Uncertainty..........

As you may have guessed (or may know) probably the biggest thing we, as a family, have going on right now is Paul's parents failing health. His Dad is riddled with prostate cancer, we know its spread to his lymph system, bones and lungs, and that the last scan was ages ago so who knows where else. We also have a 12-18 months prognosis that extends to Christmas................and yet he keeps going, becoming slower and slower, and more stooped, but still caring for Paul's mum. She is suffering from old age - she is almost fading faster, having TIAs, ever increasing weakness on her left side and now losing power on her right. Her alertness varies enormously from flashes of complete accuracy to times when she can barely make it through a whole sentence.
Why am I describing this? Because we are really struggling with the uncertainty of when and how things will happen. Almost any time the phone rings, and certainly if its after 10pm or early am, we all jump a mile. And Paul is really struggling with the thought of Christmas.
So please could you continue to uphold is in prayer, obviously including George and Audrey, and Val (Paul's sister) who lives very near them and carries the caring burden daily.
I know God is in control and will see us through this.

Everything and nothing

Sarah has been seriously nagging me for not blogging for ages - my excuse is that my laptop was out of action for a week, and although I was using an old one it wasn't so good, or easy - feeble I know.
So everything...............is all the stuff, Paul's parents, uncertainty about Christmas, work, etc etc, making me, and Paul feel battered and exhausted. But in the grand scheme of things I know that God is good, and in control and graciously showing me little gems to remind me - Sarah thriving at her course, something at work falling into place like its meant too.
And tomorrow PJ is away at the Space weekend, and Paul is off to watch the rugby, so Sarah and I are going to spend the day doing girly stuff, shopping and relaxing I hope.

insomnia :(

Which is why I'm blogging at 2.35am! I've had a really long couple of days, travelled down to Exeter etc, came home, shattered, went to bed, dozed a bit, Paul came to bed, started snoring and here I am :(
Exeter was the last of the Department of Health days I had to do - I've been working for the last 2 years and a bit on a piece of work with them (slight understatement there - this has been a huge project that I've invested enormously in), and we finally got it to the stage where we could go out to National Consultation, hence I've been travelling round the country doing events. They have been some of the most challenging events I have done - 60-100 people, usually all senior, picking apart the work the team has done, 3 hours of thinking on your feet, fielding questions, attempting to turn around their sceptisism into constructive feedback. We've had varied success, and time will tell, its not about overwhelmingly persuading them that we've got it right - rather that we want them to tell us how we can improve it. Anyway today, after some very lively debate, one person said, this is complex, which is why we are all here, but thank you for all the hard work you have done to get it here, and they all clapped! A nice way to end :)
On which note I think I might have another go at sleeping..........

blogging before my daughter!

I was checking Sarah's blog, realised she hadn't blogged for over a week, was going to nag and then thought - she'll nag me back so I better blog first!
I'm having a good week, was at the Wellchild Award bash on monday http://www.wellchild.org.uk/Events-Awards.asp
Its a lovely event, this was the third year I was invited (just a humble guest not an award winner!) I love the glitz and glam and celeb spotting, my favourite is Ian Waite from Strictly Come Dancing (piccies to follow) but as you will see from the web site Prince Harry was there too! I was about 15 feet from him at one point :) He seemed quite shy but great with the kids.
Paul is decorating - yeah - we resolved the colour debate by choosing wallpaper for one wall and a neutral colour elsewhere - hopefully it will look great. I've been helping a bit but he's done most of it.
And this weekend we are going away, just the two of us, to a hotel in Cheltenham, relaxing, shopping, good food, good wine.
Better get ready to go to work!

Prison.............

Yesterday I went to prison..............I was invited to go and meet the nurses who work in a local prison for boys age 15-18. It was sad, very sad, hearing about boys who have a literacy age of 7-11, who, generally, have been brought up to believe that they can trust no one, who find that prison is the first safe place they have ever been in, and do not want to leave. Hearing of a small number of boys who are registered sex offenders - at 15!!!! Who have a 99 year life service on them. It made my heart cry - what have we done to let them get to this place. I know that's a stock phrase - the failings of society, but I was really challenged about what have I ever done to help them? Now I'm not about to radically change careers here, but I will be praying that somehow, someway, God will reach them, and for the people who work with them.
It was all the more poignant of course because PJ is 16 - that could have been him, in another life.......

How difficult can it be to chose a paint colour for the hall?

Paul and I seem to be making it harder than achieving world peace! We're not arguing, we just cant find a colour that we both like and think works in a hall. Its complicated by some fixed items, ie wooden floor, cream carpet etc which makes creams and neutrals too samey, I like blue, Paul doesn't, he likes apricot, I don't and so it goes on........... its almost funny really, except Paul's taken next week off to paint so we are running out of time :)

Work continues to be mega manic - I feel like I'm spinning too many plates but I have to hang on just a bit longer to a point when someone will hopefully come and help.

Sarah's knee is getting better and its almost half term so hopefully things will get better, and you never know, I might get my hall painted :)

Any chance of a quiet life?

Silly question I know!
It was a good week, with everyone settling back into a routine, with Sarah back at home, attending Uni.......work somewhat manic - the continuing health care project that I've been working on at the DH has kicked off which means 2 days a week travelling but its just for a few weeks, and then Sarah has to go and fall and hurt herself! She was at the CU weekend away, having a blast, playing a silly game at midnight! The good news is she hasn't chipped a bone in her knee (which they were worried about!) but she is to be on bed rest for a week! (The story of getting her to have an Xray when I was in Derby and Paul was in Farnborough was fun - rescued by my dad!). They gaily said no lectures :( Anyway we have found a way of obeying instructions whilst ignoring them - involves wheelchairs, lifts and friends who are lecturers - lol
So a quiet life.........I'm not holding my breath :)