it's been a long time......

It's been a long long time since I last posted on here. Everything is OK. My health continues to be good - the latest scan I had in October was all clear.That's three years since my last surgery. No treatment since. And long may it last.

After a discussion with the consultant in June, we decided that if the October scan was clear, that the scan cycle would change from every six months to every year. As I have been exposed to a lot of radiation during the last five years, there is a risk that this could result in different cancers appearing rather than the original bowel cancer. I am happy with this as it is a sign that we are now looking at my overall well-being from the hospital consultant's perspective as well as in most things that I have now incorporated into my everyday life.

And just in case you had forgotten what I looked like ........

                                                                       Here I am!!!

Going somewhere new.

Some times its great to do something impetuously. That's how I find myself having an impromptu holiday to see my friend Danny, in Palm Springs Califonia.

Danny is house hunting here and has rented a condo for a month while he does so. He casually mentioned that if I wanted a break then I was welcome to come and visit him, I thought about it and decided why not?! So an 11 hour flight from London and a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles and here I am in the desert.

The comfortable BA A380 interior

It's a 100 degrees outside. What a change from the London that I left, where it was drizzling with rain and grey skies. Here it is blue skies and surprisingly beaytiful. Of course there are palm trees everywhere, What I had not bargained on were the beautiful mountains that surround the town. Apparently in the winter the peaks are covered in snow, while in the valley you can be sunbathing by the pool. How amazing is that!

Having had a reasonable sleep last night, Danny took me on a tour of down town, as the Americans call their town centres.

Down Town Palm Springs

 I found a great juice bar called Fresh. It has a great selection of smothies and juices. I had the maca mama smoothie. Its ingredients were raw maca, raw coconut, coconut water, cocao nibs, cinnamon, banana and pink himalayan salt. it was unusual yet strangely delicious.

Me posing inside the Fresh juice bar

The counter at Fresh

My friend Danny waiting for his drink

The Laughing Gravy

 "The Laughing Gravy is one of London's best kept secrets"

 

 

 

 

I went for dinner last night to the Laughing Gravy with some ex-colleagues and friends. I was impressed with their fish and vegetarian options.  I was in the mood for some good veggie food and I was deliberating whether to have either:

Superfood saladHerb-roasted squash, beetroot, cherry tomato and baked goat's cheese salad with quinoa, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli and mixed leaves

Or

Roasted cauliflower three cheese macaroniwith Somerset brie, goat’s cheese and mature cheddar

I decided on the salad, which was delicious and came with a tangy dressing. Although  when a friend had the cauliflower I did have food envy! One for me to try next time. In the meantime, I  will have to try making this at home. It might not be up to their standards but with these three cheeses in the sauce it will be a luxurious indulgence.

Two things struck me last night  -

1. When we were offered bread by the waitress, we all refused. All six of us. I was impressed that we were all individually watching our carb intake. We had not all met up for a long time but somewhere along the line we had all picked up the same message about gluten and carbs.

2. There were 3 vegetarians in the group. How refreshing to be not the only non meat eater.

                                             Eating habits are changing!

Amelia Freer - The most fashionable nutritionist in town and her book is on sale in Costco!

I visited Costco - yes Costco - last week with Ruth. I love a good look around this store. For those of you who have never been is a huge warehouse full of surprises!  Well I am always surprised by what I find there,.

My last visit I bought some organic quinoa and organic coconut oil.  Yes organic in a vast supermarket! As you can  only generally buy one size in this store, large, these two items have lasted me a long time.

What a  great read

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found myself browsing through their books which are generally heavily discounted. I had a quick look inside "Eat, Nourish, Glow" while I was in the store It was on offer for £8.99. I decided it was worth buying as it looked really interesting. I have not been disappointed.

I had no idea who Amelia Freer is , so, when I got home, I googled her. She is the nutritionist who was behind the weight loss of James Corden, Sam Smith and Boy George. Check out this article in the ES magazine which calls her the

"The most fashionable nutritionist in town"

I like the simplicity of her message: "I hope to help others discover and celebrate nutritious food - food that is accessible, easy to make and that bursts with goodness & flavour! I aim to empower people to adopt a cleaner way of eating that becomes a natural habit of life, not a short-term commitment (no diet fads here!)." 

Reading this book has made me realise how over complicated we can make things for ourselves in trying to eat healthier. It's about getting back to basics and how to eat cleaner and enjoy the flavours.

It was a random purchase that will play a major part in my eating this summer.

It's been 5 years

I have been thinking this week while I have been away, how lucky I am to be here in Norfolk having such a wonderful time. Five years ago I was struggling with the diagnosis that I had stage III cancer. I believed that I would not make 6 months. As you all will know from reading this blog,  I did survive 6 months and even though the following two years were difficult, I have had no treatment for nearly 3 years. My last relapse was in July 2012 when I had a lung matatise. Since then I have not had another remission.

How fortunate am I?  Very.
Lucky?  Definitely.
Privileged? Without a doubt.

An overwhelming sense of gratitude.Five years of a wonderful life. A big thank you to everyone who has a part in my survival and to the universe for letting me have this chance to continuing living my life!

Some of my best moments of this week - another brilliant week in Norfolk.

It's been a wonderful week  - be sad to return home! Here's some of my best moments.

Selfie

Fields with poppies

The menu of the best tea shop I have visited for a long time.

The Folly Tea Shop entrance - lovely garden

Walks on the beach with Colin.

The veggie breakfast at the Thornham Deli

Unexpectedly coming across this pretty allotment on our country walk.

Fresh sea trout at the Duck Inn Stanhoe.

This amazing Norfolk sky

Evening walks on Brancaster beach

Wild poppies.

Fabulous Norfolk - again!

I am back in fabulous Norfolk again. I had such a great time here in April, I have been looking forward to coming back here. I didn't think that I would get the opportunity so soon.  I am staying in a pretty cottage in Docking. While there is not a lot going on here, it is ideally located to get to different places along the coast.

Colin is of course having the time of his life again - running like a mad thing along the empty beaches and swimming in the North sea. Rather him than me as even in June it is certainly still very cold.

The closest beach to us is Brancaster where we have walked every day. Although Holkham beach still remains my favourite. The walk to the Wells Beach cafe is the walk that gives you the added reward of being able to have refreshments part way through.

All this fresh sea air, walking, being in nature and generally relaxing has to be good for my soul.

Holkham Beach

Colin enjoying himself in the sea at Holkham

Selfie of Colin and me at one of the beach huts at Wells Next the Sea

Morning tea at the Wells Beach Cafe

Paddle boarders at Brancaster on one of our evening walks

My new beach residence!