So this week is my fourth week, post op. Looking back, it feels like it has gone fairly quickly but then I remember moaning at how slowly the days felt like they were going at the time.

I had my first physio session this week. I must admit that I was expecting some bad news of some sort but I was pleasantly surprised. My physio is lovely and seems to know exactly what is best for me (always a good thing aye!) I've got the usual exercises that strengthen my quads and glutes to ensure that I feel as stable as possible with the use of my knee.  There has been a few times where I have stood up and felt like I was going to fall over so I'm hoping that with the help of these exercises I will be able to balance myself more.

HOWEVER, she has warned me that I could need my crutches for much longer than I actually anticipated. I expected that like the other times I have had to wear braces on my knee, I would be able to stop using my crutches after 6 weeks, but it might not be until the end of August until I feel stable enough without them.  Uh-ohhhhh.  I'll be taking crutches to Portugal then! But, I could (fingers crossed - cross yours please)l be brace-less by then so maybe I won't get a zebra striped tan on my leg after all!

Between now and my next physio (in 10 days!) ......

• Get used to taking my brace off and starting to do some exercises without it 
• Remember that I can put all of my weight onto my bad leg - I think something in my brain is telling me that I can't even though I know deep down that I can without it hurting!
• Strengthen my quads on both legs so that my stability is increased
• Keep telling myself that my leg is fixed, that it is not going to dislocate and I am better so that I can become CONFIDENT!

I'll be sure to let you know how I get on!

Leanne x

Are you lucky enough to be jetting off on holiday this year? Well, here is the list of my Summer Holiday Essentials. I like to be organised for trip away, I think that it's all part of the excitement....

1. Suncream - pretty boring but you've got to have it! My skin is sooo fair but even if I wear high factors, I still find that I get a tan after being in the sun.
2. Aftersun/moisturiser - to ensure a longer lasting tan and prevention of my skin drying out I always take a moisturiser of some sort. TOP TIP: Take a tinted moisturiser to enhance your natural tan - no know that it isn't all natural!
3. Plugs/Adapters - if you're going abroad
4. Make Up - Be sure to check out my next post to find out what make up essentials I like to bring abroad with me!
5. Face Wipes - you need something to take your make up off with! Plus, I always like cooling my face down by using a nice face wipe. I always buy the wipes for sensitive skin, I just like them.
6. Hair Removal Cream/Razors - You don't want to look like a hairy gorilla in your bikini girls!  Avoid the embarrassment by having this shaving routine the night before you go on holiday and remember to keep checking that no lose hairs have popped up in unwanted places!
7. Shampoo/Conditioner - an obvious item - I like the head and shoulders shampoo and conditioner set that looks on antidandruff (it smells good) or I like the Tresseme sets
8.  Camera - make memories, take pictures, keep memories
9.  Tooth brush/tooth paste - I love having pearly white teeth against a nice natural glow
10. Hair Accessories - I like to take my hair straighteners cos you can easily curl your hair with them if you fancy, but you'll need hairbands/clips to tie your hair up when you want to keep cool
11. Headphones - music whilst sunbathing is chill
12. Sunglasses - a MUST
13. Appropriate Clothes - underwear, swimwear, t-shirts, shorts, dresses, flip-flops, sandals etc etc
14. Beach Towel - (usually) the hotel or villa you stay at will provide you with towels to wash with but you need to have a spare towel to take with you to the beach or to use around the pool
15. Insect Repellent - if you always get bitten like me 

I hope this helps, have a fun and relaxing trip away!
Leanne x

Okay so what has my week entailed? Well, sitting on my bum and being waited on hand and foot by my family. N'awwwwwwwwwwww💕 oh and endless amounts of TV.

I started to watch season 4 of ONCE UPON A TIME on Netflix this week and I have to say it is one of my favourite seasons so far. We get a bit of frozen and some other characters from some of my all time favourite films! I want to spill more but I feel that if someday you decide to watch it, you all will be blaming me for ruining the storyline. I'll shut my pie hole. WATCH IT. It's like a more acceptable-for-adults fairytale😃 I thank Charlotte, my university housemate for introducing me as I am not well and truly addicted.

