Isn't it about time she was back at work !

Just about three weeks ago a friend of mine who had been feeling unwell for sometime had a massive heart attack.  She was clinically dead for two minutes, if it wasn't for the fact her mum happened to pop round to her home that morning and the professional work of the ambulance crew she would not be here today. 

This friend is a young 38 year old mum of two small children.  Heart attacks are rare in this group of people.

Prior to the heart attack she knew she wasn't too well, she visited the doctor on several occasions to be told it was probably gas or heartburn.  Nothing to worry about.  She was sent away with nothing more than a condescending pat on the back and a few "don't be such a hypochondriac " type comments.

She has since told me that she feels terrible guilt over these visits, that she should have "known" she was ill, she should have insisted she was taken seriously.  But how could she ?  Would you query the "advice" of a GP ?

Just because heart attacks are rare in young women doesn't mean they don't happen.

She had emergency key hole surgery through a tiny hole in her thigh, a stent was fitted and she was discharged within a week with a huge haul of drugs. 

In shock, at home she tells me that its hard to believe it actually happened.  Showing me the bruises, needle and plaster marks almost as if by showing me I too will believe that this beautiful, vibrant young woman had indeed had a heart attack.

Now here is the real issue.  I visited her today and she looks so much worse than when I saw her last week.  She is really suffering emotionally. People are expecting her to be "back to normal" to be "coping"  People are even hinting that she should be back at work ! 

I am horrified by this, she is suffering so much.  Has so much fear that it might happen again, that she might die in her sleep and I can't help her.  I really feel that if she had a huge scar down her chest where they had cut her open to repair her heart she would have been given the time she needed to recover not only from the surgery but also the time to rest to recover her emotional scars.

I really, really want to help this lovely lady so please, please if you have any experience of heart attacks in young mothers or any advice at all to give from a personal experience I really feel it would help her to recover.

Give Up Clothes for Good

When I saw on the Tots100 that they were supporting Cancer Research UK and T K Maxx with the Give up clothes for good campaign I immediately knew which items of clothing I was going to donate.

The Give up Clothes for good is in its fifth year and is the UK's biggest charity collection raises much needed money for research into beating children's cancer.  They are hoping to raise £12.5 million by the end of 2012 . 

All you have to do is donate a quality item of clothing you no longer wear.  We all have clothes in our wardrobes we love but know we will never wear again either because no matter how much we kid ourselves, we are just never going to slim down to a size eight EVER again or because are we REALLY going to wear those rainbow harem pants again ?

Last year I was really, really lucky to get into the final of the MAD's  and part of the experience was an amazing day out at John Lewis where I was treated to a wonderful outfit to wear to the ceremony.  Here I am in all my glory on the red carpet at the MAD's.  I love this outfit and felt a million dollars on the night. 

Time for it to move on to help a really worthy cause.

Please, please take part too.  Just find a piece of clothing, write a quick post (only take you a few minutes) and link it up to the Tots100 Carnival.

Take the item of clothing along to your local TK Maxx during April.  The clothes are then sorted, tagged and sold throughout Cancer Research UK Stores to raise the money.  EVERY penny raised will go towards the fight against cancer in children.

A really useful gift

I received an offer recently that couldn't have come at a better time.  Trutex contacted me offering me uniform for the twins.  My boys are world champions when it comes to wearing out the knees in their school uniform trousers.  I swear they move around school on their knees not their feet.

The lovely people at Trutex sent us a pair of trousers and a polo shirt each for the boys. 

Jarvis was just not getting in the zone for this particular photo shoot !  Nothing says "I don't want my photo taken" than round shoulders.

Many thanks to Trutex for the uniform, the quality is so much better than the cheap supermarket uniform we have been buying.  I'll let you know if it stands up to the knee test.

*We were sent the uniform to review and keep, we were not paid for this post and the content is mine.

30 years ago today...

I remember exactly what I was doing.  Do you ?

I know, because I was lying in a Military hospital bed in Northern Ireland in a bed next to a beautiful 21 yr old girl who had been shot in the back and legs six times . 

We were told that Argentina had invaded the Falkland Islands.

Like many people at the time we were a bit confused.  The Falklands ? isn't that above Scotland somewhere ? why would the Argentinians invade there ?  We soon found out where it actually was. 

I don't want to get into the politics or history of the situation, all I know is the people side of why.

As a serving soldier I was involved in the Northern Ireland and the Falklands conflict. I served with the Intelligence corps in Northern Ireland and came into contact with the "ordinary" people.  In the Falklands I spent R & R with a family, I spent time in Port Stanley, I listened to their views, their hopes and dreams.

 For me at that time it was simple.  We were there to defend people who were British, who thought of themselves as British, who spoke English, who wanted to be part of Britain.  That simple, whatever your views or politics it really was that simple.

2nd Independents Day - Supporting Independent Businesses

BE AN INDIVIDUAL, SHOP INDEPENDENT

Today is the 29th of the Month so it must be #IndependentsDay.   We had a great response last month to our first ever Independents Day (it's deliberately spelt that way just in case you think I am spelling it wrong ) *smiles* .

 I really hope we can grow this to show support to all the hard working people out there who have been brave enough to go it alone and set up their own businesses. I truly believe Independent businesses will be a major factor in putting the GREAT back into this country.  But we have to get out there and promote ourselves.  It's no good just setting up a website, bricks and mortar shop/business, on line business and just sitting back expecting the customers to turn up.  I know from experience it doesn't work like that.  You have to work at it and by using Social Media (which is mostly FREE) you CAN make a massive difference to your business. 

Here's how it works :

If you have a blog, please write a short post mentioning and linking to three or so independent businesses that you follow, buy from or just plain admire. You can of course link to your own business if you want to. Its all about building up the links to help people find our businesses.

Leave a comment below with a link to your blog so we can all pop over and take a look. It would be really great if you would link back to this post and if you want grab the badge code.

and/or

Tweet about the independent businesses you are supporting and mentioning the hashtag #IndependentsDay

and/or

Link or share this or your own post on your Facebook page and encourage others to share

You don't have to be an independent business to get involved or have a blog. Comments, tweets and Facebook mentions will all help enormously.

Below are this months featured independent businesses.

  I will be featuring more each month so if you want to get involved please leave a comment below so I can find you.

http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/   Creating fingerprint Jewellery, hand, foot and pet castings and impressions.

http://minimagpie.com/   The coolest upcycled clothes you are likely to find anywhere

http://www.coombemill.com/   Family Farm Holidays in Cornwall

http://www.charliemoos.co.uk/   Award winning Party Bags

http://musicbus.com/about-us/   Pre-school music for babies and toddlers. Making music fun

http://www.attachatag.co.uk/   Clothes labelling made easy

http://byjada.com/collections    Fine Jewellery

Please leave your comments and Link up your blogs and businesses below