Wednesday 10 December 2014
Food Banks and Football
I'm not a religious person. In fact I struggle to believe in God or any supreme being. So I read the Archbishop of Canterbury's recent article of food banks with interest (I hasten to add I read it on the BBC website and not in the Mail on Sunday!!!) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30366020
Sadly food banks are now an accepted part of our society, even here in Wigan, when 5 years ago they were unheard of. The people that access them aren't your stereotypical soup kitchen diners either. There are a lot of working people who simply don't have enough money to buy food once they've paid for rent, mortgages, fuel (gas, electricity, water and petrol). The story in the article highlighted the family that had to access the food bank because they needed 2 new tyres for the car so they could continue to get to work. This struck a particular chord with me.
I shelled out £130 on Tuesday for 2 new tyres for my car, 2 weeks before Christmas when your kids want the latest gadgets, clothes etc isn't a great time for that to happen. I'm lucky though that I'm not alternating food with Jen just to feed the kids. Don't get me wrong the kids wont be getting Xbox Ones each as neatly requested on their Christmas lists, but they'll do well and they're very lucky. Luckier than they'll ever appreciate.
This week my colleagues and I are trying to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest food hamper in the world. We are having Christmas jumper day and, in exchange for wearing your Christmas jumper to work, you need to bring in some food for the food hamper. The hamper will then be divided between the food banks in Leigh and Wigan in preparation for the busy time of Christmas.
The Wigan food bank is run by local charity The Brick http://thebrick.org.uk/ As well as provide support to Rough Sleepers they have a fantastic resource centre where the folk they are supporting get the opportunities to get some work experience and learn some key skills as part of their wider rehabilitation. The Resource Centre refurbishes furniture, bikes, computers and much more, and then sells them at discounted rates. The funds are then recycled into the project allowing growth.
Many rough sleepers are not there by choice. Many have made some poor life choices or had some bad luck and its the fabulous work of charities like The Brick that provide hope to some of societies most disengaged people.
I was delighted to see that the Latics fans considering boycotting the Boxing Day fixture at Elland Road due to ticket prices are encouraging fellow boycotees to donate their ticket money to The Brick http://thisnorthernsoul.co.uk/2014/12/an-open-letter/ I was equally appalled that Leeds Utd were even asking £41 for an adult ticket, at Christmas, or any other time of year for that matter. To ask that sort of money for a second tier English football fixture between 2 sides realistically looking at avoiding relegation and achieving mid-table mediocrity is nothing short of disgraceful. Particularly given what I have discussed earlier in this piece.
Latics have had some bad press recently and Latics fans are often much maligned. However the lads I know are really decent and this shows that they care and understand where football fits in to wider society and, unlike some of their bigger neighbours, it isn't the be all and end all. The people that will be supported as a result of their kind donations might well have been Latics fans had their journeys not headed off down different paths.
Lets hope Christmas 2014 is the turning point for everyone. Lets hope the Brick goes from strength to strength in their support and rehabilitation of rough sleepers in Wigan. Lets hope our food banks go out of business because they are not needed any longer. Lets hope Latics smash 5 past Leeds and go on a run that sees them make the play offs and win promotion via another trip to Wembley.
Most of all I hope you have a very happy holiday.
Much love xx
Saturday 15 February 2014
Frank Turner & The Lesions of Doom......
Been an eventful week...
Sunday saw a very rare family outing to watch Frank Turner at the Manchetser Arena. It was Alex & Callums first ever gig and they participated with full gusto, singing every word, jumping and clapping at every opportunity. Despite Franks back problems it was a tremendous gig and would rank in the top 5 of my all time favourites. I hope to see him again in the future although that may well depend on my health more than his.
On Friday, Valentines Day, it was my monthly visit to Manchester Royal Infirmary. Not the most romantic of days for Jen, but my favourite day of the month as it's the only time Jen and I get together. We don't get to go out at night and there always seems to be someone shouting "Mum!" or "Dad!" fights to referee, or, tears to wipe.
Friday was important as we received the results of the recent skeletal survey I had. As feared the recent X-rays show a couple of lesions on my skull, evidence that the Myeloma is attacking the bone from the outside. Together with my high para-protein levels and high light chain readings point to disease progression although we have agreed to hold off with chemotherapy until further progression. The first batch of chemo is the most successful and so we want it to be at a time it will be most effective.
It's been a tough week for us both and we half expected the news we got. It's been stressful to say the least, made more difficult by Jens illness, but friends who have sent good luck messages and that have been genuinely rooting for us have made it more bearable. We are really grateful. It's a shame that we don't get more support from closer to home, but that's the beauty of families I suppose!!!
We continue to be positive and whilst these lesions are a black cloud we are focusing on the silver lining that treatment can be delayed for the time being.
In the meantime download some Frank Turner - hopefully you will be as uplifted as we were last Sunday. In one of his songs, I knew Prufock before he got famous, there is a line that sums up where we are at the moment.
