Another Year, Another D.O.B I Have To Prove ...

Good evening guys ! So the anniversaries and birthdays went pretty quickly, I finally turned that ripe old age of 35 & enjoyed every moment of it.

I had lots of little celebrations here & there with different people, friends, family, in-laws etc & ate a lot!!

Breakfasts, Afternoon Teas, BBQ's & a full on, trimmings & all, Christmas Dinner. Yes you read correctly, it was the sweetest idea & the effort that my friends had gone to was unreal. 

We had the full turkey roast, sprouts, parsnips, pigs in blankets, the literal whole hog. Christmas music playing, Polar Express on the TV, Crackers on the table & the Christmas tree in the corner complete with gifts underneath. They had brought one of my favourite times of the year forward for me to enjoy around my birthday & I loved every minute. It was incredible.

On my actual birthday, Stefan & I went to visit Bristol Zoo. He made me do the Zooropia thing because I was 35 & I was told to combat my fear of heights, it didn't, but I did make it & I didn't need help getting down (Think it was more the fact I had a 7 year old on my ass, so I couldn't help but race around) I made it safely back down & swiftly took Stefan towards the face paints tent for his 'challenge'.

My Birthday Siamese Fighter, Eden <3

 It was a lovely day, finished off with a takeaway at home & my brother & sister in law dropping my beautiful home made (By my brother) croc cake in! I was very proud of this as he gets stuck boiling an egg!

I had my Birthday tattoo, which took a little more time to heal than usual because of the heat wave we are having I have been struggling with keeping hydrated & my kidneys have misbehaved, so they are as usual, keeping a close eye on me. 

Yondu - Guardians Of The Galaxy 2

Last week the Zoo held a staff / volunteer BBQ which  a couple of us went to & had a lovely evening just sat in the sun & getting to know each other a bit more. The big event for the Zoo went really well, with introducing the new Komodo Dragon to her amazing new enclosure & I was really proud to be apart of that, however small my role. I will be observing her behaviour this Thursday for a couple of hours so if you fancy coming to see her, make sure you book your tickets! 

I will also be walking in the Paignton Carnival procession this coming Wednesday for the Zoo giving out bits & pieces to the crowd, so if you are about I may see you ....

Jadis - Curly Hair Tarantula

I have been mega busy at home with my animals, having the most beautiful royal python babies hatch out & have been so surprised with the odds & the morphs I have had born. Really has been my best year since I ever took up the hobby. The baby scorpions are eating well & will soon be up for rehoming. I also may have added a spider or two to my collection today too - it's just so easy to do when there is so little work with their care & they are all stunningly beautiful.

So before I go, this Thursday, the 26th July. I will be celebrating 6 whole years with this amazing lungs. I don't have any plans, it's my volunteer day at the Zoo & then I would imagine it'll be a very quiet night in front of the box watching Love Island!

My Clam Shell Scar From Double Lung Transplant 26/07/2012

My lungs. What can I say. I can't fault them in anyway - especially the last two years, having had to go through all the stomach problems, the kidneys failing & the stoma blockages. They have got me through everything. I am in awe of how they have kept me going when the rest of my body just wanted to crash. I'm now 35, would never have been seen back in the 80's when I was born, and I have managed to keep them 'almost' infection and damage free.

The NHS recently turned 70, I didn't put up a post that date but I sure as hell thought of them. Every single one, from the surgeons that have saved my life, the Culm nurses squeezing my hands, the cleaners telling me I look a little better today, everyone that works for them, you do a tremendous job & you should be so proud. Words are never enough.

To my donor, six years down the line, I can remember each minute exactly, from the car journey to waiting on the bed and the trolley ride down, not knowing if I will ever see my husbands face again. You & your family made the most heartbreaking but completely selfless, rewarding decision ever that day & I just wish there was a way I could prove to you, I got you.

I'm doing all I can to make you proud of me, even on my bad days, I get out of bed & find something worth doing because I know you wouldn't want it wasted. When I come across rude, arrogant people I bite my tongue because it's just not worth the agro to get into something I know you wouldn't want me to. I will treat people always with respect & how I would want to be treated, it's not always reciprocated, but that's their problem not mine, and I just need to remember to rise above.

Thank you my hero, for these last six years, half a dozen I would never of survived if it weren't for you. I have lived, and will keep on doing so, until our time is no longer. Rest in peace, I am always thinking of you & the flame is always burning......... 

For You xxx

Thank you for reading, it never goes under appreciated. xxx