Saturday, 11 June 2011

Ups and downs.

You know, its hard to keep cheery when every other news story is depressing. Its also hard to keep happy when you have just done something so completely wonderful, then had to go back to the same, monotonous, day to day existence. Its even harder when you and your entire family have come down with flu and its raining!
Still, we all soldier on because there isn't much else we can do!

I have always believed that the day would come when everyone in the world got along. I know it sounds pathetic, but normally the world catches up with sci-fi programmes on TV. Therefore we should all be one big galactic empire by now shouldn't we? Going where no man has gone before etc. Living, working and supporting each other together, which is how a decent civilization behaves. But when you open a newspaper, it's full of headlines, which seem to show unless a person is earning more than enough to live and retire on, they are useless in this life. This really deserves a separate posting because there are so many examples of hate mongering which is dividing our Country into have and have nots, rich and poor, abled and disabled, the list is endless. Its so sad to see such a great country being belittled and derided by its own government. Perhaps the future is not so much 'Star Trek' as '28 Days' meets 'The Final Solution'!


We survived The Champions League. In fact it was something neither me, nor my daughter, will ever forget. I am no way near eloquent enough to write in detail how fantastic the whole weekend was, but if you have ever had your heart filled with pride, or looked at your child and seen the wonder etched on their face, or shed a tear of joy at the wonder of the moment, you will know how I felt.
We met so many helpful strangers along the way, who, without asking, would stop to help with the wheelchair. Either dragging it upstairs or helping us on/off trains/buses. But then it was London, and I know that city would never let me down. Dressed in Barcelona/Spain shirts we trooped along Wembley Way with policemen who smiled, supporters who sang and staff who were helpful and kind.
The game was a joy to behold. I have never seen such beautiful football played. The passing skills of Barcelona were truly magical, with Iniesta and Messi, (who surely should be at Arsenal), mesmerising. The Spanish supporters were the same as ever. Friendly, cheerful and forever smoking secretly! The Man U supporters were the same except they wouldn't smoke because they didn't dare break the law!
The stadium was clean, easy to access and had staff at the ready for anything to help out. The magic disabled toilet key was thrust at us on more than one occasion! I remember the 'old' Wembley, with the toilet queues that stretched for miles! This new stadium had clean, working toilets. A definite bonus if you want to see more of the game.
Then it was time to go home. The return journey was as easy as going. Thanks to yet another mass of strangers who didn't hesitate to help. I know they are not reading this but their friendliness made the trip into something extra special. Thank you all.
And so it was back to normal for a few days, until my husband began to feel unwell. He had been to the GP because his plethora of tablets needed changing. I have a sneaking suspicion that the germs followed him home from there.
The flu that followed spread like wildfire around the home. Leaving hubby bedridden along with one child, myself and other child fighting a losing battle. Its been nearly two weeks now and I am just feeling slightly better. My other three patients are slowly making it back to the land of the living! Perhaps a Zombie apocolypse is closer to the truth than we think!