canmollyrun

Getting results back is always worrying and after the CT scan that noticed I had something in my head but couldn’t confirm what, the next MRI and results were going to nerve racking. Knowing a meeting was scheduled Thursday and I would get to know soon after softened the wait. And when the Breast Cancer nurse rings instead of the oncologist with the answers this alleviates all fears – bad news always comes from higher up!

I have a what is called a meningioma – a benign tumour which at 12mm, they say is nothing to worry about, well for another year at least when I will get another scan. No intervention, no losing my driving licence, just to be aware there is something there and if I get any further symptoms SHOUT.

So back to life and living it! No putting things on hold. Excited that for 3 months at least I can start to plan things, who doesn’t like doing things?

Treatment starts back on Thursday, the dreaded bloods are arranged at the hospital on Tuesday and in-between I have bucket list Nr43 planned – Seeing the Northern Ballet (live on screen at Victoria Hall, Settle) doing Dangerous Liaison’s. Decided against going to see my first ballet in a Theatre just in case I hated it.

Jumped at the chance of going to Blackpool on Wednesday, with the weather forecast as being wet and cold there won’t be any dipping toes in the sea or any sunbathing but the beauty of going there is there are always things to do inside. Liesl and I are just going to have fun with a capital F!

Meals out with friends are always high on the agenda, time to catch up and eat fabulous food, so Thursday I will be savouring the delights of Sydney’s in Settle (food and cocktails) with Carrie.

And then there is knitting – progressed from scarfs to hats – adorned with beautiful pom-poms. Decided to make them and offer them to friends for a donation to Stage4deservesmore. Admin Gemma and Jude and all the ladies who are part of this Facebook page have got me through the last 13 months. Knowing that I am not alone, sad to say that it is a growing community with people there that don’t or shouldn’t be there. Secondary breast cancer is not talked about enough but in a week where Sarah Harding died it has been talked about more by the media. There still needs to be more done. https://www.stage4deservesmore.com

Have completed 15.5 miles of my Channel Swim of 21 miles – last week managed to get a few sessions in where I did a mile at a time but the weather was beautiful and I got to chill outside on the sunbeds while doing nothing. Won’t be doing this too many times as it takes nearly 3 hours out of my day but enjoyed the time for me.

Virgin Money giving have decided to cease after November so I have 2 options – step up a gear so that I can finish the 100 miles before then or 2) be realistic that I won’t be able to complete it and alter my challenge. I will keep on going until then – November is 2 months away and a lot can be done in that time.

Hunter the gorgeous German Shepherd did his 43 laps of the doggie pool to add to Molly’s miles – anyone want to add their mile to the list get swimming and let me know.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs

Having raised £1695 of a £2000 target I feel overwhelmed by everyone’s support and know that by the 30th November I will be able to complete all my targets both swimming and fundraising.

Until then going to make the most of every day.

I have read that maybe a bucket list might not be the best thing to do in my situation because the heartbreak of not fulfilling them all would be too much, I disagree, they are the things that get me up in the morning when I have had a bad night, the excitement of being with friends or family while we all share in my enjoyment.

And boy do I enjoy each and everyone no matter how small. The last couple of weeks have seen me cross off quite a few – proper random ones at that :-

Nr 9 Be in the audience of a TV show – completed 26/08/21 managed to get free tickets to a new TV show hosted by Gary Lineker at Media City in Manchester, went with my brother by train (he was the guide) Front row seats awaited us for the show titled Sitting on a Fortune (remember this and look out for me ITV) A great insight into how they do it, an hour show took 3 hours and Gary is a lot shorter than you think!

Nr 17 Finally finished my scarf. 31/08/21 From the start when I had to YouTube how to cast on and off to the trials and tribulations of trying to make my own pompoms and trying to make tassels to finally admitting defeat and buying the most gorgeous fluffy ones from Cottontails. Now starting my second one for Mum and going to try a hat!!

Nr 20 Volunteer Wanted to do something that I could dip in and out of if I felt good or not and on 21/08/21 I turned up to help at my local park run in Skipton. While running has been part of my life for many years I hate 5km – too fast for this plodder but I do like the running spirit – I am usually one cheering the loudest. So for the last couple of weekends I have been on scanner duty – a chair in the car for when I was tired.

