[[0059]] Day 49 of Self-Isolation (It's a diabetes post today!)

Day 49 (I still don't know when this will be over)

So, I figured I would make this post more diabetes related, as I have not spoken about the main reason I set up this blog, for the longest of time (T1D looks like me) and figured it was time to pay a little more focus to that for a change, instead of writing about keeping myself sane throughout this pandemic.

For all intents and purposes, I look like I am doing well and if I am honest, I do think I am doing okay. The mental health advent calendar has been working wonders, and I do get excited about what is behind those little doors. The new marvel one is also absolutely awesome and adorable and I cannot wait to find a cute little unit for each little figure (and maybe accidentally buy a Harry Potter one... maybe). 

I may not be helping out at work for reasons (my health is a living mess) but, my Skindred Support the NHS and Keyworkers tee arrived yesterday and I am loving it and I urge any of you who also want to help the NHS and whom love Skindred, to go and order one too in the link above! We actually wore them on our live stream last night and intend on wearing them again for more streaming shizzle and we have both decided that we are totally gonna rock these at the Skindred gig at the Showground in October (just waiting on our spiky sunglasses and my fluffy black coat to arrive).

But, we need to talk diabetes... because, like I always, I seem to be brushing it under yet another carpet, like I have done the vast majority of my life since being diagnosed with it. I don't mean to, but I have grown up with this mentality that everyone else's health and problems are bigger than my own and it has honestly taken me a long time to start saying no as well as cutting off the toxic and slowly, my control is getting a little better. The damage has been done though, after years of neglecting myself and focusing on family and so on, so now it's just making sure I preserve what I have left.

I won't get all down and meh about that now though... because I want to speak about things I am doing to help make my diabetic life easier.

Since last year, I have been put on more and more medication, and I have always struggled to keep on top of it... like I was fine when it was just my insulin and a single Mirtazapine each night, but then that got changed to a med I did not get along with for depression and neuropathy, so I got switched back to mirtazapine and put on a new med I had to take twice daily, so that is over twice the daily amount of tablets I had to take. Throw in the 4mg Candesartan and an antihistimine and that is it, my brain is fried and I often forget to take one or two of the meds. It's not horrendous if I miss the neuro meds or Candesartan but if I am to preserve what I have left... I need to take them and be pro-active about it, but I am just so damn forgetful.

So, last weekend, I made the decision to do something about this. I should have done it sooner, but I didn't want any connotations in regards to my age or ought so I didn't do it. I just didn't wanna seem any older then I really am and the thing I wanted to get is normally associated with old people. So I figured, if I am going to do this, I wanna do it in style... and I'd like to think I have.

What did I do?

I bought one of those tablet organisers, to put all my tablets into and well, in colour coded, Queenie fashion.

I won't lie, I was really picky with what I chose. Like, I didn't want a clear one, colourful was best, had to split the day into three instead of AM/PM or four times a day, and a case was bonus, so I could well, hide what it is... and well, it's cool.

I think this was £9 on Amazon in the end, and it was worth it because I am happy with it and I have so far remembered to take my tablets for today, amazing! And I would like to think that it doesn't make me look old... plus, rainbow... I am bi as the well, bi could be, this works for me... and all the NHS support right now, I had to (and honestly, I'm not really for clear or clinical colours these things tend to come in). The case is a bonus, but means I can just sling it in my bag when I go back to work, so practical too and shouldn't lose the little pots in my bag either. 

Yes, I arranged my tablets straight away, but eeeeee, that's Wednesday ready to go tomorrow! If you want one of these, you can find them over on this link to Amazon. 

Of course, it is early days yet, and whether I remember to order my meds so I don't run out let alone remember to get them out the pouch is well, to be seen, but, I honestly feel it is going to help me remember to take them and in doing so, will help preserve the feeling in my bad foot as well as my kidney issues.

Speaking of preserving kidney function, I have an appointment at my doctor's tomorrow for more bloods and a blood pressure test... the bloods to well, check my kidney function and the blood pressure test as mine has been running way too high for a while now, and well, kidneys and blood pressure are very much related to one another; if the blood pressure is normal, it will help in preserving my kidney function. I should get the results for them early next week either way so fingers crossed please! These tests have been nothing but bad news for me this year.

Well, that is it for my little diabetes win for today. Now to get back to being healthy, exercising more and doing what I can to be healthy and lose a bit of weight while I am stuck here.

Stay safe everyone,

Over and out, mes amigos.

[[0045]] Day 22 of Self-Isolation

Honestly, the best day I have had so far whilst being away from work and the Big V. Like seriously, I have had an AMAZING day and I just... I cannot believe it. There is some hope for me and the diabetes after all... providing I can keep this up.

Day 22 (Week 4 begins... and what a week it has been so far!!!)

Good evening friends, I come to you feeling the best I have felt in... well, since forever cos I honestly can't remember the last time I had a bloody fantastic day, other than seeing bands and meeting the other half and all that jazz. 

That aside... today was day 1 of my mental health calendar!!! And it was a BIG door as well, which was so damn cool cos OMG cute socks are cute!!! 

And they were those like, I don't know what you call them but they are all squished up and you have to put them in water to expand them. And I had to do that straight away! I was too excited!!!

I had a doll of some description when I was younger that had clothes you had to put in warm water to expand and it reminded me of doing that in a sink in the bathroom of a flat we lived in in London when I was about 4 years old haha! 

It's a simple thing, but it made me so happy. Also helps that I have recently had to chuck a couple of pairs of my Harry Potter socks due to holes so this is a nice replacement for them! I am so excited to see what tomorrows door brings! I am also really happy that, okay it is only day 1, my mental health idea seems to be working. I feel like it has truly set me up for a good day in so many ways. It's going to be so great to have a reason to be excited in the morning when I wake up!!

So, that put me in a fab mood for the day, and it has shown in the amount I have pushed myself this afternoon in sorting my house out!!! (When I eventually got off Animal Crossing cos I am so totally designing a Hizaki Holy Grail dress on there atm).

My book corner is finally starting to come together!!!

Okay, it is a LONG way off and I still have some furniture to either bring down or chuck out but, the biggest shelves are moved and once the table is moved, the last book shelf can be put in!!! Plus, still can't believe it, but the slimmer shelf unit actually fits next to the big one, which I am soooo happy about because its going to make that corner look so much cleaner when all the books have been reorganised and plonked in there.

