Wednesday 29 January 2014

Oops I did it again!!!: Eureka!!!

Oops I did it again!!!: Eureka!!!: Well, well, well!!   I can't believe I have found my missing blog!  I have solved the mystery of where it went to.   I thought that th...

A NEW CHAPTER (written May last year on my other blog spot)

Nearly a year has gone by, and I haven't managed to write a blog.  Partly because I have not been disciplined enough, and partly because so much has happened in the past year.

Ok, let's catch up from May 18th last year.  Much has happened.

My last blog backfired badly, and perhaps that is another reason I have left it so long.  It was heart-felt and very personal.  Every word was true, and nothing terrible was said, just how I felt at the time.  Unfortunately a friend asked me to mail it to her and somehow it also went to random contacts on my mailing list, including ex-hubbie..... eeek!  Another MAJOR 'ooops I did it again'!!!  Not good, as it went down very badly, and all the apologies in the world weren't enough to make things right.  I can be so darned stupid sometimes!!

Lesson learnt the hard way, I won't do that again, I will be careful what I blog about from now on.

My arm..... news on that is not so good either.  I had the second operation at the end of May last year. It lasted 6 hours with more blood transfusions etc.  It all was going quite well and much of the titanium was removed, when suddenly SNAP another fracture further up my arm!!  Instead of beginning to mobilise the elbow joint, I had to keep it immobilised for another 6 weeks.  Worse still,  my 'ulna' nerve was damaged during surgery, and I lost much of the use of my hand too.

Anyway, nearly one year later, the nerves are beginning to mend.  Sensation is coming back and so too the movement and use of fingers.  My arm has improved too, and I have around 30 degrees of movement in the elbow joint.  I can now get my hand to mouth, and even hand to hear....wooohooo!!!


Eureka!!!

Well, well, well!!  

I can't believe I have found my missing blog!  I have solved the mystery of where it went to.   I thought that this particular blog had been lost in cyberspace, as I was unable to log in.  It turns out, I have two Gmail accounts, and this blog was under the first account I had forgotten about.  Oooops, I did it again!!!  The name of both blogs is so very apt.  Why am I so scatty?

So now it appears I have two blogs, because I started writing a new one which was logged into the second of my Gmail accounts....confused?  Yes, so am I!   If anyone wants to read the ONLY blog I ever managed to write on my new one (I know......the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak when it comes to blogging) the link is  JoseyjoMarsh.blogspot.com.  I haven't decided whether I should stick with this one now I have re-found it, or start using my other one.  Decisions, decisions!!   I think I will stay with this one for the moment.

Anyway, a brief update.

Arm........ still the same.  No improvement sadly, just semi functional with nerve damage to the hand which means the sense of touch and feeling is impaired.  I have said so many times before, it could have been SO much worse, so I feel lucky really.

Three of my kids are living in London, and my youngest is now on his GAP year of travel (actually it is 4/6 months of travel).

I am now very happily ensconced in my beautiful new flat.  So last year, once moved in and fully settled, I embarked on my own GAP year of travel.   Something I never did when I was young, and I wasn't able to do when married with 4 kids, and a home to look after.

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may as there is no time like the present.  Who knows what the future holds,  so grab the bull by the horns.......hey, hang on a minute......wasn't this one of the many 'NO-NO's' I learnt when on my writing course in France?  No cliches!!!  Ooops,  sorry to all my fellow writers,  it just can't be helped sometimes!

I travelled to many countries,  experienced new things, ate strange foods, saw amazing sites and have taken far too many photos.  Sometimes I travelled alone which actually I quite enjoy.  Solo travel gives you freedom to come and go as you please.  I  made many new friends along the way, and feel blessed to have met them.  I  also travelled with my  companion and close friend.  We always get on well and manage to have a laugh at the silliest of things together.  She fully understands my scattiness and my 'Jo-Jo' moments, and we both have a giggle about them.  Other trips have been staying with family and friends.   I feel I have been truly blessed, and I am so very thankful to all of them (you know who you are!!)

I have been touched emotionally by some of the sights I have seen and things experienced.  Below is a man praying by the sea in Zanzibar.  My friend was moved to tears at the sight.....it somehow touched her soul seeing this man so deep in worship.  It was a spiritual and profound moment.


I was touched by the sunset in Santorini.  It was so moving, I cried inexplicable tears of joy.  Something stirred deep within me.  I cannot put it into words, and I cannot explain why, I just did!  This photo cannot possibly do this experience and sight justice.  It was one of those beautiful moments, and one I will always treasure.


Another memorable moment was the incredible night sky in Zanzibar, and also in Morocco.  I have never seen so many stars so clearly, millions and millions of them.  I felt in awe of God's beautiful and wonderful creation, and the universe in which we live.  Once again, I couldn't help but cry tears of joy at the magnitude and beauty of this wonderful sight.

To tell you about all of my travels in one go would take far too long, and probably bore the pants off you.  Maybe it is something I could write about on my second/other blog some time.  Perhaps that one could be my 'Travel Blog'.   All I can say is that last year was one hell-uv-a-year.  I had an absolute blast.  Hey I am young(ish) free and single, why not?!  You only life once, and you are a long time dead! (sorry....more cliches!)

So, will it be repeated this year?  It looks like it will, God willing.  I already have several trips in the pipe-line, deposits paid and some flights booked.  There is just one little (and I mean LITTLE!!) thing that has changed this year that I now have to consider.  Not only do I have Meggie the moggie, but I am now the proud mistress of a teeny weeny 5 month old Chihuahua puppy who has turned my life upside down.  She is a little bundle of feistiness, fun and mischief.   Totally adorable and an absolute joy.


I will have to find someone who can come and cat/dog/flat sit whilst I am travelling.  That shouldn't be too be too hard......  any offers?!!

So another year of travel possibly beckons.

Over the years I have been through the maze, and been through the storm, but now that I am in mid-life,  the best is yet to come.  I am living my life like there is no tomorrow.  I have never lived like it before, and may not get the chance again.  Come on, let's be honest.......life is far too short and precious to waste, so live it to the max.  Laugh, live, love and dance.  Live in the moment, who knows what tomorrow brings.  The past is history, the future is unknown, but the present.....is a gift (sorry, more cliches, but it is true!!)



Wishing you all,  friends, family or people I haven't met, a very happy New Year.  May it bring joy, peace, good health and happiness to you all.



P.S.
My next blog will be about NOT being perfect......it has been in my mind for ages!