Nr 30 Create my own cocktail – who doesn’t want something named after them and thanks to my Brother-in-Law Stephen the Molly Molly cocktail was created on 28/08/21. Joined by Mum, Aunt Anna, Erika, her MIL Anne and later Andrew, a BBQ soaked up all the liquid calories and after a lot of trials this is MY drink – try if you like – 20cl peach schnapps, 40cl vodka, 20cl Malibu, 80cl pineapple juice, in a shaker with ice – shake shake in glass and top with lemonade decorate with strawberry and umbrella.

Nr 34 Adopt an animal 30/08/21 In a world where there are ever decreasing numbers of animals due to their environment or humans we need people in the world that will help save them. I already donate to a UK Animal charity and have done for a couple of years but on seeing an advert for the WWF decided that I would adopt one of Mum’s favourite animals, a mountain Gorilla. Now at £3 a month I know they may not get much out of me long term but hey its a start.

Nr 41 This is half done. Was on my list as disgusting as it is, treatment has made my big toenails half detach themselves from the nailbed. Not pretty but in the grand scheme of things who see’s my toenails – oh yes half of Coniston when I jump into the pool. Last week I had a couple of days off from swimming and when I got back a letter behind reception showed me how wonderful friends are – Lorraine Oliver and family have paid for me to have a pedicure at the Spa – words cannot thank them enough as this is the second Bucket List they have helped me fulfil, the first being Nr 10 Zoo Keeper for the day. Cannot wait to be pampered.

Yesterday 3/09/21 Liesl Fairhurst, my partner in crime on so many charity events came with me to get the best thrill (since I am not into fairground rides or zip wires) that I ever wanted to do – drive my favourite EVER car a Porsche, a 911. It wasn’t about the speed but the luxury of the car and after turning up with about another 400+ people to drive their favourite cars in Elvington on a grey Friday afternoon this was a thrill in itself. Mind you the £49 Virgin Experience Day ended up quite a lot more once damage waiver, extra laps, photo package and a demo lap were included (with a screaming Liesl in the back) made the pennies mount up but oh was it worth it. Luckily I wasn’t in the car on my own (the guy did have a brake but you have to go fast to use that) No gear stick but up and down gears on the steering wheel and without a clutch only brake or accelerator . Chicanes and with Lamborghinis and Ferrari’s overtaking me on the inside made me drive slower but as they said it wasn’t about speed but experience. I had the best time and shared it all with a great friend.

So as you can see I have been busy making memories but it has been so much more the last couple of weeks. Its been scans and results and more scans. These are always a cause of concern but secondary cancer means that these will never end, until the end, and I hope that isn’t anytime soon. So one bit of good news is that my 4 monthly scans came back stable, no spread in my hip and nothing else in abdomen or chest. The not so great news is that the extra CT scan they did on my head showed a 5p piece of something they can’t determine – whether the cancer has travelled (mets), a benign tumour or cyst.

Another scan would have to be done this time an MRI – clunk clunk clunk goes the machine and is more claustrophobic than any that I have experienced. Plus a head cage (with mirror) completed what I can only describe as horrible even with the anxiety meds, which didn’t seem to kick in until 2 hours after I got home – then I was out for the count for hours! No veins meant 3 people couldn’t attach a cannula for the contrast on the last 2 images meaning I still might have to repeat it. Results back next week at the MDT meeting and I am determined not to worry until there is something to worry about.

Swimming has been put on the back burner a bit, haven’t swam since Monday and have completed 12.5 miles of the channel challenge another 8.5 miles to go and hoping to get a great chunk done Sunday and next week before my results in case I need different treatment and it has to be put on hold.

If you do find a couple of £££’s to help my two charities Sue Ryder Manorlands and Yorkshire Cancer Support then I will be so grateful. Thanks to Hunter the German Shepherd to adding to his laps – anyone wants to swim a lap for Molly’s Mile let me know and I will add to my spreadsheet.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs

This one was a long one – promise next one will be shorter and hopefully with good news

Having things to look forward to in a life, when it is are so unpredictable, have seen moments of joy, whether its seeing friends, family or discovering new places, eating and drinking in unusual surroundings.

