Coconuts and of course....the tree (insert big wink)

First off coconuts will NOT be awarded in advance no matter how high you stick your hand up, if you're still reading in early Jan you'll get one, if not I'll have them all as I'm partial to a coconut.


The latest additions to the tree are:

A bracelet sent to Chris from my good buddy while he was still in hospital after transplant.

Our Lorraine, Chris's cousin sent a memento of a time in their younger years when they used to 'chill out' and put the world to rights.

Suzy one of Chris's bessy buddies brought a magnetic knife and fork, these were stolen from a restaurant where they were having a meal. It was an obsession, I have no end of salt and peppers, very long spoons, strangely shaped glasses etc.......

A mohican came via email from a mum who has also lost her son, her post on the cf forum some time ago touched me, I'd been about to go into 'nag' mode' and it stopped me in my tracks.

Linda Jane said;

I couldn't find a picture of a blue mohican to send you, but you sent me an email with these words about Chris and instead of 'full nag mode' you emailed me and made me smile. 'The last few days he's had a bit of a rebellion against everything he has no control over, resulting in getting a mohican and dying it blue, booking a tattoo and staying out late with his mates'

Smiles have a way of doing the full circle and this one has.


Hiya Sandy,

I dont seem to be able to delete one of your posts, I'm not on my own pc and its being arsey, Good to hear you found some 'Lennons' as Chris called them, he also has a pair. I'll be looking out for something special for Matt's tree next year. Much love and many (((HUGS))) to you and everyone on the yahoo site. xxx

This pc also took some convincing that it could upload a pic, but it gave in eventually.

The tree.........




Many thanks to everyone for their comments on my blog and prayers for a peaceful Christmas for us, we're doing good here at the moment and the decision to not do Xmas in any commercial way has proved to be a well positive move.

Have a good un everyone.
Much love
x

Oh wow!

This tree thing is making us more smiley every day, we had a tree to tree decoration from the staff at the CTC in Liverpool as well as a fir cone from the cf nurse who was a star to Chris and still is to me. My friend who has also been our hairdresser for many many years wanted to send a photo which I am soooooo tempted to post (I have a copy of it on my pc but Mike would kill me if I did), but she couldn't find it. Instead she sent her very old scissors which have cut Chris's hair since he was about 2, she admitted that he was always a challenge as he gave her very precise instructions and woe betide her if she got it wrong.

Tonight Pam, our Mike's ex well surpassed me on the Blue Peter thing as she had handmade two brilliant decorations, one was a manga pic (Chris was very into drawing such things) and on it was written 'Dont cry because it is over, smile because it happened' and the other was a drawing of our Rodney the kitten he made me adopt and just says 'remember'

How brilliant all of this stuff is, I can honestly say I feel quite smiley tonight, I really do.

I'm probably going to bore any readers stupid from now until 2008 about this tree, so 100 points and a coconut if you're still reading on the 2nd of Jan.

The CHRISmas Tree.

We've always loved Christmas here, we're one of those family's who probably wildly overdo it in fact but we're not doing it this year as its far too painful to remember previous one's, so no cards, no pressys, none of the decorations from the attic and no huge credit card bill.....see, there's good and bad in everything.

The one concession we are making is a weeny tree. We asked family and Chris's friends to send something that reminded them of him to put on this weeny tree and its turned out to be a winner, its also made us smile at some of the things that have appeared.

Steve next door sent his weather vein which has two holes in it, apparently a confession was made to him by Lee Chris's mate....'that was me an Pee (Chris's nickname) with the air rifle' he said.

A fiver someone owed him.

Jessica rabbit (because he fancied her)

Much guinness stuff

Rupert (he collected the annuals)

A butterfly from me mum (she has a signed painting of one that Chris did for her)

A postcard of the Millenium bridge in Newcastle (my first excursion to see a mate after Chris's transplant)

I got all Blue Peterish and made a star out of straws and stuck a C in the middle as he always wiped his straw all over my face or in my hair after a calshake and he used sticky letters to put my name on my phones.

