Monday, 30 May 2016
Monday 30th May
Another update I hear you cry? How come so soon, as usually all you lucky people get is 'once a fortnight'.
Having had an absolutely fantastic weekend with a medley of relatives I knew that all this bubbly happiness needed a release, plus when I get back to Jersey they'll be no time to blog the next part of the Big Adventure !!
We travelled down to a little village called Waterhouses, quite near Leek, and right on the border of Derbyshire and Staffordshire , it took us nearly three hours to drive down.The rest of the family relatives arrived soon after us, except for my eldest brother who had a nightmare journey and got tangled up in roadworks, car accidents and general bank holiday traffic. He didn't arrive until 7:30pm, and could only stay the evening as needed to head off to Devon the next day.
My sister being super organised had arranged a food shop order to be delivered on the Friday and had catered for every eventuality ! Another sister in law ( to be!) had made cookies and brownies, and AB had baked two key lime pies, and brought me some dairy free flapjack, mmmm .
The nephews had supplied some beers for the boys, wine for the girls, champagne drunk for all the 'celebrations' that we were celebrating and lashings of ginger beer ( actually pink lemonade ) for the children.
Saturday we drove a few miles down the road to Dovedale and all enjoyed a very pretty walk to Milldale some of us went half way, but most of us walked to the end and back , about six miles in total.
A BBQ cooked by my brother on the Saturday night fed all 15 of us, and accompanied by much laughter and the usual gentle (!) bantering that goes on in some close knit families. ( or put another way, taking the "mickey " out of each other) .
Sunday morning we hired bikes ( all bar the two dog walkers ) and set off through the Manifold valley..... Considering we were a motley crew of mixed ages between 7 and 70 (some more proficient on bikes than others - AB not ridden one for forty years). Some of us went half way to Thors cave , ( very interesting and a bit of a climb ) but four of us "hardcore" cyclists myself two nine year old girls and my nephews girlfriend cycled the eight and a half miles to the end of the track , which was quite busy with walkers, cyclists, and lots of small children, but also extremely pretty down by the riverside.
We felt we had earned lunch and cake by that time and we then made the return journey in an hour and ten minutes, so very proud of the girls and ourselves for our achievements. Seventeen miles and a good team bonding exercise :-)
Photos of the whole weekend and the 'last supper' to follow as my skills on adding photos to this blog still haven't improved...
Travelled back up to Middlesbrough with my sister this morning after saying a reluctant goodbye to everyone, and enjoying their hospitality overnight before flying back to Jersey tomorrow afternoon..... Before leaving again Thursday night for Gatwick.
Overnight stay at Heathrow and then loaded up with aspirin and flight socks bottles of water to ward off any ( more) blood clots we fly out to Hong Kong, and from there to AUSTRALIA ....Brisbane to be exact .
The MOE ( Minister of Environment ) put his name down six months ago to attend a conference and the forgot about it, wasn't going to go and then the other person who was supposed to accompany him couldn't go, so everyone said he MUST go and of course I saw the chance to jump on the band wagon, never believing I would ever get to see the other side of the world in my life time and although it's only for a week ( !) I am grabbing this chance with both hands.
A few minor concerns not only my high risk of DVT, but also MOE's gall bladder issues, he is booked in to have the operation the week after we get back on the 24th June, and it's just as well, as unless he has very plain no fat food he suffers.
I will be taking my iPad and so hope to post from the most easterly point in Australia , I am SO excited , and equally SO unprepared but sometimes that's good, I just feel like I need to experience life as much as I can, and although never having made the much talked about 'bucket' list going to New Zealand would be high up there, so Australia is a very good close second!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, 27 May 2016
Friday 27th May
I couldn't go to my friends funeral yesterday, but I've heard it was very special ,and very much about her, and how she would have wanted it.
The reason why I couldn't attend is because I am now in the UK, I flew over yesterday morning ... Left Jersey in bright sunshine only to land in Newcastle an hour and a half later in rain and many degrees cooler. Plus I had to share the whole journey with some random stranger on the flight who talked non stop .... Actually that's a lie, My friend SW planned the visit up North to see a friend and we chose seats next to each other so we could catch up - worked brilliantly and we will be able to fill each other in on our activities during the return journey too !!
