Its nearly time to amble around Hyde Park with many 'pink' women once more. Because, at heart I'm a bit of an exhibitionist I'm posting this years outfit again. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with all the fab people, many of whom I have only spoken to in cyberland up to now.

Instead of being in a wheelchair hooked up to oxygen, this year our Emily will be walking and no doubt talking round the course, thats a major feat for someone who had a double lung transplant only 8 months ago, what an inspiration she is.

Although we're all excited and in happy mode, I'd like to take time out to remember another young person from the cf forum for whom the call didnt come in time, Robyn passed away on the 11th of September while waiting for a transplant and this is the real reason why we all take part in The Womens Hydroactive Challenge every year, because it raises awareness of cystic fibrosis and also organ donation hopefully encouraging more people to sign up to the donor register so less people die while waiting for that call.

Breathe easy now Robyn.

Temper temper!!!

I 'bit' my phone....very hard, so to anyone who usually texts me, I'm phoneless for the time being. I'm not sorry, it was the last straw when it refused to unfreeze last night, it was bite it or cry so I bit it. Surely everyone has done something similarly immature....haven't you?



Love to all

Sue x

Ring ring

Surprise surprise I can blog, this is indeed a bonus.

The gremlins moved into our house last week big time, first my pc told me windows was corrupt or something and wouldn’t boot up. No problem, I skipped upstairs and fired up our Chris’s, AOL says a local cable is unplugged and apologised for not being able to connect me……….ok!

My phone now freezes whenever it feels like it, mostly mid text, its not that bad though I only have to take the battery out for 30 seconds according to T Mobile, that re-boots it, that’s a relief, or is it? I re-boot it 20 times a day at the moment.

Sky has gone off, no warning, no message on the screen…just gone.

I’ve lost everything on my pc for the umpteenth time and have begun to seriously consider whether I actually need all this technology in my life. While being disconnected I’ve done jobs that have been needing done for years and I don’t have a headache or scratchy eyes from screen gazing while trying to work out what went wrong and how the hell do I get it back.

I have a land line, it has a book next to it with many phone numbers in it, when I dial the number I speak to the person I was expecting to speak to, we chat with our mouths instead of our fingertips, we know we have spoken because we remember the sound of each others voices and if we need to talk again, we’ll open the bloody book and the number will be there, we’ll dial it and bingo…we get the same person again. The book will never tell me its lost the numbers or self destruct in front of my eyes and my landline will work, just as long as I’m not in the middle of changing to talk talk. I’m sticking to the old dog an bone for now, before I lose my marbles.

Long rule pen ‘n’ paper, technology…..HAH!!!! its out to get us and one by one we’ll end up in padded cells.

Goodnight.

Dead sea salt

I’ve just been had !!!

I’m stunned with myself and I reckon I need a good slap. Recently I’ve given myself a few pats on the back for not succumbing to over spending or silly spending, well that’s if you don’t count the ugly gnome, tacky wicker candle holders and chamber pot look alike, but they were a snip at £2 each from Asda. Anyway, compared to my hubby’s latest purchaces and Mike’s huuuuuuge spend on his new car I thought I was doing pretty well, until today.

I’d got my rear in gear and got back to the swimming at long last, I did 32 lengths….well done me, I didn’t feel like going straight home so headed off to nearby shops in order to buy new trainers and three quarter length joggers for the hydro (not classed as unnecessary spend as they are needed). I got the trainers for £35 which I think is reasonable, desperatley wanted pink joggers but gave up and got pale grey, now they were a bargain at £6.99. I left the shop ready to head home for a coronation chicken butty, I’m hooked on this at the moment and have been known to eat a whole container full before I get it onto a butty or in a spud. I obviously had a sign on my back for all to see saying EASY TARGET or something similar, because I was persuaded by this very good looking French speaking bloke to spare him 5 minutes of my time so he could pamper me. I’m not stupid, of course I knew it would cost me, you don’t get young French good looking blokes for nowt these days, but what the hell I was curious.

Top and bottom of it is, I had my hands and forearms messed about with for 20 minutes with salt, not just any old salt though, ‘dead sea salt’ and I ended up buying a pot for £25…….why? I could have gone to Sainsburys and bought a massive thing of it for under £2, I must be losing my touch.

Dam it

I cannot make blogger put the writing in the right place on the last post so its staying where it is, I've been here for aaaaages, I have to go.......now!!

Horrid, horrid blogger.

Smiley

The week before last wasn’t nice, I’d decided to give in and let myself be a miz, it was horrid and I wont be doing it again if I can possibly help it.

This week has been so different, I think its time for a ‘What’s made me smile’ this week blog.

I went to an afternoon hen party, it was quite different from anything I’ve been to before and most enjoyable, the music and food was mainly African as was the dancing, we all had these shimmy belts on and were trying to copy the experts who could make parts of their bodies move independently, naturally we ended up laughing loads. My mate has already done belly dancing so I’m joining the class as well in the hope that I can make things move independantly

My plumbs have been ‘fab’ this year, I honestly do think they’re the very best you’ll ever taste, I’ve eaten about a hundred of them in this last week and also given a bag to anyone I could force them on.

The sun put in an appearance at last so I was able to get mucky and work my butt of in the garden, followed by a few sessions on the hammock with a bit of something cold in a glass…….tonic.

My new neighbours impression of us is now dodgy due to my friend on the other side of us shouting across the back ‘Sue I’ve put another cannabis plant in your front garden’ I love to observe the shocked but try to hide it look on peoples faces at such times. I will eventually get round to telling them he meant a ‘pot marigold’ not yet though.

