Snowdon Rocks 2012

Love Hope Strength Foundation

The aim of this world wide cancer charity is to provide cancer resources in every country. It also has a huge bone marrow donor drive and Mike is campaigning to reduce the donor age of people in the UK. At the moment you have to be 40 or under whereas in USA its 60. If you follow this LINK you can read a bit more about what the charity is about. 

Fighting cancer one concert at a time.

So thats what we did yesterday, me and Jason.... we joined Love Hope Strength to climb to the summit of Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales to raise lots of money for this great charity.

We set off in the morning starting with a few words from Mike Peters and some tunes.

It started to rain and soon it was belting it down. By the time we got to the Halfway House we were completely drenched. A sandwich and a drink soon helped lift my mood and then I was amazed as Mike and Chris Summerill and Matt all did a song each.

I had to laugh at Mike and Jules young son, mimicking his dad behind him and when he was asked was he going to be a rock star when he grew up he said very firmly "a footballer".

I found that first trek very difficult mainly because I was over heating and yet having to wear waterproofs to keep me dry. Many times I saw that train on its merry way to the top and I wished I was on there!

It was lovely to see mini versions of Cola on the way up. This little chap was quite happy sleeping whilst being over looked and watched by the rest of his pack.

I especially liked meeting up with friends, Sue O, Shirley G, Joff N, Nigel and Sue A and their daughter, Chris S and his wife and lovely dogs not to mention Dave S! The man with the flag!

People were so friendly going up, it was inspiring to see young and old all going up with one aim in mind - to climb that summit and raise money for this cancer charity.

When we got to the top we were treated to more songs and then a well deserved hot chocolate and a warm before we went out into the elements again.

Mike Peters pictured here singing in the rain and yes he DID climb that flippin mountain with a knee injury!

Do you need inspiration? Do you need a heroe or mentor? Look no further than this man here!!!

Singing at the top - walkers who didn't know what we were about did look rather puzzled. Note to self.... next year - yep you heard me correctly - next year I am going to take some leaflets with me about the charity and when I get talking to people - which we did yesterday I will pass them on to spread the word. Its not just about the money its about raising awareness and getting people to register for bone marrow donorship.

The way down was alot easier and quicker plus the sun came out and by the time we got to the bottom our clothes were bone dry. Apart from my feet which were soggy and I feared a case of trench foot when I took my boots and socks off!

It was nice to be greeted by our mini Cola at the end.

Many people took their dogs up to the summit and thats a great idea, lovely day out for them but one woman (from a different party to LHS) took her 8 month old golden retriever up there and he was refusing to walk down, she had to go and get some food for him to encourage him.

NOTE: Dogs under the age of 1 years old should not be subjected to strenuous exercise which includes running with you, mountain walks or anything lasting a considerable amount of time. The reason for this is simple.... they are still growing and their bones are forming. Any exertion can cause skeletol problems later on in life. Always consult your vet before taking your dog on a walk such as this.

I didn't take my dogs for these reasons:-

Pickles - she is just over 8 years old and has always been stiff she isn't suited to such walks

Wilbur - is recovering from the back infection he had and is not fit enough as yet

Snowy - is only 9 months old and too young to tackle it

It was a great day and an achievement for me with the fun I have had this year so far !!!!

Money raised from this walk will be going to the North Wales Cancer Unit to improve the lives of cancer patients in this part of my country.

And on that note, I leave you with Chris Summerill - his next CD is out soon so he tells me!!!! Can't wait!!

Cooking and Weight Loss

I am on the Weight Watchers diet its the only one which works for me because when I am on it, I eat allot of food but its healthy stuff, I educate myself about portion control and I tend to try new things.

I have lost weight with them before and I kept it off for years, it was only after my health blip I piled on the weight but now I am well on the road to recovery I want to get back to being the old me.

OK.... I know, I know......

I can never go back to being the "old me" but I can re-create myself and be the person I like and feel comfortable with.

I am a far cry from the 8 stone I used to be I can tell you!

