Updates and more trip

June 18, 2021

Updates and more trip

I am still waiting to hear back from the vets. I did ring them and a nurse said she thinks the bloods look fine but a vet needs to interpret them and they will ring me later. They have had a lot of emergencies today and apologised for the delay. I am always so understanding of that - we could easily be an emergency. But the waiting is hard. The boys seem absolutely fine in themselves but that was never the issue. They don't show symptoms until it is too late - it's like a silent killer. If their bloods are fine that is good. But no one really knows if the toxins, if they have them, will continue to build and destroy and they will still get sick. Even the RVC don't get it. The link to the food isn't proven but it is the only connection they can find so far. They don't have a treatment plan either because it is new and was a very rare condition they hardly ever saw. I know in my heart of hearts that there is no point worrying as there is nothing I can do about it now, but that is far easier said than done.

UPDATE - the vet has just phoned. Their blood counts are all normal but the advice is keep a close eye. If they show any signs of being unwell bring them in, there is no guidance to say they should have regular blood tests and keep an eye on the RVC sit for any updates but at the moment no-one knows anymore about what to do. So we are hopeful but still scared. I asked if they could develop it even though they have stopped the food and of course she said there was no way of knowing. So good news but not good news. I know hundreds and hundreds of people are int he same boat but that doesn't make our nerves any less.

Consequently, we have tried to stay busy and I have been sorting photos.

So next batch here

It was a gorgeous sunny day when we drove round the coast from Caernarfon. This was one of the many beaches - Dinas Dinille beach.

Totally different beaches than we are used to as they were in parts very stony, were wide open empty spaces and has mountains behind whereas we are quite flat everywhere. I loved them.

These were from Trefor beach - reminded me very much of lochs in Scotland

approached by small roads again

It was like driving a mini Big Sur and very pretty

and this was Criccieth

These photos now are from a different day as I will leave all of the Portemerion till tomorrow.

Harlech Castle

more of the coast road. The weather filled in a bit during the morning

an amazing little wooden toll bridge we crossed

Then we drove through the Brecon Beacons and to our last stop - Aberfan.

It may seem strange to go and visit such a place of loss and sadness but the story of Aberfan was the first news item I can ever remember. I was just 6 and I remember my Mummy crying and asking what was wrong and they told me about the disaster at Aberfan. I remember watching the news and I remember Mummy telling me how very lucky we were.

In total, October 21, 1966, disaster killed 144 people, 116 of whom were students at the Welsh town of Aberfan’s Pantglas Junior School.The stories of what happened are horrific and the inquiry found the National Coal Board responsible, but that was of no comfort to a small mining community who had had a generation of their children wiped out.

When I realised we could detour and visit to pay our respects we were both so keen to do so and it was a very sombre and sobering visit that reduced me to tears. The children had been put in a mass grave, dying together and buried together, and there is now a beautiful empathetic memorial on the hill at the top of the cemetery which we spent time at, reading everyone's name. I was moved particularly by a girl called Karen, almost the same age as me. I remember very little of my life up to the age of 7, snippets and bits and pieces, but that was all this other Karen had. I have had a further 53 years she never got to enjoy, along with her many school mates. Life is short and can be snuffed out in an instant. A constant reminder to hug your loved ones closer every day.

and there was something so poignant about children playing in a playground next to the site of the destroyed school which is now the garden of mourning and remembrance.