A string of kinder toys from Mike, they had an ongoing game of some sort with a massive kinder thing which involved more than I have room to write here.

A beany dog, this one involved the whole family and our good friend Eve it was similar to hide and seek but got silly.

A bit of wood stolen from a neighbours garden over the field, bloody hell that was some barbeque due to my Scottish friend shouting 'Mir wid' into the early hours of the morning and her and Chris haring off to nick it from Charlie's garden saying he'll never ever use the amount he's got stacked by his shed.

Homer Simpson from John because Chris reckoned his dad was Homers long lost twin.

There's a hat on the way as well, anyone who regularly reads my blog will be familiar with the significance of that one.

There's more to come and I will update later with a pic of the tree as I've had a few requests to post about it, meanwhile a massive 'Thank you' to Sandy for sharing this idea with me, I was dubious at first but its made us smile and that takes some doing just now.

Oli's doing well as well.....YAY!!!!!!!!!

Much love to all.
xxx

Bloody Christmas.

Christmas is proving to be a hard time for us as a family so I'm taking some time out now.

As Captain Cook said 'I may be some time'

Much love to all
xxx

Oli

If I ever needed a smile putting on my face it was this week, and I now have one that big I've dislocated me jaw.

Oli got his transplant last night which is such good news, I have followed his blog for ages and ages because he was listed the same time as our Chris, but has waited two and a half years with a fair few false alarms in between. The last week of his blog has been a hard read as he'd obviously got to that point when life becomes an impossible struggle. Words are difficult to find, suffice to say I am sooooo happy for him and his family and friends.

To the family and friends of the donor, thank you so much for giving Oli a new start.




http://www.livelifethengivelife.co.uk/

Our Rodney

Its a year today that a pathetic little kitten turned up at our back door and I was talked into adopting it. Chris wittered away at me about how thin it was and cold and hungry, in the end I gave in, I was always going to be on a loser really one because I love cat's and two because when his mind was made up he just went on and on and on until anything would be agreeable to shut him up.

She is probably the naughtiest cat I have ever come across but I love her to bits, she's made us all laugh loads and I'm sure if she was a human John would divorce me and marry her no problem. Anyway, I decided to do a bit of a blog about it being a year since she arrived because I can't believe that it was that long ago, I was talking to someone this very morning about how time flies, I won't add the 'when you're enjoying it' because that would be a bit black even for me. While looking for a more up to date photo of her I was amused to find this one, if you can't read what the subtitles say its 'You have the gift for bringing joy and laughter into the world' just a coincidence do you think? or was she always meant to come here to keep us smiling.

Who know's.........you decide.

P.S. I don't normally have that much rubbish on my breakfast bar, actually it's Sunday isn't it. I do normally have that much rubbish on my breakfast bar.

Oh yeah and since when were UNMIXT, MACON, JUNGLY and WADI real words, bloody Scrabble, I'm sure it makes them up, wouldnt have my ZEN this morning though and that is a real word ner..............

School, bags and birds.

The second Eastern dance class went very well I thought, I'm a wee bit more in sync now and even volunteered to be one of the first to do the figure eight across the room with everyone watching.

Figure 8:

Take yourself back to primary school days, the hula hoop....with me so far, now whilst doing the hoop bob up and down on the balls of your feet and travel across a distance of about 25ft, slowly. Seconds after I said to Wend I can do this bit the teacher tapped me on the shoulder and started to explain what I was doing wrong......there's always next week eh!

I bought a bag today, had to pay full price for it which didnt go down well, I dont like handbags, they're on my list of hateful objects so I usually buy one from The Heart Foundation or War on Want, but they only had massive one's or weeny one's so I shelled out £6 in Peacocks and got this thing.

It came from Asia and is similar to the now reknown bird flu, I have a generous dose of it and I'm not happy that I couldnt make church on Sunday, had to opt out of a reunion tonight and can't make it for an overnight stay with a good buddy on Friday. The positives, because I always root for them are:

It hasn't affected my appetite, well nothing ever does, I even asked for a corned beef butty while in labour, in fact I demanded one and got it.

