Month: April 2010

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My Swift Factory Tour

We were there all day from 10.30-6pm Andy– the Operations Director was lovely and welcomed us in and the team gave us the introduction to the company wih one of their women — Hazel –sitting in.
We then did a tour which was so interesting and had lunch and then looked over 5 M/H and each made a list of what we saw as wrong.
The men were good and they made really good points Suedews husband John came up with a lot of very good technical points but us women gave them hell and Suedew who has a Swift was very good.
The main thing is the dangerous Micro wave where it is to high up and they could spill hot food over themselves.
The roll top cupboard in the kitchen is to deep.
The shape of the Kitchen work top sticks in the way so they will flatten it.
Light switches in the ceiling –where women cant reach –will now be wall controlled or from a control panel.
A staircase will come out of a cupboard to make getting into the bed over the garage safer.
So much but I do love the furnishings as they are very modern.
There was so much I liked.

They made our visit a magical time.

http://www.swiftleisure.co.uk/motorhomes

Swift Kontiki

 

Voyager

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My Diary and what I have been up to

We travelled up to the Peterborough Motorhome show and had a great time there with our friends but of coarse I have found a brilliant new (to me ) motorhome.

It was parked in the show area right by the side of our camping area and I have always wanted a  Autosleeper but this was a rare one a Anniversary Clubman. I walked round her and sat inside and I adored her.

I walked away from her that Thursday night but went back Friday and she was still there.

I bumped into a friends cousin and funny enough they were looking at her so I gave them until midday and they hadn’t bought her so that was it I said to Ray I really want her.

We got a good deal on ours and I’m the proud owner of a Clubman which we will pick up on Tuesday from Portsmouth.

my new clubman

my new kitchen

lots of cupboard space

We looked around the show in the day time and at night we saw the shows that are laid on all this was very entertaining and a great time was had by all.

On the Sunday we had to leave as we had been invited to the Swift Factory in East Yorkshire so as a few of my friends were invited I travelled up North and settled into a camp site for the night.

We decided to walk into the village with the dog and as we did so a young girl with 2 frisky Golden Retrievers was on the opposite side of the road when all of a sudden they bolted over the road dragging the girl as she just could not control them and they grabbed my dogs legs in their mouth and knocked Ray and myself to the floor. I have never known that breed to so aggressive and it was a shock.

There we were laying in the muddy road and trying to save our dog at the same time.

The girl just didn’t care less and manged to drag them off.

A man who had been passing on a bike helped us and made sure we were OK and lucky enough a car hadn’t come along or it all could have been a worse scene.

So covered in mud we went back to the camping site and cleaned ourselves up.

We had a great night in the sites lounge area and my friends and I talked the night away.

The next day was spent at the Factory looking at how they build motorhomes which was fascinating and then we sat down with the design team and gave our views of what was right and what was wrong with Swift Motorhomes from a woman’s point of view.

It was a very lovely day and I was on top of the world having enjoyed the fuss they made of me there.

The evening was spent once again in the camp lounge area and we had a laugh there until midnight.

The next day we ll went our separate ways except us and my friend’s Norman and Sandra,as they had invited us to stay on their drive and he invited the widow of Peter (I had spoken of his death last year on my blog) over to meet us so we stopped on the way for me to buy a bunch of flowers for her.

We all went out to a country pub and had a lovely meal and a long chat.

Back at the house we carried on over a coffee until it was time to turn in as we were shattered.

I loved sleeping on the drive it was really very weird and then we left this morning said our goodbyes and set off for home.

Coming past a RAF Station on the A1 a Tornado flew across the road and landed in the airfield –oh magic!!!!

I had a phone call from my youngest son this evening and he has paid me a great compliment by saying “Mum you are just great and really doing so well” now how cool is that.

I said it really is how you fight this nasty and I’m not going to give in lightly and I will still have all the things I want–I have a wish list but things keep happening that I have not wished for but are the most magical and the friends I have been with from Motorhome Facts Forum and Swift –Andy and Hazel and the team and Russel sent his love all this goes to making my life so wonderful.

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A message sent to me by email today

 

A Dog’s Purpose?   (From a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane , were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. 
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.

He said,’ People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” 
The Six-year-old continued,’ Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

It all makes perfect sense…………

 
Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

 

 

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My Diary off on my Holiday

Im off to Peterborough Motorhome show and then travelling up to East Yorkshire where I have been invited to sit with Swift and their designers to help design a Motohome from a woman’s point of view.

I was asked if i would like to do this while I was going through Chemo and it has helped me to focus on getting better and stronger to take the journey on.

The weather forecast is good so we will stay out and tour around and if my Dongle works I will keep my diary going.

Exciting and I have to be back though by the 10th May for my Hospital check up doesn’t time fly.

Talk to you all soon

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My Diary News Link

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hJkh1l-BqmjHfICRs0SWLntCUR_g

‘Minute of mayhem’ plan to honour McLaren

(UKPA) – 1 day ago

The family of late Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren are hoping the nation will help his spirit live on, with a “minute of mayhem” during his London funeral on ThursdayThe family of McLaren – best known as the manager of the Sex Pistols – are encouraging people to play loud music at midday to remember himIt will be shortly before his funeral cortege is led through the streets of Camden, including Camden High Street and Chalk Farm Road. 