Trying to fill every corner, not wanting to miss a sight, a sound, that in itself causes such fatigue and sometimes you just want to stop but its like you are chasing time, in a hurry frightened that its going to be taken away too soon. FOMO – that’s my greatest dread – Fear of missing out!

July saw me rushing towards everything, cocktails and an overnight stay with friends Kim and Natalie in Manchester – was supposed to be work related but managed cocktails and dinner too meeting up with later with Andy and Joanne.

Not enough with that I jumped on a train at 6am to get back to Settle to drive to Hartlepool to see my mates Aileen and Dave, the drive was easy and while the hotel was not the best I didn’t spend much time in it – having a whirlwind tour of Hartlepool – crutches came in handy when I wanted a rest. Again food and drink played a part in making this a great break but two days out on the trot had taken its toll.

I was back at the hospital the day after my return for a check up as I had been having some reactions to drugs I was taking – painful blisters on my hands – meaning treatment had to be stopped again. Discussing with one of my team about how I feel in general – my Mums 85th birthday that had just gone and how I wanted work to be a part of my future.

Having worked since I was 16 – floating from one job to another so my Dad said, always trying to find something that I was either good at or didn’t bore me for more than 5 minutes. I loved the travel industry and felt that I could share my passion for beautiful hotels and places new and unseen. But it was becoming hard to feel the love in a world of uncertainty and customers who were more nervous than excited.

I always thought work would define the person that I am but giving it up has made me realise that I am just me – it still comes back to FOMO – that what will I miss by not being there but I have gained so far by not having the stress when I don’t feel great that I can stay in my pjs or if its nice – like the other day I can take my Mum out.

This month is also a busy one as scans start again (as well as treatment, reduced dose to see if this helps) With the scans come the worry of the results and I have a brain scan Tuesday to start things off, will they find intelligence there that’s the question?

Swimming is still on track – well I would have liked to have done more but some days I have not been well, others I have been away – so I do what I can. Still trying to cross the channel to get and have done 9.5 miles of the challenge to date (21 miles to France) Altogether I have done 24.35 miles (2630 lengths) and so far have raised £1665.

I am so grateful for every donation as are the charities – both help me in my day to day life.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs

Today I was channelling my inner Peaty – Adam Peaty that is. Saturday night when I couldn’t sleep I watched him win the breast-stroke semi final with ease and looked mesmerised at the style and the sheer power of his strokes -now if only I could go as fast as that I would have had this challenge finished ages ago. Maybe I need to have a lion tattooed on my shoulder!

In the early hours of this morning he did it again, without me watching this time and brought home GOLD for Great Britain so when I went to the pool at 9am, not really feeling the love I thought of the dedication of all our athletes and the sacrifices they have had to make to get to their best. For every lap of the pool – however slow was for them and a special shout out to Tom Daley after 14 years his first Olympic Gold. Proves that when you are in a happy place like he his, marriage and a child things just simply come together.

I love that the second swimming challenge I have signed up for (to help with the monotony of lane swimming) is not only giving me a medal at the end but depending on how far/fast I swim is also helping the environment by planting trees – real ones! Today I swam 20% of the channel and planted my first tree – thats two now with Cedric who lives a little closer to home.

Back to Bucket list – I am having such a great time ticking things off – doing things on my own or with friends. If I was to give any bit of advice I would say don’t wait until you get news like mine before you start doing things. You will miss out on doing so many things, I am having a blast at the moment.

How would I have known that I would have loved BINGO so much, we were treated like royalty by the staff at Buzz Bingo in Keighley. As Bingo Virgins they talked us through the machines (we chose the electronic ones which are idiot proof) and fuelled by fruit cider and cheesy chips we were good to go.

