Category Archives: Life

Re-learning food

Posted in After treatment, Bumpboobs, Food by

So today I go into the grocery store to buy lunch and dinner. Lately I’ve been ‘popping in’, which is the least economical way to grocery shop, but it’s because I’d like to make a change in our diet and have almost no idea how to start. At home on my table (we don’t have a kitchen table, dining table, end table – just a table) are some cookbooks that focus on healthy eating and a paperback entitled, Anti Cancer.  They are calling out to me: “Eat Healthy, Eat WAY Less Meat, Eat Broccoli!” and I don’t know how to answer back. It’s not in my cooking repertoire.

Right – back on track, so I go into the grocery store today looking for a healthy meal. What’s a healthy meal? I don’t know, something that involves watercress, broccoli, cauliflower or kale and something that doesn’t involve gluten (for some), sugar, preservatives, trans-fats, phosphoresces etc.

Okay. So I go into the grocery store looking to buy some food. And as I get to the dairy section I recall that Mario recently dropped off some Mexican hot chocolate that is grade-A tempting to make. Therefore, I’ll need milk. But not just any milk, ohhh no. Not anymore. According to this book, Anti Cancer, if you’re going to have milk it needs to be organic and grass fed, which balances the Omega-3 and Omega-6 somethings. And, preferably, in a glass container.

Well Waitrose is good, but they’re not that good. All the milk is in plastic.

Strike one.

Next up – I look at the organic milk, which is promising. Organic equals good, right?

Right?

Ah! I don’t know. Because new questions are now forming in my mind: what do these cows eat? Do they get the proper nutrients? Do they eat organic corn, or organic grass? I start to doubt the organic milk. Strike two.

Therefore I turn to the label. Oh copyrighting, you are wonderful, and there is a small blurb about how Dutchie Organic milk adheres to the standards of So-and-So, but no mention about being grass-fed. Strike Three. I put down the milk. Maybe we’ll make soya-milk hot chocolate instead.

My point: A trip to the grocer’s is no long a trip to the grocer’s. It’s a freaking obstacle course of questions and confusion.

BUT this is how I look at things. At work we just switched to Windows Seven. It’s my guess that workplaces across the country are switching to Windows Seven – nice layout, pretty pictures, handy tools – so perhaps you can relate? Anyhow, the computer receives its upgrade and suddenly everything appears different. All the old programs are there, nothing has changed in regards to content, but my thoughtless everyday interaction suddenly dosn’t work. Once again, like the grocery store, I need to start thinking.

When I think, my brain grows new muscles and in time that behaviour becomes second-hand – this is inevitable (thank goodness!), and makes things go back to their quick, thoughtless, and wonderful ways. Sooner than later trips to the grocery store will not take fifteen minutes for a carton of milk because I’ll know what to evaluate and how to proceed. No more run on tangents about the books on my table, the lessons I’m learning, the food for the cows. I’ll know. I’ll recognize. I’ll be healthy with ease.

And those are good things.

How to rub your belly

Posted in After treatment, Bumpboobs, Fun, Treatment by

Just got back from my Southampton acupuncturist. Her message for the day: rub your belly! Belly rubs don’t just feel good, they help with digestion which means the body absorbs more nutrients, more energy and functions better. “Have I told you the story?” she asks. “Nope.” I reply.

Apparently she was watching the television and this prominent acupuncture doctor, now eighty years old, was being interviewed. He was showing off his hair, his teeth, his muscles, saying he’s one healthy man. And his secret (at which point she lowers her voice and leans in close), he massages his stomach every day.

How do you massage your stomach? This is what she told me. It’s not exact advice, so if you have a sensitive stomach or any kind of concern, please don’t start rubbing your belly on my account. Be sensible.

Right, so you ‘find the middle line’, which is essentially a vertical line that runs from your solar plexus to a bit below the belly button.  And you poke it. Just poke away.

Next you poke along the horizontal axis (essentially around your belly button again).

Lastly you rub the area in circles. Not too hard, just a light massage.

Also, she likes to give a little heat to the area. I guess this can be done with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, laid across the stomach.

Every morning she pokes and strokes her belly – “Get the digestion moving. Good for the bowels. Good for the energy. Make immune system better.” That’s what she tells me. Frankly I often forget to rub my belly (and meditate, eat broccoli, take my supplements, get enough exercise) . . .  so these visits are great reminders.

I’m rubbing my stomach right now, more from hunger (lunch is cooking) but it’s the right track.

Immigration to Canada: Step one

Posted in Bumpboobs, Canada, Finding Home, Life by

Ok! Moving away from breast cancer topics onto more interesting things. That is, moving away from England.

The UK has been incredible, and I wouldn’t say that we’ll never return. It’s a definite possibility. Look at the pros: England’s primary language is, duh, English. It’s a ‘bridge’ between Europe and North America. The people here are awesome. Planes, trains and automobiles make this place easily connected to anywhere. And we’ve built a home here once, we could do it again.

Cons: My apartment is driving  me crazy with allergies – not in itself a reason to leave the entire country, but I’m an aggravated women. Also, it’s not Canada and it’s not Hungary. Neither side of the family has plans to immigrate to this giant Island (I miss having tea with my mom, meeting with friends, listening to Dad’s fishing stories) and during the next three years, as a minimum, being situated close to family is a priority.

The plan is to officially move later this summer. We’ll be doing some travelling beforehand, but our deadline for a Canadian touchdown is September 15th, when Zsolt’s ‘welcome to Canada’ window expires.

Here is the checklist as it develops:

First – get permanent residence.

Second – investigate moving companies.

Third . . . not sure, will update later.

We’re on steps First and Second. This week Zsolt received an email stating that his application has been approved (WOHO!) and we need to submit a bit more paperwork, plus passports. So, I can’t check off this step until the permit has been collected, but we’re getting there. The entire application process took about five months total – however, that doesn’t include all the time compiling the application, medical checks, background checks etc. Man, that was a long process, and mixed with chemotherapy too. But we managed. On average they say the application takes around six to nine months. I’d like to think Zsolt’s application was so well organized that it zoomed through the system. However, that’s only speculation because the inner workings of consulates are a mystery.

Sometimes I wonder whether it was crazy to uproot and go back to Canada. . . but going home for Christmas was incredible, and Dr Canada was quite impressive too. Plus, maybe a little North American flavour would be good to chew on, at least for now. Assuming Zsolt can land a job and I can pick up more writing, things could look good. Besides, there is that canoe and the lake and the image of paddling in the water on a gorgeous fall day. What’s more wonderfully Canadian than the great outdoors?

Looking ahead helps me focus on the present. First step, finish the permit process. Last step, go for a swim in the lake.

Side tip for visa applications: Collect evidence. From the moment you form a serious long-distance relationship you should start collecting proof – some examples: plane tickets, email exchanges, receipts with both names, joint bank account statements. The more official the better. Many places won’t accept a relationship is genuine unless you’ve lived together for two years, and can prove it through paperwork. *

*I’m no expert or professional regarding immigration. These tips are based on personal experience and several visa applications gone well. That’s all. If you need actual help, seek a professional.