Oct 28: England, Post-Vacation Non-Euphoria

So, you need the update on the last week of my 'Victory Tour'.

The time at Chrissy's was wonderful, very relaxing. Her husband's job took them there 3 years ago, and they really love it there. The only restriction was time; she drops the kids off in the morning and then has to pick them up in the afternoon, so only a six hour window. This ended up working out very well for me physically, especially since there was no energy expended in actually getting to the various places.

On Monday we went to Avebury, listed in the prior post. Just a little elaboration, for those interested. The stones were much larger in the outer circle than comes across in pictures. Many of them were 12' or higher--really towering. Although they are not shaped such as the ones at Stone Henge. The inner circle ones were about 6', nothing to sneeze at. It's more difficult to picture it as it was because of the roads and town now built inside of the stones. And it's very big, it would have taken more than an hour to walk around the outside. But we got a good feel for what was there with just walking around the ones that were more clustered together. On the way out of the parking lot we were able to see Silbury Hill, a large conical burial ground, also from more than 5,000 years ago.

Unfortunately, Monday night Chrissy found out that the mother of her best friend had died. She started making plans for coming back to the States for the services. So on Tuesday we drove out to Windsor Castle where she dropped me off and then went to get clothes she needed for the trip. (Any woman can tell you that no matter how many clothes she has in her closet that the 'perfect' funeral outfit is rarely among them!) So I did the tour of some of the outside of the castle, which is very large, and then some of the indoors as well. The entire place could have easily taken a full day, and Chrissy gave me the option of coming back on public transport, but since I was still tired it just didn't seem worth the extra effort. Maybe next time.

Wednesday, Oct 21, we spent the day around Chrissy's area so she could show me some of the 'off the map' places she has discovered in the last three years. There was a lock on the canal with nice gardens around it, then a forest with wonderful old trees and glimpses of English countryside peeping through. The reminder of harsh reality was in a couple of deep depressions (such as in 50' +) where bombs were dropped during WWII, although there has been regrowth over the earth. And finally a real English country estate called Engelfield, where they let you just wander through the extensive gardens. Private land in England is very different than over here. If there has been public access, which over the centuries there often has been, then the owner must keep it available. There is still privacy around the house, but otherwise the public can roam around pretty extensively. This will be where I picture the setting every time I read a Jane Austen novel from now on!

Thurs, Oct 22, Chrissy dropped me at the Reading Train Station while she continued on to the airport. From there I proceeded into London to meet Susan for the last leg of the trip. It was especially meaningful since it was Susan's birthday, and I can't remember the last time we saw each other for the occasion--well over several decades. We explored around, met up with a former student of hers and had a very late (for me!) supper--Susan is used to eating at 8-9 pm, which is the standard European time frame.

Friday was the day for the double-decker red bus tour around the city, where they take you around all the major tourist spots and you can hop on and off all day. I'd seen the Changing of the Guard on a prior trip (very boring), was disappointed that Westminster Abbey closed at 12:30 before we got there, and there wasn't enough time to see Tower of London (which will be reserved for my third trip to London!), but we saw Shakespeare's Globe (the new version!), St. Paul's and a host of other sights. That night was my choice of theater: Les Miserables. I've seen it twice in Philadelphia and the 10-year film version, but had always wanted to see it in London. It was wonderful.

Saturday morning reality hit. I hadn't felt really well on Friday, knew it was so much activity with not enough rest. Unfortunately even sitting on a bus or in a theater doesn't seem to be as much recuperation as my body needs, and waking Saturday morning I knew physically it was time for a break. It was frustrating because there was so much to see and do, but I was very cognizant of the fact that I'd already met my most important goals. Everything at this point was icing on the cake, and it was time to pull back. So I stayed in the hotel room and sent Susan out to experience more of the city. It was the only way my body would be able to handle any more. And, honestly, I was OK with that.

While still not feeling terrific, after 6 solid hours on the bed in the room I was able to go out to dinner and see Wicked, Susan's choice for the other theater experience. Sunday was packing up, then a quick trip to the National Gallery so we could feel like we'd done something besides travel that day, and then Susan got me out to Heathrow for the flight back. Those last few days would not have been as enjoyable without her, as well as the physical stuff that she did for me, such as scouting things out and handling my still way-to-heavy luggage.

