Joy Tinged with Fear and Sadness

This is my beautiful boy soldier Conor last night.  I love this boy more than life it's self. I have asked The Good Lord to keep him safe in mind, body and soul and to take me instead of him if it comes to it.  It is not just his physical well being I pray for it is his mental and spiritual well being that is so important also. He does read his Bible, he keeps my rosary with him and I hope these do give him faith, hope and strength at this time and in the future. 



This morning, one of my worst fears came looming at me when I read about a young soldier who survived a Taliban bombing, came home to his parents on live and took his own life at his parents home.

My heart is heavy right now

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2257217/Soldier-Robert-Griffiths-24-spoke-buzz-surviving-Afghanistan-bomb-blast-hanged.html

Family Time

Tonight will be a joyous night.  Family getting together always is the best of times for me.

 Tonight will be special as it will be us being together with  Conor my soldier grandson.

 He is on leave from Afghanistan and we are all so happy to have him home.

The photo above was at the family send off we gave him in September.

My daughter Clair putting on a very brave face and Tim bursting with pride.

I am sure there will be many more photo's tonight also.

Cooking Today

Today I am going round to my daughters to help her with the preparation for tomorrows get together.
My Grandson Conor is home from Afghanistan on two weeks R&R and we are having a family get together so we all get to see him,love him, hug him and then hug him again.

So I am on chef duty this morning before I go to work, we are making Scouse and Pea Wack, traditional Liverpudlian comfort food. Both of these taste better the day after the making.

New Year Fresh Start

Here I go again, getting back on track and hoping by the end of 2013 I will be far healthier than I am right now. A heart scare is a great motivator in getting you to look at your lifestyle in every way and I have got lazy and greedy for rubbish. It all ended last night. I have been for a short walk today and I have plans formulating in my head as I write.My word for 2013 is DETERMINATION and it is going to get me to where I need to be.I plan to have fun on this journey, with my food and my exercise. So see you around.

Christmas

Just want to wish anyone who calls by a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas.
Love and Hugs to you all xxx

Life Altering Experience

I was discharged from hospital last night. I now have a heart condition!!
Boy have I got some serious thinking to do now. I am not going to go on about a new diet and exercise regime, but I do have to get to grips with a new way of thinking and new mediation.

I can say though that I am so grateful to live in England and that we have the NHS.  It may not be perfect, but by God it does it's best. I was in hospital for a week, the nursing care was second to none. There are angels without wings walking amongst us.

A week in hospital,several  EGC's, numerous blood tests, xrays, medications, three meals a day, wonderful nurses, caring (handsome) doctors. NO BILL.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends, hope you are having a great day xx

My Get Up and Go, Got Up and Went!!

A severe bout of food poisoning has laid me low for just on a month.  I am still feeling rather weak and washed out and feeling rather fed up with the whole situation. My wonderful husband has been looking after, me, the dog, the house and going to work and I think he is now in need of a break.

I am hoping that over the coming weekend I can get myself motivated to get back in the steady lane of living. I just need a gentle push and I am pretty sure I can get going again. Maybe I can start looking after Ralph again...

Conor has been in Afghanistan for just on seven weeks now.  We are all missing him like crazy and sending out shoeboxes full of treats and goodies. He is sharing with his fellow soldiers and doing well for the most part. He has seen and done things a 19 year old should not be seeing or doing.  But that is how it is out in a war zone, he is not the first and certainly will not be the last soldier to experience the horror of war.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Hurricane Sandy, the aftermath is looking extremely daunting and I wish everyone strength, fortitude and many hands to try to return to as normal a life as possibe as soon as is humanly possible.