IMPORTANT
I wrote up to the paragraph beginning 'Sadly' several months ago (like 5 or 6). I haven't changed much except finish it off a bit, so that's why the timeline doesn't add up. The reason I didn't finish it off then is because I was still super sad about what happened in the paragraph I ended on. I'll say when I have started writing again from, don't worry. Sorry for the wait :) Also, credit to Nadia for convincing me to carry on writing this blog when I was going to stop (...totally wasn't going to abandon you guys...)
Hi there again,
I know its been ages since I last posted anything, but I just thought I would take a break over the summer holidays. Sorry that its taken me so long to catch up. This post is for Saturday the 2nd July (ages ago, I know) until Sunday 28th August. Obviously that is a long time, so I won't cover EVERYTHING that has been going on, just the most important factors.
First of all, I was feeling really ill and basically staying in bed all day everyday, only getting up to use the loo. But then my cousins, who I haven't seen in YEARS because they live in New Zealand, came over to see me. The oldest one is Jack, who is about 2 years younger than me, then Elliot, who is 3 or 4 years younger than me, and then Katie, who is 8. I get on the best with Jack and Katie, though Elliot is fun too, probably because everyone says we are so alike (although they are a LOT better at hockey than me :P) and Elliot is so similar to my brother its scary.
I got up and tried to be a good host to them, and within the first half an hour of their arrival, Katie had already managed to spill coke on the carpet, which was hilarious. They stayed for 4 days, the first two Jack slept in my brother's room with him and Elliot, the last two in my room with Katie and I. My Aunt and Uncle stayed in an apartment in town which just so happened to be above my favorite restaurant, so that was cool.
While they were here, we went to a forest place and made forts and shelters using logs and branches, which was fun, and Katie looked like she was feeling a little left out, being the youngest and all, so I took her on a special shopping trip in town with my Aunt and my neighbor, and got the three of us kids matching lip glosses (Katie got pink and sparkly, my neighbor got pink, and I got my usual scarlet red). I also took them to a toy shop, and got Elliot a toy pig (he is obsessed with pigs and sloths..?), Jack some glow in the dark pens (he loves art) and Katie a TY toy (she collects them). My Aunt then got me a toy as well, despite the trip being my treat, and we all had hot chocolates and cake in a cafe.
Later we watched this hilarious film called Grimsby, which is actually pretty inappropriate on so many levels, but also the most hilarious movie I have ever seen. Small spoiler: in it, Donald Trump gets aids. Ironically, the way we watched it was because my Aunt started saying that she couldn't believe my Uncle had let them see it in New Zealand... so one thing led to another, and we watched it... and my mum was not very happy...
Katie loves to play with playmobile, and I have tonnes from years go, so all of us played this huge game of it together, where Elliot and my brother lived in a castle, Jack and Katie lived in this huge 2 story apartment thing, and I lived in a little farm house. It was great that we could all do something together.
I had to go into hospital for more chemo while they were here, so they all went into Oxford and explored. My dad took them punting in the Thames, and of course fell in. I wish I'd seen that!
We took them on picnics and stuff, too, and pub lunches by the river, and those kinds of things that parents like to do. Jack also fell off our little dingy into the Thames at one point, and again I missed it *sighs*.
They all went over to Berlin for about 4 days then, and I caught up on some much needed rest. They soon returned, though, and this time I was feeling even better!
We made a ramp out of a door and a couple of hay stacks on my front lawn, and we were speeding down the street in my brother's go kart, and flying off the ramp. It was so fun! I landed on my back at one point, and then Jack started going down on a BMX, but when my brother tried on the BMX he fell of and still (months later) has scars on his legs. My brother has a YouTube channel which he loves, and the cousins were all a part of it at some point.
