Thoughts

I have been thinking today about days out this year.

In November of 2009...actually on my Birthday to be precise, my eldest son Chris, had a below knee amputation. It is sad I grant you, but for him it was a huge relief from the pain he had suffered fom birth. He was born with Congenital Unilateral Equinovarus Talipes ...a club foot to you and me! He has undergone over 20 operations from easy tendon releases to having a torture device fitted (Ilizarov frame).

Anyhoos. he has a prosthetic leg now which is good but this still gives him problems..or rather the liner does.

When he had his amputation he was asked what he wanted to do with his new found freedom?? His answer was to climb a mountain. Easy, says she from the department...

We are now over two years on and when I asked at the department (the original lady is on maternity leave) about a leg capable of walking up a mountain we were told about NHS cuts etc. Apparently the only people getting these limbs are people who are VERY seriously into mountaineering, likewise with the promised shower leg so he can swim.

The answer is simple, when we next reurn to the Department, we will anounce that he is to become a mountaineer and an Olympic swimmer....see if that works LOL..

The mountain he wants to climb, I am proud to say, I have climbed three times already.

This is Stac Pollaidh, known as Stac Polly. Stac Pollaidh is in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland and relatively small for a mountain at just 612 m...although it feels much higher when you climb it!!

                                     The views from the top are stunning...

Some of the rock formations look a little dubious!!

This is the view of Suilven from Stac Pollaidh, a mountain we would love to conquer.

The first time we climbed Stac Pollaidh a helicopter was ferrying stones to workers who were building a path for climbers to use as poor Stac Pollaidh was wearing away under the pressure of all of the boots. The wierdest sight was when we at the summit and the helicopter was flying BELOW us!!

This is the mountain Chris wants to climb so it looks as though I may be back up top, taking more photo's later this year.

Selling a car

Today we have put the Sharan up for sale. Although we have only owned it since December and it is an ancient P reg (97) I will miss it. It is the most comfortable 'bus' we have owned. It's successor, a Citroen Grand Picasso (08 reg) isn't as comfortable and has way too many gadgets!!
We have a lady travelling from Portlethan tomorrow to have a look and hopefully buy it...fingers crossed.

Upstairs lounge

We have eventually finished the upstairs lounge. It used to have a dark pink carpet and a 1940's/1950's tiled fireplace. We still have not redecorated as my OH is planning on going on a plastering course sometime this year and I would like the room plastered and painted rather than papered.

It used to look like this...

It now looks like this

and this

I really love the new stove, so much nicer than the old tiled firplace.

I should say that the curtains are chez Marina, as are the lovely ones hanging in the downstairs living room. Such a clever lady...I swear as I was putting them straight today after we had finished I could hear her tutting at my attempt to make them look 'fuller'. I can't work the magic she can when gathering them!

I must also point out that my OH is ex Royal Navy and spent the majority of his working life not even needing to wash his own clothes. The mere mention of DIY used to fill him not only with fear but a strange anger as he expected not to be able to Do It Himself at all!!!
Since we bought our lovely home he has removed a huge old sink from the utility room (this is now in someone else's kitchen) and fitted a belfast sink with new worktop from scratch. The wood worktop started life as a kitchen table!
He also re-fitted laminate in there (recycled from someone else) before attempting the upstairs lounge. I think he/we have done a wonderful job. He even smiles now when I mention DIY :-)

Pottery

I am lucky enough to have the room to turn my utility room into a utility/studio room. I haven't been doing pottery for too long but it is my relaxation from my mad job. I thought I would be brave and post some of my stuff, see what you think..

This is a lidded pot

I have a huge love of dragonflies.

This is vase that I made out of paper clay.

My rather large 'cow' cheese dish.

And one of my many teapots

I really must get back into 'making mode', I have missed playing with clay. Note to self..organise my time better!!