My sister and bro in law picked me up, and as its been twenty years since I was last in their house, it's been lovely to see all the changes made, in fact that's one reason why we ( siblings, nieces , nephews etc) are getting together to celebrate all the O's....
My aunt being 70, my sister 60, my niece 40, any excuse for a family get together really.
After arriving at Sally's house I barely had time for a cup of tea before I was given my first job, go to the allotment and pick some veg for supper.
We had three modes of transport proffered, car, bike, or shanks pony.. I chose the bike.
My sister was alright she had her own bike, meanwhile I had the brother in laws 'mans' bike. Brief instructions given on which gears I could use and which ones I must not touch. I was also given an extra large helmet which spent the entire ride slipping down over my face.
My sister sailed off down the road, pedalling serenely with her panniers on the back wheels flapping gently in the breeze, followed by me somewhat blinded by the helmet and having to pedal furiously in order to make any headway, scared to touch any of the gears!
Needless to say we arrived at the allotment, picked the produce, spoke to the neighbours and made our way back home safely !!
After supper Sal and I drove down the motorway an hour or so away to collect two of my great nieces who stayed with us last night, aged nine and seven. They were so excited to see their Nanna, it was lovely, and of course they had the bunk beds in the spare bedroom whilst her poor sister (me) was relegated to a mattress on the floor of the sitting room! Adding insult to injury I had a very large grandmother clock ticking away in the background, a form of Chinese torture......
Another fairly long car journey today ( some family members longer than others, traffic works, car accidents etc) but at last we have all made it to Derbyshire and staying in a beautiful house that sleeps all 15 of us !!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The reason why I couldn't attend is because I am now in the UK, I flew over yesterday morning ... Left Jersey in bright sunshine only to land in Newcastle an hour and a half later in rain and many degrees cooler. Plus I had to share the whole journey with some random stranger on the flight who talked non stop .... Actually that's a lie, My friend SW planned the visit up North to see a friend and we chose seats next to each other so we could catch up - worked brilliantly and we will be able to fill each other in on our activities during the return journey too !!
My sister and bro in law picked me up, and as its been twenty years since I was last in their house, it's been lovely to see all the changes made, in fact that's one reason why we ( siblings, nieces , nephews etc) are getting together to celebrate all the O's....
My aunt being 70, my sister 60, my niece 40, any excuse for a family get together really.
After arriving at Sally's house I barely had time for a cup of tea before I was given my first job, go to the allotment and pick some veg for supper.
We had three modes of transport proffered, car, bike, or shanks pony.. I chose the bike.
My sister was alright she had her own bike, meanwhile I had the brother in laws 'mans' bike. Brief instructions given on which gears I could use and which ones I must not touch. I was also given an extra large helmet which spent the entire ride slipping down over my face.
My sister sailed off down the road, pedalling serenely with her panniers on the back wheels flapping gently in the breeze, followed by me somewhat blinded by the helmet and having to pedal furiously in order to make any headway, scared to touch any of the gears!
Needless to say we arrived at the allotment, picked the produce, spoke to the neighbours and made our way back home safely !!
After supper Sal and I drove down the motorway an hour or so away to collect two of my great nieces who stayed with us last night, aged nine and seven. They were so excited to see their Nanna, it was lovely, and of course they had the bunk beds in the spare bedroom whilst her poor sister (me) was relegated to a mattress on the floor of the sitting room! Adding insult to injury I had a very large grandmother clock ticking away in the background, a form of Chinese torture......
Another fairly long car journey today ( some family members longer than others, traffic works, car accidents etc) but at last we have all made it to Derbyshire and staying in a beautiful house that sleeps all 15 of us !!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, 19 May 2016
Thursday 19th May
A long overdue post... and it will end up as always being a pretty mixed bag of day to day events, thoughts and 'stuff'.