This room has been pretty tough going, considering, when I was cleaning upstairs, stuff from spare room that didn't belong in there when in the office, then stuff from music room that didn't belong in there then also, went into the office. Which was why it was so damn crammed. But since putting stuff under the stairs and shifting bags around, I have finally been able to start dealing with the furniture in here which is a relief because once all that is in, I can finally go through all the bags of stuff that got bagged up from when we thought we were going to flood, and put everything away. So it is coming together slowly, and hopefully will be finished at the weekend at long damn last. I cannot wait, I seriously can't. Bar decorating, the house is going to be so much better and that in itself, is gonna help my mental health a lot. 

OH YEAH, at this point in time of writing, the last load of washing is finally in the machine and in a couple of hours it will pass through the dryer and FINALLY, all our clothes will actually be clean. Little victories and all that!!

But obviously more must have happened to make this day one of the better days that I have had. May I show you this graph and these stats. And please, be wowed, they look boring, but they are AMAZING.

For the first time since God knows when, my blood sugars are ALL in range. As in, nothing over 8mmol/L. Nothing. The highest was 6.8 before dinner, the lowest was 3.3 which I monitored closely and didn't binge eat to fix the hypo and got my bloods up to 6.8 before my lunch. Nonetheless, the effort I made last night when I ate junk food actually paid off, I think I finally have my long acting dose correct and I think that I have finally nailed carb counting!!! But I'll know for certain later tonight providing I have done enough fast acting for my dinner.

Either way, I am so happy. These are days I need to be having with my bloods more often, if not every day! I know it is partially because my mental health is in a good place at the moment, because my bloods hugely fluctuate depending on my mood and so on, but, this is the first step towards better controlled diabetes!!! 

It does bum me out a bit that it has taken me being off work to get to this point, what with having more time to focus on the carb counting and maths and correction doses and stuff, but, if I can keep this up, hopefully it can translate into my work when I go back. Which is another point as well, this pandemic might be ruining so damn many things, but, it is helping me and my diabetes a lot... silver linings and all that.

Well, I have an office to finish de-moulding, sealing and well, whatever else haha. Keeping busy is a good thing after all.

It is the birthday tomorrow. I'm okay, I think, that it won't be 100% what I had hoped for. And it is just another day. I'm going to be 31 and I need to be adult about everything, even if I want to sulk and stamp my feet like a bratty, crappy child. Okay, so I can't go shopping in Notts/P'boro like originally planned, and I don't know if I'll get the cake I wanted, I won't be seeing my friends or family or my fave band next week and I won't be doing fun things like Natural History Museum or the theatre or Harry Potter Studios... but, I keep reminding myself, there is always next year. I will just have the break I need so badly next year, I just have to wait a little longer. Needless to say, I don't want to wait and I do want it now, but... I can't change anything, it is what it is and nothing can be done about it.

So, on that note, I am going to sign off and do some stuff.

Over and out, mes amigos.

[[0044]] Day 21 of Self-Isolation

My mental health treat arrived today!!! Just in time for the start of week 4 of isolation tomorrow.

Day 21 (Things are okay. And sometimes, okay is good).

Hello everyone!!! I hope you are all well and doing your best to stay strong, but, as a friend said to me this weekend, it is okay to not be okay... and truer words have never been said. 

Speaking of mental health, my parcel arrived today!!! You may have seen me mention in previous posts that I had ordered myself a little something to give me something to look forward to each day I am stuck inside. I wish I had done this sooner mind you, alas, waiting for payday, had to decide if I was going to do it... but in the end I did, and it arrived in time for the start of my fourth week at home!!! 

Yup, it's a Harry Potter advent calendar!!! 

Haha yes yes, call me crazy but, I am genuinely so stoked about waking up each new morning stuck inside, knowing I'll get a cute Harry Potter treat each day! It's really cool, comes with cute accessories and bits and bobs, like washi tape, socks and so on... either way, I am so excited for tomorrow morning!!!

Plus, look at the size of door number 1!!! Haha, hoping for something goooooood, which as you can see from the pictures, there is some fab stuff in there.

I was debating about this last year actually, about getting an advent calendar for Christmas that was not chocolate but instead something like this, like the Lego or Pop Vinyl figure ones, but then I never get round to it or I run out of cash and end up with a cheapo choc one. I am soooo going to plan ahead and get my hands on something similar again, plus, it means two less units of insulin in the morning when I open a door and should help curb some of the random blood sugar levels I get over the Christmas period. 

Speaking of bloods, I have finally somewhat tackled my insulin and carb ratios. I think I'm a unit for every 9g of carbs, which makes the maths annoying but, a unit for 10g isn't quite enough. Either way, bar the 13 I woke up with early on this morning, I have managed to keep my bloods below 10 all bloody day and it is so exciting and good to see! I have slowly been starting to have more and more days of this since I have been off from work, and I honestly think it is because I am doing everything I can to keep my mental health okay, but also because having more time on my hands is helping me in the prep of my meals and working out the amount of carbs I am having and so on. I have started to do a couple of units before some of my snacks as well, which I am still ironing out the kinks with, but... it's a step closer to where I need to be with my diabetes, and it is so bloody fantastic!

I'm hoping I can have bloods this good, if not better, tomorrow, but I am learning not to berate myself each time things cock up. If things were bad, I would binge eat and say fuck it to my bloods and end up burning out, but, with how I am thinking and acting now, is actually proving to be hugely beneficial to me. I can also feel my moods somewhat stabilising, more so when I have a day like this with bloods in range. For example, I dropped my rizla earlier full of baccy and my filter and I could feel that I wanted to snap, but I stepped back, breathed and then picked it all up and I felt okay. I have never really every felt this in control of myself before. I love it and it is so nice and I hope I can keep it up... but it's okay if I can't, there is always a couple of hours to try and fix things and if not, then there is always tomorrow!!!

Before I go, I wanted to leave you a picture of another healthy dinner I made today!!! Jacket potato with spicy no sugar beans, salad and chicken nugs (the packet needed finishing and I have not had chicken for a little while).

I am trying to do fixed carbs and novarapid fast acting insulin and carbs cannot always be fixed, but all of my meals today have been either 62g of carbs or less which means, 6 units of insulin, however, I think I am going to opt to try 7 units if I have about 60g of carbs. I say fixed, my morning breakfast tends to be between 40-55g of carb,  it can really vary depending on what I am having (I have to vary my breakfast so I actually eat it and don't get bored and stop well, eating it). But I think I have said before that I have to do about 2 units extra insulin in the mornings because of the morning dump of hormones and what have you, so to stop lunch bloods being high, extra insulin has been helping with that a lot. Some of my best blood results are now my lunch time and dinner ones, which is so exciting to see at last! Again, I don't know if being at work and work stress is helping contribute to the higher lunch bloods, but I guess I will figure that one out when I go  back to work, whenever that is. 

