‘I wondered whether I would make Christmas – now I'm enjoying The Great Outdoors’

In her no-holds-barred column, Irish singer, actress and TV star Linda Nolan speaks candidly about living with cancer, a disease that has also struck sisters Anne and Coleen and took the life of their sister Bernie. This week, Linda is getting out for walks in the fresh air on doctor's orders and she feels much better for it

I'm feeling brighter! And yes it’s November, and Storm Bert’s just departed. But the universe works in mysterious ways.

Actually, I don't think there's any mystery, I've just been getting out more. It’s true what they say about The Great Outdoors.

I was talking to my consultant about my giddiness – I'm even tripping over my own stick these days – and he told me to get on the move. Tough love. Basically, sitting on the couch all day hasn't been doing me any good at all, he says. I might have cancer, but I still need a daily airing, apparently.

I've been pretty low since I started the new chemotherapy. I've also been falling more, and so feeling more afraid of getting out. The bathroom alone has felt like a fairground ride (hence the five non-slip mats).

Thanks to a combination of all that plus my hair and teeth falling out, I've found myself cancelling my usual lunches and brunches. Sometimes I've still been in bed at 2pm, feeling like a slob.

Denise had even spoken to my Macmillan support worker about it and she said the same as the consultant: wrap up and get out there. Walk. Which is easier said than done, but I'm at least now walking from the car park to the caff.

I've had a school reunion with 20 of the girls from St Catherine's, class of 1975. OK, I don't remember all of them – I left for London, don't you know. But that was fabulous. And some of them are going through things too, everyone does.

Anne, Denise and I have been to see Wicked at the cinema. Thankfully, it didn't turn into a singalong, that would have killed me quicker than cancer.

At the weekend we all went to the pub to watch the football, and I've even been out to do a bit of Christmas shopping, although mainly I’ve hit Amazon.

Honestly, a few weeks ago I doubted whether I’d see Christmas, I was wondering if I should arrange an early get-together in my house. But we’re here again and I’m excited.

On Sunday our good friends 'The Three-Must-Have Queers' – get it? – are coming over to put up the tree. They always do it for us – because they're fabulous, and well, we're not. Denise, who's a green and red decorations girl, will get the Christmas music on, and Tom will have his Bah Humbug hat to hand.

And I'll be lying on the couch asking them to get out the way of the telly. Well, this getting out and walking mentality can only stretch so far… Day of rest and all that. It’ll be The Great Indoors for me.