Vogue's 73 Questions

Vogue's 73 Questions

Thursday, October 14, 2021

The day is Wednesday 13th of October 2021 and we are about to step back in time, to an era when blogging was just a hobby, TikTok was Vine, Love Island was still just z-list celebrities hooking up with each other, and reality tv stars appeared in Heat magazine, not the White House. It was a simpler time-especially in the world of blogging where blog posts were either beauty tutorials, reviews, brain dumps, or get to know me lists...which is my really subtle way of introducing you to Vogue's 73 Questions to get to know me! 

I bloody love a good get to know me and when I read Jenny in Neverland's post I just had to have it.

Let's dive in then to 73 questions that you didn't ask but I'm going to answer anyway!

1. What is your usual Starbucks order? 

I don't drink Starbucks ever but occassionaly I have a Peach Iced Tea from Costa.

2. What does your workstation look like right now? 

Right now I'm on the couch with my laptop on a cushion, my notebook to my right, and my dog asleep on my legs. My actual desk looks like Typo exploded on it-notebooks and pens everywhere. 

3. All-time favourite food? TW [Eating Disorder]

Roast beef I guess. I eat chicken most days, but I don't really like food and if I didn't have to eat it I probably wouldn't.  I live with an eating disorder called Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder which you can read all about by clicking here >>> ARFID

4. Favourite Author?

Oh gosh. I'm not sure I have a favourite. I have a few that I will buy anything and everything they write-like Brigid Kemmerer, Kristin Cast, Alex Kava, Josephine Angelin, Karen M. McManus, and I really loved Namina Forna's debut.

5. What do you think of open relationships?

I have no opinion on how people, who aren't in a relationship with me, conduct their own relationships. Monogamy isn't for everyone though and that's just fine with me. 

6. Favourite Video Game

Jak & Daxter, or Ratchet & Clank

7. Guilty pleasure treat

I don't feel guilty about treating myself. Life is fucking hard and we should grab things that make us happy as often as we can. 

8. Favourite Film

The Shawshank Redemption. But also Dirty Dancing because it makes me happy. 

9. Favourite Book

Wuthering Heights

10. Twitter or Instagram

Ooh Sophie's choice!! Twitter, probably. Ask me again tomorrow. 

11. Desktop or Laptop

Laptop

12. Best advice you ever received?

Holding onto hate for someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The other person is not affected by your emotions after the fact, you are the only person experiencing them. 

13. What project are you working on right now?

Hahaha um. I am writing a novel, trying out gardening, trying to keep this blog updated, decorating my flat, I have a junk journal/life journal for my future child, I'm 2/3s of the way through a double-sided jigsaw puzzle, decorating for Halloween, AND perhaps most importantly...about to undertake IVF!

14. Favourite colour

Blue, and purple. But only certain shades of both. Oh and teal. 

15. Did you get good grades at school?

Yup. I was very into school (except for a little while there in 3rd year/year 10) and did really well. 

16. Dream Job

I don't dream of labour. BUT if I do have to work for a living for the rest of my life *yawn* I would want to be either a librarian or the proprietor of an esoteric bookshop/knick-knack store that smells always of incense, and sells "special" brownies (once it's legalised of course). 

17. Played any sports?

I played football when I was younger, I love basketball-I love beating men at hoops challenges more. I tried golf once because it was my dad's favourite. I did not like it, but I do remember how to hold a club (it's weird what sticks) and in my head, I think I would be great at tennis but then I remember all the energy it requires and give it a miss. 

18. Do you have a degree.

Yeah, a hard-earned degree that I obtained in the worst year of my life. In my 4th year at Uni I was planning a wedding, working full time in a different town to the one I studied in, lost my son, and then lost my gran. It was tough but my friends and family, and Robert Gordon's Univerity counselling department got me through it. 

19. What song is the most played on your Spotify?

the 1 by Taylor Swift. In fact, my entire Top 30 most played songs are by Taylor Swift with only 2 exceptions for Ellie Goulding and Olivia Rodrigo.

20. What is your favourite type of blog post to do?

Probably ones like this. Or really anything that actually feels personal to me. Something that only I could've written. 

21. What do you like to collect?

Books. Lots and lots of books. Also notebooks, and giraffe things, and Sleeping Beauty/Maleficent ornaments, and Doctor Who Funko Pops (but only certain types). 

