Breast Biopsy-What To Expect When You're A 'Fraidy Cat

I'm going to share this experience because it might help someone who's anxious about finding a breast lump. 

I've had lumps come and go since I was 20. They are fibroademonas which are not cancerous. In Asian women, these type of lumps are common. Because of my age and no family history of breast cancer, I have annual ultrasounds to monitor them.

My largest lump grew 2mm this year and is painful. I've dismissed the discomfort but I still worry it could be cancer. 

My consultant said that because I'm over 35, it's standard practice to have lumps biopsied to be 100% sure they are not malignant. 

I'm afraid of anything intrusive but the pain can be so intense it shoots through my arm. It's hard to believe that anything benign can cause it so I reluctantly agreed. 

I took a gung-ho approach to the needle biopsy which I've dreaded for years . I arranged for it to be done straight away. 

They found two new lumps under an ultrasound. Since all lumps have the same appearance, they only biopsied the largest. I was told that if this lump was a fibroademona, the others would be too. 

Although I can handle some pain, I was sensitive to what was happening and it set my anxiety levels off. Logically after the anaesthetic, you shouldn't be concerned.

The consultant worked with the ultrasound to find the right spots to jab. He said he can feel my heart pounding under the scanner. 

After the anaesthetic, the most painful part, I had two syringes take in fluid and tissue. There is a loud pop when they're full. I didn't dare to look or ask questions when I felt a warm liquid dribble down my chest. The consultant assured me that everything was fine. The whole procedure took 10 minutes.

The sample taken was about 30ml of clear yellow fluid and tiny bit of tissue. It was not as gruesome as I imagined.

A nurse pressed down the area with tissue and applied bandages. She told me to keep it dry and not to do any heavy lifting. 

"Can I still do Zumba tomorrow?" I asked meekly. They said yes.

My nerves were rattled but they calmed down as I left the hospital. The anaesthetic wore off. I was sore but glad it's over.

As the doctor warned, I bruised and the area was swollen after two weeks. It wasn't too uncomfortable.

Thankfully I was confirmed that the lump was a fibroademona. It might still grow. Because of my age it's not likely to disappear like the ones I had when I was younger.

The consultant said no further monitoring is necessary but I still have to check for new lumps.

I was grateful for the weight being lifted off my chest (so to speak!). My ta-tas are cancer free and the unpleasantness endured was completely worth the confirmation. 

If I had to do it again, I wouldn't be such a 'fraidy cat. 

Weekend In Konstanz and Tubingen

We visited friends in Tubingen, a university town in south Germany. From Stuttgart airport we drove to Konstanz, almost a 2 hours away and situated at the Swiss border. 

Grant and I welcomed the sight of the countryside and the fact that we were out of London. I could felt myself "decompressing". This part of Germany is peaceful as there were farms everywhere. It was also quaint how many apple trees were growing in the area. 

When we arrived in this city, known for it's university, lake and proximity to Switzerland. In fact the latter helped save Konstanz in WW2 because the Allies couldn't distinguish it from Swiss territory at night. Therefore it was not bombed and has a well preserved old town. 

We had to hunt for parking because on weekends Konstanz is busy with Swiss shopping cheaply  over the border. A tip is to avoid coming on Saturday mornings if you're driving.

We walked up the cathedral, Konstanzer Münster for a 360 degree view of the city. 

The beautiful, albeit busy lake of Konstanz. 

Rain was coming which was bad news for our friends camping that night. It was fine for Grant and me because we had a hotel booked nearby. There was hesitation to stick to the plan (rather than stay the night in Konstanz) but we're glad we did because the rain held up and Grant and I got to stay in a hotel nestled in a forest. This is the Danube River which flows outside our balcony.

This is stock photo of Hotel-Gasthof Neumühle. The staff wore traditional German clothes. Isn't the location stunning? Our room was huge. It was so comforting after a long day on the road, we didn't want to leave.

We spent Monday exploring Tubingen. It's a lush green town with the Neckar river running through it. This was taken at the castle, Schloss Hohentubingen. 

Memorable foods on our trip. Rumpsteak with dreamy garlic butter, pan fried fish and Flammkuchen. Also the refreshing Apflelschorle-cold apple juice mixed with fizzy water. On a hot day, this local drink hits the spot!

4 Water Kefir Making Rules You Can Break

I've been making water kefir for months and my grains have "graduated" to a tall Kilner jar. The grains have been through cycles of experimentation with sugars, feedings and fermentation times. Along the way I've discovered that you can break the so-called rules when making water kefir.

So despite what some people have said not-to-do, my grains have lived happily ever after, producing delicious fizzy drink. So here's what I've done and my grains have lived to tell the story.

1) Use tap water.  

I live in north London where the water is hard and routinely chlorinated. I ferment in water from my Brita filter. If I've accidentally overfermented/underfed, the grains smell a little like puke. Yes it's gross but fixable. After a long rinse in water from the tap in a sieve and a detox (I'll get to that part next), they are back to normal.

2) Starve them for a while. 

