Why do I campaign for tick awareness?

The more observant among you (yes you 4 followers of my blog:-)) will notice I don't blog very often. On the occasions I need to talk about something to the interweb thing, I either forget about it after a few minutes or even just maybe tweet and don't elaborate. This week is Tick Bite Prevention Week. I shall be tweeting about it. So I don't feel like I'm pissing in the wind totally, I'm adding this blog entry so that people can know why I'm doing it and maybe help spread the word. Well, that's what I'm hoping anyway.

In 2004 I went on holiday to the Lake District, just fitting in a week's holiday before starting a new job. We had a good time, even scaled Scafell Pike, and when we returned I started my new job upbeat and fit as a fiddle. One week into my new job I developed something called foot drop. While trying to get a diagnosis for this I also started to get all sorts of weird symptoms, including major hot flushes, awful upper and lower back pain, rib pain, stonking headaches, jaw pain, confusion (not very useful when trying to impress your new employer!) and other things too many to mention.

No cause was found and the symptoms waxed and waned. I continued with life as near normal as I possibly could, sometimes with great difficulty, though I don't think anyone realised. Then, in late 2006 I spotted something on the internet about the symptoms of Lyme Disease. Ping *lightbulb* moment. I had been bitten by something I didn't recognise during a walk from Keswick, flicked it, tugged at it, flicked again, squeezed, frantically flicked, finally got it off my leg, said 'yuk, dunno what that was, but I didn't recognise it' and then forgot about it. The length of time it was on my leg was unlikely to be longer than a couple of hours.

You can see where this is going then......

In 2007 (yes, 3 years after I became ill) I was treated with 2 years of pulsed antibiotics after being clinically diagnosed, but they didn't make a lot of difference. If I had been 'more ill', it's quite possible any improvements would be more obvious. I have health issues, but nothing major at the mo.

The charity that I help when I can is http://www.bada-uk.org The founding member and chair is Wendy Fox, who, coincidentally lived previously in the same area of Cheshire as I grew up. Wendy is the main reason I am motivated to continue to help the charity. Anyone who meets her would agree what a lovely woman she is (god I hope she doesn't read this:-)). She's gone through so much and compared to hers, my problems are tiny.

I don't want to go too far into Wendy's story, it is available online if you want to read it, she has a background in zoology and was left a paraplegic and visually impaired following brain and spinal-cord swelling caused by Borreliosis. You cannot fail to be touched by her full story. Previously she was a very private person but is now happy to tell her story so that other people can avoid the same situation. She campaigns tirelessly, sometimes at the expense of her own health, she also has a wicked sense of humour that tends to rub off onto people around her. I want to help her achieve what is, ridiculously, an extremely difficult thing to achieve - that everyone, including GPs, etc. understand the importance of tick awareness and to recognise symptoms of the disease. I had no idea how hard it would be. From people passing it off with 'yes I know all about it' to people who assume it's a US disease only, it is an uphill struggle.

Incidentally, at a recent show, I asked one of the 'I know all about it' people how they safely remove a tick, only to be told they smother it in vaseline, of course:-((

I'm extremely lucky that I am able to lead a relatively normal life. Many others are far worse off than myself and I know many people who have been diagnosed with CFS, ME, MS, Fibromyalgia, etc. who have subsequently found they have (or had), and should have been treated for, Lyme Disease.

Wendy has had brain operations, should not allow her heart to beat fast,etc. is also now in remission from leukemia, just another thing for her and her family to deal with. I don't actually know what her life expectancy is, I suspect she could actually already be on borrowed time., but I think she'll go on for a good while yet:-) However, she makes every minute count and uses them to help others, undaunted by any setbacks, relentlessly working on presentations, preparing for shows, advising people, giving speeches.

In terms of myself, I'm kind of fine at the moment, but I don't know what the long term prognosis is, but putting things into perspective, life's good. Concentrating for a long time is difficult, my memory isn't good, I tend to have to pace myself with physical activity nowadays. Oh and I really shouldn't eat so much sweet stuff...but I guess that's the same for everyone!