22. Describe yourself in three words

Floopy, weird, and tired

23. If you were a rapper what would your name be?

Haha 😂. Something stupid like Lil Gaia or Lady Hecate 

24. Who was the last person you DMd?

The group chat with my girls Zita and Lisa

25. What's top of your wishlist right now?

Like my actual life wishlist or my amazon wishlist? Um my life wishlist, a baby. My amazon wishlist, either this ridiculously expensive rechargeable salt and pepper grinder (it's in a pale pink colour and would go great in my half-finished kitchen) or this 70s inspired dress of dreams!

 

26. Hogwarts House?

Please, for the love of God, please read another book.

27. How many tattoos do you have?

None

28. What are you most grateful for this year?

So many things. My family, my friends, having a roof over my head. 

29. What's the best thing to happen to you this month? 

We made it to the top of the waiting list for IVF!

30. What's the best thing to happen to you today?

Painkillers. I'm off sick from work and this morning I woke up with a sore back which only got worse as the day went on so yeah, painkillers!

31. What's the best thing ever?

BOOKS

32. Favourite season?

All of them. They all have something I love. When it comes down to it, Autumn is my favourite time of year, but Spring is my favourite for weather and ya know new beginnings at such. 

33. Favourite holiday?

Samhain/Halloween

34. Which fictional character do you relate to?

April Ludgate from Parks & Recreation

35. Do you like surprises?

Small ones yes, big ones no.

36. What's the biggest surprise you ever got?

Fibromyalgia

37. What's a surprise that made you cry?

Fibromyalgia

38. Best surprise you've given someone?

I think that's relative to the people who received them. I did once purchase tickets to We Will Rock You for Damian and gave them to him in the form of a poem made up of Queen songs. 

39. Do you like muffins?

I suppose. They aren't my go-to but if they are the only option I'll grab one. 

40. Do you cook often?

I'm starting to cook more often. I used to not cook at all but I'm finding it really fun lately so I've been trying some stuff out in the kitchen.

41. Favourite dessert.

Chip Happens by Ben & Jerry's but seeing as that's limited edition it would have to be Brownies with Vanilla pod ice cream. Ooh or bread and butter pudding. 

42. Dessert you don't like.

Anything that is predominantly fruit and claims to be a dessert.

43. Cake or Pie.

Cake but honestly neither.

44. Least favourite food.

As mentioned in question 3 I don't really like food so, most of them. 

45. Favourite condiment.

Yuck, no thanks!

46. It's 4am on a Saturday night what would you eat?

4am!! Why on earth am I awake at 4am? Nah, if I'm out, and drunk, and hungry I'm either heading to Mcdonald's for nugs or grabbing chips and gravy from the chippy. 

47. If you could teach a college class what would it be called?

Sabrina, Charmed, and What Popular Culture Does and Does not get Right about Witches in the 21st Century. 

48. Best animated film

Frozen 2

49. What has a person done to impress you?

I think the thing that has impressed me most in life from a guy (as the question originally asked but that's heteronormative so I changed it) is stability. D brought me stability in the most turbulent time of my life, he brought me consistent love, passion, friendship, and understanding. He took me from single party girl to wife so quickly even I was surprised, so yeah. The most impressive thing a guy has ever done for me is love me, bones and all. 

50. Best thing to do on a first date

Talk to each other! 

51. Worst thing to do on a first date

Anything where you can't talk to each other.

52. Funniest pick up line

Pick up lines are objectively terrible but I do love the one where you smash an ice cube and then say "now that the ice is broken blah blah blah" 😂

53. Best comic book character

Either Wanda Maximoff for reasons, OR Death from Sandman

54. Three things that are always in your bag.

Inhaler, painkillers, and a book

55. Favourite drink

Alcoholic: Champagne     Non-Alcoholic: Dr Pepper

56. If you could play any historical character who would it be?

Hedy Lamarr

57. Kittens or Puppies?

Puppies but also I love kittens

58. Favourite Sushi Roll

I don't like sushi. I ate it once years ago and was really ill afterwards so never again. 

59. Favourite lipstick.

I know so many of you are going to roll your eyes at this but the genuine answer is Kylie Cosmetics in either Candy K or Holly Berry

60. Favourite foundation

I don't really wear foundation, I prefer something lightweight like a BB cream but my go-to is Primark's PS My Perfect Colour Perfect Finish in ivory or sand.

61. Blow dry or air dry?

Both. Blow-dry on hair dye days and air dry every other time. 

62. Who is your fashion icon?

Anybody who is unapologetically themselves. I love Lucy Hale, Florence Given, Stevie Nicks, Cher, Zendaya, Kate Bush, Jane Fonda, Margaux Hemingway and Marianne Faithfull. It's all very classic cool, 70s silhouettes, boho glam around here.

