So we say goodbye to 2018, started off quite well.  January saw a winter break to Cyprus, March we ventured to Finland to visit Scott, so pretty but so cold.  The end of April we set off for Benidorm, what a giggle that was.  We were out every night partying until midnight, rode cycles down mountains,walked for miles to the next town. Such a good holiday.

At the end of May we bought a caravan by the sea in Cromer.  I have to add this decision was not taken lightly!  We are not risk takers and spending our life savings needed lots of consideration.  After two weeks of sleepless nights, pros and cons lists we did it, we were now happy owners of a holiday home on the Norfolk Coast.

Around this time I was starting to notice i was losing weight without trying, investigations took place and by July i was happy whencancer was ruled out by my doctors, i was given a clean bill of health!   The summer carried on, hottest ever for a long time, most weekends were spent in our bolt hole by the sea, Marleys retreat, you can work that name choice out surely?  As we went into August fatigue was becoming a serious issue, i just couldnt function, i fell asleep at every opportunity.  I noticed my right hand and right leg were weak, another visit to the doctor prompted a referral to a neurologist.  Our world changed forever on the 10th October, when Motor Neurone disease was first mentioned, the rest they say is history.  What i will say is google is a wonderful tool, however thanks to google i didnt sleep for a week! 

So as we go into 2019, i now have the official MND diagnosis, which means i can now claim benefits, wow im 54 and have never ever claimed anything that is tough!  Medically its my upper neurons that are affected more, which is basically my diaphragm, so breathing, swallowing etc.  This means my mobility is still quite good, but as my neurologist pointed out to me just last week “you dont die if your legs and arms dont work”! I understood what he meant, he doesnt beat about the bush and i know my prognosis isntgreat.  

I have a plan for the new year, i want to do a pilgrimage to Santiago De Compostela, Lesley and i toured Northern Spain 4 years ago on our motorbike.  We saw all the pilgrims walking the route then from France, and decided then it was something we wanted to do when we retired.  Well this has been brought forward for obvious reasons and i cant walk it so the plan is to do it on electric bikes.  I want to do it so that is my goal, watch this space for updates! 

Happy New Year to all of you, good health is all you need in life xx