I'm no conspiracy theorist.... but

Over the last few months i've been reading up on history, watching video's of my own history and looking in depth at programmer's from the TV. My recent history browsing revolves around the attack on 11th September 2001 in America.

I've read all the conspiracy theories about 9/11, and to be honest a lot of it I take with a pinch of salt. At the end of the day, two planes (irrespective of if they were drones, United Airlines aircraft, Military Aircraft or missiles), the twin towers came down and killed a lot of people that day. Not only that, but a lot of other people have suffered ever since.

What has intrigued me since that day is not the twin towers, but instead the 'alleged' crash of United Airlines 93 and the crash at the Pentagon. For all those that believe 9/11 did happen in its entirety and I mean the whole kit and kaboodle of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93, answer me just a couple of questions.

Firstly, where is the wreckage of both planes? There is no fuselage, no wheels, no remains indicative of any air crash in the history of air crashes.

Secondly why haven't the American government looked at both crash sites, and thought... where is the wreckage? Are  investigators, governmental officials, newspaper and TV journalists, forensic officials so inept, that they all believe that planes can miraculously disappear taking with it all, heck even the majority of forensic evidence with it. There are some things on heaven and earth that you can't get away from, and that's completely disregardiaircrashng the laws of physics... So, I ask you all, Why the lies? Why has there been no huge public outcry? Do even investigative journalists and news reporters such as Sky, Fox news, CNN believe things can disappear without a trace? Even government photographs show that there is no wreckage.

Surely people are not that stupid? Are they? They also can't use the argument of, "The aircraft" evidence was taken away. That would never happen in a criminal investigation as everything should be bagged and tagged. So that's that theory out of the window.

All I ask is for people to look at the evidence. Evidence cannot lie. It cannot be manipulated, or coerced or changed, or details warped by the passing of time. It is, what it is. So, given the picture below, Flight 93 crash site. What is your opinion.

Now look at other crashed aircrafts. Notice a difference?

If we look at the Lockerby bombing in Scotland in the 80's, even a bomb going off hundreds of feet in the air didn't result in total destruction of every single piece of the aircraft. So, can someone explain how on earth not once, but twice, two United Airlines aircraft apparently disintegrated on impact?

TAM Airlines Flight #3054 Airbus A320 dated July 17th 2007

Trans Air cessna August 2010 Papa New Guinea

As anyone can clearly see. irrespective of the size of the aircraft, the trajectory, or the location on impact, there is always wreckage, learge parts of the aircraft always survives, and can't simply be removed by getting a brush and shovel. 

Anyone who says otherwise isn't being honest. So exactly what are they hiding and why? And when will people be told the truth I wonder?

Okay conspiracy theories finished. If you can be bothered, let me know your thoughts. 

New Year and New Beginnings

It's been a while since i've posted, but i've got a fairly good excuse. I've been traveling around Asia specifically; China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea. Loved every minute of it... what I was allowed to see anyway after being confined to my quarters due to contracting Pneumonia whilst away. To top it off we witnessed a boat sinking, was involved in a rescue for survivors and just missed a Tropical storm. Well, I always said I loved adventure, and to say it was adventurous would be an understatement.

For two whole weeks I had the pleasure of visiting so many different places and I loved every minute of it. In particular I got the chance to go back to the place I was born. It was quite a surreal moment standing there looking at the place where my parents lived nearly 40 years ago, the place I was born and lived. I promised my mom and dad that I would eventually go back to Kowloon, and I've been fortunate enough to fulfil 2 lifelong dreams in my lifetime, roll on the third... I'm hoping the next one will be to go to L.A and see NCIS Los Angeles being filmed and to meet the actors. Hopefully that dream will be a reality sooner rather than later, will now by the end of the week.

Anyway getting back to Hong Kong, I always dreamed of going back with mom and dad, and never for one minute thought i'd be there without them. I couldn't imagine it, so I did the only thing I could, take the picture they had done in Hong Kong and take it with me on my journey.