63. Favourite Disney character.

Aurora

64. What are you doing tomorrow? 

I have an appointment with Occupational Health, and I plan on having a nice bath and doing some reading. 

65. What is a movie that made you laugh the hardest?

I don't watch a lot of specifically funny movies but I did laugh a lot during Shrek so I guess Shrek 🤷

66. What is a movie that made you cry?

I cry at adverts, it is not hard to make me cry. The LAST movie I cried at was Just Like Heaven

67. If you could sing a duet with someone who would it be?

Without blowing my own trumpet too much I'd have to sing a duet with someone whose songs I am capable of signing so I'm gonna say Cher. 

68. If your life was a song what would it be called?

Bet you Never Thought You'd Get This Far!

69. What is your favourite animal?

Giraffe

70. Who is your favourite illustrator?

I have no idea. Apart from Quentin Blake I don't think I could name an illustrator, and that is terrible. Sorry.

71. Who is a person you want to have coffee with?

I don't drink coffee but if we were to take that figuratively it would be my girl Zita. She's my favourite person to spend time with that I'm not married to. 

72. What is one country you would love to visit?

Japan! Especially Tokyo Disney,DisneySea, and the traditional old town of Takayama.

73. and finally, What is the best way to decompress?

A long, hot bath. A good book, a bath bomb, some calming incense, a candle, my Reading playlist on Spotify playing on the bathroom speaker, and just 30-40 minutes completely by myself. 

Better Read than Dead

Better Read than Dead

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

*this post contains affiliate links. These are links that generate income for me when readers use them to purchase the items. For more information about affiliate links please see my sponsorship page. 

I think it's safe to say that I have been neglecting my online life somewhat in recent months, but for all the right reasons! Last year I set myself the challenge of reading 50 books (with the Goodreads Reading Challenge) and I don't like to lose, even against myself, so I put the laptop and the phone away and picked up book after book, and I bloody smashed it! I actually ended up reading 56 books last year, and I discovered so many favourite new world's, new characters, and wonderful new authors. On the flip side I also DNFd a couple of books for the first time ever, I always used to believe I had to finish a book, give it a chance, but it's a book, it doesn't know if you've finished it! I am no longer wasting my time on books that aren't for me when there are millions of books out there that I could be reading instead. With all that said I thought it would be nice to do a wee round-up of some of the books that stood out to me from the long list of books I read or attempted to read last year. 

WELCOME TO THE 2019 BETTER READ THAN DEAD AWARDS

Living with...Fibro

Living with...Fibro

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Living with Fibromyalgia...the number one point: don't expect people to know what the hell you are talking about when you tell them you have fibromyalgia! It is such a complicated illness that many doctors don't even understand it. It took years, and a heap of different doctors, and misdiagnoses for me to finally get an answer as to what was wrong with me. And when I did find out all I learned was that there is no cure, painkillers are basically all the doctor can give you-and if you have a metabolism like mine they do bugger all! So buckle up for a list of things that flew through my head when I asked myself the question: What is it like living with fibromyalgia?

Your Song

Your Song

Saturday, September 29, 2018

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Never Meet your Heroes

Never Meet your Heroes

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

You know that saying "never meet your heroes" the one that is supposed to show you that we are all human and we all have flaws and that placing people on pedestals can only end in disappointment? I think we need to update it for 2018.

Social media is a wonderful tool, one that I genuinely enjoy using, it opens the world up way wider than I ever thought possible as a young girl who grew up with Encarta discs as my only "internet". It brings people together, and puts the world's knowledge at our fingertips, and even in our pockets-and it allows you a glimpse into the lives of your so called heroes. All of these things sound wonderful, until you realise that a person you have admired for years is not a person you could actually like in real life.

I could go on and on about the countless actors, bigwigs, and celebrities who for whatever reason have attracted admiration only to turn out to be the absolute worst kinds of people- in fact I'll mention the fact that I went to college and university chasing a dream based on the job of a man who turned out to not just be a dick, but also an actual, bona fide, (and later, convicted) sexual predator-it leaves a horrible taste in the mouth, and genuinely left me hating the idea of following in his footsteps. But this post isn't about the insidiousness of predatory men, or the systems that allow them to perpetuate their crimes. This is about following someone on twitter, and admiring their work, and being grateful to them only to find that you disagree so fundamentally on the things that mean the most to you.