Speaking of work, supposedly another batch of letters is being sent out today, and now I am wondering if I will finally be included. Supposedly this batch is for people on the extremely vulnerable list but also those who their doctors or clinicians have put forward whom don't have conditions on the list. Which is cool, but I am still new with the renal and diabetes team and my doctors are having nothing to do with Covid, and even though the receptionist for my surgery said I should be getting one due to being type 1 with complications, I don't think any of my medical professions are gonna put me forward, which is frustrating, because I need to be off, but I can't even speak to my doctor about it so what do I do? I'm hoping some answers come out soon, but, I ain't hoping for much because looking in the groups I am on and the people who have received texts from the government, some type 1's with complications have a letter, some don't, some type 1's with no complications have letters, some that do haven't. So I don't really know where I stand still.

But it is late now and that is a problem for tomorrow.

Stay safe everyone and make sure you look after yourself (physically and mentally) before you look after anyone else.

Over and out, mes amigos.

[[0043]] Day 20 of Self-Isolation

One thing I have learnt today... I cannot do half as much as I was able to do last year and that is actually devastating.

Day 20 (I am not as capable as I once was...)

Evening everyone. And here we are, day 20, nearly 3 weeks! And still counting, God knows how long this is going to go on but I know that I still do not feel safe if I am out of the house. I never received a letter, even though my doctor's surgery said I would and that if I didn't, then apply for one but I can't cos I am not extremely vulnerable, I am just high-risk, well, I'm smack in the middle of higher risk and vulnerable and it is actually frustrating being in this weird grey area. What is worse, I can't ask my GP about this as they are not accepting any calls about covid-19, so what am I to do?

Well, social distance to the best of my ability which... I can only do while I am at home.

So that is that really. If it comes to it and work contacts me about returning whilst this is still happening, I am going to get hold of the doctor's regardless because I don't know what else I can do. However, it is not a problem at the moment and I am safe at home.

I got a little bored last night and well, two of the three refunds went in today so knowing this, I thought screw it, lets check some sales and found this little cutie of a bag. SO not me. SO bloody cute. Couldn't say no and was a decent price as well. And, it'll arrive on my birthday as well. I absolutely love unicorns so this is perfect for brightening up my all black emo-as-fuck outfits and will look fab with my new shoes. As well as the unicorn massive hoodie I got for Christmas from the other half's family too. 

You gotta treat yourself. 

Heck, I won't be going anywhere for my birthday and I fully intend on wearing this with my new docs whilst in my PJs, pretending I am going out for food when instead I will hopefully be having a take out. Birthday goals yo.

Speaking of staying home, more organising today! The biggest and baddest room of them all. The office. I thought the other rooms were hard but it turns out, I was horribly mistaken and moving everything to the office to sort out upstairs and under the stairs was not the best idea, even if, in the grand scheme of things, it was the only idea that was gonna work. But now I have hit a brick wall and need the other halfs help because I managed to move the new upstairs bookcase to a new wall to fit the sofa in, but now the sofa needs to go up, then the chest and drawers and shelf unit need to come down (okay, I can move those myself, just not the sofa) or the latter two pieces of furniture will have to stay upstairs until I move the old furniture to the skip pile then move everything in place and finally put away and organise things. Yeah, conundrum. What do? 

This is what is getting me down today though, the fact that I can't do half as much as I once was able to do. I used to move loads of heavy furniture round my room when I got bored and felt like I needed a change, I used to be able to spend hours lugging up and down, heavy stuff like under the stairs alas... not anymore. I had to keep sitting down and taking breaks because I kept getting out of breath cos of my bloody kidneys and it is honestly driving me up the wall as well as upsets me. I just want to function normally again but no one is giving me any ways to well, make myself somewhat better and able to do this. Heck, it even gets to me at work... I used to be able to push a lug heavy boxes and cages but I move one or two and then I am totally done.

There is not a lot I can do about it. I just have to keep doing what I can when I can, and try to not let things get to me. But when I am cooped up at home keeping safe and on my own, sometimes I do get a little sad about how I am now and what my conditions are like and that I am no longer the person who I was. It really does get to me, and a lot of the time, especially at work, I laugh it off and speak about things as blunt and honestly as I can but that, I know, is just a barrier and the crap I laugh at myself about is the crap that gets to me the most.

Mental health is a bitch. And I know mine is currently very fragile, which is why I am trying to keep busy. I know that will only last so long.

Any way, need to play some Animal Crossing before the other half is home to help me move a sofa. Then back to the grind tomorrow.

Regardless, I hope you are all safe and well.

Over and out, mes amigos. 

[[0037]] Day 14 of Self-Isolation

Good day is good. I am feeling good. For once, everything is actually GOOD.

Day 14 (Shiny new pretty things... what shall I treat myself to next?)

Good evening everyone and thank you for tuning in to another blog entry of my Self-Isolation diaries! I do hope they have been riveting and fun to read! So again, thank you for popping by again! We've hit two weeks now, and I am still not sure how much longer this will be for.

As a good friend pointed out to me after yesterday's very accomplished post, I have finally hit 1000 pageviews so again, another big and massive thank you to you all!!! I am doing every thing I can to get my blog out there and viewed and so forth so eventually I can earn using adsense on it, so all your pageviews, follows and so forth, really help me out on my mission!

If you saw yesterdays post, I mentioned that I gutted out the upstairs spare room to turn it into a cat room, that is only spare on the rare occasion we have guests. Well, an update for all my avid cat lovers out there, the room is in use, by none other than who I expected, Pom Pom. She loves a mattress and duvet on the floor, she doesn't care which mattress it is or what duvet (I did give them the best one tbh), I knew she would be all over that mattress and she is! She seems so happy up there, I have hardly seen her today! I just need to try and get Magnus to use it, her and Pom do get on, but Magnus seems to prefer the sofa, or this box in the office that needs to go, but I did get a new box today so she might like that instead, I hope.

So, I am going to speak about my diabetes first, because honestly, I am so proud of myself. I have two bloods at 6.8 and 6.9 today and I am thrilled, and my blood was 5.5 before lunch today as well. I did wake up with very high bloods, but that was my bad due to having a hypo before bed last night and then I did binge ate everything I could find. Basically, I smashed a pack of doritos and a bar of chocolate. 

But, I did a correction dose with my breakfast (which was only 30g of carbs this morning!) and my bloods were 5.5 before lunch, which was fantastic! 