My week ended with a brilliant trip to Dumfries, we left on Thursday morning, hubby was driving as he hates to be my passenger and my last fiasco was still fresh in his mind. Anyway, we arrived at my good buddy’s and I got to meet her daughter who I’ve only known of in cyberland up until now, we were greeted with much food and had a big catch up. Afterwards we went up to P’s house and the first thing I spotted was a massive trampoline in her garden, I couldn’t resist, so I asked if I could have a go on it….whoooooo it was brilliant, I felt like a kid chucking myself around on it. I did put my lattissimus out a bit, small price to pay for such fun though and its fine now. More food, coffee and natter then off to the hotel to freshen up for dinner.

The hotel was set by a river with beautiful gardens and was so quiet and peaceful.

My meal was scrummy and so was everyone elses I had a taste of….yes I really am a nightmare to eat with. A cosy evening in the lounge chatting rounded off the night then off to bed in a strange place, something that always makes me smile.

What a cracking time we had, can’t wait to do it again. There’s some really lovely people in this world, we just have to get out there and meet them, they enrich our lives, so they do.

I'll finish off with a pic of my good buddy and her grandson, who I had the pleasure of meeting along with his mum.......It looks a bit like he's about to give her a kick but I assure you he isn't, he was bouncing round her, making her giggle.



Hope alls well with everyone.

Much love Sue x

I've had a brainstorm......or is it a brainwave, whatever!!!

Constantly wanting to test myself I've decided to have a fiddle about with this blogging lark and in future I'll have two.

I'm keeping this one for my usual mad ramblings and I'm in the process of making another one for more ramblings of a different nature, mainly to do with our Chris. I'm quite pleased with my decision to have two blogs, something else to keep me glued to the pc is always a good move. It will probably take me a good few weeks to get the other one up and running mainly because the sun has been out here and when 'its' out so am I and of course every name I came up with 'blogger' says its already taken, yeah right.....liar.

I've had a cracking two days in the garden.....blog to follow, also ordered my 'Angels' t-shirt, dusted me wings and purchased some very sparkley beads....I'm sooooooo excited an I just can't hide it, forgot the rest.

Chester to Oxfordshire and back (nearly via London) in 9½ hours with out stopping.

Well then, that was a learning curve, No, I didn’t just want to see if I could do it. I was supposed to be meeting up with a good buddy today in Banbury, which is in Oxfordshire, I printed my route off last night and got on my way at 9-30 this morning. I can’t for the life of me understand how it all went wronger and wronger, I think it started after the toll road in Birmingham, or maybe a bit further on than that, I missed a turn off for the M42 I think.

Anyway, suffice to say I got mega lost, not once, but 3 times, you know when it suddenly hits you that this planned day just isn’t going to happen, because you just pulled into yet another services in no mans land. I was sooooo frustrated I just sat on the nearest seat and cried my eyes out, then phoned my hubby and asked him to tell me where to go….he was tempted bless him, but instead he asked me where I was. I didn’t know, well which junction did you come off at?, I didn’t, it’s a services. He’s patient my hubby, but only to a point, so I said I’d ring him back when I knew where I was.

I’ll not subject anyone reading this to the rest of the fiasco that was today, but I’ve learned something…two things actually. I must brush up on my geography because when going north in one place, it doesn’t really apply when in another place, it depends which side of the motorway you’re on. Secondly…..I must have a Sat Nav thing.

What a bloody day, on my return our Mike asked me if I’d be trying that route again, too right I will, it wont beat me. Got it off my chest now.....bedtime.

Andy….Soz you had a wasted journey hun.

My kinda day.

I’ve had a welly day today, this is my very very favourite kind of day. There’s something so satisfying about getting stuck in and tackling a physical job..in muck. I counted 124 snails/slugs, 4 little frogs, a massive toad, zillions of caterpillars and an odd butterfly here and there. I’ve got 5 insect bites and my shoulders and back feel like I’ve been on the rack….but do you know what, I’m as happy as a pig in s**t, so I am.

The work carried out today was a start on the ‘secret garden’
This is the before pic.

And this is the after.

Don’t laugh, I know its not the sort of before and after you see when Charlie Dimmock and Tommy have paid a visit, but I bet the end result will be just as magnificent.

John’s been shopping again, purchases today are a massive gas barbeque and a hammock, oh yeah and a message for Nigel….Lorraine are you making a note of this. A weeny shiny fire putter outer is an essential for the man den in case you have an indoor barbeque ;-) John got a pressy from his employers today because they’ve had three years without a lost time accident in his department. They gave him a little fire extinguisher, I swear he couldn’t have been happier if they’d presented him with a cheque for £1000, he excitedly rushed off to the den and fixed it to the wall, what!!!!! I have things that have needed fixing to walls for years and he puts an extinguisher in the den in 10 seconds flat. He then proceeded to instruct me on the correct way to use the damn thing, I was speechless and couldn’t even get the words out of my mouth to tell him I had my fire extinguisher certificate already…thank you.

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

Happy anniversary us

Flippin heck, we've been married for 32 years, how loooong is that then. I was 18 when this photo was taken so John must have been erm...20. What a cracking day it was, the sun used to be out in June in them days, we'd have been rowing to the church if it was now.

Our honeymoon was a week in Glasgow and we went on a bike.....brilliant. Do we have any plans for today? Yep, British gas are coming to service the central heating and John's varnishing his den if it stops raining long enough.

Mens dens

Now then, my hubby never ever spends money, its not that he’s a tight fisted git or anything, he just doesn’t care where his money goes. In fact he doesn’t even know how much he earns or what the outgoings are and never bats an eyelid when I tell him we have nothing in the bank, like I did last year when he went shopping on a Saturday and came back with a house. Well he didn’t bring the house back with him, it followed on later after they made the massive concrete slab in the garden for it so sit on. John’s wendy house is a mens den, they love em don’t they, he always promised the lads he was going to build them a tree house, I defy anyone to find a tree big enough for this thing to nestle in.

