My Darling Daddy Has Passed Away

At 0510hrs this morning my beloved Daddy slipped away, from this world to the next. Now free of pain and able again to do everything he loved so much; things that had been so cruelly taken away from him gradually over the past 18 months or so.
I love you Daddy, I know that you have now started your last journey, to be re-united with your first true love, Mary, my Mummy.

Things have been so difficult between us, over the past 18 months but thank goodness, we were re-united at the begining of December and though not many words were said, things were understood.

I believe that you kept loving me through all these times. I had to otherwise I would not have survived and seeing you again on Saturday 6th December 2008, for the first time since 15th October 2007, was the most emotional day ever.

Until perhaps today. Though at the moment, I feel no emotion. Just a dull ache as my heart breaks in two.

You have probably never even heard of Garth Brooks or The Dance, but it is a beautiful piece of music, sung by a man with a fabulous voice.

Enjoy it Daddy, wherever you are.

Dylan

Relaxing as only Dylan can:-) In desperate need of a haircut

Happy Birthday Judy

One of my really good friends is celebrating her birthday today.

She doesn't really the Internet much but I just wanted everyone else to know that I was wishing her a Happy Birthday and that I hope that you have a great day.

One from the Past

Well Done Tigers

What a fabulous afternoon.

Tigers played well and beat London Irish 24 - 22. Good game, with plenty of exciting play and we were surrounded by players and their families - which added to the spirit and fun of the afternoon

Martyn's Birthday & Tiger's First Home Match

What a great day.

My big brother Martyn is celebrating his birthday. Hope you have a great day and hope that you do something lovely to celebrate. Are you off to the Last Night of the Proms I wonder.



And then it is Leicester Tigers first home match - let's hope they play well and beat London Irish.

Good luck The Tigers

Stonehaven is Beautiful

Had a lovely couple of days here in sunny (very) bonny Scotland. Stonehaven is lovely and and the people are very friendly. We have worked on the new WLSInfo Charity website which is looking very exciting.
The flights up to Scotland were great and I am actually quite looking forward to teh flight back - especially as I will see all my boys when I get home.

Stonehaven. Aberdeenshire

Up here on Charity business visiting our IT Support people. Lovely people and a very pretty town

At the Thai Restaurant

In the mens. Nothing so fancy in the ladies

The Athletics Have Started - yeah!!!!!

Well at long last the athletics have started and they are looking really promising. Also still doing well in the sailing and of course the cycling. GB should win plenty in the velodrome.
Dylan, Toby & Jasper are all still doing really well and getting on fine. Last couple of days, Dylan has had a short free run in the park and has thoroughly enjoyed himself. Overall he is doing well. Three steps forward, one back so generally in the right direction.
Off to Aberdeen in a couple of weeks. Flying up on my own - gulp!! but should be an interesting couple of days. Going with Ken from WLSInfo Charity and meeting the website server people for some IT tuition
Flying from Birmingham and going via BMIBaby which will hopefully be OK.
Staying in a lovely looking place called Stonehaven and the hotel is The Belvedere Hotel

Looking forward to it but a bit anxious about the flight.

Enjoyed the Cinema Last Night

Nigel & I went to the cinema last night and saw The Dark Knight The cinema was packed but a nice temperature and we both thoroughly enjoyed the film. It is quite graphic and I certainly wouldn't be taking young children to see it, but it was a great 2.5 hours of good entertainment, with great special effects and some tremendous vehicle chases. I found it very sad to see Heath Ledger who was a terrific actor and was brilliant as the very frightening Joker - I do hope that he gets the posthumous Oscar that everyone is talking about.
Overall I would recommend it to everyone.

Four Days Post Op

Overall Dylan is coping brilliantly with his limited agility - I think that Nigel & I are finding it harder in some ways. In a strange way I think that it is helping the other boys accept him more as they view him as a poorly little boy.
Had a good BBQ a our friends in Peterborough and are having another one today with my brother - if the weather holds. If it doesn't, Nigel will be out there with a brolly and we will eat indoors.
Mixed week weather wise this coming week so let's see what it brings us.

Dylan has His Bilateral Luxating Patellas Operated On

Had to drop our boy off for his operation this morning. He was fine though hungry but managed the busy road with little trouble. Hardest point was getting him out of the car!
1415hrs - just heard from the vets. Everything went well and we can pick him up at 1715hrs.

Dylan

Making himself at home!

Home Check Tonight

Well we are getting really nervous.
We are hoping to adopt a beautiful, but absolutely terrifed,Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel, who is presently just skin & bone with no muscle at all.
He has been rescued by the most amazing rescue centre in South Wales, Many Tears and is now being fostered in Northamptonshire. He arrived with no name and the Centre called him Nobby.
We are having our Home Check this evening and taking our 2nd Carer, Teresa & her Spaniel Bob, to meet Nobby no Dobby, no, hopefully Dylan.
Please keep your fingers firmly crossed for us.

Nobby/Dobby/Robbie

Just another shot to show how thin he is. I have another one of him but it is almost too shocking

Nobby Hopefully to be Known as Robbie

We met this gorgeous little boy today. Fingers crossed and with lots of luck he may be coming to join our family

Another Week Done

I really could get use to working part time - but for full time money of course! Managed four days this week and overall it has gone well. Now, very tired but only got 3 days next week and then a long weekend off.
Nigel is also off Friday to Monday but is off to Silverstone Classic Racing for Friday, Saturday & Sunday. He is really looking forward to this and I just hope that the weather is reasonable.
Not too good a forecast for this weekend but Sunday looking better.
We have been asked to a BBQ on Sunday by our two good friends Helen & Denise. Hopefully this will be OK.
Sadly they lost their beloved Megan a couple of weeks ago. Love to you both plus Monty who is missing his soul mate terribly

MAY I GO NOW?

May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say goodbye to pain filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?

I didn't want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.
I want to go
I really do.
It's difficult to stay.

But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid,
because I see your tears. I'll not be far,
I promise that, and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you
wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me.
You know I love you too,
that's why it's hard to say goodbye
and end this life with you.

So hold me now just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today.

Our Weekend

Well where has the weekend gone.
Weather has been much better - got loads of washing dry yesterday.
Nigel treated me to an Nintendo DS lite and some games. Started off with a Brain age of 80yrs!!!!!, useless at Mario Olympics and what on earth is WALL-E all about.
Does anyone else think he looks suspiciously like Number 5, laterley known as Johnny 5 in Short Circuit films?

Anyway, today pootled round whilst Nigel worked hard in the garden and washed the cars. Alex, the chap next door is fed up with us as Sheila his wife nagged him into weeding their front otherwise "our weeds will strangle Pip & Nigel's new flowers" Bless.... I suspect we may be off his Christmas Card list
I will post some pictures when I can

Gallstones, Health and the Weather

Gallstones or rather the pain seems to be a bit more under control at the moment. Actually managed a couple of hours consecutive sleep last night.
Health generally pretty poor, aching joints, very painful knee, mood quite low and absolutely exhausted all the time. And I am sure the weather is not helping. Roll on some dry warm weather.

Funny however old you are, when things aren't going well, all I want is to talk to my Dad....

These Flaming Gallstones

Been quite reasonable over the weekend but absolutely pants today. Very drowsy, muffled head and lots of pain.
Ultrasound tomorrow morning. I know it won't solve the problem but feels that it might be one step closer to be getting sorted.
Roll appointment with surgeon