tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47643699385582235322024-03-05T04:01:30.697+00:00Whizzy Wheels AgainA blog following the journey - wherever it may take us! - to raise money for an amazing little girl called Eilidh who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Join us on this journey, from the sublime to the ridiculous, as we enable Eilidh to live as independent a life as possible.h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-17607676409955671382016-06-20T11:29:00.000+01:002016-06-20T11:29:04.438+01:00The Wheely Good Art Auction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMH3v_ssxDxIH9m7PrQQe3WbdRyrc9yBzmLqaY8QGt5_lijIefAde5ykQtc2HJq9m_kXV2CxR1Mwu66f_-Lw-gQnJOnHuSlLzWpVwiCdWva9wGBgkh8Q7HOy4ypUnoEi0h9x8cGVT0Mm3/s1600/eilidh%2527s+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMH3v_ssxDxIH9m7PrQQe3WbdRyrc9yBzmLqaY8QGt5_lijIefAde5ykQtc2HJq9m_kXV2CxR1Mwu66f_-Lw-gQnJOnHuSlLzWpVwiCdWva9wGBgkh8Q7HOy4ypUnoEi0h9x8cGVT0Mm3/s640/eilidh%2527s+flower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eilidh doesn't draw or paint many pictures which are easily recognisable, preferring instead a more abstract form. Her joy for art of any form is apparent however - the messier and more hands on the better! - but i<span style="background-color: white;">t's not easy for her as her muscle weakness affects the movements of her fingers, hands and arms. We often take simple movements that we make every day for granted - Eilidh struggles with so many ordinary things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span>painting<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> above was watercolour and meant for me. It made my heart sing on an otherwise colourless day. And then it dawned on me - what a fabulous way to raise funds for the new Snapdragon! A </span>Wheely<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Good Art Auction!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without a second thought I composed a message for social media, reaching out to family, friends and strangers, asking them to donate a paint or a drawing or a print, asking them to <span style="background-color: white;">take a leap of faith and support our auction and Eilidh's independence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">From there, the auction has gone from strength to strength and we are overwhelmed by everyone's generosity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">And now? The Wheely Good Art Auction is about to go live through Ebay and PayPal Giving, enabling The Turbo Trust to receive 100% of all monies raised by the auction and it's so very, very exciting!</span></span></div>
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h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-84820958602006512802016-04-05T15:31:00.000+01:002016-06-21T12:24:13.933+01:00Whizzy Wheels Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My daughter Eilidh’s independence is
central to this post today which is supporting <a href="http://www.13to3.com/" target="_blank">Nick Thomson's 13 to 3</a> marathon run on Sunday 24th April, the Virgin London Marathon. Nick aims to raise £2000 towards a new 3d powered wheelchair. Our family is only as independent as Eilidh
is, only has happy as she is. Her
wheelchair allows independence and quality of life for us all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Snapdragon is way ahead of what
the NHS can provide and other privately funded similar powered wheelchairs,
allowing 3d movement but also, more importantly, enabling Eilidh to interact
eye to eye with her peers with the ability of the chair to move between a floor
position and standing height. The chair empowers
Eilidh to be independent and confident so that she can be part of more beyond
her immediate family. It is responsive and manoeuvrable, allowing her to
explore the world around her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But this chair comes at a price. £24,113.
We have raised this once before – by asking friends and strangers to
contribute to a <a href="http://whizzywheels.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/in-beginning.html" target="_blank">Whizzy Wheels Fund</a> (here on this blog) - for the Snapdragon she got when she was 2
years old, but this chair now needs replacing and we are finding it necessary
to approach charities to help raise this total. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18.4px;">It is not easy to do this, to ask for help, to ask for money, to admit that we cannot raise this huge total for our daughter, but it is a </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">mammoth task.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eilidh's independence, however is priceless. How can we put a price on her joy, her quality of life? It's simple, we can't and as a result we need to do what is the best for her and the SnapDragon is the best. Through enabling and empowering Eilidh we too are learning; </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">she
teaches us how it is to live with disability.</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">She brings joy and I am hopeful of a bright future, but we need to ask
others to help maintain her independence, raising funds towards a new
powerchair because we cannot do it alone in the time frame required.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I ask th</span>at you consider supporting my
daughter Eilidh maintain her independence by donating to Nick's <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/13to3" target="_blank">Just Giving page</a> which is supporting the <a href="http://www.theturbotrust.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Turbo Trust</a>. The Turbo Trust</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.19em;"> believes in good mobility for all, regardless of age or ability, and provides </span><span style="line-height: 1.19em;">grants for disabled people to buy the most versatile powerchairs available.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">approving a grant towards the
total cost of her powered wheelchair. Alternatively you can donate at GoFundMe </span></span><span style="background-color: #edf0f5; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">https://www.gofundme.com/whizzywheelsagain</span></span></div>
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h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-79190599518826573702013-02-27T20:42:00.000+00:002013-02-27T20:42:10.463+00:00The £29.24 Challenge
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSeUxCnUecyOrrFx_q2bBBa_-doXeJSLCiduryEKofnSNUh79qxqqRE-YQQutNscQrwCrplULtXo9qvk_jlL8UZhqxGjn8jr_YR_pjMh4xYXzeDOU5Xptg8SfIJ1Xf8Vioy6AASE7NeKE/s1600/muscular+dystrophy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSeUxCnUecyOrrFx_q2bBBa_-doXeJSLCiduryEKofnSNUh79qxqqRE-YQQutNscQrwCrplULtXo9qvk_jlL8UZhqxGjn8jr_YR_pjMh4xYXzeDOU5Xptg8SfIJ1Xf8Vioy6AASE7NeKE/s1600/muscular+dystrophy2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I
don't remember much these days but one fact from the </span><a href="http://touchandtickle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/one-day-one-conference-facts-and-figures.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Muscular Dystrophy
Campaign Conference 2012</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">
has stayed very much in the forefront of my mind; it's amazingly simple:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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</span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"<span style="background: white;">If every family affected by muscular dystrophy or a
related neuromuscular condition raised £29.24 this year we would meet the
fundraising requirement set for Scotland’s contribution to fund our research
work and support services."</span></span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">WOW!</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Isn't that amazing - </span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">£29.24</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">can</span></em> make a difference to
someone living with a neuromuscular disease.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So here I am </span><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Courier; font-size: 18pt;">blogging</span></strong><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> and </span><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">begging</span></strong><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> - I won't jump
