WHAT A WEEK.

I have not had the best couple of weeks...things have been a little insane.

2 weekends ago, the bicycle I've been using to get to work was stolen. Someone got through my bike lock with bolt cutters, and cycled off into the sunrise. Luckily I hadn't spent loads of money on the bike, but it's still incredibly annoying and inconvenient!!

The week following I was obsessively searching for a new bike on gumtree, without having any luck.

At the end of the week, I was driving back to Kent. Andrew and I had been singing along to Let It Go from Frozen, laughing at ourselves once The song was over when we came to a stop in traffic, and 2 seconds later were hit from behind. the following week was an amalgamation of calls to and from insurance, organising repairs and pickups, hire cars, and all the rest. On Friday, we heard from the repairs company letting us know that our car is a write off. Our reliable Hogan is no more, after only a year - and there's nothing we could have done about it.

Now we're in a position where we need to find a new, reliable, economical car ASAP before we have to give our hire car back...on top of this, I need a bike to get into work with.

So. Freaking. Busy. 

Life Updates

Hi!

It's been a while. No fault but my own on that one - soz.

I feel like a lot has happened in the past couple of months...here's a rundown of what I've been up to:

• I moved out of the house Andrew and I were sharing together.
• I moved halfway across the country into a flat (with Andrew).
• The move was not very well planned out, and took a lot of time over several weekends to get everything moved across.
• I successfully hired, drove, and crashed a transit van.
• Lots of reading - so many reviews to write up and post!
• Work got very busy very quickly - peak trading season is upon us.
• I joined a gym
• Found and joined a new Slimming World group
• Went to Ireland
• Made several Ikea trips to kit out our flat
• My car failed her MOT and is for sale...Click here if you'd like to adopt a wonderful little runner... 

  

  I love my little Tallulah! Sad to let her go.

• Found & bought a new car
• Named new car. 'Hogan' in case you were wondering.
• Had a spa day
• had a couple of haircuts - discovered a hairdresser who is really enthusiastic about cutting curly hair, epic win for me!
• Did, and am still doing, a hell of a lotta unpacking

Thought I might have a small pitiful list but actually it turned out to be quite long! Go me. Busy bee.

You can expect some more regular posts from me now that I've settled into our flat, there's not too much more unpacking to do! Let me know if you want me to elaborate on anything above, happy to throw in a random life post!

Anywho...I promised to get a box unpacked tonight...SEEYA.

Becky 0 - 1 Antibiotics

I have Tonsillitis :( waaaaa

Last week I was feeling really headachey and was having hot flushes. I also lost my voice a little bit - though at the time I put this down to talking a lot as I was training the newest member of the team at work. By Friday I was feeling quite rough, sore throat and was feverish in the evening.

Then it was time for the weekend! Saturday was a bit of a busy one, lots of driving on my part. By the evening I was lacking in energy, having headaches and had a sore, swollen throat. Sunday I was convinced I had Tonsillitis and was feeling t e r r i b l e. 

Monday I didn't go into work, and had a big ladeedah trying to get a doctors appointment last minute. So much effort. I called my local docs repeatedly all morning, couldn't get through. Decided to go to the walk in clinic, but my car battery was dead. Of all the days for it to die... I enlisted the help of a neighbour to jumpstart me (dead battery) and my jumpleads melted and shorted out. Sooo...no car for me. So much for going to the walk in clinic. I was preparing to get the bus into town, and decided to try my local doctors one more time, and finally got through. I was told there was an appointment, but basically I hadn't re-registered at my local doctors surgery since I moved home from uni over a year ago, so I had to go and sort that out before they could actually book me in. Got up to the surgery, filled out the forms blahblahblah, finally got in to see the doctor!

After all that, I was prescribed antibiotics for the tonsillitis. I'm allergic to penicillin, so I have been given a different kind of antibiotic - Erythromycin - and told that a common side effect of it is sickness. JOY. I've been on antibiotics one other time, and they made me really sicks, stomach cramps and vomiting kind of sick. I have a feeling these are the same ones...

Lo and behold, Tuesday evening I saw my dinner for the second time as it came back up. Now I'm not sure if I feel crap because of the pills, or because of the tonsillitis. I'm also not sure if I should go back into work or not - I don't want to pass this onto anyone else, and I also don't want to vomit and be uncomfortable while there and away form home. On the other side, I hate being away from work because of illness and putting more stress on the team by them being a man down. So frustrating!!

Pain. So. Much. Pain.

Yesterday afternoon I was driving myself and my sister to town to pick up a couple of sporting bits and bobs-she needed running gear, I needed a cycling helmet. I pulled into the shopping centre car park and  spotted a large space to pull into. There were cars behind me who had to stop while I (badly) manoeuvred into the space. Let's bear in mind that I only passed my driving test in July and have not had a lot of practice. In my rush to get into the space, when readjusting I turned my head very quickly from looking right, to look behind my left shoulder. As I did this I heard popping & clicking sounds and felt an immense amount of pain up the back of my neck, on the right hand side.

I have cricked my neck countless times before, but never like this. I felt completely incapacitated. Every movement was agony and sent my neck into spasm. Imagine getting a really bad muscular cramp, but more painful and on your neck. Every time you move. My bewildered sister had no idea what to do...neither did I to be honest.

I sat and waited for the pain to diminish, but it didn't make much difference. It just ensured I had got past the initial pain shock so it was a slightly more manageable level. I use the word 'slightly' in the loosest sense. Headed down to the shops and first stop was for painkillers galore and deep heat spray. Nurse Sisterbell helped to administer pills and deep heat. I decided to trudge onwards to get the shopping intended done, though I decided against loading up on cycling gear.

Once we were done we headed back to the car, where I was unable to do much more that sit in the driver seat. There was no way for my parents to come pick us up as I was the one who had the car which we were all sharing; and my brother was at work with his car. Quite the predicament.

After having a cry and a handful of spasms later, I decided to bite the bullet and get me and Sisterbell home. It was really hard work, and sis had to basically be my left and right eyes. Roundabouts were certainly a challenge. Eventually made it home, where I've been wearing an airplane pillow as a neck brace ever since.

Popped into A&E today and was prescribed some strong painkillers and anti-spasm pills which I can take alongside paracetamol and ibuprofen. So far they don't seem to be helping much as I'm unable to lie down to attempt to sleep. I hate this so much.

Driving Time!

Had a driving lesson today (woo).

I always envisioned myself already driving by this point, but alas, it has not happened. Circumstances delayed me from passing, the main one is lack of funding!

I did lessons about 3-4 years ago, then stopped to go to uni, then halfway through uni I did some more lessons, then stopped because I couldn't afford it. THEN when uni finished I did my theory test (and passed), which brings us to now, when I am finally on the home stretch towards doing my practical test.

The plan is, aim to pass by the end of February, then save up for my insurance, and then insure self on car (provided by Mum when she gets a new one), and be a driver thereafter. Once this happens, I'll be the proud owner of Tullulah, the Nissan Micra.

Happy Days!

If it all goes to plan.

Which it will...