Back in June Bunny Bravehart and Claymore posted a video (here) about going to Scotland. We have just entered the 30 day window until I leave.
So I will now tell you why I am going.
I am going to visit my very good friends Elisa and Mike because Mike will be in the hospital for 7 weeks and Elisa will be home alone. Now that you know the "why" let me explain it in further detail.
Mike is to be in the hospital for radiation treatment of prostrate cancer. This has been caught very early but it still must be done. Elisa has Fibromyalgia AND Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and only drives when it is an emergency since the effort puts her into bed for several days. [We have known each other for almost 10 years and she is doing much better but when we first met, even talking on the phone would make her tired].
The hospital where Mike will be having his treatment is over an hour drive from where they live and since the radiation treatment is progressive at one point Mike would not be well enough to drive to and fro every few days. Because of this treatment and others and the distances to get to the hospital in Northern Scotland, the hospital has a facility set up where the patients can stay during long treatments or family member who are visiting can use at a very reasonable cost. Think of a Ronald McDonald House for Adults. There is also nursing care for the patients, a small kitchen for making some food or you can order a meal from the hospital and a living room where you can go to get out of your room. This is where Mike will stay during his treatment though between the fist and second week he should be fine to go home over the weekend.
As you can see, Mike will be away and Elisa will be alone and not able to visit Mike during those 7 weeks. This made me think that she needed someone to visit who would provide company, do chores around the house and not be a guest but a helper (let's not go into the dynamics of family doing this, ok). I began to ponder the idea of ME going over to help out (it has been 5 years since I have visited). I then floated the thought to my husband who thought it was a good idea and then I called Elisa and Mike and asked them if they would like me to come over.
It was a resounding double YES! But since the date of the treatment was not book yet, we would have to wait a bit before I could make travel plans. The idea is for me to visit for two weeks smack dab in the middle of Mikes treatment thus breaking up Elisa's alone time.
And here we are - I book my flight in July and we just have to wait for September 2 and then I will be on my way. I will fly to Frankfurt and then over to Aberdeen (avoid London at all costs this summer) and once there I will be able to visit Mike at the care facility. Since I will have been traveling for almost 24 hours by the time see him, I will be able to stay the night. This will give me a chance to visit with Mike and rest before heading out the next day to the Kirkton of Auchterless. That will require a train from Aberdeen to Inverurie (20-30 minute travel time) and then a lay over for at least an hour until I can catch the bus to the bump in the road (45 minute travel time) where they live. The bus will drop me at the local school and it will be a few minute walk up the road to the house. Going home, I will revers the process.
Elisa and I have been making plans since then. This really won't be a touristy trip but that does not matter. We are planning on me doing a bit of cooking and restocking of the freezer so when I am gone, Elisa will have some great meals to eat. I will do some sewing, Elisa has asked me to make a pillow for a chair and since she is not that skilled in sewing, there will be a few beginner lessons as well and maybe another bunny to join the clan. We will watch lots of movies and WWF too. AND REST, which we both will need.
Go over to the Views of Scotland page to see new pictures too.
So I will now tell you why I am going.
I am going to visit my very good friends Elisa and Mike because Mike will be in the hospital for 7 weeks and Elisa will be home alone. Now that you know the "why" let me explain it in further detail.
Mike is to be in the hospital for radiation treatment of prostrate cancer. This has been caught very early but it still must be done. Elisa has Fibromyalgia AND Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and only drives when it is an emergency since the effort puts her into bed for several days. [We have known each other for almost 10 years and she is doing much better but when we first met, even talking on the phone would make her tired].
The hospital where Mike will be having his treatment is over an hour drive from where they live and since the radiation treatment is progressive at one point Mike would not be well enough to drive to and fro every few days. Because of this treatment and others and the distances to get to the hospital in Northern Scotland, the hospital has a facility set up where the patients can stay during long treatments or family member who are visiting can use at a very reasonable cost. Think of a Ronald McDonald House for Adults. There is also nursing care for the patients, a small kitchen for making some food or you can order a meal from the hospital and a living room where you can go to get out of your room. This is where Mike will stay during his treatment though between the fist and second week he should be fine to go home over the weekend.
As you can see, Mike will be away and Elisa will be alone and not able to visit Mike during those 7 weeks. This made me think that she needed someone to visit who would provide company, do chores around the house and not be a guest but a helper (let's not go into the dynamics of family doing this, ok). I began to ponder the idea of ME going over to help out (it has been 5 years since I have visited). I then floated the thought to my husband who thought it was a good idea and then I called Elisa and Mike and asked them if they would like me to come over.
It was a resounding double YES! But since the date of the treatment was not book yet, we would have to wait a bit before I could make travel plans. The idea is for me to visit for two weeks smack dab in the middle of Mikes treatment thus breaking up Elisa's alone time.
And here we are - I book my flight in July and we just have to wait for September 2 and then I will be on my way. I will fly to Frankfurt and then over to Aberdeen (avoid London at all costs this summer) and once there I will be able to visit Mike at the care facility. Since I will have been traveling for almost 24 hours by the time see him, I will be able to stay the night. This will give me a chance to visit with Mike and rest before heading out the next day to the Kirkton of Auchterless. That will require a train from Aberdeen to Inverurie (20-30 minute travel time) and then a lay over for at least an hour until I can catch the bus to the bump in the road (45 minute travel time) where they live. The bus will drop me at the local school and it will be a few minute walk up the road to the house. Going home, I will revers the process.
Elisa and I have been making plans since then. This really won't be a touristy trip but that does not matter. We are planning on me doing a bit of cooking and restocking of the freezer so when I am gone, Elisa will have some great meals to eat. I will do some sewing, Elisa has asked me to make a pillow for a chair and since she is not that skilled in sewing, there will be a few beginner lessons as well and maybe another bunny to join the clan. We will watch lots of movies and WWF too. AND REST, which we both will need.
Go over to the Views of Scotland page to see new pictures too.
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