So, anyway, that's why I'm going to be a pain this week. I have downloaded the Tick Bite Prevention Week posters. If you happen to visit an outdoor shop in Ipswich this week, maybe ask them why they haven't got a poster up for Tick Bite Prevention Week. Or, if they have, thank them for it!

Incidentally, don't you DARE remove a tick with vaseline, go to http://www.tickbitepreventionweek.org and see how easy it is to remove with a proper tool. I have one in every rucksack and jacket so I'm never caught without one. The best (and easiest) is the O'Tom tick twister. Feel free to buy from the charity website Tick Remover They get few donations so every little helps.

So, you've got to the bottom of this blog entry. Well done. I'm exhausted from writing it, you're probably just bored from reading it!

World Cup Final 2010 - I was there - the Report! (very very long)

OK, so I've blogged about the book I took with me, but I also took my partner, of course. Someone told him how lucky he was that his missus had won him a trip, when in fact I watch more football than he does! Anyway, on to the trip itself. It was won from an entry form in the Sony Centre in Haverfordwest, the word 'Win' having been spotted from across the road. So, on that rainy day during our Welsh holiday, the Sony Centre, with its heating on and its luvly display of tellies and all manner of goodies provided a bit of shelter from the March weather. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd actually win. A trip to the World Cup final in South Africa - gobsmacked.

From the start the Sony people (and their marketing company) have been great. I should have realised how good it would be when, while browsing for parkatmyhouse places near Gatwick, I got an email telling me what time the driver would pick us up to take us to the airport. At that stage I wanted to know every single detail about the trip but it was obviously all still being sorted, so I was on pins for a few weeks!

I shall start with the bad points to get them out of the way. They were bad points for me, specifically, but I'd like to get the moan over and done with. If it makes me appear ungrateful, then I'm sorry, but I still have to say. First of all, the entry form terms & conditions and the letter informing me of the win said 5 nights full board, but it turned out to be 3. I had mentioned when I filled the form in that if it had been any less time in South Africa, I probably wouldn't have entered due to the length of the flight. I've only ever done one long flight before, to Vegas, but that was during the day and was less hours than the SA flight. This was a night flight, so you expect to sleep. I didn't, couldn't. Once I'd stopped reading (see previous blog post, book worth buying!), I shifted to lots of different positions, including sitting on the floor with my head on the seat. Nothing worked, nothing at all. My leg, which is still a slight problem due to nerve damage from Lyme, just wanted to be straight and there really wasn't anywhere it could go. So, bad point number 1 was that I had hoped the flight would be comfortable, especially after looking at pics of the airline company's planes, with their mega comfy seats and stuff. Sadly not. We all had 2 seats each, admittedly, but that didn't actually help as much as it probably sounds like it should have!

Secondly, Jo'burg is a bit high up. It dawned on us by day 2 that the horrible blocked nose/sinus and nosebleeds were due to the high altitude. Hadn't considered that, in fact I've found out more about Johannesburg since I got back! No-one else in the group seemed to have a problem with it, not really sure why. Not really a moan, just an observation that this was probably why we both felt a bit under par.

Thirdly, we were, at very short notice on the final night, taken out for dinner to a different place other than the hotel we were staying. It was a grand place, very impressive, but we'd been out all day at a safari, had started to pack when we got back and I was still in the same clothes. It didn't matter too much, I didn't smell:-) When I realised we were actually leaving the building, I ran back up to get my jacket. The restaurant was absolutely bloody freezing, so I ended up sitting in my jacket for most of the meal. Everyone was commenting on it, shivering through the meal , but then by the time we all got back and were asked how it went they 'couldn't fault it' and 'everything was perfect'. Am I impolite to point out small failings even though I'm not paying for them myself? That's just my way, I suppose, if there's something I'm not totally happy with then I'm not going to blatantly lie, I'd rather say nothing. I didn't say anything at the time, because by now people were thinking of us as ungrateful sods, I'm sure.

OK, moans over....