So, what have I eaten today and how much have I medded? Well, breakfast is pictured left, which was banana and granola with greek yoghurt and a teaspoon of honey, so I did 10 units, because I have to do 3 units for the carbs, an extra 2 because its the morning and 5 was for correction. So come lunch, my bloods were 5.5 and I had two flatbreads with cheese and cucumber, a packet of sunbites and a miniroll as a treat, so that was about 65g of carbs, so I did 8 units of insulin. Before dinner my blood was 6.9 so tonight I had salad (lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber and pepper) with a small baked potato (blasted in the microwave then crisped up in the oven) with cheese and butter as well as hard boiled eggs which I removed the yolks, added some garlic, herbs, paprika and pepper to and boom, stuffed eggs. This meal, can you believe it, is about 40g carbs, but there was so much food, so only 5 units were done.

All in all, I am loving the time I have free to make food at home at the moment and it is helping my diabetes a lot. I do also hope that it helps with my heart hypertension and kidneys but for me to see those effects, I need to continue to keep doing this kind of food, even when I am at work, so not too sure how I will manage that yet. Which reminds me, I need to ask the other half to pick up some plain cashew nuts and plain peanuts, and maybe some basa fillets, need to get my good cholesterol up and the bad down while I am at it. I want to live for as long as possible after all.

In other news, thanks to paying £1.70 for shipping, the parcel I ordered yesterday came today and it was so nice to have a treat. Also, kudos for the post man, for knocking on the door and waiting two metres away to see if I would answer. Nice to see social distancing in practice. Anyway, what did I order?

POKEMON CARDS! Haha, cos I am a big kid and honestly, I haven't bought any for a while so what better time to rectify this than now, especially as I have saved money on bus tickets for work. 

Found out Chaos Cards were still accepting orders so I hoped right on over and made a phat order. Well, kind of fat, I saved some money due to some discount codes and I couldn't get a bunch of just Sword and Shield base set boosters but I managed to order those from another site of which I am sure I will write about when they arrive (hopefully end of the week, but they haven't finished processing the order yet so God know's what is going on there).

So, what did I order for myself?

So, in my order, I got the Toxtricity V Collection Box, which came with an oversized Toxtricity V card and a regular sized version as well as two packs of Sword and Shield base set, a pack of XY Evolutions and Cosmic something or another (which I haven't collected so wasn't too fussed by), as well as two blister packs, with a promo Gossifleur and Wooloo and cute coins to stick up on my office was as well as a folder for the Sword and Shield base set which is so damn pretty. All in all, I am happy with what I got, and I honestly love how pretty the new cards are, some are so damn cute!

So, to the left are all the cards I got from the booster Sword and Shield packs. They gave  me so much joy and kept me busy as I organised them into their new home in their special folder as well as logging them on my online app to make sure I can keep up to date with what I do and do not have when I am out and about mon card shopping. 

I am awaiting 7 more booster packs from Magic Mad House as Chaos didn't have any boosters for sale as out of stock, so I am hoping I get some more good card pulls from them. I did actually get two nice full art cards from these packs which I am thrilled about and I have flicked through the list of cards in the set and there are soooo many pretty ones, I can't wait to see if I get them! 

I actually love how chilled and calm things are when I am sorting out and looking through my Pokemon cards. Like, so ridiculously chilled so I may have to get some more haha! I did actually take a moment to sort out the stray cards we had kicking round and put them into sleeves and their respective binders, but honestly, the boring and methodical case of putting the cards in order, pulling out doubles, slipping them into their appropriately numbered sleeve and then logging it on my app is just way too therapeutic. I even took a moment to look through all the cards I do have, none of the sets are complete, but some of the pages are and some full arts are really pretty, as well as some damn good rares as well, oh my gosh, I was so calm and happy and chilled that over an hour had slipped by and I realised I hadn't done any cleaning today!!! 

I noticed when I was looking on the website that it looks like another Sword and Shield set is up for pre-order and I'm not gonna lie, I am slightly tempted. I have loved the cards I got today so far, some of the artwork is cute as heck and I can't wait to see what the next set could look like. Either way, it was all so much fun and so exciting and I cannot wait till my next parcel arrives!

That being said, I have been looking online for things I could get for my birthday, and I found a couple of Advent Calendars that were Harry Potter for last year, full of jewellery and socks and stuff, and figured I could order one and open a door a day whilst I am in iso? Figured it would be fun, although I am not sure what the other half things.

The birthday is creeping nearer though, and, I am still not sure what to expect. I think, if I can guarantee I can get a Colin the Caterpillar cake (or the white choc one if its there), make sure there is food and drink in I like, make sure the streaming stuff is set up for birthday Animal Crossing and maybe Pokemon and then, I don't really know? I might just blow some money on my self but I have to be sensible which I why, bar what I have had arrive today, I haven't blown any cash and I can't exactly go in to town atm to smash my bank in Primark. Either way, it's over a week away, don't need to worry about it yet, there is always next year after all, or that is what I keep telling myself.

Selfishly though, and I apologise for the doom and gloom, but... I don't know if I can wait a whole year for a bang big celebration the way I wanted to do it, to make up for the last six months of hell I have been through with my health and the fact nothing is getting better with said health. I don't know if I can wait a year for something good to enjoy, have fun with, not give a care in the world about... I just, I just... want something to look forward to that is nearer and not so far away. I do feel like I deserve a break.

Anyway, that is it for today everyone!

Over and out, mes amigos.

[[0036]] Day 13 of Self-Isolation

It's all good here. 

Day 13 (The cats are taking over, or is it just my crazy creeping out to play?)

SO, today's post is a damn late one, but I have reasons, very productive reasons!!!

Our cats now have a room all to themselves, well... it's "technically" the spare room for when people come to visit but the cats are in the house a lot more than us having guests so, cat room it is. And people are only allowed to sleep over in it if the cats like them: if the cats no likey, no sleepy-over for you. Thankfully, the cats like the friendos we do have over so no problem there with them having to share.

Okay, so it is a work in progress because we need to borrow some tools to finish off some cool cat items and upholstery in there, but it will do for now! I just hope they like it when they realise (I may have hidden some bribery treats up there for them to find as well as their favourite things to sleep on and their toys and whatever else I could find that they like).