"They help us with remembering that the only thing that's left to do is live"
Sunday saw a very rare family outing to watch Frank Turner at the Manchetser Arena. It was Alex & Callums first ever gig and they participated with full gusto, singing every word, jumping and clapping at every opportunity. Despite Franks back problems it was a tremendous gig and would rank in the top 5 of my all time favourites. I hope to see him again in the future although that may well depend on my health more than his.
On Friday, Valentines Day, it was my monthly visit to Manchester Royal Infirmary. Not the most romantic of days for Jen, but my favourite day of the month as it's the only time Jen and I get together. We don't get to go out at night and there always seems to be someone shouting "Mum!" or "Dad!" fights to referee, or, tears to wipe.
Friday was important as we received the results of the recent skeletal survey I had. As feared the recent X-rays show a couple of lesions on my skull, evidence that the Myeloma is attacking the bone from the outside. Together with my high para-protein levels and high light chain readings point to disease progression although we have agreed to hold off with chemotherapy until further progression. The first batch of chemo is the most successful and so we want it to be at a time it will be most effective.
It's been a tough week for us both and we half expected the news we got. It's been stressful to say the least, made more difficult by Jens illness, but friends who have sent good luck messages and that have been genuinely rooting for us have made it more bearable. We are really grateful. It's a shame that we don't get more support from closer to home, but that's the beauty of families I suppose!!!
We continue to be positive and whilst these lesions are a black cloud we are focusing on the silver lining that treatment can be delayed for the time being.
In the meantime download some Frank Turner - hopefully you will be as uplifted as we were last Sunday. In one of his songs, I knew Prufock before he got famous, there is a line that sums up where we are at the moment.
"They help us with remembering that the only thing that's left to do is live"
Friday 7 February 2014
Reality bites
My colleague, boss and friend Vicky Bannister published a blog last year called "When carers go bad" it's brilliant and you can read it here http://vickyandclem.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/when-carers-go-bad.html
I've recently encountered the same sort of thing. My Myeloma appears to be pointing towards the start of chemotherapy. My light chains are up significantly, I've got increased bone pain and my para-protein levels remain high. On top of that I have had repeat infections but more recently a chest infection that has knocked me for six.
So what do you do when you are battling all of this and your main carer, your rock, the person who maintains the equilibrium, the person who makes the house run, the person who also looks after her 82 year old mum falls ill. Well it all falls apart.
Jen has been really poorly. I don't remember her being quite so ill - even after emergency c-section which involved blood transfusions. The same chest infection has knocked her for 6, I would even say it was 7!!
So this week I've tried to, had to, do more to help. I've done a bit of cooking - was quite proud of my fish pie with potato and leek mash. Done some washing - didn't manage to run the colours, as well as do packed lunches, school runs and bits and bobs of shopping - we don't half go through milk - on top of not being A1 myself a having a trip to Manchester Royal for a scan.
It's made me realise how much Jen does and how she never stops, how running the house, looking after her mum, and me, and the kids, as well as working full time - eventually the tank becomes empty. It's also made me realise what good friends we have, friends who took time off work to pick Al & Cal up from school when I was in hospital and Jen unfit to drive.
It does make me worry about the future and how we will cope if Chemotherapy comes. But that's a worry for another day. The main thing now is to get Jen fit again. And I must help more to relieve the burden on her.
Next clinic is Friday 14/2 - Valentines Day. Update to follow.
I've recently encountered the same sort of thing. My Myeloma appears to be pointing towards the start of chemotherapy. My light chains are up significantly, I've got increased bone pain and my para-protein levels remain high. On top of that I have had repeat infections but more recently a chest infection that has knocked me for six.
So what do you do when you are battling all of this and your main carer, your rock, the person who maintains the equilibrium, the person who makes the house run, the person who also looks after her 82 year old mum falls ill. Well it all falls apart.
Jen has been really poorly. I don't remember her being quite so ill - even after emergency c-section which involved blood transfusions. The same chest infection has knocked her for 6, I would even say it was 7!!
So this week I've tried to, had to, do more to help. I've done a bit of cooking - was quite proud of my fish pie with potato and leek mash. Done some washing - didn't manage to run the colours, as well as do packed lunches, school runs and bits and bobs of shopping - we don't half go through milk - on top of not being A1 myself a having a trip to Manchester Royal for a scan.
It's made me realise how much Jen does and how she never stops, how running the house, looking after her mum, and me, and the kids, as well as working full time - eventually the tank becomes empty. It's also made me realise what good friends we have, friends who took time off work to pick Al & Cal up from school when I was in hospital and Jen unfit to drive.
It does make me worry about the future and how we will cope if Chemotherapy comes. But that's a worry for another day. The main thing now is to get Jen fit again. And I must help more to relieve the burden on her.
Next clinic is Friday 14/2 - Valentines Day. Update to follow.
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