On Friday my admission to myself was that I was ready to come home Sunday, the physical strain was being felt. Saturday night coming back from the theater I had a sore throat and ear pain, which increased some on Sunday. By the time I got home Sunday night I really didn't feel good, but had been up for almost 20 hours so that wasn't surprising.

I'd taken off Monday because of the time change and jet-lag, and woke feeling absolutely horrible. Temperature more than 100, coughing up nasty stuff, wheezing, headache. Called my primary and got an antibiotic, started on the Advair, mucus thinners.... My asthma really kicks in when an infection hits. Yesterday I felt even worse, and called Bidge to see if he could take me in for an appointment and chest X-ray if needed, my temps were running higher than 101 by that point. But over the day the chest seemed to ease up some, so just let it be. This morning my temp is down to under 100, the coughing is less and, while I don't feel terrific things are on the mend. My plan is to go to work tomorrow, since that will be the only day I'll work this week and will then have Friday and the weekend to finish recuperating. In addition of the usual aches and pains is the entire right chest cavity which is very painful from all the coughing. The muscles in the right back from the thoracotomy had seemed to be improved, but they're back to sucking in and out with every cough. But hey, it's better than it was two years ago.

So, that's the rest of the trip report. It was a phenomenal experience, and meant so much to me spiritually and personally to meet so many goals I'd set for myself, and all the ones hoped for during this trip. It was the first major return to activities from 'before', with adjustments for the 'new normal'. But it was proof positive that, even with some restrictions, I can still get out there and enjoy myself and see the world. I've felt more hopeful in the last couple years of recovery, but now I'm feeling much more positive. This is especially important since from a financial standpoint it wasn't the smartest decision to make, but psychologically and spiritually it was imperative. This trip was more than a vacation, it was a taking back of my life. And that really is priceless.

Thanks for following along, Laurie

Oct 19: Read before other 19th post

Went back and re-did a lot of the Oct 16 report of the climb of the Tor. Since it was typed while on a timer and in haste it wasn't everything I wanted it to convey. Also an entire paragraph added. Laurie

Oct 19: From Reading, England: activities and contemplation

Hi there! At my friend Chrissy's now for what will definitely be the easiest part of the vacation, here referred to as 'being on holiday'. I got here last night after a few communication difficulties. Chrissy and her two daughters, Katie & Michelle, met me at the train station and it was wonderful to see a familiar face--I'm deliberately excluding her daughters as I haven't seen them for over three years and they were totally unrecognizable to me!

Saturday I did some more shopping--Glastonbury has received a major boost in their economy from me! Found the only supplier of local geodes. Apparently there is only one quarry in the Mendips (hills? mountains?) nearby that yields any crystals, and it is on private land. The owner of one of the Glastonbury shops has exclusive rights to the stones, which are called 'potato stones' for their outward appearance. When broken open they have lovely smokey-colored crystals. Since this area is renowned for it's long-standing spiritual significance I was delighted to find this supply. So now I'm lugging rocks around in my luggage! Also got an extra-special gift for my friend & tenant Marilyn, who is watching all 4 cats plus the foster kitty for over two weeks--that deserves something terrific. (Especially since Chester greets her with his usual lousy manners.) Then went to Glastonbury Abbey. I won't bore you with the details (you can always google), but this is a very old and then renovated in the 1400s abbey which was partially destroyed by fire in addition to Henry VIII and Cromwell, leaving dramatic ruins. The sun made it's now-typical appearance in the late afternoon, casting wonderful light and shadows--lots of pictures. Then had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant (one of the only non-vegetarian places in town) and returned to the B&B for rest and packing.

