mahler's Blog

My operation to remove my left kidney was brought forward to the 18th.  That went well.

Last week I had an appointment with the heart specialist.  He ordered an immediate echocardiogram. 

Yesterday I received a letter from him, I was scared to open it as I r thought he had found something nasty and was calling me back in.  He has never written to me before after a test.

My problem was that I had a blocked artery and the blood was not circulasting properly, and the left chamber had shrunk.

He was perplexed because he said the artery was now unblocked, the blood was circulating well and the left chamber had grown back to normal size!  There were no abnormalities!

It seems a miracle has happened, I out it down to all the healing I have been receiving from all over the world, and the strict diet I have been on and the IP6 and curcumen I have been taking (info for that on the internet).

I feel elated at this news, I have to see the kidney surgeon today and am hoping for good news there too.  Fingers crossed.

It seems my angels have been working overtime!

It was a great day yesterday, I completed the last day of my 20 days of radiotherapy, said goodbye at last to the torture chamber!  I was warned about loads of possible side effects but for some reason, except for a slight reddening of the skin, I had none of them.

So today I have a lovely day off at home.  Tomorrow I have to go for the horrid nuclear imaging scan on my kidneys as they think there is something nasty lurking in there, if that is so then the kidney will have to be removed.  However I have been on a diet for the past month, red meat was banned and I took IP6 and curcumen.   IF it has made no difference then all I can say is that I have done all that I could.

Wish me luck!

Ruth

I have been absent from EP for a lot of December, this is what happened to me.

On 1st December I had an operation to remove a cancerous breast lump, biopsies on the lymph nodes showed that the cancer had not spread and that it was all removed.  I was discharged from hospital a few days later.

Then on 11th December I had chest pains that would not go away, got really frightened so dialled 999 for an ambulance, which took me to hospital.  I was admitted and had every test under the sun.  The last one was last Friday at a very famous private hospital in London, for a nuclear scan.  The results showed I have a blocked artery and there was a scar on the bottom of my heart.

My consultant said that the scar indicated that I had had in the past a heart attack, probably in my sleep so I did not know about it!   It was decided that the breathlessness and any chest pains could be treated with medication.

So they let me out of hospital yesterday evening.  Whilst in there I even managed to contract that awful diarrhoea and sickness bug on the ward, and was put into isolation!

Anyway, although feeling a bit fragile I am now home and am going to my family tomorrow for Christmas.  All of this has happened in under a month and has left me in quite a whirl!  I had one big disappointment because on the 22nd I was due to go to Austria for the Christmas week, so had to cancel that holiday.  Never mind, there is always next year.

So that is the saga of why I have been missing from EP for quite a while and have not been answering messages.  I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a great New Year.

Ruth xxxx

I wish I knew what the lion was thinking!

Phew! It has been so hot and humid for the past few days, everyone is wishing for a storm to clear the air.  My sitting rom does not get the sun all day yet it is already 74 degrees in there.  No wind so eve sitting in the garden does noit help0 to cool one down.  Very few homes in England do not have air conditioning, so I will now go and put the fan on and sit for a while to cool down.

We have all woken up this morning with a scary feeling. The park right opposite our houses has been cordoned off both ends with police tape, and there are police stationed everywhere. There has evidently been a serious incident and we are just hoping that it is not yet another stabbing, so close to home.

We have all woken up this morning with a scary feeling. The park right opposite our houses has been cordoned off both ends with police tape, and there are police stationed everywhere. There has evidently been a serious incident and we are just hoping that it is not yet another stabbing, so close to home.

On Saturday we went to Henley on Thames to take part in the Traditional Boats Rally.  It waas to celebrate the ships that went to Dunkirk to rescue the soldiers off the beaches.

We had an area allocated to us by the river for my granddaughter's and her fiance's animals and birds, most of them rescued animals.  Up at 6am, loading the two Shetland ponies, ducks, goats, sheep, tortoises, geese, chickens, rabbits, guiea pigs, an enormous turkey and a Frizzled chick and other chiickens into the trailer.

There was a massive sail past by over 500 boats, and the a parade of the Dunkirk boats.  How osme of them even made their way across the Channel I do not know! I spoke to a few of the WW2 veterans and the stories they had to tell were amazing.

There was a flypast arranged to celebrate the RAF's anniversay, a Vulcan bomber, spitfires,  Hurricanes and Lancaster bomber, which was going to drop poppy petals over the river.  Unfortunately the waather in Southampton was bad so they could not take off, it was a great disappointment to all.

