On the road again

Good afternoon one and all. I am currently writing this blog on a train to London and I have no idea where we are at the moment... I can't even remember what the last station was! Well, I think we're about an hour away from Kings Cross and there is hardly any snow. Wherever we are, it's not nearly as pretty as Scotland. Before we left Hammersmith a few weeks ago, the specialist nurse (Janet) gave me a folder filled with information about the stem cell treatment. I'd kinda forgotten about this and just read it all there.. Man alive that is a lot to take in! It covers everything from diet to oral hygiene (brushing teeth can take up to 30 minutes, four times a day) to getting massages. It also discussed the more horrible parts about this treatment which I am really not thinking about. I'm unsure if it has been a good decision or not, to not think about what is coming ahead. I have told myself that we'll probably be in London for about a month and that it's going to be dreadful... Just so I'm not disappointed in case the worst happens!

It has been great being at home and I'm missing it already (even though it's only been a few hours). I've not really been able to do much in the past week due to the snow but it was nice being in my own room again. It's crazy how everything has completely shut down because of the snow. I've not had my blood checked all week as there have been no vans going to the labs. I just hope it's ok. I've been getting very fed up with the snow and annoyed that it's caused so much hassle. Maybe this is my inner Scrooge coming out again but I don't care. I also have a huge fear of slipping on the ice. I fell last year (whilst wearing wellies might I add) and smacked my head off the pavement. It was a rather embarrassing situation more than anything but I'm always very scared in case that happens again - particularly now because I'm so unsteady on my feet!

(For those wondering where we are, we have just stopped at Peterborough).

The past few days have been rather busy and I do feel very tired today. On thursday night Cat, ML and Will came round for dinner and some chat and it was good for a catch up. Friday was Teenie's actual birthday so we went out for dinner and watched Home Alone. It was quite low key, but we weren't able to do much because of the snow! My friend Stef and her boyfriend Tom have recently returned from 6 months in Vietnam and they came round on Saturday. I don't think I realised how much I had missed her until I saw her. Even though she has been far away for the past wee while, she has always been there and known exactly what is going on with me. For purely selfish reasons, I am glad that she is home. However, I know how tough things will be over the next few months but I know they will be fine. Of that, I am sure. On Saturday night my usual crowd came round for dinner and the X Factor. Mum made a turkey with all the trimmings and we had some crackers too. Dad even made us all play a game of Empires - I think everyone enjoyed it?! It was a lovely night and I am very lucky to have such supportive people around me.

It wasn't nice leaving home this morning but I am trying to remember that the reason I will be in hospital over Christmas is so that I will be around for the next 60 Christmasses (something a new friend has wisely said!). I suffer from cabin fever being in the house (and our house is pretty big) so I have no idea how I'll cope in an isolation ward. I'm saying to myself that it is just temporary and things will pick up as time passes.

I'm unsure if I'll be able to blog again when I'm on the ward (maybe James will do another guest blog?!) but hopefully I'll have the energy to write something down. Mum is staying with me the whole time and the rest are coming next week. Jamie is also coming for a few days next week, and Ruth and Ally are coming over New Year. I know I'll be entertained with all these visitors but I'm saying sorry now if I chuck them out because I'm tired! I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday.

PS I watched the final of Australian Masterchef... IT WAS GREAT. Here's a snap of Mum and I's favourite food critic, Matt Preston..