Yesterday, while long, was very good. After checking out of my B&B then wheeling my luggage around to the backyard for storage, I proceeded back to Chalice Well. It is just so lovely there, very peaceful. The gardens are still beautiful and since it was morning the light was totally different than the late afternoon when I was there two days before. Different people get different feelings, and this is definitely the place that resonates with me the most. After going to the Well and sitting for a while, I went to another spot and just sat and read for well over an hour. Time flew, and it was soon over two hours. Brief stop into the shop where I bought a set of meditation/prayer beads made of various gorgeous blue stones, which I dipped in the Well water for an extra blessing. Then walked back, past the B&B and into town. Had lost my sunglasses, happily they were found at the Abbey. Back-tracked for my still-heavy luggage (now actually including a rock collection!) and negotiated the bus and train system without April's assistance. Got to the station at 6:03 (they are VERY on time with the public transport here), then to Chrissy's house.

Today, after Chrissy's three kids went to school, we drove about an hour to Avebury, another stone circle that is not as well known as Stone Henge. It's very large, there is actually an entire town built in the middle of the circle. The stones were a surprise, the outer ones were much larger than I had thought. No commercialization, really. It's so casual that there are cows grazing around the stone processional way, and then a lot of sheep around the stones in the circles. This sounds quaint as anything, but it was a significant challenge to avoid all their droppings. (Apparently sheep missed the manual about not eating where you poop--it's all over the place.) After a quick lunch we got back into town in time to pick the kids + two up, then to a nice park on the River Thames. Multiple waterfowl now expect humans to feed them, so a few dozen ducks, mallards, Canadian and other geese--even two swans--swim over and look at you expectantly. We saw a huge crayfish, a lot of minnows and the local clay, which apparently makes lovely mud pies.

I'm absolutely exhausted today and pretty sore, so this more relaxed pace (not to mention being chauffered around) is a welcome respite. In the next two days we'll go to Windsor Castle and then a day trip around Chrissy's area so she can show me some not-on-the-map places she enjoys. Then onto London, which will involve more walking and exertion, but after several days of recuperation. I may not post again until after return to the States, will see if the literary muse visits me again.

I've been referring to this trip as my 'Victory Tour', and it really is. While the foot is still sore at night, and the chest hurts from lugging the suitcase yesterday, on the whole I'm just delighted with how much I've been able to do. As referenced previously, while you have to accept that things will never be the same as they were 'before', over time you adjust to the 'new normal', and that is what all this was meant to accomplish. A return to an activity that I've always enjoyed tremendously with certain adjustments to accommodate my change in health status. But, finally, I feel like my life is emerging away from the dark tunnel of the last 5 1/2 years. I've gotten past the baby steps and toddler stages, maybe in the adolescent phase now. It will take some time and more acceptance of the changes that have occurred, but over time I'll grow into this new life. All of life is a journey, you never know where it will take you. A few of us are surprised with side trips into uncharted territories, and sometimes it takes a while to find the new pathway. How you react, how you adapt, determines what and who you become--it's an evolutionary progression that isn't predictable and is unique to each person. I'm not sure where I'm headed anymore, but now my footing seems more stable. And that's a very good feeling.

During my time in Glastonbury I bought more jewelry, which I need like another hole in my chest. But the stone that I was attracted to, which had never had much appeal to me before, was the moonstone. After buying a necklace and bracelet I finally looked it up in the 'Crystal Bible' at one of the shops: it's the stone for new beginnings. How cool is that? So, of course, I had to get earrings as well....

Thanks for all the support from those along the way, Laurie

Oct 17: Chalice Well, recovering

Thanks to those who posted a response--makes me feel a little more connected. Apologize for the occasional rough wording--since I'm paying by the 20 minute segment, not doing my usual editing. But just trying to keep you all abreast, and sometimes the words coming pouring out without being wonderfully phrased!
Paying the price physically for the climb up the Tor--legs very sore, overall fatigued. This is typical when I've gotten overly tired. The irony of being able to breath better means that sometimes my heart gets pushed too much. But, as Kim said, the memory and thrill of the accomplishment will outlast the body's complaints.
Did more walking than I should have yesterday, although just around town. A fantastic selection of shops with all sorts of wonderful 'New Age' stuff to be found. There's a man who is a proper 'town crier'--he actually has an impressive lapel pin with a royal crest on it--who leads a walking tour around Glastonbury. It was two hours and about 1 1/2 miles, but nicely paced. Just myself and another girl from (believe it or not) Havertown, she's a college student. Very interesting.

