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Wednesday 11th June - In with a chance
I left work at 4pm as I needed to get home to cook for the children before I started my 6pm shift at Tesco, which is my second job. It had been a normal day but thinking back about it now, I did walk to the car park thinking if I won the lottery tonight I would get a Tummy tuck buy a house and a new car, little did I know I was about to get the most life-changing telephone call of my life!
I took a call from a lady called Debbie at Stratton PR saying she wanted to talk to me about the promotion for cosmetic surgery that I’d entered (I remember entering this on the Cosmetic Surgery Answers web site), but I thought oh here we go “u have not won but we could give you a great offer” ….sales pitch coming on so I did not sound interested and I was in a rush to get home, so I cut the call short.
Debbie asked if it was a good time to talk, my reply was frank - “no not really” so she arranged to call me back at 5pm at home. When I got home I thought nothing more of it so I carried on regardless and cooked tea.
5pm came and no call, so I did not worry but when my phone rang at 5.05pm I thought sod it, I’ll ignore it as I cant be bothered to answer, but something said “answer”. Debbie then told me that I had in-fact been short-listed out of 30 entrants and it has been whittled down to 5 people and she wanted to talk personally to each applicant to find out a bit about us, make sure we were still keen to go ahead and that we all understood the terms and conditions.
At this stage I started to think “oh my god, my dream maybe, just maybe could be realised” The call lasted 20 minutes and I was desperately hoping there was no catch. When I hung up I thought to myself “IDIOT” I may have just messed up my chances, as I must have sounded so uninterested, I wish I could have the conversation again.
I phoned my mom straight away and my sister Wendy who both seemed excited but not enough to reassure me. I popped next door to see Mel as last year we both went on the Cambridge Diet together and I had lost 3 stone but Mel bless her could not stick to it and did not lose much weight and she is now pregnant so she is jealous of my 3 stone loss and amazing figure hah hah (if she saw me naked she would not think that).
As I waited at her door I started to get more excited about the possibility of finally having the body I have dreamed about for the past 14 years, my flubber tummy come Freddie Krueger skin gone, removed for Good.
Mel was so excited for me, calling me all the names under the sun in jealousy. This is the reaction I was looking for as we both have had weight issues and I knew she would know how much this means to me.
I skipped to Tesco telling every one that would listen, even customers, but some looked at me and said what the hell are you having that done for?.... your not fat, but even Gok Wan would not know how to deal with these lady lines!
I spent the whole shift thinking about this life changing opportunity and when I got home I sat in bed stroking my fat wishing I could speak with Sean my husband. He is currently in Afghanistan on a 7 month tour, he would be so happy for me as I don’t even let him hug my tummy as I am so paranoid and I hate him touching me there.
I said a prayer tonight which was a bit wrong as I am not religious but I thought it might help as I have to wait until Friday to find out if I have won, 2 more sleeps to go.
Thursday 12th June – Waiting Game
Woke up after having a weird Trinny and Susanna dream convincing them I had a flat stomach, must be connected to yesterday? I nearly ran into work today at the Council just so I could tell more people or any one that would listen, not many did when I said it was in Tunisia they thought it sounded Dodgy! So I went on to the Cosmetica Travel web site just to read up on what I was letting my self in for if I won. The write-ups and comments on their guest book were so positive that it really put my mind at ease and I was even more desperate to win. I just wish Sean would phone me, so I sent him an email and copied and pasted loads of stuff from the Cosmetica website.
Friday 13th June - Judgement day!!
4am, yep 4 am (I did not know that time existed?)
Mobile goes off, then the house phone.... its Sean. Finally he has called to apologise for not calling for the past 3 days as there has been more losses out there and the communications had shut down, selfish as it sounds I tell him to shut up and blurted out I had been short listed for a tummy tuck- his reaction was amazing he was so happy for me, happier than me I think if that’s possible? He was so pleased as he knows what this would mean to me. I believe I have ruined my body from having the kids at such a young age and then a hysterectomy at 28. I went back to sleep with a smile on my face, had another sneaky prayer this time begging God.
Got to work at 8.20am and stared at my mobile all morning not concentrating on anything but the phone, just willing it to ring. My colleagues asking me if I had heard anything was doing my head in, as I hadn’t and assumed that that they had chosen some one else more deserving then little old me?
11.05am my mobile rings. I recognise the STD code so I knew it was Debbie, she built up the suspense by telling me that yesterday the short list came down to 2 people and it was between me and a nice man who wanted a nose job, but in the end I was chosen as the Winner! I can’t remember much of what she said after that and the biggest smile grew across my face and I felt real tears in my eyes.
I am mouthing the words “I WON” to every one in the room. They are all excited wanting to know all the details but I’m shaking and in need of a cigarette to calm me down.
I run down stairs to tell my Team Leader Jeremy, but being a typical man he looks unimpressed, I’m outside smoking and want to shout out loud “I’m having a TUMMY TUCK, I nearly told the old woman waiting for her bus, but I think she would have hit my with her umbrella.
I called my mom having miss-dialled 4 times from my hands still shaking. Mom is very happy for me as she knows that is all I have ever talked about.
When I got back to my desk I sat there just trying to let it all sink in, how can some one like me win this amazing prize? I’m having a tummy tuck, me a tummy tuck finally after all these years of hating what I looked like from the belly button down. And not even allowing my husband of 11 years to touch it, and turning the lights of at night when we have intimate time. Weh hey, that will all change when he gets back from Afghanistan.