Positive number 2, I must not exert myself, yeah right this one I can do.

Positive number 3, It appears to increase one's sex drive so I challenged hubby to a game of scrabble yesterday and melted me eyes at him over his score of 50, but he was glazed at the prospect of triumph so missed the point.

On a more serious note, Christmas is fast approaching and I want to say a huge thank you to my friend Sandy, the tree idea seems to be going down well and its given me something to focus on for the day itself. Will blog more about that later.

Much love to all, try the hoop thing I dare ya.

Shake it baby

I went to the Eastern dancing class last night, it was interesting I'll give it that, however when anybody says to me now 'I've been to the gym' I'll not be impressed in fact I'll mutter to myself 'woosy' because the gym is easy peasy compared to the torture that go's under the name of belly dancing. For a start I have a coordination problem, when she said turn I did and everybody was facing me, not once but every single bloody time. When she said kick your left leg out, out went my right and when she said forward then back I got my feet in a knot.

That lot I laughed about but when the bit with the hips was repeated for the hundredth time I wondered whether she was taking the p**s, throw your hip out like your shutting a car door with it she said, no problem I whacked it and again she said, now do it a million times in the next 10 minutes. I don't know about you but I might close a door with my hip once a week, try doing it 20 times in the space of a minute its hard believe me. She did approach me a few times to tell me to do it this way but I still couldnt get it so just sort of did my own thing and smiled broadly at everyone, it didnt help that my two friends were brill at it even though Wend had bruised her coxyx(sp).

This is a shimee belt and it jangles in time with the hip moves, mine was constantly jangling as I tried desperately to get the rhytmn. All good fun and I'll try anything once, I will have another go because I don't like anything to beat me but I'm glad we have a week to recover because everything aches like hell even my fingers.

Quick.....I'm late!

Quick blog so my good friend has something to read.

My week times 5.

Take hubby to work
Have a quick go on scrabby
Go to work
Do shopping
Have a quick go on scrabby
Pick hubby up from work
Go to gym
Have a quick go on scrabby
Eat
Fall asleep having last go on scrabby

Thats it, except tonight is a bit different as I'm going to belly dancing classes....Do Not Laugh!

Love to all.

Working, well at least something is.

The lack of blogness is not because I'm lazy or disinterested in my life, nor is it because my pc isn't working right which would be a first. Its simply because I now go out to work, I have the greatest admiration for people who do a job and also keep up with the cyber world, I can't do it, I've tried and I can't. I have 3 games of scrabble on the go on facey and thats sent me to bed the last couple of night's in a dither...do I go for my big word or do I block. My last thoughts before I close my eye's are what word has 4 A's an I a U and something else.

Anyway, I've tried to post a slideshow of the hols but at the moment it won't work so the pic's are going on facebook, I'll try to post a link on here sometime in the next month. Until then I'm putting up a pic of the view from my kitchen window at 7am this morning, I panicked and nearly rang 999 as I thought Helsby Hill was on fire but it was the sky.

Watch out Janey, I might be joining you with the natural world photo thingy.

All good here, hope alls good with everyone out there.

Happy Birthday babe, missing you terribly.

Love, Mum Dad and Mike. xxx

Smiley blog

I wasn't really looking forward to my birthday today but when I was in the shower this morning I thought to myself 'am I sad' and before I had time to answer a picture sprang into my mind, it was the one of my birthday in 2005 when I decided to get my own back on Mike and Chris for all the wind ups they had subjected me to. I got into goth gear and visited Chris in hospital, he wasn't amused and refused to speak to me for two days.

Mike loved it...fortunatley.

I remember texting Mark one of my good buddy's from the cf forum and telling him to put his webcam on to see what he thought of my scheme he was tacful bless him, Chris forbade me to get the goth gear out again and I didn't until today. its been a well smiley day and I dare say Chris had a hand in it but I couldn't resist.