Went back to my B&B, picked up the water containers which had made the trip here with me and made the 10 min walk to Chalice Well. While I've seen the well and it's beautiful lid (the design name escapes me), wasn't really sure what to expect from the rest of the area. It's at the base of the Tor and, of course, you have to pay an entrance fee. It is set in 4 acres of gardens. By the time I'd gotten there it was about 4:30, closes at 6:00. From the moment you walk through the gatehouse it is just gorgeous. Beautiful designs, flowers, landscaped. And, of course, the water coming along various conduits in wonderful designs and catchments. Very peaceful. The sun was setting, which is my favorite time for light. Took, of course, tons of pictures. I continued through, coming across the healing pool and then the lion's head, which is where you can collect the water. It now runs through a filter system which makes it 'safe for human consumption'. It's a very thoughtful touch that where you can drink the water comes before the healing pool where you can bath!

The path meandered on, nothing that long and only a slight hill for my legs to complain about. A beautiful bench with an angel over it and the swirl of a labyrinth underneath it--a recuring pattern throughout. Then an archway, continued little gardens and, under several trees, there it suddenly was: very unobtrusive, although exactly as pictured. Several benches around, and then several more hewn out of the rocks and walls built up around it.

For me this place had an incredible spirituality surrounding the immediate area. I've rarely felt it so strongly, just in a specific place. It was wonderful to spend some time there, in the setting sun, in an area of such peace and beauty that has been a place of worship for thousands and thousands of years. Perhaps it is that history as well that has been soaked up and radiates outward.

I could have done without the barking dog outside the walls, however!
This was a more spiritual experience than climbing the Tor, but, in all fairness, that was representative of more of a challenge and any spiritual feeling may have taken second place to my feelings of elation.
After leaving the well area I walked back, filled several containers with Well water (which many people are happily awaiting!, then took off my shoes and socks and walked in the Healing Bath. My main comment is that it was very, very cold! Many more pictures, brief stop in the shop. Then, tired but very spiritually fulfilled, I walked back towards my B&B, stopping in a 600 year old pub for a light meal and delicious local cider (alcoholic, by the way!).

As April can attest, my B&B has a stunning, as well as fairly close view of the Tor and I get a big smile whenever I look up at it and re-live the accomplishment.
Today I mailed (at great expense) a box of stuff back home, most of it weighty things that I should have known better than to bring. While expensive, it was necessary as there is still a fair amount of lugging baggage around.
Today the weather is cold, but bright. I'm going through Glastonbury Abbey, eating in town then back to the B&B. Still very tired and need to take it easy. My plan for tomorrow is to be packed and able to check out at 10 am, leave my bags there and go back to Chalice Well for a couple hours. Any place that I feel that spiritually connected to deserves more time. After that I will brave the public transport system without April's help and wend my way to my friend Chris'

Thanks for following along with me on my journey, Laurie

Oct 16: Events on the 5 year anniversary

It remained overcast, never cleared. Apparently the British weather people aren't any better at predicting than American ones are. Wandered around the town, window shopped. Checked into post office and mailing stuff back, checked into local tours. It's impossible to get from here to Salisbury, I wanted to go back to Stone Henge, looking to see if anywhere else to go, but weather predicted to be rainy all tomorrow until mid-afternoon. My room at the B&B is perfectly adequate, and plenty to watch on the TV, but not the place to hang out for any period of time. Even Chalice Well wasn't an option if the weather was bad.

So the afternoon flew and all of a sudden it was past 3:00 and still overcast, but not raining. Since the idea of the climb was not for the view but the accomplishment it was time to try, now or never on this anniversary date. So returned to the B&B, emptied out my carryall except for water, inhaler and camera, and off I went.

