Update September 2016

Again it’s been a while since I’ve shared any news, so there’s a bit to fill you in with.

Healthwise

Mr Richard Oakley appointment 16 June 2016

Just to fill you all in about my conversation with my consultant at my last hospital appointment. My consultant, Mr Oakley started our conversation by looking at me and saying.

“You’ve had a remarkable recovery and you know you’re a bit of a miracle!” He then went on to say “and you’ve dodged a lot of bullets in the process and survived”. I told him “I’m here by the grace of God” after both Sue and myself had a number of conversations with him about our faith over the last couple of years. 

He went on to say ‘he was an ardent atheist’ but he said “your faith and the support your family and friends have given you, have got you through” and he smiled.  I replied to him “then how can anybody, seeing the marvels of the human body and how it’s been put together, then doubt that somewhere out there is a creator who has put all this together!” he then smiled at me again. 

I did come away feeling pretty good and after 2 and half years, I thought that maybe I can start to look forward to a brighter future. So thank you all again for the love and support and prayers you have given me and my whole family.  Thanks Neil. 

Other News

For my 50th birthday in February our goods friends Martin and Dawn Pointing gave me a white water canoeing adventure at Lee Valley White Water Park, where the Olympic canoeing and kayaking was staged and in May we had the day out, with Sue and Dawn taking all the action photos. Being not sure if all my old canoeing skill could be rekindled, I was pleasantly surprised when they did all come back in the midst of the cold white water. We had a great adventure together and felt I had coped well with the physical challenges of the day. Thanks Martin and Dawn.

At the end of July I finished an 11 month contract at Burberry and choose to have the rest of the 6 week summer holidays off with Sue and the family.

Our first week off was spend with our church friends at the New Wine conference in Shepton Mallet, in Somerset, with 12,000 other people. We then jetted off to Fethiye, Turkey for 10 days in 35 degree heat, just relaxing in the swimming pool and enjoying our family break together.

On return to the UK, Dan, Sophy and Amy, went back again to Shepton Mallet for another week at Soul Survivor youth camp.

Whilst Martin Pointing and myself went on another 2 day canoe adventure in an open-top Canadian canoe on the river Nene near Peterborough and again we had a great time as boys away together.

On 14 September was our 25th Wedding Anniversary and we had a party to celebrate this and my 50th birthday earlier in the year, with an old friend’s Nick Beston‘s live jazz band and a hog roast by @FFFCatering.