Journal   Comments Off on 27/01/2022   27 January 2022

More amazing support for the Gift-A-Bears. Debbie & Howard Meredith sent me these brilliant photos from the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading today, where they were delivering a complete set of 4 Gift-A-Bears they have kindly purchased to the Kempton Day Bed Unit where children with cancer and other illnesses are treated, and where there is a play centre for the children. The bears will be greatly appreciated. The profits from their donation is going to Bowel Cancer UK.

Debbie was also at the hospital for an appointment regarding her bowel cancer. She has had a really tough couple of years. After undergoing surgery on her bowel Debbie had hoped to have put the cancer behind her, but it came back at the beginning of last year and she had to undergo Pelvic Exenteration life-changing surgery where multiple organs are removed. Impossible to grasp the magnitude of this and what she has had to go through. She now is facing surgery on her lungs. Lots of love to this amazing lady! I went to school with Howard, so our friendship goes back over 40 years and we were sharing a flat when he met Debbie in the early 1990s. I was best man at their wedding in 1995. Their kindness and generosity with the Gift-A-Bears typifies the lovely people that they both are…

The teddies can be gifted to anyone or anyplace of your choice and you also get to decide which charity will benefit from the profits raised by your purchase. There are four bears to choose from. Buddy, Cuddles, Honey and Trooper. You could gift a bear to a children’s ward at a hospital or perhaps to a children’s hospice. You might want to gift a teddy to someone who has been going through a tough time who needs a lift, or just as a gift to a family member or friend on their birthday or any special occasion or for a specific event. Or just buy one for yourself. The bear can either be shipped direct to a recipient or to you to gift yourself. The bears cost £20 each including postage or the set of four costs £70 and can be ordered from www.rivers2cross.com It’s a great way to give a gift and raise some money for a charity close to your heart at the same time.

I absolutely loved The Sherlocks first two albums. As much as I love my music sometimes I am out of the loop with bands, so imagine my delight and surprise to realise that they released their third LP, World I Understand last Friday, and it’s absolutely superb with not a weak track on it. If you like a bit of guitar music go check them out! And the deluxe download edition is only £4.99 on the band’s website at the moment.

The Sherlocks – World I Understand

16 Pallets of boxes arrived at work this morning, which not only tested the battery capacity on my forklift truck, but also my ability to create space in the unit. My dad was so much better and more practical than me at these things, but I think he would have been impressed with the way I have recently reorganised the unit. For the next couple of months it will be pretty full, but hopefully come March things will begin to move and I’ll get back a bit of space.

After work I took Prince for his regular physio session. He has been seeing Charlotte all the way back to 2017 when his seven slipped discs were first diagnosed. He continues to defy his 2 month to 2 year prognosis and is doing ever so well. He turns 13 this week and brings me so much love, happiness and joy. Until tomorrow x