There are a couple different paths to the top of the Tor. One is longer but flatter, gradual rise; this was the one which had been recommended. Since the entrance is quite a distance away you need a bus to get there, but they stopped running the buses there Sept 30. So that left the closer entrance with the much steeper path. Shorter, about 20 minutes or so for most people, but much steeper. Found the entrance with a little difficulty, past the entrance to Chalice Well, and started up. It was pretty daunting from the beginning--at least a 20 degree grade with steps.

The grade only got steeper. Keep in mind that my job doing stress tests all the time means dealing with walking on inclines, so I have a pretty fair idea of the steepness. The 'easy' part was a 20 degree slope, but then got to 40 degrees where you had to lean forward in order to climb the steps. There were a couple of well-placed benches, and the steps were of concrete and very stable. At about half way up, however, it was getting pretty scary. The warning signs my heart gives me were in full swing: I was lightheaded and dizzy, starting to get nauseated. This usually gets worse if all activity isn't stopped immediately. I sat on a bench and contemplated whether it was worth passing out and injury just to meet the challenge. My heart was pounding and my breath was ragged and painful. By this time I'd been climbing slowly for over 30 minutes. What was the most practical and sensible thing to do, outside of my desperate desire for this milestone accomplishment?

Rested, drank a little water, rested. Felt better. Rested. Debated, in my usual way, the pros and cons. I knew if I quit at that point there wouldn't be the leg strength to try again. Decided that I could rest every few steps, was closer to the top than the bottom. Up I continued, slowly but steadily with a continuous internal pep talk going in my head. I thought about where I had been five years ago, what had been going on at that point, that exact hour EST. The butcher of Presbyterian still had my chest cracked open, the ribs spread 6-8 inches apart with instruments that resemble meat hooks, causing my chest to get more and more damaged by the minute. He had stopped my heart for a second time, put me back on heart bypass. Repaired and restarted it beating again, watched the blood still going backwards. For a third time he stopped my heart, cut it open yet again, tried to fix the abnormal valve. My heart was stopped for over six hours, having a machine circulating my blood. They gave me so much fluid and so many transfusions that the next morning I was 17 pounds heavier than immediately before the surgery. My heart's electrical system was so stunned after the third insult it refused to start beating again, the paddles placed directly on my heart, shocking it over and over, then necessitating a temporary pacemaker to keep me alive. The horror of the friends and relatives who saw me, didn't think I would survive the night, the multiple transfusions just to keep my BP 80/50, the incredible pain the next day that nothing can prepare you for.

I thought about the second heart surgery less than two years later, and then the wretched thoracotomy. The horror of needing a third open-heart surgery, the unbelievable spectre of a possible heart transplant. It's now a couple of months past the second year anniversary of that third operation, and it was important for me to be able to say that I had overcome what happened, come back from the torture my body and psyche has been through, accomplished a goal. I needed to reclaim at least a part of what had been taken from me, show that I had fought back and hadn't given in to 'It'. I thought about all of you who were thinking about me, sending love and strength. I kept climbing, even more slowly. It was really hard going.

Came upon a gal who had started about 45 minutes or more after me, but was already coming down. By this time the base of the tower was visible, and she nicely walked back a little to get a good picture of me almost to the top. My practical side had to rein in my exuberant side to pace myself up the last very steep portion.

And then, after about an hour and a half, I was there. At the top, at the tower. On the Glastonbury Tor, looking out over miles and miles of gorgeous, if misty, English landscape. On an ancient worshipping site that people had climbed for over 5,000 years. It's difficult to explain all my feelings. Relief. Elation. Accomplishment. Triumph. I climbed the Tor to prove something to myself, to mark a milestone, to celebrate an incredible journey and return from dying. It was a wonderful, incredible, intoxicating feeling.

I did it. I beat the predictions, conquered the odds. I survived. 'It' didn't beat me.