Although I was told there were to be no women allowed in there except by special invitation, I could pick the décor, not because he’s kind though but because he couldn’t be bothered going shopping twice in one year. I ordered a sofa bed from argos as he’s intending to camp out regularly, anyway it said it was wine but when it came it was a definite pink which made me chuckle…hehe pink couch in man den. I suggested a bit of something to cover the windows and he panicked and sacked me on the spot. So lets recap, he has a big digital telly and a sofa bed and he reckons once he gets a fridge in there its complete, I still cant have a key though unless its to go in there and clean up.

We’re still doing ok, well I think we are, its never going to be easy and just talking about the cabin makes me cry, Chris was well pleased when John bought it and he had many plans for nights with the lads down there, no girls of course…yeah right.

P.S. John's turn for silly hat.

Due to weather conditions being similar to November I’m unable to give you a gardening update on this blog, I apologise for that as I know it’s the main reason why people read it. I did however carry on mowing yesterday to see what it was like to do it in a torrential downpour, it was ok, a bit of an anti-climax really, I had expected it to move me. Number 8 has been knocked off the list though, so it wasn’t a total waste of time.

I caught up with a very very old friend today, we did lunch at my favourite garden centre, favourite because it does a mean gammon and I also wanted to pick up a miniature Lemon scented Cyprus. I’ve known Wendy since I was about five years old, we lived in the same avenue, worked together when we left school, got married the same time and holidayed together a few times. We might not see each other for a few years, but when we meet, we pick up right were we left off, dead comfy that is. Strangely enough we bumped into one another in Asda on a few occasions when I was out and about with Chris after he had his transplant and she’d got to know him quite well. We talked a lot about him today and it was really quite emotional for me as I was having a ‘weak alert’ day due to his hat falling out of the veg rack when I was looking for an onion.

I’ve decided I’m not going to run the Hydro this year, I’m walking instead, so I can have a good old natter at everyone on the way round, it has nothing at all to do with the fact that I’ve lost interest in training, I prefer to swim at the moment or float and that wont get me fit enough to run a 5k. I’m doing a horse on this one ( horse story on a previous blog) and changing my mind, because I can…..anyone can. Excitement is creeping in about the forthcoming Hyde Park get together now, I can’t wait to see everyone again and have a picnic, not forgetting the extra little fund raiser that involves Andy putting himself into the hands of a group of crazy women, we already have a few idea’s, but haven’t told him exactly what its going to be as we like to wind him up a bit first

I have a whole day’s pampering coming up thanks to my good buddy, lots of food, massage, bubbly tub, Greek something, Japanese something, Indian and Turkish somethings and loads more, that’ll make a good blog and will also make me drive a long way again……brilliant.

I’m going now because the rain has stopped and I should be out there, so I can write about muck ‘n’ stuff next time.

Before I go, I’ve been reading E & J’s blogs and they’ve been talking about their old school books and the comments in them from teachers, from what I remember the one most commonly seen in mine was ‘Susan is erratic’ which I just looked up and it means unpredictable…..good!!, I never ever want to be predicable

Take care all, love to you and yours.
Sue x

I’m on a blog roll, so prepare to be inundated with blogness for a while..its ok, waffle is allowed.

Now then, I’ve had some wonderful pressies over the last couple of months, because people are lovely and very thoughtful. I’ve had flowers, plants, choccies, charms, wine, pamper myself equiptment and a spade…..yep, a spade, not just any old spade though, oh no! my friend next door gave me a border spade. It does what it says on the label, it digs borders, all you have to do is stand straight, aim and stab the floor, bingo!!! you have another border, I’m mightily impressed by this tool and am in danger of going border crazy, my latest one is mainly red and white, although the plants are a wee bit small at the mo so you may not be able to appreciate the fact that they are in honour of our fab footy team.

I went to see my mum on Sunday, all went well until I recognised my hubby’s workplace, which I’d passed just 10 minutes ago…Ahah, I’d done the full roundabout thing and fought to get in the right lane to go back home, but I’d missed out the visit to me mother. I got there eventually and as I was saying bye I winked at her and said, I’ll probably be back in a minute chuck.

Wonder what I’ll get up to tomorrow.

Take care all
Sue x

Stoooopid hat pic of the week this week has to go to Pam, our Mike’s lovely fiancé, bless her, she’s a star. We had a cracking day yesterday getting together with her family and friends to watch her chuck herself out of a plane 10,000 feet up, how brave is that eh!!!! She also raised £750 for the cf trust, I can only just get in a plane, there’s absolutely no chance that I could then fling myself back out of it….much respect to Pam and also my buddy Lorraine for their fearlessness

I cried all the way home because our Chris had so been looking forward to watching her do the jump, its ok though, crying is allowed, we were all going out for a Chinese that night so I knew I’d be smiley again when huge amounts of food appeared in front of me…and I was. The meal was fab, we had a good laugh and a respectable amount of voddy was polished off. The round up of the day was an hour down the garden chewing the fat over what a good day it had been……brilliant.

Love to all
Sue x

P.S. After seeing Pam do it I’ve added it to my list ‘try it and see’ and all that, bugger it I’ll give it a go.

I’ve managed to do 30 lengths of the super duper swish pool for the last few days and I floated a whole length, I always wondered if I could float a whole length, an I can, bless our Mike for paying a years membership for me, in order to ‘get me outa the house’. This has been a brilliant confidence booster, as recently, much to my surprise, I haven’t felt very brave when mixing with the general public, its quite alien to me to feel vulnerable and imagine people are looking at me, thinking…eh up!!! Somats up with her. Of course they aren’t, as they have only one thing on their mind, ‘do I need eggs’ or ‘who’s birthday is it now’ and ‘that cow on till five needs a slap’ but if I’m not perplexed about the general public’s determination to stare at me, then its OMG, will I see something which upsets me and lose the plot in the aisle in Sainsbury’s. I’ve seen people being brought a chair and a glass of water and yes…..I’ve also taken a sly glance, so would rather like to avoid Mr & Mrs News of the World catching me next to the mushrooms looking pale.