out of a plane but I will beg, borrow and steal! - for your help, for you to <a href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/get_involved/fundraising_events/5887_make_today_count_2013" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Make
Today Count</span></span></strong></a>. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I ask you - my family and friends and everyone who loves
Eilidh- to donate £2.92, £29.24 or even £292.40(!) to the <a href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Muscular Dystrophy Campaign</span></span></strong></a>
for those living with neuromuscular disease in Scotland.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Family and friends by means of six degrees of separation can
you pass this challenge on, sharing on Facebook and Twitter #2924challenge to
#maketodaycount?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Will you take up the challenge for Eilidh and for others
living with neuromuscular disease?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To go to </span><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Courier; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Eilidh-Macfarlane" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The £29.24
Challenge</span></a></span></strong><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> JustGiving Web page follow this <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Eilidh-Macfarlane" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">link</span></a>:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Eilidh-Macfarlane"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.justgiving.com/Eilidh-Macfarlane</span></a></span></div>
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h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-83513365202231400392012-07-10T13:41:00.004+01:002012-07-10T14:27:45.752+01:00The Quadrathlon!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may already be aware that my family are a bit fruity and very nutty!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some are sporty and some not so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing, however is sure, we all look out for each other and would do anything to help another...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, almost anything...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James is my (wee) cousin and on Saturday he will embark on a crazy challenge:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">loch tay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://www.artemisgreatkindrochit.com/">The Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon</a></strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"is an exhilarating test of stamina, strength and fitness through some of the most spectacular and historic areas of the Scottish Highlands. You’ll need to be on form – this is a tough event!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what does this involve, I hear you ask:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>0.8 miles swim</strong></span> across Loch Tay from Ardtalnaig</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>7 mile canoe</strong></span> back to Ardtalnaig</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">34 mile cycle</span></strong> clockwise around Loch Tay</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And on to the finish where the clock will stop when a melon is slayed by the sword!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James and Robbie are raising money for the two nominated charities </span><a href="http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mercy Corps</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.marysmeals.org/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mary's Meals</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but also for Whizzy Wheels. As I said, my family are fruit and nuts but they are all heart too and I am touched that the boys are doing this crazy Challenge for Eilidh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So go on, James and Robbie, do us proud, you maddies!</span><br />
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<br /></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-30560271825155036882012-04-11T16:25:00.000+01:002012-07-10T15:46:29.727+01:00Snappie - one year on<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snappie the </span><a href="http://www.dragonmobility.com/snapdragon.php"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snapdragon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> came into our lives a little over a year ago; she has not solved all of our problems - far from it! - but, with time, she has brought fun to our family (just as Dan from </span><a href="http://www.dragonmobility.com/index.php"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dragonmobility</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> promised).
Snappie is most definitely a girl: temperamental, bolshie and really quite gallus - perhaps she has inherited this characteristics from her proud owner?
Snappie is fast and can turn on a tuppence; she even does wheelspins! She's travelled through parks and fields, seen the sights at museums and now ventures to nursery. She's been clarty, mankie and pretty maukit too. I think that Snappie thrives on thrills and excitement - a bit like Eilidh!</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">extreme flowery makeover</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Snappie we have come far in the last year from a point of </span><a href="http://touchandtickle.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/snappie-this-post-should-carry-warning.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hatred </span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (yes, I would put it that strongly!) to one of acceptance - well kind of! We have said </span><a href="http://touchandtickle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/bugaboo-blues.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">goodbye to the buggy</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and moved on to independence through the wee Micro first then to Snappie. From her</span><a href="http://touchandtickle.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/well-here-she-is.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> first moves</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, to becoming </span><a href="http://touchandtickle.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/have-nice-day.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more confident</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, to now playing "tig!" with Niamh, Eilidh is blossoming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eilidh loves Snappie - that much is evident as her eyes light up at the mention of heading out with her - and loves the independence that she has gained from having a friend like Snappie. Eilidh's love is contagious, she is teaching us about life with Snappie; she is breaking down walls and leading the way in her own definite and distinguished way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So once again, thank you to everyone who made this possible through </span><a href="http://whizzywheels.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Whizzy Wheel Fund</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and thank you to all at Dragonmobility who made and continue to make this possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We, as a family, can now look forward to many, many more Snappie adventures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And here's the latest instalment in the Snappie tale:</span></div>