I sent a text to the whole address book on my mobile and nearly sent it to the Balit House take-away, but I drew the line there.
I feel a bit sad as everyone knows except Sean and I missed his call at lunch time as I was going over the details with Debbie, Sean calls me back at 3.45 and before he could say hello I’m screaming “ I WON”. He is so happy for me, but a bit worried about me going abroad alone, but he knows what this means to me.
Charlie my daughter meets me after work and she has already told all her mates and she is very excited for me. On the other hand, my son Dan was “yeah right” but he’s a boy, so what does he know?
Today has been the best Friday the 13th ever! I have told strangers at work, people in the street and even customers over the phone and in Tesco.
Some people are a bit sceptical as it involves going aboard and I get the “is it safe” bit, but I know in my hearts of heart this competition has saved my life. I’m no longer going to hate the way I look or hide away in baggy tops just in case my flesh shows, I will be able to get out of the shower and look in the mirror and say “this is how my body is meant to look”
Saturday 14th June – Back to reality
24 hours later now am I still feeling blooming great! I was lying in bed rubbing my tummy, pulling down the loose skin trying to imagine what I will look like, oh god I cant wait.
10am: Feeling crap now as I have just called my mom about potential dates when I can travel to Tunisia as she will be looking after the kids for me while I’m away. And she drops a bomb shell. She tells me she is going to Cumbria on one of the possible dates to see Status quo play. WHAT? Where did that come from? She doesn’t even own a CD of theirs. She has never in my 32 years of existence mentioned Status Quo. My heart sinks, I have the holiday dates all sorted out with work and Mum drops this on me. God what am I going to do?
My sister Wendy has just come down so we are going out on the town to get a little merry and forget about Status Quo but if they play a song of theirs I will scream.
Sunday 15th June - Still feeling pleased with myself
Last night was a good night. No Status Quo! I saw my hairdresser in town and told her the news, she shook my hand and congratulated me. I remember looking at all the Wag wannabees and thinking soon girlfriend my body will look that good too
I’m still on cloud Nine and loving it!
Monday 16th June - Looking at pictures
Heidie and I looked on the internet at “before and after” pictures and if I look as good as half these people I will be wearing a bikini to work each day just to show it off. A few people are still asking if I am going ahead with it. Erm YES, why would I enter a competition and not take the prize? I can’t help thinking about how I’m going to look. I am sucking my tummy in but I still can’t imagine the end results, but I’m gonna have a body of an 18 year old again. I hope.
Tuesday 17th June - Sorting out the travel dates gets tricky
I looked at the flights again to Tunisia. Sean is coming home for 2 weeks R&R in July (can’t wait to see him), so having the op in July is out. Unfortunately the flights get more expensive in August, but as this is the only thing I have to pay for, I can live with it. I have now had my official congratulations letter and my surgeon Dr Djemal (sounds good doesn’t it) is on leave from 1st till 15th August so I can’t have the operation then, so it will have to be after 15th August. It’s ironic though, these are the dates I shouted at my mother over, oh well least she can enjoy the darn Status Quo concert now.
Work is fine about me taking the time off. I may have to take it as unpaid, but who cares I’m getting a new body that everyone will want to see.
One of the team leaders at the council spoke with payroll today and asked if I would be entitled to sick leave if I became ill and unable to work due to this and I am not, as it is selected surgery, that scared me a little but I have full trust in Cosmetica and I know I am in safe hands and will end up with the body I can finally accept.
Wednesday 18th June - Decided to go it alone
Spoke with Debbie today and gave her my selected dates. I am just waiting for the nod so I can book the flights. She did mention that the Editor of Cosmetic Surgery Answers may well be travelling out to Tunisia at the same time as me, so he can write an independent report. So I may have some company after all. I have decided to travel out alone. Debbie said it would be best if I go with somebody so I’ve got some moral support. But Sean will be back in Afghanistan, my sister can’t afford to come and mum will be looking after the kids. But hey I’m a big girl I can go it alone, I’m not scared….Rightooo. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit scared.
Thursday 19th June - Still waiting for confirmation of travel dates
I’m on the customer service desk today, so I can’t answer my phone if Debbie calls, I wait until 11am till I email her as I don’t want to come across as a stalker.
I was hoping for 18th August, but I lost the slot at work. PANIC, I try calling Debbie she has gone to lunch so I get more flight times for the 28th August, then email Debbie again and wait for her answer. Debbie explains that Tunisia is 1hr ahead and Dr Djemal is in surgery all day so he’s hard to get hold of to confirm the dates.
God, why does it feel like its all going wrong all I want is the perfect body.
Right now it may be the 28th August which means I will be away for my birthday oh well happy birthday to me, least I can say for my 33rd birthday I got a new body!
Its home time now and I have not had the dates confirmed yet so another day with out being able to book the flight. I hope I can get confirmation tomorrow?
In the meantime I need to arrange some head and shoulder shots for Debbie, that she can send out with the Announcement press release, so I need to get busy with a camera. I’ve also got to take some photos of my tummy face-on and from both sides to send to Cosmetica. Yikes. I will have to get my mum or my sister to take them.
Friday 20th June – All systems go!
YEAH finally the email I was waiting for has arrived, confirmation of my travel dates so I can go ahead and book my flights. I wanted to run to Thomas cook but I don’t run, not even for a sale! God it has just sunk in. This is real, I have my flights booked and I’m half way there to a NEW me. It’s been a busy nerve racking week but I’m still feeling elated!
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