Anyway, its been a good day today, after my mega swim and shower I came home and had brekkie on the veranda of the cabin (the cabin will be another blog), then I spent hours making a border for my night scented stock, such a heavenly smell that stuff has. The kitten from hell who Chris called Rodney has to be everywhere at all times so she helped me to get a fine till to the soil as it resembled a litter tray, I had to cover up and put a stoooopid hat on in the end, but fear it was a bit late, as by now my skin had started to be bubbly, not to worry though it will be a nice golden brown in a couple of days.

The secret garden is coming on a treat: see pic below.



Take care all, love to you and yours, and to the person I upset, if you're reading this, I'm sorry......cabbaged head thingy, thanks for your wise words.

Sue x

Stooopid hat pic for Lorraine and Shadow.

This grief thing is very harsh and unrelenting so I’ve sat myself down and asked, what can I do to make damn sure I have some lightness in my life right now and I came up with, why not blog about what’s made me smile. So, here goes.

Barry and Chris telling me they’ve sponsored a raggy old moggie called Lenny in Chris’s name.

The text conversation with Mike.

Mike – How r u doin 2day mum?
Me - I’m doing ok babe, what about you?
Mike – I’m ok, im glad ur ok, I hope that’s the truth mother.
Me - It’s the truth son x

Spending last night with my sis and cousin in the hot tub outside in the rain, wearing stoooopid hats and eating copious amounts of Indian takeaway.

The secret timetable that my family and friends have on the go which produces bods out of nowhere ensuring I'm kept amused.

Teaching my friend how to use her pc, I just love enthusiasm.

Texts and emails that talk about the weather, food and the universe etc…

That’s made me smile just typing them.

Take care all.
Sue x

Its sodding me off now that I can't get the paragraphing right, so its staying as it is.

I managed to stay on my feet yesterday, which is a first for me as I usually faint on such occasions. As soon as we walked into the chapel I got my ‘calm’ this has been a truly amazing thing that’s clicked in numerous times over the past two months and it enabled me to take in every minute of Chris’s service, one that he had planned down to the last detail.

I was also a very proud mum yesterday, the amount of people who came and the wonderful things they said about Chris were a tribute to him and said what we have always known, that he was a ‘top bloke’. The messages for his friends and family which were written in his diary and to be read out were inspiring to say the least and lots of people remarked that it had made them stop and think and hopefully get out there and enjoy every day.

A nice touch back at the pub was twenty four white helium balloons which everybody wrote a message on then we released, it was a mesmerising moment with crowds of us standing in the road staring at the sky until all but one balloon disappeared into the clouds, I like to think that one stayed there a little bit longer to let us all know that he was watching…….at this point he’d say….ok, ok shut it now mother, so I will.

Eric got everyone in floods as did ‘we are soldiers’ previously arranged by Chris.

Take care all
Sue x

Just a quick blog to let everyone know we’re ok, all that needs to be done is done and I’ve been told tomorrow is a chill day for me, however I’ve secretly written a list which makes sure I’m on the go until at least teatime. I managed to get 2 hours gardening in today, it was a tonic and charged my batteries. Doing something you enjoy is a must, even though you think it’s the last thing you can be arsed doing…..just do it, because it seems to release those hormones that are in very short supply just now.

Once again a huge thank you to everybody for the messages and cards, I’m much overwhelmed.

Take care
Sue x

Yesterday wasn’t the best I’ve had so far, due to much red tape in Manchester things were made harder than they already are for a family who have lost someone close to them. We could have done without it, but rules are rules and I don’t stand a chance of changing them alone, note to myself once my head is on the right way again, write a letter to voice my opinion on their procedure.

I’m totally amazed at the amount of messages, cards, flowers, visitors etc.. that have been pouring in for Chris, the things people are saying and the sheer numbers that have asked if they can come to the funeral is mind boggling, I know he was liked but never imagined just how far that spread.

John was in Chris’s room yesterday looking for something and decided to pick up his diary, for some reason he flicked to the back and found an entry which was a change of music for the beginning of his service, so its back to the printers pronto this morning, little git keeping me on my toes as usual.

Once again, many thanks for all the lovely cards and messages they really do make a huge difference.

Take care all.
Sue xxx

We’re all ok, working as a team and getting there. There’s so much to do and my control freak personality means I insist on doing everything myself, mind you that’s a good thing as it keeps me mega busy with little time to sit and think.

I took some time out yesterday to go sit in Chris’s room and while pondering I spotted his diary, he’d always said to me, you can read this after I’m gone you know. Now, I’m finding I only do things when I feel strong enough, and I reckoned I was, it turned out to be a positive move because by the time I’d read two pages I was laughing my head off, what a brilliant thing to be able to do at such a time, it didn’t surprise me one bit that he could continue to make me laugh because that’s Chris.

I’ve been reading the comments on my blog, the forum and email I’ve received, but struggle a bit at the moment to sit down and focus so thought a quick update on here would be a good move.

I’m basically a control freak and have to have a master plan for everything, so at the moment here its, if you’re struggling shout, text or ring saying “weak alert” this is the red button and will be answered immediately.

We miss our Chris like hell, but he decided when enough was enough and when that time came believe it or not he had a smirky smile on his face. The team at Wythenshawe are awsome but they had no chance as Chris has always had his own agenda and did things his way. We’d already discussed his arrangements for the public goodbye and he chose Tears in heaven by Eric Clapton because he said “that’ll get em all cryin”……bloody typical.

Thank you everyone for all the lovely messages of support for us you’ll never ever know how much its helped us, you’re stars all of you.

Take care
Sue, John & Mike xxx

Nite x

We had to say goodbye to Chris last night, God bless you and keep you safe until we meet again, we’re going to miss you so much. Nothing in this life will ever hurt us more than this.