Happiness

Happiness

Thursday, September 20, 2018

I've recently finished my annual rewatch of my all time favourite show "One Tree Hill" and I was reminded just how much I loved one of the quotes from the show. So, after flying through the final few episodes last night I suddenly I found myself lying awake at 3:30am making notes for this very post.

"So, I've been thinking about this whole being happy thing, and I feel like people get lost when they think of happiness as a destination...We're always thinking that someday we'll be happy; we'll get that car or that job or that person in our lives that'll fix everything. But happiness is a mood, and it's like a condition, not a destination. It's like being tired or hungry, it's not permanent. It comes and goes, and that's okay. And I feel like if people thought of it that way, they'd find happiness more often."- Julian Baker

Isn't that a wonderful way to think about things. Instead of thinking "If i get this job I'll be happy" just think "I felt happy this morning, and I felt happy after that interview". Take note of the moments as opposed to the things. Feel happy and feel sad, and feel hungry and tired and remember that happiness is a feeling not a somewhere or when.

The past month has been a hard one, I've not been able to work because I threw my back out, I've felt dejected, exhausted, a bit drowsy, I've not been able to do anything on my to do list (unless you count binge watching 00's TV shows), I've not had a huge amount of human interaction, and my laundry pile kept getting bigger and bigger which makes me feel anxious. It would be easy for me to say "I'll be happy when my back feels better, and I can go back to work" but then I took a minute and reminded myself of the quote and realised that I've felt sad, tired, moody, lonely, bitchy, poorly, and yes HAPPY!

Love/Hate

Love/Hate

Tuesday, May 01, 2018

Sail Away With Me is sitting at the feet of a boy that I stole
from a girl who shared my name.
In a flat with no carpets
but a strong smell of weed.

It's fresh baked cookies
and heavy petting in club corners.
It's the sticky touch of cheap vodka shots,
and the bitter taste of Lambert & Butler cigarettes.

Sail Away With Me he said,
into New Years break ups, and countless make ups.
It's skyscrapers, screaming matches
and backslides years after the dust settles.

Sail Away With Me is Love/Hate.

Seventeen

Seventeen

Saturday, March 03, 2018

Sugarcult is bouncing off the walls.
It's steep hills and broken heels.
Traffic cones and wet paint tape,
in student dorms
where nobody we know actually lives.
It's watching gigs from metal staircases,
dripping in sweat,
stealing band t-shirts
because we were ignorant shits.
It's waiting for the 5:30 train
at quarter past four,
It's pretending you're The Monkees
just to keep warm.
It's pick me,
choose me.
Bouncing off the walls is Sugarcult.
Sugarcult is 17.

My Phototherapy Experience

My Phototherapy Experience

Friday, December 08, 2017

Okay now we have that ^^^ out of the way it's time to dive in to my round up of how I got on with phototherapy.

You're Beautiful?

You're Beautiful?

Friday, August 04, 2017

It occurred to me the other day that the word "beautiful" makes me uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong though, when my partner, or in fact my mother, say it I can kind of stand it- they are biased, they have to appreciate my "beauty" and they really know me. But when a stranger says it, it feels different somehow. Almost like my brain tries to fit my image of myself into the image of what society deems beautiful.

30 Years to Know Me

30 Years to Know Me

Sunday, July 16, 2017

The funny thing about getting older is it's almost always a catalyst for reflection. I don't know if it's because I finally hit the big 30- honestly an age I wasn't even sure I'd make it to at one point- or if I'm just feeling particularly introspective at the moment, but for whatever reason I sat down on my break at work a few weeks ago and just started trying to figure out who I am. Now don't read that and think "Uh-oh is AJ about to pack in her job and go all "Eat, Pray, Love" on us?" I can promise you that while I would love to spend my days communing with nature, and smoking weed I have no plans to in the near future. But I do want, for lack of a better phrase, "to find myself". 

No Regrets, They Don't Work

No Regrets, They Don't Work

Saturday, February 04, 2017

Now and again as we wonder around this vast and amazing internet world, we stumble upon posts of pure excellence-like most things written by Fiona of The Escapologist's Daughter, or Tara of Cattitude and Co- and sometimes you click on a post that you are super excited to read and it let's you down in so many ways. 