In fact when I went away for three days, my grains were sitting in filtered water and nothing else. I was giving them a detox after I over fermented and the water kefir was smelly and foamy on top. They survived and after the first sugar water ferment, they went back to normal.

3) Use metal utensils.

The warnings about metal and water kefir are overhyped. I use a metal spoon and sieve and my kefir grains are fine.

4) Use white granulated sugar. 

I've seen blogs calling for unrefined sugars like rapadura, turbinado and sucanat. It costs of bomb if you're constantly fermenting. Some insist on organic sugar which is just as refined as non-organic sugar. But white sugar is still food for the grains and sometimes you have to switch to it if mineral content is too high. Basically refined sugar is ok in the short-medium term. Now I use cheap and cheerful golden granulated sugar and jaggery (evaporated cane juice).

Zumba Instructor Training

I've thought about, said I'd do it and now I've done it. I'm a qualified Zumba instructor! 

The basics 1 course is available to anyone, even if you've never done a Zumba class before. Training was held in Kingston and run by Caroline Parsons, who taught at the Zumba masterclass Believe 2015.

Training started at 9am and finished at 5.30pm. I arrived in a sports hall with forty-odd females and two male trainees. 

It was a long day and we were taught the basics-no previous experience necessary. There was a emphasis on joining ZIN, the Zumba Instructor Network.

We started with a masterclass. Thank goodness for an extra change of sportswear, towel, wet wipes and deodorant! 

We were taught about the business requirements of teaching and learnt to warm up and two basic steps, the merengue and salsa before a half hour lunch break.

I chatted to a girl who had flown from Lithuania the day before to visit London and do the training. There was a diverse group of people but most looked like they were in their early 20s. (Or maybe that's just me feeling old.)

After lunch we ran through cueing, my biggest challenge. We did an exercise in pairs where we had to cue each other verbally and visually. 

We learnt the third step, the Cumbia and how to map a song. We split in four groups, did some choreography and performed in front of each other. 

Finally we learnt the fourth step, Raggaeton and how to cool down. When the training was over, I was knackered!

Caroline is passionate about Zumba and loves training people. When I asked for a selfie for this blog, she immediately picked up this DVD. Mustn't be the first time she's been asked for a photo on training day!

I signed up to ZIN. Here's what you get when you sign up on training day. A dog tag necklace, trainer starter DVDs and memory card with Zumba themed wallpapers. 

6 Foods To Eat In Buffalo

1) Tim Hortons - is a cafe restaurant chain from Canada. It's hard to go past a store without buying something and in Buffalo, there's a lot of them. My favourite doughnuts are these bite sized ones called Tim Bits. Sadly Tim Hortons is not as available anywhere else in the States. Even the  stores in NYC don't compare to the ones in Buffalo.

2) Pancakes - an American diner favourite. I ate this stack of thick fluffy pancakes with bacon and syrup. The waitress was so impressed, she high-fived me at the table. That's good diner service.

3) Irish food. Buffalo has an Irish heritage and there are many Irish pubs. My friend swears Guinness tastes better in NY vs UK. I think it's true because Buffalo is where I converted to Guinness from lager. We had a dinner at The Blackthorn Restaurant and Pub. I had the Triple D Platter with a mini beef on weck, mini crab cake, Irish beer soup and tater tots. All for $10.50. Beef on weck is a Buffalonian roast beef and horseradish sandwich. The tater tots are huge and the soup was so thick it resembled dip.

4) Buffalo wings, or just "wings" as they call them are served in most restaurants. They are fiery and an obligatory starter. I get the feeling that Buffalonians have a taste for chilli. These were from The Blackthorn and they're the biggest I've ever seen. 

5) Maple bacon - Canada is a bridge away from Buffalo and one of it's best imports, after Tim Hortons, is maple bacon. We had it for breakfast and the house smelt like maple syrup. My friend's mom couldn't believe I took a photo of it sizzling in the pan. They also have freakishly large white eggs but I'll spare you that photo.

6) Polish food. Buffalo has one of the largest Polish populations in the country. We had dinner at Potts Deli and Grille and I couldn't wait to try their pierogis which are Polish dumplings. This is their Polish platter: golomki (stuffed cabbage roll with beef), zrazy (rolled beef with vegetables), smoked kielbasa (sausage), sweet & sour cabbage and pierogi. It was home cooked comfort food. Perfect for the cold weather.

Buffalonian Life In The Deep Snow

Earlier this year I went Buffalo, USA. I visited with my friend Emily who grew up there. People questioned why I wanted to go at the coldest time. Last November the city was hit with 7 feet of snow and roads were closed for days. 

I can't fathom what 7 feet of snow looks like let alone feels like. I grew up watching a lot of American TV in a hot country so winter in Buffalo intrigued me. 

Prepared for below-freezing temperatures, I carried in my backpack (yes, I travel light and cheap) my warmest clothes. Emily said that Uggs were not going to cut it in Buffalo and I need snow boots. My boots were Uggs but they were made of leather and had heavy duty tread soles. I wore them anyway and they were serviceable although covered in road salt after NYC.

