28 Jun 2022

 Well Hello Again!

We have been out for a day trip calling in at St. Anne's and Fleetwood. When we arrived at Squires Gate there were some bollards across the road but large enough gap to drive through (so Colin thought)! Then there was another bollard in the way so he sent me out to move it and we drove along Blackpool Promenade - strangely there was no one around or any cars behind us or in front, wonder why that was? Apparently the front was closed for upcoming road works, who was to know!!!

Visiting Dad at Longton on another day with Janet and Terry, really sunny day. Venturing out into the village for some lunch at the Lemon Tree - very enjoyable. Dad had a glass of bitter which he said was really nice and wanted to know what it was called - Cameron's smooth bitter. Then we trundled (Terry pushed Dad's wheelchair) a mile down Marsh Lane to where Dad used to live at Lodge Cottage, but of course no one was in. When we dropped Dad off in the garden of the care home they were giving out ice creams and a bit of Vera Lynn playing - so when we were leaving we waved goodbye to everyone singing along with Gracie Fields 'Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye, Cheerio, here I go on my way' all the residents were waving back.

We nipped back down Marsh Lane (in the car) to leave a note with my phone number and to get Catherine's number I mean Kathryn! So we can now arrange next time we decide to visit.

We have made a decision to go all the way around the coast so we are going into Wales. We cannot get across the River Severn over the M4 by foot so walking 3 miles further to the Old Severn Bridge which has a pedestrian and cycle track alongside the M48.

Photo by Ruth Livingstone

HOW TO SAY “WELCOME TO WALES” IN WELSH  - 

CROESO I GYMRU!

Total 32.6 miles. Completed 254.1 miles - we are now in Chepstow, Wales.

11 Jun 2022 Over 200 miles

 

Hello, we have had a bit of delay filling in the blog, so lots here. 

Son-in-law David's 41st Birthday. Then 2 nights in a row we went 'out out' (Mickey Flannagan). 1st night in Bamber Bridge at my God daughter Lydia and Sam Swarbrick's night do reception for those who couldn't get to Barbados for the wedding. Had a really good natter to Yvonne and a brilliant speech from Frank. Danced most of the night, really good time.

Then our youngest, George turning 24 (not until 2nd June), we took George, Mark and Sean to Pinocchio's Italian Restaurant for a meal and then onto Vue Cinema to see the latest Top Gun 'Maverick' film with Tom Cruise in - brilliant.

Visits to Longton to see Dad then calling in on Stuart who is still loving being on his own. Tooth abscess starting - Ouch. 

1st June - picnic ready and picked up at home at 10am by Janet and Terry for Cartmell Races, one of my 60 things to do in my 60th Birthday year crossed off the list. Fabulous day with a few winning horses and a disqualified one (Colin's) where we could have won a cool £12! Due to anti-biotics only managed 2 glasses of prosecco instead of 2 bottles! 

Photo taken by Taras Daneliuk

Appointment for George's eye op came by phone with instructions for the family to self isolate and George to take 2 covid tests. Luckily there was 3 days of the Queen's 70th Platinum Jubilee celebrations on TV starting with a fabulous film of Paddington with The Queen having tea and marmalade sandwiches, heart warming it was so sweet, and apparently non of the immediate Royal Family knew that this had happened. 

Day of the Op - Chorley Hospital 10am. I wasn't allowed to stay with George, patients only so I went back down stairs to wait and a man faints in front of me coming out of the eye clinic. 2 paramedics were just bringing someone in and helped him to lie down on one of the bench seats, he was just stressed from having drops put in his eyes. I went over to him to give him a sweet that I had in my pocket just incase it was something to do with sugar levels. Good deed done. 

George was taken to Theatre, he said it was like something off a hospital drama - he had to wear a paper hat and be led down and a heart monitor put onto him which he said was beating faster and faster and spooking him out so they turned the sound off - he said 'am I dead'! Literally 5 mins later it was finished and I got the text - 'Done'.

At the end of this week Colin had to have his diabetic review. He got an 'attaboy' from the nurse who saw all his numbers had dropped, lost a bit of weight and was very pleased with all his blood results. Only 1 thing is that he might have a vitamin deficiency. 

Longridge Field Day - nice and dry. Colin's 34th year watching this event. Floats from schools and church and dance schools, gymnastic groups and of course our Rose Queen. Music from the famous Longridge Brass Band and a salsa drum group. 

Well we have gone over the 200 mile mark by completing a further 30 miles making a total of 221.5 Miles which now puts us at Weston-Super-Mare and have crossed the next border into Somerset.

Photo from www.thebeachguide.co.uk

If we had walked 'As The Crow Flies' we would now be in Cardiff.