Let's hope this doesn't get too long winded eh!

Firstly, sorry I haven't updated.  Considering the amount of time I've had, I've not really done much. Certainly nothing too constructive anyways!  We've had our Christmas party, I've had another job interview - but not got the job, I've done all my Christmas shopping and wrapped and delivered the presents to my parents.  I've arranged to see the relatives in the West Midlands.  (Mrs C  - I would love to pop in and visit, but I just don't think I'm going to have time! )  All my Christmas cards are posted and hopefully they've arrived to some of you by now.  If they haven't, blame the postal service, not me!  I now have a stinking cold which I hope to shake by Christmas.  (We're out for dinner the next 2 nights, I shall be the one with a tissue surgically attached to my nose!)

Dave and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary.  He bought me a card, I bought him nothing!  We celebrated with a kiss and a cuddle, then off to the pub for our usual pub quiz!  We are the last of the great romantics!   It was good - so long as we acknowledge the date of when we first got together, I don't need anything else - I was surprised to get a card... it was a nice surprise though!

I'm in 2 minds about Christmas trees this year.  On the one hand, I would love a large real tree to stand in the corner of the room.  We could decorate it, and put the presents around it.  However, as we're away for a short while over Christmas, (Thank goodness for fantastic neighbours who will be watching the house for us!) it doesn't really seem worth it!  We do have a very small artificial tree up, which only has lights on it.  We have lights in our windows, and a berry strand thing (with lights) across the large mirror.  With all the cards, candles and poinsettias it does look festive.  A tree is just another £25 we could do without spending this year...  Am I turning into scrooge?

I had a fantastic phone call today, from my old chemo consultant in Derby! I haven't spoken to him since before I had my reversal (which incidently was 4 years ago this week!)  He'd seen the news letter that I sent my ex stoma nurse with her Christmas card, and was pleased with the way that my life was progressing, that he had to call and tell me!  I'm afraid that I was a bit abrupt to start with, because I thought it was a sales call - I'd been shouting HELLO!!!! down the phone for 20 seconds before he answered, and I was about to hang up!  I'm so glad I didn't!  I called my stoma nurse afterwards because I was so shocked!   She said that she'd taken the letter to the meeting, they'd all read it and left with a little Christmas tear of joy in their eyes - especially at the news of our steps on the adoption road.  (hehehe - I might tell you that one another time! )  Apparently my chemo consultant never remembers any of his patients - apart from me!  When my stoma nurse told him that I was half considering transferring my treatment so that I could be near my family (something I thankfully never did....) he told her that it didn't matter where I had my treatment because the likelihood was that with a tumour as large as mine, I wouldn't be alive in 6 months time!  He never told me that, and I'm very grateful that I didn't know (until today).  He did such a good job at treating me.

So, remember your medical team this Christmas  - however much of an arse you think them to be, they generally work blinking blooming hard, and do have a heart!

LL. i'm glad u made it because i'm proud to call u my friend. what a lovely thing for him to have done in calling u. good on u dave for remembering and buying our girl a card! :) im sorry u have a stinking cold bab. don't worry about visiting hun tbh and im not being rude it would have stressed me out thinking about having some1 else round even if it was u buddy! LOL. from today onwards i have stepped on the magic roundabout called 'nightmare at christmas!!' lol. i've even had to refuse my brother visiting as tbh i just can't deal with any more. love ya, have a fab kissmass :) xxxx