Much food and drink was consumed tonight and I'm ready to hit the wooden hills.

Many thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes, you have made my day all of you.

Much love to all

Sue xxx

I'm back from the Majorcan experience and for some strange reason have been manically cleaning my house from roof to garden since my feet touched base. I can't for the life of me explain this strange phenom, phenonom....the more I try to spell this the more ridiculous it sounds so I'll start again. I can't for the life of me explain why I suddenly had the urge to make my house a minimalist thing and clean everything in sight that I allowed to stay put. John ordered me to stop tonight because he thought I was losing my marbles, Mike also commented 'bloody hell mother you don't do any cleaning for ages then you go at it like a lunatic' so I stopped for a moment and pondered over the last few days. Yep, I suppose it was a bit out of character shoving a toothbrush in every nook and cranny and poking steel kebab things down every plughole, not to mention hanging precariously out of the upstairs windows to clean the outsides while waving to my neighbour who knows damn well I don't do the cleaning thing. Normally my house is in a state of near condemnation and I usually don't give a toss, it now shines and I'm very worried that I'll get up tomorrow and look for something else to wipe so I've cut the plug off me hoover and left a stack of dirty dishes randomly spread out over the worktops.....that should balance things out.

The holiday was good, it was sad on the way there and sad on the way back but while we were there it was fab, this holiday was booked on Chris's request because on the night of his transplant he had asked the doctor 'when can I go abroad' and was told 12 months. He asked me to book a villa for us and close family so I did one week after his op, it was a hard decision whether to go or not but at the end of the day Chris would have wanted us to and Suzy one of his bessy mates came in his place.

It wasn't a cultural holiday by any means, I learned to play brag or is it blag anyway I was good at it the kids said, that means I can lie through my eye teeth and be convincing. They also promised to teach me to play poker but they discovered Magaluf first so that didnt happen. I got very friendly with Ozzy a praying or is that preying mantis who Eve Julie and I rescued from the pool after realising he wasn't enjoying a late night swim but was actually drowning, well for goodness sake are we supposed to know these creatures don't swim. He came back to see us regularly and loved his pic being taken, I am now an avid fan of them and have sadly googled info for future reference. I rock climbed but froze on a precipice where the sea was raging down beneath me (slight exaggeration) I don't do heights very well, I get quite dizzy and have an overwhelming feeling that I need to chuck myself off the edge. My lovely brother talked me down in the end, not something I'm in a hurry to repeat and I'm sure our Bal feels the same. I jumped in the pool fully clothed at 1am, that was a first and yes I was very under the influence of Spanish brandy it wasn't my idea but when dared I can't possibly resist and several more followed me.

I've gone on and on haven't I, I'll be quiet now and leave with a last night pic. When I get time I'll post some more booooooooring holiday snaps.

Nite all, hope alls well with everyone.

Non blogness

Ok I know its been a while since I blogged but where the hell has the choice of font gone, maybe blogger doesn't like it if you haven't done one for a bit.

I've been busy busy busy since the Hydro with things, mainly 'FACEBOOK' you log on thinking I'll just have a look and before you know it someone has sent you an egg or a drink or an invitation to do something you would never consider doing in public. If you ignore the invite you might offend someone, so you do it...another hour has gone. While you're there someone throws a plate of beans at you or bites your vampire, well they're not getting away with that are they, another hour spent biting and throwing a horrid bit of food back. I wake up in the morning thinking have I missed something so log on and by dinner hour I'm all facebooked out.

Its not good, so I'm off to good old Majooooorca on Saturday for a week, we have a villa for 10 of us, many of them are young uns so timetables will differ slightly, but we'll be on hand to scrape them off the floor after the foam thingies that go on...and on....and on. Bacon and sloppy egg anyone..hehe.

See you in a week or so, take care all.

Hydro 2007

My Slideshow 9/17/07

Brilliant

Absolutley awsome weekend.....massive happy sigh!!!!

Bed now.

Love to all x

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