So the next photo is what I had to deal with! You may have seen me post it in yesterdays blog post
haha! I lost count of the amount of rubbish bags that came out of there in the end (must be near the double digits, if not over) and then there was the stuff that used to be under the stairs that needed to go back under the stairs and then the furniture. But yeah, several bin bags chucked on the bathroom rubble heat in the back garden and the room is finally cleared, the carpet hoovered within an inch of its life... ahhhh it's so satisfying seeing it all look so tidy at last! Heck, even under the stairs looks a lot tidier and organised now since we thought we were gonna flood last year and moved everything upstairs, it's all now packed and stacked neatly underneath. There are a few bags under there that need to go but that will be saved for another time, because some things elsewhere in family life, seems a bit up in the air. 

ANYWAY, the cat room!!! 

So, in the corner by the window, I have plonked Magnus Bane's cat tower, because she loves being in high places and looking out of windows. I've left the windowsill clear for Pom Pom and at some point I am going to make the curtain only cover half the window cos Pom likes to hide behind curtains when she sits in the window. We also took out the drawers from a chest of drawers and I've made a hidey hole with a blanket to give some cover for those times the meow meows want to hide, and my gold quilt is on the top because Magnus loves sleeping on it; underneath the gold quilt is a box cos princess loves her boxes. I've popped some treats up there for them and a water bowl, as well as there cat scratcher toys and play tube. I even put a nice squishy duvet on the bed for Pom to curl up on cos she likes to sleep on mattresses on the floor (she's been sleeping on the mattress we had on the floor in the office for the last couple of weeks).

At some point, when this whole quarantine shizzle is done with, we are gonna borrow some tools to properly bad out the top and add curtains and shizzle to the unit, as well as build a little ramp up and hang some dangle toys off. Nonetheless, I have dismantled a bed, moved two beds, moved two single mattresses, moved a chest of drawers, moved a book case, chucked loads of crap... I am exhausted now haha. But it was worth it. It feels good to be this active and pro-active again!!! (Okay so the king size mattress defeated me and I needed the others half's help with it but all in all, I have done myself proud!)

 So yeah, the cats now have a room. Bet you can't wait to see what I have to deal with tomorrow... I'd go up and take a picture but I don't even want to look into the music room until tomorrow haha!!! (Don't worry, I will take a picture of the erm, music room before I tidy it tomorrow...)

In other news, diabetes! I have had an absolutely FANTASTIC day with my blood sugars! 6.2 in the morning, 9.6 for lunch and 4.8 just before dinner. I am le shock! I am so so so so happy! It seems, being at home and forcing myself to focus on my bloods and carb counting instead of focusing on my job (which I love focusing on but sometimes it does get in the way of my diabetes management) is helping me loads! I had two crumpets for breakfast with a glass of no added sugar cranberry juice, two biscuits as a snack, then for lunch I had a packet of sunbites, some cucumber, a flatbread with cheese and cucumber, some chicken chunks and a mini roll as a treat. Altogether, that was 45g of carbs! Dinner, I wanted to try actually cook for myself, so I had rustic mash (skin kept on tatos) with some cheese and pepper, a pie and some fresh green beans with gravy... 60g carbs. And I felt so much better for it, I really did. I am going to try my best to keep this up but if I have an off day, which I get often, Ia m not going to beat myself up about it, I'll just start again the next day. Either way, my diabetes has been good for the first time in a while, so it can only continue to get better from here on out. I realise that my life is going to be a little shorter than most peoples, so I want to do my best to try and prolong it as best as I can.

Heck, I have my food planned out for tomorrow already. Greek yoghurt and granola for breakfast with some banana and a glass of cranberry juice, lunch will be same as today without the chicken, and dinner will be a salad with boiled eggs and cheese and maybe a small potato on the side with butter. So a very low carb and salt dinner again, which I hope will come through in my next lot of bloods when they are done in less than three months time.

But that is it for today, I need to relax and chill and get the knots out of my back (maybe beg the other half for a back massage because omg I hurt so much and my legs are covered in bruises from moving furniture. However, I am going to treat myself to a bar of chocolate and med for it appropriately of course, as well as this tasty juice the other half brought home for me which OMG I needed so bad and it tastes absolutely glorious. 

Anyway, I hope everyone is okay and happy! Remember, if you need a friend, I am only a message away! Stay safe everyone!!!

Over and out, mes amigos.

[[0033]] Day 10 of Self-Isolation

Things are changing quicker and quicker each day and I can't keep up. This virus truly does not discriminate.

Day 10 (I am a God, that is all)

Today's title might need some explaining.

I took apart a recliner. It was very heavy and much chonky. But I did it. Magic.

So as you're all aware, I am currently sorting out my house whilst I am off of work to protect myself from further kidney damage due to the big V (no it doesn't cause kidney damage but the effect it would have on my diabetes would result in further kidney damage). Anyway, sorting house. We moved this armchair upstairs last year when we thought we were going to flood (it was so close omg) and it has just been upstairs making our bedroom look smaller ever since.

So, today I got a screwdriver, tipped the bad boy over, managed to click it off its rusted hinges (old chair is oldddd) and then wriggled the back off and chucked it all on the landing to bring downstairs once the office is sorted. So yah, mission accomplished. I am rather satisfied at myself. And the fact my bedroom looks like a bedroom again and there is space for all the washing I am doing.

I did get a phone call from HR today, they thought I had symptoms, they didn't know I was off cos diabetes and underlying health condition that makes it difficult to breathe. I think I sorted that out though, although I think they are gonna try and find me work to do from home which will be interesting considering I am not really qualified to do the stuff beyond my department at work and I can't do my job from home because in involves patient notes... anyway, I decided to ring my doctors, which was actually a pleasant experience. The receptionist was so lovely to talk to, although she couldn't help because they are not dealing with Covid-19, which is fair, but we ended up having a massive conversation about everything, like she had heard Boris Johnson got it but she didn't know about the health minister Matt Hancock and stuff, then we both raged about how not enough people or staff are being tested (which I believe is changing next week) and finally, she said, after I explained my health conditions, that I should be getting a letter because 3 million are being sent out including high risk of severe illness, and if not, gave me the info to make sure I get one and that if I don't feel safe at work because of Covid-19, to remain off until safe, because she would rather we had a healthy NHS worker back and not a dead or severely more sick one (cos it would ruin my kidneys and I would need dialysis or transplant). Either way, I think the receptionist was just happy to talk to someone, and hear my cat meowing insistently down the bloody phone. Stupid cat. She stopped meowing when I got off the phone. 

Honestly, today has been really good and the nice actions I am seeing done for people by others really restores my faith in humanity and lifts my spirits.