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<br />h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-39219471010401850172012-04-05T09:36:00.000+01:002012-04-05T09:36:05.622+01:00Toddling Wheels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wrote a letter in January to a man; he is the head of servies at the local wheelchair services and rehabilitation centre. In essence I was asking him to meet Eilidh and help us maintain her independence, but core to this letter was also my want to allow others in a similar situation to gain their whizzy wheels quickly so that they could be as mobile as possible at an early age:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Eilidh has a neuromuscular condition which does not affect her intellect or her cognition. Eilidh is like many other children with SMA and other neuromuscular conditions and can use equipment that some disabled wheelchair users may not be able to use and at an early age when they would naturally be becoming mobile. Mobility is an extremely important element in not only the physical development of a toddler and child, but also in terms of their language and social development: we strongly believe that Eilidh’s speech and language improved as a result of her becoming independent in her Micro. Early mobility will promote self-exploration, motor learning, visuo-spatial awareness, social development, confidence and cognition. Children with progressive neuromuscular weakness will benefit from energy efficient light weight wheelchairs at an early age and I ask that you consider seeing children diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy grade 2 or 3 early to enable them to become mobile as early as possible."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next month I had an appointment with our OT at the centre and head of services joined us, with Eilidh as our smiling mediator:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Almost defensively, I ask "I hope that you don't think that I'm being a bolshy parent?" and what i heard in reply surprised me, "No, I agree with you".</span></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wow! </span></span></b></i><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the head of services agrees!</span></span></b></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And so we talked about Eilidh and her experiences with her <a href="http://www.panthera.se/panthera_eng/products/Micro.htm">Panthera Micro</a> - oh, how she rocked that chair! - and now her Bambino. We talked of her Action3 Junior and how it really wasn't suitable for her to use and maintain her independence because it was too heavy and cumbersome. He told me that I had done a good job - too good! - because they would be unable to source a lighter chair for Eilidh, but they could look at the Action3 Junior and see if they could adapt that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">By then the most important part of the conversation was about providing lightweight self-propelling chairs for newly diagnosed SMA children. We talked of the cost of the chair - which he didn't think was unreasonable as it is comparable to the cost of an adult chair - and I suggested perhaps having a bank of them as they could be reconditioned and reused. He agreed but did state that parents are often very reluctant to use reconditioned equipment for their children - surely it would be better to have your child exploring their environment early than worrying about the newness of the equipment? We talked of the small number of children in Scotland with neuromuscular conditions which would mean that the initial outlay for panthera chairs would be costly - but what cost can you put on a child's independence? Not wanting to be beaten by cost, I suggested a Scotland wide bank of chairs and he said that it would be something that the wheelchair services could certainly consider and he would discuss it further with the other centres.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With the adult chat out of the way, Eilidh was able to show off her cheeky, stubborn, independent streak and we all walked out to reception to say our goodbyes...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I might not have realised improved independence for my daughter, but hopefully - fingers and toes crossed - wheelchair services will seriously consider providing newly diagnosed children with lightweight manual chairs to toddle and explore with. I just need to go and chase him now for his written reply...</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-77659218745974759642011-11-29T18:21:00.000+00:002011-11-29T18:21:51.358+00:00X-Factor-Tastic!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ndsp5BVt2jY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are one of the many (or few!) who don't watch <a href="http://xfactor.itv.com/">X-Factor</a>...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The X-Factor Finalists, along with JLS and One Direction have covered <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GooJBO4KWlE&feature=related">Rose Royce's</a> <strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Wishing on a St</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">ar</span></span></strong> and the song will raise money for children living with a life shortening disease. </span><a href="http://xfactor.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/about"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Together For Short Lives</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and 50 other charities will benefit from the proceeds from the sale of the single . These charities include </span><a href="http://www.jtsma.org.uk/index.html"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Jennifer's Trust</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> which is the only charity in the UK who solely offer services for those with SMA and their families and friends. Maggie, an Outreach Worker from JTSMA, was invaluable to us in the early days after Eilidh's diagnosis, providing information and much needed support at a difficult time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>23,500</strong></span> children and young people in the UK are unlikely to see adulthood; these children, with their families and friends, live with their disease <strong><u>every single day</u></strong> and it not only affects them physically but also mentally and emotionally and can impact on every aspect of family life. Many, if not all, will need additional support and the charities benefiting from the sale of this single focus on improving quality of life for the families and providing help and support. These charities enable families affected by life shortening diseases to cope with the everyday.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>"Life is precious. You only get one shot. You live your life as if it was your last day and basically we try to do that every single day of the year."</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So, please, <span style="font-size: large;">please</span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">please</span> help these children live each day, with the love and support of their families and friends, as it it were their last; buy the<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wishing-Star-Factor-Finalists-2011/dp/B005WKIOMO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322587066&sr=8-2"> single</a> and make a difference today... Life is so <em>very</em> precious...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More information about the Lloyd Family - as featured on the link above - can be found </span><a href="http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/xf-eu/downloads/the-lloyd-family.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-38482027546948209832011-10-24T09:34:00.000+01:002011-10-24T09:34:09.220+01:0011/11/11 is coming...<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick and Diane are getting married!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011 they will become </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>husband and wife</strong> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and we wish them much love, laughter and happiness, now and always.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick and Diane suggested to us a while ago that they would like to dedicate their <span style="font-size: large;">wedding list</span> to Eilidh: they have been living together for over 10 years and do not feel that they need or want anything and would much rather that their guests donated to Eilidh and The Whizzy Wheel Fund. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have 2 little girls, one who is just about the same age as E and they cannot imagine what we are going through and want to support us.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are blown away and moved to tears by their kindness; so if you are visiting here to donate to their wedding list,<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong> thank you</strong></span> and we look forward to seeing you at the wedding to celebrate Nick and Diane's marriage.</span></div></div><br />
