Dogs, Norfolk and Birthday Time Again

April. That time of year again. Birthdays. Another celebration. A time to just stop and think about how lucky I've been and appreciate life. I wouldn't have believed I'd reach this milestone a few years back, but here I am enjoying precious moments with my family all thanks to the special person who gave me my second chance in life two and a half years ago now. Another birthday celebration. 

My family planned me a surprise weekend in one of my favourite places, Brancaster in Norfolk. As we now have Ted our cocker spaniel pup, and Sarah and Oli have Alfie, their cocker spaniel. We stayed in a very lovely and dog friendly pub and took our dogs with us. 

Now this may seem silly, but this was another one of my dreams - yes sometimes my dreams may seem small. But I just had this picture of us all when I was thinking of having a puppy last year. All of us walking together on the beach with our dogs running riot, having a whale of a time running in and out of the sea or running in the countryside, while we just all strolled along relaxed, chatting and happy. 

And now that little dream has come true. I didn't ever believe life could move on so much from how it once was. That I'd be walking and running on beaches chasing after two cocker spaniels. Well mainly chasing after Ted, as it was his first outing to the beach! 

I'd said to Sarah when we first had Ted, that I couldn't wait for us all to go away together with the dogs. While we were down on the beach Sarah asked, 'Is this what you'd imagined?' And yes it was. Breathing the fresh sea air deep down in my precious new lungs; walking and running; just being with my family; laughing and playing games with our energetic young dogs. Simple pleasures, precious moments and making more new memories. 

That is the miracle of organ donation. 

 

Easter Time 2015

Easter time has been warm and sunny and we spent the Easter weekend in Norfolk. We were staying  in the middle of the beautiful countryside in a small cottage, where you could just step out from your front door in your wellies and walk for miles. It is the sort of holiday Rob and I love and we had an enjoyable time just wandering around the local farmland, footpaths and country lanes, enjoying the spring sunshine and buzzing wildlife. 

We watched redwings, fieldfares and many other birds just from the front window, which overlooked a paddock of horses and out in the countryside there were deer and geese. We spotted quite a few hares hopping around too, they were camuflauged well and I haven't ever seen as many before. 

Sarah and Oli joined us for Easter Saturday and Sunday and brought Alfie their cocker spaniel puppy. We drove up to the coast a few times and Alfie had a whale of a time in the sea and enjoyed all the walking too, wherever we were! Of course there are a lot of good pubs and eateries in the area, so there were plenty of refreshments wherever we went, even a pub just a few metres from the cottage! 

On Easter Sunday I was saddened to hear of the loss of another one of my PH friends. We had been diagnosed at the same time more or less and had come across each other on the PH forum. Although we never met, we had spoken a lot to each other on the phone in those first few months and would message one another from time to time. We had been friends for nearly five years. 

My friend gave me lots of support during my transplant and we chatted quite a lot over the last week or two while she was in intensive care. It was devastating news and the PH community was shocked once again. It is a very cruel, spontaneous and agressive disease. I will miss my friend, as will many others and I'm grateful for the friendship we had. One of the best things that has come from having had this awful disease is the friendship of others and the lovely people I've met. One of the hardest is when we lose someone, which we so often sadly do. 

I'm acutely aware already how precious every day is, but once again it is a very stark reminder that life must be lived to the full and in the moment, as no one knows what the future is. I'm already aware how lucky I've been to have a new chance in life and know it cannot ever be taken for granted. It makes every moment and those we share with family and friends feel all the more precious. 

On our way back from Norfolk, we visited Ely in Cambridgeshire, again it was a glorious warm day and we enjoyed a walk by the river, through the cathedral grounds and around the town. I still stop and pinch myself that I can walk around so much now compared to when I had to use the wheel chair. It will always feel like a special gift after struggling to walk. Also, knowing that you live with delicate transplanted heart and lungs makes you appreciate all the things that you can do more than ever: you try and enjoy every moment your new lungs breathe and your new heart beats for you. 

We are coming back to Ely again in May, as we have been invited by NHSBT Eastern Region to a special remembrance and thanksgiving service at the cathedral to give thanks to those who have generously donated their organs to help people like me. I am really looking forward to that and know I wouldn't be doing all the wonderful things I'm lucky enough to do now if it wasn't for my donor. 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

We got back from our holiday in Norfolk at weekend. We were so lucky as the weather forecast had been for mild and cloudy weather, but it was actually beautiful warm sunshine every single day. It felt as though the sun was shining especially for us, because as a family we had had lots to celebrate.

It was our wedding anniversary to start off the week - 24 years - and it was great to spend it with the family and visiting some lovely places. We went for a browse around the shops in Wells and then visited Holkham Hall for lunch and the rest of the day. The walled gardens there were stunning and still full of colour although it was the end of September.

Tuesday was a very special day of course being the anniversary of my transplant and we spent time in Downham Market and on the beach at Holkham. We were staying near the RSPB reserve at Titchwell Marsh and watched a beautiful sun set there and then we had a lovely surprise when we got to see a murmuration of starlings dance and sway backwards and forwards as they flew in to settle for the night in the reed beds. It all felt very fitting as though nature was paying tribute to the day and to my donor. 

