November Nourishment: celebrating the small wins!

Writing Prompts:

Extract from The Witches

All Bread

Extract from the Boy, the Mole the Fox and the Horse

My life’s stem was cut

Roald Dahl

Margaret Atwood

Charlie Mackesy

Helen Dunmore

CAPRI SUN (Rachel)

Part One

Juicy, ripe, oranges

Flesh exposed, sunshine slides down my throat, Invigorating, sweetness in its pouch.

Part Two

She’s parched, desert dry mouth,

The juicy orange ripe foil pouch, beckons her, entices her, Thirst,

She struggles with the foil pouch, attempting to pierce me with a paper straw, replacer of plastic that left sea turtles upended on our shores,

Lifted mouthward, lips pursed on straw, I touch her upper and lower jaw,

I tickle her tonsils, she wants more, the dryness returns, her paper straw now soggy can quench her thirst no more.

Part Three

My thirst is quenched, at the glug,

The dryness and parched feeling are relieved by the glug, Falling, like oranges from branches of their tree,

Liquid rushes, gurgles towards my stomach,

Its then I realise my thirst resides by my tonsils, unlike hunger that lodges below my ribs,

Liquid hits my tonsils, becoming my inner waterfall, cascading into my stomach basin, where the orangey treat is finally absorbed.

Eating for Health, growing up everything in moderation?? Is that best? So many diets but what is best for me? After diagnosis should you be referred to a dietician as you only ever see a dietician when there is a problem, for me it’s been, too thin, pancreatitis, cooking is hard due to fatigue and when able to cook pain creeps in and I can’t eat.

What advice would I give to a first time chemo patient in a waiting room

Nourishment on chemo can be hard. Eat when you can. Request a dietician referral for advice and to talk about what diet is best, lots of research into diet and cancer, no sugar, ketogenic diet, vegetarian, vegan etc get advice before following a diet as in the long term you may end up causing more problems.

Self-reflections

Before cancer eating was not a problem just ate convenience as life was busy with children and work etc. did this convenience cause my cancer?

Water personal reflection

Boring, wet, flavourless, I wish it were wine, a nice chilled white zinfandel mmmm, in my favourite wine glass, which I bought whist at uni. But I have water, its good for you!!! But boring!!!

What does water see on its journey through me

The water sees a haggard and tired 38 year old me, it sees my dry mouth, the water lubricates my oral cavity, it rushes over my tongue, down my esophagus, through my organs it enters the bowel and its drawn out to be used around my body.

While the water quenches my thirst, it hydrates my body, giving every cell hydration makes the body work better. Good water intake helps the appearance of my skin and keeps my bowel moving, which stops me getting constipated. My bowel tells me when I need fluid this may sound silly but it’s a weird feeling that I know well.

Water is my medication to stop blockages in my bowel.

KALE will cure your cancer..

Have you tried kale? Giving up the ale ?

Why don’t you give up dairy? I bet its fun not being so hairy, Short hair suits you? Has someone analysed your poo?

What do you mean you can’t be cured? I hope you’re insured?

Exercise more, rest more, eat less, eat more (Kale), You’re lucky to retire young, ‘time’ on your hands for sure, Why don’t you google a cure!

Sugar (Lorraine)

Sugar, sugar everywhere, It reportedly makes cancer grow, much to my despair.

Cut out sugar to stop cancer growth, It’s the sweet treats that I miss the most.

Let’s follow the advice just to see, If the cancer responds, So I can live longer with thee.

The Woman and The Horse (Rachel)

‘I worry’ I said, ‘about our future,’ I said, ‘Why worry’ the horse replied, ’you don’t know when or how our lives unfold,’

‘You are my very favourite way to spend my day, whether it’s mixing your feed, brushing your coat, picking mud from your hooves, throwing my arms around your neck and breathing in your smell, as I push my nose into your fur coat, shoveling your muck or galloping wildly through the woods.’

‘I love all these things as I do them with you.’

‘Yesterday we stood by your gate looking at the trees in all their autumnal glory, the golden orange hues, our breathing in tune, then you turned, nuzzled my hair, then licked my face, from my jaw right up my cheek, you looked pleased with your unexpected lick. I laughed, loudly, freely, our bodies rooted to the earth.

‘I worry’ I said, ‘about our future’ I said,

‘Do you know I’m dying,’ I said,

‘You look very much alive to me,’ my wonderful, astute horse said.

Letter to my dog (Jill)

Dear Dog,

Could you give me some tips on how to live a good but short life?

I always think that dogs are mostly happy and enjoy life and I feel that is sometimes missing for me these days.

Looking forward to your reply!

Jill x

Dear Jill,

That’s an interesting question but easy to answer. Anyone who is limited in time should be more ‘dog’ - don’t forget our life is on fast forward and every year is a human 7 years.

Top tips!

Live in the moment- every moment is unique - good and bad. If we think too much about the past or future we spoil the present.

Enjoy treats ( I like biscuits but I know you humans like chocolate and wine - out of bounds for us dogs). A treat is something you like so get as many as you can - big and small.

Sleep and relax whenever you can - it recharges the batteries and means that when I’m with my human family and dog friends I can really enjoy myself. There’s nothing wrong with resting the paws - listen to your body.

Enjoy yourself- rain, sun , snow, mud, walks, playing, sleeping. I always take pleasure in little things as I don’t have one of those shiny noisy things you stare at.

Last of all - us dogs don’t live as long and we are really missed when we go - that’s why we don’t waste a minute and love unconditionally ( apart from cats/ squirrels/ delivery drivers)

Love Dog xx

December Peace in Winter

Writing Prompts: Magniloquent cartilage

Thaw

Silver Birch

Mermaids

Lemn Sissay

Edward Thomas

Robert Macfarlane

Holly McNish