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<input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" /><span style="font-size: x-small;">To donate, please click on the button below and it will take you through to paypal</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_GB/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online." border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/GB/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" />h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-69537978661521299062011-09-12T19:08:00.000+01:002011-09-12T19:08:09.952+01:00A Big Thank You!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We need to say a<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> huge</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">big</span> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>THANK YOU</strong></span> to <a href="http://www.diageo.com/en-row/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Diageo</strong></span></a> for matching the sponsor monies raised by Mary Colgan during the West Whizzyland Way Walk.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mary raised a staggering <span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>£1000</em></strong></span> and Diageo have matched this and donated £1000 directly to the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1747172015">Muscular Dystrophy Campaign</a></span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Thank you Diageo for supporting such a worthwhile charity from all at Whizzy Wheel Central!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/"></a></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-22065881019609713472011-09-06T12:29:00.000+01:002011-09-06T16:41:53.985+01:00A is for August & Awareness<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdBAhQzUxsglttSWHqNLx5HlQYrDYMZ7zozk97dJJQxvm6dEwSyX33sgLM07yUcZoiYU9y5edDtJzIiMSHOR2-vUNOVxCNw46dVgx7A5AY-rzyk-6Xi1v5F0U1I6C1j6-d5NEim-2GuH3/s1600/sma+awareness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdBAhQzUxsglttSWHqNLx5HlQYrDYMZ7zozk97dJJQxvm6dEwSyX33sgLM07yUcZoiYU9y5edDtJzIiMSHOR2-vUNOVxCNw46dVgx7A5AY-rzyk-6Xi1v5F0U1I6C1j6-d5NEim-2GuH3/s320/sma+awareness.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">two candles by h0pefulmummy</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">August is gone now and the days take on an autumnal feel. August was Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) awareness month in the States. <span class="byline_intro"><a href="http://www.fsma.org/Home/">Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy</a> has been coordinating a National Awareness Month for SMA since 1996. They hope that by raising the public's awareness of SMA they could realise increased resources for SMA research and better care for SMA patients. The sad truth is, the majority of people, including doctors, nurses and allied health care professionals, do not know about SMA until it directly affects them. </span></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On Saturday 13th August people all over the States lit candles as the sun set to remember those lost to SMA and to give hope to those still living with the disease. I lit two candles that night - one for Eilidh and one for all the other children who have lived or who are living with this genetic disease.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>1 in 40 of us are carriers.</strong></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a doctor my first experience of SMA was in a neonatal unit; the baby boy had SMA 1. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My next experience was sitting in a neurology clinic with my daughter, "She probably has a myopathy or a muscular dystrophy. It could be Spinal Muscular Atrophy." </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">SMA doesn't happen very often in the lifetime of a doctor. In my lifetime, however, I see it every day.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Approximately 100 new cases are diagnosed each year.</strong></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why don't we know more about SMA in the UK? To be honest, I'm not very sure. SMA is one of the <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>most common life-threatening inherited diseases</strong></span>, second only to Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and yet we are very much more aware of CF as a disease and the affect it has on those who have it. 1 in 25 of us carry the cystic fibrosis gene; 1 in 40 the SMA gene. Approximately 260 babies are born each year with CF; 100 babies per year are born with SMA. In CF, as in SMA, in any pregnancy where both parents are carriers there is a 25% chance that the baby will have CF. Only half of those living with CF are likely to live past their late thirties: SMA affects individuals differently with SMA 1 children maybe living until they are 2 and SMA 2 children will perhaps live until adulthood.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, knowing that Cystic Fibrosis and Spinal Muscular atrophy have similar genetics and that they are both life-threatening, I'll ask the question again, <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>why are we not more aware of SMA in the UK?</strong></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It's a question I have asked myself frequently since Eilidh was diagnosed with SMA. There seems to be so little awareness of SMA within the general public but also, more worryingly within medical professionals and allied staff. What can we do to increase awareness, promote and fund research and raise money to support those living with SMA? I'm not sure; I need to consider this seriously and take action - small steps towards making a difference. Do you have any suggestions? Did you know anything about SMA before reading this blog? What do you know of CF? Are you surprised that so many similarities exist between SMA and CF? I certainly was when I read up on the hard facts. Now that I know though, how can I change our, the public's, way of thinking towards SMA? Let me think it over...</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world for one person."</strong></div><div style="text-align: right;"><strong><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;">Paul Spear</span></span></strong></div></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-50011145581874853252011-09-06T12:19:00.001+01:002011-09-06T12:19:17.804+01:00"'Twas the Month..."<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was writing the previous post I stumbled across this poem at <a href="http://fsma.org/">Families of SMA</a>. It's more about SMA 1 but the feelings expressed are those felt by any parent coming to terms with life with SMA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘<strong>Twas The Month of SMA Awareness</strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Twas the month of SMA awareness, and all over the world </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Against all new mothers, sweet babies are curled. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their newborn clothes hung in the closet with care, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In hopes that they soon will be big enough to wear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These babies are nestled all snug in their beds, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While visions of birthday parties dance in their parents' heads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First bike rides, first dances, a high school graduation - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps even sending out their wedding invitations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When at the doctor's office, there will arise such a clatter, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Specialists will be called, to see what's the matter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Away for tests, these babies are whisked like a flash, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For it's something far worse than a cough or a rash. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blood draws, MRIs, and so much more to go, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You shake your head, cry, scream out the word "NO!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something that's worse than any of your fears - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your child's life may be over in less than two years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"SMA" the doctors say, and you stumble on the words, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This isn't a name that you've ever heard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why weren't you tested, before your baby came? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spinal Muscular Atrophy, you shudder at the name. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now pulse ox, now cough assist, now bipap and g-tube. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They can't cough, they can't breathe, they'll choke on their own food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the therapist's office! Break down insurance's wall! