Half a poxy hour a week is all I get to myself these days! I wouldn't have it any other way but being banned from Charlotte's swimming lesson does have some benefits. My sweet little ginger princess causes anarchy amongst the toddlers when I cheer her on from the sidelines. So how do I spend this blissful thirty minutes each week? A quick check of Facebook then I write this blog. It's more than just a diary. This soap box means I can share my pre-menopausal experience with other women (and men too). Hopefully I can highlight some good causes along the way.
During sad times in my life, I got so much out of hearing similar stories. My miscarriage and later fertility problems were easier to deal with knowing I was not alone. I would love to raise awareness of other female health and emotional things that pop up along my journey. Take breast cancer. If a friend of mine had not gone to the doctor immediately on finding a lump, would she be here today? Possibly not. It is a cancer that has a fantastic success rate when found early and diagnosed in a person that has no other symptoms apart from the tell-tale lump. A healthy person will most likely make a full recovery. The key being in finding the lump before the cancer makes you unwell. So ladies, go check your boobs!
This blog is about the lighter side of the menopause, so that's enough serious stuff for today.
I am going on a hen weekend! Yay! Mad Lisa is finally being made an honest woman by J the father of three of her kids so we will be partying in Bournemouth for the weekend to celebrate. I was hoping for a spa or cottage break but now I know we are watching the Adonis show, I have got used to the idea. I prefer this to a night out clubbing in places surrounded by beautiful 17 year olds. At the Adonis show, the place is bound to be full of old trollopes like me and I will get to see a few naked men along the way. How lush will that be? I will of course miss my little Charlotte like crazy and I can feel myself pining already. I am sure a glass of wine or two and a few vodkas will numb the pain.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Office Geriatrics
"Mummy, what are you doing?" asked Little Charlotte as I plastered my face with make up at 6.30am. "Trying to look pretty", I replied. "Mummy, you're not pretty, you're a big girl". Oh, how I love her logic. Just because I have lines and wrinkles and wiry hair (trying to hide the grey), apparently means to a 2 and a half year old that I cannot be described as pretty. How true that is! In a world obsessed by looks, no wonder little Charlotte feels the way she does when she is barely out of nappies.
Ashleigh in our office says that at 45, you have so past your sell-by-date that you may as well be dead. Oh well, at least at work, where I spend the majority of my waking hours, I am surrounded by other pre-menopausal has-beens. Sue and I have both already experienced a does of the menopause. Me, when I had IVF (I am still recovering from the shock of injecting myself with old womens' pee) and Sue when she had treatment for breast cancer.
We are all hormonal mistresses usually with our cycles in-sync. What joy! An office full of raging oestrogen or whatever one it is at that time of the month!
Young Ashleigh is in her prime, Sarah has baby making plans and Sue, Jackie and I are forty something and waiting for the hot flushes.l Jackie, as the oldest is already getting a bit scatty, searching for her glasses on her head or her phone when it is in her hand. Oh, how we need some testosterone at Nelson House but the poor man would run a mile.
Ashleigh in our office says that at 45, you have so past your sell-by-date that you may as well be dead. Oh well, at least at work, where I spend the majority of my waking hours, I am surrounded by other pre-menopausal has-beens. Sue and I have both already experienced a does of the menopause. Me, when I had IVF (I am still recovering from the shock of injecting myself with old womens' pee) and Sue when she had treatment for breast cancer.
We are all hormonal mistresses usually with our cycles in-sync. What joy! An office full of raging oestrogen or whatever one it is at that time of the month!
Young Ashleigh is in her prime, Sarah has baby making plans and Sue, Jackie and I are forty something and waiting for the hot flushes.l Jackie, as the oldest is already getting a bit scatty, searching for her glasses on her head or her phone when it is in her hand. Oh, how we need some testosterone at Nelson House but the poor man would run a mile.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Va Va Voom
The fire is back in my belly! After seeing Thierry Henry work his magic from the sofa on Monday night, my passion for Arsenal has returned. I've not been to game since I was up-the-duff and to be honest, I have far more important things in my life since Charlotte entered my world but I loved watching this game. Something strange happened though: Thierry Henry looks old! Yes, he still has that Oo La La Foxiness but he has aged. I used to hate it when Police Officers, School Teachers and Footballers looked like they needed help tying their shoe laces, but seeing one of my heroes (who is a good few years younger than me) looking a bit wrinkly is worrying.
I had more Va Va Voom action this week. I got chatted up by a French man in the coffee shop. His voice was like Thierry Henry but sadly he looked more like Arsen Wenger. I worked out that he was 51. I have been hit upon by a proper middle-aged fella - eeek! What the hell, it was flattering and I could have listened to his voice all night long.
I had a dose this week of what lies ahead when Charlotte flees the nest and Ben divorces me. Loneliness. Charlotte was at Grandma's house and Ben was on a fishing trip. I should have been ecstatic at being able to choose my own crap TV and generally doing my own thing. The house was quiet and I hated it!
I had more Va Va Voom action this week. I got chatted up by a French man in the coffee shop. His voice was like Thierry Henry but sadly he looked more like Arsen Wenger. I worked out that he was 51. I have been hit upon by a proper middle-aged fella - eeek! What the hell, it was flattering and I could have listened to his voice all night long.