Nite babe x

Ok, I sang at him yesterday, now I’m not saying that’s what did it, but there was a tiny improvement. I gave him my rendition of “wake me up when September ends” then told him straight, if you think you’re lying stinking in this bed till the end of September, you’re not……..NO CHANCE!! He’s still asleep at the mo and can’t tell me to shut it so today I might sing Grace Kelly, that’s a nice lively one.

I spent a night in my own bed, the first for over 5 weeks, this is also good. In the afternoon I mowed over a big cable in the garden which wiped out the electricity in the house and nearly fried me fish in the pond, this is not so good.

Well Chris is still here and still holding his own despite many efforts by the bacterial and viral gremlins to get shut of him. There isn’t much more to tell you really, he did start to progress for a couple of days, then we were called in at 4am on Saturday morning as the doctors were concerned. Since then he’s been asleep again and stable, but he has a new fight on his hands as we’re more or less back to square one the doctor said.

Its hard to put into words what I’ve seen Chris go through in the last 5 weeks and I have to admit to wondering whether, if he was able, he would tell us all to leave him in peace. I don’t think he would because when he is awake he’s the smiliest patient on the unit and virtually every member of staff puts their head in to see him because they reckon he’s special, I cant argue with that. He’s fought to get through whatever’s come along so far, please keep praying he wins this one.

I’m home with John and Mike for the day and am about to get my scruffy kit on and do some gardening while John prepares us a feast on the barbeque, its lovely to be here, but not quite right, if you know what I mean.

Thanks again people for all the lovely messages and continuing support, I so miss all my buddy’s. Chris hasn't been able to read his messages from the forum yet but I have read the cards out to him and Ive printed the messages out ready for when he's a bit more with it.

Take care all.
Sue x

Just a very quick update as it’s a flying visit. I’m sorry for lack of news about Chris but its absolutely impossible at the moment to give any clear picture of a definite path. Many thanks to my good buddy for updating you all on her blog, however even since the last update the situation has changed yet again.

Chris had a good day yesterday, unfortunately there were several blips in the night and a big blip this morning, so he’s now sedated again and fairly stable.

Thanks a million for the continued support everybody when there’s anything more definite to tell you I’ll be sure to blog.

Sue x

A very stable night was yesterday mornings report, which I imagine is one up from stable I think, unstable being one down I imagine, or maybe there’s a nearly unstable before that…..who knows where the stableness chart starts and finishes.
Sorry if this seems flippant at such a time but it was an actual conversation that took place between me, Mike and his mate last night and it was a good tension reliever as it became more and more ridiculous.

I obviously wouldn’t be blogging in this manner if things weren’t a wee bit better and they are, just a tad mind you, its tiny steps at the moment but tiny is massive to us here.

He no longer sends his sats and blood pressure through the floor when they so much as look at him let alone comb his hair and they can turn him on his side without the panic button on the ward being pressed, infection markers are down to 19 and he’s only on 65-70% oxygen through the vent. This was yesterday.

This morning they reduced the sedation and also the amount of support he was receiving from the vent, so he is now doing a lot more breathing on his own and managing raise his eyebrows now and then, he also grinned about 4 times or had wind. The doctor came to speak to me this afternoon and said he’d had massive pneumonia but we were no longer fighting that as it had practically gone, what he has now is something called Adult Lung Shock Syndrome, that might or might not be the correct name but its close. Apparently Chris’s lungs have gone into shock and we’re not out of the woods yet he said.

I have an outfit ready for when he wakes up properly, it’s a grey head of hair a wrinckly mask and no finger nails and I didn’t even have to go out and buy it.

As always the team here are brilliant, the people who have prayed and sent many messages are something money could never buy and very stable is good for now.

Many thanks everyone.
Sue x

So this is what my house looks like!

I’m home for a few hours so thought I’d do a quick update. 12 days on Chris’s condition has continued to be worrying to say the least, things change few hourly rather than daily and each day there is at least one crisis. I’m in awe of the team, as they tackle everything that comes along and get him stable again time after time. They still don’t know for sure what they’re fighting and he’s now being treated for infection, (bacterial and viral), inflammation, rejection and a brand new infection this morning which sent his infection markers back up to 130 from 30 yesterday. He’s still fully sedated and on the ventilator through a tracheostomy with oxygen at 100%, however there has been an improvement in his heart rate and sats today and they’ve managed to stop him throwing random breaths in here and there so the ventilator can do its job and he can rest.

Massive thanks to all who have sent messages through many channels and also for all the prayers, you’re stars all of you. Rest assured you will all be among the first to hear when things start to look up.

Keep praying people.
Sue x

Just a very quick blog to let people know whats going on. Chris was transferred to ICU on Thursday as they felt he needed one to one care and possibly more help with his breathing than the ward could provide. Since then he’s been on c-pap with oxygen at 100%, once or twice they’ve tried to take him off it but he’s got into a bit of difficulty and has had to be put back on. They suspect that he has a virus rather than a bacterial infection which makes it much more diffucult to treat, loads of rest is the best treatment so his body can fight the infection, unfortunately one can’t just click one’s fingers and sleep when feeling very poorly and anxious. Last night there was a big improvement and he was able to cope with just a normal oxygen mask for a couple of hours and even ate some tea, however he had a rough night so was put back on c-pap at 100% and remains on it now. Because he had very little rest last night I’m afraid we’re back to square one today and they’ve requested he dosen’t have visitors until this evening, including me and John. Things can change from one minute to the next and I wont be blogging very often as I’m staying in a bungalow at the hospital but I’ll try to let you know through Andy or Lorraine.

Whatever your faith please say a prayer for his recovery.

Chris say’s he feels a bit better today, which is good. However his blood gases have dropped again and sats are lower so he’s on oxygen continually for the time being, he’s having two units of blood tonight presumably because he’s anaemic, I don’t know for sure as there were no doctors around for me to ask. When I was leaving tonight I saw the transplant sister and voiced my concern about his breathing, she said he’s fighting a major infection, I asked how do you know its infection rather than rejection, she said rejection usually looks like cloudy patches on the xray, ‘did you see his xray’ she said. I had and agreed with her that it looked very like his xrays before transplant, so hopefully it is just infection which should show signs of improvement as the iv’s kick in. They’re not going to do a bronch until he’s a bit better and stronger.