Becky and I had a very good three day break in London, shopping, shopping and a little more shopping! Finding our way around was interesting, fortunately she had sourced a great deal of info online before we went so we had a 'plan', although we didn't always stick to it!
At one point we wandered naively down a small alleyway in Soho without realising the 'shops' were not exactly selling clothes or 'items' we would chose to buy...
Our hotel was ideally placed, right in Shaftesbury Avenue, and as you would expect a little noisy, but it wasn't until the last day we discovered we were only just down the road from the London Fire Station!!
We were also very lucky with the flights, no delays and a smooth flight out on the Monday, but it ended up being very foggy on Wednesday, and so it was with a certain amount of trepidation and (resignation), that we boarded the plane at Gatwick on our return.
I fully expected the pilot to have to 'overshoot' the runway and head back to the UK, he was approaching fairly fast (it's a short runway in Jersey, so difficult at the best of times). Bex had been reading and doing a bit of colouring (!) to keep herself busy, and as the wheels came out and touched down she and I 'braced' ourselves on the seats in front. The pilot then had to really slam on the brakes (or whatever the technical term is) causing the slim cardboard crayoning set to shoot off my daughter's lap and then to the astonishment of her adjacent passengers slide at some speed down the aisle, disappearing from view!!
We were all laughing, and on disembarking surreptitiously looked under the seats to try and locate the missing colours. As we approached the air stewardess we had to own up as to what we were doing, and unusually the pilot was standing in the cockpit doorway, "Ah, Is this what you're looking for, I wondered how they'd got there!" He said, producing the crayons from behind the door, (they must have slid underneath)!!
Had some lovely visitors from the UK.. that baby is edible...
Even his mum eats him...
This is what happens when you leave God-children with their God-Mother unexpectedly...you get your nails painted.. and I'm not the God-Mother!!!
She was happy, honest, and Jess didn't like the colour much.
My husband went to the hospital yesterday to have his pre med checks for the Gallbladder operation, lots of tests, scans and samples taken, and then they told him it was booked next week !!! A bit of a shock to say the least. Anyway, we are due to go away at the beginning of June ( more of that later) and so wisely I think they have postponed it for four weeks.
There is no doubt that he really needs the operation, unless the meals are quite plain now he suffers with stomach aches, so no sauces, red meats or oily fish, he has lost a fair bit of weight (cutting out biscuits and cakes), but is craving sweet things, not overly impressed with dried peaches that I offered him today!!
We did the South Coast Challenge walk on Sunday, about 15 miles I think ( with the girls ). It was lovely, the views breathtaking, meeting people, and raising money for Jersey Mencap, all worthwhile.
A rather steep climb right at the end of the walk, a bit unfair..
Even Jess had had enough and so could sympathise with Steve, Beanie wondered why we had stopped!!
The finish!
Our woodland wildflowers..
As regular readers will know, I visited Jersey Hospice last week to see my friend and fellow RISE committee member JH . Last Thursday with her family and in the arms of her partner she passed away.
Rest in Peace my friend xxx
Becky and I had a very good three day break in London, shopping, shopping and a little more shopping! Finding our way around was interesting, fortunately she had sourced a great deal of info online before we went so we had a 'plan', although we didn't always stick to it!
At one point we wandered naively down a small alleyway in Soho without realising the 'shops' were not exactly selling clothes or 'items' we would chose to buy...
Our hotel was ideally placed, right in Shaftesbury Avenue, and as you would expect a little noisy, but it wasn't until the last day we discovered we were only just down the road from the London Fire Station!!
We were also very lucky with the flights, no delays and a smooth flight out on the Monday, but it ended up being very foggy on Wednesday, and so it was with a certain amount of trepidation and (resignation), that we boarded the plane at Gatwick on our return.
I fully expected the pilot to have to 'overshoot' the runway and head back to the UK, he was approaching fairly fast (it's a short runway in Jersey, so difficult at the best of times). Bex had been reading and doing a bit of colouring (!) to keep herself busy, and as the wheels came out and touched down she and I 'braced' ourselves on the seats in front. The pilot then had to really slam on the brakes (or whatever the technical term is) causing the slim cardboard crayoning set to shoot off my daughter's lap and then to the astonishment of her adjacent passengers slide at some speed down the aisle, disappearing from view!!