To be honest the first few tickets I still hadn’t a clue what I was doing but after a while got the hang of it – £10 for a line £20 for 2 line and £100 for a full house. It was all quite exciting and we were all on the edges of our seats – would we win, wouldn’t we and by pure luck one of the staff came to check to see if we were OK and noticed I had one number from a full house then unbelievably number called – I shouted HERE and button pressed to claim – another person had shouted too so we both got £50 – not bad for a night out and it bought some more drinks. Can’t wait to go back again and the 20th August is pencilled in – there is some serious money to be won!

Been updating the spreadsheet with the miles as friends have been adding to it so here goes so far –

Molly 32’700m =20.31 miles Karen 2’358m = 1.465 miles Samantha 18’100m = 11.24m Emma 1’750m = 1.08 miles Shauna 1’300m = 0.807 miles and todays NEW entry HUNTER the Alsatian 240m = 0.149 miles (more to come) That’s a grand total of 56’448 m = 35.075 miles

Super proud of everyone, especially Hunter.

Hunter swimming 30 lengths for charity

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs thank you to everyone that has donated so far, please help me reach £2000 so that I can give the 2 charities equal amounts. I will carry on until I can do no more. I won’t say its easy because it isn’t, waves of tiredness get to me and my hip can only take so many lengths without getting the shakes – I reckon my life was meant to be lived without exercise in it but then I would be bored and very very fat! So I will continue what I do with your help of course.

I truly think that at times that the cancer is not going to kill me but the overwhelming desire just to fall asleep is, if I don’t pre-record my favourite tv programmes I don’t get to watch them as I end up dosing half way through – even the joys of +1 don’t help as I still don’t manage to watch it second time around.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter and while I love heat more than rain, a menopausal woman on hormone drugs is not a great mix. The pool at Coniston is lovely and cool but I can only manage 1/2 mile at at time, so things are a long haul.

But decided to make it fun and sign up for a Swimming Challenge where I get a medal at the end – not the full 100 miles but I get to go to France without leaving Yorkshire. I had already done 16 miles before the start and I am now have another 2 to add to the mix before today.

Once again I want to say a massive thank you to everyone that has donated, whatever amount as this really motivates me to continue on my journey. As I say the only time I find swimming easy is when I am on holiday, lazing with a cocktail in hand dipping in and out of the pool just to cool off! Will have to wait until Sicily next May but hope that I have finished all my miles by then.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs

Have had to sleep on the sofa for many nights this week to keep my dog Casey company downstairs – he woke up Monday morning not being able to walk on his left hind back leg, a trip to the vet saw a prognosis of torn cruciate ligament and an operation the following week.

As an old man of 10 years we were not only looking at a serious operation but also a lengthy recovery time – plus since he was not insured anymore a massive vet bill. He was set home with pain killers, garden rest and a week of waiting – plus a diet as Mum’s extra feeding since Milo’s death had seen him gain a few more kilos than necessary!

Friday came and you would think he was a different dog and that he knew that an imminent operation was on the cards, back to his old self, not a limp in sight. A trip to the dog groomers also lifted his mood and he was like a puppy again. So Vets have agreed to postpone the op and we see how it goes – DIET is still to go ahead!

Update on bucket list to do’s

Have booked and paid for a ride in a Porsche (my favourite car) just need organise a date

Going to Bingo on the 23rd July with friends – Buzz Bingo Keighley here we come – winner winner chicken dinner!

Have taken an IQ Test online with Mensa – said it was a good effort 10/18 hated the puzzle questions and got all the normal ones correct. Bit of fun really.

Scarf 98% finished just need to put the tassles on the end

When I can get tickets will take my brother to see Leeds Utd play a league match at Elland Road

Quick edit on treatment – have had to be off treatment while having teeth done but will be starting back again Thursday with blood tests Wednesday. Have had a request for mammogram on 20th August and should hopefully be getting my 4 monthly check up in August too. Until then I will just EMBRACE each day.

Can it be a year since I got the news that would turn my life upside down – July 3rd 2020. Life without cancer seems like a lifetime away, 2015, the things I saw as important then are no longer a priority and the one most powerful thing now is TIME, doing things, seeing people – making memories for me and those around me.

