Monday 24 April 2017

Yeah.... We did it!!!!!!!!!

Mum and Dad were super-anxious when we set off on Wednesday morning.
There were so many things that could have gone wrong... but we dealt with the challenges as they came along and had a really nice time.  I think my role as 'useful third person' contributed to this, but it's also fair to say that Llandudno is a great place to go with someone who has mobility issues.
 
We stayed at The Grand, which is right on the sea front and has fantastic views.
It's a cheap hotel to stay in and is very popular with coach parties.
(We chose it because we didn't know if Mum was going to cope with being away from home, and we didn't want to waste too much money on expensive rooms if we were forced to leave early.)


As it happens, the views from Mum and Dad's balcony were worth millions...
This was the view to the right, over the town and towards the edge of Snowdonia..

 
This was the view straight ahead across the bay...

 
And this was the view to the left, along the pier...

 
We were allocated a table on the edge of the dining room, with more superb views and plenty of space.  A seagull became convinced that Mum's hand movements were going to result in food, so it came to watch her eat at some stage during most meals...

 
The hotel keeps costs down by operating a buffet service for meals.  This is problematic for someone with HD so I got Mum's meal first, while Dad got his own, then they started eating while I quickly got my meal and caught up.  It worked ok because Mum has to eat slowly and I'm a fast eater (a teaching legacy I suspect!!)
 
On the first morning Mum managed to walk with her frame to the end of the pier...
 
 
..... then it was time for a coffee stop!

 
After lunch we even made it quite a way along the Promenade...

 
By the end of the day Mum had walked further than she had done for months.
We were all a bit bothered about how she was going to feel in the morning....
 
....To everyone's delight the gentle movement on the flat had loosen up some of her muscular problems, so we decided that everything was ok to drive up to the car park at the top of the Great Orne (the peninsular above the town).  Here's Mum with the spectacular view towards Conwy and Snowdonia...

 
Then Mum noticed the Tramway..... and the next thing we knew she'd decided that she was confident enough to tackle the steps (so typical of her fighting spirit when she's on form!).  Mum and Dad had an interesting hour riding the tram down into town and back up again, while I had a walk between the upper stations and took a few photos.

 
 I think the break/sea air did everyone a lot of good.
(Mum and Dad are very close, but they do drive each other a bit mad sometimes...
It was nice to be able to step in and 'head off' some situations before Dad's patience was tried and Mum got fractious - a difficult feature of the way HD affects the brain). 
I hope that we can do something similar later in the year.
 
AND the house was mostly in one piece when I got home!!
Jx

12 comments:

  1. This is so good to read, Jan. I cannot imagine how it would have went without you, and am happy that not only it went well, but you were able to enjoy yourself a bit too. It sounds like a lovely place to visit.

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  2. That's great, that will do so much for both of your parent's spirits.

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  3. That sounds wonderful, I'm so pleased it all went well and that you all enjoyed it. I think you found the perfect place for your mum so that she was able to do a little walking with it being flat, and a place with plenty of interest too.

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  4. Sounds like the trip was a great success and could be repeated at a later date. The hotel sounds like it was very accommodating and that can make such a difference.

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  5. Llandudno is a great place, we go often and as you say very flat so great for mobility problems

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  6. So glad it turned into a nice break for all of you. Sea air is good for the soul & evidently has loosening up powers too. Looks like a lovely place to go & although I've been to Wales it was a long time ago. Relax a little now for yourself & take care. PS, glad the house was still in one piece(giggle).

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  7. It was so good to see all of you yesterday and see the benefits of the time away. And, of course, meet the furry prince et al!

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  8. So glad everything went well and that your parents had an enjoyable time. Llandudno is great for all the flat walking areas, my parents used to stay in a hotel almost opposite the pier in a ground floor room and loved it there. Dad used to sit on the front whilst Mum loved time to herself in the shops:)

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  9. I'm so pleased it worked out, for all of you! Well done to your mum for walking so much, I hope the break has boosted her confidence. x

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  10. I'm glad the time in Llandudno for you and your parents, especially your Mum went well.

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  11. Looks like the sea air did everyone some good :) The views over the bay look gorgeous.

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