All in all though, it was an amazing, and quite touching day.  Here are a few of the boats, which have all e loovingly restored and cared for:

Pail Daniels (the magician) and Debbie Magee came and chatted to us, he offered to do a disappearing act on our rabbits!

After setting up the pens the children and their parents started coming in, they were able to stroke, feed and hold the smaller animals and birds, and feed and groom the larger animals.   They all had a terrific time and the animals enjoyed all the attention. 

The most peculiar bird was the Polish Frizzled chicken and the turkey stomped around all day with all of his feathers puffed up, he was annoyed because his mate had not come with us.

 
The moment came at last, time for my second flying lesson.  We arrived at the airfield, me - a bag of nerves.  I met my instructor James, the same one that I had 4 years ago, he is gorgeous.
 
He did the take off then uttered the awful words - "You have control!"  The plane did a little bounce as I took over but I soon got the hang of it again.  I saw lovely white fluffy clouds, I headed for them, wished I could snatch a piece of one, but once inside them they were just mist.

 

 

 
 

 

 
The countryside looked magical, all those little patchwork fields, and the long line of traffic on the motorway seemed to stretch for miles.  I would have loved to have flown over my house but as I headed for it James said "turn right", otherwise we would have been in Luton airport air space!
 
I managed to take some photos by just using the controls with one hand, it was all so easy.  I felt like I was a bird flying up there in the blue.  We flew at 3,000 ft and were going at over 200 miles an hour, although we seemed to be just hovering, a very weird sensation.
 
All too soon the lesson was over, never did an hour speed by so fast.  I even managed to land the little plane, although it was with a little hop, skip and jump!
 
My 74th birthday has been very special, my family did a makeover on my front and back gardens, and bought new garden furniture too, we then ended the day with a Chinese meal, lovely sweet and sour chicken balls for me.  I have eaten so much cake and chocolates, I think I will explode!  The cherry brandy, etc., went down well too.
 
 

Watch out - here she comes again!

This is where I will be on Saturday 19th, with my granddaughter, fiance and their mobile farm, with Shetland ponies, donkeys, sheep, goats etc.. If anyone is near Henley on that day then do come and say hello.
 
Go to website www.tradboatrally.com.  
  
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly over the Rally during the parade of Dunkirk Little Ships on the Saturday. You will see famous planes from World War II - the Spitfire & Hurricane fighters and the Lancaster Bomber . Not to be missed! (Visit their website at www.bbmf.co.uk) (Disclaimer: may be cancelled if weather bad).
 

The Rally weekend is one that should not be missed by anyone who has an interest in the traditions of bygone years, or who is a lover of boats and boating of any sort. There a very full programme of events both on the water and on the riverbank. 
 

Throughout the weekend there will be continuous parades of all the many different classes of boats, including the " Association of Dunkirk Little Ships " (See photo left of "Tom Tit", an ADLS member) and the many beautiful craft of the Thames Vintage Boat Club . When not out on the water, all the craft will be moored to the bank, and provide a spectacular sight as you stroll along the river bank. At the discretion of the owners, you may be invited aboard to look over the craft, or even taken for a cruise . 

On Saturday the Rally opens at 9 am, with the sail-pasts and the Boat Jumble starting around 10 am, followed by a busy programme continuing until midnight, for those who wish to stay for the Illuminated Parade and for the dance in the Beer Tent (to a live band). 

On Sunday the opening time is again 9 am, but the Rally closing ceremony takes place at 6 pm following the presentation of all the Trophies . We provide an excellent printed souvenir programme, packed with information,  which can be purchased at the gate or at the Registration Tent (near the commentators tent) for a small fee. To get a complete picture of what the Thames Traditional Boat Rally consists of, browse the excellent Photo Galleries for a visual feast.
 
Every year there is a large display of Vintage and Classic Cars provided by the Bean Car Club and others, laid out along the middle field in great splendor..
 

 Also we are proud to host the Solent Veteran Cycle Club each year, with a fine collection of Vintage Bicycles, with everything from tricycles (see photo left) to penny-farthings. At intervals, the club members will ride them in convoy (and traditional costume) up and down the bankside.

I have just got a letter, it contains confirmation of what I will be doing on my 74th birthday next Wednesday.

In the letter is a voucher for my second flying lesson (my first one was on my 70th).  My family lovingly decided I should repeat the experience, especially as whenever they asked what present I wanted I coauld not think of anything.

So for a week now I will be a mixture of emotions nervous, excited, sleepless, anxious, scared, and happy!  Will I remember what to do? Will I have the same handsome pilot (I hope so)! Must remember to change the batteries in my camera. 

Whoopee! Yippee!  Dive for cover everyone!