So, I think my last chatty blog post was about London. Well, since then I've been to Paris for a weekend, headed South for a week to a wedding, and then flown off to Munich for a week for Oktoberfest!!
Paris was a 20-something bday present from my aunt that I'd not managed to take up until now. Either with my work, or treatment,or her schedule - something always got in the way. But I finally made it over for a hectic weekend. Got there on a Friday, went to the hotel for a lie down, then off out to drinks and then dinner. Unfortunately Paris was still on holiday when I got there - they came back on the Monday - so there was no Champagne in any of the bars as they'd not stocked up yet. But I had some lovely beer, then went to a lovely French/Asian fusion restaurant for a beautiful meal.
Then on the Saturday, we went to the local market and had breakfast of a croissant and coffee. Though again, they didn't have any croissant, so we nipped to the bakery across the road and bought one, eating it at the cafe as we people watched. The market was beautiful! So much variety, and food that was of amazing quality. I love the market here in Leeds, but you know that the quality just isn't the same. You know it'll go off and start to mould in a few days if you don't use it quickly. But there, I had every faith that the produce would last for a good week or more if needed. So we picked up some bread, tomatoes, cheeses, octopus salad, and crab taramasolata. Oh, and a couple of cakes for dessert. And sat and had a beer with more people watching. Then, we headed to the river and had a picnic under Notre Dame - such a beautiful setting, and glorious sunshine. After that, we took an open topped bus tour of the city, taking in all the main points of interest. BEST way to see any city in my opinion, especially if you have issues with walking. (Which my aunt didn't get at all). After getting a fab tan, and seeing everything, we had a look around a famous bookstore that my aunt had lived in when she'd first visited Paris as a 20 something. Nosed through a few amazing recipe books by her favourite Macaron maker. Then it was time for tea. So this time is was an Italian/Asian fusion place - ?/Asian fusion seems to be THE thing in Paris right now. Then it was drinks in a bar, before bed.
Sunday started with a pain chocolat and coffee, then we picked up some more octopus salad and bread - we still had some cheese and tomatoes left - then headed back to the river to go on a boat ride up to the Eiffel Tower and back. Then we went to another point of the river for another picnic, and watched what we guess was a Buddhist ceremony of saying goodbye to a loved one as two girls released numerous buckets of fish and eels into the river. Then, we wandered up to a Macaron shop and had one to eat, and I bought 2 boxes to bring home. One for myself - the big one - and one for my friend who had cat sat for me. Then it was more beer and I phoned for a taxi to take me back to the airport and then home.
2 weeks later, I'd recovered from it. lol. It was a LOT of walking, and I really struggled at a few points. But with just a weekend, I wanted to pack as much in as possible. Though looking back, it was too much. I think it would have been better to have done less, but there was no telling my aunt. Who kept telling me that I needed to get out more and do more exercise as it's good for me...... :l ....... By the end of the weekend, it was getting difficult to stay polite on that one!
Then wedding. Packed everything up I needed, baked as requested by my Mum, and then I was bundled into the back of the car for the 4 hour drive down to Tetbury. It wasn't a fun drive, that's for sure. The house we were in was lovely though, however they need to update their mattresses and pillows. I've never had such an uncomfortable nights sleep!!! So that was the Saturday. Sunday I just chilled in the house with one of my cousins and her family, had a blast with them, while others went for a meal. Then they all came back afterwards for drinks and a platter of meats, cheeses, and home baking I'd done. So that was nice. Then on the Monday it was the wedding. The vows were some of the most beautiful and heartfelt I'd ever heard before. It was lovely to see how much they loved each other. Then drinks, photos, canapes, and meal. The meal was lovely, which was a surprise! Wedding food I've had before has always been a little...... lacking. But this was really really good! Then the reception was fun, with lots of ceilidh dancing - that I watched a little sadly, as I couldn't join in - a family tree to put a fingerprint on - games outside for the kids to entertain themselves with, and animals to 'poke' and feed. Soa really good day and night. Though the one thing that let it down were the seats. They were VERY uncomfortable for me, and others I talked to without health issues found the same thing. Luckily, our house was a few steps away from the reception, so I just went back there with some people and we had a secondary party - with our own alcohol that we didn't have to pay extra for! ;) Then Tuesday morning, we were up and off by 11.
Then a few weeks later, I was off on a birthday surprise trip from my Mum and Dad. I travelled first class on the train up to Edinburgh and had a couple of days there. Then on Saturday the 30th of September, I flew off to Munich with my Dad. There was unfortunately a 2 hour delay on the flight though, so by the time we landed and got to the hotel, we couldn't get into anything at the Oktoberfest, it was all PACKED. But we grabbed some food at one of the tents - YUM, I miss German sausages!! - and then found a pub halfway between the fest and the hotel........ and drank 3 litres of beer each, and stayed up until gone 1am. Now, 1am isn't late for me. But Mum was half horrified and half shocked that my 10pm bedtime Dad had stayed up. lol. He was having fun! Then Sunday was spent at the fest through the day, going on rides, eating FAR too much food, and drinking beer. Then we found a restaurant for tea as we both needed a sit down and all seats were booked in advance. Monday morning was spent drinking wine and listening to 'The Swamp Toads', an amazing band I now follow on FB. Then we took a trip to the Dachau memorial, a total contrast to everything else we were doing. I'm just annoyed that I didn't go into the visitor centre on the way in. Turns out they had bloomin electric wheelchairs you could hire! So I struggled round and only saw less than half because I just couldn't stand anymore. It was only on the way out that I saw them through the window and absolutely kicked myself! But we got back to the hotel and collapsed on the bed for a bit. Then found another restaurant for tea.
On Tuesday, the fest closed. So we got there early and got the BEST seats ever to watch the closing ceremony. That took a few hours, then we wandered round and ate everything we'd not managed to eat yet, and saw everything we'd not managed to see yet. Dad had never shot a crossbow before, so I paid for him to have a few shots - and he loved it. Everything done, we headed back to the hotel for the evening - having spent about 8 hours there! Then Wednesday we took a bus tour of the city - 3 in fact to go on all the routes. For lunch, we went to the food market and I had a PILE of sausages and spaetzle before looking round Marienplatz. Then it was back onto the bus, back to the hotel to pick up bags, and sadly head home. Got back to Mum and Dad's house at about 1am, and I got the train home Thursday night at 9pm. And I've spent from then until now, on my settee, in pain, exhausted, and asleep. lol.
I really need to get up and clean the house, and I've a monster load of baking to do for a dog charity Christmas fair, but I'm just so tired!!
Last week had me at the hospital twice. Once for an MRI to check the brain tumour - results in a couple of weeks - and once to see the gynaecologist because I've not stopped bleeding since March. This 'charming' gentleman, is going to send me to the torture chamber, and I'mjust waiting for an appointment for THAT joy! They need to have a look at the inside of my womb. So they're going to sit me in a chair with a hole in the seat. Then the chair flips back, and they insert a camera and a hose through my cervix into my womb. The hose then releases saline to blow up my womb so they can have a look at it. And while they're there, they're going to cut a couple of sections out to biopsy.... Sounds like fun huh! Bet you'll all want a shot too...... Pffffft! But before they do that, they're going to do an internal and external ultrasound as well! It's like I've hit the jackpot on what's the most uncomfortable and painful way to spend your day! lol
So, I think that's us all caught up for now. Hope you're all well, and speak to you again soon I hope!!
Lass
xx
