 Paphos harbour  Stunning sea view next to hotel  The resident cat tucking away at some yummy fish from our plates!  Lovely entrance to our hotel  On site church at sunset  Nice relaxed atmosphere to catch my glow  Getting ready for the Cuban Band tonight  Sunset at the hotel grounds  My lovely comfy brazilian flip flops!!   Beautiful view from our room  Another great view from our room  Cute little beach at hotel in the morning  Taking steps forward...  Feeling fine at the Tomb of the Kings  Beautiful flower power!  Taking a break from walking around in the heat
I know that my mind and body are not always in sync and so I can put provisions in place, anticipate problems and sometimes prevent them. For example, getting out of bed is a long process involving excessive toe wriggling, a slow elevation using my bed raiser, a slow twist, a little sit down before even thinking about standing up. It annoys me that I am sturggling post transplant but I feel this only briefly as I know that I still have received the greatest gift and there is much I can do since having my new lung!My first holiday in nearly three years, it was slightly surreal in that I needed oxygen on board and assistance around the airport terminal. I took it in my stride, aniticpating each moment. Its funny, I have arranged such special assistance for customers for years whilst working at Thomas Cook yet it was strange to actually experience it! I found it all pretty seamless from the UK to the gorgeous hotel. Wasn't best pleased about havoing to pay £200 for oxygen therapy on board though!! Usually, I would be out and about and spend very little time trying to get a glow on the beach but this time I knew I would be more hotel based, concentrating on relaxing and unwinding. It was pure bliss!
The hotel was stunning. It is the Elysium in Paphos and has had guests including Matt Damon and recently Beyonce. It is definitely one of the most luxurious hotels I have stayed at even beating off the Waldorf Astoria in New York! I loved it. Especially the fine dining and spa facilities!
Eventually we did venture out of the haven of our hotel and went to visit the Tomb of the Kings which is next door to the hotel. Essentially it is an old cemetry and so that doesn't really appeal to me that much but we were pleased we went. The views were stunning and we could see the best part of the Paphos coastline!!On the penultimate day, we made our way by taxi to the market and then made our way to Paphos Harbour. I couldn't look much inside the castle as I can't do stairs, so that was a bit disappointing. I really was looking forward to looking at the mosaics, but sadly there was around 20-40 stairs glaring at me upon entry...so that was a no-no too! Oh well, we took some snaps of prints of selected mosaics so that gave me something to see I suppose!
The sea air is absolutely amazing and I recognised an improvement in my exercise tolerance as the holiday progressed. It makes me aware of how important it is for me to spend time near coastal areas for my breathing. It may become something that I factor into my life, such as visiting family who live near the sea!! Watch out Cornwall!!!
It is terribly cold for me today and I did have to get on my uggs which takes quite a bit of physical exertion and wrap up in my jacket with a pashmina and long sleeved cardi!! Brrr! Not the best.I had so much correspondence and chasing to do today. I looked in my diary and realised I have a hospital appointment tomorrow. My tac levels will be done so I musn't take it in the morning and head staright to the ward for bloods as I am not a giver. Being immunosuppressed and all my complications we've decided it best if I have my bloods taken in a private room on the ward and also the docs are on standby.Eventually I will make it home and then I will meet with my mate S who has been an absolute diamond looking after me. S has a mission to make my home a palace and thats exactly what she's done...absolutely amazing!!! I can't explain how gobsmacked I was when I came home yesterday. There are subtle organised changes and it just looks fab! Thank you sugarplum!!! :-D I will get some nibbles in tomorrow and we will catch up!!
I was going to try and make it to the local supermarket today but the walk seemed far too ambitious. The local newsagents was more than enough and I popped into the chemist to get some tacrolimus made up as I had been sent an outside prescription. They said that they will do repeat prescriptions for me so I think I will do it with them. I have tried with Boots but sadly for me, its not really working out and I have ended up in desperate situations lately without enough medication. My holiday has given me time to set priorities and medication is definitely at the top!