First, the #clapforcares and #clapforNHS last night. I didn't think anyone would go outside down my end and I wanted to film it incase anyone did. I took a cigarette outside to smoke whilst I waited and noticed a window on the other side of the road opening and looking out. I didn't think anyone was going to clap, but then I heard it, and omg it made me tear up a bit! I might not be at work at the moment, but I am so glad I work for the NHS... I don't think we will ever see a moment like this again if I am honest, but I am glad that I got to be a part of it. Heck, my other half heard all the clapping as he left work at 8pm too. A proper big moral boost for everyone who is a carer or in the NHS right now. 

Secondly, I got a message from my landlady today... they're halving our rent due to everything going on at the moment. I had messaged last week to say I may be off for a time and funds will be reduced but I never expected this... again, such a massive help and a mood lifter, I am so so so grateful right now.

Thirdly, we don't have a car to go food shopping, but, thanks to some ideas on FB and a long time friend who I've not seen for an age but miss, we now have a plan to get a decent lot of food shopping on Sunday: the other half will go buy it and the friend will bring it back to me waiting at home. And means I get to see a friend for the first time in a week, in person, from a distance. I am so thrilled.

It's amazing, the amount people are willing to help one another at a time like this, whether helping in the community or on the front lines, to working in shops and so on. It's amazing. It is a shame that it has taken a pandemic for this to happen, but maybe this was needed for us all to stop being so cynical and restore all of our faith in humanity. Who knows. Heck, this virus does not discriminate, maybe we should all now stop discriminating too? Just a thought either way.

Nonetheless, it is now less that two weeks till my birthday. I am at a loss at what to do. I'm not sure if I'll be home on my own in the day or if my partner will be home. I know I won't be seeing my friends or family. The trip to London has been cancelled for a week now and the gig is now confirmed cancelled everywhere, just waiting for refunds. Can't go to town to buy stuffs. Not sure if I'll have a cake. But its okay, because I do what us all to kick this virus' lil butt to hell and (not) back.

I'm trying to not be sad about everything cancelling after the half a year I have had with bad news left right and centre. I still want something awesome or amazing to happen to make up for all the bad that has been plaguing me for ages now. But, what can I do? I just have to keep on going. Because there genuinely is not anything I can do at this point, there is nothing anyone can do.

I may treat myself to a nice shop on EMP or merchoid, or buy some Lego to play with. That might cheer me up.

Heck, it's just another day haha!!!

OH YEAH, I've had good blood sugars ALL DAY! FINALLY!!!

Anyway, thats it for now guys.

Over and out, mes amigos.

[[0028]] Day 5 of Self-Isolation

The rules for type 1's keep changing and it's driving me nuts, seriously. Like type 1[s should be stringent in social distancing and those with cancer, cystic fibrosis and stuff are all getting letters from their GPs and so forth to self-isolate for at least 12 weeks. But I'm a type 1 with CKD which makes it difficult to walk up the stairs without losing breath, so where do I stand in all of this?

Day 5 (or is it social distancing, I don't even fucking know anymore)

SO, still at home. 

Nothing much has changed. 

But we have run out of snacks. And this could be a problem. 

And why may it be a problem? Honestly, because I am an arsehole, and have been an arsehole in the past when I have been stuck at home in the day on my own whilst poorly (obvs not poorly this time but still...) and I think I had some crazy mental stuff smack me in the face, such as crying in my kitchen cos all the food needed cooking and I was having a hypo and could not cook the food cos needed a snacko. Same for drink, I get more and more bummed out the more and more I have to drink water, like we have squash but that won't last me long cos I drink a lot cos my kidneys are pooped. I just know that the less that is in the house for me to snack on or eat quick or tastes nice to drink, the more my mental health tends to waver, which is why I always try to make sure there is stuff in or there is some pennies to grab snacks after work.

The long and short of it is that tomorrow is going to start being very interesting. 

Thankfully, I have Animal Crossing (I spent the day moving my trees around today cos I am sad like that and like my trees to be organised) so that should keep me busy and I think I might start tidying the bedroom so I can start spending the rest of next week washing all the clothes and chucking out some that don't fit me anymore and things. So I think I have like a few days of washing to do, so that should also keep me distracted, in-between tidying and live streaming and stuff,

I am trying to be positive about this, proper trying. But I just know from experience what my mental health can do and I know whilst being positive, deep down I am preparing for the worst with said mental health. In a way, it could be a lot worse, the mirtazapine has been amazing in helping me sleep and that does help my mood a lot, but there is only so much sleep can really do? I've already started napping in the day so that I don't eat what we have left and things, because we have a decent amount in for meals for lunch and dinner... so I don't want to feel like I need to eat cos I am bored, I want to preserve what we have. But then napping can make me feel icky too.

I guess because it is Sunday, I should probably speak about my diabetes. And honestly, it seems to be as okay as it can possible be for me, so that is neither good or bad, although I did have a hypo today and now I only have two sugary drinks left so I am going to have to do whatever I can to make sure I don't have any more hypos. My bloods, other than that hypo, have all seemed to be below 15, so again, not great but not bad either.

Either way, I honesty don't have anything to report today. I still think this is the calm before the storm, it's what the news and government make it seem like anyway. Next week is going to be another interesting one.

All the best my friends, keep washing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap!

Over and out, mes amigos.

[[0023]] Organising Chaos - Type 1 Rainbow Button Badge Review? I think?

Okay, maybe a half review cos I wasn't planning on buying anything from Organising Chaos until my payday on the 27th March!

So, recently, I was browsing one of the T1D UK groups I am in on facebook, where someone asked about silicon accessories that fit on Fit Bits and watches, and someone mentioned Organising Chaos so I went and took a look, out of curiosity more than anything.

One of the first things I jumped to was pins, because I am an absolute sucker for cute badges for my work lanyard! And I saw this one straight away and just knew I had to get my lil diabetic hands on it for my lanyard for work! I have a few pins on it already, from the Litten I picked up from an amazing artist Teejaylay a couple of years ago... as well as some enamel pins from Pokémon card sets I bought an age ago (should probably get some new ones... been a while since I bought mon cards...). I need to point out that I have a Harry Potter Lanyard with two Slytherin house pins on and then the Star Wars lanyard I got in Disney Land, with my awesome Yoda sketch pin on it. 

But there is one badge that travels across all my lanyards and that is my NHS pride badge, to show that I am an LGBTQ+ ally/supporter (I'm as bi as a sparkly Christmas, fo reals). I also joined some work colleagues a few weeks ago holding a big pride flag alas I cannot remember where the photo was posted afterwards! Either way, as well as being Bi, I believe the badge is to show to everyone that I am approachable ally and supported for those that are LGBTQ+.