Despite being a bit under the weather him and Mike managed to wind me up tonight, it was all to do with CHEESE, there was a question in the latest edition of ‘Nuts’

How many cheeses does the U.K. produce.?

I was allowed as many guesses as I wanted but got fed up after 20 and pleaded for the answer, as by now it was imperative that I had this information. Mike ripped the answer out of the page and said because I was impatient I would now never know how many cheeses were produced by the U.K. So if any avid readers of Nuts read this will you please trawl through your copy and put me out of my misery….Thank You.

And Goodnight.

Monday morning Chris seemed a bit better but as the day wore on he became lethargic and complained of a stiff neck and flu like symptoms, so he rang Wythenshawe. He explained that he hadn’t been to clinic for about 4-5 weeks as his last appointment was cancelled when they’d taken him in to have his wires sorted, he’d ended up coming back home because he had a slight cold and they didn’t want to risk a general, but no further appointment for clinic was made at that time. Because of the wires being in a sticky out position he hasn’t been able to do his blows properly, so he didn’t know whether the low reading he got on Monday was a true one or not.

On Tuesday morning it was a mission to get him to Manchester, he was obviously a very unwell bod, even with his parka on with the hood up and the heater blasting out on full he was shivering so much that his back sort of went into spasm. We had to pull off the motorway for him to be sick and that made him colder, so he shivered more.

He was admitted as he has a nasty chest infection blood pressure is low he’s dehydrated and sats are down, he’s on oxygen as his blood gases aren’t brilliant and his blows are down to 54 from about 90. Because they don’t know what the infection is until all results are back he’s on iv’s for psuedo, aspergillis and cmv virus. Once the results are back they’ll be able to target the infection and hopefully we’ll see an improvement over the next 48 hours. The doc’s have tried to reassure him its not unusual to get an infection in the first twelve months after transplant, but he’s extremely anxious at the moment because of what happened with our James, I can’t imagine how hard that must be for him to deal with.

He’s never allowed his friends to visit him when in hospital and poorly, they usually have to wait until he’s a bit better but last night his best mate insisted on going up which was a good move as he had him laughing his head off within minutes of arriving. I was told I could go and I should send his mates in future because I’m no good at it any more, to which I replied, I’ve been doing it for 24 years and the novelty has worn off now, cheeky git.

More Sun

I worship the sun, it’s a god and I hold it in the highest regard, great big yellow shiny ball in the sky pleeeeeeez stay out forever.

I increased everything at the gym this morning, went for more reps on the weight things rather than upping the weight and jogged faster rather than longer on the treadmill, no idea if that’s the way to go so must check it out with them that know. I’m applying for a job down there, its in the bar in the restaurant, the good bit is, if you work there you get your membership free and also get to nominate someone else for free membership, now at over £600 a year per person that’s a dam good perk…so if I get it Chris can join me and Mike in our manic quest to be fitter than is humanly possible. I’m rather hoping for one on reception to come up, not that I’m a snob and the bar is below me but I really shouldn’t be placed too close to voddy for too long and anyway they get a much snazzier uniform on reception.

We have a very exhausted Chris here today who’s running a temp and totally whacked out. After returning from his holiday on Saturday he only paused for half an hour, then went shopping, then paused for half an hour, then went clubbing, then was brought home by car by a bouncer, who must have been a very very nice man to do such a deed. He’d had a dramatic hypo in the club and no hypo-stop gel with him, which is the only thing that works quickly enough for Chris, after pouring much coke down his neck which just kept him from fitting he decided he should head home. So after only one pint and a whiff of a dance, like Cinderella he was whisked away, fortunately after some gel and lucozade his sugar’s rose and he went to bed Mike said. The after effects are an exhausted son with a temp, but I wont comment about doing too much, I wont even incline my head or raise my eyebrows because I’ve learned to shut up now, I just come on here and write it, works a treat.

Still can’t think of that song…arghhhhhhh.

Sun Swim Song Son

Hasn’t the weather been absolutely brilliant today eh!!

I did 26 lengths non stop this morning at 9am…life’s good.

Something is driving me insane though, I can’t remember the name of a song, in the video the singer (not unlike the one on the Halifax advert) is walking through a train carriage, then he’s on a platform and there’s lots of people either walking along or on the escalator, I’ve asked everyone I know and nobody can remember it……help.

Chris got back, stayed half an hour and went shopping not seen him since, judging by the 93 photo’s he took he had a brill time and walked loads..all uphill naturally because Wales is.

The title of this blog looks like it should be a tongue twister but its not, I said it fast 10 times and it was still right.....fascinating!

A lot of nothing

Time for a blog methinks, nothing of note has happened here apart from our Mike’s results which are, he doesn’t have cf, its asthma and an allergy to dust, so I now have to clean his room, It’ll be a long job and protective clothing will be a must for health and safety reasons in fact I may be wise to have a safety rope attached as well just to be sure I have a means of escape.

The garage saga goes on, the first bit went quick but hubby found a crack in the only wall that had been left standing and which they decided WAS safe to build off. So progress since then has been snail like while they have a million looks and discuss how best to proceed. This is how its looked for 2 weeks, the cat’s are having a ball diving in and out of the holes where the windows and door should be, glad it makes someone happy, actually I couldn’t really care less how long it takes to rebuild it, things like that don’t bother me in the least, I just don’t care but the men are impatient and pace up and down and go in and out sighing and shaking their heads because it’s a den in their eyes and that’s another blog for another time.