I landed on one such post last week, and honestly what was a great idea for a post was let down by the sanctimonious tone. I felt like I'd just read a lecture about the dangers of sugar, alcohol and cigarettes- now don't get me wrong all these things are bad for you *obviously* but if I wanted to be judged I'd go see my Doctor, thank you very much! However, this post did give me one thing. It gave me an idea, it inspired me to think about the things I DON'T regret doing in my 20's...MUM you might want to stop reading here! (Also I apologise for the shocking quality of the pictures in this post, but they are old)!

Boux-tiful Underwear for Boux-tiful People

Boux-tiful Underwear for Boux-tiful People

Friday, January 20, 2017

Ladies I'm about to say something distressing but I want you to bear with me: 

MEN WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG!! 

I never thought I would write that sentence but in this case it's true! Men nailed the big "what underwear to wear?" question years ago! Men didn't faff about shoving cheese wire between their cheeks, or yanking it up so everyone knew they were walking around with a permanent wedgie. They didn't demand Brazilian cuts, tangas, high-rise, french, lo-cut, or "girl" shorts- they just went "boxers, yeah, grand, that'll do cheers!" and ladies they were right. All you need is boxers, but more specifically you need Boux Boxers from the folks at Boux Avenue. 

These pants are genuinely the comfiest, cutest, sassiest, everyday pants I've ever owned, so I, um...got them all!! Just look at the cuteness: 

Just look at them! I think my favourites are the "Never Let Someone Dull your Sparkle" ones. There are only a few styles left on the website because their Spring collection launches really soon (can you say super bloody excited?!?!). 

Oh and did I mention that Boux Boxers are generally 3 for £12 in store and online?? The three in the last photo above are still available so grab em before they're gone. 

I know this reads like I've been paid to say nice things but I genuinely just love this underwear. I live with a few conditions that mean that comfort is a very big deal to me, for example some fabrics can make my skin feel like it's actually on fire to the point that I have taken chunks out of myself trying to beat an itch. My central nervous system also doesn't understand pain properly so what might be a normal feeling where your underwear meets your skin, to me could feel like a constriction (even though they fit perfectly) so it's really important to me that my underwear is comfortable, doesn't pinch, and sits right so as not to aggravate my skin. Boux Boxers tick all of these boxes, in fact they are the only underwear I've worn in the last year that meets all these requirements, so yeah I love them!! 

Do you have a favourite underwear brand? Are you as in love with that damn cute penguin as I am (£2 in the sale btw)? Or are you sitting there wondering why I think you care about my pants?? Either way sound off in the comments as usual, or get me on Twitter :-). 

  

                                                                 

LoveandOAS Blog Goals 2017

LoveandOAS Blog Goals 2017

Friday, January 13, 2017

Right, I know it's almost the middle of the month, and everyone else posted their 2017 goals ages ago, but I'm a perfectionist and was waiting for the perfect thing to put in my photos! And now it's here, my photos are done, and here we are :-). 

I have another post coming soon that is kind of a new year themed thing (don't worry it's NOT "New Year, New Me") but this one is all about my goals for the blog this year, so let's see shall we...

It's a Celebration

It's a Celebration

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Does anybody else ever sit and wonder where certain traditions and rituals originated from? Who celebrated the first birthday (Jesus?), what happened at parties before they wrote Happy Birthday? When did we start assigning materials to wedding anniversaries- seriously what is romantic about tin?? Why do we blow out candles, and for that matter who decided we celebrated with cake anyway?

29 Things that Make me Feel Proud

29 Things that Make me Feel Proud

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Bucket Lists are a huge business! Almost everyone I know has one, whether it's written down or just a mental plan for things to do, and "bucket list" has become part of our everyday vernacular. In fact, mine is here if you want to read it, but today I'm doing one with a twist.  

The One Where I Tell you Where to Stick your Meme

The One Where I Tell you Where to Stick your Meme

Saturday, May 21, 2016

I have many pet hates, so many in fact that one of my most popular posts is 17 Things that Really Piss Me Off, but one of my most rage inducing pet hates has to be people masquerading as open -minded when in actually they are just Judgy Mcjudgersons!!

There are so many examples that I would literally never be finished writing this post so I'm just going to focus on the one that pissed me off today, enough to write this post. 

I'm sure you've probably all seen the memes going around which basically tell people to be someone the creator believes is a better human than someone like the Kardashian's. 

Like this one...

The Truth about Struggling to Conceive // TW: Infertility and Miscarriage

The Truth about Struggling to Conceive // TW: Infertility and Miscarriage

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

I don't know if you know this but falling pregnant is not always as easy as sitcoms, the Daily Mail, and sex ed teachers will have you believe. Fun fact: my husband and I have been "trying" since around October 2013...less fun fact: still no baby.  But this post isn't going to be one of those, woe is me pieces, I've decided it's time I wrote down every little thing that bothers me about struggling to conceive...also known as "Things you didn't know about the struggle of fertility". 