The trip itself was everything i'd dreamed of and more, except for the pneumonia, tropical storm, capsized ship... After I got home, went back to the docs for more nebulizer treatment and he kindly informed me that if he ever saw me getting on the same plane/boat or holiday as him, he'd run a mile in the opposite direction. After careful consideration, I do find that bad things tend to follow me around a lot. Ah well, life would be pretty boring otherwise I suppose, although the whole people dying on me is getting really old now and if anyone's listening, i'd actually like to have a whole year go by without witnessing a death, having a family member or friend die. It would actually make a nice change...

Swiftly moving on, Christmas was exceptionally quiet now that i'm an orphan, I didn't really relish feeling like Oliver Twist over Christmas, so I decided to buy myself presents, sad but true. Glad I got my gifts in before getting snowed in. I wasn't so sad as to wrap them up and leave them under the true. But, I did carry out my tradition which involved the film, "It's a wonderful Life" and a huge glass of Baileys. It should be noted that I only drank the bailey's for medicinal purposes. :)

I'll try and post some pics of my holidays and of getting snowed in, but as I can't be bothered at the moment it'll have to wait. ;) Hope everyone has a great New Year. I plan to start mine off with a brand new job (yes, finally left work after lots of umming and ahhing), and maybe even a brand new life if i'm lucky. Who knows what the future holds... but seriously if there are any psychics, fortune tellers out there, would love to know if i'm going to win the lottery as this year I plan to live life to the max... and unfortunately my credit card is at its max...

Times they are a changing

It's been so long since I sat down and wrote, and a lot of things have happened; or should I say will be happening over the next few months. Some things will be scary, some exciting. One thing is for certain, my life is never dull. Not quite sure if that's a good thing or not, but things will be differen't that's for sure. Different people have been giving their advice, and normally at times like these i'd ask my mom; the fountain of all knowledge. However, that's not possible anymore so i'm kind of torn on where to go from here. With all the advice I think I need to take 5 and try and sort things out in my own mind.

So, where to start!

Well, my beloved sister has turned psychotic, and decided that she wanted to stalk me first then proceed to attack me at my own home a few weeks ago. Police were called and she was warned to stay away otherwise risk arrest. Thing is she really didn't care, not about me, not about what the police were telling her. She's been told now to stay away for good and not to contact me again. Whether she'll heed that advice or not, time will tell, but if she does come around again, I won't be pulling any punches. My mom and dad would be turning in their graves. So what was the fight about? A photo album! Unbelievable isn't it what lengths some people will go to to hurt another. I was entitled to copies of my parent's wedding album, she disagreed and told the solicitors not to give me copies. Luckily mom chose some good solicitors and they told her to back off and gave me copies. So now all I have to do is give her money in exchange for staying at my parent's home. This is where the fun starts, which i'll talk about in a little bit.

My second news? I'm going on a cruise to Asia; Beijing, Shanghai, Kagoshima, Hiroshima, Okinowa, Incheon, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, my birth place and the place my parents lived for 2 years. It's going to be a fantastic journey, 2 1/2 weeks of contentment and memories, especially going to Hong Kong, specifically Kowloon. I can't wait. I leave in October then board the cruise ship Legend of the Seas. I've never done a cruise before, unless you count a Nile cruise. I think i'm at the stage where I can't quite believe i'm going yet, so i'm keeping my excitement down to a minimum. I think it'll all sink in when I get to the airport. I'll be taking my camera with me, so will keep posting pictures of my journey, and will get the opportunity to wear cocktail dresses. Only one problem with that, i've not bought any yet, so will have to go shopping, and I hate shopping, but I suppose it's a mean to an end. I know my mom and dad will be traveling with me, and keeping me safe. I can't wait to go on the Star Ferry and see the Great wall of China. I'm taking my friend Vickie with me, and hopefully we'll have a blast. I'm having trouble with my Arthrirtis at the moment so it's causing a few problems both personally and profesionally which i'll go into in a minute.

My friends in work suggested instead of taking my sticks to take a wheelchair instead or try and get one of those mobility scooters. I told them that my friend Vickie loves to push me around, ergo I wouldn't need a wheelchair. ;) Only joking. I'm not quite sure how i'm going to manage, but i'm absolutely determined that this once in a life time holiday. Well my second once in a lifetime holiday (Stargate Atlantis holiday to Vancouver).