I had a dose this week of what lies ahead when Charlotte flees the nest and Ben divorces me. Loneliness. Charlotte was at Grandma's house and Ben was on a fishing trip. I should have been ecstatic at being able to choose my own crap TV and generally doing my own thing. The house was quiet and I hated it!
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Losing My Marbles
I went into the Dry Cleaners to pick up some trousers. The staff were hunting high and low as I had lost my ticket. Then I remembered that I hadn't actually yet taken the trousers in to be cleaned - doh! Is this early Alzheimer's, Mummy brain, sleep deprivation, too many mince pies over the festive break or part of the menopause countdown? Will I ever know?
All good back at work just knackered. Charlotte is finally sleeping all night in her own room but wakes up several times wanting a Mummy cuddle. I am too old for this and definitely could not manage with a new born. So what if my eggs are running out? One is plenty for us.
All good back at work just knackered. Charlotte is finally sleeping all night in her own room but wakes up several times wanting a Mummy cuddle. I am too old for this and definitely could not manage with a new born. So what if my eggs are running out? One is plenty for us.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Happy 2012 everybody!!
I have had the best Christmas of my whole life. Spending so much time with my gorgeous little ginger princess has been amazing. She is the child I thought I would never have. Thank you medical science. Ten years previously and I might not have ever been a Mum as my thick blood condition has only recently been discovered. An aspirin a day and injecting myself with blood thinners throughout my pregnancy kept Charlotte alive. I pray for my three babies in heaven and feel truly blessed and grateful for what I have.
This year I have made some resolutions. I will return to Slimming world, I will stop swearing, I will refrain from taking the Lord's name in vain, I will moan less at Ben and I will not laugh at fatties, thickies, spurs fans, people from Wales and Thornton Heath. I laugh at myself for being a chubster and I am not the sharpest tool in the box, but I must be patient with people and not get annoyed quickly by bad drivers etc! That is difficult when I drive through Purley Cross at least once a week, but I will try my best.
How funny that I start the new year with a period. They are still like clockwork, every four weeks but I tend to ache a lot more and the mood swings are pretty bad! PMT at its best! I already experienced a dose of the menopause when I had IVF. I wonder if that will bring forward the real thing as I used quite a lot of my eggs! Mmmm, I will have to research that one!
My friend Mandy when out on New Years Eve with her 18 year old daughter. When Charlotte is 18, I will be pushing 60 and be a complete embarrassment. I would like to be a bit like Mrs Doubtfire, a sweet little old granny, but I will probably be a less foxy and fatty version of Maddona, still strutting my stuff! That is of course if we get that far, because of course the world is due to end in December 2012, it even said so in the Sun so it must be true.
Well, Happy New Year everyone. Happy Menopause if your time has come. My last resolution is to share my blog and write it on a more regular basis!
This year I have made some resolutions. I will return to Slimming world, I will stop swearing, I will refrain from taking the Lord's name in vain, I will moan less at Ben and I will not laugh at fatties, thickies, spurs fans, people from Wales and Thornton Heath. I laugh at myself for being a chubster and I am not the sharpest tool in the box, but I must be patient with people and not get annoyed quickly by bad drivers etc! That is difficult when I drive through Purley Cross at least once a week, but I will try my best.
How funny that I start the new year with a period. They are still like clockwork, every four weeks but I tend to ache a lot more and the mood swings are pretty bad! PMT at its best! I already experienced a dose of the menopause when I had IVF. I wonder if that will bring forward the real thing as I used quite a lot of my eggs! Mmmm, I will have to research that one!
My friend Mandy when out on New Years Eve with her 18 year old daughter. When Charlotte is 18, I will be pushing 60 and be a complete embarrassment. I would like to be a bit like Mrs Doubtfire, a sweet little old granny, but I will probably be a less foxy and fatty version of Maddona, still strutting my stuff! That is of course if we get that far, because of course the world is due to end in December 2012, it even said so in the Sun so it must be true.
Well, Happy New Year everyone. Happy Menopause if your time has come. My last resolution is to share my blog and write it on a more regular basis!
The Morning After The Night Before (Christmas 2011)
Work Christmas Party last night. Ouch. Dancing to Old Skool muic was fun. I danced so much that my knees hurt this morning. Is this the start of things to come? Aches and pains and no stamina? Ten years ago I was still doing this on a Thursay, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and a Monday too. Twenty years ago I was living the wild life in Ibiza. Back then four hours sleep was just the way it was. Now it is utter madness. I rolled into bed at 2.30am. the alarm went off at 6.30am "Mummy I need the toilet". Oh bless her!
I Believe In Santa (Christmas 2011)
Having a 2 and a half year old at Christmas is helping me to face to bleakness of being middle aged. Charlotte is so excited about Father Christmas that I am finding myself hoping Santa thinks I have been a good girl so I can gt lots of presents. I feel like a child again, it is wonderful. Thank you God for giving me the chance to re-live the wonders of Christmas all over again through Charlotte. I hope and pray that everyone gets to spend time this Christmas with a child.
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