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Respiratory treatments, surgery, surgery for all! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you learn your child, your worries will fly, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you meet with an obstacle, you will fight - sometimes cry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So up against the world, to the naysayers, say "Shoo!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You and your child have lots of living to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then, in a twinkling, your child will grow, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When all those doctors told you to prepare for them to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You realize that your child is the one making the rules, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it's leaving these doctors stumbling like fools. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though your child may never put weight on a foot, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are stronger than most - you can tell with a look. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are always moving forward, no time to look back, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So inspiring, they leave no time for you to slack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their eyes - how they twinkle! Their faces - so sweet! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their skin is so soft, minds as sharp as any you'll meet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mouths that may never utter a word, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These children don't need voices to be heard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have parents - our children are blessings bestowed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To enrich our lives, to help us be bold. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To teach us that what we feel in our heart, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is more than enough to give us a start. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To find them a cure, to show them we care, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To tell them no matter what, we'll always be there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fighting with doctors, with insurance, with school. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To give them the chance, to provide them the tools. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to spread on the message, to get out the word - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because we're their voices, we need to be heard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not just this month, though it's a good place to start. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Determination must be in EVERY heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we'll fundraise, we'll write, we'll blog and we'll sell, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We'll bake, we'll sew, and always we'll tell </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All about this disease. Until SMA is out of sight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we can say - without a bipap, without a feeding pump, without a pulse ox - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My child, sleep </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tight."</span> <br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barb Zahn</span></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-17764404302145893482011-07-29T10:16:00.001+01:002011-07-29T16:12:41.789+01:00The West Whizzyland Way Totaltastic Total!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the day that we've been waiting for...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>BIG </strong></span>announcement!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 27th May <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://www.the-company.com/">Fish</a></strong></span> and his intrepid walkers took to <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>The</strong> <strong>West Whizzyland Way</strong></span> aka The West Highland Way to raise money for <a href="http://theturbotrust.org/"><strong>The Turbo Trust</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/"><strong>The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign</strong></a><strong>, The Whizzy Wheel Fund </strong>and<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.jtsma.org.uk/"><strong>Jennifer's Trust</strong></a>. They walked through four seasons in one day - experiencing some awful weather, wind blown tents and soggy sleeping bags along the way - to complete the world renowned walk in 7 days.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/85061570/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img 376?="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/85061570_iUWXLS0r_c.jpg" width="554" /></a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 96 miles <a href="http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/home.asp"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>The West Highland Way</strong></span></a> starts at Milngavie passes through Mugdock Country Park, follows the shores of Loch Lomond, passing Ben Lomond, through Glen Falloch and Strathfillan, crossing Rannoch Moor, past Buachaille Etive Mor to the head of Glencoe, climbing the Devil’s Staircase, descending to sea level to cross the River Leven at the head of Loch Leven before entering Lairigmor and Glen Nevis and finishes at Gordon Square in Fort William. The beautiful landscape changes from lowland moors, dense woodland and rolling hills, to high mountainous landscapes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Each and every walker walked their little socks off and I am <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>proud</strong></span> of them all. I am also very <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>grateful and thankful</strong></span> for every mile that they have walked, not only for Eilidh but for the three charities that we support. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmSMadrW92ALM84EwWMZ7RX_DQpvppbXt5mU8R4IlUf2X0WK7YiZgbt4LAE2lz0aeeeAfR3av4H5he9QQ-D5Y1r1iQLWGKUg4qN7dykLcV8MG9eWG0QBdpdkPFX8yHw9lAAwBI0ufc3lO/s1600/the+very+beginning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmSMadrW92ALM84EwWMZ7RX_DQpvppbXt5mU8R4IlUf2X0WK7YiZgbt4LAE2lz0aeeeAfR3av4H5he9QQ-D5Y1r1iQLWGKUg4qN7dykLcV8MG9eWG0QBdpdkPFX8yHw9lAAwBI0ufc3lO/s640/the+very+beginning.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the very beginning...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">t.h.a.n.k y.o.u !</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Christoph Free, Mary Colgan, John Strain, Janice Booth, Jamie Symington, Caroline Thain, Jim Mitchell, Gill Adams, Nick & Cath Jefferson and Bella, Jim Pender, John Boyle, Ian Marshall, Graeme Congalton, Rab Purdie, Drew Sutherland</strong> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(who unfortunately couldn't make it to the walk through injury - hope that it's better!),</span> <strong>Joe Vincent, Ian Allan </strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(even though he was getting married)</span><strong> and Sue Arber.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you to <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Ian Mitchell</strong></span> for driving the support vehicle and generally looking out for the walkers - what a great help you were! A total foot-saver!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks also to <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Ross Prentice</strong></span> for donating the fuel to shuttle everyone and their luggage to and fro between camps - the support vehicle would have been stuck without it! Thank you for your kind donation. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have to say a big thank you to <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Fish</strong></span> because without him this wouldn't have been possible; he<em> brought</em> these people together, they <u>wanted</u> to walk with <em>him</em>. Fish, you rock! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2y4lzx-4ef7UpjcJKF8Rl7F_Esr45OosOInxePF3L9Sz9lZKL_8I95eDGm8PL2iNv5RpibexL4ddlF7BHdrQ4BlwjMZ3WWrexHKzGhURw-UwvGnl_fk3yXZTOVZLIaK3jSQUdNrjmudD/s1600/fish+at+the+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2y4lzx-4ef7UpjcJKF8Rl7F_Esr45OosOInxePF3L9Sz9lZKL_8I95eDGm8PL2iNv5RpibexL4ddlF7BHdrQ4BlwjMZ3WWrexHKzGhURw-UwvGnl_fk3yXZTOVZLIaK3jSQUdNrjmudD/s400/fish+at+the+off.