Talking of work, things have kind of gone from bad to worse for me in that department, and i'm finally leaving for good. I've not really got much choice to be honest as my bosses are curently preparing to dismiss me for inefficiancy for being off sick so much. I got my first formal warning on Tuesday for being off sick when my mom died. I was then told if I was off again i'd have to attend a stage 2 warning which will eventually lead to dismissal. Unfortunately as my Arthritis has been really bad recently and work are constantly ignoring my requests for support and reasonable adjustments, my doctor signed me off for two weeks. So hello stage 2 warning. My union rep thinks I've got a good case to appeal the warning as i've not had any support, and even my doc says that i've got a good case to go to the Employment Tribunal under the DDA. Thing is, even if I did that, what would change. I have no job to go back to, work are looking to get rid of about 10 thousand people across the UK, and then there's me, who's intermittantly off sick, who has a long term disability and hasn't had a job to do for the last 6 months.

I just wonder what is left for there. Hence my last dilemma. My job has always been secure in the past, it was one of those places that you never get made redundant they simply move you elsewhere. Now, however with all the cuts, nothing and noone is safe in any position. I volunteered to leave, but got told that I couldn't leave until my department was finished in March 2011, but given what's happened recently and by all accounts will continue to happen, i'm left in a dilemma as to what to do. Do I leave in October like i've now been told can happen and get some money so that I can last for 12 months while I look for another job. Or do I hold out until the end of March, where there's no guarantee that I will have a job as they're looking to dismiss me.

My mom was brilliant at guiding me in the right direction, and I really miss her, especially now. I don't think i've grieved properly for mom yet, and not quite sure when it will actually hit me, but I honestly am struggling with which way to turn. People have been giving me advice, half are telling me to go, the other half to stay and fight it out. As for me, I want to leave. I honestly don't think there's a future for me there anymore, and realistically I know that they're trying their hardest to get rid of me and will eventually succeed especially with my being signed off at the moment. My doc has told me that it's pointless having anymore physio or steriod and facet joint injections and i'm not gaining the benefit. So i'm being referred to a pain clinic which hopefully they'll help control my pain somewhat until I finally get my knee replacement. Which will likely be in about 10 years as i'm apparantly too young at the moment.

So, everything is kind of up in the air, if anyone has any advice, please put your answers on a postcard. ;)

And lastly as I like to end on a high note, my hair is growing back nicely and it's now a couple of inches long and platinum blonde. I had a cut and blow dry today to cheer myself up and my whacky cat decided that she also liked my new hair so much that she decided to groom me. I know the quality of the vid isn't that great, but she just started doing it, and all I had was my mobile to hand.

So the video of my cat licking my hair is short and sweet. Ignore the clothes in the corner, I've been trying them on for my hols and deciding what to wear.

The next time i'll post will probably when i'm on my cruise and sailing the seven seas. I'll keep you updated, please feel free to drop me a line.

Free flowing thoughts and feelings

Hopefully this post makes sense, but today i'm trying an experiment and to be honest i'm not quite sure how it'll turn out. It might come out a jumbled mess, or I might get lucky and actually find some semblance in my life, so here goes.

Six years ago now, my dad died and my mom became paralised up until now, i've been responsible for looking after Dad and Mom until they both died. The thing is now I don't quite now where to go from here. I feel as i've lost who I am, and now have to start over. I know during my time of caring, I tried to be the best daughter I possible could, sometimes I felt as if all I had given was not enough, sometimes I felt as if I was being selfish for wanting some kind of life. Over the years i've heralded feelings of guilt, sadness and grief as my emotions tumbled out like a spewing volcano. Now that i'm on my own, i'm trying hard to come to terms with things and find a life that I once had. I just didn't realise what a rocky road it was going to be.

They say that in life you have to choose your path, I wonder if that's true, or if the path you take is somehow predetermined. I know since my mom died i've changed, i'm not the person I once was. I need to find somehow the inner strength to get through this change. I guess what i'm feeling is related to grief and losing my mom, but a part of me is trying to break free I think of all the restraints placed on me over the years. I've come now to a point in my life I think where I need to start thinking of myself for a change. To learn how to stand up for myself without feeling gulity that i've hurt people for having a disagreement. I have to live my life as if it's the last day of my life everyday and not make apologies for being selfish for a change.