Anyway, I love my NHS pride badge, hence why it moves across all my lanyards, so when I saw the "Type 1 Rainbow Button Badge", I knew out of everything, that would have to be the highest on my list to buy from this amazing lady and store! It just sums me up perfectly and I have honestly not related so much to a badge in a life time!!! 

It also made me realise that there honestly is not a lot of cute diabetes stuff out there! And again, made me realise that I shouldn't be ashamed for being chronically ill, but if I am going to show I am okay with me and my health, I need to do it in my own way, and if that is with cute T1D merch, then that's the way I want to do it. Plus... it means I have something bright to look at to remind me I am still here and doing okay, especially when the days at the moment are dark and nothing but bad diabetes health news. All in all, I love the idea of "Decorate your Diabetes" and as its a hidden illness, it feels the right thing to do. Plus, I am a fun and interesting person (I think...) so why have a boring silicon wristband when I can decorate in ways that are appropriate to me!

Now, you may have noticed that I said I was going to buy amazing items from this store on payday... well, someone got there before me! I came back from work today and saw this little envelope on the floor that had been posted, and obvs, I picked it up and looked at it very curiously and realised that it had come from Organising Chaos... but I hadn't made an order yet! 

I ran inside, opened it and the perfect little button badge to sum up me was inside and it instantly went on my lanyard!!! It came with such cute packaging as well, which if you see on the left, I also got a logo sticker which appeals to me on a scientific level as the Organising Chaos logo means "I am greater than my highs and lows" which I know I need to keep reminding myself sometimes, especially as my world keeps changing for the worst and diabetes is threatening to take over everything of my being (I use my phone a lot so I'm gonna pop the sticker in the case for it).  

So, whoever you are, wherever you are... thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️ I have had a lot of bad news this week, and I have been thrown in for a sudden appointment with the renal team at my local hospital tomorrow as well, so coming home to this was exactly what I needed, so thank you so so so so much whoever you are!!! 

So, I probably should write some kind of review? Seen as I didn't order it, but I know I posted about Organising Chaos on the 9th March and it's the 12th now... so it came super quickly? Was packaged amazingly? Badge is amazing quality? AHHHHH I mean all these things ARE true, but I think I am going to wait till end of March when I have bought a few more things in a bulk order and do a proper big blog post from start to finish about ordering from Organising Chaos. Nonetheless, I have spoken a little to the owner of Organising Chaos and she seems so so so so lovely, so I am honestly super stoked for ordering more from her soon and reading her blog too, which you can check out Organising Chaos Blog!!!

So, as far as ratings go, its kind of obvious where I am siding with this one!!! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Please please please check out Organising Chaos on any of the links below!
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[[0021]] Week 9 Overview - The long and short of it

I'm keeping this one short and sweet, mainly because I have some happier posts to write next week for once and I don't want to cram the happy things in one post and then have them feel lost.

First things first... blood results.

I have bitten the bullet this week and taken a screenshot of the blood results I have taken. If you've read previous posts, you'll know that I have not blood tested much at all the last few weeks as things have been getting me hella burnt out with the type 1 diabetes. 

Well, it still isn't going great but I have managed to blood test nearly every morning to make sure my Toujeo is at the write level (currently on 26 units). I'm hoping I can at least start to do my night time/before bed bloods again then with half the bloods covered, I might get back in the routine of testing again. I'm hit and miss throughout the day with these bloods but... I am hoping that comes back now that my mood has picked up. Just got to hope that no bad diabetes news happens this nest week, as I am thoroughly due a couple of weeks of health (and mental health) calm!!! I've had a couple of good bloods at work... so need to figure out what I am doing and to try and keep that up.

Blood sugars aside, what else has been going on?

I am currently waiting for my blood results to come back that my surgery and clinic doctor requested. These should show if the Candersartan for my kidneys has stabilised their function or if they are still getting worse (as not sure they can get better). I am hoping for stabilised but no doubt I will let you all know when I know. I'm also getting full bloods done for my surgery check up at the end of March so fingers crossed my HbA1C is STILL good, or if not, better than last time!!!

ALSO LOOK AT THAT BAD BOY ABOVE! The bath is in at last and even though there are a couple of finishing touches to go, the bath is and I have used it and it is absolute heaven and just what I needed to help with the weird neuro pains in my foot, as well as just needed in general... I have missed having a bath in my house!!! I actually had my first bath in it not long ago and it was fantastic as for a solid half an hour, my leg felt like a normal leg and I couldn't feel pins and needles in my foot. So yes, I am happy and this was a great way to end what has been a way better than normal week!

Anyway, I am pretty much done for one night! (Have had a proper busy weekend!!!) So what do you have to look out for next week?

Well, I am gonna keep things a lot more chill and not strictly diabetes related next week, just to change things up a bit and let you all see how things are when control of health it not taking over!!! Look out for posts in relation to make overs and new hair to make you feel good alongside FRIENDS MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE OMG I LOVE MY FRIENDS AND PARTNER SO MUCH OMFG ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This weeks type 1 diabetes rating: 💙💙♡♡♡
This weeks overall rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bye everyone!!!

[[0020]] Week 8 Overview - I'm still a piece of garbage

Ha... ha... ha. This weekly overview post is bought to you by Fortnite, proving to the world, inadvertently, that I am indeed, in fact, a piece of garbage! You're welcome!!!

Seriously though, I joke a lot that I am trash and my friends joke that they are also trash so all-in-all, we are all garbage, just Fortnite just had to take it to another level and prove it to everyone that when I joke that I am a piece of trash, I am, in fact, really trash lmao! If you check out our gaming shizzle on (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), you can see the video proof of the piece of garbage that I am, as I get stuck in a dumpster on Fortnite and get slaughtered by some... brute things.

On a serious note, I don't think I am really a piece of garbage, but there are times when I honestly do feel like trash and I guess I joke about it because it gets ya through it or something? This week has three quarters been a bit of a garbage week, and even if now I only consider a quarter of the week to be less garbage, on the outside it looks like the week has been better but on the inside there are some icky gross thoughts and I'm still diabetically burnt out if that is a thing... so on with the diabetes part of the week I guess!!!

So as you can see, I have not posted a blood test chart again. This is because I am honestly embarrassed and annoyed at myself that I haven't blood tested as much as I should just because I have reached that annoying point I have reached so many times before, which is that I am afraid to see what the metre is going to show me. I am hoping, like last week, that next week is a better week for me but we shall see. I cannot predict the future after all. 

