Art therapy and Polly Update

Well we are now many months on and here I am still writing this from hospital. Polly has had six months of chemotherapy and alas her recent scan showed that she needs stronger chemo so we are all in today with her as she's having a thicker line put in, in preparation for her chemo next week. Mark has just said Polly is now another step nearer to being a Cyberman... It helps him to relate everything to Dr Who! 

We had a great holiday in Suffolk and Dartmouth so glad that the chemo was over, so we are just adjusting to the fact that this journey is going to be a little longer than we all thought. 

I managed to get to the Festival of Quilts, where as ever, I met lots of lovely people and received lots of hugs. People have been AMAZING. The love we have received and continue to receive has been quite overwhelming. It holds us up it truly does.

Chelsea Flòwer Show was great again with so many customers coming to see me with presents, cards , hugs and good wishes . It was the best show I have ever done. The presents were partly because it was also our Silver Wedding that week too! 

People have wondered how I can paint through this very difficult time in our lives. The answer to that question is because it helps and because as Mark and I are both self employed we need to. On the Young Adult Unit that Polly has her chemo on we have painted pots on a regular basis as it just takes you're mind off it. I love that being creative helps people during difficult times.

I did the 10k Race for Life for Polly in July. Having never been a long distance runner it was a real challenge for me, there was a lot of sweaty, everything aching moments. Sadly I didn't suddenly morph into a svelt gazelle. But by some miracle I did it and even more amazingly thanks to the tide of support from facebook as well as complete strangers I raised £6215 !!! So such a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me you were INCREDIBLY GENEROUS!

Autumn Exhibition Chantry a House Gallery 7th-22nd November

I'm currently painting landscapes and seascapes for my show at Chantry House Gallery Show up at Ripley Main Street, Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 3AY. I've also got stuck back into my oils which I'm enjoying. I'm hoping to be at the show each Saturday so it would be really lovely to see you all there. There'll still be florals of course this is Lilac Lake that I was particularly pleased with.

So we're now on the way home and Pollys doing ok she is such a ballsy girl. She said it was so bad as her biopsy and that the toast after was great. Another step nearer getting better. Thanks to everyone for reminding us many times over how wonderful people can be . Xxxx

Sending all our Love to our Daughter Polly xxxxxx

Well here I find myself with more time to write my blog but under circumstances that I wish with all my heart that I could alter. I could pretend and say everything is fine but it really isn't I don't have the emotional energy to pretend. We are currently sat in a hospital room awaiting a biopsy for our beautiful daughter Polly. Mark my hubby and her are discussing the tattoo she is designing for him. He is making her laugh as it's supposed to look a bit like an octopus and Polly has just said that she watched a series of videos of Octupi and it made her feel quite sick! It has been truly a terrible week as she has a tumour in her chest but we don't know exactly what it is until we have the results of the biopsy which may take up to a week or more.
So we're getting through each day slowly, literally slowly as she is worst in the mornings. But we now have a little routine of getting her sitting up. The day's extend like weeks until we know exactly what we're dealing with.
Our friends and family have been and continue to be amazing and we feel very well loved. Dave our son is coming back from Uni again today so he's here after her biopsy.
Painting as ever is a solace, as I see Polly drawing now so effortlessly, being creative is a comfort.
The sky is a beautiful blue and as we drove into the hospital this morning for 7.30 everywhere was frosty and the early sky a myriad of hues.

I have Chelsea Flower Show to prepare for and the strike offs of my next Collection Orient have arrived so I have these things to fill my mind in the times when I'm not with Polly or doing things that need doing. I asked Polly if she minded me posting this and she said it was fine.

So in the meantime I'm posting some paintings for our fabulous daughter and sending a big thank you to everyone that has sent so many kind messages. Nel xx