Trip Across the Pond- Aug. 9. 10, & 11

Friday, August 9- Merthyr Tydfil

            Our last day in Merthyr  & Mark is not feeling well. Micah had a stomach bug before he left to go to Northern Wales, seems he has passed it on to Mark.  What else can happen this trip?

            The news has not been good about Mom today.  She has had more strokes- TI and hemorrhagic.  Praying she hangs in until I get back.  Lisa Shellady set up Facetime so I could see her and talk for a bit.  It was very emotional, but so thankful I was able to make contact.  I looked in to changing our flight to fly home early.  It is too costly, so we will wait until Monday.  Thank heaven for the support from friends and family back home and Lynne, Dave, and Emma.  We are blessed!

            I made an American supper for everyone tonight- tacos!  Mark’s idea and he was too ill to eat them.  I enjoyed watching Gruffydd play outside- taking rides on the mower.

Saturday, Aug. 10

            We packed up for a trip into Cardiff, where we will stay until we leave for Iowa.  The boys returned from North Wales around 10:30 and repacked to move on once again.  We made our goodbyes with the Powells’ (always the hard part/ so bittersweet- can’t wait to get home, but will so miss our dear friends in Wales).

            I love Cardiff Bay & such a lovely afternoon to walk around the area.  Gruffydd enjoyed the carnival rides.  We had dinner at Entrecote- a French restaurant.  Wonderful food! 

            Mom has stabilized- no new strokes and heart is back in rhythm.

            The hotel we are staying at does not have Wi-Fi in the rooms.  At mid-night I had finished a book and couldn’t upload the next one without the Internet (sleep just wasn’t happening), so Mark and I went down to the lobby and watched an episode of “Justified” while I downloaded books to my iPad.

Sunday, Aug. 11

            We had a lovely Welsh breakfast at the hotel (we are truly sick of eggs, bacon, sausage, blood pudding, beans, and tomatoes- although we were able to get yogurt and croissants).  Unfortunately, both Emma and I seem to have been bitten by the same stomach bug Micah and Mark had a few days ago.

            Once we felt better we headed into Cardiff so Mark could tour the castle (I had already toured it last year) and Luke, Em, and Gruff went off to the park. 

Micah and I enjoyed a walk around St. David’s mall and all the little shops out on the street.

Micah and I  had a little picnic on a park bench, enjoying the sunshine and people watching. 

I do love Cardiff – it is such a beautiful city.

            Mom has a fever and cough today.  I just can’t get home fast enough.  She told Roger not to let her linger, he said “you have to hang in there until Phyllis gets back home.” She said. “I will”.  She also told him she wants to go home.  Breaks my heart.

            Mark, Micah, and I fly out at 8:30AM UK time to Dublin. If all goes well, we should land in Chicago by 1:30PM Iowa time, then a 3-hour drive home, straight to the hospital. 

            We’ve had a wonderful trip with lots of family time and memories, just a sad & stressful ending.  It will be a long time before we can come back.  We’re so hoping the kids can come to the US for the holidays or in the new year.

Trip Across the Pond- Aug. 7 & 8

Wednesday, Aug. 7- Caerphilly & Merthyr Tydfil

            We drove a short distance to Carphilly to see the castle.  It is my favorite castle so far.  The town is very nice too.  We had so much fun exploring the castle and grounds.  There was a huge grassy area for Gruffydd to run around and play with other kids.

            In the evening we went over to Clive Rees’ home to have family photos taken.  He is a wonderful photographer.  It just poured down rain while we were visiting, so of course we had to stay for a glass of wine.  They have a lovely home that looks over Merthyr, with lots of space for a small green house and garden.

            Roger had to call an ambulance and transport Mom back to the hospital.  She was not able to stay awake or get up to sit in bed or go to the bathroom.  After tests they discovered she had had a stroke, most likely while she was sleeping.  It seems to have affected her left side and her speech.  She seemed to be making progress, but then had a seizure. Most likely she will not be able to return to her apartment.  She will have to have physical and speech therapy. It is so difficult to be so far away.

Thursday, Aug. 8- Merthyr Tydfil

            The three boys took off early to drive to North Wales and hike Snowden. We decided to stay behind and spend time with Gruffydd and Emma.  Emma didn’t think Gruffydd would enjoy another long drive and I didn’t want to spend two and a half days not able to play with Gruffy.

            So we hung out at the Powell’s playing hide ‘n seek and cars, and watching movies.

            Emma and I went down to the retail park to shop.  I wish I had room in my suitcase to bring back clothes and shoes as there were great sales.

