Well the first day of chemo yesterday was long but relatively bearable, even with the cool cap that might just save some of my hair!
I am so happy that so many of you have told me of your challenges – there are a lot of languages being learned (Russian, German, Armenian, Spanish for starters) – and I forgot to add Italian to my list. I’m trying Duolingo to start with, but I know that my linguistics background will have me reaching for a grammar book pretty soon!
Other challenges include musical ones: people learning new instruments, a bassist learning treble clef (so sweet!) and a friend learning some songs to bring out at family occasions after a glass or two😉 There are also people doing physical challenges, including my lovely niece who is going through radiotherapy at the moment but determined to fit in some running. Inspiring stuff! People are joining me in my challenges (particularly the poetry-learning one) and doing things like learning to make clothes. All of them seem to be in the same spirit as mine – things you’ve been meaning to do.
If you haven’t yet joined me – there’s still time. Let me know (lesjef56@gmail.com) what you’re planning and if it’s something you’re already doing, that’s fine. There’s nothing better than a list where the first two items are already complete – it gives you the feeling of progress that you need to get onto the next one. This pseudo-psychological advice makes me think I’ve missed my vocation – perhaps I’ll be a life-coach in my next phase?! Or I could write a best-selling self-help book? But I have enough on at the moment…
And just so you know, I’ve learnt 3.8 poems (there’s a few lines left to go on one of them) and they keep me company particularly at night if I’m struggling with sleep. On the whole I don’t (struggle) but last night I could have done without a food delivery driver ringing the doorbell at 2.30 am! He had our address, so it was probably some of the new students around here who didn’t know where they lived yet. Hope they got their food.
Well, that’s all now folks – I need to have a rest and watch some telly for a bit.
And just a reminder, though there really is no pressure at all to contribute… if you want to, please donate to Maggie’s at St James’s hospital (Maggie’s) and/or HEART (HEART) both of which are going to be sanctuaries for me in the weeks to come. Or just give something to a charity you support already. The challenges are the main thing!
Lots of love
Lesley
Lesley Jeffries 