My sister came around a couple of weeks ago now comeing to collect her bequeathed items that mom left her, and I've come to realise that all this time I thought there was something wrong with me, something I'd done to piss her off. But what I realised for the first time in my lifetime, that it's not me that has the issues, she is the one who's made my life a misery because she can. She's the sort of person that puts you down all the time, she deliberately belittles people to make herself feel better. I wonder even know why I hadn't noticed, and why I allowed myself to be treated that way, when I wouldn't stand for anyone else to be treated in such a manner.

I guess i'm finally growing up and taking back a part of my life that's been missing for 6 years. I know that over this turbulent time i've done everything I possibly could to care for mom and dad, and I hope that they're looking down on me and saying that they're proud of who I am and what i'll become. For now though i'm trying to find a way forward and there are two paths I could take, and for me i'm trying to figure out whether the path i'm going to take is a good one or is it a knee jerk reaction to my mom dying? Honestly I really don't know.

Path 1

I stay at my current job, and although disallusioned and no longer want to be there anymore, it gives me stability. I can stay indefinately or take redundancy and follow the second path, or I can stay in work and be moved to a different position and maybe enjoy the job again.

Path 2

I leave my job by taking redundancy, pay off all my bills and the last of my mortgage and study again. I want to do criminology and psychology and it's something i've wanted to do for a very long time, but circumstances haven't allowed it. I'll have the money to be able to study, but I wonder that I might be too old (i'm 38 this year) to have a complete change of careers and would I get a job in the field that I want.

All I know at the moment is that I need to know which path to choose, my heart is set at the second path, but if I don't get redundancy then i'll have no choice but to stay on the first path and just wonder what if.

If there's one thing I know is that the words that will haunt me if I don't try this things are 'What if?'

I always bounced these things off my mom, but now without her here I don't honestly know where to go, she always knew just what to say to make things right, but only enough to allow me to make my own decisions. I guess it's a mom thing, and I miss that.

Hair today, Gone tomorrow!

Well it's 2 months today since my mom passed away. As you can see I no longer have any hair, lost it a about a month ago now. The doc thinks it's a result of the stress on my body caused by the loss of my mom and the fact that I may have ovarian cancer. I go into hospital in two weeks time to determine if I have cancer and how far advanced it is. They located to large tumors after several scans and as they've been changing rapidly, the oncologist i've been seeing recommends we get them out asap. I of course have been very stubborn and have asked not to have the operation a few times, what can I say i'm stubborn, and it's really not been a great time for me to get it done. I lied to my mom and told her before she died that the tumors were benign, she needed to hear that it was ok for her to let go without worrying about me.

I think for me it was also important to not let anything stop her from leaving. She was exhausted and wanted to be with Dad. If i'd have told her what the oncologist said then she would have hung on for who knows how long, that would have been unfair. So I had to let her go even if it's hard now not having many family members left here for support. My mom's family are not speaking to me, obviously i'm still the black sheep LOL.

I am desperate for a little change in my life at the moment, i'm lost at the weekends, I miss my Stargate Atlantis fix, i'm guessing there isn't gonna be a movie. Hmmph no surprise there. I miss my friends from Gateworld, but don't feel I can go back now. I've changed they've changed, i've not even been to Mr M's blog for ages or challenged anyone's post. I've become a bore. I bet Mr M is relieved he doesn't have to listen to me go off on a tangent anymore LOL, at least he's kindly putting some old Atlantis pics up. Ah to reminisce.

Here's to the good old days.....

There are two things n life that are certain; Death and Taxes!

When I was just a little girl

Mom's garden.

Mom's special Christmas tree

My mom passed away a few weeks ago after a long debilitating illness. I'm currently in a state of denial and numbness. For the last 5 years i've spent every weekend with her bar a couple of weekends where i've shamelessly indulged in my stargate obsession.

Know during the weekends i'm fnding it hard to do something with my time. I guess it's going to be a case of learning how to live again. I've known it was coming for a long time, but it doesn't matter it's still a shock and it was so sudden at least my mom didn't suffer at the end. How strange a passing it was, my mom spoke of having a last cigarette even though her chest sounded like a rusty pair of bagpipes, LOL. But that was mom, even at the end she was never going to give up smoking, so i'm glad she got one last indulgence. I even managed to put some photos of the garden up on her wall after the recent snowfall, so I hope it brought her a tiny bit of comfort. I also finally finished making her a sculpture that i'd been working on for the last 4 weeks. Years ago my mom used to make ceramcs, and as a surprise i'd been taking evening classes so I could make her a ceramic ornament. I finished it Christmas eve, and she was so proud of me. And i'll remember that always along wth out conversaton about her not beng afraid to die and fnally beng with dad again.

