Blink and you miss it…two months of 2017 are now over and done with…time flies when you’re having fun. Welcome back to my monthly Gratitude Journal entry for February 2017. I think it’s fair to say that I have a number of things to be grateful for this month so let’s get this party started!
Operation Time
Both dad and I had operations this month which we are both bloody grateful about and fingers crossed it should be smooth sailing ahead health wise for both of us albeit we both require a second operation.
I managed to have my operation a month early as a lady hadn’t turned up for her pre-op appointments and the hospital struggled to get hold of her…so I got her spot…she then turned up on the day though. Our consultant tried to fit her in but couldn’t make it work with the theatre time she had allocated; while I feel sorry for the other lady, I am truly grateful that the consultant tried her best to get us both operated on and it’s a gentle reminder to make sure you attend all your appointments.
^Post Op Selfie, the day after my operation…I’ve taken a few photos as a record of getting Frida Fibroid removed (that’s me with no make up, hair not washed for over two days and having very little sleep as was under hourly obs during the night)
G Man
Bless G’s little cotton socks…he does try…as I wasn’t meant to be staying overnight and I didn’t have any pre-op appointments I was pretty unprepared for my operation. G managed to pack an overnight bag that consisted of 3 pairs of undies, a pair of trainers, my toiletries, a red lippie, an empty bottle of rose oil serum and two tops…I’m still giggling over the missing trousers, bra and sock situation…I haven’t told him either but it does make me chuckle…I just chucked on the dress from the day before, easily sorted. G made sure I was looked after when I got onto the ward and it meant him having to have a stern word with the staff about getting me something to eat…gluten free no less…I’m very grateful that he put a rocket up their bottom as I was starting to get peckish and all G could find in the shop was a gluten free brownie. (I possibly wasn’t that grateful when he was playing with the bed, making it go up and down when I was still feeling a bit nauseous from the morphine…ahh boys!).
Ma & Pa
I don’t disguise the fact that I love my family…I love my Mummy and Daddy so much and I know that I’m lucky that I have great parents as not everyone has that support. Case in point, I could message my folks in the middle of the night from England as it was daytime in New Zealand after my operation when I was wide awake in hospital…something that we did when my little sister had her big operation in NZ years ago…I would do the night shift from England and chat to her when she felt unwell or just needed a little talk…my parents did that for me this time round…and Daddy calls me every morning on FaceTime to check that I’m okay and that I’ve eaten. I was cranky this morning…sorry!
The Staff at Luton & Dunstable Hospital
I’ve never stayed overnight in hospital before and I’m not good with dealing with people that have needles. The staff at L&D Hospital were fantastic, from the team in the Women’s Health Clinic, the nurses in the Surgical Short Stay Unit, the Recovery Team and everyone on Ward 34 that looked after me. I was absolutely petrified of having to use a bedpan but they didn’t force me and were on hand to wipe the first time I needed to wee…I had bambi legs you see. I’m grateful for these teams and that the experience was a goodie.
Finding New Spots to Visit
At times you can get stuck in a right ol’ rut with life and this also includes travel…I felt like I lost my English Travel Mojo at the end of last year however a visit to Chilham in Kent during the month really gave me the kick up the bottom I required and made me start thinking of finishing my 2016 New Years Resolution which was to visit every county so I’m grateful to Chilham for helping me find my mojo…thank you, you sexy little wobbly beast of a village!
Listening to Other Business Women
The world has changed a lot in the last ten years, social media really has changed our lives and possibly not in a good way. Recently I’ve struggled with a team member and it’s really opened my eyes to peoples expectations and how they act in their first role within a company now. Lately I’ve had a number of chats with Business Women about taking on young workers and why many are choosing not to take them on full stop…attitude issues, not wanting to work, time keeping and playing with their phones constantly are the top issues…I’m grateful for the many conversations that I’ve had lately and have come to realise it’s not me (well maybe it’s me a little as well…especially when I lose faith in the individual…I just want them to succeed) and that it’s really up to the individual to grab opportunities and realise that an entry level job is a stepping stone to brighter and much better opportunities however you do need to prove yourself first!
February’s Reading Material
I managed to get through two books and I kinda started another one but have put it aside as my heart wasn’t in it right at this time (anyone else feel like that at times when it comes to a particular genre?)...this month was all about chick lit which I’m a fan of and I don’t care who knows it!
We Were On a Break by Lindsey Kelk
I’m a big fan of the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk however have struggled with her other books as I just couldn’t connect with them however with We Were On A Break I managed to connect…yay! The book is set in a tiny village, where the folks have real jobs, they don’t live anywhere close to London (actually Nottingham gets a mention!) and it’s not a Ross and Rachel, We Were on a Break storyline…it’s more about self doubt, getting stuck in a rut with life and realising not to take people for granted. I will say that it’s very different to the I Heart series in tone and 50 pages needed to be chopped out but it was on point in regards to dating, social media and how sometimes lifestyles aren’t really what they seem. Links for We Were on A Break by Lindsey Kelk on Amazon here or via the Book Depository which offers free worldwide delivery.
Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
Becky Brandon nee Bloomwood and I have been friends since 2003…I still remember buying the first Shopaholic book in a tiny bookshop in the Old Town of Dubrovnik and I instantly fell in love and went back and bought the rest of the available series. Honestly, the last few books in the series were pretty sh*t (no beating around the bush) however when I saw this book was available, I decided to add it to my birthday amazon wish list and hoped that Sophie Kinsella had got her shopaholic mojo back which I think she has slightly (it was better than the last few books at least but once again the book was about 50 pages to long again…can authors stop with the fluff please!)…Becky has calmed down slightly but you would expect that as the character has gotten older like the rest of us, she has curbed her spending which felt a bit weird but life happens…I actually really liked this book as it reminded me that you do get caught up in bubbles and sometimes when you step out of said bubble, you don’t actually really need things that you once wanted and that your family is the most important thing in the world.
Here’s a cute story, I used to work with a guy that had read the complete series and loved it…he was more into the series than his wife…we were chatting in the office one day and he told me he finally realised who I reminded him of…Becky Bloomwood…strangely this wasn’t the first time the comparison was made…not the compulsive spending more just the whirlwind! Links for Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella on Amazon here or via the Book Depository which offers free worldwide delivery.
So what are you grateful for this month and what are you reading…I like to be a nosey parker!
xx
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