People are……

The Doors song tells us “people are strange, when you’re a stranger”. That can certainly be true sometimes, but sometimes people can be kind when you’re a stranger. I’ve certainly met my fair share of kind strangers over the years, and I hope that I sometimes pay that kindness forward to other strangers. It’s not much to do really, is it? After all, to quote another song, “we’re just all lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl”.

In the last few days I’ve met a few kind strangers…… there was the lady who complimented a photo I put on a social media page of Bad Eddie’s shipwreck in Donegal. She thanked me for sharing it and even said she’d pay for a print of it! I explained it was just an iPhone snap and that the weather had been so good it would’ve been impossible to take a bad photo! I private messaged her all the photos I’d taken of this beautiful location. Her response was to tell me she had tears in her eyes at what she classed as my kindness. It was nothing but a few snapshots, but to this stranger it seems it meant a lot. Her response was absolutely wonderful. Heart warming.

Then another kind soul appeared. Hubby and I received a message from a friend to tell us a guy we didn’t know had donated a guitar as a prize for the raffle we run as part of our annual charity music gig for Macmillan Cancer Support. To add to the kindness, our friend is getting it signed by a number of internationally known musicians! Another amazing prize to add to the list. It sounds so fake to say it’s humbling, but I can’t think of a better word to describe the generosity of those who’ve donated prizes….. many of whom have been virtual strangers.

This morning I wasn’t with a stranger and I wasn’t a lost soul or swimming in a fish bowl. I was a contented soul, swimming in a huge ocean, with a dear friend, watching the sunrise. 

The 5am start was more than worth it!! The day continued as it began….. with beauty and peaceful joy. After the sunrise dip, hubby and I went for a drive around the beautiful coastline we are so fortunate to live near. 

People can undoubtedly be strange when you’re a stranger, but they can also be kind and generous and soul warming. 

There are wonderful, life affirming experiences and people out there, we only need to keep our eyes and minds open wide enough to see them.

Living with……

Relaxing by the sea

A week off work. What a joy!! I’m lucky to still genuinely like my job, but a break is always good. 

The adventuring began with a visit to The Gobbins Cliff Path with hubby, my sister and brother in law. I’ve been before, but I’ll admit I’d forgotten I’m not the girl I was back then……it was tough going. My calf muscles cried for a few days after, but they didn’t scream, just a wee yeeouch on stairs! More importantly, I did it!! That shows a lot of progress re what my body can do, especially as it was a very warm day. I didn’t see dolphins this time, but I felt great about doing it, and the sea air took away the beginnings of a cold/hay fever, so it was all good.

The following day saw more excitement….. Finally! Finally, finally, finally, Covid restrictions relaxed enough to let us go on our long awaited short break to Donegal. Three nights in a nice hotel, with hubby’s birthday on day two. Unfortunately he had to do all the driving while I wait for common sense to prevail at the DVA……. or at least until they read my request for a review, alongside the supporting letter from my Neurologist.

Our short  break came at just the right time. I think we both needed it. Marble Hill is more remote than we realised, but that’s perhaps no bad thing. I was able to get a short dip almost as soon as we arrived. It was very shallow, but the water was far warmer than I’m used to. Unfortunately there was even more scare mongering about jellyfish….. we get enough in Portrush, but at Marble Hill there was talk of little else!! I pretty much ignored the chatter and enjoyed my time in the sea with no sightings. I commented to hubby when I came out that I hadn’t seen any of the offending beasties and that I’d wish people would shut up about them because it took away some of the enjoyment and relaxation…… I essentially implied it was a whole fuss over nothing…..

Later that evening we took a walk along the beach I’d swum at and GAH!! It seems they were there after all! Thankfully I mustn’t have bothered them, so they didn’t bother me either.

We spent the next few days exploring and enjoying the area. The beaches are stunning and I got my second dip further round Sheephaven Bay, at Downings. It was just as stunning as I remembered from last year, and we even managed to dodge the rain showers!

We carried on adventuring and shower dodging and had a lovely time to ourselves. Ards Friary was an unexpected treat. Such a shame the currents are too strong to allow swimming, but the views are spectacular and we had a wonderful walk.

Now we’re home. It was great to get a break but it’s always the best feeling to get back to our own home. The dog is delighted to have us home. Unfortunately we just missed big son, who’s away to a birthday party. Thankfully we then get a short time with him before he heads off to The Hague to study a Masters. So excited for him!! Tonight though I’m more excited about my own bed :)

I’m due a scan anytime now, but I’m expecting Covid delays. I wish they’d hurry up, not least because the warm weather brings veins up better, so the sooner they do it, the less likelihood of too much of the usual painful poking and prodding! 

Triciafest gig plans continue, with a scheduled date of 2nd October. We’ve got some very impressive raffle prizes as always, and the t-shirts pre-sale is going pretty well. Who’d have thunk I’d have my own Fest?? It still makes me cringe and laugh all at once, but the fact is that it brings in a lot of money for Macmillan Cancer Support in NI, and if I have to be a bit embarrassed then that’s a small price to pay.

We’re now exactly 1,651 days post grand mal seizure, and here I am. I generally feel well. Granted there are niggles, but I certainly don’t feel like what I’d have imagined a grade 3 cancer patient would feel like. I remain loved and supported, especially by a wonderful husband…..  I remain the luckiest unlucky girl in the world. 

Living with….