kirstie make a teddy bear from scratch I wanted to give it ago....!! Well I bought a little kit so the bits where all in it....which helped but certainly didn't make it magically go together. I had to read it about 100 times to even figure out what ever thing was. Putting it together gave me a bit of a challenge. But even with the slightly complicated instructions I managed to make it over 2 day I would have made it even quicker if I didn't have to stop for eating and sleeping...I probably would have spent the night finishing it I got so stuck into it. It's like a really good book you can't put down.

My first step of making my bear

arm stuffed with joint

Day 1: So I thought I would show my progress of my bear making and show I started from scratch and didn't cheat and buy a pre-made bear and claim it was mine or something......!! Here I had done the bears arm but it was a little bit confusing because there where 3 bits to it and you had to sew that bears pad first so I did that and then stitched the rest of the arm (leaving a little gap to stuff it) and then you turn it inside out and the put the joint in through the little hole and then you stuff the arm as much as you can so its full. So day 1 I sewed both arms, a leg and an ear. ...Sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Day 2:  I started sewing straight away as soon as I got up the next day by lunch I had done another leg. The next bit was difficult sewing the body I had to figure out which bit I had to sew and what the instructions meant by sewing a dart....but I just did what
I thought was right which left enough space    to put the head joint which will allow the head to move and the same on each side for the legs so I did that ok. Then I attached the arms and legs and then the fun part was stuffing him to make his tummy really fat so he doesn't go floppy in later years as I now want to give this bear to my children in the future. He's my pride and joy. So after the body stuffed, the head my was the most difficult with 3 parts of it. So the final bit was to put the head on the body and sew the nose on so with my bear finished I took him to my mums, neighbour's and to a meal a a friends restaurant to show some of my friends. I had one order to post to Australia and my mum seemed to find him rather sweet too so all round I think a definite success.

My completed bear...my work of Art

Mini New Yorker.......being a body double to my self!

I noticed recently that I have kinda become a bit body double to my self if that makes sense. OK let me explain what I am going on about, well on one hand I want to be this chic and elegant women with a lovely set of globe trotter cases and wearing pristine white long dress with a large hat that just makes me ooze glamour while jet setting just like Caggie and Millie from Made in Chelsea. And on the other hand I want to be making and sewing things and being a home making just like Kirstie Allsop......!! My home maker body double is certainly taking over since getting married and trying to make a lovely first Christmas with my husband, a very special one.

My home maker body double got very inspired when I was watching Kirstie Allsops Home-made Christmas, she has inspired me to make every single present next year but I may cheat a little and buy the making kits to help me a long a bit......the stocking was lovely and I look forward to making all the other Christmasy bits. I think Christmas can be time when people go mad and spend an absolute fortune on buying stuff off the high street but my hubby and I both said after watching the programme it will be fun to make stuff for everyone next year.

I also was so inspired by the glass blowing class Kirstie did, that it is going to be one of the mouse days.....oh hang on I need to explain that too don't I? OK my nickname is mouse and my hubby is bear and next year my hubby is not renewing his footy season ticket (yay) and what we are going to do is alternate the weekends we do stuff...like hubby's weekend will prob's be footy or seeing a few of his friends and mine will be a whole array of things from seeing my mother to going away for the weekend and craft days.....now we decided we would put all the ideas into the weekend bowl which we pick out one piece of paper on alternate weekends and then do that activity. I think this is the best way to mix it up a bit and do fun stuff which will be exciting for us both to enjoy.....

A few ideas may be

1. going for a nice walk (with camera) and then having pub lunch at the end (weather permitting)
2. romantic get away weekend...... Scotland, bath, Paris, lake district, Devon-yes in Kirstie Allsops cottage (which I love)
3. craft day- this might be making soaps, stockings, arty stuff, crafty things
4. ice skating (although recently done this this year)
5. cinema & dinner
6. Crafts course-like glass blowing or pottery class. 
7. shopping trip
8. seeing my mum
9. seeing hubbys parents on the iow
10. going to reserve or zoo
11. london museums and galleries
12. going to see a theatre show.
13. going to events and craft fairs/ music
14. secret london tea rooms
15. having dinner parties...because I am becoming a good little hostess.....

So I decided to start my new years resolution early....and start making things. I thought I would go for the fun things like making the teddy bear which Kirsty did on her show. So I got my set from a craft shop and started it as soon as I got home and it took me the best part of 2 days and I am rather pleased with my results....!! At first I was struggling with the instructions as I couldn't figure out how it all fitted together. Even with the confusing instructions I managed to complete it very quickly. It was actually meant to last a few weeks or months as it was quite bit for the kit and stuffing.

Since making it, I took it to show my mum, my neighbour and I also took it to my friends restaurant yesterday and one of my friends said she had been following me make it from the other side of the pond down in Australia....!!! I found that so sweet. Any way at dinner yesterday my friend turn the bears head round the wrong way and then said to me "oh you have put his legs on backwards" I nearly died with embarrassment.....I suddenly didn't feel so great about my little craft achievement/triumph. Until she turned everything back round.......I think there was a bit of a giggle about it....!!! Oh but my friend from Australia wants me to make her a teddy too...so will be shipping that over.

Now onto my next project I am making a quilt for my mother for a Christmas or birthday present (depending on how long it takes to make) I am just nervous to start as it seems quite a hard craft but I thought I would give it a go.

So here goes........must dash toooooodlesssss xxxx