Getting hyped up now!

Firstly, Em thank you for your lovely message on my blog, of course Chris would be proud of me, he'd also be glad I was earning a few bob and would probably say 'no need for me to chip in to the housekeepin this week then'. Today was better and tomorrow will be just fine.

I'm a bit pleased with myself tonight as I've managed to put some links up for the Hydro, its not rocket science, I know, but when your a bit older and not particularly up to the minute with all things pc related its a 'mega' accomplishment. How clever am I eh!!!

Excitment is growing about the Hydro and I thought I'd post a couple of pic's from last year, it was a brilliant day meeting all the lovely people I'd only spoken to in cyberland, it raised lots of much needed funds for the Cystic Fibrosis trust and raised awareness for organ donation. I know a fair few people who are waiting for that call and just pray that they get it in time.

Some of us mums & Em.

'Andy & Em' Andy being a good sport in Angel gear, bless him he doesn't know what he's let himself in for this year......

Roll on September, can't wait to see everyone again....magic.

Love to all.

Sue x

Oh bugger!

I went back to the world of work today, the job itself wasn’t difficult, it was a kitchen and I’ve worked in a fair few of them. It was a fairly easy one compared to my last kitchen job, which was manic from the minute you got there until the minute you left. So…whats my gripe?

Since we said goodbye to Chris my life has been pretty much the same as when he was here, get up have coffee, do a bit of tidying up, go for a swim etc…. But today I did something that was different, something that Chris would never know about, or be a part of and it was so hard, I really hadn’t expected today to floor me, but it did.

Tomorrow will be better and I’ll probably be loving my new job, cos I was told I was a brill worker…I know that!!!

Washing it all away

It ocuured to me this morning when showering after my swim that I may vanish completely one day, due to working my way through many layers of skin. I showered yesterday morning, as you do when you start the day, then had another at 6 ish last night because we were going out for a meal with friends. We had a cracking night,, I had King Prawn Dupiaza, John had a Tandoori mixed grill, Wend had a chicken Biryani and Ian had a saffron special, I think. I wore white to go for an Indian meal incidently and for the first time ever I came home without a dash of curry on me…marvellous.

I got up this morning and went for a swim, note, I’m back in water again, then I showered again and washed my hair as I was meeting up with a good buddy of Chris’s for coffee and cake and didn’t want to stink of chlorine. I’ve been promising to do coffee with J for weeks now, she’s an adult with cf who goes to the same unit as Chris did, they sort of car shared when they were in for iv’s and wanted to pop home for a few hours. I have a lot of respect and admiration for J and I also love her to bits anyway, she literally lights up a room with her massive smile and is always positive with a capital P.

Anyway, I digress, back to the washing story. I intend to do some gardening this afternoon, so I’ll get dirty, wont I, so I’ll be back in the shower tonight, now this doesn’t strike me as very good for one’s skin, because as well as overwashing it I also cream head to toe each time, wash and condition my hair, deodorise and cleanse tone and moisturise my face. I feel a bit sick now, thinking about all those chemicals I’ve shoved on me in just over 24 hours.
So, I’ve decided to do an experiment, maybe not next week or the week after because I’m joining the workforce for two weeks, but after that its one shower a day and I'm going to see how many chemicals I can do without. Yep! that’s my contribution to the ozone layer sorted.

Need for speed

I always wondered where I got my inner demon that said ‘go fast’ from, now I know. I took my mother out for the day on Monday and was well impressed with her driving skills. No….she wasn’t at the wheel of a super duper Ferrari or anything, but she managed to manoeuvre the motabilty bike like ‘Colin McRay on a good day. She rounded every stall on the market narrowly missing the displays by a quarter inch, whilst keeping a steady flow of conversation and dodging the general public who were intent on a head on collision. I was impressed, in fact I was in awe....

This was me miles behind……..no wonder Chris always referred to her as his biker nan.


