This thread has had me in bits laughing, and totally speechless unable to even answer some of the inhuman remarks that have been made.
I was on the radio today (yes, I am a media star, tee hee) and the blokey had no idea what he was setting himself up for when he used the “i” word. I audibly bristled at being called “inspirational”, and I’m afraid I let rip with my customary frankness. (OK, so others might call it being blunt but hey, it did the trick.) Very funny, well I thought so anyhow. And see if you can hear how I describe you all.
bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00h8l48 from 2:37.00 or thereabouts if you’re interested. (It does go on a bit, and talks about others who are “doing stuff” during 2011, so stick with it.) Poor sod, I regaled him with other SEs off-air, his face was a picture, and just couldn’t be captured on radio. Well what would YOU say if you wanted to describe losing your pubes!
Cheers, Lulu. It was a real hoot, and I met the bloke who went in before me. Dived into a river in Columbia perfectly healthy, woke up paralysed from C5 downwards, now THAT’s scary. Such a nice bloke, and he’s setting up a charity to give support in Colombia. Me, inspirational? I don’t think just because I happen to have had a cancer diagnosis can make me even SLIGHTLY inspirational!
Just listened to your radio appearance you sound lovely and so inspirational lol!! Well done you and obviously you look great bald must have a lovely shaped head!!
Happy birthday to your squrrel killing cat (I have one of those as well)
CM - Loving you even more after listening to your broadcast.
Well done on the Sinead O Connor bit, you refrained from making cringe noises Ha ha ha.
I’m with you on the inspiration bit, we hear it all the time. I loved your description of it’s just ME getting on with it. That’s how I’ve put it too. It’s not strong, it’s not brave, it’s not inspirational - just getting through it the best way I can.
You’re interview was very good, you’re a great speaker - you should do more of it and become a spokeswoman for BC because your honesty is refreshing and much needed.
I hate having short hair too and it doesn’t suit me, neither does being bald despite what people say, however I’d rather people weren’t honest either and say as one of my friends did “no, I’m sorry it doesn’t look good on you, you look butch” - a little bit too much honesty!!! (I would have said something but she was taking me for a meal out and I know shes tactless and doesn’t mean it, I was also saying to her how sick I am of people saying it suits me. All she had to say was “Oh that’s shit, I’m sorry you had to do that, I’d be upset if I had to do it too” - sufficient)
Anyway, happy birthday to your pigeon killer cat Does your cat provide comfort? Mines a 4yr old bundle of cuddles and I love her to bits, fortunately for us she’s a crap animal/bird killer and actually had us in stitches because she literally can’t harm a fly and believe me she chases them like theres no tomorrow.
LOVE IT!!! I agree with Lulu - you don’t sound like I imagined either! I don’t know - maybe I’ve been influenced by all of those terrifying profile pics!!
A career in media awaits! (Or maybe that’s what you do now…?).
Excellent CM. Lovely to hear an honest and frank side of it all for a change. I think you should do some more national interviews and see if we can ban the use of the I word!
Brilliant CM - again, you don’t sound like I imagined either - I’m northern and probably read all the posts on here in 'northern twang.
I’m surprised your tongue didn’t bleed, you must’ve been biting it back for a while, waiting for the inevitable to happen. Yes ban the ‘I’ word, I agree and ‘brave’ whilst we’re at it too.
When people say ‘If there is anything I can do, just ask’ annoys me in particular from long-lost friends appearing from the woodwork after 15 years or so expressing concern after the grapevine has expanded - I think it is just some kind or morbid curiosity or guilt at friendships dissipating - if I wanted them as friends, surely they would still be included in my life…
Monster-in-law does say the above phrase often but without much conviction, so I decided to test her on this in the pub the other day…
Me: There is something you could do for me
MIL: What do you need
Me: Can you iron some of your son’s work shirts as I’m wiped out, and he’s run out
MIL: I can get you the number of Iron Maiden (local ironing service)
Me: Great, that really helps, you did say just ask, I just wasn’t expecting you palm me off elsewhere
MIL cackles…
I give up…
Saying if theres anything I can do to help is a good one.
I think offering exact things to help would be more useful as most people won’t ask - much better to say “I can give you lifts” or “do you want me to do some shopping for you” or even “what are you finding hard to do that I can help with” is better.
LOL - most people it’s just a standard thing they say I think.
Then sudden backtracking if it doesn’t suit.
God, my 86yr old neighbour, I take his recycling out for him if I know he’s not feeling great, I asked him as he seemed to struggle with it but I know he’s incrediblt independent and he’s said as much in the past - but he appreciates that little help and it’s not difficult to me, I do it when I do mine.
Beverlie, that’s so funny! MIL showing her true colours, eh? I had the mum of one of my daughter’s friends asking if I needed any shopping doing, or whether the girls need lifts anywhere, or if they wanted to go and stay with her for a couple of days. How lovely. Probably should put that on the other thread about the GOOD things people say…
I’d rather be thought of as a kick ass Strong woman and be told Signourney Weaver in Alien than Gail Porter or Sinead O’Connor.
But then I’d rather just not have stupid comparisons - None of us look like these people at all probably, just that we have a bald head! When I dyed my hair blonde did I look like Madonna? Nope.
Just checked in on the thread, can’t believe I have missed out on all this and what a hoot, it has taken me an hour to read it all!
CM - you were brill! AND I’m afraid it is official you clearly ARE an inspiration!
In addition to the brave, inspirational and strong comments:
Mother in law on being told I needed chemo - Oh, I know people that have had it… but they aren’t here any more (so it worked then?)
Oncologist - I am recommending FEC- T (got the impression this is the strongest you can have) as you are young (51) and healthy (just had half my breast off and 12 nodes removed)
Radiotherapist after 3 x FEC & 1st TAX - you don’t look like your having chemo (well I bl**dy well feel like it!)
Ha ha ha.
Does your cat provide comfort? Mines a 4yr old bundle of cuddles and I love her to bits, fortunately for us she’s a crap animal/bird killer and actually had us in stitches because she literally can’t harm a fly and believe me she chases them like theres no tomorrow.