Wednesday was then Rob's birthday. He has had a couple of difficult birthdays over the last two years. Two years ago he spent his birthday at the Lister hospital while we waited for news about Sarah who was having an emergency appendix operation, so that wasn't a lot of fun for him. Last year it was the day following my transplant, so his birthday was a difficult day again as I hadn't gained consciousness and had been put in an induced coma. 

This year was spectacularly much better and we went on a boat trip to see the seals off Blakeney Point. Rob had done this once before, but I'd been unable to go because I was too unwell. It felt like a special treat for both of us in the circumstances.

We enjoyed the sunshine and rest of the week relaxing and exploring and meeting up with friends. I was especially pleased to be able to visit my friend Ruth, who lives in nearby Upper Sherringham and we enjoyed coffee and cake and a good chat!

Sea Mist, Smog and Spring at Felbrigg Hall

After our lovely day out at Titchwell Marsh Bird Reserve in Norfolk, on our way home the next day we went on to a National Trust place called Felbrigg Hall near Cromer. Rob and I have been members of the National Trust since we were in our twenties because we both love a bit of history, old buildings and houses, interesting gardens and nature. 

It was a very misty morning as we drove down there and the locals at the pub had told us it was a sea mist that had come in and would take a while to clear. When we arrived the sun was trying to burn through a little and we managed to enjoy lunch sitting outside in the courtyard. 

The dove house is spectacular! 

There were lots of spring flowers out, everything has started to burst into colour now we have had some warm, sunny weather. The magnolias were out in full. 

There is always a good chance to get practising with the camera in these beautiful places, something else we really enjoy. 

I loved this chicken house in the orchard garden  - very trendy chickens here at Felbrigg! 

There were plenty of houses for the bees too! 

Very exotic looking plants!

The sun didn't last for very long and we were soon enveloped back in the mist and after such a warm day the day before, it felt bitter cold. We weren't sure anymore whether it was sea mist or the much talked about smog that was on the news that had arrived. 

Delicate bluebells in flower.

There were lots of chucks roaming freely - I loved this one! 

More exotic plants making a spectacular show in the walled gardens. 

We had been lucky to avoid the smog the day before, we hadn't even been aware of it until we saw the news as we had fortunately been in the smallest tip of north Norfolk that had missed it entirely. 

The smog that had descended over the UK was a bit of a freak weather condition and was caused by the area of high pressure over the UK mixing with dust and sand blown over from the Sahara with our own pollution and that blown over from Europe. 

On the TV the experts we warning that people with heart and lung conditions were at high risk and people were being advised to stay indoors and do minimum excercise. A lot of my friends with PH, heart conditions and transplants were really suffering. 

I had a lucky escape on the worst day of it as we just happened to go away from home. Although I have a new heart and lungs that are working well, transplanted lungs are very vulnerable to pollution, which can cause infection as dust and fungi are inhaled. If infection sets in then this can cause the onset of unrepairable damage to my new lungs and the start of chronic rejection. 

I must admit I try and guard my new lungs like they are the crown jewels, they are just the most precious things to me, so I was relieved we had been away. As we drove on from Felbrigg Hall towards home, we encountered more lovely sunshine and then as we got further across Norfolk the smog descended and it was really bad. Once home it was a bit better, but still very overcast and evident. I stayed indoors the next day, just to be on the safe side. 

It has all gone now thank goodness and I think many of us are 'breathing' a sigh of relief! 

Beach Life

I've been wanting to take a walk along a beach for a while now I can actually go for a walk and it's only the rain and gales that have been stopping me so far. Saturday was a beautiful day and we spent an  uplifting afternoon on Brancaster Beach in Norfolk. The beach there is just one enormous stretch of sand, flanked by dunes and salt marshes. 

There were plenty of people just enjoying the day and the scenery, but as you can see there was plenty of space for everyone to enjoy their time on the beach. 

                                        The gulls were enjoying the sun and calm of the day too! 

I enjoy just watching the sea rush in and bringing with it some interesting bits and pieces.

I thought this groyne looked like it's got a face! 

There were plenty of shells in all shapes and sizes.

I stopped a while to watch a group of sanderlings chasing the waves, searching the water for food.

Ripples in the sand, neverending, thousands and thousands of them! Shimmering in the sun, making me think of deserts! 

Couldn't resist a little paddle!

Stones, shells, rocks, an assortment of bits and pieces.

I can stare at and stare at and watch and watch the waves rolling in over and over again. Every single one is different! 

Little seaweed all washed up! 

Lovely views from the sand dunes.

Was this tree washed up or was it blown down? Or both even? 

And someone's fence, again did the sea wash it up or did it get blown here in the gales? Hard to tell on such a calm day. 

Walking along the dunes, peeping at the view! 

A curlew enjoying a feast in the salt marsh behind the dunes.

This one was definitely blown down! 

All washed up, razor shells in their thousands! 

It's getting late and the sea is racing in past the groynes now, hope we don't get cut off! 

The geese are going home, sunset is near! 

Beautiful evening, the sun has just set, time to get back! 

I ended up walking nearly three miles, just ambling, paddling and wandering around until sunset, something I couldn't possibly have managed before my transplant. Never a day goes by where I don't think of my donor and the gift of life I've been given and even more so on a day like Saturday.