Saturday, December 31, 2011

My Year

January




 
I started another new year in good health and good spirits. It was in this month that myself, Kirsty and Victoria started our dance class. I proved myself incapable of remembering steps but had a fantastic time trying! I also spoke to a Primary 7 class about organ donation, which was a great experience.


February



I was in a painting mood this month, with the creation of the Giant Panda and the Butterfly Kisses giant canvas. It was also a sad month with the loss of a fellow CF'er David, who had been waiting on his transplant at the time.


March


Was a month of great weather and an early summer (which didn't last). I auctioned the Butterfly Kisses painting for the Butterfly Trust and finished my 30 day challenge of posting a photo a day.

April 



I celebrated my 3 year transplant anniversary, enjoyed some good weather in the garden and had the honour of speaking to the 5th year pupils at George Heriot school about my transplant experiences. We also lost dear Aunty Agnes, who will  be dearly remembered.


May





We had a fantastic holiday to Sorrento, which was lovely with beautiful weather. Unfortunately we came back to find the massive tree down in the garden, which became the saga of the following months! Team Glasgow were out on the fancy dress pub crawl for the CF Trust Holiday Fund.


June


I had my 6 monthly transplant clinic and had an all time high lung function of 3 Litres – never had that before in my entire life! This was the same clinic that mum declared that a Buffoon was an animal ;-) I enjoyed my friend Stephanie's hen night in June


July


 We eventually had the fallen tree removed, much to Sebs disappointment! Team Glasgow ran an organ donor desk at St Enoch centre for transplant week and had lots of sign ups and made a few good contacts. Finally we had a fantastic time at Stephanie and Pauls wedding and there was much silly dancing all round :-)


August



We celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary! I think we maybe went to B+Q on the day because we were in a massive painting frenzy, trying to finish the house off!  We did also go and see Dolly Parton that evening, which was fab!  I also took a trip to London with Victoria and we saw Shrek and did some sight seeing :-)  Sadly August was also when Margaret, Claire's mum, lost her fight with cancer. She will always be so dearly remembered by myself and my family.


September






The month started well with Emily visiting to run the speakers project, and then we had a great celebration for Anne's 60th Birthday the following weekend. Team Glasgow ran a 2 day organ donor desk at Freshers Festival, which was a massive success.

October




We had a well earned holiday to Cyprus, where we just chilled for 10 days – bliss!! At the end of the month we had our big Halloween party in aid of The Butterfly Trust. This was really quite stressful to organise but we pulled it off in the end and raised a grand total of £2101.8.  Also a fab hen night for Claire!

November








This was a month of highs and lows. Sadly, a dear friend Lou, lost her fight post transplant. She had been very unwell for a long time but was a true inspiration to many. The high lights were  Claire's wedding, which was amazing, and also the honour of being God Mother to baby Caoimhe :-)

December


A month of Christmas preparations and increasing excitement! I had my review at transplant clinic and passed with flying colours and a gold shiny star. Can't really ask for a better Christmas present! I met up with lots of friends before Christmas and enjoyed getting into the festive spirit.  It never seems to wear off :-)

2012
So where will 2012 take me? I have dreams and wishes for the year ahead, but if I can stay healthy and enjoy life, then I will be more than happy.  I am, as always, thinking of my donors family at this time, and hope that 2012 is full of happiness for them. Here's to another year ahead and another new adventure.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Christmas!!

I have had a lovely Christmas and now relaxing and enjoying some calm, before the New Year festivities!   We arrived at mum and dads last Friday so had the whole of Christmas Eve here.   My friends from school (and their husbands) all came over in the afternoon, as per tradition, and we had a lovely couple of hours catching up.  We then went to the Christmas vigil Mass and afterwards Sarah joined us all for a Christmas movie.  Mum then packed me off to bed so that Santa could visit!

Seb gets into the festive spirit..  (sort of!)



Christmas Eve - before Santa had even been with his presents!



My sleigh full of wee Christmas toys!

Claire made this paper chain when she was in primary one - so that was about 30 years ago!  From top to bottom - Claire, me and Fran.  Note that we get progressively more dishevelled :-)


Stars that me, Claire and Fran all made when in Primary 1.  Mine is the one at the front where the silver paper is not straight and the white is showing through, Claire's is the perfect one in the middle and Fran's is the one using tinfoil mashed round.  


I actually slept well this year (must have been tired) and woke at 6.45am.  Andrew wouldn't let me get my stocking from outside the bedroom until 7.15am and it was a long wait....!    We had a great time opening all our gifts and I must have been a VERY good girl this year because I had lots of fab presents.   Andrew had got me a kindle and a Fossil watch that I had been looking at (total surprise) amongst other very Jac presents (including a giant panda to wipe my windscreen with haha!)   Mum and dad gave me loads of fantastic clothes - mum always knows exactly what to get!  There were a couple of really cute dresses - one red and another black with chiffon sleeves and lots of lovely tops.   My favourite was a black dress with tiny red dogs on it - totally love it!!  Dad played a large role in the purchasing of  a giant rabbit door stop.  He is about 2ft tall and I have called him Harvey :-)


Dad quite liked his new hat...


Sarah came to visit with her fab gifts!


Andrew was really pleased with his electric guitar!


Seb with his santa hat and beard that my secret santa at work gave me (along with my present!)

Christmas table set



Centre piece made my Aunty Rose!


Crackers made my moi!


Uncle Hugh


Dad - hobbling around as he had put his back out


Mum preparing dinner



On Boxing Day we headed down to Anne and Johns for Christmas round two :-)   We also managed to catch up with Peter and David (friends of Andrews from school) who were home for Christmas and also with Anna, Jamie and their new baby Emily!  We had a lovely relaxing time and it's great to see everyone around Christmas.

Anne

Ross

John (trying to look cool...)

Andrew's gran - rocking out on the guitar ;-)


So it has been a lovely Christmas and lots of time has been spent with family and friends!  I am now looking forward to the New Year and some more celebrations over the coming days!!