I am still loving the gym and am progressing marvellously, you have to say that to yourself loads, its called positive thinking or maybe brainwashing. I can do 8 minutes on the treadmill of intermittent training which is alternating 2 mins on very fast walk (6.0) and 2 mins on a bit of a jog (7.2) , I can also stay on the ball while lifting very very small dumbbells and I now don’t feel faint after I’ve done the Versa Climber, which is the most wicked machine in the world. I also think I need to up the weights on the other machines now as its become easy. Pat on the back for me and a gold star because I never had this much commitment before.

Work on my secret garden has been halted for now but I have found someone with a digger who’s dad is mates with the farmer so bringing it through the back field wont be a problem he says. It was actually Chris who found him its one of his mates who was present at a wee party that took place at our house while we were away in York. As well as digging up muck and making the ground flat so I have a nice canvas to work on in my secret garden this chap is doing us a patio outside the back door apparently, it was arranged by Chris on the night of the party and all we have to do is pay the £1,060, how thoughtful is my son eh!!!!

Mike came home from work and wanted me to do a number 3 all over his head as he’s fed up with his hair, I’ve never clippered hair before and tried to get out of it, but remembering the title of my blog ‘Try it and see’ I did it and it looks brill. You can do this forever now he said, saves me a fiver a time, sling it on the housekeeping why don’t ya I said but he just laughed…loudly.

Chris is back tomorrow, I've missed the little git, we were honoured with a phone call last night and it sounds like he's having a brilliant time, done loads of walking and hardly seen the local......yeah right.

Good

Mike doesn't have cf, this is good news.

Overstretched

Yesterday at the “stretch” class, deemed essential if you’re intending to run a race, she said, now while sitting on your left leg bring your right leg across your knee, stretch your right arm up, then down over your shoulder now bring your left arm round your back clasp your right hand and PUSH your right forearm towards your back. I’m sure that was the one that’s rendered me incapable of doing any slight movement today without a kind of Uhhhh or Ahhh, and my backs not happy the bottom of it feels like I have a toothache in there.

Moan over, no sympathy expected as its self inflicted and all me own fault.

Anyway I thought a swim might be a good idea this morning as the thinking today is keep it moving, don’t lie up or you’ll stiffen…more. I went to dig out the cozzi, its been about 2 years since I had any swimming gear on and I wasn’t happy with what the lying toad of a mirror had to say. So! off to bloody shops to purchase new cozzi, I was going swimming no matter what, eventually I found a suitable thing in Next, they call it a tankini I think and it has an inbuilt wonderbra to make us with nowt feel in proportion.

2nd moan over, again no sympathy expected as losing weight is a side effect of going to the gym again self inflicted.

The boys are still 10 steps ahead of me in the winding up game, I did my ironing yesterday while being drawn on, clipped round the head with a newspaper and all kinds of bits and pieces being stuffed into the arms legs and pockets of items being ironed, I tried to keep cool but lost it in a major strop when my best pink jumper was dragged off the ironing board and flung on the floor for the third time.

I don’t see an awful lot of Chris nowdays but I was parked at our local shops today when a fist hit my bonnet, yep it was he, walking round, as I thought to speak to me he opened the door wide and shouted “I’ve been shopping” I started to ask when he might be appearing home but he’d already gone leaving the door wide open…bugger you, starve then.

3rd moan over, no sympathy here either, as they say its my own fault “ I borned em”

Deep Blog

Is it wrong not to want to watch tv programs such as The News or Comic Relief? I haven’t sat down to watch television for a very long time, I did tonight and I’m sorry but I won’t be doing it again any time soon. I know there’s lots of misery in the world and I wish there wasn’t, but for me and this is a totally personal point of view, for me to watch it all is destructive, I care and it makes me miserable to see it, a miserable me does nothing for my family or friends, so I don’t watch any more Is that selfish?
I can’t solve the problems of the world, I can be an ostrich and remain a positive person who will always see the good in people before I notice any faults they might have. I can make a difference in my small world, I know I can, so that’s what I concentrate on.

Does that make me a selfish person?

One Nil to them

I had to blog tonight because its all mish mashin around in my head, the boys are winding me up loads, I mean loads, they seem to have got together and decided it was time I entered a secure place and be spoon fed whilst in a straight jacket. Our Mike drove us to the gym last night, I say us as his mate was also on board, when we left he headed in a different direction and pulled into a place well known as dodgy, now I’m not saying anything else about this building other than beyond the car park its very very secure. He pulled in, turned to his mate in the back and said, right get the window down and for god’s sake be quick this time, he then said to me ‘mother say nothing about what you see..right , its whats known as a..by then I was rigid and speechless and white, they must have felt sorry for me at this point and burst out laughing, I was just turning the car round, don’t panic…it was too late, I already had.

Chris has been the most irritating little toe rag on the planet today, he’s bored he has loads of energy and it has to go somewhere, I don’t ever remember him being so bloody annoying even before he got really poorly, he say’s he’s never actually felt this good before so couldnt be bothered, when I reach for my purse to pay for something its anyone's guess what my hand will end up in, he was somewhere today in Next but I couldnt find him, just heard a 'mum' every now and then. The cats downright refuse to eat anything labelled cat food as he opens a tin of tuna every morning and invites all three of them to join him. My nerves are frazzled and I know there’s more lined up for tomorrow as he bought me a pressy today, it was James Morrisons new album ‘Undiscovered’ when he handed it to me he said be warned mother, you owe me now, for the rest of the week I can terrorise you.

I used to be one step ahead, I’m going to have to do something to prove I still am. Watch this space!!!

Overdoin it

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m an a person with an addictive personality, I can’t do things in moderation, I do it, I like it, then I love it and have to do it loads. Even after being warned by many people that I shouldn’t overdo it I’m now at the gym every single day, I missed Sunday I think and it mithered the life out of me. I’m hooked, cant wait to get my feet on the treadmill with my music banging out, in fact I’m not truly happy until the sweats rolling off me and I can’t steady my legs. It’s the same as when I decided to read something other than the usual historical romance drivel that I always stick to, If I find myself sitting nowdays you can guarantee I’ll have a book in my hand. I finished one on Sunday night…a weird one but I quite enjoyed it, then got a text from a friend on Monday who mentioned she was reading a bizarre one, well I had to have it didn’t I and seeing as though I was only 200 yards away from the ‘try before you buy’ bookshop and had a £20 voucher in my bag I went and got it.