Just before I went away, I had an appointment with a lovely Red Cross nurse and we discussed some camoflague makeup options for my excessive scarring. It was such an insightful session and it was great that mum was there too to learn about it. I was just beaming when I saw all the shades of colours and different compositions. I must thank fantastic Jac who recommended this as an option and I think it is really going to work for me. Some days, like everyone, I don't have the confidence to show off my scars and so its great to have the option to 'calm down' the scarring. No, they won't go away and there's a strange part of me that doesn't want them to anyway. Its all me. My scars are part of my story and is the reason why I am alive. I am proud of my scars, it makes me who I am.I have been lucky to have very skilled first class surgeons who have made my scars minimal or to effectively sit in line with my bone structure so can easily be confused as my shoulder blade! Amazing!
Tonight I have decided to chill out as I will have a long day tomorrow. I have started watching that BBC1 week long drama, something justice??!? A long chat with my lil bro last night meant that I missed it so I am going to catch up on it on BBC iplayer now!Before that I must plaster some moisturiser on to protect my 'glow' and write a little review on Tripadvisor as I always do when back from my travels!I suppose that pink suitcase in the hallway may need opening at some point so that the laundry can be done...roll on the next holiday!
I hope that some of you reading this can make the save Jess-tival which is taking place Friday 16th October in Shoreditch. It is a charity event to help raise awareness about Jess and others like her waiting desperately to live on. She can only be helped by a transplant and that can only happen if there is a donor match!
Sadly I learnt today that a little boy, full of smiles lost his life last night.
Why?
Because a donor match for new kidney did not come in time. That poor little soul, battling whole life, not knowing what its is like to lead a usual life. he spent 6 of the 7 days in a week in hospital! Can you even imagine? His poor family. I wish I could do something, all I can do is talk about what is real and happening. Young beautiful people are dying everyday for no reason. There is a way for them to play out their lives, not live in pause and then have the stop button pressed.
Please have a good think the next time you're having a strop or a diva moment(I have them too!) and check yourself out.
Is it really that bad? Can you do something about it? Can you choose what you do tomorrow? Can you leap out of bed in the morning? ********************* www.organdonation.nhs.uk ****************************
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Coming home from Cyprus was really hard yesterday because I just loved my holiday. Yesterday I was walking along a small beach with the sand between my toes, the frothy waves crashing onto the sand and then pulling away again. It reminded me of my journey post transplant. Getting so far and then going right back to square one again.I found that so so hard and frustrating...luckily, I am happy to say that my health has been the most stable since having the transplant and I feel more confident and trusting in my body as a result.
I know that my mind and body are not always in sync and so I can put provisions in place, anticipate problems and sometimes prevent them. For example, getting out of bed is a long process involving excessive toe wriggling, a slow elevation using my bed raiser, a slow twist, a little sit down before even thinking about standing up. It annoys me that I am sturggling post transplant but I feel this only briefly as I know that I still have received the greatest gift and there is much I can do since having my new lung!My first holiday in nearly three years, it was slightly surreal in that I needed oxygen on board and assistance around the airport terminal. I took it in my stride, aniticpating each moment. Its funny, I have arranged such special assistance for customers for years whilst working at Thomas Cook yet it was strange to actually experience it! I found it all pretty seamless from the UK to the gorgeous hotel. Wasn't best pleased about havoing to pay £200 for oxygen therapy on board though!! Usually, I would be out and about and spend very little time trying to get a glow on the beach but this time I knew I would be more hotel based, concentrating on relaxing and unwinding. It was pure bliss!
The hotel was stunning. It is the Elysium in Paphos and has had guests including Matt Damon and recently Beyonce. It is definitely one of the most luxurious hotels I have stayed at even beating off the Waldorf Astoria in New York! I loved it. Especially the fine dining and spa facilities!
Eventually we did venture out of the haven of our hotel and went to visit the Tomb of the Kings which is next door to the hotel. Essentially it is an old cemetry and so that doesn't really appeal to me that much but we were pleased we went. The views were stunning and we could see the best part of the Paphos coastline!!On the penultimate day, we made our way by taxi to the market and then made our way to Paphos Harbour. I couldn't look much inside the castle as I can't do stairs, so that was a bit disappointing. I really was looking forward to looking at the mosaics, but sadly there was around 20-40 stairs glaring at me upon entry...so that was a no-no too! Oh well, we took some snaps of prints of selected mosaics so that gave me something to see I suppose!