McLaren’s son Joseph Corre – founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur – announced details of the “minute of mayhem” through his Human rights group Humanade.A message on the charity’s website said: “In celebration of Malcolm’s life we are asking people to observe a MINUTE OF MAYHEM at midday on 22nd April. 

“Put on your favourite records and let it RIP!”Fans are being encouraged to line the streets between 1.15pm and 2.15pm on Thursday. 

The family has asked for privacy in and around the cemetery – thought to be Highgate – on the day of the funeral.McLaren died from mesothelioma, a rare cancer which is most commonly associated with exposure to asbestos, in a Swiss clinic earlier this month.

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My Diary The ATL is starting a new campaign

http://www.atl.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/campaigns/asbestos-campaign.asp

Click on the link and watch the video as we are now talking about children in a classroom.

Asbestos

ATL is running a campaign to increase awareness of the danger of asbestos in education buildings.

It is estimated that more than 1.5 million workplace properties still contain some form of asbestos. Certainly, asbestos is present in many educational establishments, though staff are often unaware of its presence until repairs or renovations occur.

Exposure to and inhalation of asbestos can lead to serious and terminal related diseases. The British Lung Foundation reports that 2,000 people are diagnosed with the asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma, every year in the UK. The number of deaths from mesothelioma is expected to peak at 2,450 between 2011 and 2015.

As part of its health and safety training for reps ATL is showing parts of a DVD, Mesothelioma: the human face of an asbestos epidemic, to further raise awareness of the issue.

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My Diary –a walk in the woods

Weird day today as the sunrise was like the sunset last night.
The dust is falling to the ground in different areas

Some places at Margate have more than us here at Seasalter.

We went to Clowes Wood to walk the dog and to let him meet and play with dogs off leads.

http://www.theblean.co.uk/page.php?id=302&sid=23&nameid=press

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTfLMDIOU6g

Clowes Wood Near Canterbury

As we walked along I said I could taste dust on my lips and my breathing was a strain and hard to do. I got out of breath as you do when you go running than other people have said the same.

But! we had a good time as we walked with Louis and he met so many friends that he barked and played with–it reminded me of when he went up La Nucia’s mountain in Spain last year with my son’s dog every day.

He got back to the car worn out so when we got home and was talking to our lovely neighbours, who were making the most of the sun, he had a couple of barks at their dog but mainly laid down and waited.

He had a drink and fell asleep while I tidied another corner of the garden and threw some rubbish out–where does it all come from.

My neighbour cut his grass, which is always a great smell as I think it was the first cut for him.

I sat in the sun as it was so warm watching the bee’s and the Blackbird bathed in a bucket of water, which was a great sight, as he then sat on my fence to dry in the sun and then came very close to me, to eat some ants that had come out in the sunshine.

It became time to return in doors to watch a Catherine Cookson (the black velvet dress) my Sunday treat.

Cooked a roast dinner Pork Chop for Ray and Nut Loaf for me and that’s it have rested this evening watching another sunset.

I hope they get people moving in the sky again soon though as they must be feeling very strained.

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My Diary the cloud is getting nearer

The Volcanic cloud of dust is going to cover all of Britain tonight and the planes are still not flying.

We have neighbours stuck in Atlanta and their dog is stuck in the Kennels.

It must be disrupting so many peoples lives  though and the Airlines might never recover from the cost of all this.

It has been a beautiful day so the sunset should be one of the best we have had and the colours should be lovely.

waiting for the sunset

 

sun set tonight WOW!!

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My Diary —-busy decorating well Ray is.

Ray has been so busy decorating the Kitchen cupboards –it is so good that he keeps busy and in the meantime the home is looking so smart as he hasn’t stopped he also did the passage with his toy I bought Xmas.

The Paint Pod has finally come out of the box, although it has been difficult to get a good job done with it.

The paint is very thin and they don’t have many colours in it but at last he has finished the job and we are back to normal again.

Louis had to go and have his haircut today. We took him just round the corner to a lady who does it in her house and she had him for 2 hours.

He didn’t want to go in and we felt dreadful leaving the little man there he dug his claws in and the lady dragged him in saying “he will be OK when you have gone”,–That is hard to believe but we went off to Canterbury where I shopped for clothes for my holiday and we went back to pick him up.

He had been so good the lady said and handed him back to us, he looked so smart and so white so he can go there again.

Short haircut

When we got back home I had some lunch (cheese on toast) and then a sleep so as to be able to take the dog for a walk to the beach where the waves were lapping in.

I had gone on my own which wasn’t sensible as my muscles play up and gradually I loose my strength as if oxygen isn’t get to my limbs. I’m really noticing a difference in my body bit by bit and pains in my lungs which I can only describe as sore.

I’m told to expect this as the lung has been operated on and it will be the nerves trying to knit together but it is unpleasant especial when the pain shoots across the heart.

My friends on here with Meso will know what I’m talking about.

Well the  day has drawn to a close and I will take the dog for his last walk with Ray but I think that when I go on my own I will have to use my Trekking stick to keep my balance and stop putting the strain on my limbs. night night xx