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@ the off</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">t.h.a.n.k y.o.u !</span></strong></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And to Eilidh's granny, aka <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>Rock Chick Granny;</strong></span> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB13ZULa51uaZPq7SXqpRfTL2jaqeUCvEkM9ri0pXVp6lEBMNAFXzx9SRB4NS_IgLVLf4fPs8dFlnp-iqqlm1EL2I3-WaaDBom_RF-ryL5s6WeZ_mUxakHtq7yqr2Yfi-_Yfm8HIZbhZa/s1600/252719_165105056887442_100001638470301_401765_6615224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB13ZULa51uaZPq7SXqpRfTL2jaqeUCvEkM9ri0pXVp6lEBMNAFXzx9SRB4NS_IgLVLf4fPs8dFlnp-iqqlm1EL2I3-WaaDBom_RF-ryL5s6WeZ_mUxakHtq7yqr2Yfi-_Yfm8HIZbhZa/s1600/252719_165105056887442_100001638470301_401765_6615224_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the end... at last!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>t.h.a.n.k y.o.u !</strong></span></span></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Without you <u>none</u> of this could have happened! Your love for Eilidh is abundant - you would do <em>anything</em> for her and here you are walking 96 miles with a dodgy knee to raise money for her and the charities who have supported us over the last year - </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">what a fantastic grannie you are!</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And now...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">drum roll please...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">the final total is</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">a <strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">whopping,</span></span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">a </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>staggering,</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>£8304.47!</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">How awesome!</span> </strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">t.h.a.n.k y.o.u !</span> <span style="font-size: large;">t.h.a.n.k y.o.u !</span> t.h.a.n.k y.o.u !</span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to everyone involved and to all of you who donated money and to <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Fish</strong></span> fans the wide world over - <strong><span style="font-size: large;">you</span></strong> did this! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;"><strong>t.h.a.n.k y.o.u !</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(M<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">onies divided as such: £3094.47 The Turbo Trust; £3000 The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign; £1209.97 The Whizzy Wheels Fund - donated directly for this fund; £1000 The Jennifer's Trust)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Please note that the total is not including gift aid from monies raised through Justgiving)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-13170569049694598632011-07-23T21:37:00.000+01:002011-07-23T21:37:19.952+01:00"Have a nice day!"<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We <em>certainly</em> have today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sun was shining, the skies were blue </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Eilidh was <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>totally independent</strong></span> in her snapdragon!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>totally independent!</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What an </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>amazing day!</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so very, <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>very</strong></span> proud of her;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eilidh, you <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>r.o.c.k.e.d</strong></span> the Snappie today!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t7jhFtMkXZc" width="425"></iframe>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-16123189627556435932011-07-23T07:57:00.000+01:002011-07-23T07:57:10.717+01:00Some "tri"ing love<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A not-so-random act of kindness, but it has blown us away no less!</span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZi5vJK82n6KqMqG4BAKg8eL0y0WNnJrWw7g_mzDzvHhEf20pS9lw-lQDFO0icf2dnwoeJkmF9pLu6Pdg2nBDVQ9ycS2CqG0UMnBYFaGL0uAGs_sQz9A6RZcw_irRoT5oFHPS4feEfNT8/s1600/bron+tri.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZi5vJK82n6KqMqG4BAKg8eL0y0WNnJrWw7g_mzDzvHhEf20pS9lw-lQDFO0icf2dnwoeJkmF9pLu6Pdg2nBDVQ9ycS2CqG0UMnBYFaGL0uAGs_sQz9A6RZcw_irRoT5oFHPS4feEfNT8/s1600/bron+tri.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bronnie (left) ready for the off!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wee cuz Bronnie presented me with a piggy bank recently - a collection of pennies from work colleagues and friends for a triathlon that she had completed in the Cotswolds on 5th June:</span></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>she swam 200m</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>she biked 20km</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>she ran 2.5km</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to raise some pennies for miss eilidh</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bronnie's a <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>superhero</strong></span> in our eyes!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and here it is, the <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>amazing totally total-tastic total</strong></span> that she raised</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">£188.68!!!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thank you, <span style="font-size: large;">thank you</span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">thank you, bronnie!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">love you loads</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxx</span>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-1572696337372923692011-07-22T07:57:00.000+01:002011-07-23T08:14:54.482+01:00Oswald are "pledge"ing<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom and </span><a href="http://www.oswaldtheband.com/index.php"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>Oswald</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are very much still trying to raise money for The Whizzy Wheel Fund.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through </span><a href="http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/oswald"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Pledge</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> they are trying to raise money to launch and tour with their new album "how much rug? how much carpet?" by selling merchandise and very special rarities... for example, a guitar, tom's tooth, a gig in your own home or a song written for you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oswald <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>ROCK!</em></strong></span> and we are so pleased that they continue to support us</span> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So spread the word and support <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>Oswald</strong></span>... but a CD, purchase a guitar or get a song written for you.... and go and see them on Sunday 24th July at Maggie Mays, Glasgow... they will bring the roof down!</span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And here's an oldie but a goodie...<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HZlOhlscmh4" width="425"></iframe>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-84868305728796774302011-05-27T08:40:00.000+01:002011-05-27T08:40:26.003+01:001 year<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdUwG0_RoWjlOOdrfMu502L0UoR-0VrQItMtDe4Th-7x6O5VGizMp_MEN4xQF19nwRyuGuNM7MEf9Y6YZMgXkhy2gjUiybkl7RQNZIUA8Q2q0qC2UNlfyxMv3B42imAreYX5JXzgdGkvq/s1600/female-spinal-muscular-atrophywj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdUwG0_RoWjlOOdrfMu502L0UoR-0VrQItMtDe4Th-7x6O5VGizMp_MEN4xQF19nwRyuGuNM7MEf9Y6YZMgXkhy2gjUiybkl7RQNZIUA8Q2q0qC2UNlfyxMv3B42imAreYX5JXzgdGkvq/s200/female-spinal-muscular-atrophywj.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>1 year.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>365 days.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>8760 hours.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>525600 minutes.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>42048000 heart beats.