An Extremly Worrying Day!

12 months ago after being on a waiting list, Nette saw a Bariatric Surgeon hoping to have a operation to enable her to loose weight. As she is classified as Morbidly Obese, this means that her weight is seriously reducing her life span. After seeing the consultant she came out in tears as she had been told that he wanted to see her in another 12 months time. She had pinned her hopes on him saying yes, as she had tried all other ways of dieting, including prescription diet pills, to no success!

12 months on and the day had come for her to go and see him again. I printed a route off, as we had to travel to Walton Hospital in Liverpool. Off we set and surprise-surprise we did not get lost. On arrival at the clinic we were told that it was running 60 minutes late. As we were sat there it went up to 990 minutes and then 120 minutes.

Finally it was time for Nette to see the consultant. And Stephanie and I sat there on tenter hooks waiting for her to come out. Out she came and I knew she'd had some bad news! But it was not as bad as I thought. It turned out he wants to see her in 4 months time and she has to have lost some weight to show her comitmant to having the operation. So we have a lot of serious work to do.

The next hurdle we have to face is whether she will fit the funding criteria set by the Welsh Assembly who have to fund the op!

We set off home and a miracle happened again! We did not get lost!

I know the operation is a extreme measure, but I also know this is Nettes only chance of leading something closer to a normal life!

Lazy Blogger catching Up!

Long Blog warning folks as I've quite a bit to catch up with! I left you reading about my activitys the Thursday before our CITO event.

Friday was a quiet day, we picked up the Pick Up sticks and gloves and bags ready for Saturday.

Saturday arrived, we loaded the equipment into the car and set off to Wepre Park to meet all those attending Cachers and Flintshire CC Rangers CITO event. We arrived to find several cachers waiting for us, with more rolling in after us. The Ranger came down to great us and point out the areas that need doing. Everyone set of picking up rubbish. I ended up going down one path with Trixie and bumped into Brian (Deego) and Bob (Jan and the Percy boys) as we strolled down the path collecting rubbish as we went, we had a good chat. As they were heading for Devils Flute as I'd already done it, I went along for a laugh. Well it was a easy find if not a easy solution for them. Once they'd solved it we strolled back to the car park to meet back up with everyone. I returned the sticks we'd borrowed off the ranger who was absolutely gob smacked at the amount of rubbish we'd all picked up. It was then time to head of to the Boars Head for the second part of the event.

Arriving at the Boars Head we settled down to have our meals and drinks. Nette and I put the prizes for the raffle on a table and we went around selling tickets. After everyone had eaten we went into the Beer Garden where our host Emma drew out all the winning tickets. A big thank you to everyone who attended as we raised the magnificent sum of £100 for the British Heart Foundation.

Nette and I whilst having a quiet day with Craig (Fruity&Doggit) and Sara (Sarajayne) came up with a idea for another CITO event this time taking place on Talacre Dunes SSSI. As I already have connections with BHPBilitons (who own the land) Land Manager, Nette made a phone call to arrange a appointment. Craig used his connections with the owner off Talacre Holiday and Leisure Park to get us somewhere for a drink and a bite to eat. Wendsday the day of the appointment arrived (it was also Craig Birthday) and Nette and I went to meet Kim Norman (BHPB's Land Manager) and Alex the Flintshire CC Ranger for the area (Flintshire CC's Countryside service act as land managers). We spent over a hour discussing plans with them, what is planned is something totally unique for a geocaching event! We are going to spend approx 4 hours doing Dune Management Work, allowing cachers to actively put something back into the environment that we get pleasure out of! Afterwards we will have use of the concert room at Talacre H&L Park, who will be charging £5 head on entry for a meal, they have discounted the cost of the meal, as they normally charge £12 ph. There was also discussions about everyone who attends receiving a T SHIRT with the Talacre Dunes Partnership logo on it. The Partnership involves the pooling of resources for the management of the Dunes by BHPBiliton, Bourne Leisure (PrestHaven Sands Caravan Park, Flintshire County Council & Talacre H&L Park. There was even mention of a couple of prizes being donated for a raffle, we have not yet decided on a charity but I can guarantee that it will be a childrens one (possible a local Children's Hospice).

Now after reading that you must think I crackers! But wait there is more to come!

I finally decided after several years of deliberating to take some action over a idea I have. It all started after I first saw Christmas Box Angel. This is a book in which a mother grieves for the loss of her child at the base of a Angel Statue, and has been made into a film. After hundreds of querys from all over the world, asking where the statue was. A statue was commissioned, and dedicated in Salt Lake City. There are Angel Statues in citys all over the US with the idea travelling around the world. As I live in a very small village, which has tragicly in the last few years lost a 19yr old and a 15yr old, I decided it was time to put my idea into action. I have sent a letter to a local town council asking for a meeting to discus them donating a suitable plot of land where a Chocolate Box Angel can be erected. If they say yes I intend to start fund raising for the Statue and plinth.

Saturday just gone (6/8/05)I went out caching with Craig (Fruity&Doggit) and Trixie (4PawDrive who now has her own account on GC) our starting point was Ponderosa Cafe were we had a sausage barm and a brew before we set of for Geo's Cache this is a great cache for those able to walk up the hill to it. When we got back down we visited Bikes and Bolshie Sheep Revisited Craig found a US geocoin to move on. We then scrambled up to the Ponderosa car park, where I put Trixie back in the car as we were popping back into the cafe for another well earned brew. One thing to watch out if you ever visit the cafe is the bolshie sheep who will come running to you to see if they can scram some food of you. After replenishing our selves we set off to do Eclusham Mountain as I've already found this one I knew where it should have been. I left Craig to search for it at first, when he did not find it I joined in the search. We spent over half a hour looking for it to no success. I've posted a note on the cache page suggesting that the owner pays a visit.