This week has seen so many positive’s – the team at Sue Ryder Manorlands wanted to market my challenge to get the best exposure for both charities but most importantly showcasing what they actually do and in a year when they like other charities they have been hit financially, to see that funds can be raised out of this. The full article can be read below and a similar version – actually virtually a full page was in our local newspaper The Craven Herald. Needless to say my Mum bought numerous copies!

https://www.sueryder.org/blog/molly-takes-on-her-final-fundraiser-for-sue-ryder?fbclid=IwAR0qTTrQjutkxJm_S6T6TeUrXi3LJoDpfl6XLenWXDCy4Wu4REI5R9GshVs

Lucy at Sue Ryder has said Yorkshire Life Magazine have also requested photos and information to do a piece. On the back of just these couple of articles fundraising has really taken off and now it stands at over £1200 with more I am sure to come the nearer I get to my goal.

Last week I was in Scotland so swim time was limited but seeing friends was more important – not a rest going from Yorkshire to the East of Scotland to the West in 2 days and the weather could have been kinder but life has to be grabbed with both hands and that’s what I did. Next time hopefully COVID doesn’t get in the way and I will be able to spend more time with both set of friends.

Next week I have the dreaded dentist – work which needs me to come off some of my treatment while I have it done. Root canal Monday and the week after fillings – hoping that as long as I keep my mouth shut I will be OK to swim – that could be challenging.

Massive thank you to Karen in Scotland for doing 1.46 miles to add to Molly’s miles and Samantha doing a mixture of open water swimming and pool also in Scotland for also smashing out a massive 14.11 miles. Emma has just posted to say she has done 2 x 875m to do just over a mile. I have only done slightly more at 14.64 miles but happy with that so far – I have to remind myself that 1) I am not a swimmer 2) I swim mainly with my upper body so take twice as long 3) Who cares about time its about getting the job done

Was able to tick something else of my bucket list with the help of Richard, Karen’s husband who is a whizz around the house and when I mentioned my desire to learn how to bake a loaf of bread – Paul Hollywood’s recipe came out along with the flour and yeast.

Can’t believe how easy it was – despite being slightly heavy handed with some of the ingredients and even surprised myself that I made something that was edible. Nearly finished my scarf (just have the bobbles to put on) but have put a hold on the 1000 piece jigsaw – took it out of the box was so overwhelmed didn’t know where to start so put them back again!

Finally while I am at it I should mention the Euros – my Dad as both a Swiss and English supporter would have been watching with interest and I am sure he was looking down from Heaven cheering both teams on. Switzerland beat France but left the show yesterday on penalties to Spain and England are in the quarters after a fantastic match with old rivals Germany – favourites now to win and like everything we can live in hope. Tonight they play again.

A massive thank you to EVERYONE who has donated, some donations are anonymous others are from people who have seen the article. I am truly overwhelmed and will do my best to prove I am worthy of this generosity.

Can it be nearly a month since my last blog?

Like the title says where does the time go – some days I seem to have been chasing myself and as you can see from one week when swimming was put virtually on hold sometimes my health gets in the way and my energy levels are not where I want them to be.

Are we already in June – Freedom day has been put on hold until July but sorry Mr. J I cannot wait not even for a month, got to start planning and making sure that when my time comes I don’t have any regrets.

I was inspired by a book – found at the Range, a new shop to us and one I pottered about on Sunday, browsing as you do. The Bucket List book. At the beginning of my second journey I posted a few things I wanted to do and with the help of friends got to fulfill some before lockdown.

Now I have 45 things to do – some are so simple and things I can do myself. Started doing nr 17 today with the help of YouTube – knitting myself a scarf and nr 27 is to complete a 1000+ jigsaw so I have Santorini to make me think of holidays. With 101 on the list I have plenty to think about.

Last week saw me do full hours – I reduced them on the hospital recommendation last year – but I was required to do 6 days of training. Head was totally mashed by day 3 and working 8.30-5.30 it was hard to go to the spa when you have nothing to give. I was going away the weekend but as it was cancelled last minute due to COVID I managed an extra couple of days.

