VIPs and Big Money

Patrick Flood Page, Chairman of British Lung Foundation Wales, Suzy Davies AM and Peter Mannion, Public Health Service Manager ABM Health Board joined us for a lively discussion covering various topics.

We were all thrilled about the progress being made to protect children from smoking in cars. Patrick and Suzy expressed concern about long term sickness and lack of cover we are getting from our COPD team - not their fault at all, no one can help being ill. We all think long term illness should be covered so that we can get the service we are promised. For two years now we have had no self referrals as one or another of the team has been ill. This means hospital admissions in some cases because of a lack of home nursing.

Peter talked about the importance of continuing exercise after pulmonary rehab and the PACE programs are finished. We all know how true that is - exercise does you good and keeps you going. Healthy muscles use less oxygen.

Then, on a really happy note, it was great to be able to hand over a cheque for £4,620 to Patrick. British Lung Foundation Wales needs every penny it gets in order to carry out its much needed work supporting all people with lung conditions in Wales.

Wysgi and a cream tea

Last Wednesday we went to the Whiskey (Wisgi) Distillery in Penderyn to see how the only Welsh Wysgi is made and how different barrels used for storage give it three very distinctive flavours. We saw the oldest bottle of Welsh Wisgi - there are only two left, Penderyn has one and Prince Charles has the other one. At the end of the tour we were all given a taste of two different types of whisky or a miniature to take home.

When we left there we went just down the road to Ty Newydd for a cream tea with a distinctive Welsh flavour. Tasty sandwiches (crusts removed), Welsh cakes, Bara Brith and scones with jam and cream, all washed down with tea or coffee.

It was a lovely afternoon and we look forward to many more like it.

A sad and spooky tale

Lillian Bath told us the story of Sarah Winchester. After the loss of her husband and baby, when she was a young woman, Sarah went on to build a rambling mansion, in California. The building went on until her death aged eighty two. It was a strange house of hidden rooms, staircases and corridors which go nowhere - all this was supposed to appease the spirits of her dead family. It was all paid for with the money made by the Winchester Rifle company.

At the meeting we agreed to give £3,000 to BLF Wales, for the brilliant work they do on behalf of all people in Wales who are living with lung conditions.

I am out and about most days with my portable LOX and love the freedom it gives me. However, this week, in this lovely autumn sunshine, I was out in my garden pruning the shrubs ready for winter. All went well for about half an hour until I suddenly felt very breathless. I realised I wasn't getting any oxygen so I stopped, fiddled with the control knob and tube connections, took my cannula out and checked it was clear and only then saw what I had done. I had grabbed my tubing in with a bunch of foliage and cut clean through it with my secateurs. Thanks to Air Products I had spare tubing so, after gasping then giggling I was able to continue my lovely afternoon in the sunshine

A change of plan

Today we should have visited the Big Pit, the Welsh Mining Museum in Blaenavon, but when we woke up the wind was buffeting the back of the house and the rain was lashing against the windows. So I rang around all our members to cancel the outing and suggested lunch instead. What a sigh of relief I got from everyone and we had a lovely lunch in a pub in Neath - a much more sensible thing for a group of people with various lung conditions to do on a wet and windy day. Derek Brockway, our weather man, promises us better weather in ten days time, so we can always have another go at the Big Pit then. But we decided today that lunch was so enjoyable that we are going to make it a regular monthly thing.

AGM and a fascinating talk

I've been a bit remiss of late and forgot to make comment on our August meeting. Maureen Webster told us about her experiences nursing in Zimbabwe - Rhodesia as it was when she first went out there, complete with a husband and two small children. She really was, and still is, a very determined lady, who braved many dangers, had an altercation with Robert Mugabe on a plane and made many friends in the remote places she worked in. I could have listened to her for much longer.
That meeting was also our AGM and it felt good to be able to congratulate ourselves on a great year, exceptional fundraising, but sadly few new members joining our group. We really must try harder this year to spread the message and let all those people out there, in the Neath Valley, with lung conditions, know what a supportive group we are and also let them know how much fun we have.

Ladies (and men) who lunch !

Last Monday, ten of us met at The Dyffren Arms for lunch. A great time had by all, the food was lovely. Why don't we do this more often ? - must get organised on this.