On each set of plane seats was a little pack with Sony on them, containing a small pillow, blanket and inflatable neck cushion, all with the Sony logo. Nice touch. We thought that was it, then they came round with another bag, packed with ... wait for it - noise-cancelling headphones, a PSP, several films and games, some CDs (incl AC/DC - result), a lovely pack of sprays, etc. all designed to make you more comfortable (there wasn't one called 'knock her on the head to send her to sleep', I'm afraid). We were stunned, what a fantastic package! And it was each, not just between us.

Oh, I forgot another moan, sorry, they served cold tea and lukewarm coffee on the plane. Anyway, never mind, I just drank more Coke during the break than I ever have.

On arrival at the airport we were met by people holding up Sony plaques. It was a bit chaotic because a lot of people arrived at the same time and we were actually in a separate group to other Sony people. Eventually we were escorted across to the hotel (200 yds at the most), ushered into a room with a welcome drink available, checked in and went off to our room. Oh, and another gift, a beautifully presented ostrich leather (?) writing pad holder thingy.

I'm not sure what the star rating is for the hotel but it was very luxurious, massive bed, kettle (I had checked beforehand that there was one, otherwise I would have taken my own. I always, without fail, take tea bags wherever I go), coffee maker, lovely tiled bathroom/wetroom. Really really nice. Although it felt like it was the end of the day because I hadn't slept, we then went for breakfast, which was excellent. The staff were very helpful and friendly and we were very well looked after.

I won't go into what we ate or anything, but the food was mostly very good. and the service couldn't be faulted.

We had 2 hosts for the duration, Steve and Mike, who were also 'working' so we didn't see them a lot, but they were at the other end of a phone if we had needed them and they were really nice. The people in our group (of 5 couples) saw a bit more of them because they spent more time in the bar at night:-) They don't have bitter or stout in South Africa, it seems, and I don't like spirits or wine, so, again, more Coke for me.

We slept for a big part of the first day so we'd be ok for match day, which duly arrived the following morning. We were intending getting the train into Sandton (an up-market Lakeside) but they took some time getting and sorting the match tickets so we weren't really able to. No matter, we don't like shopping anyway. The time came to be taken to the match and we got on to the coach to the sound of a few vuvuzelas and various people dressed in silly orange or red costumes for their teams. I had a dilemma, who should I root for? Some people were choosing the country they'd chosen in the sweepstakes at work, but I'd had Brazil. I had to plump for Holland, being our closest neighbours and the fact I like visiting their country.

On arrival at the stadium, with the momentous feeling that we were actually going to watch a world cup final dawning on us, we were escorted to the Sony hospitality suite. I haven't got enough superlatives to describe it, it's the sort of thing you'd expect to be laid on for the Royal Family or something! Sinking into a massive white leather settee with a large plateful of scrumptious cakes, I thought 'it really can't get any better than this'.

On the way out to get into the stadium itself we were told to collect our Sony goody bags! What? More? We'll need to buy another case to take it all home!? This contained a special edition programme which I wouldn't part with for the world (and I actually managed to blag a couple more for my sons) Also a colourful fleece blanket, seat pad and hand warmer pack. Most of it being limited edition WC 2010 stuff, yet I noticed some people left theirs behind when they left the stadium! Presumably they're on ebay by now.

I struggle to describe the feeling I got when we took our seats in the stadium. It was that sort of 'pinch me' feeling more than any other previous 'pinch me' moment in my life. The ceremony was better than I expected and the match didn't appear quite as dull to us as it seems to have done to people watching on telly at home. OK, it took a long time for one of them to get a goal, and it was the wrong team who did, but they were yards away from us and the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic. As time went on, we were actually thinking that penalties would add a very exciting touch to the end, but it wasn't to be. Spain were deserving winners, Holland weren't attacking enough no matter how much we willed them to.

Oh, and now I've seen a man on the back of a car in a stadium and it was confirmed on the big screen - it was only Nelson flippin Mandela himself. Even with my glasses I couldn't actually make him out from all the people around him, plus his back was to us most of the time, so I took a photo of him on the screen!

After the match we went back to the hospitality suite to wait for the call to go to the coach. Still masses of food and drink available, so eating yet another cake at getting on for midnight just had to be done....

