The beginning of an exciting week! Monday couldn’t have come any sooner! The starting blocks back to normality have been laid. After months trying to maintain my short, broken finger nails and avoiding looking down at my feet, I am the proud owner of a neat and tidy bright orange set! All thanks to a young lady who is an excellent listener and takes great pride in her work. One step closer to facing the outside world!
The pedicure was by far the best experience. I leaned back and closed my eyes. The weather had begun to improve. It’s spring so to be expected but, this is England and our weather has a mind of its own! Just seeing blue skies and shedding a layer of clothing was enough to trigger a more positive response. An hour and a half later I left the salon considerably more relaxed and glamorous than when I had arrived! And the sun was still shining!
A few days later it was my hair’s turn! Out with the unsightly ‘salt and pepper highlights’ on with the golden tint! My tresses soon looked uniform and presentable! Another therapy session and another step closer to normality! Two visits down but one still to go!
I had Botox. After a few years seeing a GP at a private clinic, she had decided to continue working for the NHS. I had to do research and find someone else! A daunting prospect! My new clinician is also a GP and closer to home. A bonus! The only bonus! I felt every prick of the needle as it punctured my skin! And there were a lot of punctures! My previous GP had been more gentle and I had hardly felt a thing! Oh well, beauty comes at a premium, especially at my age!
So I’ve got decent nails, my hair looks okay and my forehead is relatively wrinkle free. I was going to meet my chic friend and her husband at a pub for a meal so I could hold my own! We had a wonderful evening sitting beneath a heater in a gazebo and plenty of fresh air. I felt like Monsieur Bibendum with all my layers but I was warm and so enjoying finally being able to see our special friends again.
I’m a lot more positive about the future. Slopping around the house in my ‘glad rags’ over the last year has taken its toll. I began to feel as unkempt as I looked and was finding it harder to shake off feelings of despondency.
My second vaccine is due this week! I’ll have turned the corner and I can’t wait to invite family and friends over for meals inside the house! It still gets very cold in the evenings! I am also relishing the idea of booking weekends away. Britain is a beautiful country and I am more than happy to spend time exploring it! Travel abroad still has to wait! One step at a time! 👠
Jenny Burrell 