Mixing up names

Schopenhauer and Schoenberg. Not mixable? Sure they are, I just did it. I mix up Barbara and Beatrice (and Brigitte); Sam and Steve; Peter and Paul. If I get the first sound right, I'm generally doing quite well. Mixing up Tom and Alan is not beyond me.

However I had massive disdain  thrown upon me my someone I've not met and obviously never will. Also disdain from them for apparently giving them advice on their relationships, (which I did not, I gave an opinion of possible challenges, which is not the same thing at all). Wonder why they've never, ever had a relationship with anyone, ever? maybe because they are a stuffed shirt aunty, incapable of normal human intercourse, including hearing an opinion that they don't necessarily like or agree with (politely stated), without taking umbrage.

It's not like me at all to get annoyed by such things! but I found them downright rude and it's wound me up.

With special thanks to:

I realise I did not do my friends in the UK proud. I was housed, fed, entertained and cared for by some dear lovely people, and I would like to say special thanks to:

Rachel - wonder-cook, Scrabble player, gossiper and gardener extraordinaire, plus lovely friend who I've known about the same length of time as Michael!

Helen - Rachel's lodger who was really helpful and leant me a phone, a travel card thing, and conversation.

Michael - and goats - for caring and sharing. Especially the sharing. Long long talks and lovely food.

Julie and Edwin - for being bonkers yet and at the same time lovely.

Kate - for being their daughter and yet still relatively sane. All things are relative. Bestest cusnin and funny woman. Not got the cooking bit yet.

Debs - for being my best friend and also for knowing that Cooking is Love. Thank you for the love, the talk, the cribbage, the dogs (well, ok not them) and the pretty bedroom!

Al - for joining in the cribbage and the Scrabble, and for the interesting falling-over incident :)

Elizabeth - well actually for much the same as all the above! I have now adopted roast asparagus as a regular dish.

Apologies to everyone else who I didn't see. I Will Be Back. You are warned!

Hello Keith

I have just seen that I have a new follower, how very chuffing. I have since investigated a little further and found that he homes a sort of centralised blog, 'A Taste of Garlic', which aims to link to all sorts of other expat-in-France blogs, plus doing a bit of blogging journalism. Good stuff. Have recommended Nilz' blog, at least it's interesting and mouvementé and not health-obsessed!

Considering starting a non-cancer blog, but not sure I have anything interesting to say. Fairly good at waffling, but I expect I'd mostly talk about cats and the things I'm supposed to be doing (gardening, housework...). Of course, updating my normal-life-blog would be a new and wonderful excuse not to do those things!

I'm alright I'm alright I'm alright

I spent time with the surgeon (who still won't marry me), he showed me the scans and how they decide whether there's a problem. In this case, the nodule - which shows as a white blob - is the same size this time as 2 months ago, 9mm; so they consider it to be stable and not a problem. I'm back to 6 month scans. Woop!

At the same time I had him look at the lump I have on the inner lower right back jaw, by the wisdom tooth. He says also not cancerous, but he gave me the number of a dentist who specialises in working with radiotherapy patients: I may have some issues with the jaw bone, as in bone death. They don't like saying it like that, they prefer 'osteonecrosis'. Big words, same problem. Probable surgery. Rats. Better then cancer, though.

No-one's reading this... except maybe Sreich (who he? Ed)

Clearly all my regular friends and followers have wandered off now the crisis is over, but again, for passing people who (like me) were scared and wanted to know the follow-up, and for Sreich because I pointed him here, I will give an update - although more to come next week, I guess.

So, the results from the last scan were 'it's still there, we'd rather it wasn't, we think it's probably nothing so you have to remain positive' and another scan in 2 months - that's next week now.

I initially had kittens all over the place - my cats were not impressed - but only for a few days. Then I decided there was nothing wrong. Or, if there is, I will deal with it when I get there, and it will be very minor compared to what I had before, because in its infance. So - no problem, and positive thinking goes on!

I had a complete BLIND back in the UK, saw loads of people, didn't see loads more, but really got back to being me - was energised, regained my confidence, made another step towards being nice to myself (I got tired. I stayed where I was for a week and didn't go and see some of the people I was intending to), talked and talked and TALKED, played Scrabble, played Crib, and TALKED. Actually made my mouth hurt from talking so much!

Back here, people keep remarking how fantastic I look, how I am glowing, and I was - still am. However, sadly in the domestic centre smiles are still not accepted currency. I am not taking it personally - it's not because of me, and it is not me seeing a biased view - so outside of that, I am still managing to be full of pezazz. Perzazz. Pazzazz. Oh, whatever. Zip!

I had a very successful interview on Wednesday, and also my internal team is being reorganised and it could be very interesting, so all in all, watch this space.