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>From Spring</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>To Summer,</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Through Autumn & Winter</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>And back to Spring again.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>It has felt like a lifetime in our family</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>And we would, if we could,</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Change it in a heartbeat.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>1 year living with SMA.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Thank you Eilidh for being our guiding star.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>xxx</b></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-22859856305628436442011-05-26T09:21:00.000+01:002011-05-26T09:21:47.451+01:0024<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>24 hours</strong></span> til the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>West Whizzyland Way Walk!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walkers are packing... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tents and gear</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mars bars and jelly</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">beer and whisky.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What will the weather do?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rain or Shine, </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wind and Hail?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will the volcanic ash stay away?</span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will be with you every step of the way fabulous walkers... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, at least to send you off properly with a wee wave goodbye!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You have done a fab job of fundraising so far...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We are totally humbled!</span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We - well, Fish has! - have featured in some online ROCK! magazines <a href="http://www.planetrock.com/newscentre/rock-news/fish-hits-the-highlands-for-charity-1975">here</a> and <a href="http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/fish-to-do-charity-walk/">here</a>...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so if you are visiting - <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>hello!</strong></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But perhaps most importantly, there is still time to donate and make a difference to some one's life as we are fund raising for Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, Turbo Trust, Jennifer's Trust and Eilidh's Whizzy Wheels.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Donate here...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick" /><br />
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</form>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-8046950010914813252011-05-24T11:03:00.025+01:002011-10-24T09:21:51.150+01:00THE Wedding of the Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA22SHbe673KPnKio2-IRppr3mBLp0Y4YKARPrIRUaJ2dejbbCw5WTbIIqLzE0Ml_3swxeVHQ67KdLy1LtMWOsb5jAsDJbEpIkfRxVLZpdMcPPryNPdb3OJDpFDghrstk0OpPzykgqICzA/s1600/nick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA22SHbe673KPnKio2-IRppr3mBLp0Y4YKARPrIRUaJ2dejbbCw5WTbIIqLzE0Ml_3swxeVHQ67KdLy1LtMWOsb5jAsDJbEpIkfRxVLZpdMcPPryNPdb3OJDpFDghrstk0OpPzykgqICzA/s1600/nick.png" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick and Diane are getting married!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Whoopeeeeeeeee!!!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011 they will become </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>husband and wife</strong> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and we wish them much love, laughter and happiness, now and always.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick and Diane suggested to us a while ago that they would like to dedicate their <span style="font-size: large;">wedding list</span> to Eilidh: they have been living together for over 10 years and do not feel that they need or want anything and would much rather that their guests donated to Eilidh and The Whizzy Wheel Fund. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have 2 little girls, one who is just about the same age as E and they cannot imagine what we are going through and want to support us.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are blown away and moved to tears by their kindness; so if you are visiting here to donate to their wedding list,<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong> thank you</strong></span> and we look forward to seeing you at the wedding to celebrate Nick and Diane's marriage.</span></div></div><br />
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<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" /><span style="font-size: x-small;">To donate, please click on the button below and it will take you through to paypal</span><br />
<input name="hosted_button_id" type="hidden" value="TC4RJP4VHME24" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_GB/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online." border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/GB/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /></form>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-32080175479944240302011-05-20T10:23:00.000+01:002011-05-20T10:23:41.229+01:00MomentumFundraising for the <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>West Whizzyland Way Walk</strong></span> next week is gaining momentum...<br />
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It's <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>amazing </strong></span>to watch!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are humbled by everyone's kindness and generosity so far, but please keep donating...</span><br />
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All monies will be split between<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Turbo Trust</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Jennifer's Trust</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">& Eilidh's Whizzy Wheels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Thank you</strong></span> to everyone who has already donated - <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">you will make a difference to someone's life.</span>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-80997304857203249022011-05-18T13:06:00.001+01:002011-05-18T17:46:06.493+01:00Rock Legend Gets WhizzyNow Eilidh's grannie, aka <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>rockchickgranny</strong></span>, works for <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Fish</strong></span><br />
And let's be honest....<br />
What a <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>ROCK L.E.G.E.N.D</strong></span> he is!<br />
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Today Fish announced on <a href="http://www.the-company.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4179">The Company website</a> that He, some of his fans and rockchickgranny are walking the West Highland Way for Eilidh and some of her favourite charities!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Wow-weeeeeeeeeeeeee!</em></strong></span><br />
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So get your walking boots on and join them if you are interested:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>"WEST HIGHLAND WAY</strong></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: small;">27TH MAY – 2ND JUNE</span></blockquote></strong></span><br />
<blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">As many of you know Elspeth’s 2 year old granddaughter Eilidh has been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 and, although very bright, cheeky, and mischievous, is now wheelchair dependent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
The monies raised from this year’s walk will be shared between <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eilidh’s Whizzy Wheel Fund</span> (<a class="postlink" href="http://www.whizzywheels.blogspot.com/">http://www.whizzywheels.blogspot.com/</a>), a fund solely providing equipment for Eilidh, and three charities who have been instrumental in helping Eilidh and her family over the last few months: <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign</strong></span> (<a class="postlink" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/">http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/</a>), <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>The Turbo Trust</strong></span> (<a class="postlink" href="http://www.theturbotrust.org/">http://www.theturbotrust.org/</a>) and <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Jennifer’s Trust</strong></span> (<a class="postlink" href="http://www.jtsma.org.uk/">http://www.jtsma.org.uk/</a>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">thanks for all your support with this <br />
