Cornwall Travelog - I know I have mentioned the Lizard before but I went to Lizard 'Point' again yesterday.
It was a beautiful cold February afternoon. The sun bounced off the sea and beautiful white waves crashed against the rocks.
The cafe was open for half term and the view as we ate our cream teas was fantastic.
Go there!
Monday, 11 February 2008
'Too much, too young'
Spring 1996 - whilst we were all sitting around her bed I noticed that Elaine's elderly father looked very thin and pale.
When I went outside for some fresh air Paul told me that her dad had just been diagnosed with cancer. It was very far gone, there was little the doctors could do.
Her dad did not want anyone to tell Elaine about his illness. He didn't want to upset her.
So she never knew.
When I went outside for some fresh air Paul told me that her dad had just been diagnosed with cancer. It was very far gone, there was little the doctors could do.
Her dad did not want anyone to tell Elaine about his illness. He didn't want to upset her.
So she never knew.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Blog Digression
Cornwall Travelog - Goonhilly is a very interesting place. It is a satellite station with huge dishes named after participants in the Camelot legend like Arthur and Lancelot and Guinevere.
It is open to the public and the tours are well worth a try. I have heard that BT are closing the place and moving their operations elsewhere.
So go while you can.
It is open to the public and the tours are well worth a try. I have heard that BT are closing the place and moving their operations elsewhere.
So go while you can.
'Too much, too young'
Spring 1996 - the hospice was very different from the concrete edifice of the hospital in Hammersmith.
Set in the grounds of a hospital in Hertfordshire it was all on one level, with small wards and pretty landscaping outside. It was a reassuring place rather than a frightening one.
The day I went to see Elaine she was surrounded by her family - her mum, her dad, her sister, Paul. She was lying in bed and she looked a lot slimmer and so much better than she had done in the hosptial. The steroids had now left her system and she looked like her old self.
I recall someone telling me that Elaine's children had been to see her, although I'm not sure if they both came.
I hope they did.
Set in the grounds of a hospital in Hertfordshire it was all on one level, with small wards and pretty landscaping outside. It was a reassuring place rather than a frightening one.
The day I went to see Elaine she was surrounded by her family - her mum, her dad, her sister, Paul. She was lying in bed and she looked a lot slimmer and so much better than she had done in the hosptial. The steroids had now left her system and she looked like her old self.
I recall someone telling me that Elaine's children had been to see her, although I'm not sure if they both came.
I hope they did.
Monday, 4 February 2008
Blog Digression
Cornwall Travel0g - at Roskilly's they make and sell a delicious marmalade called 'three fruits'. They also make a date and orange chutney which goes well with many cheeses especially 'cornish yarg'
I remember reading somewhere that the person who invented 'yarg' named it by using the letters from his own name. His name is 'Gary'.
I wonder if that's true?
I remember reading somewhere that the person who invented 'yarg' named it by using the letters from his own name. His name is 'Gary'.
I wonder if that's true?
'Too much, too young'
1996 - a doctor came and sat by the bed. She told Elaine she could arrange for her to be transferred to a hospice near to her home in Hertfordshire. Did Elaine want to go?
Elaine became very clear and lucid. Yes, she did want to go. Please could the doctor arrange it as soon as possible.
So it hit me then, as it had never hit me before. My oldest friend was going to a hospice. All treatments had been tried, all hope was gone.
She was 34.
Elaine became very clear and lucid. Yes, she did want to go. Please could the doctor arrange it as soon as possible.
So it hit me then, as it had never hit me before. My oldest friend was going to a hospice. All treatments had been tried, all hope was gone.
She was 34.
Blog Digression
Cornwall Travelog - on the east side of the Lizard Peninsula is Roskilly's which is a working farm with a craft shop and a tea room/cafe and walks and self-catering.
It has a very interesting 'Croust House' which sells a big range of delicious ice-cream and fabulous jams, chutneys and marmalade.
The flavours of the ice cream change. My favourite is coconut. When that is available I am one very happy person.
Very happy indeed!
It has a very interesting 'Croust House' which sells a big range of delicious ice-cream and fabulous jams, chutneys and marmalade.
The flavours of the ice cream change. My favourite is coconut. When that is available I am one very happy person.
Very happy indeed!
'Too much, too young'
1996 - the hospital was difficult to find, the roundabouts and over-passes of Hammersmith confused me as I struggled to find my way from the tube. I remember the hospital being tall like an office block. I wonder if it was.
I arrived between visitors. Elaine looked dreadful. She was very disorientated but she knew it was me. She kept saying she wanted to write to her aunt. Her fingers were too swollen for her to use a pen.
