Results tagged “LLANDUDNO” from Birmingham Mail - I Will Survive

We are off to Llandudno and we decided to take our 13 year old cat Chloe with us for the first time. She always associates the car with going to the vets and injections so she was quite surprised when 2 1/2 hours later she found herself exploring her new home for the next 5 days. When a large seagull perched on the windowsill I think it came as quite a shock to a little cat who is only used to chasing pigeons and magpies. We took her out on the landing and to John's horror she disappeared through a gap in the marble balastrauds, It was a 30ft drop and he dreaded seeing see her lying on the floor but no, there she was gingerly walking round a narrow ledge. Cats are cleverer than we give them credit for and very intuitive. When I was really ill during chemo sessions, Chloe would lie with me on the bed and never leave my side. I am sure that other people with animals know they can be a real comfort.

When she was put in her basket for the return journey I think she had quite an adventure. If only they could talk! I will never know if she would have preferred to have stayed at home and be looked after by our kind neighbour Mike rather than be with us in strange surroundings.

Our special Chloe
Back home I went to a fondue party in Balsall Common and what great fun we had cooking chicken, steak, prawns and cheese. It was in the 60s 70s that I last used a fondue and it was so enjoyable I must go into the loft and find it and start using it again. Why do all the cooking when you can get your guests to do it!!

After a session of aromatherapy and healing, the weekend was upon us and John and I went to my friend Cheryl's 60th birthday party at The Bell and Cross,Belbroughton. Cheryl and I worked together at the BBC and she always talked about her friend Sandra whose love life seemed to mirror mine in those days and then, when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Sandra was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Once again our lives seemed to be mirroring each other, although we had never met.

That is until the party where I found myself sitting opposite this vivacious blond with a great sense of humour and a tan. Yes it was Sandra who had come back from a Mediterranean cruise that day. We got on like a house on fire and both agreed that when you you have a life threatening disease such as cancer, you live everyday to the full. It was a really great night and we were all asked to make paper hats from our napkins. Sandra and I might not have won the prize, but we had great fun making them and I think we could have graced Ladies Day at Ascot no problem! The great news is that we are meeting up for lunch in Leamington Spa.

Sandra and I, looking very silly!

John was off on a walking/drinking holiday with 6 of his old friends to Wales. When I go there it always rains, but this time they had 5 glorious hot sunny days. I am not sure if these men, who were all in their mid 60's, walked up Snowdon, or just walked in Snowdonia, but they all had a great time and I think it is good for them to get together away from us ladies.

This left me to my own devices and sunny days were spent sunbathing in the garden and planting all my plants which were promptly dug up by our pesky squirrels or eaten by our army of slugs and snails. Girlfriends came round for a glass of wine and a girly chat. I could play my music when I liked and as loud as I liked and I could go to bed when I felt like it. I certainly wouldn't want to live without John,but just for a short time I was amazed by how much I achieved in his absence. The saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is true and we both felt really happy to see each other again. Now, I too have an adventure to go on, which I will tell you about next time!

A month has gone by since I last wrote, but I'm still here and feeling energised by this wonderful Spring weather and the joy of watching the spring flowers and blossoms burst forth and the sounds of busy amorous birds.Our 2 bird boxes have now been claimed by blue tits and a blackbird couple and a robin seem to have taken up permanent residence in our garden.I'm always planting and pruning and it feels such a happy garden, if only I had the time to relax and enjoy it. That must be my new goal for this summer

I lived in my previous house for 20 years and my next door neighbour was a lovely lady called Stella. When she left I used to visit her and she was always interested in "my boys" and my cat Chloe who she loved. I was going to see her before Xmas but I had to cancel and she was disappointed. "I shall come and see you again soon" I said. As I sat at her funeral 2 weeks ago, how I regret not making the time to see her for now it is too late. I shall never make that mistake again.

I have always been lucky with my neighbours and we invited our great friends Thelma and Leno, who were my neighbours 40 years ago,to a "cinema evening" at our house to see "Mama Mia" - what a happy good feel factor that film leaves you with.

Talking of good feel factors on the 24th February I started the first session of "The Living with Cancer Course" run by Macmillan at Coventry.I always do a great deal of work beforehand because it is so important. My co-tutor Mike and I are a good team and we were pleased to see 14 people turn up. They all looked worried and uncertain about their future. Three weeks on the difference is amazing, they are making action plans, taking control of their lives and daring to hope and more importantly they are helping each other.I always come home exhausted, but it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.On the first day I had an hour to turn myself round and go with my friend Debbie to see "El Divo" at the NEC.What a wonderful night, it's amazing how 4 handsome, gifted men can revitalise you again!

That week my friend Steve Dourass from Macmillan brought the latest member of their fundraising team, James to meet my "old" Macmillan nurse and friend Sue and myself.What a joy to be able to entertain Sue to tea and cakes again - just like old times and for all of us to discuss how we fit into the "Grand Plan". It is very good when the men at the top take the time to find out what happens at "the coal front". We all learn so much from tthese meetings and share stories and laughter which help us to help others.

The weekend was upon us and John and I had such a special treat in store - our friends John and Kay had arranged a night with dinner in the best room at the best hotel in Llandudno.Kay and I have been friends for 60 years and this was my 65th birthday present.No one could have given me anything more special, John and I both love Llandudno, we always feel well and happy there and I believe the sea is very therapeutic.

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We arrived at the Osborne Hotel and were shown to our beautiful suite decorated in Victorian style complete with a fire in the old Victorian fireplace. The next morning we sat having breakfast in our room, overlooking the sea, with a friendly seagull perched on the window ledge hoping for a croissant, I thought how lucky I am to still be here to experience all these wonderful things and when our friends Carol and Val, who live in Llandudno, knocked on our bedroom to have a cup of tea with us I felt just like Hyacinth Bouquet.

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We left Llandudno refreshed and happy after 2 glorious sunny days there thanks to special friends like Kay and John whose generosity had made it all possible.