On the Monday we were taken to a Rhino and Lion safari park about an hour away. This one http://www.rhinolion.co.za/newsite/default.asp It's on this sort of trip that I wish my photography skills were a bit better, even with such subjects as we saw there, they still look like holiday snaps! Anyway, it was a lovely day, a bit cold but that didn't really matter.

The following day we did venture out to Sandton and we didn't buy anything, we never do! Throughout the whole trip we seemed to have our backs watched, which was a little strange, including being followed to the loo in the restarant!

The return trip home the following day was basically the reverse of the one out, except the coffee was a bit warmer! The taxi driver was there to meet us and we got home about 10am on Weds 14th. The comfy leather seats of the Merc were very welcoming! Knackered, indescribably knackered, but that's what you get from an experience of a lifetime.

As I was walking through town to get some lunch today I was looking at people, thinking 'don't you know I've been to the World Cup final?'

I've already forgotten the fact I was so tired that my eyes were streaming with tears and I swore to myself I would never ever ever go on a long flight again in my life.

Brazil next then, well I gotta try...... but I think Sony would probably put my name back in the hat after appearing ungrateful that we didn't get massage chairs to ourselves during the flights:-)

Thank you Sony, thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Tent, the Bucket & the 2010 World Cup Final

I did it, for the first time in 25 years I bought a book. At an airport, too, full price and all. Wandering around WHSmiths looking for something to occupy me for a 10 hour flight, I kept seeing 'Book of the Month' signs and a noticeably colourful section containing Emma Kennedy book about someone called Wilma Tenderfoot. Though sorely tempted, purely due to the fact I follow @EmmaK67 on twitter, I couldn't bring myself to buy it, it's a kid's book, and I'm not a kid. However, I kept getting strangely drawn to it, having witnessed Emma's tweets about writing. So, after walking round several times, picking up and then discarding puzzle books and not being interested enough in any of the 'celebrity' autobiogs, I spotted one of Emma's other books - The Tent, The Bucket and Me. Dawn French says it's laugh out loud funny, yeah right, I thought. Oh well, I'll give it a try. I used to be able to read, I'm sure I can do it again....

I do have several books, won in various competitions, or given to me by well-meaning relatives. Each one is in pristine, unread condition on a bookshelf at home, or wrapped up and put away in a box somewhere. It is a departure from the norm for me to actually leaf through a book, spoiling the newness, but as soon as I read the first page I knew this book was going to be 'spoilt' and would never look pristine again. I was taken there, to Emma's childhood, reliving those wooden toilet seat episodes. We never camped, Mum wouldn't, but we spent many hours in our old cars, sometimes parking up and sleeping overnight in a harbour car park or something, with me spread across the back seat while my parents struggled to sleep in non-reclining seats. Reading the book took me back to those days.

I have no idea why I decided to treat this book to such a journey. I took a photo of it on the plane. You can even see a hostess leg on this one. I ignored the in-flight films, couldn't even tell you what any of them were. No, I was going to give this book my full attention. I was actually going to read it. I knew I wasn't going to be comfortable enough to sleep, I can never sleep sitting up anyway. I continued to read until I was embarrassed into turning off my reading light because everyone else was in darkness. I wasn't aware that I did laugh out loud, but apparently I did. Sniggered, so I'm told.

So - we arrived at our destination, went to hotel room, slept. Next day I made sure I had space in my bag for the book and ...... took it to the World Cup Final with me. Yes, the Fifa 2010 World Cup Final, Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg. High altitude, nose bleeds, security guards everywhere I turned, vuvuzelas buzzing in my ears. Yes, really. I have the photographic evidence to prove it.

I am now writing in this blog in the hope that the lovely author will take pity on me, send me a brand new copy, sign it for me to thank me for taking the now dog-eared one on such a massive journey. Then I can have one to wrap in plastic and give pride of place on my bookshelf.

I may even buy the sequel next year. Watch this space, I will take it somewhere special.

Well I am devoting a lot of time to this, aren't I? Mixture of being too busy and apathy .... apasy, or buthy :-)

This is my blog

Why? Not sure!