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    The most rewarding thing you can do in life, is rescue a pet!

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    I recently saw this heartwarming video online, it really did bring tears to my eyes. A beautiful dog rescued from almost certain death. The love shown in this beautiful animals eyes was testament to its owners dedication, throwing a lifeline to ensure this little dog had a second chance at life. Named Freddie, the hope is she will now have all the devotion and love she needs to try and live a full life. Rescuing an animal is a truly amazing thing to do and something my partner Darrell and I have done many times ourselves!
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    Our first rescue cat was Lily, an oriental foreign white. She was a breeding cat, kept in a cage for most of her life and badly in need of a forever home. I saw her story in a local newspaper in 2007 and immediately fell in love with her. I had seen no photographs, just a write up about her situation. After giving birth to her last litter of kittens, she suffered complications from a botched cesarean, leaving her badly scarred; as a result she acquired a hernia, which required a further operation. Her life as a breeding cat had come to an abrupt end and she was about to be euthanised when she was rescued by a local charity.

    Lily was a fantastic cat, who Darrell and I loved with all our hearts. We were lucky enough to have her in our life until her death in 2017. She was extremely needy, but wonderfully loving, always close to both of us wherever we went, even travelling with us across Europe to our new home in Alicante. Her final few weeks were terribly upsetting; the bond we had with this amazing intelligent cat was so close and unforgettable, that we found it very difficult to let go. Knowing when the time is right to say goodbye is important. When I rescued her from an uncertain fate in 2007, I knew instantly it was the right thing to do, just as I knew it was time to put her down in 2018.

    The memories I have with Lily will be with me always, she was a big part of my life, as any pet is. Her plight pulled at my heart strings and I was so content watching her grow after such a traumatic ordeal. Because of her past, she did have many heath problems, surviving cat flu on several occasions, when she should have died, but she was such a special girl everyone who met her, just couldn't help falling in love. When she died, we had her ashes scattered in an animal sanctuary near our villa in Spain. A part of her will always remain there and it will always be an excuse to return to our old home from time to time. I am glad she was a part of my life, I will always have her close inside, often looking at photographs and remembering the times we all spent together as a family!
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    A few months before Lily died we rescued two tiny kittens, while living in Spain, they were no more than five or six weeks old and it was touch and go whether or not they would live. Thankfully they survived and we were lucky enough to have Mollie and Wildling for nearly a year. Of course we would have loved to have spent more time with this wonderful brother and sister duo, full of adventure and character, even after being dumped in a garden, trying to survive in the hot Spanish sun.

    When I left for Spain in May last year we reluctantly decided to have Mollie and Wildling re-homed. Our destiny was moving firmly away from Gran Alacant and it seemed unfair to uproot these two young cats and take them to a new home in the UK. The last thing we wanted to do was give up the new additions to our family, but we found them both a home together with two of our friends living an hour and a half drive away in the southern Spanish province of Murcia.

    We were happy to take on Lily, Mollie and Wildling, they were all very special pets. Every rescue animal has a story to tell and suffers from the memories of a past they would rather forget. They did have their own set of problems and we did have to dedicate more time to their rehabilitation, but the love they gave in return was so precious, it was worth all the pain and heartache.

    If you are thinking about re-homing a rescue cat or dog, don't think twice, you will not regret it. The time we had with all our pets was rewarding and special, there was never a dull moment. When Darrell returns from Australia we hope to once again settle down and welcome some new rescue cats into our life, until then, it is great to continue reading stories of others, doing what they can to help animals in need, just like those in the video above. Animals do indeed make a home; my life certainly wouldn't have been the same without them!
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    Carol Reeds - A Celebration of Life!

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    Yesterday was a very emotional day for me and everyone else who attended the funeral of my Aunt Carol. Carol had been battling Cancer for five years, her large, growing family keeping her going through some terrible, dark days. With their love and support, she won many fights, but ultimately Cancer took hold and she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones.

    Cancer is indeed a terrible scourge, half of us will get it at some point in our lives. Watching someone you love suffer the ravages of this dreadful disease, opens your eyes to just what other people endure every single day. I became a volunteer at Cancer Research because of my Aunt; her struggle became my struggle, not in the same way, but in a way that I could help raise awareness and funds for a cause that I now champion in her name. Volunteering should be a personal journey, connecting us with groups and organisations that resonate with our own sense of purpose; I am glad to be doing my bit to help others currently confronting this dreadful illness!
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    Aunty Carols funeral was about a celebration of her life, encompassing everyone who knew her. Her final farewell began at Holy Trinity Church in Fareham, my home town, where I met my Father for the Service of Remembrance. The Church has major significance for my family - It was where Mum and Dad were married and where my Aunt and her family also celebrated milestones in their life. It is a beautiful church steeped in history and was packed with familiar faces, noticeable, as we took our place next to my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

