Always count your blessings...

[Ally]

I do anyway but I met someone today who just reinforced it.

We broke up at 3 today as it's the last day of term before Easter and as I work so close to the port, beach and cathedral I decided I'd have a wander round the cathedral gardens before coming home.

It was lovely and warm, (reading 24 degrees), really peaceful and just a pleasure to enjoy the scenery.

I passed a man pushing his wife in a wheelchair and we all said a polite hola to each other..as you do.

As I glanced at the woman it struck me how very thin and frail she looked and was wearing a head scarf.
Didn't think any more and went on my way.

But something made me look back and it was then I seen the man hesitating at a small set of steps.
I went back to them and asked if I could help..either by helping with the wheelchair or telling them that there was a ramp round the other side.

It transpired (as the man and I lifted the chair down the few steps) that the couple were German but had lived in Spain many years.

The woman then told me she's fighting cancer and had not long finished chemotherapy.
It was the first time in over 2 weeks that she'd been out in the sunshine.
But had been determined to come out today for some fresh air.

I wished them both well and we went on our way.

As I turned back to look at them the man was tenderly helping the woman with her cardigan. I felt like going to them and just giving them a huge hug.

I had a massive lump in my throat..it just makes you think, doesn't it?

[Kaz]

It certainly does ((((x))))

[tonicha]

It does indeed Ally and well done for helping them xx

[Weka]

It really does.

[Diflower]

Bb used to take me for drives through the Forest, often on the way home from chemo but also whenever he had time to spare, or he thought I'd like it. Or down to the sea, wherever there's a car park.
Some of the time all I could do was sit and look, other times we would go for a walk...I could only manage a few hundred yards, and that with a lot of effort and rests, but I remember every one of them

I honestly wouldn't want any one of you to have to walk in those particular shoes, and having already lived through Mum's illness really didn't need any lessons in counting blessings.
Maybe that's why I've not had any great ambitions, or bucket list, since cancer. All I've wanted is for our happy little life to continue for as long as possible

[tonicha]

Aw, huge hugs Di xxxxxx

[Kaz]

Absolutely - very well said ((((((Di)))))) xx

[KateLMead]

Such a loving gesture Ali, it is hard to watch partners and families struggling with love ones who are ill.
On my recovery I joined a jazz band,we had got together, we played at the Oncology unit in Cheltenham the waiting rooms for treatments were full to capacity people young and old looked worn anxious and depressed..The change in their faces was unbelievable when we started playing, feet and fingers tapping to our trad jazz, heads bobbing and feet dancing for most making their way for chemo and radiology, a fellow musician diagnosed with extensive cancers was beside herself on discovering she was smitten with this insidious (I will call it condition) she is now in remission .so keep going chin up and follow hobbies with zest.

[cruiser2]

Such a small gesture brings great blessings. Well done Ally.
At the check out at a supermarket recently, a man of our age had only one item in his hand. No basket or trolley. As we were next in line, we let him go in front of us. He kept saying thank you several times, even when he had paid and we were still putting things onto the belt.

[Kaz]

That was kind of you cruiser I often do that if I have a trolleyful and someone only has a couple of items - they are always amazed and very grateful x