Oooh, lots

[puddingcat]

Energy has been elsewhere, so posts have been cryptic. Slightly more explanation follows.

Mum
Mum's finished her chemo!

This hasn't quite sunk in yet. The lump has shrunk frmm 10cm diameter to 2.75cm, and she's seeing the surgeon to schedule an operation tomorrow, but I can't quite accept that it's going to be over. It *was* all supposed to be cleared up by last Hallowe'en, but it didn't respond well enough to the first two types of chemo. The professor & his team have a 95% success rate at 5 years post-treatment, so the prognosis has always been good, but the sheer size of the lump (when you're as busty as we are in our family, things can grow without being noticed) had everyone worried.

I don't want to tempt fate by saying it's nearly over, but I think it just mightbe.



Edinburgh
I missed everyone horribly by not going to Whitby, especially since I so rarely get to see brute_force, kitty_goth, rainbowskye and suzerain (who, by the way, is the one jealous of your youthful good looks, Thomas...). But I love Edinburgh with a relaxed passion, and it was a refreshing change to see it from the alternative end of things, instead of from a family holiday standpoint.

faerierhona is fabulous company, with similar energy levels to me, and Gran's / Mum's house is only about a 10 minute bus ride from the City Centre, so we got loads done. David Cobb (veggie restaurant), the World's End veggie haggis, Jekyll & Hyde for the goth night, Ascension for (another) goth night, Cockburn St, Underground Nation (where there was a very lovely lady, and I'm definitely recommending her for friendliness, helpfulness and prices).

The Edinburgh scene seems a lot bleepier than Manchester; perhaps we're stuck in the 90s, but I'd usually expect to hear Rammstein or similar on an alternative night, as well as EBM and noise. Still, I got 3 Dream Disciples songs over the 2 nights out, and one early 80s cheesy rock, so it wasn't all bad. I've figured out where hand:staple:forehead comes from, too - it's what all the trad goths & rockers do when yet *another* indistinguishable bleepy thing comes on...

In comparison to Underground Nation, Cyber / Sprites & Bytes in Glasgow was the worst shopping experience I can remember, ever. Including wandering round the Armani shop in combats & scruffy trainers. Considering that I wanted to buy either a full length pvc ballgown (which would have fitted a lot better had I a waist atm) or another corset (I didn't really say that, Thomas...), or both, I didn't expect to be ignored consistently, have the junior sales girls taken away just as they started to realise I wanted help, be asked to move away from the changing rooms while I was waiting to be fitted, or to be bumped down the queue behind someone who just wanted to be laced into her corset for a night out. I know I'm not exactly well-known or recognised in the goth crowd, but I felt about as unwelcome as a Big Mac at a vegans' convention.

The naked DIY thing, btw, is becasue the shower wouldn't turn off. The water stopped, but the pump kept going. So I called Dad, still dripping wet in a towel, and got directions on how to turn off the shower in the loft (well, where else would the shower control be?). Needless to say, in the process of phoning home, opining the loft hatch & getting the ladder down, and climbing up there, I lost the towel. Ahem.


Anyway, I got back home on Monday, was trampled into submission while being told repeatedly how I'd Woefully Neglected the Poor Suffering Cats (who, thoughtfully, had been sick right next to the hoover), *finally* got round to setting up a direct debit to pay my water bill (no more debt collector letters!), panicked about Just How Much it's possible to spend on fattening food & alcohol, and then apparently slept. With the exception of waking up for Sharpe's Tiger-without-the-tiger-bit. Heavens, fancy haring all the way across the world just to find a friend. I can't think of many couples who'd do that for each other.

Then brute_force (who really is looking younger than ever, the swine), called to offer to visit on the way back from Whitby (is it November yet?), made me miss it even more, and took me and wyte_phantom out for a lovely curry. Fortunately for my bank balance, but unfortunately for my addiction, we didn't have time for him to get his stash out of the back of his car. And then I had to get up early this morning for work.

For the record, they aren't bloodstains. I think they're hot chocolate stains. It's the knitted kittens under the keys that you *really* need to watch out for, though.

Tomorrow is a chartered accountants' ball and fashion show at the Midland Hotel. Damn, I could have done with a new corset for it... Then the weekend will be in Norfolk with nannyo and several other people who happen to be turning 30 this year.

I'm sure there's more, but my brain needs a while to refill.

Comments

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

All the best to your mum for the last stage! *positive vibes*

*giggles at the naked DIY*

Fortunately for my bank balance, but unfortunately for my addiction, we didn't have time for him to get his stash out of the back of his car. And then I had to get up early this morning for work.

You know, for someone who doesn't know what brute_force deals in, this could sound very dodgy indeed. ;o)

[tooth-fairy.livejournal.com]

Heavens, fancy haring all the way across the world just to find a friend. I can't think of many couples who'd do that for each other.

I reckon a lot of people would do that for a friend, probably the same people that would do it for a significant other but they are out there :)

[rainbowskye.livejournal.com]

Missed seeing you too, but make sure your number is in the poll at the front of my lj and I'll call next time I'm in Manch!

[norfolkian.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear the good news about your mum. That must give you hope.