Touches of Blessed ‘Normality’

On the one hand, it's a very frustrating month now, having been forced to take a break in treatment due to the emergency hospital admission for breathing issues and the wait for the new chemo jab that is still no-show as yet from the US.
On the other hand, the break has meant I've felt the best that I have done since starting treatment, as when you're not on drugs you get back to feeling like 'the old you'. And as the treatment so far has made some improvement in my breathing (bloody great), bone pain etc I feel… Pretty good. Scary to admit it as there will be more ups and downs, but really rather majorly nice.
Having had a very busy day (the steroids do have some uses as they give you the buzz to get shit done) going with H to PS for his pre-op consultation about his total knee replacement, then going – on the tube for the first time in months, tubie how I've missed you – up to Sloane Sq to do some shopping with H (pyjamas for hospital and a Gant man-coat) and to get caught in the mother of all hail storms, and then having walked the dog on the Common, we were still determined to squeeze the most out of the day.
So – Mr H and I had a 'date night' last night. (Or is it 'tonight' as its 4.30am and I have had only 2 hours sleep due to the ongoing steroids playing their usual silly buggery?) It probably sounds crazy, but it's the first time I've been in 'proper shoes' (ankle boots, not Louboutins – I haven't turned into someone else!) dark jeans and a coat to go out (rather than either being in, or venturing to hospital in loungewear) since January. Yes hah, small victories. Sure, we got an Uber to the scoff house and back rather than the tube, but did manage to slide in two pre-dinner drinks at two different bars en route to dinner, much more like our 'old lives' which was good for both of us.
Ate at La Gazette in Putney – good French restaurant, local feel, nice service, bloody good escargots and enough garlic to sink a battleship. I reek.
And I'm now in the last few (sadly wide awake) hours before joining the Aces on our two night Tour to the Sevenoaks Hockey Festival. With my pitch side saddo chair (this body does not get up and down off chilly grass any more) and a bit of nervousness as to how it will go. I'm kind of used to the fact that I can no longer play hockey but am not sure how 2 nights of lateish schenanigans and drinking will go. I've only been 'back on the booze' since an exploratory G&T this Wed. Not due to the docs, all down to my ever changing tastebuds going 'nah, we don't fancy that stuff right now'. Looking fairly positive that they will behave, I just have to stay up long enough. That is the upside of Aces though, I'm sure I won't be the first scouting a cab back to the hotel, my lovely old fellow crumblies (bar Jo and her amazing capability to keep drinking) will probably best me to it.
So wish me luck, it's still looking chilly but at least dry out there. And it's a proper 'old fashioned' tour – clubhouse, disco, Beatles theme, cabaret (we have to sing a song – funnily enough I have doctored the words to 'Help' as God knows, we will need dome…), cocktail hour, organised food etc. And no need to get dressed up at all – Hatch, you did make me laugh when you rang me to check that today. Like any of our team are young to be out in heels, (what used to be called) 'tit tops' and lippy….. Tee hee, the joy of having chosen hockey as a life sport, none of that fancy schmancy stuff, we're all jeans and fleeces birds these days.
Ok, 4.40am, going to try for a final doze… Or shall I just get the kettle on?
Happy Bank Holiday lovely people, pack your sunglasses and your mini brollies for what is hopefully the last weekend before summer finally appears X