I’ve had a small blogging hiatus. Just to allow time for several Important Things. However, it turns out important things are often worth recording, so I’ve had to have a hiatus hiatus to blog about the hiatus. Honestly, the logistics of these things are really quite challenging.

Anyway. The important things have included a pre-birthday Easter break in Norfolk. I can thoroughly recommend all elements of this. Easter brings all manner of egg-related delights: in my case an Easter egg hunt yielding both chocolate and marshmallow rewards, and an enormous scotch egg, double-yolked, no less. Birthdays need no explanation, but a pre-birthday treat promises birthday and post-birthday treats to follow, and there is no such thing as a superfluity of treats. And Norfolk, well Norfolk has big skies. It has a huge number of really excellent things to do, massive sandy beaches, and fabulous restaurants. It has traditional British seaside entertainment to rival Blackpool, and a fair bit of proper culture to impress the parents with on your return. But mainly, it has really big skies. Big skies are excellent for aiding reflection, giving you headspace, and putting things in perspective. No problem can seem that big in comparison to the skies in Norfolk.

The important things have also included niece time. Again, I can thoroughly recommend this. Although I have to warn you, I’ve already bagged the world’s three best nieces. But I’m sure any nieces you have available will provide hours of endless pleasure and entertainment too. If you can procure a niece whose passion for handbags, sunglasses, ice-cream and shoes is well developed before the age of two, you’re onto a winner.

One of the more time consuming important things has concerned juggling and deciphering my various approaching medical appointments. The hi tech NHS system of text reminders is brilliant. And I’m sure when you’re anxiously waiting for a single appointment date to come through, it works a treat. However, when you’re waiting for 5 appointments that you’re aware of, and receive texts referring to a total of 8 appointments, none of which cite the reason for the appointment, it’s a tad confusing, and can throw other plans (such as those relating to a 40th birthday, for example) a bit up in the air. I have to say I’ve been more than a tad frustrated, and also pretty busy, for a few days as a result. However, to give them their due, the lovely NHS people who were finally able to assist me in deciphering all the expected (and surprise bonus) appointments that are approaching, have now also sent me a detailed itinerary which is basically The Idiot’s Guide to the Next Two Weeks. Perfect. And the main thing I’ve learnt is to channel Donald Rumsfeld at all times, and never forget to assume unknown unknowns. Basically, it’s always worth a regular phone call to your Macmillan Nurse, who is the closest thing to an account manager you’re likely to come across (and is also absolutely guaranteed to be 100% amazing) to check on any forthcoming appointments. And because they’re usually good for a chat and a bit of a laugh.

Birthday preparation is more than a bit time consuming. Coordinating people, food, locations, bookings… a 40th birthday is one to be celebrated. This year in particular for me. Not only because I’ve been dealing with all my cancer treatment, and the surprising related idea that aging is actually a positive thing and something to be grateful for, but this is also the year I turn 40, so to celebrate it during any other year would be somewhat unusual.

I’ve been doing a bit more important work-related work recently. By that I mean my actual day-job. Which I’m lucky enough to enjoy, and doubly lucky enough to have been afforded such a huge amount of flexibility that when feeling up to it I’ve turned up at the office, mainly to regale colleagues with my wondrous shiny-head, and have worked from home (or my city centre office, aka Starbucks) at other times. With my operation and related absences approaching, and with important work tasks such as delivering birthday cupcakes to my colleagues to attend to, there’s been a bit of a flurry in this area recently.

Finally, I seem to have required an inordinate amount of time to remove the tags from new items of clothing. I don’t think this is a particularly time consuming task, so can only conclude that there have been more tags to remove than usual. I don’t think my recent purchases have come with any more tags per item than usual, so can only conclude that there have been more purchases. Well, it’s my birthday month, and it’s just been Easter, and I’ve just been paid, and I’m more than comfortable with the concept of self gifting.

I’ve run out of tags to remove now though, and I’ve finished this blog post, so I seem to have a bit of spare time. So I’m just popping into town to pick up a nice pair of gold flatform brogues.