A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Boats at West Bay Harbour

Well this will be my first 'proper' blog post I suppose. I hope it turns out ok. I wanted to write down what has happened over the last few days. On thursday 18th I was busy going about my daily business when suddenly my back hurt, and when I say hurt it was fucking killing me, just like that! No twinges, no aches just full on mind numbing, crying out in tears PAIN! I panicked, I cried, I phoned Mark and cried down the phone, I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe without it hurting. Oh my god I thought, I won't be able to take my trip down the Dorset to visit my mum's grave! I might even have to go to hospital! Well I managed to sort Matthew out his lunch and take him to Nursery, I don't actually know how I managed that! Mark came home early around 2.30pm and after taking some painkillers, I took myself off to bed. I tried to sleep but no, the pain was excruciating, so I lay there hoping and praying that it would be better by tomorrow as I had a four hour plus drive infront of me.

After a very painful and disturbed nights sleep, I awoke in the morning and felt alot better. My back was still painful but not quite as much as it was on the Thursday. Thank god! I thought. So I went about doing some last minute ironing and packing my small case. Then me and Matthew had lunch and I took him to Nursery. When I got back I literally threw my cases in the car and I was off! The first half of the journey from Margate to the Leatherhead area of the M25 and down part of the M3 was without problems, but when I was just past Winchester, oh shit! there was a terrible traffic jam. I hate sitting in traffic! Well after what seemed like forever, but in reality was probably only about half an hour, it cleared and I saw that the problem was due to an accident. Once I got to the A31 it became slow again due to it being Friday evening and the rush hour, so the last leg of the journey I mainly crawled along until I came into Bridport. I arrived about 6.15pm and had left at 1.00pm!

After settling in and unpacking etc, headed off for a bite to eat at the local Weatherspoons in Bridport town. Very nice and very cheap! Pork loin steaks with yummy apple sauce, chips and peas and a large glass of Rose to wash it all down. I had an early night, took my painkillers and fell asleep whilst watching a dvd around 10.00pm, snuggled up in my duvet. It was so cosy, it felt like being wrapped up in someone's Loving arms ;). The next morning I stopped at the local supermarket and picked up some Lovely flowers for my mum's grave, and then proceeded to the Church where my mum is buried. It was such a Lovely, sunny day, in fact it was a beautiful day. I put my flowers down on her grave and left my poem that I had written inside a card, there too. Had a walk around the churchyard and inside the church to write in the visitor's book. Sat down for a while and took some pictures and had a chat to a nice lady who was arranging the flowers inside the church. After leaving the church went down to West Bay and had a walk around the harbour and down to the beach. I decided I would walk up (or rather crawl!) East Cliff and my god, it's so bloody steep! I made it eventually, huffing and puffing and stopping more than once before I made it to the top. Once at the top I sat and looked out over West Bay, it's so beautiful and the sea and sky were so blue that day. I sat and reflected, and thought about my mum and how much I missed her and also thought about all the special people I have in my life now and just how much they mean to me! There was a soft breeze which felt wonderful on my skin as it was quite warm! I took loads of photographs and felt very happy just being there. Then I attempted the descent! It was a bit scary if I'm honest, I thought I would trip and tumble over and over all the way to the bottom and end up in a heap of broken arms and legs! But that didn't happen and I had done it many times before, but each time it seems to get harder and harder. I went back down to the harbour and had a wander around the shops looking for something to buy as a souvenir of my trip and then found a wonderful stall set up just by the harbour. A photographer and painter was selling his work of photographs and paintings from West Bay and I decided I would Love to get a couple to hang on my walls back home. So I went and got an ice cream and some money from the cashpoint first and sat on the harbour wall to eat it. (My ice cream not the money)! lol. When my ice cream was no more, I went back to the stall to choose my photographs. I took forever to choose the ones that I wanted but decided eventually. I will just add that when I woke up on the Saturday morning my back felt great and there was no pain whatsoever. Well basically thats the most interesting parts of my trip, I have left out a fair bit but don't want to bore anyone. All I can say is that I had a most wonderful and Lovely time and it was very, very special to me. I hope I can do it again one day soon. The drive home was without trouble, clear roads and I took it very easy 60/70 mph most of the way. When there is no need to hurry, then its much more enjoyable taking it easy and less taxing on the body than bombing along at 90 mph.

I'd just like to say thank you to the few people that made it possible for me to take this trip. You know who you are and thanks millions! It will never be forgotten. : )

Shelley 23/09/08