The day she died I stroked her hair and had the opportunity to thank her for my life and for thanking her for helping me become the person I am today. Because of my parents i've managed to live a successful life full of creativity and friendships and a person that's full of passion and love and caring and honest. They're the parts that my parents instilled in me, and I have the priviledge of taking those attributes throughout my adult life, and hopefully to one day f I ever find myself a husband or sperm donor LOL, that I can instill those attributes into them.

The only disappointment I have is that i'm amazed and saddened at the greed of some people, partcular family members who feel that it's ok to act like vultures and take whatever they want even if its against my mom's wishes. Unfirtunately i've had to change the locks on my house and tell people that i'm more than happy to give them things that they feel are precious and that hold memories of mom and dad, but it's at my discretion. The person i'm most disappointed about is my sister and my mom's side of the family who have done nothing but made trouble for me since after mom died. They changed all the funeral plans without consulting me, cancelled the cars that were coming to the house to take mom to the church and have behaved so badly that they even stormed out of the solicitors office when mom's will was read, becasue mom didn't leave them as much money as they told her they wanted. Ths was a day after I buried my mom. To say it's dsgustng would be an understatement. What is it with families, funerals and money? Is that all some people really care about?

All I can say is that i'm glad my mom isn't around to see ths debacle, and the fact that i'm being ignored by family memebers for carrying out mom's wishes. At least I can say I honoured what my mom wanted, shame on the others for only thinking of themselves. Mom's only wish was to be with dad, and at least she has that now. Goodnight mom, see you in my dreams. xxx

Depression

I'm sort of uncomfortable about discussing this topic, especially as it relates to me. I've recently been diagnosed with major depression and have been on antidepressants (Citalopram) for the last 2 months to get back to my old self. My friends (the few close ones I have) have been very supportive, but others seem to think I should snap out of it and get back to work.

I didn't think there was such a stigma surrounding this as their used to be, or maybe it's a lack of understanding on people's part. Stress plays a large part of it, but stress and depression may be similar in symptoms, but the two are very different and shouldn't be confused. I've been battling depression for nearly 5 years now. Never told anyone about how I was feeling because for the last 5 years i've had to be the carer, I've had to hold everything together. So each day I put on my mask when I go to work and people don't see how much i'm hurting. I've done really well keeping my 'secret' under wraps all this time, no one would look at me and say, "Oh you look depressed." It's something that's never been associated with me, as I always seem in control of my actions, my feelings. That was up until a few months ago, when my mask started to slip and my emotions were starting to come apart.

I'd ignored all the health warnings my body was giving me, palpitations, suspected heart attack, tearful, stressed, letting the things I once enjoyed doing I let go. I was losing weight regular each week, and lost 28 pounds in the last few months. Now i've been told, that because i've not listened to those subtle sounds, my body is screaming for me stop and reevaluate my life or lack there of.

I've been on valium for a month aswell as tamazapam and Citolapram, none of which have been any good. I still don't sleep well, primarily due to my hands going completely numb, yes the valium relaxed me, but they were only a short term measure. I'm hoping this Citolapram I take each day will hopefully help along with some cognitive behavioural therapy will get me back on an even keel and start enjoying life again. I miss smiling and laughing and my writing.

Looking at my house (which is in a serious state of dissaray) I just don't have the willingness to even clean up. My boss and my mom are asking me what i'm doing with my time since i've been off work. While i've made some progress in getting my other house ready for sale, my mom's house looks like i'm living in a pigsty and i'm so embarressed I won't answer the door, or invite people round.

I know time heals all wounds, and i've been told to take it day by day and learn to relax, but i'm not used to it. I've had to cope on my own for all this time, and care for others, but I don't know how to relax and care for myself. I guess it's time to learn. I just wish I could bounce back to my old self.

