Kilimanjaro Rocks!

For some reason, my link to the Love Hope Strength Foundation isn't working, but if you just search with the name Love Hope Strength, you should be able to locate both the UK and American sites www.lovehopestrength.co.uk

Right you lot! I know I bang on about Mike Peters and the Love Hope Strength Foundation but he and his team are on their way to Kilimanjaro as we speak to raise global awareness of cancer and to raise money so that everyone in the world has access to cancer care and detection.

You can send Mike and his crew messages of support as he and his team climb and the link is http://www.kilamanjarorocks.org/ Remember that Mike himself is a cancer fighter with a form of leukemia for which there is no cure but gladly he is in remission right now.

On 2nd October it will be LIVESTRONG DAY, to show your support visit http://www.livestrong.org/ and consider wearing yellow on that day (I wonder if I can get my hands on some yellow nail polish?)

The Love Hope Strength Foundation will be meeting UICC and working with them to provide support for a unit for a childhood cancer unit in Tanzania.

6th October marks the day they are to have climbed 19,336 feet to the top where they will release thousands of prayer flags (my name is on one) and sing (if they have the energy, pray that they do!). I think it will be the highest and most amazing rock gig of all time.

Please show them your support, they are an amazing team of REAL people and they are doing an awesome job.

http://www.lovehopestrengthfoundation.co.uk/ (also an American section too)

Tired...... AGAIN!!!!

Yep, tired again! I wish I didn't feel like this. I can cope with feeling ill but not this washed out tired feeling.

Mum, Auntie Heather and Uncle Phil took me to Glan Clwyd today so it was a nice change. Uncle Phil is having a stall at Coedpoeth Village Fete on Saturday. He turns wood and makes the most fantastic crafts such as carved walking sticks, figurines and welsh love spoons. His attention to detail is "second to none" he has an amazing talent and his works of art astound me. I will try to get some photos and hey....... if anyone wants to commission a piece of work...... made by a 100% welsh man, living in the welsh mountians, let me know and I will get you in touch with him.

In Wales it was a tradition for a suitor to carve a wooden spoon for his betrothed which signified everything he could give her. These spoons are beautiful.

Anyway, I digress...... Radiotherapy over again, same faces, same routine. My radiographer yesterday and today was born in 1966, same as me! The year the football won the World Cup! I hope I have weathered better than him!!! Mind you, it was nice to put the young ones in their places when we talked about shillings, half pennies and the old pound note!!

When I got home I was ordered to bed by my mum!! I must admit, the second my head hit the pillows I fell asleep. However, last night my sleep was interrupted by a naughty yapping dog called Pickles! The only time she yaps is if she is upset but last night it was because I had a chicken defrosting on the side! Naughty Pickles!!!!

I managed to get to the doctors in the village and requested some diprobase on prescription without seeing the doctors. The nurse said this would be ok so I can collect from Glen in Rossett Pharmacy tomorrow.... that will save me about £5 - £10 because all our prescriptive medicine in Wales is free on the NHS.

So tonight, mum has gone home and I am looking forward to a night with my husband, hopefully a peacefull sleep and more radiotherapy in the morning.


Oh..... PS....... I can't share my secret with you yet but at the end of October........ one of my dreams is coming true........... watch this space dudes!!!!!!!!

Faith! I Believe.....

The picture above was taken at my friends daughters naming ceremony. This was the day before I started to lose my hair, I had it cut short in preparation but nothing, nothing on this world prepares you for losing your hair.

I don't know why, I can't give you an explanation.... but, deep in my heart (I am so scared to say this in case I jinx myself) I am so sure that I am cancer free...... I am so sure that I am not going to do this again. I have been given my test, I have past my test and now I am a stronger person, better equipt to deal with whatever is my purpose in this life.

I remember those years of trying for a baby; tests, pills, more tests...... Once I put my concerns to one side and accepted that this may not be my destiny.... I became pregnant with Joe. Having miscarried once, my pregnancy was threatened again..... I can't begin to tell you how it felt. I prayed and prayed that weekend and on the Tuesday, while walking across the car park, watching the ducks on the stream.... I was filled with a warm glow, as though some invisible arm was giving me a hug and the words came into my head "its going to be alright" .... and it was.

This is how I feel about cancer.

Day two of radiotherapy was not as traumatic as yesterday. I talked to some women with breast cancer, I joked about the colour of our tunics.... "why do I get the insipid yellow.... bright purple is much more me!" - nice to have a giggle at not so giggleable topics! It was lovely to hear a mother with her 4 year old daughter and father talking in welsh. I was able to understand their tittle tattle which pleased me because I have lost my tongue since the death of my Nain and Taid. So comforting to hear welsh spoken as Wrexham has become much more diluted in the last ten years..... It is such a wonderful language, spoken with a tune..... love it! Dwyn carwch cymraeg!

So, I have faith and I believe.......

On a final note: I was so sad to hear of the death of Patrick Swayze, I have had a crush on him for 22 years! Ghost came out just after my brothers death and although it broke my heart, his portrayal brought me comfort. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Lisa who must be totally lost and crushed by this loss.

A History of Wales (My country)

Many people don't understand about my county of Wales! We are a seperate country from England! Great Britain comprises of England, Scotland, N.Ireland and Wales.

We are a country in our own right with our own language and culture. Even facebook categorises me as living in England!!!!!!

We are descended from the original inhabitants of this island called Celts. Celts were pushed into the hillsides and outer areas of the country and can be found in Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France. Our language is reputedly the oldest language in Europe.

Within living history, my family have received punishments for speaking in their mother tongue. Indeed, my older brother was attending a welsh medium school and was discriminated against because our dad was a non speaker. Needless to say my mother pulled him out of the school and me with it. This is quite amusing because on my fathers side, he can be traced back to a wealthy family within the Wrexham area over hundreds of years. Also, our family can be traced back to Irish lords. Can't get more celt than that even if he doesn't speak the lingo!

The welsh have been discriminated against for decades so you can understand why I have a low patience thresh hold with other newer minority groups who claim discrimination!

The welsh were made up of principalities, each with their own Prince or tribal leader. In the 16th century, the bards were tricked by the English into signing the Act of Unification, which is why we are not perceived as being a seperate country and why our flag is not reflected in the Union Jack.

The bards told the English King that they would only bow down to a Prince born on Welsh soil and who did not speak a word of English - how arrogant!!!! So the King sent his pregnant wife to Caernarvon Castle and his son was born. The King presented the child to the bards; born on wels soil and not able to speak a word of English, and so the unification was agreed. This is why to this day we have the Prince of Wales and why the ceremony is carried out in Caernarvon Castle (North Wales).

Our history can also be linked to the London Tower. You have heard of the crows who must never leave the tower? Well, that myth or legend comes from the Welsh. There was a welsh King called Bran (meaning crow) and he was defeated in battle. He told his men to bury his head looking out to see on the site of the London Tower and Britain would never fall to the enemy. Reputedly, his head was removed and Britain was conquered by the Normans. It was reinstated and peace has remained on our island. King Bran - Crow, that is why the Crows should never leabe the tower.

Incidentally, the castle of King Bran is in Llangollen, about 10 miles from me and is a wonderful walk out. It is called Castell Dinas Bran but in English the slang name for it is Crow Castle.

So, my potted history of Wales.

Now my fellow bloggers.... never refer to Wales as in England and remember dwyn gwraig cymraeg, peidio dechrau ddraig goch!!!!! It means "I am a welsh woman, dont wake the red dragon"