The sea air is absolutely amazing and I recognised an improvement in my exercise tolerance as the holiday progressed. It makes me aware of how important it is for me to spend time near coastal areas for my breathing. It may become something that I factor into my life, such as visiting family who live near the sea!! Watch out Cornwall!!!
It is terribly cold for me today and I did have to get on my uggs which takes quite a bit of physical exertion and wrap up in my jacket with a pashmina and long sleeved cardi!! Brrr! Not the best.I had so much correspondence and chasing to do today. I looked in my diary and realised I have a hospital appointment tomorrow. My tac levels will be done so I musn't take it in the morning and head staright to the ward for bloods as I am not a giver. Being immunosuppressed and all my complications we've decided it best if I have my bloods taken in a private room on the ward and also the docs are on standby.Eventually I will make it home and then I will meet with my mate S who has been an absolute diamond looking after me. S has a mission to make my home a palace and thats exactly what she's done...absolutely amazing!!! I can't explain how gobsmacked I was when I came home yesterday. There are subtle organised changes and it just looks fab! Thank you sugarplum!!! :-D I will get some nibbles in tomorrow and we will catch up!!
I was going to try and make it to the local supermarket today but the walk seemed far too ambitious. The local newsagents was more than enough and I popped into the chemist to get some tacrolimus made up as I had been sent an outside prescription. They said that they will do repeat prescriptions for me so I think I will do it with them. I have tried with Boots but sadly for me, its not really working out and I have ended up in desperate situations lately without enough medication. My holiday has given me time to set priorities and medication is definitely at the top!
Just before I went away, I had an appointment with a lovely Red Cross nurse and we discussed some camoflague makeup options for my excessive scarring. It was such an insightful session and it was great that mum was there too to learn about it. I was just beaming when I saw all the shades of colours and different compositions. I must thank fantastic Jac who recommended this as an option and I think it is really going to work for me. Some days, like everyone, I don't have the confidence to show off my scars and so its great to have the option to 'calm down' the scarring. No, they won't go away and there's a strange part of me that doesn't want them to anyway. Its all me. My scars are part of my story and is the reason why I am alive. I am proud of my scars, it makes me who I am.I have been lucky to have very skilled first class surgeons who have made my scars minimal or to effectively sit in line with my bone structure so can easily be confused as my shoulder blade! Amazing!
Tonight I have decided to chill out as I will have a long day tomorrow. I have started watching that BBC1 week long drama, something justice??!? A long chat with my lil bro last night meant that I missed it so I am going to catch up on it on BBC iplayer now!Before that I must plaster some moisturiser on to protect my 'glow' and write a little review on Tripadvisor as I always do when back from my travels!I suppose that pink suitcase in the hallway may need opening at some point so that the laundry can be done...roll on the next holiday!
I hope that some of you reading this can make the save Jess-tival which is taking place Friday 16th October in Shoreditch. It is a charity event to help raise awareness about Jess and others like her waiting desperately to live on. She can only be helped by a transplant and that can only happen if there is a donor match!
Sadly I learnt today that a little boy, full of smiles lost his life last night.
Why?
Because a donor match for new kidney did not come in time. That poor little soul, battling whole life, not knowing what its is like to lead a usual life. he spent 6 of the 7 days in a week in hospital! Can you even imagine? His poor family. I wish I could do something, all I can do is talk about what is real and happening. Young beautiful people are dying everyday for no reason. There is a way for them to play out their lives, not live in pause and then have the stop button pressed.
Please have a good think the next time you're having a strop or a diva moment(I have them too!) and check yourself out.
Is it really that bad? Can you do something about it? Can you choose what you do tomorrow? Can you leap out of bed in the morning?
********************* www.organdonation.nhs.uk ****************************