If anyone wants any information on Stress/Anxiety or depression here are some links. If you feel like sharing your story, i'm a good listener. :)

Tattoo's

After 6 months, I finally decided to get my fourth tattoo. This time I got a Japanese cherry blossom as a band around my ankle. There are differences between the Chine version and the Japanese version. The Japanese one holds more significance for me and my life, but a lot of people don't realise the significance, and to be honest a lot of girls just like them. :) If you want to know the difference, here it is.


The first one I got was when I was 15, and it was done in one of the bouncers kitchen from a nightclub I used to attend when I was *cough*underage*cough*. It helped tremendously that I developed at an early age. ;) The tattoo I got admittedly was the most impulsive thing i have done as a teenager... sort of. The tattoo was of Charlie Brown with the words saying "Good Grief!" Whatever possessed me, I have no idea, and it is the only tattoo I regret, but I did get an offer to pose for a nudy mag at the time.. but I was a lot slimmer in those days. Needless to say I declined as I was only 16 at the time.

The other one I got when I was 22 and is a Chinese symbol on my hip. I eventually told my mom at age 25 that I had two tats and she promptly told me to wash them off... you gotta love her for that. Believe me it took lots of convincing to tell her they were real.

The third one I got is my most beloved tattoo, I had it done 2 years ago a couple of years after my Dad died of cancer. During my time of looking after him, it was the most stressful and rewarding time of my life. My Dad needed me, he was scared and vulnerable, as was I at losing him. During that time as you know my mom was in intensive care at Walton neurology, and there were times I just thought I cannot do this anymore. But the perseverance was well worth it, as was the 2 and a half hour sitting getting it done on my back! It was how I felt and still sometimes feel even years later, and I adore it. The tattoo was done at Triballife tattoo (now called Memento moiri, based in Liverpool, and he was a great artist and conversationalist. To be honest I thought it was going to be excruciating, but really it was a walk in the park. Maybe because of the meaning behind it? The aftercare of my tattoo went so smoothly, no scabbing, scarring. I took good care of it, and still to this day I adore it, and have no regrets.

During the last 6 months, I thought about getting the cherry blossom tattoo and the artwork and the placement is fantastic. However, my god I never understood how painful it would be afterwoods. My ankle has swelled to twice the normal size, it is a bit inflammed and hot. I have been cleansing it as instructed, and now have it elevated. But oh my goodness, even walking is agony. Hopefully it will settle down in a few days.

Here's some links on aftercare if you decide to get a tattoo done.

http://tattoo.about.com/cs/beginners/a/blaftercare.htm
http://www.tattoozoo.co.uk/aftercare/aftercare.html

As soon as the swelling is settled i'll add some pics. :)

Natural Photography

I'm trying to get into my new hobby, photography using the Nikon D5o. Still not quite sure how to use it, but i'm trying out different styles.

As I mentioned before, i'm trying to cheer my mom up, so have been waiting for a nice sunny day to mow the lawn and take some pics of the garden. Next week i've plans to get them blown up to poster size so that I can put them on her ceiling, and something else to look at apart from artex! I've also arranged for Sky to be put in, even though I bought freeview box for her at Christmas. Hopefully she'll get a better reception. I read an article today, the author must have read my mind about the caring system. Here it is if anyone is interested.

Anyway, I finally mowed the lawn, got up at 6AM to take some pics of the sunlight hitting the trees and I hope she enjoys it. I also nearly blew myself up when I cut right through the mower cable when it was on. Oops! The people at the store said I was very lucky to not get electrocuted. Glad to see i've still got some luck on my side. So whilst at the garden ship, i've been wanting to buy something for the birds. We already have a box for the bluetits that visit the house every day, but haven't really done more than that. So I bough a victorian type of stand along with nuts, seeds, worms and peanuts. Since then i've had an influx of birds of al varieties, which is just what I wanted.

I've seen a red finch, blue tits, lots of pidgeons, a black bird that's stealing moss in a plant pot for it's nest and a few sparrows. I've managed to take a few pics behind the glass doors, some turned out well, others didn't. Judgin by the seed feeder that seems to be the most popular, so i'll have to top that up as soon as possible.

I'm heading off to the house again tomorrow to sort a few things off... yeah had all these plans to get stuff done this week and i'm still procrastinating... so tomorrow!!

Enjoy the pics.