Jake went back to his university placement the weekend just gone so I won't be seeing him for a few weeks. It was so nice to have him with me for company after not seeing him for a while. I am looking forward to when we next see each other as we have booked a week away in Portugal and now that my doctor has approved the idea of me flying, I'm really happy that I've got something to look forward to. It's like an incentive to get better. I'm feeling really determined to get back on my feet. Saying that, I have been instructed to wear the hospital stockings for the flight and 2 days AFTER!!! What about trying to get a nice even tan?!?!?! Plus, I'm not allowed to get the scars I now have, in the sun. Something to do with the effect it will have on the tissue, so I'm tempted to start fake tanning that area which I'll have to cover up. What do you reckon? Good or bad idea? But all in all, I'm looking forward to being cast free and somewhere sunny ☀️

I have my first physio appointment next week. It will be two days before my 4 week mark. Secretly, I'm hoping that the physio will want my brace removed so that I can start the next process of rehabilitation. With my operation - it's called something like ; "Patellaofemoral Ligament Reconstruction" - there are 4 stages:

1. Initial Rehabilitation Phase as an inpatient: 0-2days
2. Inital Rehabilitation Phase at home: 0-4 weeks
3. Recovery Rehabilitation Phase: 4-12 weeks
4. Intermediate/Late Rehabilitation Phase: 12 weeks-6 months

Each patient must pass all milestones before successfully moving onto the next one. My milestones at the moment are to be able to bend my knee at a 90 degree angle, be fully weight bearing with mobility aids, have minimal joint effusion and full activation of my quadriceps.

Fingers crossed I've done those! See you soon,

Leanne x

Whilst I have been relaxing at home and working on re-using my legs, I have been watching sooooo much TV. It's actually so bad how much I actually have been watching but I suppose there isn't much that I can do. 

I did venture out of the house twice last week - both trips were to the Doctors. What a sad and unexciting life I am living right now. Saying that, it was nice to actually feel the fresh air and have a change of scenery. 

Anyway, back to the TV. I literally have come up with my own TV schedule which includes a lot of Channel 4's Come Dine with Me. I love cooking. I really do. Dinners, Desserts, Cakes, I just like it all. So Come Dine with Me is not only an entertaining programme to watch but it is in some sort of way teaching me new recipes and culinary skills and cuisines. One particular dish that has really stood out and tickled my fancy was Strawberry Cheesecake Profiteroles! So I reckon I'm going to give them a go soon. There is a website here that has a recipe for them as I can't seem to find it on the Channel 4 website ----> CLICK HERE  

In early 2014, my 4 friends, Jake and I all got together and performed our own Come DIne with Me styled set of evenings. I went first (if I can remember rightly.) I cooked stuffed mushrooms to start which included cheese and bacon, then homemade meatballs for the main followed by a heart-shaped, individual chocolate cakes. AWWWW. I'm sure my  night was around Valentines Day. 

If there are any lovely dessert recipes you have - especially cheesecake or chocolate based recipes - I would love to give them a go. I am definitely a sweet-toothed girl. Post them in the comments box below.

You can also get in touch with me via TWITTER or INSTAGRAM so please tag me or message me any recipes you love! Oh, I also have posted my blog on Bloglovin so you can search LeanneonLIfe there too. 


Have a fabulous day, 
Leanne x

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I had my stitches removed yesterday. It was a really odd feeling - someone tugging at your skin. My nurse at RNOH had said that I had clips in to hold the cuts together but we found out yesterday that there was no clips in sight. A bit odd. But I was glad as it meant that it wouldn't hurt as much for me.

All in all it was weird letting her touch and pull about my knee. I still didn't like it. Because of the problem I have, I have hated my knees being touched by anyone, doctors, nurses, even people who just rest their hand on it because I was so scared that even the slightest budge would push it out of place. I was secretly hoping that this fear would be overcome now that I know that my knee is more stable but I guess only time will tell if that can happen.

