The North wind will blow, and We Shall have Trampolines.

After a stormy Thursday night I returned home to Chadderton, after spending the holiday at A's, to find the above trampoline in the back garden.  I don't enjoy storms as I worry about the damage that may occur but I wasn't expecting this.  It had blown in from next doors garden, tipple topping over the five foot fence and landing the right way up and just dipping a leg into the pond.  I will not be trying it out even though I am tempted to do so.

It's difficult to remember a Christmas tide that I didn't find sad or sorrowful.  Lots of reasons for this and if I related them to you, you would probably get your violin out.  A and I have unconventional Christmas's that often involve bike rides, decorating or some physical work.  We are lucky to have similar mind set about this time of year and are able to enjoy it in our own way.  I enjoyed three days of cooking.  There will always be part of me that longs for the adult equivalent of the doll that I lusted after in Rushton's post office window in the '50's (odd cause I would have really preferred a

 train set) but I am truly thrilled to receive this Christmas cake from a dear friend.

And of course, I have been blessed this year with life itself.  Gifts that are priceless.

My best wishes for 2014.  I hope to celebrate the wonderful people in my life and life itself.  Enjoy everything and everyone that you have been blessed with.

xxxx

62

I am truly blessed with the friends I have.  Thank you all for your heart felt best wishes.  Sometimes I didn't think that I would get to 62.  No big celebrations, in fact I spent the afternoon at an Age UK LGBT get together.

On returning home there was a letter from the Pennine Acute Hospitals-the Royal Oldham to you and me, informing me of a follow up appointment from Tuesdays visit to the Oral Surgery.  Now you need to remember that I have a hole drilled into the back of my front tooth by my own dentist about seven months ago.  So I think the appointment that was in the letter was a bit to far away-8th July.  It took 4 calls to different numbers to get someone to deal with it.  The booking and scheduling were unable to sort this.  A strange and inefficient system.  I really don't get why the Christie model can't be used throughout the NHS.

Enjoy the weekend and if you have finished work for the holidays have a restful break.

xxxxx

The Power of Words

Extreme anxiety a few weeks ago made me seek out some counselling.  I had picked up a leaflet about counselling, at the Christie Oldham on one of my radiotherapy visits.  I rung the number but it was engaged.  After I had repeated this several times over a few days and it was still engaged I decided that there was something wrong.  Support organisations of one kind or another sometimes don't survive because of they way they are funded.  People involved are continually looking for pots of money that they can tap into.  It's a time consuming business and needs a lot of staying power.  So it was with low expectations that I went to the website of Oldham Cancer Support.  I was glad to find that they are still operating, it was just that they had changed their phone number.

I had my first session last week and one today.  Very difficult to reflect on this as the last eight months and everything that has been involved in 'having cancer' still have a quality of having happened to someone else in a parallel universe.  I also think I got away with it (the cancer) quite lightly.  So I've nowt to complain about, have I?  I'll just have to see how it goes.

I was chuffed to see two good friends when I had my dental appointment at the Royal Oldham yesterday and today I spent sometime with a super woman who I am blessed to have as a friend as her wise words always help me to see a bit clearer.

Never underestimate the power of what you say to someone, words are a powerful tool for both good and bad.

xxxx

Finally, I Get to go to Oral Surgery

Today I finally had my appointment at the Oral Surgery, at the Royal Oldham.  It's a good job that this front tooth has not been giving me to much pain the length of time I have had to wait for this appointment.  I have been spoilt be the Christie staff.  Although the consultant that looked at my teeth was not unpleasant he could learn a lot from the way cancer patients are treated by the Chistie.  Before I went in to see him I had to fill a form out about my medical history including a list of my current medication.  After a preliminary examination he stuck an X-ray film in my mouth.  I protested at this saying that I had just finished radiotherapy.  He hadn't looked at the form I had filled in even though it contained relevant information to the procedure that is required.  Anyway they were going to send me to sit in the waiting room while they developed the film but as I was going to the Royal Exchange theatre for the matinee performance of Victoria Woods 'That Day We Sang' I made another appointment.  I don't think he was too pleased with me.

The play/musical was based around Manchester Schools Choir recording 'Nymphs and Shepherds' with the Halle orchestra in 1929.  It was full of Victoria Woods brilliant rhymes e.g. grapple with a pineapple.   Great fun and a joy to watch.  A great way to lift the spirits.

xxxx

Stoodley Pike

My latest venture into High Definition Range photography has taken me to Stoodley Pike.  A monument to the Napoleonic Wars (I think).  The area is rough moorland that is now in Yorkshire but was once in Lancashire.  These were taken before 2:00 p.m. I had forgotten how quickly the Sun goes behind the hills at this time of year.  I love the moors that straggle the Pennines.  They always seem so untameable and ageless.  They are another of my spiritual homes.

I have been reminded this week of just how fragile our existence here is and I am trying to live my life with this in mind.  So enjoy every minute.  Love one another and don't make work the be all and end all of your life. 

My love to you all.

xxxxx

Canal boats,Doctors and bums

Although the weather has been somewhat inclement I have been able to get out with my camera and in pursuit of more HDR shots I went Scarsbrick which is officially on Merseyside about 7 miles from Southport.

When I was on my way to Southport last I noticed that a new marina had been built on the Leeds Liverpool Canal along with a cafe and thought that this may be a good place to take photos.  As it turned out access to the boats in the marina was quite restricted and the cafe didn't have a great veggie choice.  Despite this we had a pleasant day and did manage a couple of HDR photos.

At four years old I went into hospital with a severe burn.  That would be 1955.  How different things were then.  I remember spending my birthday screaming Oldham Royal down and no one giving me any comfort and of course parents were only allowed in during strict visiting hours.  Then at 13 I spent a few days in Oldham & District Hospital in the care of Mr Steptoe, him of the test tube baby fame.  I wasn't having a test tube baby but was in his women's health clinic.  Both of these experiences put me in fear of doctors and hospitals, so I am reluctant to go to see my GP.  So, the pain must have got bad when I mentioned to him on Monday that I had a pain in my bum.  It would be more precise to say that the pain was around my hip.  I seriously thought this was serious.  He soon diagnosed it at bursitis which is damage to the the cushioning around the joint, if you get it in your knee it is "Housewives Knee".  He has given me some exercises which seem to be working well.

Perhaps cancer has given my more confidence in doctors and hospitals.

Enjoy your weekend and look forward to a well earned break.

xxxx