Good words..

Hello BLF friends,

Weather has been good in London ☀️

Going round the corner for food and papers feels like running a marathon🏃🏻‍♀️ on my muscles and joints. But good news I have a rhumatology appointment on Tuesday 🤞

Acupuncture is painless and seems to help me along. The day after I realised I have to rest 🛌 . The 👨🏼‍⚕️ told me to rest, to keep warm and to only go out for fresh air. So I am doing just that.

Well yesterday I walked to the 🚌 bus stop, had a short ride, just so I could see something else.

It was fine. When I got back, I put on the ice packs and had a good 😴 . 2 hours from 4pm to 6pm!!

I am finishing the last pages 📖 of Ian Rankin and starting on Once upon a River by Diane Setterfield. My bookshop friend said she has plenty free copies 📚 aside for me! So I said keep them coming 😃

I caught up Shetland Bea said I’d like it. I did.

Then Trapped..Couldn’t live in Iceland..nowhere that cold, dark and icy 🥶 actually 😃

I must catch up Cold Feet as sad as it is..

My cousin is coming from Paris this weekend. I am trying to plan a painless but fun weekend!! 🎡🎢🎠⛲️ euhhh will see🌠

Some wise words..

Have a nice weekend!

Love,

Fran xx

[Sharp5Flat13]

Sounds like you're doing well, Fran. I love the way you write.

I went for my post-surgery (23rd, Sept.) cystoscopy this morning. The black areas were scar tissue. The rest of the bladder lining looked healthy except for one area had a swirling sort of ridge. She said that could just be inflammation but she wants to be conservative and do a biopsy. So it will be another overnight in hospital, and then a catheter for a week.

Tomorrow I go to meet up with a keyboardist I used to play with. He wants me to meet and listen to a girl sing at a karaoke club, to possibly start up a new band. I told him I'd play bass because I never know how my emphysema will be, and if I can't make a gig, at least they will only be out the bass.

[Hidden in reply to Sharp5Flat13]

Thank you Sharp🎶

I suppose that’s the way I encourage my body to heal..

I wish you well with your biopsy. 💕

You made me laugh about the bass..made me feel about taking inhalers and knowing I’ll never sing soprano again 😃

not that I ever did apart from trying in the shower with Bea saying Mummmm pleaseeee!!

But I thought how resourceful to be able to do and offer another way of participating!! Carrying on with our lives is what I usually say, enjoying the things you like will help you along.

You will make that gig 🤞😊

Love,

Fran xx

[Hacienda]

Hola Querida, You are sounding so much Better Fran, and having Busy days regardless of your Pains. Yes, I agree, keep going, we have to remain Positive in our Selves, with our Era we have the Stamina. Your Post is a positive one, Thank You. Enjoy your Time with your Cousin "Francesa". Read a few from Ian Rankin, can't remember them all. Those Day's of Reading tons of Books have gone, Too Busy now I'm happy to say, ( also My Eyes are not as Good). Carry on with your wonderful London journey Carino. Hope you go back like a New Woman to Bea & Aria, sending Besos to you all. xxxx

[Hidden in reply to Hacienda]

Hola Carolina,

You are always so good to me. 😘Muchas gracias por ser una amiga.💕

Better morale yes 😊because I have that appointment in rhumatology next week..it is giving me hope🎶

I haven’t had any answer from the rare disease centre in France, everything stops for half-term, they all go skiing ⛷ !! 😉

And the Chinese doctor is very kind. He is teaching me to listen to my body rather than rushing around making up for lost time..😃

Bea said they will do my bedroom blind on March 11th so no point in hurrying back, she doesn’t want me home with paint and dust! She is the boss now 😂 Well she’s mine and Aria hers!

I’ll post an Aria photo for you!!

Besos Querida 😘

Fran xx

[Hacienda in reply to Hidden]

Awww, Gracias Carino, Thank you so Much. xxxx

[sassy59]

Good morning inspirational Fran! Any aches and pains I have pale into insignificance when I read your posts. You keep going, hard though it may be. Pleased the acupuncture is working and the ice packs. 🥶

The weather has been good so fingers crossed for your fun weekend with your cousin. 📚 enjoy the books too and Shetland which is brilliant.

Wishing you well as always. Enjoy your day and weekend.

Lots of love, Carole xx 🥰💖😘💖🥰

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Good morning gentle Carole! 😊

Wishing Pete and yourself a very good weekend!

Fog here today! I think it will brighten up later on.