I have been going to group for about 6 weeks now and so far I have lost half a stone. 

The weight isn't falling off, its dripping off very slowly but hey? I am in no race I can take as long as I like to get where I want to be.

Ah those were the years when it was all about the lycra and aerobics!

So today I am taking the opportunity to do some cooking.

I am trying a few vegetarian dishes and am using Quorn in one just to see what its like.

I like vegetarian dishes as long as they are tasty with lots of spice and I don't really miss the meat at all. So the dishes I am making will be for me because the kids don't like anything with "bits" in and my husband does like his meat.

I wonder what it will taste like!

Olympics 2012

I wasn't really looking forward to the Olympics because of the economic climate and the governments constant cut backs but I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I honestly didn't mind missing out on my favourite TV programmes!

I was also worried about security.....  

Private security???? oh p-lease!!!!

In a way it was a good thing that the private security firm messed up and the police and army stepped in at the eleventh hour because it shows the government that you really cannot use private firms for security and you cannot compromise security with all of these cut backs.

Both the Army and the Police force have done a fantastic job. The police have been working double shifts, 86 hour weeks and have had leave cancelled. Forces across the country have been on stand by "just in case". These people are dedicated individuals working selflessly to uphold the law and to keep us all safe.

There have been so many highs during these last two weeks!

I thought the Olympic hoops lighting up and taking up into the sky was totally amazing

Mr Bean part of the Orchestra playing Chariots of Fire had me in constant stitches laughing!

I thought the portrayal of the wonderful NHS (National Health Service) which we are so lucky to have in Britain was an important part of the ceremony at a time when the government is making cut back after cut back and striving (it would seem) to work towards privatising health.

And the spoof James Bond with Her Majesty the Queen shocked me! Seriously.... my jaw was hitting the floor! I couldn't believe that she actually DID that and I think she is amazing for doing so.

They did such a sterling job of the opening ceremony. It was historical, it was magical, it was different, it was innovative it was very British.

I have been amazed at the athletes and how wonderfully they have performed, they have been truly inspiring.

For me, the best parts were the Equestrian events. Sadly I missed allot of them due to life going on but I did manage to watch the individual dressage last Thursday and I am telling you that when Charlotte Dujardin scored 90% in her test and took the gold I was crying and jumping around the room like a mad thing! 

Gosh, waiting for her scores I felt sick I could barely breathe!

So today the Olympics 2012 ends and I must say although I am sad that its over, I am looking forward to the closing ceremony tonight.

Well done to everyone who made this event happen.....

The background guys, the police, army, athletes, grooms, reporters, cleaners - everyone, everyone played a part in making this a memorable event.

**Pictures courtesy of Google Chrome **

Wear Your Helmet!

Last week I was out with friends. 

We had a lovely meal and much wine was drunk with fantastic company.

All was well until the time came to depart.

I stepped out of the pub and my foot slipped on something, all I remember was my foot going up in the air and me flying backwards.

The next thing I remember is my name being shouted "Sara! Sara! Sara!" and an ice pack being applied to the back of my head.

I couldn't see, I had tunnel vision and I could hear lots of things being said.....

Ambulance

Bleeding

Hospital

A&E

I just wanted to go home.

As it happened I had bad concussion and it was only when my husband realised I had been knocked out cold he frog marched me to hospital fuming that the hotel had not called an ambulance at the time.

The realisation hit me that I could have died.

So..............

With that and finding out that a friend had two friends hurt in cycling accidents and the fact that I have had two reports of my son causing emergency stops in the village has made me insist that he wears his helmet.

Apparently I have ruined his life.

Apparently he will be made fun of.

Apparently he won't be cool wearing a helmet.

I am his mum.

I don't care about cool but I do care about him being made fun of.

It took too long for him to come into my life.

I have spent the last 13 (almost 14) years raising him thats alot of sleepless nights and worrying to lose him just because of not wearing a helmet!

His life is precious to me.