We were all laughing, and on disembarking surreptitiously looked under the seats to try and locate the missing colours. As we approached the air stewardess we had to own up as to what we were doing, and unusually the pilot was standing in the cockpit doorway, "Ah, Is this what you're looking for, I wondered how they'd got there!" He said, producing the crayons from behind the door, (they must have slid underneath)!!
There is no doubt that he really needs the operation, unless the meals are quite plain now he suffers with stomach aches, so no sauces, red meats or oily fish, he has lost a fair bit of weight (cutting out biscuits and cakes), but is craving sweet things, not overly impressed with dried peaches that I offered him today!!
We did the South Coast Challenge walk on Sunday, about 15 miles I think ( with the girls ). It was lovely, the views breathtaking, meeting people, and raising money for Jersey Mencap, all worthwhile.
Thursday, 12 May 2016
Thursday 12th May
Just pic's....
#Excited at the train station... we "survived" the flight!!
In our hotel room...
Only been in London five minutes, and was being "stalked" by my brother....(JW and friends)
At Les Miserables..
Found a solution to our Islands sea lettuce problem, now to find a packaging company.....
Nice cup of tea...
Matilda !!!
Birthday lunch at Covent garden..
Birthday petals and chocolates on the bed.....
Brunch time...
Eating again...
Outside the Casino
#Excited at the train station... we "survived" the flight!!
Only been in London five minutes, and was being "stalked" by my brother....(JW and friends)
At Les Miserables..
Bex's win at the casino... what an experience that was, took us ten minutes for the ID, and think we broke even ..... She only went in to get rid of her coins as her bag was getting heavy!!
Eating again...
Tuesday, 10 May 2016
Tuesday 10th May
I'm writing this post from Piccadilly London, after just having seen the fabulous show Matilda with Becky, part of her 'birthday treat'. However before I begin this weeks news, I'll cover a bit of last weeks activities.
Our first netball training began on Tuesday night, let's hope my fitness improves during the summer months, there's work to do.
Wednesday was very busy with walks, racquetball, tennis and badminton, plus shopping and preparing for our support group meeting on the Thursday.
We were so fortunate to have JB from the Royal Marsden who flew into the island at 5pm and came straight from the airport to talk to not only our RISE ladies, but ladies ( and partners) plus health care workers who had been informed about the talk from our Consultant in Jersey KG. JB is not only a leading Consultant but the chap who did my second operation, ( I didn't mention 'lymph fluid' )
The Macmillan centre ended up being packed out with over fifty people in attendance , both consultants covered interesting points concerning gynaecological cancers. We provided snacks and nibbles and drinks, and hopefully now more ladies realise where we are should they need support from a group of like minded ladies.
One member of our group was missing, JH had been having regular Chemo, and was too poorly to attend the previous April meeting. I found out that she had been hospitalised on Monday and spent a few days in ICU, I had no idea that she was that ill.
On Tuesday she moved to hospice, and through a third party I was told that she'd like to see me. I did feel honoured as only close family were visiting, it was good to see she still had her lovely warped sense of humour and her smile.
As we hugged goodbye she whispered in my ear "Have a long and fabulous life".
I kept it together until I left the building.
I was supposed to be playing tennis in a tournament in the afternoon, I had to leave, no way was my head and body connected.
Steve and I did a lot of gardening for the rest of the weekend, I find it quite therapeutic and it's a job we can do together , talking ( mild arguing ) about how close I plant the parsnips/ beetroot/onions, and how far apart he chooses to plant the beans....
Monday morning Bex and I caught the 7am flight to London, staying here until tomorrow ( her birthday) , shopping and seeing two shows.
Would you believe it, I found out my little brother was also in London for the weekend, he had gone into Soho for breakfast , just around the corner from our hotel, so we met in the street for 10 minutes!
