Reflections

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Canada geese

ā€œThe Canada goose is a large goose, with a distinctive black head and neck and large white throat patch. An introduced species from North America, it has successfully spread to cover most of the UK. It forms noisy flocks and is often regarded as a nuisance in areas where large numbers occur on amenity grassland and parks.ā€

These two were safely on the lake at Millets Farm Centre but these geese definitely can be a nuisance when walking along the side of the river in Stratford-upon-Avon. Their scary things!

Springtime

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I thought I’d have a look and try to find out what kind of blossom tree this was, but there’s actually so many different types it was all just too confusing! It’s pretty anyway 🌸

And now my bluebells’ are on their way …

Underground

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What some lovely weather we’ve been having ā˜€ļø

Have definitely made the most of it this past week when I’ve had the chance and have been on some nice walks with a friend šŸš¶ā€ā™€ļøšŸš¶ā€ā™€ļø

The early evening walk around the grounds of Blenheim Palace was sunny but a little bit chilly.

The afternoon walk around Broadway Tower was lovely and warm.

After a lake in the grounds of Blenheim Palace was drained as part of a restoration project, 33 rooms and some secret tunnels were discovered inside an historic bridge, which had been revealed for the first time in 250 years.

And 15 feet below ground on the Broadway Tower estate there is a nuclear bunker which was built to ā€˜study and report the effects of nuclear explosions’.

Sometimes you just don’t think about what might be right under your feet do you?

December šŸ‘Ž

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Wednesday 1st to Thursday 30th December

Where have I been?!

It was that terrible month of December again šŸ˜ Chaos in the supermarket, endless Christmas present shopping trips, and not much motivation along with lots of tiredness from me 😓

I love this pic – my spooky early morning walk to work!

Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle & Gardens

Happy Christmas from me šŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸŽ

I loved my gift of handmade Christmas biscuits from my niece Hannah, just how cute are these šŸ˜

Pillboxes

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Tuesday 9th to Tuesday 30th November

Back from Weymouth and then not well for a while šŸ˜ Apparently some kind of viral infection (it wasn’t Covid!)

I was walking through Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury one Saturday and my eyes were immediately drawn to this which I spotted in an empty shop.

Of course I had to go and investigate as it fascinated me!

ā€œIt’s a collection of pillboxes that I have stored during my journey with Lupus SLE and various treatments, which currently involves no oral medication, only chemotherapy every 6 months! It’s often nice to reflect on what my journey has been like and without these pills/modern medicine, researchers and of course my NHS multi-disciplinary team, I definitely wouldn’t be here today.ā€

It was an exhibition called ā€˜Diagnosed & Contained’ by Beatrice Moreira-Watkins.

There were other pieces of her art on display too!

ā€œThe exhibition is centred around a multi-media response to my diagnosis of Lupus SLE with Secondary Fibromyalgia. I use art therapy as a form of holistic healing for the pain I experience through the auto-immune conditions I live with, but when you look at my artwork you don’t see pain. It becomes invisible just like my illnesses.ā€

I couldn’t resist. I just had to do it.

Just a tiny display using my own medications that I still had laying around, as some had already reached my recycle bin! šŸ™‚

I’m a green cup šŸ˜±

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Sunday 24th to Sunday 31st October

I’m a green cup ??? 😱 !

Anyway, I would like to go back here! šŸ˜‹

As a football fan, I was sorry to hear the news that Kieron Dyer reveals he needs liver transplant. From my volunteering duties I have spoken to and become friends with a few people who have PSC, similar in some ways to my own illness PBC. I really hope everything goes well for him šŸ¤ž

A good time for some more PBC TV I think šŸ™‚

PBC &… Symptoms

Goodness me, how interesting is this! 🧐

A little complicated at times, but fascinating – to me anyway!

Congratulations to Ward 7F at the John Radcliffe Hospital (where I volunteer when Covid allows šŸ˜) who were awarded a gold OxSCA (Oxford Scheme for Clinical Accreditation). OxSCA measures and celebrates the quality and improvement in the services our clinical areas provide.

Happy Halloween šŸŽƒ šŸ‘»