all the best<br />
Fish"</div></blockquote><div class="back2top"></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-75702928329684025012011-05-16T16:32:00.000+01:002011-05-16T16:32:01.706+01:00Eilidh's Moves!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/1l_XWtE6H28/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1l_XWtE6H28&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1l_XWtE6H28&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so, so sorry that I haven't posted in ages, but here is a <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>world exclusive!</strong></span> (well, not quite!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After some <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"peep-peep"</span>ing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"up.... down"</span>ing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lots of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">round</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">an</span>droundandroundandround</em></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and with some <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">tantalising and teasing</span> with marshmallows...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eilidh finally moves with purpose and direction...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Check her out!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so <strong><em>very</em></strong> proud of her...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Thank you</strong></span> once again to everyone who has made this possible:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are forever endebted to your kindness and generosity.</span></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-24297281960822562262011-04-13T13:39:00.000+01:002011-04-13T13:39:31.760+01:00Donations for The West Whizzyland Way Walk<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a page for the walkers of </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>The West Whizzyland Way Walk</strong></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to link to for their sponsors and donations...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Best of luck</strong></span> with your Fund Raising and </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Thank you, <span style="font-size: large;">Thank you</span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you!</span></strong></span><br />
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<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick" /><br />
<input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="TC4RJP4VHME24" /><br />
<input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/GB/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online." /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_GB/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to thank <strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah Ki</span>dd</strong> for the love, care and attention that she puts into each individual and unique Hugo... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that each stitch goes someway to show that she puts her heart and soul into Hugo with the hope that he will make a little one's day a little brighter...</span></div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXxg0GcnSowZzJxRdRrNrK9-r3o8aQcyu8vsb79oHc1RTy616CjgOhWUeTF2CBlbiGC8ZuvUf4RkyxiJsGf54L9IOLLebJqwx-AV_GyEMwbVS85uY4o1xJDAZCL9hSUoXzIm0390c-bCL/s1600/hugo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXxg0GcnSowZzJxRdRrNrK9-r3o8aQcyu8vsb79oHc1RTy616CjgOhWUeTF2CBlbiGC8ZuvUf4RkyxiJsGf54L9IOLLebJqwx-AV_GyEMwbVS85uY4o1xJDAZCL9hSUoXzIm0390c-bCL/s400/hugo3.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo Mouse</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L-EDOiyrAxfbfTqvbtEMC3XqapwNGSXVr71xJS7OmZRUIUjW7Pjz-cccbHaIqaATUYZhzd-yPGds8KycRlcNLkjiVs5fXSNyxOxV4K5oLQZSdrH8QQ4vYlF2_9NFxCE8lSiuwYoXJ_El/s1600/hugo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L-EDOiyrAxfbfTqvbtEMC3XqapwNGSXVr71xJS7OmZRUIUjW7Pjz-cccbHaIqaATUYZhzd-yPGds8KycRlcNLkjiVs5fXSNyxOxV4K5oLQZSdrH8QQ4vYlF2_9NFxCE8lSiuwYoXJ_El/s320/hugo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo & Friends</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And some of the little details I <span style="font-size: large;"><em>adore</em></span>...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heart full of hope x</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each little stitch of love</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to the shining stars, Eilidh and Hugo, with</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Love & Laughter</strong></span>,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hope & Grace</span>,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">and</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Touch & Tickle</strong></span>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best buddies</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Thank you</strong></span>, Sarah for being so <em>very</em></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong> </strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inspirational</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxx</span>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-58702141180409418852011-04-11T11:18:00.000+01:002011-04-11T11:18:32.872+01:00the MADs!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been nominated in the <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://www.the-mads.com/index.htm">MADS 2011</a></strong></span> which celebrates the best of UK Mum and Dad blogs!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's more I've been nominated for the Most Inspiring Mad Blogger Award sponsored by Mothercare... how awesome is that! Especially considering I'm just trying to do my best for my daughter! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you would like to nominate me again - the blogs with the most nominations go through to the next round - please hit the button on the right and fill in the form..</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSao2ScnoSHU1AOnjIPZQFsMyJOOfVcPdQVocY2Cg781moXHuvrwtPOaxcINsjz1SW88QCCkA0o0vkdpYqNlzyWMVhQeQmpFxjGNNS55WU9VVcoL_ueAnNIlNHdpWBggWSSJ5Pujnyt85K/s1600/MADs2011NominatedBadge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSao2ScnoSHU1AOnjIPZQFsMyJOOfVcPdQVocY2Cg781moXHuvrwtPOaxcINsjz1SW88QCCkA0o0vkdpYqNlzyWMVhQeQmpFxjGNNS55WU9VVcoL_ueAnNIlNHdpWBggWSSJ5Pujnyt85K/s1600/MADs2011NominatedBadge.jpg" /></a></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764369938558223532.post-55855492032832204862011-04-03T20:38:00.000+01:002011-04-03T20:38:31.095+01:00A Retirement Gift<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Retirement Gift and yet so much more...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend's dad Kenny has worked for the past <span style="font-size: x-large;">30</span> years for North Lanarkshire Council as an Emergency Planning Officer. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He retired last week and he decided that he wanted his Retirement Gift collection to go Eilidh and her Whizzy Wheels...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well... he has just donated <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>£315</strong></span> in cash </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(and there has also been a few paypal donations too.)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How <span style="font-size: large;"><em>totally</em></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>fantastic!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so very humbled: Thank you, Thank You, Mr M!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">oh, and <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">"Happy Retirement"...</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy being a full-time Grandpa and Taxi Driver</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">;)</span></div>h0peful mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065600149249551888noreply@blogger.com0