Lots of love too xx

Fran 😍🧚🏻‍♀️🦋🍀🌹

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Fran. Xx 😘

[Izb1]

Hey busy girl, sounds like you are doing ok with the acupuncture, glad it is giving you some relief. Dont know how you managed to get an appointment with rhuematology so quickly, I have been waiting nearly a month and still not got one. Glad to hear Bea has taken control over the flat you definitely dont want to be around paint and dust. Its nice sometimes to put your nose into a book for a few days, I have read a few Ian Rankin but cant remember the titles, think I have read too many books. I am re-reading the trilogy by Robin Hobb on The Fool. I have read nearly all of her books and they are all connected which I love, pure fantasy.

Cold feet is always worth catching up on, love their banter with each other.

Well Fran, take good care and enjoy your time in London, try to have day on day off so you dont get too tired. Irene x

[Hidden in reply to Izb1]

Hi Irene 😊

Thank you for your nice message.

Well the RBH got it for me..when did I first go there, just checking my iphone calendar 15th January so 26th Feb it has taken 5 weeks..hopefully you get yours soon!!

I will follow your advice 🤗

Love,

Fran xx

[Hidden]

Hi Fran, nice to hear from you, glad your getting some relief from acupuncture, your lucky getting appointment so quickly for rheumatologist I had to wait 3 months when I arrived at the time of my appointment he had phoned in sick 😡 😭I love to watch cold feet watched all their series. You sound happier in yourself Fran. Have a lovely time when your cousin arrives from Paris. Enjoy your reading and try to rest. Take care enjoy your time in London. 😘🙋xxx Majt

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Majt,

Thank you for your kind words 🦋

I think acupuncture is helping with my general health not with pain though unfortunately..

I expect it is because the RBH got me the appointment, one of the advantages of having a rare disease 😃, they all know each other!

Oh dear hope mine won’t phone in sick! Did you get to see him finally??

My cousin arrived she is having a rest. She said when she had shingles, her friend sent her some cbd ointment from the States and it is the only thing that ever helped her with the pain. She is getting her to send some for me!

At this stage anything is worth a try!!

Take care xx

Fran 💕

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Fran, no I didn't get to see that one, they phoned to say I would have another long wait and I could see another one if I would travel a bit further I agreed to that I still had to wait a while. No Fran it doesn't mean that might happen to you he must have been very poorly to do that. That sounds interesting about the cbd ointment it seems to be getting more popular. Shingles is very nasty it must be good to help with that I would give it a go. The rheumatologist could be good for you for your pain.👍😊 Take good care Fran and have a lovely time with your cousin. 😘🤗👍🛍️ Look forward to hearing about your travels very exciting, you are very brave Fran I think I'm a country bumpkin a trip to the metro centre and I could ger lost. 😂😂🛍️🛍️🛍️ Majt xx

[peege]

Hope the sun is shining on my beloved London for you. I used to like nothing better than sitting on the top deck, front seat having a great view of all the historic areas, the Thames, wonderful parks plus out of town to Putney.... home to Wimbledon was great, The Common on the right and on the left those huge posh houses & gardens including the Pope's London residence 😎 xxx

[Hidden in reply to peege]

Hi Peege!

It is indeed☀️!

Wow sounds wonderful. I know all that area because I lived on Fulham Palace Rd for a few years.

We went to eat and now I have massaged more arnica oil and I have my feet up and I am drinking the famous buckwheat tea 🍵

A life of leisure xxx

Fran

[peege in reply to Hidden]

Enjoy your rest! 🙏

addendum when friend came for a stY I'd take them to Victoria, hop on the 'hop on, hop off' topless bus. You can get off when you're hungry, have a wander and hop back on. You can purchase the headphone guide plus there's one company who include a boat trip with the ticket. Such fun, even though I'm a Londoner I'd never tire of the information and history. 🤓

[skischool]

I hope you are getting egg fried rice with that Chinese acupuncture my Happy friend and free prawn crackers.

Have you become a London girl yet.sorry i couldn't resist this one-

youtube.com/watch?v=9aIMGVX...(Not working as expected?)

Love ski's and Scruff's xx

[Hidden in reply to skischool]

Not even my dear Skis 🎿 a cup of buckwheat tea and a few needles is my lot!!

Not Chas and Dave lol 😂

Love xx

Fran

[SquirrelsHolt]

Oh my goodness Hidden , you are such a fantastic role model for so many of us but also for all new members on this site!😁 Your travels around London are so varied and interesting....you should think about becoming a Tour Guide or even a travel critic when you cross from one county to another,lol! You are so eloquent and it's a joy.to learn about your daily "missions"! It's quite easy to almost forget that you do everything under such pain and that is admirable. Anyway that's far too many compliments for you today.... I hope I've not made your head swell too much, with just a hint of glory! Enjoy your weekend plans with your visitors and then tell us all where you went!

[Hidden in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

Oh Squirrels 🐿!!

Definitely having a big hairdo 💁‍♀️ now 😂

Have a lovely weekend too!!

[Ergendl]

Have a great weekend.