The weekend before coming to England my hair had gotten cut. Hair retains a record of what was going on in your body at the time it was growing out, so, depending on how long your hair is it still contains indications of serious illnesses from prior years. My hair also changed from the medication, but after being off the beta-blockers for about eight months, at around the year anniversary of the third surgery, it started to look like my hair 'before sick'. I'd let it grow, enjoying it being back to normal again. A few months ago it occurred to me what a great way of releasing ceremoniously and literally what had gone on in my body. So a couple inches came off the longest part, which was there five years ago. My long-suffering hairdresser collected it, put it in a bag, which had then come along with me. I prayed to the Goddess/God/Spirits/Higher Power, thanked her/him/them for their guidance, blessings and strength over the last five years, and then released all the hair cuttings to the winds. It helped to physically let go of something, to have cut out something that had been part of being sick, to represent the casting away of the difficulty and hardship of what I've been through.

The climb down was difficult, I'd forgotten how hard it is to come down such a steep grade. My legs were screaming in pain, my chest hurt from all the deep breathing. I hibernated in the room at the B&B for the rest of the night.

I'm sore this morning, lots of Tylenol and Advil, my chest is very uncomfortable, the foot hurts a little, the legs as well. Not surprising since this is the most physical I've been in almost 6 years. I'm taking it easy today, not doing a lot. Probably will still be recovering tomorrow, if not for the next several days.

But I did it. And the sense of pride is just phenomenal.

Thanks for joining me on my journey. An elated and exhausted Laurie

Oct 15: Remains to be seen.....

Cherrio, all. Typing this from Glastonbury Library, on a timer which seems to be decreasing much more rapidly than it should. On time restriction then, so this might not be a particularly 'polished' posting.

Woke to the predicted weather: very overcast with off and on rain: very typical for England. It's supposed to get clearer later in the day. In keeping with the gloominess I'm afraid the physical strain of getting here yesterday is taking its toll. Very tired, legs sore and just don't feel that great. Right now I'm controling my disappointment and will see how the day plays out. I'm in the town itself now, will stop by the visitor's center after leaving the library.

The trip here was made much more pleasant and easier by having my new English friend April accompany me. The bus system is rather confusing, there doesn't seem to be any way to tell which direction the buses are headed. Since April grew up in Wells, which is between Bath and Glastonbury, she didn't have to think twice about getting from there to here. We took the bus to Wells, which is England's smallest city. A 'city' is qualified by if it has a cathedral or not, and Wells has one. It is just the cutest town, not quite as quaint as the ones seen in the Cotswolds, but more realistic. The cathedral is breathtaking, I preferred it to the more celebrated one in Bath. We shared a 'pasty', which is not that different from our steak sandwich, although more pastry and not as much meat. Wandered around for several hours before getting the bus to Glastonbury. After finding my B&B, April returned to Bath. I don't know how I would have handled the luggage without her!

On the way to Wells got my first glimpse of the Tor, and it was just as I'd imagined. Many more glimpses as we got closer, and I'm delighted to report that I'm very close to Chalice Well and the Tor from my B&B--it's right there. My host assures me that it's only about a 10 minute walk and then a 15 minute climb, but he's younger and healthier looking than I am! The town itself is much smaller than I'd thought. I'd like to take a bus to Salisbury and see the cathedral there, and they also have frequent buses to Stone Henge, where I would like to spend more time. Salisbury also has a wonderful museum that is supposed to be quite good about Stone Henge and the ancient things in the area, and may be do-able tomorrow, whilst needed at least one bus change to and from. I called one taxi service, and it was just too expensive.

I'm hoping to mail some things that are heavy (and in hindsight were stupid to bring) from the post office here, although the prices are quite high so won't be able to afford a whole lot. But even getting rid of 5-6 pounds seems like a good idea, especially after collecting water from Chalice Well, which several people have requested.

So my current plan is to take it very easy right now, rest up, maybe walk to Chalice Well, contemplate and read while my body recovers. If Mervyn (my host's name!) is correct, and April agrees, the climb might not be as arduous as I was afraid of since the B&B is so much closer to the hill than I thought, so may be able to get up there in 30-45 mins, even taking it very slowly. The views at the top will probably not be that good today because of the weather, but it is, of course, the journey that's important. The weather is predicted to be better on Saturday, so I might go up then for the view.

