Dear All Well, it has been a week of moving onwards, albeit slowly and I know I still have a way to go yet but, the toughest part has been done and Im so thankful to be moving, in every sense and every direction. My doctor signed me off until at least the end of April, largely to take account of the course of radiotherapy which is most likely to happen during April. The specialist has said that will be a CT scan, followed by 4 sessions of having a radio active thingy shoved up my important little places. How that will affect my functions, who knows?! However, should you spot a strange glow over Central Eastleigh, it will possibly be my nether regions, rather than an alien landing near the bandstand! On Tuesday, I went to Winchester to take part in a BBC Radio 2 recording of music for Passiontide, to be broadcast on Good Friday. The advantage was that, although it took three hours, being a radio recording, I was able to sit down for a large part of the time. It was quite fun to meet Stephen Tomkinson, who did all the readings and poetry items and the Cathedral choristers and the Waynefleet Singers were on great form with excerpts from Faure Requiem. I only had to take part in the singing of suitable hymns! All great fun albeit very tiring and a late return home at 2300. As most people know, I sing with Winchester Cathedrals Nave Choir, one of the two voluntary choirs. For the past five weeks, rehearsals have been happening in preparation for singing the service of Choral Evensong in the Cathedral on Wed 26 Mar. When I was recovering from the surgery, I didnt hold out much hope of being able to rehearse, let alone sing the service. However, once home from Dingly Dell nursing home, I made a massive effort and managed to make 3 out of 5 practices, thanks to a wonderfully understanding Director of Music, who encouraged me to do as much as I could comfortably do. Singing is done using the diaphragm and stomach muscles, especially for any high notes, probably the toughest exercise I couldve inflicted on myself! Still, he let me do it all sitting down, so my stomach could rest happily on my knees! When I asked if he was happy for me to keep trying, he was so encouraging and said that, I couldnt hear anything that offended my ears, so keep going! So, I dragged myself along to the cathedral on Wed afternoon and had a go at choir stalls rehearsal and I thought, Well, I dont have to process up the steps with the others so, I reckon I can just about do this. So, I managed to sing rehearsal and the whole of a choral service before going home and collapsing in a heap in my bed! That was a HUGE achievement for me and one which made me realise just how far I have come and what I have managed since surgery. It meant so much to me to know Id managed it and played a full part, including some nailed on high notes, without my insides falling out, as Id suspected they might!! Thursday, I got the train and bus out to Dibden Purlieu to the nursing home at Crinkly Bottom, to visit my former co-inmates and have lunch there. Again, I suddenly realised how far Ive come when I thought that the last time I was there, I still couldnt wash my own feet! I also realised how lucky I am, compared to all those old dears who wont leave the home until they are carried out and placed in the back of a big black car. Some of them dont have any family left to visit them, yet people have been constantly coming to see me. I am so lucky and their pleasure at seeing me and the welcome they gave me, was a delight. Unfortunately, lunch was curry and there was rather more onion in it than I could extricate, so Ive had a very uncomfortable night and day so far! Thankfully, I just managed to get home before gastric disaster struck! Then today, after an uncomfortable time at the surgery, when the nurse took to my remaining wound with a caustic silver nitrate stick, I went across to the new Council Office, where my manager Jess, showed me round the building. As we went from Unit to Unit, people came to hug me and welcome me back amongst them and I was so taken aback that people had missed me so much. It was so deeply moving to realise even more than I already knew, just how much people care and had missed my being around. It was especially lovely to go to see everyone from my own team and to feel part of things again, especially to meet new colleagues for the first time, yet feel that we somehow knew eachother already. So, thank you everyone who has made this a momentous week, taking me on the next stage of my recovery journey! God bless. Love, Lizzie x
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:16:45 +0000
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