Wednesday 24 February 2010

Hello again.

Today was a very strange day, but yesterday was stranger still!

Yesterday was a day of very high highs and very low lows - one minute being 'got at' by people who had no business sticking their noses in, then being phoned by the local paper and told what an amazing venture the walk is, then being seemingly criticised for no reason except that I'm me, then being left a gift by an anonymous person wishing me good luck, and all before lunch! Then the photographer from the paper arrived and made Charlie and I pose for some really cheesy pics. I told him that the camera never likes me but he assured me a good photo was possible. I'm a cynic at the best of times but this man had caught me on a day I was gasping for breath with bronchitis, running a temperature, needing a hair wash and slightly rattled by cross people!

Anyway, the pictures were taken amidst fits of giggles, the gift of a beautiful jumper to wear on the walk was much appreciated and all in all we all decided to focus on the positives and allow those more negative than ourselves to be miserable on their own!

And then today the Daily Post came - almost a full page and on Page 3 - never thought I'd be a Page 3 girl and certainly didn't expect my daughter to be one. And what is more, its actually quite a nice pic of me. Charlie has always been photogenic and so she looks great as usual and the article is good. Just a couple of things like saying I walk with crutches when I use sticks but otherwise very accurate. One good thing may come of it - I, as well as Charlie, hurt a good deal, but very few people see past the smiles and grins, probably, if truth be told, because they would rather not see. Well, the journalist did his homework and says in the article just how painful our condition is - not something I find easy to do myself, but perhaps it will clarify things a little for some.

Enough of boring things. We are all soooooo excited as the day draws nearer to set off. The dogs, of course have no idea exactly what is going on but they do know ' somethings up'.
The article had quite an effect - a phone call from a journalist wanting more of the story, Facebook comments for Charlie from people who know about Chiari Malformation and then to cap it all we had an email on the web site from the Royal Naval Police in Plymouth offering us an escort for a part of the walk near them. What fun!

I think it's time for some shut-eye soon - feeling loads better today but still coughing quite impressively.

Just one funny thing that happened - went to Caernarfon to pick up the ferrules for my sticks. Snowdonia Adventure had managed to find me a dozen and at just 50p each I was very pleased. I do wear them out rather quickly as I use my sticks for walking, not just going for a walk. Anyway, picked up the ferrules, looked at them when we got home and two of them are a bit grubby and rather worn!!! I realise the company went to extraordinary lengths to get me them but I think someone at head office will find they're walking with steel tips on their next weekend ramble - oops.

Gotta go, my duvet is calling,
Susan

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