So that's the revevised plan as of this moment. It's just after 6 am at home right now, just to give you a reference point. It's just after 11:00 am here, and the English weather is known for incredible changes in just a few hours. We'll see, and I'll post when I can in the next couple of days to update.

Keep sending positive and energetic thoughts! Laurie

Oct 13: Great stuff!

Saw Stone Henge yesterday--another dream of mine for a very long time. The tour was a little disappointing, only allowed for 45 minutes there. That barely gave me time to walk around slowly taking lots of pictures. I would have liked to have just sat and absorbed, although difficult with the several hundred other people walking around. Did get some really great pictures, however. By the time we got there it was late afternoon, clear blue skies and shadows from the setting sun. Boy, digital photography is fun! Got to see the shots right away, and looked through several more times in my room last night. It was so exciting to actually be there, at this place that is used as the pictorial representation of England. The other part of the tour was going through Lacock, a picturesque little town which is so preserved that many films are done there: Pride and Prejudice filmed there as well as a lot of Harry Potter scenes. There was only 45 minutes there, and I didn't walk around too much because the mini-bus was full, combining two groups at that point and I didn't want to lose my window seat. Stone Henge was after that.

Had dinner at Sally Lunn's, a restaurant in a building there since 1493, which is built on a site that excavations show has been used for food preparation and serving since Roman times, so 2,000 years--isn't that incredible! We in America think of things as old from 80 years ago. Have I mentioned that I love history? The older the better to my way of thinking. Last night did the 'Bizarre Bath Tour', which is a comedy/magic show that walks through Bath. It was fun, although a little over-rated. Maybe my expectations were too high. But it was good to walk around after dinner and burn off some of the calories before going to bed.

This morning was foggy, just since I've been here at the internet place it's cleared up. Going on the open bus tour of and around Bath today, so will stop back at the hotel first and change into warmer pants as it's quite chilly. Planning on going inside of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. Would like to see the Jane Austen Center as well as the inside of one of the famous Crescent Houses, will see how time and energy hold up.

The foot/ankle are starting to be a little sore. And in all fairness to my beat-up body, this is the most walking that I've done in almost six years. So having to scale down to what is the most important to me, and accept that I won't get to see everything. But England is pretty easy to get to, so coming back is very do-able. Better to pace myself. The most important thing to me is climbing the Tor on Thursday, although the weather is looking a bit iffy: overcast at least, and that would really decrease what is supposed to be a fabulous view. I might have to make the decision that if the foot/ankle will only allow one climb, do a compromise and not go up on the exact anniversary but on the day after, which has a better weather prediction right now. I'll have to wait and see, suspect that the weather people here aren't any more accurate than those at home and things may change.

OK, off to see ancient stuff and revel in gorgeous blue skies! Laurie

Oct 12: From Bath, England

Cherrio, all!

Arrived in Bath on Saturday, over the jet lag. The SIM card that I was so proud of ordering to use in my phone doesn't work. Would you believe that a Blackberry is too advanced?! Getting a calling card today, in any case. So anyone that was trying to get a hold of me will hopefully be reading this.

Bath is beautiful. Yesterday did a minivan tour of the Cotswolds, which really look like cute little pictures in books. The weather was overcast and rainy for the first 2/3 of the trip, so not many pictures, but then it cleared up. We drove through many quaint towns, past Prince Charles' estate Highgrove (couldn't see anything), through farmlands. Even got invited into the Duke of Beauford's hunting lodge when we walked up to the gates! The caretaker was very gracious, took us upstairs for the stunning view. Our tourguide, Charles, said that had never happened before!

Today is beautiful--I wouldn't be typing this now if the phone was working! There is an internet cafe around the corner from the hotel. The Best Western is expensive, although not by Bath standards, and has the distinct advantage of being in the middle of everything. So after this I go to see Bath Abbey, only a couple blocks away. Then at 1:15 I get on the minibus again for going to Stone Henge!! I'm so excited, made the reservations yesterday with the hope that the forecast for today would be accurate. Right now the sky is a beautiful blue, perfectly nippy at about 60 degrees or so.