Silence

Silence

Friday, April 15, 2016

Do you ever feel like you're shouting into the wind.  There are hundreds of people looking at you but they can't hear a word you're saying because the wind is swallowing your words. The problem is nobody makes any effort to tell you they can't hear you.  There is no engagement just silence. You're standing there screaming, thinking "why are you ignoring me?""why does nobody care?" And all the while they're just staring into the distance wondering why this crazy person is making shapes with their mouth when there is no sound coming out. 

You can shout louder but the wind just picks up, then the rain starts and you think "oh well what's the point in straining my voice in the wind and rain if nobody is listening?...I'll just shut up now". 

The Past Is Gone, The Future Yet Unborn But Right Here And Now Is Where It All Goes On

The Past Is Gone, The Future Yet Unborn But Right Here And Now Is Where It All Goes On

Saturday, April 02, 2016

Hello there!  So I'm sitting here having just rubbed a copious amount of Vicks Vaporub into my own chest which has resulted in three thoughts: 1) Doing this to yourself is way less sexy than letting someone else do it-I can't be the only one that finds this sexy!! 2) I may have put too much on and now my eyes are watering, and 3) I love my new boobs!!  Wait that sounded confusing, to clarify I have not had a boob job (although I absolutely would if I could afford it) what has happened though is I have gained a ton of weight and with it I have become the proud new owner of a mighty fine pair of mammaries. Can you say upside?!? Ha. Which leads us kinda smoothly into this, IT'S LIFE UPDATE TIME!! 

Hi. Sorry about my make-up free face and dour expression but this is the only photo I had that matched the post.lol. 

If you know me in real life, or follow me on Twitter, you will know that I've been dealing with a LOT of health issues for over a year now, These have probably contributed to the aforementioned weight gain (although I can't take all of the blame away from chocolate and wine), but more than that they have contributed to a less positive AJ. I know I am always going on about positivity and ra-ra-ciss-boom-ba cheerleader stuff but lately I've noticed I've been moaning most of the time, and for that I can only apologise. So please bare with me while I grump and gripe my way through this challenge, I promise it will get better.  Anyway, I'm in pain, a lot of pain in fact. I have tried a thousand times to explain just how much pain, and I always come up short. Sometimes I feel like I've run a marathon, sometimes I feel like I've been hit by a bus, and sometimes I wake up and I feel like I've been hit by a bus and then got up and ran a marathon...on these days I crawl, lie down, and my poor husband runs after me like a blue-arsed fly. My muscles are either dull and achy, or crampy and heavy, or in fire, or swollen. My skin is permanently itchy and hot, my headaches are one bright light away from developing into a full-blown migraine, and I am permanently nauseated. It is hard, really hard. It doesn't help that Doctors didn't give a shit and pawned me off with meds that did nothing...until last month!  Last month I had a horrible experience, my doctor's surgery refused to see me because they decided I wasn't entitled to an on the day appointment. I was informed that I should have booked an appointment ONE MONTH in advance to be sure I'd be seen. I asked for my repeat prescription and was told I can't issue it without seeing you, but no I won't see you today-I can get you an appointment for TWO WEEKS time. I'm not going to lie I got off that phone quicker than you can shout "fuck you, you inconsiderate bitch" and promptly burst into tears. Then I did the best thing ever...I quit my surgery and joined a new one.  Within one week I had had a full examination, my new doctor had listened to all my symptoms and took a copy of my notes (I keep very thorough symptom notes). I had bloods taken and a possible diagnosis. However when my bloods came back it became apparent that I probably didn't have what she initially thought it could be and we were stumped again. But because my new doctor is so great she picked up from my symptom list and tried again which takes us to now.  Now I am on the waiting list for an appointment with the neurology department, and I have been referred for an MRI. It is so refreshing having a caregiver who actually seems to, not just believe me but actually care, about what I'm going through.  So that's where I am. I'm in pain, I feel sick, and I'm depressed as all hell, BUT I can see the light.  Hopefully, I won't let much more of my negativity seep into my outpourings but if I do please call me out on it!  And that's about it! Sorry if this has made little sense but I'm just writing as I think so...stream of consciousness high five? Any recommendations for pain relief, or how to not let the pain get me down, are greatly appreciated :-) xxx