I can bet there is not one person in this country that has not been disturbed and saddened by the terrorist attack in Manchester this week. It’s been a very sad week and it’s hard to focus on other things, especially when the media will have the events pushed down our throats at every opportunity. My only hope is that something good will come of this, the country is on alert and the scum being dragged out of hiding. We need to find them and deal with them properly, make an example of them, let them know that we won’t be terrorised by them, we will find them and we will stop them. Then we need to find ways of stopping them from getting into our country. If someone comes under the radar and then leaves the country for places like Libya or Syria then they should be stopped from coming back here, the intention seems obvious to me. Then we have to find a way that will lead to peace in our land. I’m not with the let’s retaliate by bombing them and see how they like it tribe. It’s been proven that it just doesn’t work. We have to look closely at what caused the unrest and why they are targeting us and stop it. I believe it can be done. I believe that we have been doing it wrong.

Back to my week. I have been having problems with Star again. I sent her to school on Monday even though she protested she wasn’t well. Then she was sent home again after being sick. So I kept her home for two days sent her back when I believed she was well and she was sent home after being sick again. I do believe she has had some sort of sickness bug because I caught it too. This is the first time I’ve been sick since my illness and it was awful. Imagine not being able to bend over the toilet properly (ok maybe that’s too much information) but not only that, every time I was sick my stomach muscles contracted and stayed contracted for ages afterwards in spasm which was really painful. I’ve had a couple of early nights this week feeling very very sorry for myself.

The weather has been bad too.. Ok,  the weather has been hot and sunny but it’s bad for me. I can’t cope with the heat and have found it difficult to keep cool, apart from my feet which I’m sure are dead as they are constantly like blocks of ice no matter how hot it is. I’ve had a burning sensation not experienced before all along my spine and down my legs. It’s like I’m constantly on fire, apart from my feet. The sun has also brought out the neighbours, my peaceful days are interrupted by loud music from all directions interrupted only by several lawnmowers.  I can’t escape, even with the doors and windows shut, which causes me to cook slowly.

From today things are going to change, things are going to be good.
Today I am going to buy my new power chair with the money I’ve collected from some fantastic donations. I’m so excited, I will have some freedom to escape.

And escape is the next thing on my mind because on Monday we are off on a short break to the sea side. I have been worried about it but with my new power chair it should be a fantastic break. I won’t feel like a burden, I will be able to get around by  myself. We will have the chance to chill and relax and the kids will have fun. I can’t wait to gulp in some sea air. The sun won’t bother me at all!

So this week has been bad, but next week is going to be so, so  much better.

The Reading Residence

We were looking forward to the last week so much, we had lots planned and it was Star’s first week without her halo. We were not going to let a little thing like the weather get us down, and bank holiday Monday, despite the rain we ventured off to the Malvern Hills. Malvern is not really that far away from us and I can remember visiting lots when I was young, but I haven’t been for many years now.

I’ll be honest, we were not really planning on walking the hills, although that is a lovely thing to do, we were actually visiting friends who are lucky enough to live there. So the rain was no bother as we knew we would be inside. When we got there we were also met by a big blanket of fog which meant that I got lost on the hills! It didn’t take long for our friends to rescue us and we were soon in the comfort of their lovely hillside home. We couldn’t enjoy the hills but we did enjoy their hospitality and a lovely afternoon tea.

Our best view of the day, I took this while we were lost!

Then the BUG struck! The Little Man caught it first and I spent Monday night nursing him through. We couldn’t go out on Tuesday and cancelled our trip on Wednesday too, just in case. We were due another day out at the Adventure Farm on Thursday but couldn’t make it because me and ED caught the BUG, closely followed by Boo. Friday was a blur! I’m feeling a little better today, but we are only four out of seven of struck with the BUG so far, so there could be more to come.

As Wednesday was the only day that the BUG wasn’t taking over our lives we decided a quick shopping trip was in order and popped off to a local supermarket. While in there Star wasn’t feeling too good (oh no!, but luckily, it wasn’t the BUG) so Daddy took her outside. When we went out them they were really excited because they’d found a lovely stream behind the shop. We put the shopping in the car boot and went for a look.

Then we spotted a little bridge

So what do you do when you find a little bridge across a stream? Play Pooh Sticks of course! The Littlies dropped their sticks in on one side of the bridge and ran to the other to see who’s came first.

Then the Little Man needed a rest!

So our shopping trip turned in to a fun afternoon in a place we’d not been before.

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

That’s right, keep out, we’re all sick in here! That’s one of the problems when you have such a big family when illness strikes it gets us all, knocking us all down like pins at a bowling alley. Last week Boo came home from church and fell asleep on the settee, she was burning up and once awake started throwing up. Next it was time for the Little Man to get the lurgy. Monday morning arrived after a sleep deprived night and presented us with another high temperature, this time from Star. School was phoned and we began one of those hazy days where you forget what the time is and just keep mopping up the mess. By Wednesday things were looking good for the girls but the Little Man was still suffering. Sadly I was too busy with the kids to hear the Dad moaning about his ills. Thursday morning arrived and I was all prepared to send the girls back to school. What I wasn’t prepared for was for me to be struck down with illness. Dad had to get up and take them in, and pick them up.

The weekend arrived and we were all feeling a little better, it looked like No1 Son and Eldest Daughter had escaped. The came Sunday and I woke with a migraine. Yes, one of those can’t turn your head to the side otherwise the pain will make you throw up type of migraines. Heavily doped I got through the day, I even managed to  cook a roast (ok, frozen veg, frozen roast spuds and even frozen yorkshire puds, but I did make the gravy myself from the meat juices) No cake or dessert this week though 🙁

As Sunday wore on it seemed that No1 Son hadn’t actually escaped the Bug as loud moanings could be heard all around the house. Sunday evening I took my migraine to bed at the same time as the kids. The night was not good, disturbances went as follows; Little Man, No1 Son, Boo, Little Man, Boo, Dad, No1 Son, Little Man, Dad and finally Star my little alarm clock with her 6am call.

At present the girls are at school, No1 Son is still suffering and has in fact been diagnosed with his first ever ear infection, and the Little Man is still not eating properly but is still properly snotty!

Tomorrow, I’m going to disinfect the entire house and banish the bugs.
At least until the next round arrives.