10 Years a Londoner!

I’ve lived in London for 10 years and I can’t really believe it. There have been so many times when I’ve thought about ‘giving up’ and moving back home. I’ve had some really really hard years over the last 10 years, and not just because of life. Because of my diagnosis and everything that goes alongside it. 10 years of cancer in London has been really challenging.  Not that it isn’t in other places, it’s just choosing to be independent and not live at home has made some things so much harder. The easier thing has been getting to my hospital, though as that’s in London and, considering how much I have been there over the last 10 years, that’s a very good thing!

Living away from family but close to my doctor

I’m at my hospital not because of where I live, which is a bit unusual. It’s not because my local hospital didn’t have the facilities to look after me, which is another reason why you get referred into a London hospital. It’s because my consultant in Edinburgh, where I was diagnosed, knew a consultant at a London hospital and asked me if I would be willing to travel in during my university holidays from home. At that point, the hospital local to my parents was not good and in emergency measures, so I very happily said I would go into London.

When my fatigue has been horrific and work not going well because of being so exhausted and worrying about how I’m going to pay my rent, well... going back home has been very tempting. But, I’m so glad that I kept pushing on. Even though it means that there is a fairly large financial pressure on me every month. But it keeps me pushing forward. It makes me get out of bed every day. It’s made me determined to make my business successful and to not let cancer get in the way.

Proud of my time in London

So, I’m very proud of being a Londoner for 10 years. For making that move from home. Although to be fair, moving from home wasn’t difficult, as I went to boarding school at 13, then away to Edinburgh for 4 years for university, so being an hours train journey from home isn’t much. And my parents come up to London regularly so it’s not like I never see them. 

Of course, some things would be so much easier. Food appearing. Not having to pay utility bills or rent. But, I don’t go for the easy route! And my nieces are in London and seeing them regularly is amazing. And I love London. I never don’t feel happy at some point in the day looking at what’s here. It's amazing and looking at the plants, trees, or buildings that we are surrounded by every day just makes me smile.

Looking ahead to the next 10 years!

So, I hope that the next 10 years are just as good in some ways. And much much better in others! I don’t want to ever begrudge living here or be fed up by it. And my consultant is here. Without her, everything would be so much more horrific and moving away from that would be so incredibly stupid.