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    Back Doing My Bit For The Community!

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    With lockdown at an end in England, I was back doing my bit for the community this Monday, volunteering at Cancer Research in Portsmouth. I am always happy to be working with people who share the same ideals and objectives as me. Everyone who works at the shop in Commercial Road were equally pleased to be making money for the valuable research that has suffered so much during this pandemic.

    All charities, up and down the country have taken such a huge drop in income over the last nine months, that it is important they get back to a semblance of normality, especially during this lucrative Christmas season. Understandably many volunteers like me are reluctant to put ourselves at risk, working in such a people centric sector of the economy. When one looks back over the duration of the pandemic, one can see just how badly retail has suffered. High street shop closures, including the Arcadia Group, Debenhams and Bon Marche, highlight the extent of the loss, all of us can see, as we walk through our local shopping arcades and precincts. This is a terrible time for everyone, trying to make ends meet, volatility and uncertainty are the buzz words of the day and it is important all retailers get back to selling.

    Monday at the shop was busy, busier than usual, which was great to see. People were out in force Christmas shopping after the four-week lockdown and luckily for Cancer Research, we were able to make some money and break some targets. Like all shops we are fighting for business in a very competitive market, so going that extra mile, working that much harder is important; hopefully we can end the year on a high.

    It's great to be back, at least, for as long as it lasts!
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    ..... If you are thinking of getting married in the new year, we have plenty of Wedding dresses for sale. Recycling, reusing and repurposing some trying wonderful pieces. Come in and look around, we are always there to help!
    Cancer Research
    197 Commercial Road
    Portsmouth
    Hampshire
    PO1 1EA

    023 9282 3670
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  • Published on

    My Christmas Wish From Australia - Darrell Martin!

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    This year I had all international travel cancelled. My first instinct is, 'well if I can't go on holiday then Christmas can be cancelled too.' I know it sounds so bitter, but it's because the way I've been living my life, 100% depends on the airport being open to anyone apart from privileged millionaires. Being able to care for mum and still visit my hubby twice a year, was the only way to make this period of my life work.

    So it's a year since I've seen him and possibly 6 months to go before flights resume. This year I will experience a normal Australian Christmas, when my loved one's overseas won't. Ultimately I just wish we all have freedom. Nothing material; materialism is why we are in this mess. Materialism is, 'certain people' thinking it's ok to cut down rainforests and putting live wild animals in a metal cage for days; sitting them in a walk in meat slaughterhouse, to repeatedly witness the "fresh" preparation of their exotic brothers and sisters. Sounds horrific, because it is horrific, and it's still happening. All to increase certain types of peoples social status. So once again I wish for freedom. Freedom for animals and freedom for possibly 1 billion barbaric social climbers, obsessed with "fresh" to come to their senses. No Christmas doesn't stop me forgetting the real issues.

    Changing intensity, I want to remember a 'Christmas wish' I wanted as a child. It was to be living in one of the houses that backed onto the Drive in movie theatre. Literally all I wanted was to have a big screen, playing movies over the fence. It's this year that's brought this wish back from the dead, but I'd be happy with just my partner, big sofa, two cats and a projector. And what I love about this basic wish is it's going to be achieved.

    Merry Christmas everyone and cheers to FREEDOM!
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    This Middle Age Life We Both Inherit!

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    Despite living under tier 2 restrictions, Ramona and I were able to meet up for our monthly get together as usual. Ramona has become a bit of a lifeline during this pandemic and without our catch ups, life would be even harder than it already is. To all intents and purposes, both of us are in the same social bubble, allowing us to continue seeing one another whenever we can.

    Before I met Ramona, I had yet another appointment at St Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth. More diagnostic tests to try and determine the source of pain I am constantly feeling and another procedure to untangle the GI Jigsaw that dominates my life. Today is a perfect example, to illustrate how I feel, without digressing too much. I am plagued by issues that I am finding difficult to fathom; since I woke up this morning, I have been feeling off kilter, dizzy and light-headed, quite common for me. I have tried everything to alleviate symptoms, that have become an ongoing mystery for so long now, to no avail. Blood pressure monitoring, reducing medication, eating different foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, have all failed to yield answers. I have been very proactive in almost demanding further investigation and have discovered many small, irritating ailments that seem to be contributing to my continual malaise, but nothing major or significant, life changing or sinister.

    With more tests arranged, I am hopeful I will find the origin of my current state of health soon. Presently, the dizziness I am experiencing, since my possible COVID symptoms in March, has been the most significant. Unable to pinpoint the reasons I am feeling so unbalanced, I have taken it upon myself to try and palliate the problem alternatively, without the use of anti sickness tablets. So far nothing seems to be working and this ongoing hindrance, just seems to linger stubbornly, as a consequence of all the other conditions I am being treated for.

    It felt fantastic to get that off my chest and after more of the same bluster on Friday, it was good to spend a few hours with a friend who understands me more than most. Walking around Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, we were once again able to put the World to rights and offload our respective health concerns, a topic of conversation, both of us' articulate perfectly. When you have known someone for thirty years, you often recognise aggravations they can't always determine themselves. Friends are a great source of fortitude, especially at times of stress and Ramona is a tower of strength, especially today.

    We hope to see one another once again next month, after the Christmas season, hopefully in a more intimate setting. For now, we will continue to help one another, as we navigate the implications that surround COVID and our own inimitable, characteristic, personal journey, trying to understand the middle age life both of us now inherit!
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    Recording A Journey That Continues Today!

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    The differences that brought us together, are the bonds that keep us strong. Even during the worst of times, we fought hard to remain as one. Immigration, the threat of deportation, forced separation and now a pandemic, all pushed us to our limits. There were and still are times I want to give up, but the memories of the life I once had and will have again, keep me grounded, level-headed and  hopeful that circumstances will change, and we can once again resume the story of our life. Until then a photo, marking our union, even during isolation, will keep our relationship alive. A photograph recording a journey that continues today!
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