    The service was powerful, touching and moving; the music brought back many memories of times spent with all my kinfolk in years gone by. Her daughters Tracy and Carrie-Anne spoke eloquently about their Mother, voices echoing around the hall, words spoken, striking a chord with all of us, sat in the pews. The Reverend Sally Davenport spoke poignantly about Carols life, her childhood, her husband my Uncle Terry and their large family, all the while encouraging memories to resurface, as if it was yesterday. Finally my Cousin Tim sang his favourite song 'You'll Never Walk Alone,' as his Mum lay peacefully in the white wicker casket in front of the alter, adorned with flowers and memories from a happy, fruitful, eventful life.
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    Te Revd Davenport spoke of my Aunts dedication to her brood. Carol never went on fancy holidays, in fact she rarely left her home town, she enjoyed being surrounded by those who mattered. These were words I had heard before, when referring to other family members. Maybe it is generational or maybe just unique to my relations, but they never travelled the World as I do today, they never wanted to see the Great Barrier Reef, the Leaning Tower of Pizza , Pyramids or Great Wall of China, as I strive to do; they were just content with the joy and laughter that families bring, in a house full of memories, in a home full of cheer! This was a service that made me realise just what matters in life, close bonds with those I love is important, more so now that ever, material gain and pursuit of wealth just isn't on my list of priorities, reconnecting with my past is the only substance that I desire.
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    After a Service of Committal at Portchester Crematorium, we went to the Cams Hall Golf Club for refreshments. I spent a good few hours in the company of family, that I rarely see these days, except on occasions like this. Talking about their lives, living in different parts of the Country, far removed from my childhood growing up in Fareham was a joy. The only positive aspect of the day for me, if there was such a thing, was the fact that all of us came together as a unit to celebrate my Aunts life. She would have been happy to know that we were all there together, chatting, reminiscing and reliving moments special to her.

    The older I get the more funerals I am bound to attend, this is a sad fact of life. It is however a reminder of just how fragile and finite all of our lives are. For my Aunt to depart this mortal coil, surrounded by so many characters, all of whom played a role in her life, is testament to her ability to bring people together. It is a reminder of the love she was shown by all those who knew her, in life and in death, it is a tribute to the respect she was accorded...A Mother, an Aunt, a Grandmother, a fiend!
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    Well Needed Lighthearted Relief!

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    It was good to be back at Cancer Research this morning, after a rather difficult week. Everyone was alive, well and no longer suffering from the ravages of flu, something I haven't had yet...touch wood. It was great to have a little bit of lighthearted banter once again, something I have been missing for a few weeks. My colleague from Tesco, Jules, was also back in the fold, after daring to have last Monday off.

    Thanks to everyone for once again making my Monday mornings so fun and creative for want of a better word; my favourite time of the week!
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    A Difficult Week Ahead!

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    Just a short blog this evening, as I have a lot on my mind. I've been feeling rather down over the last few days it has to be said. Next week is going to be a rather challenging seven days, certainly more than usual! As a person, I tend to dwell on things and worry far more than most, it's the way I have always been. In the past when confronted with difficult challenges, I have just walked away, well this time I can't and will have to face them head on.

    On Tuesday my Aunty Carol is laid to rest, surrounded by family and friends in Fareham. The funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church in the town centre, followed by a committal Service at the South Chapel of Portchester Crematorium. Although distant from most of my family for a long time, I always remained close to my Aunt, so will find it hard to say goodbye. Carol was an amazing woman who I will always have fond memories of, she will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her!

    On Thursday I have to attend hospital in Portsmouth for a procedure to determine the source of an ongoing problem I have. Obviously, I am worried about the results, which could change my whole life. I am being told to stay positive and not to think the worst, which is difficult under the circumstances. As a person, I know my own body and understand when something isn't right. My fingers are crossed and I will of course keep readers of 'Roaming Brit' informed of the outcome.

    Tomorrow is Monday, another busy day for me, which will hopefully keep my mind off things. Grasp every opportunity with open arms, always do your best and live your life to the full; endeavour to do the right thing and make sure you look after those you love...You'll never know if tomorrow will be your last!
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    Day Off ....What Day Off?

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    It's been a beautiful day here in Portsmouth, a real feel good kind of day; luckily for me, I had some time off and lots to do in the city. The sun always motivates me, in a way it never did, before I lived in Spain, so I was determined to get to the end of my list of things to do!

    The constant rain and damp weather has been getting me down over the last few weeks, it really has reminded me of what living back in the UK is all about. Any break in the bad weather is a bonus, so like everyone else it seems, I was out and about, walking around the city and enjoying the day.

