The Furry Monkey

04 march 2005
brighton, england

Another trip to the coast! Yaaaaaayyyyy!

Well it is John's birthday this weekend and he's taken a couple of days off to make a long weekend and we're going out for a few trips. It's a LONGGGGG time since we've done this (pain and lack of money doesn't help!).

We went to Brighton and had a lovely day there. Although it was snowing when we left and there was snow on the ground we used the internet to check webcams in the area to see how bad it was before we travelled. We use the internet for so much now. It has made a real difference in a lot of things.

 

05 march 2005
guess what....a steam railway!

I know, a steam train - it was great fun and not something we've done before. They were really help and provided me with steps to get in the train and told me not to hurry as they could stop the train to give me time to get on which was lovely. It is a fantastic, elegant way to travel - sitting in the train carriage and watching the steam go by the windows as you go past fields full of sheep (brown ones!) and watch the little people in their cars! It is the highest railway in the South East so the gentlemen were telling us.

We then got a sandwich in the Station Cafe and then got back on the train for the return journey. John loved it which was good as it always seems as though there is lots us girlies can do and not that much for the boys.

So we decided to go on the journey again and got on the train. We travelled along the line in style and then finally got to the station and heard "this train terminates here". Aarrgghhhh!!! Did we hear right?!?!?

YES we did. It terminated there. We spoke to the Station Master and not one of us heard the announcement. We assumed (wrongly!) that it would return to where it had started from. We were stuck and our car was 10 miles away in the original station.

Luckily for us, a guy said he was going back to the other station but had to do a couple of things first. So we gratefully accepted his offer and sat in the waiting room with a real coal fire....gorgeous.

He then took us back to our car and said we were not the first and wouldn't be the last! It turned out he was a Director of the Railway. Next time we'll go earlier and make sure we check the timetable!

 

07 march 2005
london (and not a hospital in sight for me!)

I was really pleased to be going to London and NOT to a hospital for a change. We had a look around whilst waiting in the traffic at the different buildings...and people watched too. Wow there are some "weird" people there.

Anyway our reason for going was not to look at buildings and people but...to go on....the London Eye! I knew it was huge but didn't realise how huge! Enormous is not the word for it. I booked tickets beforehand but didn't plan for 2.5 hours on the M4 to get there. We travelled at about 8mph most of the way. We finally arrived though and they were very good and said we could go on the next flight instead. It was so nice that they really looked after people with disabilities. If you have problems getting in the capsules they can even stop the wheel but I had many helping hands and it wasn't too bad.

It was amazing up there.....you can see for miles. As you know I wanted to do this for my birthday but Mum and John weren't keen on it. Now they were here and pleased they'd come and both enjoyed it a lot. We had a sandwich there and a drink - if you go be prepared to take LOTS of money as it is very expensive!!!

We were going to go on the River Cruise as well but it wasn't running. There was one on the other side of the river but it was WAY TOO FAR for me to walk there. I had problems just getting back to the car! We had several stops and I managed it. Sheer determination makes me do these things but I do suffer later for it though.

 

11 march 2005
ashford hospital, middlesex

Well you'll be surprised at this, but this time it's not me going to hospital! Yes!!!! The same hospital as before but not for me so that's not a problem.

We were going this time for Mum's Bone Density Test. He was really pleased with her as it's gone up! Normally it goes down as you get older but he said she is living a good life and to keep it up! Well done Mum!

 

14 march 2005
dentist appointment

I've had a sore mouth for a long time, so whilst there I mentioned this again. He checked from last time and it had spread. I've got to get it checked at the hospital, specially with my past history. He said they can do a biopsy and diagnosis quickly. He has marked it urgent so I should be getting an appointment hopefully before my next check up in April. It may just be the tablets creating problems similar to Mum's. Fingers crossed.

 

15 MArch 2005
aarghhhh!!!

No, nothing to panic about medically! I've just remembered I asked for a quote for travel insurance lately and thought I'd share it with you. The quote was for a 2 week hol in the US late September time. Nothing major. Well the quote came back at £13,683.94 - yes, thirteen and half thousand pounds!!

Amazing! Not only do we have to cope with this disease and all that it does to us, but then we are discriminated against when we want to do the normal things that everyone does.

The guy sitting next to me on the plane could have a heart attack but he's covered by cheapo insurance. I pay £13K and nothing happens. What a waste. Oh yes, that was with a £3000 excess too!!!

If anyone knows of a good insurance company for cancer patients please please please let me know!