2 days post op

hello hello hello,

Firstly, thank you to all who took the time to read my mail and to the lovely messages of support. I love hearing from you and writing this substack. theres something chic about it.

And well, im happy to report that my surgery was a success! AGGGH. So far so good. The hospital treated me like a queen, I am in awe of the nhs. When they took me back to my ward I had coffee and biscuits waiting. I was so touched i nearly burst into tears, the meds were working!

And now I am so happy to report that I am home, back to the pink cottage. The physio showed me how to bum shuffle up the stairs so I managed to get up and into bed! Thats where i am now. In fact I’d like to paint you a picture..

The sun is streaming through the curtains and onto my foot which is resting on a pile of cushions. I’m sat upright, sipping coffee in fresh pjs and fresh bedding. Ralph is my guardian angel at the bottom of the bed looking after me, he’s not let me out of his sight, i love him so much. I’m listening to a folk playlist, have you ever heard Western Island by Archie Fisher? It’s gorgeous.

Now, it may just be the codeine, anti-depressants and coffee… but i feel FANTASTIC. My bedroom has an ensuite toilet (get me) so a few hops on the crutches with the help of Ro and i’m there. Romeo is here looking after me as beautifully as you would imagine, and so, this is where i’ll be for the next few weeks, in bed. i wrote a song yesterday morning on my pink guitar, I didn’t mean to but it just came out and I think it’s pretty good. I played it to Romeo and he really liked it. I’ve done a little flute theory too, and some reading, i started watching a programme called the traitors on bbc iplayer and its really good, just very gentle, lots of resting, eating and dreaming.

i ordered some black ink this morning, dip pens and fresh ivory paper for drawing for when i’m stronger. ive never used ink before im excited to try it.

the meds are strong and this email is woozy. so a quick hello and back down the rabbit hole i go for next few days. but i just wanted to let you know i am healing <3

lots of love,

ren xxx