Getting used to the new me.

2015.05.30

Well, it's been a few months since I have written on the blog. I have been trying to live my life to the fullest and at the same time learning about the new me and adapting to everything around me. It has made it a little crazy. I have also turned 50. I had a fantastic party and celebration.

This past Thursday was a year since my last chemo. Yesterday was a year since the movers came and packed up our stuff for our move to London. What a year it has been.

Flowers for my birthday....

I have done absolutely amazing, fantastic things in the last year since the suitcases have been packed up. I made made new friends in a new city, made lifelong friends in the new city, experienced things throughout Europe. I have really taken the time to enjoy life even though simmering in the background is the fact that I can't do the things I used to do and I am a different person. My attention span is terrible. I can't concentrate to get all my work done. So the happiness and the joy is always balanced out by the frustration of the new reality. Luckily, family and friends make it possible for me to be more accepting of the new me and everything that life has to offer. I can't say that I have anything to complain about. I am not really a complainer. But, I do know that there is always room for improvement of the new me.

April meant seeing the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Races, getting the all clear on the 9-month check up at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Marcus turning 15. Sophie turning 6 and celebrating life.

April 2015 all clear after 9 months.......

I am just loving the experiences that I am having, the people that I am meeting and the great weather in London.

I am really good at delaying getting anything off my list completed. I would much rather meet friends or go for a walk with Sophie in the park. June 1st is the start of a month of getting on track again and getting to the point of enjoying life without something hanging over my head undone. I have started to read the book by Marie Kondo called "The Life-changing Magic of Tidying". Clear out the clutter and live the life that I dream of. Totally enjoying reading it and looking forward to putting it into practice. It is almost a must here as the houses are so small compared to what we are used to.

Good Friends make loving life easy!

That's a lot of candles!

Celebrating with the London gang on the actual day...

My 50th birthday celebration was exactly what I needed. It was celebrated with people that mean a lot to me and we just enjoyed each other's company. It was a fantastic weekend. Marie and John came from the USA. Mia, Åke, Eva-Karin, Göte, Helena, Petra, Martin, Annica, Stina and Alex came from Sweden. All my London friends joined in too. I feel that my friends have also taken a look at their lives and now enjoy celebrating all of the great times in their lives too. My motto BE BRAVE LOVE LIFE and I got bracelets made for all those that attended this amazing day. It's just a reminder that Life is pretty great when we think about it.

Mia, Helena, Me and Eva-Karin

Mia and I

Stina and I

Annica, Petra and I

I had a fantastic girl's weekend in Stockholm a few weeks later showing the London girls around. Mia joined us the first night and shared some of those typical Swedish customs that I had forgotten. I am so lucky to have Mia as my friend. I am so lucky to have all my friends.

Last weekend was a long weekend in the UK so 29 of us Londoners went to Wales and rented a big ol' house by the sea and had the most fabulous time ever. Memories for life!

S'mores at the Waterwynch House

Domino and 

To each and every one of you!

So, the new me is ok. I do what I can. Try and not get too irritated over what I can't do. I take every opportunity to BE BRAVE and LOVE LIFE each and every day. (still trying to figure out if I am going to get a tattoo.....)

FRIENDS. FAMILY. LOVED. 
KICKED CANCER'S BUTT. 
WALES. STOCKHOLM. LONDON.
BE BRAVE. LOVE LIFE.