We were supposed to be on a mini break but due to a family medical complication this had to be postponed. Instead we enjoyed ‘Fine Dining’ at Chez Nous.
12 Comments CherryPie on Feb 15th 2024
… on Valentine’s Day xx
10 Comments CherryPie on Feb 14th 2024
We arrived at the hospital to visit the patient who we last saw in the Escalation area, pending hospital admission. The Escalation area is basically a corridor between A&E and the hospital wards.
The patient was no longer registered on the A&E system and was now in AMU (Acute Medical Unit).
We had arrived too early for visiting hours which start at 12.30 so we walked for lunch in the nearby Bowring Park taking the long way there and back. The walk gave me a chance to photograph a lovely sculpture located near to the park.
Back at the hospital the patient seemed almost back to normal but as we left, I knew that was not the case. This was confirmed later by a phone call.
Sadly, this means we will have to postpone our imminent Stratford adventure…
12 Comments CherryPie on Feb 12th 2024
True change is within; leave the outside as it is.
Dalai Lama XIV
10 Comments CherryPie on Feb 11th 2024
Today, there was a need for me to visit (just visiting) my local hospital, several times. In between visits we had lunch in the Furnace Kitchen at Coalbrookdale where I chose a croissant filled with butternut squash, caramelized onion and Feta cheese. It was delicious.
Currently many routes to Coalbrookdale are subjected to roadworks and closure. This meant that we had to take the long route home via ‘The Oxbow’ which is stunning after the recent heavy rainfall.
With my hospital walks and a little bit of food shopping (miles) I clocked up at 4.75 miles.
2 Comments CherryPie on Feb 10th 2024
One of my aspirations after I took early retirement was to become a volunteer in the Visitor Reception Area at Attingham Park. I regularly checked volunteer opportunities at Attingham but the result was always ‘no volunteering opportunities currently available’.
Then we had Covid-19 interrupting normality leading me to stop checking for volunteering opportunities.
In early January this year it was a pleasant surprise to see a Facebook post from Attingham Park seeking for volunteers. I signed up immediately and was given the opportunity for a taster session which was today. I am now signed up to volunteer and my first day is coming soon.
I am a little bit excited 
After the volunteer taster session there was time for me to explore the snowdrop walk and the walled garden. I enjoyed my walk; the snowdrops are stunning. The light level was low so my photos do not do justice to the spectacle.
20 Comments CherryPie on Feb 9th 2024
… A True Story of Love and Compassion Amid a Pandemic
Synopsis (from book cover):
When Covid-19 hit the UK and lockdown was declared, Mike Matthews wondered how his historic four-star hotel would survive. Then Shrewsbury Council called. The British government had launched a programme called ‘Everyone In’ and 33 rough sleepers needed beds. The Prince Rupert would end up taking in more than 100 homeless people for over a year – many of whom had spent decades on the streets.
This is the astonishing account of how the hotel owner, manager and accountant and their unlikely new guests spent months locked in together and wound up transforming each other’s lives.
Review:
As we get to know the homeless people who were temporary guests at the Prince Rupert Hotel, I found the book is heartwarming, uplifting and sad in equal measures
Many of the homeless were traumatised, addicts or suffered with mental illness. We learn of their struggles and how some were able to lift themselves up to a better life whilst others were unable to break from their addictions.
The compassion, and sometimes frustration of the three hosts to the homeless shines through as does the generosity of the local people and businesses.
I thoroughly recommend this book, it gives an insight to how these ‘rough sleepers’ ended up sleeping on the streets and why some of them even when given opportunities are unable (or choose not to) to change their situation.
6 Comments CherryPie on Feb 7th 2024
