24 November05

There has been  a Severe Weather warning with icy winds, gales and snow forecast.  This is the very weekend that Sean and I will be travelling to the Isle of Wight to see Trissa.  There is an 80% probability of disruption to travel.  And because South West Trains have such narrow aisles, I can not take my mobility scooter.  I am dreading the struggle between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.  It really scares me because I know it is much further than I can walk without suffering consequences.

I have to stay well because I have College on Monday morning.  The last two weeks there have been no lessons because our tutor is ill.  Before that it was half term and before that it was Junes funeral.  It feels as if I haven't been in the classroom forever.  If the weather is bad on Monday, the College may cancel.  How will I ever pass?

Caelyn is a lot better after a few days of rest.  Nigel fixed the lock on my front door today and took me to the station.  

Michelle missed college this evening due to a headache.

Sean will be late home due to meeting some clients in Maidstone.  They travelled from Yorkshire and had only a little time available before their booking on the Channel Tunnel so unusually, Sean went to see clients instead of them coming to him.

29 November 05

I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from Stephen today.

Caelyn’s second blood test confirms that her blood group IS O Negative even though everyone else in the family is Rhesus positive.  Apparently, although it is very rare, it can happen.  Trust Kate!!  I always said that right in the middle of an odd situation, there she is.  And so it has happened once again.  That young person will never cease to surprise me.  

Another bit of good news is that her Glucose Tolerance Test was normal.   She is to have another scan tomorrow at lunchtime.

She had to contact her landlord because something is wrong with the electric circuits in the house.  The light bulbs hadn’t been lasting long before blowing, but on Monday when they turned them on there was a loud noise and an intense blue flash.  It was only in daylight that they could see that the bulb, the attachment and the lampshade had blown out and fallen on to the dining table, leaving only flex hanging from the ceiling.  The Landlord said he would “try” to get in touch with an electrician.  The sooner the better, I would have thought.  

Trissa contacted me to tell me that I left my digital camera at her house, and I had been missing it because working with images has become a bit of a hobby.  Sean hopes to have lunch with her in London on Monday and will get it from her then.  He went to the Chinese Exhibition last night so was too tired to come down to Folkestone tonight, so Michelle and I had a curry delivery from the Ghurka Palace. The curry was out of this world, and we enjoyed every bit.  It was not just heat, it was the wonderful flavour most of all.   Yum!

Sean is over the moon because his daughter has withdrawn her resignation and will not be moving to Vienna after all.  Well, at least not until after the Academic year has ended.  He has been terribly worried about her.  He is pleased that his son went for a job interview today, even though he won’t be available for work until after his course finishes early in February.

Winter is truly here and even with the increased gas prices, we have had to have the heating on.  

News 28 Nov

I have just had a wonderful weekend on the Isle of Wight.  Trissa was very nice to us, and we had Jenny over for her birthday.  We also saw Rosemary and Guy. Skippy dog came with us and was quite well behaved on the whole.  Even Sean was talking to him nicely.  I managed to leave my digital camera there and feel lost without it.

Caelyn had her Glucose Tolerance Test today and expects to get the results tomorrow.  She is due to see the consultant on 12 December.  She is definitely O Negative even though her father and I are both O Pos.  They are going to give her Anti D injections at 28 weeks and again at 36 weeks.  

I went to college today.  Our tutor is back, but she doesn’t look at all well.  She worries that we missed two lessons so she offered to come in and teach those classes over the holidays.  Very kind of her, but I don’t think it is wise.  We are due to take our exam soon, so we have to get on with studying.  

I feel achy and ‘flu-like.  I don’t know if it is a virus or if I just went a bit beyond my strength and am having an ME relapse.  I would rather have the ‘flu because at least you know it will be over in a week or two, unlike ME where a relapse can last months or even years.   It is so hard to tell the difference between ‘flu and ME – only time will tell, if past experience is anything to go by.

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent.  Alleluia!!

23 November 2005

23 November 2005

Caelyn has been having back pain and cramps and has been leaking amniotic fluid.  Nigel took her to see the on call GP at Folkestone and they sent her straight up to William Harvey Labour ward.  She is terrified she will lose the baby.  She said “If she’s born now, she’ll die” I tried to offer some realistic hope – that often labour can be stopped or delayed, and if it can’t, she is old enough to have a good chance of  doing well in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
We have to hope for the best.  

Wow! Rain!!

It rains so seldom over there that it is a big adventure for the kids when it does. They love going out to play in it. Here is Aimee sharing an umbrella with a friend. 

Paul & Justin

Paul and Justin are cracked up. I wonder what was giving them the giggles? They look as if they are having fun though. 

Nicolas & Aimee

Nicolas and Aimee last Christmas Eve. In that climate it is far too hot to eat during the day at that time of year. 

Christmas Eve

Isabel, Nicolas, Justin and Aimee last Christmas Eve. 

Ice Cream

Aimee thoroughly enjoyed that ice cream. 

Paul, Isabel and Dog

Paul, Isabel and one of the dogs. They seem to like shaggy haired dogs. 

Peace!

Sleepy-dozy time for Isabel, Aimee and Justin. 

Nicolas

I can't get over how like Paul Nicolas is. I have to check twice to see who the photo is actually of. 

Rock climbing

Paul and kids rock climbing. 

Isabel

I think this is a lovely picture of Isabel on the verandah of their house. 

Nicolas & Aimee

Aimee being given a drink by her big brother Nicolas. They are still very close. 

Aimee

Madame Aimee! Isn't she cute? 

Before

This was the house before Paul built the verandah on and put the swimming pool and guest house in. 

Yet another view

Yet another view of the house. 

Another view

Another view of the house after Paul did some work on it. 

After

This is the house after Paul finished building on the verandah and swimming pool. Isabel obviously believes the Devil finds work for idle husbands LOL :) 

Outside view

The outside view of the 'guest house' Paul built in the back garden. 

Inside

This is the inside of the 'guest house' Paul built in the garden. 

Katie

Katie the Airedale going for a dip. 

Fun in the mud

Justin and Aimee playing in the hole where the pool was going to be built. Paul put in the pool himself. 

Three kids

Nicolas, Justin and Aimee, Paul and Isabel's children. 

Paul and Isabel

Paul and Isabel. The climate is so nice that they spend a lot of time in the garden. 

In the Pool

Justin and Aimee with Isabel in the pool. 

Nicolas

Nicolas. He looks very much like Paul did at that age. 

Aimee

Aimee being a Fairy.