I flew to NYC and took a flight the next morning to Buffalo. I watched the skyline go from NYC...

To Buffalo. I had arrived to an extreme winter. Emily's mom said the air makes her face hurt and she was right, it was that cold!

I was picked up at the airport and we went to Tim Hortons. It's a tradition from now on that when I land in a place with Tim Hortons, it has to be my first stop. Emily said they put crack in everything. I'd say that's probably not true. But I've found their hot chocolates, coffee (ask for a "double-double", double sugar and cream) and doughnuts are euphoria inducing. 

From inside I watched many cars, nay-trucks pass the drive through. An odd man in the restaurant gave us each a piece of gum as if it was the right thing to do. I'm sure he meant well so we thanked him and binned the gum after he left.

Emily and her Mom knew I liked thrifting so they took me to a huge store where I found a bunch of retro memorabilia.

They say everything is big in the US. The cars are big, the roads are big-you get the picture. In Buffalo everything is spaced far away so life is difficult without your own car. Shops are usually in centers with massive car parks. It is easier to drive across the road to get another store than to walk. 

The roadside advertisements are giant, 8/10 times they are for collision or medical malpractice lawsuits. Never in another country have I seen such blatant readiness to sue.

Even the chunks of ice that fall from rooftops (eeek!) are big.

The morning ritual in Buffalo. Start the car, turn on the heat, go back in the house and after 10 minutes, scrape ice off the windows. It's not light work-this scraper broke.

If you want to party in town, you need transport like this because "in town" is a 20 minute drive down the motorway through a blizzard. We went on a pub crawl and this was our limo for six hours. It was practical for a large group because cabs are expensive and not easy to get in Buffalo. The driver said this was his job for the past 20-odd years.

There was a frozen stream and nature reserve behind the house we stayed in. It was incredible to see real wildlife in suburbia. Everyday we came home to deer hanging out in the backyard. In the mornings wild turkeys compete for food left outside for squirrels.

I was at first alarmed to hear the sound of bulldozers approaching the house but they were actually snowploughs clearing the streets. School starts and finishes early to coincide with the clear roads. Sometimes schools are closed due to heavy snow.

The day before we had to go NYC, there was a blizzard warning. The NYC transit system was shut down and people even stockpiled on food and water. Buffalonians see warnings like this many times over and Emily said the shut down is likely to be cancelled. It was, but we were still lucky to be taking the train because flights were delayed.

The train was like how I imagined it to be from the movies. It was 5.30am and we waited in the freezing darkness from a ground level platform. A train pulls up with a blazing headlight and mist of unsettled snow. 

A train conductor carries our suitcases onboard for us because we have to climb up steps to get on. After settling into my seat, I put on my sleeping mask and earplugs and try to catch up on sleep.

That was until the conductor starts making loud and rolling announcements like he was at a motor derby: "The next stop will be Amsterdam, ladies and gentlemen! That's Amsterdam, AMSTER-SLAMMED!"

The sun rose over icy Eerie Canal.

This is what frozen New York State looks like.

One of the many different bridges along the Hudson River.

An other-worldly shot of a boathouse. There's a container ship in the distance. 

We arrived in NYC Penn Station at 1pm, ready to take on the next part of our US holiday.

JP Morgan Challenge and Zumba Masterclass

I had two calorie busting events in a week. First it was the JPM Challenge which I sign up to every year. There was a tube strike that day and many people dropped out because of it.

It was a hard slog. I felt like I was slowly dying after 10 mins and let myself take three brisk walking breaks. I was parched, heavily panting and ready to pass out. My hay fever worsened when it got dusty. I bargained with myself every 10 seconds not to give in to a break and the race will be over sooner.

My body was in a frenetic mode after exerting max power for 5.6 kms. My throat was bone dry and I even retched a little after I crossed the finish line.

I hadn't trained specifically for the race but it seems that Zumba and Bokwa has had a positive influence on my time of 28m 25s. I was the fastest female runner in my company and it was my best time ever.

On Saturday I went to my usual Zumba and Bokwa classes, rested at home and went out to Believe which is a 2 hour Zumba masterclass. I was excited to see Beto Perez, the creator of Zumba. I also got to see the Zumba instructor trainer for my certification in a few weeks!

I went with a Zumba friend. The doors opened at 6pm and the class didn't start until 8pm. There was no entertainment while we waited.

We knew there was going to be competition for the front but was like a mosh pit and annoying trying to dance with limited space. I stepped on many toes that night and probably came close to whacking someone in the face. 

The presenters were inspirational and I sweated my butt off. Beto came on at the end and performed four songs. He was brilliant and Fanny Madarasz was on stage too. I've been watching these two on youtube and it was so amazing to see them in real life. 

Would I go again? Probably not. The masterclass is mind blowing but having space to dance is a joke  and access to your water bottle (if not always in your hand) is held at ransom for your spot. The after-party was like a high school disco. 

I dashed off as quickly as possible to shower and wind down at home!