Very nice people, met another gal on the tour yesterday named April. She works in a hotel and had been recommending the tour, so thought she should see what it was about. She grew up in Bath, took another couple and me around last night to see the Circus and Crescent, main places in Bath. She's even going to come with me on Wednesday to get me through the bus system down to Glastonbury--such a relief to have someone who knows the ropes to help.

I love English manners--even when the bums ask you for money they are so polite, even when you turn them down! Although it was hard not to laugh when the woman at the cafe here told me she couldn't understand my accent--that's a switch!

Tomorrow will do the on-and-off tour bus of Bath itself, tonight planning on the 'Bizarre Bath Walking Tour', which is supposed to be very funny. The foot is holding up nicely, slight pain after getting in last night, but a lot of walking yesterday. Lots to see and do here, will rest more in Glastonbury. The heart is holding up well, didn't have to make allowances until the evening when going up a hill to the Circus & Crescent, then got very out of breath, had to walk VERY slowly. But I'm just thrilled at how well I'm getting around. SO glad that I didn't try this in April when the foot was worse--it wouldn't have been possible at all.

Thursday, Oct 15, the five year anniversary of the 1rst surgery. Hoping the weather co-operates and I can climb the Glastonbury Tor. Turns out there is a longer, but gentler, path up to the top, not just the stairs I'd seen in photos, which makes it much more doable for me. I'll just rest a lot.

OK, out to enjoy the beautiful weather and look at an 800+ year old cathedral--love this kind of stuff!! Roman Baths tomorrow--they're about 2,000 years old.

More later (or on a gloomy day), Laurie

Oct 5: Boy, time flies! Vacation plans

Again, really, really didn't realize it had been that long.....

Very busy. Worked all 5 days each of the two weeks after the 9/11 post and was absolutely exhausted. It established to me that I can't work more than the three and a half days in my current schedule. Then the past couple weeks has been devoted to planning the England trip. I'm not sure where all the plans for that trip went, or if I was woefully unprepared (highly suspect), but an extraordinary amount of research into where to stay for the first week. Granted, staying everywhere twice as long as the initial plan but really don't remember making any reservations.

Plans have been hampered by the DF, which while substantially improved is still sore. I can now walk for 30 mins, but much more than that and it gets a little sore. So decreasing the amount of stairs and the need to walk far were the main qualifiers. All the charming B&Bs were a '5-10 min' walk from the center of town, and it took a while before I realized that their idea of a 5-10 min walk was more like my idea of a 15-20 min walk, which would strand me if I started to get really tired and needed to rest. So that meant finding somewhere in the center of the city. This was somewhat problematic since the big thing about Bath is their Georgian houses, which, it turns out are very high, and they call the first floor the ground floor. This was important to be reminded of when one of the only places to be found was on the third floor of a highly rated B&B. Except the 3rd floor was equivalent to our 4th floor, and the first two floors are 24 feet high, so those stairs were two sets of stairs.... So, staying at a charmless and expensive Best Western which has an elevator and is only 2 blocks from all the cool old stuff.

Glastonbury was a little easier, found what seems like a wonderful B&B a short walk from Chalice Well. That's where I'll be on Oct 15, the five year anniversary of the first (and worst) surgery. We've established that I have a real thing about dates, and this to me is a biggy. I want to do a 'releasing' of the past five years by climbing the Glastonbury Tor, an ancient spiritual site. If you're curious, just google.... And if you want to see the challenge, look up Glastonbury Tor stairs. It might take me all day and a packed lunch, but I'm determined to get to the top.

After that I stay with my friend Chris, who used to be one of the nuclear techs at work. Her husband was re-located there a couple years ago. She's being incredibly welcoming, looking forward to showing me around her area of England. It's terrific to have someone to be my safety net in a foreign country.

Then the trip ends with three and a half days in London with my cousin Susan, who is flying over from Italy. Girls weekend!

So, this is my big return, a key part of the 'taking back my life' goal. It's establishing the new normal. And that feels pretty good.

Thanks for checking in, Laurie
P.S. I'll be looking for inter-net cafes for communication, so there should be a few postings as I experience my first real travel 'since sick'.