I’m so addicted to everything I even got my vision finished in between.. Nice isn’t it. Your not allowed to see inside though because its secret.

To be honest I’ve decided I need a bobcat, or rather I quite fancy operating one so I’m convincing the men its not a problem that we can’t get it through the gate, I’ll go have a word with the farmer who owns the back field, I’m sure he’ll let me drive it through there and we can lift one of the fence panels out and drive it in…voilà !!!

Sunday

My reluctance to get out of bed this morning told me I’d done too much yesterday, but by eck I enjoyed it. I moved all the wood 80% of which was buried in deep slimey mud, got all my lovely chunks of sandstone together in a pile for rockery feature in secret garden, also rolled many slabs of very nice erm…..stone thingies which I’m sure will come in handy for something, no snails were harmed in all of this as I picked them off one by one and put them safely in a new home where they would reside in comfort until I planted my organic veg , when they could lesuirely come out and scoff the lot. Looking at it this morning it dosen’t appear to look much different but I know I grafted and that’s fine. I also did the gym as I have every day now for 12 days, then collapsed into bed mega early and when I woke this morning my body said ‘NO’, so I stayed there.

Today would have been slow, John got called into work as they had major problems, Mike had a lads night last night so I knew he wouldn’t surface until late afternoon, what I didn’t bargain for was a Chris who came home early last night so would be up and full of the joys in a how much can I annoy me mam mode. So I got him a Mr men cake kit to keep him amused, however he managed to balls it up by adding the icing mix into the cake mix so they oozed all over the baking tray, he thought it was brill. As he’s intending to move out as soon as possible he then wanted a cookery lesson and insisted on making the Yorkshire puds, stuffing and gravy, it was hard work but I look on it as an investment in his eventual flight from the nest which I’m sure will happen very soon as he's applied for a job..fingers crossed.

The vision

Stroling down the garden today, as you do once the weather has become a bit more clement I spotted a patch of ground and had a vision. I’ve always had this dream to create a secret garden, somewhere very quiet and private where you can unwind, maybe take a book or just enjoy the nature going on around you. Some moving water might be nice, just a small thing though no thrashing rapid type features, in fact nothing in this vision is big or noisy, its peaceful and tranquil. I’m there now in fact and I can even smell the scent from the flowers I’ve planted to attract wildlife and feel the warmth of the sun on my face.

Hmmmm…back to reality now, it looks like this at the moment, so first of all a big clear up and a skip on the drive, I’m very excited as I love working in the garden especially when I have a project., however I won’t rabbit on about it too much on here as I’m sure there’ll be a gardening forum where many anoraks get together and be passionate about muck and stuff.



Chris may or may not give me a hand, it all depends how busy he is, though his creative side is more than a little interested. He’s off again on the 20th of March for a week this time I think, in a cottage at Lake Vernwy to do some serious fishing in between visits to the local.

Him & Me

York’s nice and The Dales are if you know where you are.

Been travelling this weekend but with a slight difference, had hubby on board too as it was his birthday and I couldn’t very well sod off without him now could I. We made our escape around 1pm on Saturday headed North and ended up in York, that was the smooth bit. They say opposites attract, well it doesn’t come much more opposite that me and John :

He keeps to the speed limit-- I dont

He’d pay £85 for posh hotel-- I'd do B&B at the Edinburgh Arms

He’d pay £45 for a meal in posh hotel -- I'd eat practically anywhere

He’d watch the rugby in the lounge -- I wouldnt, but did

He’d watch the footy after meal -- I wouldnt, but did

He’d drive for 4hrs without a break -- I wouldn’t, but did

After leaving York Sunday morning we headed for The Yorkshire Dales and spent 3 hours being lost, we must have passed the same hill at Yockenthwaite-on The Wold (doing about 27½ mph) 20 times and each time it was MY fault because I had the dam map book. There were some lovely places to stop for coffee and cake but they were driven past at a now terrifying speed of 37½ mph, by now my tongue had swollen to twice its size due to great thirst so He pulled into the services on the M6……I was grateful so I never moaned that the carrot and corriander soup was freezin and the croutons were soggy.

Deciding not to spend another night somewhere strange we headed home earlier than planned to find a party had taken place in our absence.

That’s all for now!!!

Read the book and seen the film.

Hmmm…. emotions back to the forefront here today as we got to see the filming channel 4 had done. Considering they’d filmed for 21 days pretty much every day at some point, it only came out to about 15-20 minutes. Having said that we all thought it was pretty well put together and covered the main details that they wanted to convey to the public, which was transplant and organ donation.

The subject of the film was multi organ donation, and they wanted to follow all organs, eyes, tissue etc..donated from one person. When you see it for real on film its mindblowing, this is a real person/ family deciding to give many people the chance of a new life/ sight/ skin/ etc….how brave of that family to do that at a time when they must be so distraught.

We also learned today that there were problems in theatre with Chris, I don’t imagine that’s unusual but its unnereving to see it after the event and in a way its good that we didn’t know at the time.

We’ve all had a natter and its been interesting to hear all our points of view, for instance I didn’t know that Chris had predicted how John (hubby) me and Mike (brother) would feel, he was spot on though, on the night he was waiting to hear if the op was going ahead he said that I would probably be upset, his dad would be quiet and his brother would be making us all laugh.

The program isn’t going to be on tv until December, they want to film 20 transplants and put it out to coinside with the 40th anniversary of the first transplant and they did say that Chris’s was a great one to film as he was so positive.

I still get up every morning and think its unreal.

To the family/donor that gave our Chris a new life, thank you so much for your decision to donate.