Counting my miles so far – up to yesterday I had done 9.5 miles and with todays lengths I have got over the 10 mile mark – finally – seems like it has taken an age. Sue Ryder and Manorlands have given the OK for anyone who wants to do a MOLLY MILE to help get the miles done – think everyone thinks its going to take me too long.

All you need to do is find out the length of your pool mine is 15m so 108 lengths = 1 mile

Post on FB or in the comments on WordPress when you have done it and share the link of the donation page – if you can get 1 person to donate £1 and I can get 50 to do 50 miles I will do the other 50, well I only have 40 to do now don’t I?

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs

I have also made a basic word document to show when and how many lengths I have done – added my friend Karen’s lengths as she is joining me on my journey. Next week the only water we will be seeing is her hot-tub and plenty of prosecco!

CHARITY SWIM.docx – Microsoft Word Online (live.com)

Want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who has donated £870 so far. This means so much to the charities, it motivates me to actually get up and do something positive when things could actually be quite negative.

Treatment week this week – always happy to receive it (next month will be having a short break while I have a root canal..agghhh) Have my 6 month call with the lovely specialist at Birmingham Orthopedic Hospital to check I am OK – they are my back up in case I need surgery which I hope I won’t.

So until then I will get back to my knitting – a scarf by Christmas? Orders anyone?

This might be a long post….

Waiting for any sort of scan results is hard, even for the most patient of people (which I am not) but when you know that these might mean that your first line treatment hasn’t worked and that more decisions have to be made the worry is amplified even more. Every new ache has you wondering ‘what if?’

It makes you tired, physically drains you, sleep comes at the wrong time and at night the thoughts go around. You carry on with some sort of normality, for me that’s work ( lucky to have been blessed to do something I love and have a great Team around me), my boy Casey (the dog if anyone thought I had kids!) and trying to get the miles in of my swimming challenge.

So first off – results in and not the oncologist this time but the pharmacist who I have never spoken to before- I hope to again as he says that when they are busy he gets the easy calls. That gave me hope – the words no spread in any of the scans – overjoyed is an understatement. The spinal scan shows degeneration and that’s causing the pain but no cancer – pain I can handle – if drugs don’t work there is always GIN!

I was given the option of having further scans in 4 or 6 months, I opted for 4 but this means I can get on with my life for another few months, try to get my travel insurance for my holiday in October to the Sandos Papagayo in Lanzarote for some sun, sea and hopefully a tan! Also I know that I can still swim, if I had been told I had to have IV chemo instead of the oral I am on then its the end of any challenge.

Fundraising is going amazing and after a massive donation today of £250 it has reached £805 but it is EVERYONE’S donations that have humbled me. I can’t believe how generous people have been and from the messages I have received how this affected people.

Sue Ryder are putting together an article, Coniston Hotel Spa were wonderful and posted all my details on social media and my work posted twice internally and as I have said for someone who only started there last February I am lucky to have them behind me.

So there are 96 miles still to do – a massive do but this week I am off so will be able to up my distance and now I am buoyed by the good news I had today and not have as many hospital appointments which left me so drained I am on a mission. Today 73 laps – was going to do a mile but time got in the way so tomorrow going earlier.

Since I can’t go abroad and I am on holiday this week I am going for a cheeky little get away to Cumbria – me and Casey in a dog friendly hotel near a beach. Weather looks okish and he is having a haircut tomorrow to make himself look presentable. I am looking forward to some quiet time – books, Netflix, gastrofood and days on the beach throwing balls!

Other positive things – May 17th we saw more things opening and life starting to get back to get back to normal – went out with the family last week to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries not content with that going out again tomorrow – life is for living right?

NB Just wanted to say a massive thankyou to Annalise, Richard and Cerica who I met on my birthday at Coniston for the lovely present and letter

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs

Be Kind they say!

Today I have met kindness full on in many ways from people I know and love, people I know not as well and also from people I have only just met.

Today didn’t start off too great – too many hours spent on the sofa last night not sleeping, stressing about a scan I was about to have, others that are to come and at the end the final results – results which I can do nothing about once they are here but to face them head on.