I wish that wearing helmets on bikes was compulsory.

I wish that wearing helmets on bikes wasn't perceived as "uncool"

Live for the Day

I enjoy blogging.... its a way of expressing myself, letting go of the negatives and celebrating the positives of life.

Sharing my joys and indeed the bad bits too. 

It is a form of therapy.

This is my voice.

I hear of so much sadness in the world.

Cancer, MS, Fibromialgia, tragedy..........

I wished I could wave a magic wand and end the suffering but I can't because this is life.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I think that says it all for me - what a good mantra!

Live for the day folks!

Enjoy what each single day gives you.

*Pictured taken from google chrome search

A Spoon Full of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down...

Or does it???

Whenever I hear that dreaded word CANCER

Whenever I hear CHEMOTHERAPY

Dread and saddness grip my heart.

It sounds simple really doesn't it?

You have cancer......you will have chemotherapy.....you will lose your hair....

Facts.................

Straightforward facts..................

IF ONLY IT WERE THAT SIMPLE!

Pictures speak a 1000 words 

So when I hear of somebody facing chemo here is what goes through my mind................

Hair loss

Chemicals in your body making you feel ill and strange

Poisen

Canulas and the attempts to get them in

Fear - Fear - Fear

Mushed up brain - chemo brain - unable to put words into sentences

Forgetting words and names

Missing part of your life

Gaps

Big big big gaps

Body weakness

Fall in fitness

Aches in bones

Fear - Fear - Fear

Tiredness

So tired you can't listen to music or even talk

Steroids 

Fat fingers

Slow recovery

Hardened veins

Pain constant pain

Feeling as though you have aged 40 years over night

Fear - Fear - Fear

Heart burn

Loss of Control

Tablets - lots and lots and lots of tablets

Emotional lows

Grief and loss

Mourning

Fear - Fear -Fear

My Life is a Road of Music Part 2

I can mark my life out in music, so many songs for so many reasons so I can only share a few with you.

This song is beautiful but so so sad. It was played at my big brothers funeral in September 1990. He was 25 years old and his car crashed, he died instantly leaving behind a young wife and his one year old daughter. That day he broke many hearts and almost 22 years later he is missed more than anything else in the world.

I remember playing this song over and over and really identifying with it. I was a goth punk at the time and in the 80's goth punk wasn't as fashionable as it was then. For a start we didnt get our clothes and makeup handed to us on a plate in the form of specialist shops. I personally had an idea of how I wanted to look and I had to create that look myself.... this involved dark makeup, lots and lots of hair spray, a basque, black evening gloves and a long pencil skirt sewn up so that I had to walk like Morticia!!! I always remember my mum lecturing me on how I dressed and how negative it was, how it could affect my job etc etc. Ah listen to the lyrics and you will understand.

Wieders Toccatta from Symphony No 5 - ah yes !  A truly beautiful piece of music, I loved it so much because it sounded so fresh, new and rejoiceful. This was the piece of music I chose to walk down the aisle after Jason and I were married. You can imagine my upset and desperate disappointment when it wasnt played because the organist forgot the music!!

I had many hard times growing up which had a huge impact on me, my self confidence etc. but eventually having had cognitive therapy I was able to come to terms with my past and move forward. At this point, this song said it all for me.

I was diagnosed with HER2 Pos, hormone receptive stage 3 breast cancer. I was told that because of my young age they were going to hit me with everything. This involved surgery, 12 rounds of chemo, 15 rounds of radiotherapy and 18 rounds of herceptin. I have small veins so half way through the chemo they started to collapse and become hard so canulating me became a traumatic experience. I remember going to chemo sessions and fear would grip my heart... I would play and sing this song loudly and it gave me the courage to walk into the war and let battle commence.

And finally I come to Love Hope Strength..... Listen to the words and I can identify with them so well... The click click click of the killing machines - the IV drips you get hooked up to.............

I cry when I listen to this song because I have faced cancer twice and I have kicked its sorry arse with the help of music and friends.