But you'll be pleased to know that I am healing very nicely. It's amazing how just removing stitches can make you feel different, I can't exactly tell you why and how it does but it just feels more relaxed. Which is great.

My first physio appointment has also been arranged for two weeks time! I'm intrigued to know where I'll be in terms of recovery by then so I am looking forward to it in someways.

All of my family and jake have been amazing helping me do things and get around. Without their support God knows where I'd be. I will be grateful to do things independently in a few weeks time though (hopefully.) Jake came back from uni for a few days so that we could spend time together, I'm so glad he did. As much as I love family it has been nice to just have him for company.

So until next time leanneonlife readers, Leanne x

I know I have posted a lot this week but I felt like I've had a lot to say. That's one nice thing about having leanneonlife - I can just start typing about myself or other topics whenever I fancy.

I was going to update you all on my exciting life as a sofa-bound individual this time. It has been exactly a week since my operation and I'm doing okay.

Having an operation is weird. The whole feeling of being put to sleep/waking up somewhere you don't recognise is a bit surreal. When I woke up I was trying really hard to bend the leg I had operated on, until I eventually realised that I had a cast to prevent me doing that strapped to it. I blame the huge amounts of morphine😉

Gosh. I've slept sooooooo much this week. The first few days I came home I was having long naps during the day and then sleeping really well at night - it became a bit of an expectation that I would be asleep😂

I am getting slightly lonely and bored though. My family have been amazing. And my extended family have visited as it has been a long awaited operation since I was very young. But I do miss my uni friends. Especially since many of them are back in Canterbury and partying! I just miss Charlotte (my housemate) knocking on my door, asking me if we can go eat breakfast together in the morning, or should I say early afternoon (only sometimes) 😂 and chats with Éilish and group trips round the corner to Asda. I became soooooooo used to seeing everyone every day that it feels slightly weird now.

One great thing about being home is that I get mums home cooked meals😍 we had fish pie tonight which is one of my all time favs but the other night we had Thai Green Curry which was loooovely. It's nice having freshly cooked meals instead of chicken nuggets and chips!

However, I'm growing to hate the inability to do everything for myself. Everyone is saying I should get a bell to ring whenever I need something. All I want right now is to have a bath and get myself a drink. It feels odd bossing my mum about. Plus my nans coming over to 'look after me' tomorrow and I can't bear to keep asking her to get me things!

Sooooo that's all things me at the mo. I'd love to hear from you: tweet me @leanneonlife for any questions or ideas of topics to batter about!

Ciao for now,

Leanne x

Some advice on your new blogging life. 

It was down in Canterbury, sitting in my bedroom with Jake (around the time of my birthday,) that I decided to just go for it. Jake helped me create a name and soon I was underway with all the publishing and ideas for what my blog should be about. I chose a lifestyle blog. I just think its the easiest and most broadest (if that even is correct English) type of blog that is around. I can write about anything and everything that I feel like; an inside peek of what my diary would be like, tips on hair and makeup, and I can freely chat about anything that has hit me in my life.  You'll all probably read a lot about my recovery and experience of having an operation. I know millions of people have had one but I never had so it'll be a new perspective on that for you.

Everyone has their own reasons for starting a blog or vlog, or public page. Mine was so that I had a new hobby which didn't involve physical movement of my legs as I knew I would be pretty much house bound for a few months. I think that is the nicest thing about blogging though, you have so much  freedom  to write anything and start doing it whenever you want to. I can talk about the news, my opinions on a topic and your readers can easily write their opinions in your comment boxes. No one can moan about you writing something you shouldn't of because it is your page. And because it is your page, you can make it your own. 

I valued all the kind words and feedback that I got from all of my friends, including the favourites and retweets of my blog page on twitter. It has been nice knowing that I am being supported for something that I thought I would have the mick taken out of me for.  Their support has made me feel more confident in posting new pages and topics. I've even attempted to video myself doing a hair tutorial! 


So go for it. Don't question whether you can be bothered. You have the freedom to post as little or as often as you wish! My experience so far has been exciting to see how many viewers I get on posting day. And those viewers make you want to continue writing, not stop.