Then it was my friend's birthday, so I decided to make her a cake with Katie. It was 4 layers of devil's chocolate cake... yummy... and then Jack and I decorated it. It had a layer of chocolate fudge buttercream in between each layer, and on top, and all around the sides, and chocolate curly flake things on the top, with silver balls saying 'T' (my friend is called Therese). The best part, though, was the surprise inside, because when you cut it open, Smarties spilled out! Jack said it was the best cake he'd ever had.
Unfortunately, all too soon, the cousins had to leave. It was suddenly very quite, and I went to school as much a I could before it ended. Then I took up Morse code, but soon just couldn't be bothered. It was really awkward at school because we have a 'presentation' assembly at my school, where you have to go up on stage and shake the head teacher's hand, but I wore a hoody because I was bald and my wig doesn't fit... and as I went up I could just feel everyone staring and hear them whispering. I didn't make it up -my friend's told me later that it was true when I asked. Still better than if I went up bald, however. If I did that I would never hear the end of it...
OK, after maybe a week my Granny and Granddad (technically step-granddad, but I just call him granddad) came over, also from New Zealand. I hadn't seen them in 4 years, since their house fell down in a huge earthquake, so it was a big thing. My Granny loves knitting, so I asked her to teach me how to knit. The pair went up to London for a couple of nights, and I caught up with my BFF, and she brought over boxes and boxes of chocolate/sweets which we scoffed while playing Mario Kart on the Wii and Wii U. Good times.
When they came back from London, we went on a few picnics and stuff, like with the cousins, but nobody fell into the water. We also went into Cambridge for a night, and it was good fun. By the time we got back, I had finished the book I was reading (The Book Thief -a new favorite of mine, and a definite must read), and I also finished my knitting! With Granny's help, I managed to knit a cute little hat for Katie (edit: Katie, if your reading this, I meant to send it to you for Christmas, but I forgot, sorry. I'll post it soon, I promise!). Thanks, Granny!
I started on a phone case for Jack, but just couldn't really get into it, which is a shame as the wool was a special one which changed colour from black to red, which was really cool. I also started a new book series (as in a started writing one, not reading one) for toddlers. I have finished the first story, but am yet to finish any others, although I can't wait to. I am going to ask my friend to help me format it on a computer (she is much better than me at graphics and art) and then I will take it to the public library to see what response it gets from the toddlers story time there. I have looked into copyright laws and stuff, and its really easy to be protected! If it gets a good response, I am going to try to get it published... It will be very hard, though.
My brother went up to my other grandparents in Yorkshire with my other Aunt, and I was shocked at how much quieter it is to be an only child. Ahh, the blissful silence.
OK, This is written now (refer to author's note at top if confused):
Sadly, while my brother was in Yorkshire, my great aunt (my mum's aunt) passed away from a heart attack. It was really hard on me because she was one of my relatives I've always felt especially close to, and she was always so kind and generous. I spoke at her funeral, and can't remeber exactly what I said, other than the following passage:
Aunty Jo was always really funny, even when she wasn't trying. I remember one time we were staying in a house in [insert name of island], and I was playing in the living room or the little house we had rented, when she walks in and goes "Avvv ou een me teef, a canny fin me teef". That was when I found out she had fake teeth.
To make matters even worse, a few weeks later my granddad was also diagnosed with cancer, this time bladder cancer. He has since had his bladder removed but has spent the past 4 months in and out of hospital, as he hasn't exactly reacted well to the operation. My grandma, his wife, has been staying in a care home since the operation.
I finnished chemo in August, but tbh I still don't feel back to my normal self. I don't think I ever will, really. Mentally especially, you can't forget feeling lost in time as you are poisoned in a hospital, feeling like your stomach is an endless empty pit, and the midnight pain, but also physically. Chemo left tonnes of scars all over my body, especially on my hips and legs, and they will never completely go. Normally I just wear long trousers and don't notice, but when I'm in the shower, or for whatever reason can see them, I know that no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to put chemotherapy behind me.
-Mitt (sorry I got a bit depressed writing the last bit)
