Autumn 08

I can't believe that 7 months has past without me adding to this blog. So much has happened in this time. As you know Steve had a kidney transplant last December. Unfortunately he has suffered many other problems since then, and is now no longer able to drive or to walk very far at all. His mood has changed too, and he gets very down and grumpy. He's had numerous neurological tests, but the outcome seems to be that it is probably a side effect of his anti-rejection drugs, which of course he will always need to take. We are both very happy that he is free from dialysis though. He thinks alot about the person who has donated the kidney and their family, and has been quite down about it at times. On a brighter note, if you remember I went to visit Richard, Zoe, Ellie and Archie in New Zealand for nearly 4 weeks in January 08. I hadn't seen them since they emigrated in 2005. I was really sick on the flight over and it felt like 29 days not 29 hours, but it was over eventually. When i failed to appear at the arrival gate in Christchurch Airport, and then an announcement was made asking Richard to make himself know to a staff member, they were very worried. All was soon ok and after a few days of good care from my family i was right as rain. A talk with their GP and a trip to the chemist for some stronger travel sickness stuff meant i could relax about the trip home.I had a really great time, and we went all over the place. I met their friends and felt very happy to see their lovely home and new life for myself. My most scary moment was getting into their boat from a high jetty in Littleton Harbour. There were no hand rails to the open -backed steps down to the water, and i felt drawn to fall into the sea. Richard reversed the boat into the water on it's trailer and i drove the car back up the slipway to park it. In my panic about getting into the boat from these steps i left the car keys on the jetty. When we had finished our trip i couldn't find the keys to get the car to pull the boat out, and then I remembered where i had left them. Just before Richard had time to explode, a lady in the boat next to us heard what was being said and told us she had found the keys. Oh happy days!!!!!! Anyway, after 3 weeks of pampering i felt totally relaxed for my return, and no travel sickness. Anyway the rest of Spring went pretty quietly until in the early hours of June 15 when my sister Tudie rang to say that her partner Michael had suddenly died few hours before. This was such a massive shock. She had kissed him goodnight and left him working on his laptop. Shortly after she heard a noise and came down to find him almost dead, and he did die very shortly after. Her children went over to her immediately and she returned to England the following week. Since that time she has been living with Steve and I, and will be doing so for the forseeable future. I travelled to The Isle of Man with her for his buriel and I have been back to Ireland with her to help pack up the house. It's all done now and is in storage. Her friends in Ireland have been fantasticaly supportive since the moment it happened, and her neighbours even put us up during the week we went back to pack the house. She is a bit better now and has today gone away for a few days with an old girlfriend. It's a real pleasure having her here with us, though i'm sure at times we must drive her mad. Zoe has recently stated Uni in NZ. She's doing a degree in Psychology and Social Studies, and Archie started school in June. . Steve and i have just returned from 10 days in Norfolk. The weather was great for the whole time and it was a lovely relaxing time. We pottered about in the car visiting all out favourite places. Steve now has a mobility scooter, so that meant we could get out and about a bit more than when we went for a few days ealier in the year.

Jevan, Wendy and Connor are still in Scotland and Connor started school in January and is settling in. We've seen them a couple of times this year and it's amazing how quickly the Connor has grown.

There is more news on the chicken front, but i will save that until another day. Bye for now xxxxx