I’m off to the Lakes today to meet up with Elaine (Lainey) a good buddy who I met through the cf forum, we’ve met there about three times now and every single time its been raining, looks like today will be no exception, ah well we’ll just have to stay in the pub again.

Update.

Had a fab time at Windermere today, it was great to see Elaine and Julie, the sun came out now and again and we ate loads and loads, well I did anyway. Thoroughly enjoyed the drive, I'm once again well proud of my skills behind the wheel as I encountered many idiots on the journey but managed to stay alive despite their best efforts.

Just a wee note about my 'Toolbox' blog, as yet I have not come across a tool I felt the need to discard, just in case it came across wrong.

Much love all.

The Toolbox

I went for my first session of counselling yesterday, this was something I signed up for the week after we said goodbye to Chris, it was there on offer so I added it to my ‘toolbox’ just in case I should need it at a later date. My G.P. said there wasn’t a waiting list and I would get an appointment straight away. However I didn’t hear from them until 2 weeks ago and to be honest they got it spot on, if I’d had an appointment before then I probably would have cancelled as I was feeling like I was coping with this just fine thank you. However, when the letter came through I felt it was a tool I needed to use just now.

My box is a brilliant thing to dip into now and then to fix the job that needs doing at any given moment. It has various bits and pieces in it and I can add to it or take things away, if it’s a good tool I’ll store it, if it’s a tool that doesn’t do the job, I’ll discard it. But I’ll never ever not try it first, hence my blog ‘try it and see’ because you don’t know till you’ve give it a go.

My counsellor ‘Bill’ is 70 odd, cracking bloke, Scottish, soflty spoken, smiley and reminded me of my dad, definitely a tool I’ll be keeping in my box along with travelling to see good buddy’s, new church that’s uplifting, emails that talk about the weather, food etc…. the secret garden (when the rain stops) websites that are mad , the gym, swimming and of course this blog which has been very theraputic. Oh yeah, and 2 weeks work coming up in August to ease back in to earning my keep.

Quite a well stocked toolbox, but always room for more.

Love to all
Sue x

I don’t have anything of any significance to blog about, except that I’m having spaghetti bolognaise for my tea, I’m not building it myself, John’s doing it, because I’m busy blogging/putting together a slide show/trying to book flights/checking numerous websites cos I’m nosey/and…….trying to stay off facebook for longer than 10 minutes. Deary me!! Just what did I do with my time before the pc.

I managed to get my swim to coincide with the little peoples swimming lesson on Friday and overheard two conversations whilst showering which perturbed me a bit.

Conversation a)

Mum 1 - ‘Do you want your bobbles in today Jessica’

Jessica - ‘eeeeeeeeeerm’

Mum 1 - ‘You don’t have to’

Jessica - ‘No then’

Mum 1- ‘I’ll put them in, it looks tidier’

Jessica - ‘Whaaaaaaaaa’

Conversation b)

Oliver - ‘I don’t want a shower’

Mum 2 - ‘Get in here now’

Oliver - ‘No’

Mum 2 - ‘OLIVER’ (mum 2 runs naked the length of the shower block to drag him back)

Oliver - ‘Whaaaaaaaaaa’

Mum 2- ‘We’ll go for a McDonalds if you have a shower’

Oliver - ‘And toys’r’us

Mum2 - ‘No, just McDonalds’

Oliver - ‘Whaaaaaaaaa’

Mum 2 - ‘I’ve bloody well had enough of this’ and promptly leaves without a shower.

Is it me? Or have things changed sooooo much since I was a kid. I asked our Mike tonight, were we harsh parents. His reply was, me and Chris were reluctant to cross the line because of the slipper that used to hang on the door. I’d forgotten about the slipper, don’t think we ever used it, but they did get a crack round the ear from time to time and if I wanted to put the bobbles in I wouldnt have given them a choice then proceed to ignore it.