Caring - An antiquated system

My mom

For the last 5 years, i've had to be involved with medical personel, hospitals, doctors, nurses, social services - the whole kit and kaboodle. After seeing an entry in today's news about an OAP that was killed, it stirred something within me. A fire that's been brewing for a long time.

There has always been disparities within the health system, and nursing care standards, along with the old age post code lottery. For me though my story is probably not disimilar to others out there. My dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August 2004, and within 2 months he was dead. During those two months, we had the support of Macmillan nurses, the Queenscourt Hospice in Southport whom were wonderful with dad whilst he was there during his last few weeks. I had support from nurses, doctors, because of the word 'Cancer'. With other people, like my mom who is just 55 years old - a young women whom has Ankyosing Spondylitis, Osteoarthritis, and Osteoporosis, she's unable to feed herself, care for herself and has been bedridden for 3 years, I receive no support. I'm not just talking about monetary support, i'm talking about physical support, emotional support. People's wishes when they're seriously ill and whom are not suffering from cancer appear to be discriminated against. A person with cancer is allowed to die at home and receives such support and services to allow them to fulfill their personal needs. Why then is it so different for people of other illnesses?

My mom is dying slowly, she wants to come home to die, and the only way I can manage to do that is to pay some agency fee of £700 per week, plus the costs of Social services. But because of costs it's too expensive to bring her home, when nursing homes are £500 per week (minimum). So mom has no choice but to stay there against her wishes, against my wishes. Have you ever heard someone cry for years on end because they want to go home? How hard it is to try and say that 'i'm trying'. Working all the hours to try and save that sort of money. For it to be gone within a year. Then what happens after that year when the savings are all gone? They sell their home that they've built their whole life working for.

I know my mom and I aren't the only ones in this position, but too much power is now at the hands of others instead of the needs of the individuals, and it needs to change. Help for carers needs to change. The whole system is so antiqauted that it's no longer fit for purpose. So where do we go from here. How do we stop the discrimination from this point on?

Classical Music - Rondo Veneziano

Ever since I was a child I have been interested in all kinds of music. People who've browsed through my iPod, can't quite figure out which genre I fit into, which is fine with me. I'm pretty much an eclectic when it comes to music. It has to reach me on an emotional level for me to love it. I remember a song from probably going on 20 years ago that I heard and has stuck with me forever. The song was Notturno in Gondola by Rondo Veneziano from the album Venice in Peril. I do have the LP somewhere, but had trouble getting it onto disc. High and low i've searched for this particular song to put on my laptop/iphone/ipod etc. And now i've finally found it.

I'm not quite sure what it is about the composition that I love so much. It's such a haunting piece that just gives me goose pimples.

As I sit here trying to relax (thanks to some hefty meds from the doctors), I get a sense as I close my eyes that i'm wandering in a meadow of yellow flowers and at the end of the field is an old shack. As I walk towards it, I see an old gentlemen just sitting on his porch in this brocken down building, only sheltered by some beams of wood overhead. The man is of black origin and aged approximately 80ish originated from the southern states of America. And he sits in solitude, his head bowed in contemplative silence as if waiting for something or someone to find him.

I don't approach him, instead I stop and sit, watching this man from a distance and this music is what I hear, a haunting melody of emotions that emanate from him. His sadness, whomever he is, is lonely and longing for something. Or maybe it's me who is longing for something. Where this has come from, I really have no idea, but if someone can explain it to me, i'd be very grateful. Is it just vivid imagination, or is it something i've seen before? I don't know. I've uploaded the music for you (hopefully it works). All I ask is when you listen to this music, what do you see, what do you hear, what do you feel?

Okay, so the music thing didn't quite work out as i'd planned. So i've put the link to the music at the bottom, don't worry there's no virus's and you don't have to download anything unless you wish, just simply press play on the required file and let me know what you think.