I asked her what had happened. She didn't know, she kept saying her GP had done something or not done something. She was confused but every now and again she'd be very lucid. She pointed up to a 'get well' card which Paul's ex-wife had sent her. Elaine found it strange and rather marvellous that Paul's ex-wife had managed to forgive her for falling in love with her husband and stealing him away from her. But time had passed, she had forgiven her.
Unlike Elaine's husband. He never forgave Elaine for leaving him.
I arrived between visitors. Elaine looked dreadful. She was very disorientated but she knew it was me. She kept saying she wanted to write to her aunt. Her fingers were too swollen for her to use a pen.
I asked her what had happened. She didn't know, she kept saying her GP had done something or not done something. She was confused but every now and again she'd be very lucid. She pointed up to a 'get well' card which Paul's ex-wife had sent her. Elaine found it strange and rather marvellous that Paul's ex-wife had managed to forgive her for falling in love with her husband and stealing him away from her. But time had passed, she had forgiven her.
Unlike Elaine's husband. He never forgave Elaine for leaving him.
Blog Digression
Cornwall Travelog - a beautiful spot on the Lizard Peninsula is Kynance Cove.
It has a beautiful beach, although the walk down is a bit tricky. Make sure you know your tides before you go. You want it going out as only then can you really appreciate the beautiful rocky outcrops on the beach. When it comes back in the beach gets eaten away and the bathers have to go elsewhere.
The walk along the coastal cliff path from Kynance Cove to the Lizard is not too long and is very beautiful. Walk it.
It has a beautiful beach, although the walk down is a bit tricky. Make sure you know your tides before you go. You want it going out as only then can you really appreciate the beautiful rocky outcrops on the beach. When it comes back in the beach gets eaten away and the bathers have to go elsewhere.
The walk along the coastal cliff path from Kynance Cove to the Lizard is not too long and is very beautiful. Walk it.
'Too much, too young'
1996 - I got home from work and my boyfriend looked very worried.
He said Paul had rang earlier in the day to say that Elaine had taken a bad turn and had been admitted to a specialist cancer unit in a Hammersmith hospital. He left the details in case I wanted to go and see her.
I went the very next day.
He said Paul had rang earlier in the day to say that Elaine had taken a bad turn and had been admitted to a specialist cancer unit in a Hammersmith hospital. He left the details in case I wanted to go and see her.
I went the very next day.
Blog Digression
Cornwall Travelog - when I was young some years we would come to Cornwall for our fortnight's holiday. It always seemed to be sunny but it can't have been.
As part of our two week ritual one day we would drive down the Lizard, to the very end. For some reason I always seemed to get car sick.
Returning as a adult I realized why I got car sick. The road down to the tip of the Lizard is very windy and even as an adult sitting in the front seat the journey still makes me feel a bit green - no wonder I felt a lot worse as a small person sitting in the back sit.
But I haven't let it put me off. The Lizard is well worth a visit, it is a beautiful headland. The last time I went, on a clear autumn day, there were a couple of seals to be seen enjoying frolics on the rocks by the old lifeboat shelter.
Just a shame (although understandable as it was November!) that the cafe was closed.
As part of our two week ritual one day we would drive down the Lizard, to the very end. For some reason I always seemed to get car sick.
Returning as a adult I realized why I got car sick. The road down to the tip of the Lizard is very windy and even as an adult sitting in the front seat the journey still makes me feel a bit green - no wonder I felt a lot worse as a small person sitting in the back sit.
But I haven't let it put me off. The Lizard is well worth a visit, it is a beautiful headland. The last time I went, on a clear autumn day, there were a couple of seals to be seen enjoying frolics on the rocks by the old lifeboat shelter.
Just a shame (although understandable as it was November!) that the cafe was closed.
'Too much, too young'
1996 - Elaine rang and suggested we meet up. She thought her eldest son was interested in following a legal career and she wanted some advice from me about how he could get on to the road of being a solicitor.
I went up to see her on my day off. It was a lovely sunny afternoon. I was shocked by her appearance. She was very fat, her slimness temporarily taken away by a new concotion of steroids. She also told me she had put herself forward for some more experimental treatments in the hope they would do some good.
We had a long chat and I gave her some pointers about how Jack could pursue a legal career, like I had done. We said goodbye in the sunshine at the railway station.
I never saw her standing up again.
I went up to see her on my day off. It was a lovely sunny afternoon. I was shocked by her appearance. She was very fat, her slimness temporarily taken away by a new concotion of steroids. She also told me she had put herself forward for some more experimental treatments in the hope they would do some good.
We had a long chat and I gave her some pointers about how Jack could pursue a legal career, like I had done. We said goodbye in the sunshine at the railway station.
I never saw her standing up again.
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