I hope I don’t get hung for this one but its for a special buddy, d’ya remember this Jess? Sending much love and many (((HUGS))).

National Transplant Week

Its National Transplant week this week.

If anyone reading my blog has not yet considered signing up to the donor register, please take a moment to read my son’s story.

Chris had Cystic Fibrosis and was advised to go on the list for transplant in 2005, he was listed in February 2006, by which time he was virtually housebound. During the six months Chris was on the active list he spent most of his time in his bedroom, his social life ground to a halt, he suffered from panic attacks and from time to time depression. He had to be tube fed overnight because his appetite had completely gone due to illness and round the clock medication just kept him stable. Never once did anyone hear him moan though and when asked ‘how are you’ his reply would always be ‘fine’.

His call came on the 19th of August 2006 and his transplant went ahead on the 20th. He was a model patient and was home in 21 days. The difference was amazing, he was able to walk, shop, eat, cook and live the normal life of any other 24 year old. As his mum I can’t begin to explain how it felt to see him getting up each morning with a huge smile on his face, saying ‘how brilliant is this’ or ‘I feel amazing’.

Chris sadly passed away in May this year, he probably would have spent his last eight and a half months struggling to breathe and fighting continual depression and panic, instead he had two holidays with his mates, shopped, walked, danced, got stuck into the gardening and much much more, all thanks to somebody who didn’t even know him but gave him a gift.

A quote from Chris after transplant.

I couldnt ever imagine a life like the one I have now, when I was ill. I'M LOVING LIFE AND LIVING IT TO THE FULL.I am so grateful to my donor and his family and would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!!

Say’s it all doesn’t it.

www.livelifethengivelife.co.uk

Floppy lettuce syndrome

What a cracking time I’ve had! I’m back in the driving seat and I’m as relaxed as a bit of salad leaf that’s been drenched, all loloppy and wilted.

My two hour journey to Nottinghamshire was actually four because instead of doing the direct route I decided to go to the town centre (where I’ve met up with good buddy’s before) and then go from there to my mate’s house. Less stressful than doing a completely new route I thought. Arrived a bit stiff, partly because my bones hadn’t been in the driving seat for that long for ages and partly because I was a tad apprehensive about the whole going out alone thingy.

Got to the spa, into swimsuit and robe, slung my towel over my shoulder and proceeded to the food place for coffee where we were informed we were VIP’s today….good stuff. Next on the agenda was the sauna, from then on it was robe off, into very nice smelling, steamy, warm themed room followed by sensory shower of varying sprinkleness and temperature. There were six different rooms and showers to do and a Roman type spa pool to languish in whenever one felt like it and it was heated, I mean proper heat. Then we had a foot spa followed by lunch in the conservatory, now I really loved lounging around in a robe and barefoot all day, there was something soooooooo lazy and indulgent about wiggling my toes on marble while eating a delicious meal and contemplating the next luxury, which we decided was a lie down on the sunbeds in the zen garden because the sun had come out.

After lie down and much nattering (there hadn’t been a pause since arriving) we did the second floor, starting with a ‘wake up’ lemon scented iced facecloth thrown round our faces. On this floor we started with the waterbeds, I couldn’t stay still, it was brilliant squishing around, I was like a small hyperactive child until I saw that other people were quietly reading their books….time to move on. We dragged some massive bean bags out on the veranda overlooking another exotic garden then because the sun was back.

Next was a back, neck and shoulder massage and a facial, they’re only little these young girls who do them, but by heck they are very strong. Anna said ‘you have knots’ and proceeded to unknot them, I’m no wimp when it comes to a bit of pain but man it was excrutiating and nice alternately. By now it was time for coffee and massive wedge of cake, still in robe and bare feet.

We rounded off with a walk round the village, I can’t begin to describe the amount of interesting things going on in and around the forest setting and I was desperate to get on and play in any one of the wooden constructions that were designed for kids but looked so interesting, however rain, or rather monsoon like conditions didn’t allow for it and we decided to head home with wine and crusty bread.