I can't post photos on the iPad, so all photography suspended until my return , but if you want to see how a proper blog should be written with videos and history lessons to boot, look up www.augustinwarner.com Go East . It's Dans friend and he's cycling from Jersey to .... China, on his own.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Our first netball training began on Tuesday night, let's hope my fitness improves during the summer months, there's work to do.
Wednesday was very busy with walks, racquetball, tennis and badminton, plus shopping and preparing for our support group meeting on the Thursday.
We were so fortunate to have JB from the Royal Marsden who flew into the island at 5pm and came straight from the airport to talk to not only our RISE ladies, but ladies ( and partners) plus health care workers who had been informed about the talk from our Consultant in Jersey KG. JB is not only a leading Consultant but the chap who did my second operation, ( I didn't mention 'lymph fluid' )
The Macmillan centre ended up being packed out with over fifty people in attendance , both consultants covered interesting points concerning gynaecological cancers. We provided snacks and nibbles and drinks, and hopefully now more ladies realise where we are should they need support from a group of like minded ladies.
One member of our group was missing, JH had been having regular Chemo, and was too poorly to attend the previous April meeting. I found out that she had been hospitalised on Monday and spent a few days in ICU, I had no idea that she was that ill.
On Tuesday she moved to hospice, and through a third party I was told that she'd like to see me. I did feel honoured as only close family were visiting, it was good to see she still had her lovely warped sense of humour and her smile.
As we hugged goodbye she whispered in my ear "Have a long and fabulous life".
I kept it together until I left the building.
I was supposed to be playing tennis in a tournament in the afternoon, I had to leave, no way was my head and body connected.
Steve and I did a lot of gardening for the rest of the weekend, I find it quite therapeutic and it's a job we can do together , talking ( mild arguing ) about how close I plant the parsnips/ beetroot/onions, and how far apart he chooses to plant the beans....
Monday morning Bex and I caught the 7am flight to London, staying here until tomorrow ( her birthday) , shopping and seeing two shows.
Would you believe it, I found out my little brother was also in London for the weekend, he had gone into Soho for breakfast , just around the corner from our hotel, so we met in the street for 10 minutes!
I can't post photos on the iPad, so all photography suspended until my return , but if you want to see how a proper blog should be written with videos and history lessons to boot, look up www.augustinwarner.com Go East . It's Dans friend and he's cycling from Jersey to .... China, on his own.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, 2 May 2016
Monday 2nd May
I've had little secret smiles to myself all week, just so pleased to have had far better news last week than I could have hoped for, and thanks to everyone who has shared my joy.
To make my week even more special I went to the end of season netball dinner in town on Friday, and totally out of the blue found out my team had nominated me Player of the Year! ( You get a beautifully engraved wine goblet with your name and date on.... I know as it's my second one, unbelievably after playing in the club the best part of 15+ I received my first one in 2013-2014 season).
Next day on the beach....
The eight mile charity walk for diabetes....some rude man photobombed my picture....
A small child that needed entertaining for the afternoon, so after our 'jobs' we needed light refreshment on a hot day.
Recognise any of these JP? Sneaked through your farm whilst you were busy in Ireland!!
Swallows flying around the field were incredible ...
No news as yet on the Minister's forthcoming gallbladder operation, but we are sticking to the low-fat diet as much as we can, and you can rest assured that the "food police" aka Dan Luce are ensuring that policies are followed...
Everyone else in the family are ok, Becky getting excited for her birthday treat next week of spending two days in London with her mum, shopping and shows, sounds good to me!!
To make my week even more special I went to the end of season netball dinner in town on Friday, and totally out of the blue found out my team had nominated me Player of the Year! ( You get a beautifully engraved wine goblet with your name and date on.... I know as it's my second one, unbelievably after playing in the club the best part of 15+ I received my first one in 2013-2014 season).
Netball dinner photos...
See no evil.......
Everyone else in the family are ok, Becky getting excited for her birthday treat next week of spending two days in London with her mum, shopping and shows, sounds good to me!!
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