The one thing I can say is that I think I have found the right amount of Toujeo long acting insulin to do, which is 26 units. My bloods have been okay when I wake up in the morning, which is amazing... and also really conflictingly confusing because I wake up every morning with the worst dry mouth of my life. But I guess that might be my new neuro meds combined with being back on my old antidepressants, but who knows? (I certainly don't...)

I guess you are wondering why things have been so bad? Well, I guess its my bad for trying to get on with life with the new changes and thinking that that will be enough for not and then BOOM, I get more bad news to do with my health, and it shatters everything, ya know? Long story short, found out a week or two ago I had CKD (I speak about it in this post) and now I have serious damage to my eyes due to type 1 diabetes. If you haven't read my previous blog post about this, you can check it out over HERE! So yeah, if it is not one thing, then its another and it's making things very difficult for me at the moment. 

I think the only other bad things are the fact I had major anxiety at work over a bloody telephone (I've worked there long enough, I thought I would be over it by now) and that one of the jobs I do a lot is changing to include more work and I am a little bit worried that is going to stress me out and up my blood sugars again and I am not too sure I am mentally prepared for that... alas, we will deal with that in exactly 10 hours I guess, haha!!!

Alas, all things aside mental health and diabetic-burnout wise... I've been thinking a lot about my future and what I want to do with it again. One thing I have decided, just not sure when I will do it (maybe after this blog post now I have reminded myself), is that I definitely do want to take the MA Creative Writing and Publishing degree at my local uni. I studied my BSc in Biomedical Science there as well as my integrated masters course MBio Biomedical Science and I honestly miss being in the learning environment and I also miss writing; I also want to complete one of my dreams in writing creatively and professionally before I am too sick to do so. It's morbid, I know... but, I want to do all of these things sooner rather than later. Yes, uni did stress me out a lot but... being in an academic environment helped my mental health a lot and I want to do every little thing I can to help my mental health and happiness. At this point, I have no idea if I will be able to do another Masters let alone if I can fund it (I guess GoFundMe is an option for that one just in case...) but... there is no harm in at least going to an open day... so maybe watch this space for some happier future times maybe? 

Something else I have been starting to realise of late is that I do want to eventually cut at least one more bank shift at work, maybe both. I don't know how I can do this, but going back to uni might be one way if I can get funding. But that won't be forever... and one thing I do know for certain, especially as neuropathy will eventually get worse and my legs pains get worse and we can't forget the kidney stuff too... I do want to earn some kind of pennies from doing some kind of work from home. So writing and my blog might help with that eventually but then we are gaming now too... and yes it is early days and we are a long long way away from earning anything decent from it, but it is the fact we have the basic equipment and we could eventually make something from doing something we love.

I've made some suggestions to the other half today which we have put in to motion! If you look above, we finally have a basic mock up for a logo! We are gonna change the colours and style each time the Fortnite Battle Pass changes, and this season, it's Spy themed so... here ya go! I also have been suggesting getting a twitter (I get way more interaction for gaming posts on Twitter then I do my own posts) as well as an Instagram and Facebook page (I linked these in the opening post, so please give them a look and follow!) so hopefully we can get a few more fans and followers over on mixer when we stream... and we will be one step closer! Next thing I am hoping we can do, is to pay for Mixer Pro, which should help with networking (thank you bestie Josh for that one!!!!) and last but not least... I am hoping that we can stream every time either or both of us turns on a console to game! I feel being super active might help but we shall see!!!

I got a new vape today by the way! I think I mentioned last week that I have decided to cut out drinking alcohol because the last couple of times that I have, I have ended up really sick which I think is due to my CKD. Next on my list is to try and quit smoking although this one I am going to find more difficult because it is my go to thing when I am not doing okay.

I have tried vaping before but they always make me cough worse than the CKD making me not breathe and the smoking... but the other half got a new vape that you can change the wattage on and turns out, that helped a lot!

I picked up this beast from 888 Vapour in my local town (also offers 20% discount for NHS workers too) and omg, I prefer it so much already! I can actually vape this how I actually smoke, the whole vape to lung instead of holding it in my mouth to cool and stuff, I can just vape it how I've needed to all along and omg, I feel so much better for it already. This one charges by USB C as well, which is a blood saviour cos they're the only cables I have, the battery is so much better as well as the battery life and I love that you can change the screen colour and see vape info and stuff as well. The kit I picked up is a brand I haven't used before, called Wismec R80 and we also got some V4 Nicotine Salt vape juice in melon ice, cherry ice and tropical mix. These are really high concentrations in nicotine which have genuinely helped people cut down... and at this point, I have a good feeling about this vape helping me. Let's see what the future holds!

LOOK GUYS I AM GETTING A BATH IN MY HOUSE OMG I HAVE WANTED A BATH FOR SO LONG, YOU HAVE NO IDEA I LOVE MY HOUSE AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS WITH JUST TWO SHOWERS AND JUST SOMETIMES YOU NEED A BATH AND LIKE I AM GETTING ONE AND MY DAD AND BROTHER ARE FITTING IT AND IT IS SO AWESOME AND EXCITING IT FEELS LIKE MY CHRISTMAS, BIRTHDAY AND HALLOWEEN ROLLED IN TO ONE HOLY CRAP!!!

Okay, so the left picture is after the tiles and wall were knocked down, lovingly known as the earthquake cos it kinda looks like an earthquake broke my bathroom and the brother. The builder who fitted the shower when we moved in was not good... didn't let the plaster dry, didn't use moisture board and long story short, I took a sit down shower and my shoulder went straight through the tiles... so, we needed a new one. BUT we are getting a bath and I am so happy I could cry. One of the main reasons I wanted one is that in a bath, I cannot feel the pain in my legs and the neuropathy in foot just disappears and it means for a solid half an hour, I can't feel anything in my right leg and it is the best feeling. The right is the work my dad and bro have done so far, and omg this time next week, I can have a bath and I cannot wait. My bath bomb from Lush is totally ready! We are planning on decorating as well... so we should be getting some nice grey lino for the floor and we have some nice blue bathmats that we will get some matching paint for... and honestly, I hope this inspires us to put some more love into our home and decorate it some more cos we be stuck here for a few more years yet until we can afford to buy (which I hope I can buy this one but who knows...)

And lastly... I have the greatest friends in the world. Josh and Bridie... thank you thank you thank you for always being there for me and restoring my faith in humanity and just being amazing. I love you guys and I cannot wait to see you in April (London and Wales trips in April are booked, and cannot wait!!!)

This weeks rating:⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Bye everyone!!!