and breathe ... albeit with a wheeze

Hello!  Well - where do I start? 

At the end of the summer hols my dad went in for his bronchoscopy (sp?) - as I picked up my nephew from the station my sister got the text - it was BENIGN :)  honestly - it just didn't sink in for days.  After waking every morning worrying about my father, nightmares, stress, depression - all of that weight and worry dropped off.  I woke the next morning with the word 'benign' simply echoing through my brain.

Then - I had my nephew stay with me for 3 days - he didn't know what was going on or why my sister and I had burst into tears at the station and started hugging each other insanely.  I think he's guessed, he's far from stupid, however the poor little love had to put up with my mood swings (from no sleep and stress about the move) and migraines.

We then moved - two days of lugging stuff down 3 flights of stairs then lugging up 4 flights of stairs.  I'm so lucky that B's a theatre tech and we have theatre techs for friends.  They're used to lugging and packing vans.  When we next move we are getting movers in - but hopefully that won't happen for a while!  The flat is coming on lovely.

I've been back to work 2 1/2 weeks and I'm off sick.  I have a stonking chest and sinus infection and am on sh!t-hot anti-biotics; 500mg 3 times a day and steroids.  Yesterday work phoned and said that I've got a meeting with the Head next week.  Seriously - I hoped I wouldn't be sick this year and now I am, and I'm so angry.  I need to be in my classes, teaching my students, helping them progress.  And now I have more stress about my job.  I think everything has just gotten on top of me and my body is making me flop - WHY NOW? Why not wait for half term?

But enough of whinging.  My dad is well and the tumor is BENIGN :) The flat is awesome and can't wait to post photos.  I have a job (for now).  Things are good :)

I'm now going to come around and see you all xxxxx

ps: while I've been trying to deal with things and get better I've done a bit more 'doodling' on ceramics:

All are available on etsy here - I did sell the teapot but then the woman messed me around severely so it's now relisted.  I've got to go and get some more meds today so I'm hoping I've got enough energy to go to a charity shop and get some more bits to draw on.  However walking from the car to the docs to Boots yesterday knackered me out.

Putting things in perspective ...

Firstly can I thank you all for your absolutely lovely comments - really - meant so much to me.  I will answer each of you individually because your kind thoughts and words really made me feel so much better.

I've taken the past couple of days off from packing, went out with some friends yesterday afternoon and have really started to put things in perspective.  My sister is taking my parents to their GP's today; she used to be a nurse on a cancer ward and wants to see the report and get an understanding of the severity (or not) of the situation. We've discussed that it could be pleurisy or even pneumonia - and that worrying about the worst possible situation isn't going to help anyone.  So I'm a more positive Polly today!

So on that note I'd like to share a couple of finds with you today and what I've been doing to avoid thinking ;)

 A blank set of Matryoshka dolls for £2.95 - really nice condition and I'm currently scribbling in pencil on them to flesh out a design.

A cute espresso cup and saucer for 95p - you'll see why I'm buying white crockery next!

I also managed to get Season 3 and 4 of Peep Show for £3.00 - WHOOP :) love that show.

So what am I doing with white crockery at the moment?  I'm scribbling on it.  Here are my first batch of designs:

 Another little espresso cup - the design goes right round it and I'm really pleased with it.  The photo really doesn't do it much justice but the battery in my camera has run out so I'm left with the trusty iphone!

A tea cup with another design on it that is placed around it.

And these are the ones that are now on Etsy:

Be honest - what do you think?  I know they're just doodles and I doubt anyone would want to buy them but for 20c a listing I thought I'd give it a go :)  They're all named after the music I was listening to as I was doodling. 

Well - there you go - a more positive Polly and a more creative Polly.  Going to pop round and see you all later tonight as I'm going to do a bit of tidying first.

OOOH forgot - I also finally got my tattoo started.  After 3 1/2 hours this is the result:

This was just after it was done and before it was wrapped in cling-film.  She's so pretty - I love her!   I've got to go back at the beginning of September to get the colour put in but I'm so pleased already with her :)