Notturno in Gondola by Rondo Veneziano

Cats and Computors

My cats have serious issues with my PC and my using it, and will use mostly any tactic to get in the way of my surfing, typing or reading. My older cat (Gemma) is 17 in a couple of months and has become even more clingier than usual. She adores cuddles, and will most often just plonk herself either on my chest, the laptop or on my hands. Either that or she just wants to feel the heat!! Bella on the other hand is still very kittenish at 2 years old, she still drags her blanket around everywhere and adores being tickled on the belly, very much like a dog. With the PC her mannerisms are very different to Bella's in that she'll attempt to sit on the laptop and refuses to budge. Worse still she's such a drooler, and it goes everywher, once she starts that's it. Puddles on the keys on my arms, and quite frequently she suckles my ear and drools down my neck. Now i'm told that they normally do that if they're taking away from their moms too early, and they should grow out of it when they're about a year old... i'm still waiting!!

Unfortunately my previous laptop didn't fair very well with the girls in that they became so jealous, Bella kept repeatedly headbutting the screen until it eventually fell off. Needless to say my insurance agent, had a good laugh and refused to pay. Fingers crossed this doesn't happen again!

Anyway a couple of pics to show you the lil tearaways.

Nikon D50

Well, I've finally been ordered to relax and take some time off for a few weeks to get my blood pressure down to a more manageable level; lest I end up having a stroke! So with that in mind. I've had to learn how to chill out. Given that i'm one of those people with Type A personalities, i'm not quite sure how to relax. So my boss has set me work plan objectives on relaxing. She's advised me to read at least 3 books before I go back to work, to get a sun tan and chill out in the garden, to do some writing (which i've been extremely neglectful with for the last year), and to go out and take some pictures.

So, with my orders firmly in hand, I took a first tentative step and attempted to be a tourist for the day. As you can see from the snapshots with my Nikon D50 (200mm lens with UV filter), they're of the funfair and pier nearby. I seem to have this thing at the moment about wildlife, specifically ducks... i'll tell you about it some other time. I think the pictures came out quite good, and i've now got a telescopic lens which I hope to use when I go to Portugal in June. A whole week of swimming, chilling and drinking. Can't wait!!

Long time no post

I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I posted here. To tell you the truth things have been exceptionally hectic, and i've barely had two minutes to do anything more than just sleep once work has finished.

After a health scare... or three, i've decided that I have to start making some changes to my life, which means having fun a lot more, and leaving as much stress behind me as I can. I miss the good old care free days when the only thing I had to worry about was if I should get up at 11am or 12!

With work as stressful as it is, and mom begging me to come home i'm finding myself more and more out of sorts. So to try and gain that bit of life that should be fun i've decided to get out a bit more and enjoy life. Even if it's little snatches here and there. With that in mind I got myself a new camera (well, Ebay new) and some zoom lenses and went down the road to test out my new camera. Some pics i've been surprised with, and thought they'd turned out really well, particular the close up shots. Others i've thought 'meh' I definately need more practice, but practice makes perfect. The other part of my buying a new camera was for the trip to Bedford in February to see that cast of Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis. It was definately interesting for Joe I think when he realised Linzi and I were there for the cocktail party. I didn't think he'd remember me, but he did, and it was funny seeing him do a double take when he first saw Linzi.

So that was the first reason I bought the Nikon D50, the second reason was my love for cherry blossoms. I don't know why i'm drawn to them, but absolutely love the spring when they all come out and will finally get that tattoo on my ankle of the Japanese variety as opposed to the chinese version; primarily because they have two differing meanings. With mom still very poorly and deterioriating each day, she's not got much to look forward to, or to see given her bed ridden status and her being paralysed. So as she has little to no movement from the neck down, instead of simply being turned onto her back and seeing the ceiling, I want her to have a little piece of home. So once i've mown the lawn and the blossoms in the garden are out in full. I've arranged for my photo's of the garden (from start to finish) to be blown up to poster size and then arrange them on her ceiling. So the times when the nurses turn her on her back, she doesn't have to look at a blank ceiling. It's something at least. If anyone has any other ideas, i'm open to them.

I know I never posted my write up when I visited the set, but you can find all the details and some photos here. It's been so long since we went to the set, but I can still recall it with absolute clarity and fondness. I'll post some pics here of our trip to Canada and some shots I took today with my new camera if anyone is interested. Now that SGA has ended, I feel quite lost and empty and sad... good job I can look back at shirtless Shep and smile, grateful to Mr M for finally relenting and giving all us fangirls a long lasting squee moment. Let's hope we get some more when the movie comes out!

If anything this post was quite cathartic. Hope you enjoy the pics.