Arrow Park Wirral March 09

Above the Arrow Brook. Below the Woods around the common.

We visited My Aunt and Aaron's Great Aunt Murial this week. She is in her 70`s and was admitted to hospital as her heart is not in good shape no more. Billy Aaron and I took my mum, Aaron`s Nana to see her at Arrow Park Hospital on the Wirral. Driving down in our old faithful VW, we stopped at McDonlads for our favourite a Latte before continuing our journey.

On arrival at the hospital Nana and I went in first to see her. It brought back memories for us as as a child I spent many a day at this hospital with my dad who had emphysema and munachocus. He has been very ill from when I was 3 yrs old, before he died at the hospital on Christmas Day 1989.

After seeing my Aunt for a while I headed back down to were Aaron and Billy were playing football. Honestly with these two I am not sure which on is the biggest kid, but then it is lovely to see Aaron with such a wonderful stepdad.

Putting Fred on the lead we headed for a walk. There are many walk routes around the hospital and I soon found my bearings. At the back of the hospital there is an open common with paths leading off in many directions. I spent many hours here walking as a child, then teenager to a young adult, with my dogs . I knew the paths well. It is such an easy place to get lost with miles of open land, river and woods.

For a while we stayed on the main common at the back of the hospital while the boys played football, Fred ran riot around the field for a good while keeping an eye on my at all times. I joined in the football along with a puppy Alsatian.

After some time we moved on we walked across the common taking the path over the brook then turned waking along the path next to the brook which opens up into a lake. Fred managed to find the only hole in the fence to take a swim in the brook. Came out looking rather smelly.

At the top of the lake we turned and walked across the woodland path to the top of the common. This open land is also a good spot for horse riding.

Upon reaching the top end of the common you can see the hospital in the distance. We headed back. Sticking a mucky Fred back in his cage we went in first having a cup of tea at Annabel`s cafe in the hospital grounds. Aaron and I bought our Aunt a get well card and a guardian angel. Billy had a good look around the hospital book shop.

We then headed up the the ward to visit our Aunt. She was thrilled with the angel that Aaron had given her. After a while we headed off. Stopping on the way at the Quay in Parkgate for the carvery. We took Fred for another walk to the local homemade ice cream shop before heading back home through North Wales.

Thurstaston Common Walk March 2009

We had a wonderful walk in the spring sunshine, with our dog Fred. Starting off at Roydon Park, we headed through the woods to Thurstaston Common. On the way through the woods Fred took to chasing a grey squirrel along the ground and up a tree. It wasn't scared of him and came back down the tree to tease Fred into chasing him again.

Thurtaston Common is a natural wood, scrub and marsh land. We walked along the path before turning onto a minor path which crosses the swamp. Fred had a great time wading in the muck as usual.

After about a 1 mile we turned back and made our way onto the main path. It is an easy place to get lost, as there are many different paths you can take. Many looking the same. I grew up on the Wirral and would often go walking in this area along with many other areas along the Wirral Peninsula. Wirral is a fab place to visit, I love to visit home.

Along the main path we met up with many cocker spaniels and other dogs out for there morning walk.

The common is a very popular for dog walkers. Heading along the main track we then turned of again through the woods to the far side of the common on the edge of Roydon Park. We then headed back across the open common and picnic area to the car.

Next stop was Parkgate for lunch at The Quay and an ice cream for afters. Everyone had a wonderful time including Fred our dog.

More photographs of Thurstaston Common can be seen on our on line photo albums link opposite.

Baby Callum 16TH March 1996

Today would have been Baby Callum`s 13TH birthday. He would have become a teenager today.

Callum died tragically due to placenta abruption after fighting for life for 4 1/2 hours. I went to the hospital due to his movements decreasing over the last couple of days, I was 36 weeks pregnant.

Callum was born by Cesarean section at 11. 55 am. A massive blood clot was found at the back of his placenta which was caused due to injury a few days previous after losing my way on a map down the lanes in south west Wales.

Callum had lost a lot of his blood and was given many blood transfusions to try to save him but with the loss of all his blood his liver and spleen were badly damaged and were a huge size shown on a cat scan. His life tragically ended at 4.30pm that fateful day.

I can recall every detail of the days leading to his death, the day he died and the days that came afterwards leading up to his funeral.

I held Callum for the whole of Mothers Day 1996 before being sent home. Every day for the next 10 days I sat with Callum at the funeral directors until the day he was buried on the 26TH March 1996.

Following his burial I developed blood clots on the lungs and was admitted to hospital yet again before being transferred to Staffordshire hospital. The days and months that followed were a nightmare, my book tells the more detailed story of the events around Baby Callum`s death along with many other horrific times in both mine and my children`s lives.

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My family and I visited the boys grave today. Very soon the head stone will be back on which we are all looking forward to. The stone at present is waiting for the photographs of the children to be transferred to porcelain which is being done in Italy. The plot is due to be rolled flat so nothing can be planted on it at present anything placed on the grave has to be removable or squashed.

We placed daffodils`s on for Callum, A toy elephant was placed on with a card due to it being a special birthday for Callum, he would have become a teenager. The elephant is also for Daniel. A plant was left on the grave also by Gaynor. The sun shone today for a very special baby who never deserved to die and should be alive today.

Village Walk In The Spring Sun Shine March 09

Sunday saw us all out in the spring sun shine for a village circular walk. Fred and the boys, Aaron and Josh had a wonderful time. Here are some of the photo`s of the views around our home of the welsh mountains, valleys and glens. More photographs can be viewed @@@ our on line photo album site on photobucket link opposite.

Joe Le Taxi & the Zydeco Band

What a wonderful night out at the work house. On the stage tonight were Joe Le Taxi & The Zydeco Band.

We danced the night away in the company of old friends and new. Billy held me close all night Great Fun.

Fantastic Game Liverpool v Man Utd March 09

We had a lovely day watching the Liverpool v Man Utd game.

Liverpool hammered Man Utd 4 - 1. It was a fab game even Nana came to watch it at the Penybont Inn. At half time Aaron and I had a game of pool.

Above is Fernando Torres and below Stephen Gerrard. These two players are both mine and Aaron's favourites.

After the match Aaron met up with his friends Josh and Owen for kick about at the pub. As it got dark we called Josh and Aaron home for tea were they played for rest of night.

Comic Relief / Red Nose Day March 09

Well done children -

This years red nose day was such a laugh. Bad hair day at school along with non uniform day to raise money for comic relief. We started our school day before 8am with kids club staff as usual manning Breakfast Club.

Aaron and I were up early having a real bad hair day. Aaron had spiked multi coloured hair and I had pink and blue coloured pigtails ( pippy long stocking ) . We had such a laugh.

As the children strolled in the fun began. Some of the style were really good.

Please see Llangedwyn School kids Club Blog for more photographs

http://llangedwynschoolkidsclub.blogspot.com/

One of my favourites was Jake he turned up dressed as a women complete with high heeled boots, fish net stocking, bra filled with socks and a wig to die for. Visit link above to see his photo.

Aaron raised over £30 himself in sponsership for being handcuffed to his freind Lawrence for the day . Lawrence raised another £16. Altogether they raised over £45. Well done boys.

http://www.comicrelief.com/

Aaron is a son to be proud of. He finished off his day with his girlfreind Amy coming for tea. They have spent the evening together with Aaron showing her proudly off around the village.

Aaron with girlfreind Amy.