Another week and here we are in May – so it seems perfect to have a little May Magic as Monday came and went this week!  It has been a perfect day in south London – sunny, bright and mild – what better way to start the month.

Hubby is away this week with the year 5 classes for an “outward bound” style activity holiday – or to put in in layman’s terms…..archery, hiking, zipwires, pylon climbing and more with 60 nine and ten year olds.  Of course hubby has the boys’ dorms under his care after the activities finish for the day, and his comment to me on their first night was “I knew it was going to be challenging when we started our first task of bed making and one of them actually said ‘what’s a duvet?”!!”.  They usually arrive home with damp kit, a bit smelly and absolutely shattered…..and that is just the adults.  This year they have a bank holiday weekend to recover and I know that the adults will appreciate the extra day for R&R.

This leaves me at home with my offspring.  The eldest has just returned from a surprise birthday weekend away in Dublin – lovely treat from his better half – and is now looking forward to the first package in his gift from us…..a subscription to Pong Cheese Club.  Watch this space for taste testings!  My main carer for the week – the politics student – is nearly as much help as a chocolate teapot as he has succumbed to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and dislocated his knee during a footie kick around.  He managed to relocate everything to the correct position – you get used to doing this with EDS – but now cannot walk, despite my best efforts with tubigrip, a brace, crutches and painkillers.  We must have made a strange looking team as we put the rubbish out today…..him on crutches, me in a collar and sling – there is definitely a joke in there somewhere about the number of dislocations in a household of zebras!!! (Why the zebra?)

I started saying what a beautiful day it has been and this led me to a big achievement, namely my first solo trip out in my electric wheelchair.  It has been a while coming, but today I was due to visit my friend for a haircut and whilst mum waled there with me, I came home alone.  I know that it sounds crazy for a woman of a certain age to be excited to get home under her own steam, but having that little bit of independence back after so long was both exciting and terrifying in equal measures.  Fingers crossed that over the next few months my joystick control and pavement driving improves – it is very hilly here, but I have good brakes!!

There is a great selection of spring blog posts here and one in particular is close to my heart, as I was a specially trained head and neck cancer nurse in a previous life.  The final listing is from Angela, and I think will strike a chord with all bloggers as she explains to her nearest and dearest that it is ok either way if they read her writing or not.  So sit back with your favourite tipple and enjoy!

https://youcanalwaysstartnow.wordpress.com/2019/04/15/soul-sunday-i-did-it/

https://fullofgritandgrace.com/2019/04/20/self-care-ideas-that-are-also-earth-friendly/

http://www.denysewhelan.com.au/denyse-blogs/new-normal-for-me-with-head-neck-cancer-43-2019/

https://crunchandcream.com/single-serving-brownie-in-a-jar/

https://retirementtransition.blog/2019/04/22/how-do-you-listen-respond/

https://www.crestingthehill.com.au/2019/04/where-to-from-here.html

https://veroniiiica.com/2019/04/29/ten-odd-things-i-do-with-double-vision/

https://tayler.silfverduk.us/the-best-way-to-heal-your-gut/

https://jboccupationaltherapy.co.uk/hypnot-session-1/

https://angelanoelauthor.com/inspiration-motivation/read-this-or-dont-either-way-i-still-love-you/

Please share some love and comment, like and share these posts.

Have a great week,

Claire x