Another long journey...

Hi all,

Im on part one of my travels today, didnt sleep too well last night and woke a few times needing to neb but managed to get up on time for the latest epic journey to my parents. It again involves a large wait at manchester coach station - 4 hours this time...

Ive had some food and a coffee and chatted to random national express staff but now I am very, very bored!! I texted a friend earlier to say I could meet up for a few hours but think that she is unfortunatly for me probably in lectures! so the wait continues...

On the whole I'm feeling a bit better than I was first thing which is great, though I am very shaky from the nebs! I'm looking forwards to seeing my gorgeous nephew again and to seeing all my family-its been rather stressful the last few weeks so I'm looking forwards to the break!!

Anyways will post again soon but till then take care all,
Lv Rattles Xxxx

Babies, joy and deep snow...

Hi all,

I am guilty of neglecting this blog to which I have no excuse really and for that I apologise. I have spent the last week at my parents and have had plenty of time to coo over my beautiful newborn nephew - who is undoubtedly the cutest baby in the world!!

The journey there was hellish to say the least taking nearly 13 hours to complete what is normally a 2.5 hour journey - I was tired out by the time I arrived there!! I did however get my very first cuddle with baby S as soon as I arrived - so it was well worth the effort!! It was difficult tearing myself away yesterday to do the journey back here!

I arrived back in a mear 5 hours - the coach journey was beautiful. We drove over the snake and the hills were all covered in a thick coating of the old white stuff! (something that I didn't really miss whilst at my parents as it was a good few degrees warmer there!!) Considering a few days ago it was so warm outside I went out wearing just a hooded jumper it was a noticeable bump back to reality when I stepped off the coach and needed my hat, scalf and gloves!!!

I got back to my house to find my road almost as I left it with several inches of snow on the ground, though, one of my lovely neighbours had moved the snow from my path making it easier to negotiate my way up the iced over snow!! My snowman is still in the garden - a few inches shorter than he was, but still very much 'alive!'

So, my trip back to the coast was a very reflective one, mainly pondering on what really is keeping me here miles away from almost everyone I care about! I miss my nephew and family already, and though I am somewhat committed to staying here for another 12 months to continue with my sessions with one of my doctors - after that mmmm!!!

I love my job, but really have to face the fact that after Tuesday, I may not be still employed there. Once I have no job there the only real tie I have is my house. My house stands for a lot, its my independence, my achievement against all other odds - I have managed just about to keep a roof of my very own above my head! So I'm confused - to stay or to move that is the all important question!

I managed to see my GP before I went back to my folks to talk through my ridiculous asthma and the recent set backs alongside the fact that despite me feeling that the antidepressants were not doing anything and I felt they were a waste of space, after stopping them in December, I felt that maybe they were helping me after all! This was a huge thing for me to admit, considering that I have only seen this new GP four times and don't know her very well yet and the fact that its hard to admit that your not coping very well with things! I was getting very snappy with my friends and family and was very touchy and easily upset - probably as a result of spending a ridiculous portion of last year in hospital and it coming up to the anniversary of my grandmas death!

The anniversary is today. On reflection, I have been trying to keep busy all day, anything to avoid thinking! I have come a long way since this time last year and for that I should be really proud of myself, but, I'm still not dealing with it too well! I am glad that I have an appointment with Dr R tomorrow - even if it is Friday the 13th lol!!! I feel I have a lot to try and sort out in my own head.

Anyways, I didn't mean for this entry to be so bleak!!! On reflection, I am the proud auntie of a beautiful boy and I miss him already but I have already planned to see him again in a fortnights time! Then I only really have a week or so back at home before I am going to see my good friend from the asthma UK website in Basildon! It will be great to see her as we have spoken a lot on the phone and via the net through various means, it will however be our first meeting face to face!! I am a little excited really and that's good as it gives me something to look forwards to! I did meet another friend cookie on route from my parents yesterday and that was great... Was only a short meeting though, so we will have to meet again when I have longer than 15 mins at the connection!!

Anyway, I am going to get my tea sorted and sort out the massive amount of paperwork that was chucked through my door whilst I was away.... I have been putting it off all day, but it does need sorting!!!

Speak soon
Rattles Xxx

long, long journey...

Well, I set off back up north to blackpool today. I woke up at 7am and saw the horrendous weather - really snowy, it was about knee height. I was worried my journey would be cancelled so I called the company up and they couldn't tell me one way or another - just said there were delays. I hobbled along to the nearest bus stop to my house - just as a bus was arriving - lucky i thought ;-) I got to the local interchange at around 8am ish...

Once there I cued and asked whether my coach was running and if everything was still good to go. I was told my coach would not arrive till 2.30pm. I sat down in the cafe and waited till 11am and then asked again if there were any further delays-yes she said - its been cancelled now. I then tried to get a bus or taxi back home so I could do the journey another day-the buses had stopped running to my area-snow too bad!!

This is where national express really did exceed all my expectations. They bent over backwards to assist me getting back to blackpool. I went to Leeds and waited there an hour, then got to manchester at 3pm -just after the connection coach had left-grrrr. I had a very long wait 3.5 hours at manchester but the staff kept getting me hot drinks and we chatted etc-all in all a long boring journey was quite a social event lol!!!!

The only problem with all the waiting around was that due to the constant swopping from hot area to cold outdoors, my asthma was really starting to flare up. I did have to use my nebuliser quite a lot on the journey-at one point the driver of coach number 2 got quite concerned about me and everytime he stopped at traffic lights he was asking if I was OK. I was-just sounded awful-really wheezy...


All in all it was an exhausting journey but one that was made a hell of a lot less stressful by the fabulous staff of national express-they even carried my luggage for me bless them!!

Im meeting one of the drivers on my return journey in manchester where I have a bit of a wait for connections for a coffee!!

The reason for my travels was to visit my family-my brother and his fiance have just had a little boy and I was desparate to meet my newborn nephew. I got back just in time for some cuddles and bathtime which was really special. I love him loads-and want to stay here forever to do babysitting duties now lol!!

Its been a very long day now so Im off to bed now but will update again after I have spent a bit more time with little S.

sleep well all from a very content
rattles Xx