Today was – actually is my birthday, one year older. Last year I was oblivious to the cancer within and it was only lockdown that stopped me doing things. I could proudly say on my Facebook page I had survived a lockdown birthday, not that I usually did much anyway but a birthday is a birthday. Now its the first birthday since being diagnosed and the worry (in the back of your mind) that it might be my last made me want to do something for ME!

So I booked in for a treatment – Head Massage at the Coniston Hall Spa – made sure that Mum could take me so that I could enjoy a glass of fizz and maybe something else while having lunch. I have never been afraid of my own company, mainly because I usually find someone to talk to or read, nothing better.

This time I didn’t want to swim, do anything really just lay there with my book, swimming can be done tomorrow and all I wanted to do was nothing – I did say in previous posts do not judge if one day thats all I want to do – anyway its my birthday. Nearing the end of my John Grisham novel, the one that I had already bought and didn’t realise I had, being from Yorkshire want to get my money’s worth even though I know the end!

All the staff at the Nadarra Spa are lovely again so kind, Paula who did my head massage listened while I waffled and gave me a tissue when I cried, proper therapists but by the end I came away so relaxed and couldn’t wait for lunch and a gin!

I wasn’t the only ones sat outside and it turned out I wasn’t the only one celebrating my birthday, and while I am rubbish and forget names quickly (I put it down to the drugs I have to take) it was lovely to talk about their break in Yorkshire and see they were enjoying their day as much as me – well until the thunder and lightning – even under cover I ended up eating my pudding covered with a brolly (no way I was going to leave the gorgeous ginger and date pud) – gin got slightly damp.

Facebook has been awash with such kind messages from family and friends, so many. I have now got so much gin I am going to float in the stuff! Have had messages and presents from Oz but its not about that its about the day to day support I get from everyone – that means so much more.

So after a lovely morning/early afternoon it was time to go to the hospital for an MRI spinal scan. Prior to this year scans never bothered me, a chance to relax, none really hurt just mild discomfort but I feel like the biggest baby on earth now, anything enclosed makes me feel like I am going in a coffin and the panic attacks don’t seem to be getting any better despite the drugs I take. Note to self on Friday double the drugs!

The radiologists were super kind today, did an alternative scan and I will have to keep my fingers crossed that I don’t have to have it repeated. Back home to bed. Birthday nearly finished.

Update on swimming – well still doing it although today I had a rest. Last week I did another mile but will have to up the ante otherwise I will be here for years. At the end of the month I will show a collage of all the mileage! Today at the spa it was suggested that the staff there helped out and did some relay miles – would that be cheating?

I will keep on plodding on……

If you have any free pounds feel free to donate or just share

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs

When I took on my 100 mile challenge I didn’t realise at first that the 100 things were to be done this Bank Holiday weekend, we have had Beckham doing 100 keepie uppies others eating 100 maltesers so I decided that I had to have at least complete 100 laps to make sure I was going with the theme and then continue it for a 100 miles into August.

Easier said than done, as I needed to do 108 laps to make 1 mile instead of the 68 I originally thought. Wednesday I did 20, Friday I did 45 and today Saturday I was to do 43 to get to that magical number.

None of it was easy – the first 20 on Wednesday I struggled with doing just breaststroke, Friday I did a mixture of breastroke and flapping on my back wildly -this caused my swimming watch to fail to register some laps which only meant extra work for me.

One mile down – 99 to go. Thank you for all the donations so far, have been overwhelmed when I hadn’t really started. Sue Ryder and Manorlands have been in touch as they want to do an article about my fundraising.

In Between the swimming I did get chance to relax and read, the joys of having membership at such a wonderful spa at the Coniston Hall Hotel. Today I forgot to take my phone and my watch refused to record the laps so it was me mentally counting in – so please believe me when I say that I did all 43.

Next couple of weeks are going to be very busy as I have now been called for scans on 4th, 10th and 14th May and results on the 24th May with the oncologist – this will show progression or Stable Mable (always looking for the later)

Will keep on swimming and will blog at the end of May with the updated miles and how I am going. Please give if you can or share my page https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MollyFuchs