A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting another fabulous chick on this planet called Janine.  Anyone who knows me knows I don’t go looking for friends but when I find a good mate we usually remain friends for life.  Janine and I met at work and we hit it off and understood each other from the first conversation we had.  Janine is an amazing woman who has experienced the highs and lows of life just as we all have, mother to three lovely men, wife to a husband who adores her, she has a post-grad degree in Education but doesn’t talk about it even when surrounded by other educated humans who are blowing their own trumpet and I feel lucky to call her mate.

One of the many things Janine and I have in common is we give everyone nicknames.  Not long after meeting Janine she named me Mary Bogan – she said I look like Mary Poppins but act and talk like a bogan and she’s damn right on the later.  I don’t know if it’s because I’ve grown up in Straya/Elisbef but my brain is definitely full-blown bogan on a lot of levels.

So in honour of being a full-blown bogan the above photos are Mary Bogan in full swing.  The cap for my Angel Wig arrived the other week and as I was taking these photos I had to laugh at how completely bogan I am (druggie shirt and all).  When my wig cap arrived I had a video phone call with the gorgeous Angela from Angel Wigs to discuss the fit, where my parting should sit and how it felt on my noggin.  It’s going to be another few months before I receive my actual wig and I tell ya what I’m really looking forward to it because it’s been a year this month since I lost my hair and I am really struggling this week.

I’ve never been a vain person but I’ve also never been the kind of person who struggles with serious body issues but it’s been a whole year now of not feeling like a woman or feeling even slightly pretty.  What’s so difficult about this fucking disease is that there is no end in sight.  My hair will probably never grow back and it’s really difficult to think that the second half of my adult life on earth is going to be spent looking like a manly alien (yes, I know the druggie shirt doesn’t help but stiff shit cos I like it).

Having said that; I am aware that I am very lucky on so many levels.  I have two beautiful kids who are both working in the industry they want, they are loving responsible adults who love their Ma.  I have loving supportive parents, a gorgeous little cottage in the country and a little bogan truck in the driveway.  I am trying very hard this week to toughen the fuck up but sometimes ya just gotta have a whinge and allow yourself to feel like shit.

This blog post is dedicated to my precious mate Janine Clarke – love ya heaps buddy. Xx