I got the chance to meet Lorraines eldest son Dan, who’s having IV’s in hospital an hour away from home, what a charming young man he is, such a character, he played me all the music he had on his phone and tried to bluetooth me some but my daft phone wouldn’t work right, then we discussed ‘cars’ he’s passionate about them super duper one’s. Back at the ranch we were supposed to be having a wine/voddy night with much silly hat stuff on msn, however, as Nigel had set up my bed (bless him) I crashed big style….oooops.

This morning I met Joey properly, yesterday he wasn’t at all sure about me but I’d been around for a while now and he must have thought I was ok, I got a big kiss before playschool so I can’t be that scary. Dan text me to ask if I’d slept ok on his mattress and I had, like a brick. After a quick visit to Lorraines mum and dads (beautiful garden they have) we headed off to pick Joe up from playschool, we had our 65 roses t shirts on so as soon as we got back Joey dived upstairs and put his on too and he was so smiley, all three of us in the same kit….brilliant.

I can’t begin to say how much I’ve enjoyed myself, its been a huge boost to my confidence to be driving a long way again and kids!!! I love em, I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have arranged anything if it had been left up to me, so cheers chuck, you really are very special.

Memorable time, had to get it all down before voddy.

The Automobile

I HATE CARS!!!!!!!!

Go on, plan a long journey they say, then I’ll go all arsey and instead of getting stuff ready for the trip I’ll make you run round like something possessed until the very last minute, just to make damn sure you need that stress relief pamper day.

Well, not one, but both our car’s decided to test me today, I’ve beaten one of them and I only had to sit on a comfy leather couch for 3 hours while numerous blokes came in and out shaking their heads saying ‘wont budge this one' Our Mikes seat had got stuck in the furthest back position and my legs couldn’t reach the pedals, it took 3 huge men 3 hours to finally get it shifted, and what was stuck in the runner ..£1.63’s worth of very bent and squashed copper and a couple of boiled sweets.

I’m going now, to sort out the other monster, its developed a puncture and the rear view mirror fell on my knee…I’ll win this one, no bloody car is going to beat me.

I hope everyone’s having a pleasant day, take care y’all.

Beware..deep blog

Fulfiling an arrangement made previous to saying goodbye to Chris is something I could chose to do or not to do, after all, why put myself in a situation which would almost certainly make me sad. I’ve been pondering this one for a while now, but decided earlier this week that it was something I wanted to do.

Chris and I had made it a plan to visit the church that my friend Wendy went to, mainly because we both had faith but our usual church just didn’t do it for us, it lacked an uplifting feeling and the fish and chips on the way home was always more satisfying than the service. So this morning I put Chris’s earing in, stuffed his hat in my bag, put the last pic taken of the two of us in my pocket and went along to the service. It was a nice place to be, no protocol to follow, sit, stand ,wander, clap, mutter or zombify yourself, it was all acceptable and if anyone caught my eye it was met with a huge smile. Hugs were freely given without any embarrassment and I was invited to join everyone on the next ladies breakfast, where the men cook and we eat, now anyone who knows me well will know that if any food thing is on the go, I’ll be first in the queue. Apparently the man’s brekky was last week, so I managed to miss that one.

I have to say that I haven’t been able to pray since Chris left us, because to pray you have to think deep and thinking deep is too painful so I just avoid it, but while staying in the bungalow in Manchester for those six weeks praying was what kept me on an even keel and I missed it, so today was sad, but it was also very good, if you know what I mean.

Ok so enough heavy, this afternoon John Mike and I resembled the trotters, we cadged a van off my cousin and did mega moving of furniture, it didn’t go exactly to plan and the fridge freezer nearly ended up on the M53 due to dodgy knots, I however got home safe and sound with much bedroom furniture cos I was in the girl guides and when I tie it, its going nowhere.

Much love and hugs.
Sue x