I did it...

Well as the title suggests, I did it! I went to London all on my own!

I haven't updated the blog in a while... I bet you all thought I got lost in the Big smoke didn't you!

I traveled down there early on the Saturday, catching the 7.20am train from Warrington Bank Quay and arriving at London Euston at 9.10am! ( I usually would still be in bed at this time in on a Saturday morning!) I got myself a taxi from Euston to the hotel as I wasn't confident yet in the thought of traveling on the underground (maybe next time).

I was one of the first to arrive, the conference suite we used was great, Starbucks coffee and tea on tap! It was so fab to finally meet up with the most of the advocates from Live Life Then Give Life (we missed you Jess and Jac) they are all totally great, brave and inspirational people! Emily was there and two of the trustees, Mandy and Pops, me and pops got on great and hit it off straight away (put it this way, at any future events, Emily will probably not sit us next to each other as we giggled too much!)

We brain stormed ideas, role played scenarios, did quiz's, team building and (my favourite bit) sharing our personal stories... the challange was to tell our whole stories in 3 minutes, this was a challange! Everyone's stories are so interesting, unique and moving... there wasn't a dry eye in the house once everyone had finished!

That evening we went out for a meal at an Italian resteraunt, Strada. We got to relax and chat about the usual things such as shopping, jobs and of course THE napkin boobs! (see the picture below) This is a skill I won't forget in a hurry (thanks Lisa) the waiter was great and really got into the spirit of things!



And a more sensible photo....


Later that night me and pops made a deal that she would call into my room at 1.30am so we could watch the x-factor and then go back to sleep - We had a right laugh and eventully pops left me to get to sleep about 3.15am!

The following day Sarah Milne from the Gifts of Life photo project came along to take some pictures of the advocates, here is an example (see below). We worked hard at the weekend but this was balanced out with plenty of fun and laughter! I came away with some new ideas and inspiration for my role as an advocate but most importantly I came away with some fab new friends!


Other things that have happened this week, I went to the cinema to watch the Ugly truth! It was a really funny film and I love the acter Gerarrd Butler who played the main character! He wasn't particularly good in the film PS I love you, but certainly redeemed himself with this film!

Yesterday I did my final piece of uni work (I deferred it because I was still recovering from transaplant) it was a presentation, I had to do an A1 poster on leadership in Early Years settings and a paper to go along with it (1,600 words) to summarise the main points of the presentation! I think it went really well, I tried not to read to much from my notes. I was a bit nervous, as my previous presentation such as campaign ones or LLTGL ones are about me, I can't really go wrong, so this was different I actually had to learn and understand what I was saying, which I did in the end after a few practices before hand!

So thats it, I have finished uni... no for the results, well I know most of them.. the results for this one will mean I will finally have my degree classification and can graduate with my friends in November at Chester cathedral!

Today I spent the day with my folks, Abigail and some friends (and their kids) It was great, we went to a local park, Walton Gardens, had a picnic and generally just chatted whilst the kids amused themselves!
The ladies are going to America (New York) next year and have invited me (and I think my Mum) along with them! Arghhhh! I sooo want to go, for those of you that know me, you will know I want to go on a shopping spree in New York and I would love to Ice-Skate in Central Park! I am hoping to go (will have to save up some pennies) but I also have a wedding to go to next year, at around the same time (Easter) and that is in Ireland, so who knows! But watch this space!

Healthwise forgot to mention my Tacrolimus Levels having been playing up again, I went to clinic on Monday and they didn't seem to concerned but had to go for bloods on Tuesday and I am going again tomorrow, I then have to ring on Monday to see if they need to reduce my Tacrolimus any further (It got reduced last week from 2.5mg twice a day to 2mg twice a day) then if it does I will have to go for 2 more blood tests next week!

Finally (this really is a long blog, I really should start doing lots of short updates instead of massive ones!) Abigail is staying over on Saturday night! It will be her first time sleeping here, My Dad, bro, his wife and her family are off to see the mighty Warrington Wolves compete in the challange cup final at Wembley! So me and Mum are having a fun packed weekend with the littlun! Can't believe she will be 1 a week on Saturday where has that year gone! She can now say a version of Holly and the word of the week is toaster! So cute!

Of course none of the above, or anything I do day to day would be possible with out me receiving my transplant (I celebrated 10 months post transplant this week) I think of my donor often and hope they would be proud of what I am doing with my new lease of life.
I hope and pray people (like Jess) waiting on the transplant list receive their gifts of life soon, so they too can have a second chance at life!