    Like most British cities, Portsmouth really does come into its own when the sun shines, it's on days like this, I feel glad to be home, but mindful of what I left behind.
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    At 11 am I had an appointment with the Pharmacist at Boots in Commercial Road. I wanted to take a travel assessment, just to see if there were anymore vaccinations required before my trip to ASIA.

    The Pharmacist asked me a comprehensive list of questions and was able to give me a break down of the relevant medication I would need to take before my holiday. The answers she gave were as expected and I had the first of three injections for Rabies, at a cost of one hundred and eighty pounds and have been given time to consider whether or not to have the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination. Like the nurse at my surgery, she said it wasn't on a list of recommended shots, but it is worth thinking about. At a cost of two hundred pounds it is prohibitive for most people and she pointed out that ninety percent do not opt to have the jabs at all, but I will consider the benefits, before I return next week for injection number two.


    After my Rabies jab, I had an appointment at the Portsmouth Central Library. One of my bloggers from 'Roaming Brit,' has inspired me to do some volunteering for the 'You Trust' here in Portsmouth. The charity was also recommended by a friend; they organise visits to lonely people, who need a friendly ear, someone to talk to or just a friend to sit with. Living in a city can be very isolating at times and I understand just how difficult that can be, especially after living in Spain for two years.

    The chat went well and I was welcomed with open arms. It seems more volunteers are needed in and around Portsmouth and like many similar organisations, they desperately need people who can dedicate few hours a week, to helping the more vulnerable in society. After listening to others positive experiences, I thought I would look into this role and  feel I will be able to offer the help and support they need to live a better quality of life. 

    I have a lot of forms to fill in over the weekend and will endeavour to return them as soon as possible. Today I am enthusiastic about giving a little something back to the community in which I live, as I feel all of us should. I may well have only been living here for eight months now, but that is long enough to understand the issues that resonate with the local neighbourhood where I live. Loneliness is a terrible scourge on modern life and I would hope that someone would do the same for me, if I was in their position!

    The end of another busy day, time to fill in forms, cook some dinner and maybe, just maybe the chance to relax!
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    Drive and Determination!

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    I’ve been thinking of what drives me and what makes me determined to complete things over the last couple of days. One of those things is when people doubt me and almost due to their own negative outlook want to tar me with this and say, ‘you can’t do that’ or ‘you won’t do that’. Big mistake really as I’ve been told that so many times in my life that now I just find it hilarious – it is like a gauntlet has been thrown down at my feet and I can’t resist picking it up straight away to prove that person so wrong.

    Years ago I was looking at entering a triathlon – it was a sport that had always fascinated me and there wasn’t a great deal of information out there about the sport (we are talking back in the dark ages when the internet didn’t exist and it was a very, very grassroots sport in the UK at the time) and I told someone about this and they told me – ‘you won’t do that, way too difficult, you won’t even get to the start line let alone finish’. I was not impressed. I finished that race (it was only a short sprint distance race) and went on to finish many more over the years – multiple half ironman distance races, 4 ironman distance races, 9 marathons, and raced for Great Britain in my age group in a European Long-Distance Championships – all the time I remembered that person who had said to me ‘you won’t’. 

    In work about 5 years ago I applied for a different role, got to interview and felt it was an ok interview and I had given some good examples of the work I had done and was capable of. I wasn’t successful and one of the reasons given was I hadn’t evidenced enough managerial ability when I felt I had.

    I eventually moved roles and was determined to prove that manager wrong – I worked hard as a manager and then started delivering a managerial and leadership course where the manager actually got their staff to attend the course as it would be good for their development and it was felt they needed to become better managers – Oh! The irony!!!! Now I’m about to move into a role to design and develop managerial and leadership courses!
     
    The one thing I have always been is driven and determined. I may go through spells in my life where my mental health is low and I feel depressed, I may feel like life has knocked me down but it has never knocked me out and I have always got up and always dug in deep and gone on to better things. 47 years undefeated.

    I have a tendency to look at myself and say this is just not working or this is not good enough and ask myself what is ‘much better’ – they are not pipe dreams and fanciful ideas but things I know I can achieve.

    At times I am brutally hard on myself because I know what I am capable of if I am driven and determined to do so. When people say to things like ‘I’m going to be honest and you may not like what is said’ is so weak to me as I have probably done that tenfold at every minor detail myself as I look towards ‘much better’.

    So last year when I hit a real low and was knocked down again that drive and determination was there once more. Yet again I have proved to those who doubt that I am still undefeated, I am stronger, I am harder, and I still possess that drive and determination.

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