Feeling normal for once.

[Slowmo]

For health reasons my social life has changed significantly over recent years. But having invited some close friends for dinner this week, I re-arranged with them to dine out as I felt too tired to clean the house, shop for food and spend the evening cooking etc.

Well, we went last night to a great restaurant, enjoyed lovely food, and I even had several glasses of wine (which I usually avoid, due to meds, being cautious etc). It was absolutely great, I even managed to get my make up to cover my very red butterfly face, and didn't get overhot and sweat profusely before we left home, which causes me to get all worked up.

Overall, for a few hours, I felt like my old self, enjoying good company, food and wine.

Yes, I am feeling it today, pain from sitting on restaurant chairs etc, also wouldn't take usual evening painkillers due to having consumed wine, but hey, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is able to get out there and do it, (even if it is occasionally like me) because despite aches and pains today, I feel really happy today and thoroughly enjoyed my evening out, and for a little while forgot about bloody lupus!

[daisyd]

How lovely, really please for you, The sun is out here too xxx

[Slowmo]

Thanks daisyd, and great that the sun is out today too.

[roobarb]

It's great to hear you had such a lovely time. It makes me feel 'normal' again, when I do manage to get out & about.

I hope you have more nights like this. X

[Slowmo]

Thanks Roobarb, being unwell means it's all too easy to slip out of socialising, but I have to say, even though i'm feeling the inevitable tiredness etc today it really was worth it. x

[pattismith]

Well done you , there is still fun to be had out there even with Lupus, even if it's only now and then when we feel up to it ! Glad you had a good time, don't ever stop trying x

[Slowmo]

Thanks pattismith, you are so right, we should never stop trying.

x

[mstr]

Really good advice and so glad you had a good time x

[Voutton]

Dear Slowmo so pleased you had a lovely night out I think we all have to give ourselves that extra push to get there and try to live as normal as possible When scheduling my activities I always allow days to recover so that I don't end up in bed. I think we need these days out with friends to focus on and keep us in the loop so to speak I meet a friend most mons and this again gives me focus What to wear etc instead of my pain taking up all my waking hrs Like you I love having friends in so on a good day I cook something that goes in the freezer and build up my dinner menu that way so then it is not all needing cooked that day Dont know if that helps but so glad you had a nice night out Memories are a wonderful thing Take care hugs x

[twist1]

Hi slowmo, it bought a smile to my face reading this as I have the same methodology. I love catching up with friends and when I feel good I do so I have those memories and feel like I am not losing out on life as much.

I recently started a mammoth task of clearing out our back junk room. I take it slow doing an hour maximum at a time, sure it's taking awhile, but every time I walk in I have a visual representation that I can still achieve things. I have been walking past this room for seven years and now I can see some floor lol. A little bit more and it will be enough to dance on lol

Stay strong fellow lupies, pace yourself and don't forget to live life it's very precious xx

And for all those struggling you still have your minds to dream

[Slowmo]

Thanks both voutton and twist, I like the advice of cooking and freezing ahead, we are big foodies in our house and always used to cook for guests etc so I will plan ahead in future, also, twist has now inspired me to tackle the dreaded spare room here too. I think starting tomorrow an hour a day philosophy will help me to address the big sort out that I've been putting off for so long.

I agree with the planned rest days following an evening out, I've had a real quite weekend recovering but like you say, the memories will remain, it was also good for my partner too to remember how we used to be before this illness and also to have some normality in our life.

Thanks all.