            The news on Mom was not good today.  After a brain scan they discovered more strokes or maybe small tumors. The first stroke she had was an ischaemic stroke- a blood clot.  They did think she had also had a haemorrhagic stroke, as they could see blood on the brain.  I just want to go home.  She promised me she would be fine why I was gone and would be waiting for me in her recliner.  She wanted me to go and spend time with my family, especially my sweet Gruffydd or Great-grandma’s “button pusher” as she likes to call him.  I really wish I was back in Iowa.

            Later in the day, Roger called to say someone wanted to talk to me.  It was wonderful to hear her voice, even though it was quite garbled. She was able to do some physical therapy with her left leg, but not so much with her left arm.  Later in the evening, her heart was racing so they moved her to the cardiac floor. 

Our Trip Across the Pond- Aug. 5 & 6

Monday, Aug. 5- Merthyr Tydfil

            Mark and I played with Gruff, while went to get a rental car, everyone else was off to work.  Late morning the boys left to tour a distillery and go to Cardiff.  I did laundry and caught up on sleep.  Gruff was very glad to be home.  I don’t think we will get them in a car anytime soon. It rained the entire day- so it was fine with me to sit and enjoy the quiet.

            We treated everyone to Nandos, a great spicy chicken restaurant.  No visit to the Powell’s is complete until I have Nandos.

Tuesday, Aug. 6- Merthyr Tydfil

            Mark, Emma, & the boys went to Brecon to hike in the Beacons Mountains. 

The Beacon Mountains

The kids admiring the view

At the top

           It was Lynne’s day off, so Sarah, Louis, and Ffion came for a visit. It was a beautiful day to be outside with the kids.  Uncle Louis played swords with Gruffy.  Mark, Adam, & Dave suited up to take a close look at Lynne’s beehives.  Their backyard is like a little farm with bees & hens & gardens.  Next time I’m over I expect to see a goat or a cow.

            When we returned to the hotel, I got a call from Washington, Iowa’s Lifeline.  Evidently, Mom had pressed the button several times but wasn’t answering when they tried to call her.  I called Roger and he had just left her that morning and she was fine.  He called someone at the apartment where Mom lives and they checked on her.  She had fallen outside while trying to bring in her mop and bucket.  The first responders transported her to Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.  Roger and Tana were in Moberly at Tana’s Mom, so they packed up and drove back to Iowa.  Mom was released after having scans.  She had not broken any bones, but did tear a ligament in her lower back.  She was sent home with painkillers.

Trip Across the Pond- Aug. 3rd & 4th

Saturday, Aug. 3- Cork

            Saturday we drove to Cork to see the Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone.  To get to the stone you had to walk up a stone spiral staircase.  Once you were on the top, in order to kiss the stone you had to lay down on your back, grab 2 metal bars and dip your head down an opening, which of course makes for a lovely photo.  Thank heaven there was a very nice man to help you up and down, otherwise I’m quite sure I would have been stuck.

            Cork was quite congested and took a bit of time to drive through to the Belvedere Lodge, which was on the edge of town.  Luke & Em’s and Adam & Micah’s rooms had a sliding door that opened out into an enclosed courtyard garden.  This was perfect for Gruffy, he could go outside and run around to his heart’s content.  We all took turns playing hide ‘n seek under the trees and in the gazebo.  Mark, Micah, and I babysat while the other three went out for food, drink, and music.  Em set up a little picnic for Gruffy. 

            Micah hid in the gazebo and Gruffy walked around to all the garden statues going shhh, shhh.  After we went inside, we watched him from the doorway having a conversation with a statue, hugging and kissing her. A few minutes later he had his pants down and was watering the grass.  I told Micah this is the stuff I miss the most, all these little funny things Gruffydd does and says.

Sunday, Aug. 4 – Merthyr Tydfil

            We were up early, packed, and ready to head to the Cork airport. We flew into Bristol, England and Dave & Lynne picked us up in two cars and transported us all back to Merthyr.  We brought the rainy weather with us from Ireland.

Yeah back to the Travelodge – our home away from home.  Mark & I are used to it, but Adam & Micah have a disabled room with twin beds and a walk in shower.  Sounds fine, but the twin beds are about a foot apart and permanently attached to the wall. The beds are so small their feet hang over the edge and Micah’s shoulders are as wide as the bed.  The shower is a surround curtain with a pull down seat. 

            Adam said, “It’s pretty ironic, coming from the B&B to this room.”  For kids who stay in hostels when they travel, I think they will be fine.

            Micah had to do laundry, as all his clothes need to be washed, and I mean absolutely everything in his suitcase.  He also had to have food, so we made a Tesco run.

            Luke and Dave had a bachelor party to attend, so they took the brothers with them.  Mark and I went back to the hotel to rest and catch up on email, etc.