Hi everyone, Julie from Jooly's Joint here.
I'm afraid I have sad news. On Friday 29 August 2008, our dear friend Glyn Williams passed away.
I was fortunate to know Glyn for seven years during which time he wrote this diary for Jooly's Joint. Glyn was a terrific and enthusiastic writer, often writing diary entries faster than I could get them onto the web!
As he recalls in his diary, Glyn lived a rich and interesting life and maintained a positive outlook even when his illnesses must have been causing him discomfort and frustration (Glyn had diabetes and prostate cancer as well as MS).
Much love to Glyn's wife Margaret and his five children.
Glyn's diary remains a fitting tribute to a man who lived his life so positively and who gave so much hope and inspiration to other people with MS.
Lots of love, Glyn. We're really going to miss you xxx
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Loch Lomond
We nearly drowned on Loch Lomond!
Many years ago, my wife and I and another couple - friends of ours - were on holiday in Scotland. We decided it would be nice to hire a rowing boat to go on Loch Lomand, the biggest lake in Scotland.
When we were right in the middle of the Loch we observed a large day trip boat coming up at the side of us. We waved to them and were pleased when they waved back.
Unfortunately, we soon realised to our horror that the people on the other boat were waving to warn us to keep away from them!
The first wave hit us sideways on. It shook us up. The second wave nearly capsized us!
Fortunately, my wife Margaret - who was in charge of the steering - had the presence of mind to turn our boat to face the oncoming waves. Fortunately this saved the day!
We swore never to go in a rowing boat again!
Many years later, and despite our traumatic experience on Loch Lomand, we bought a superb 14 foot skipper sailing boat and became members of Bala Sailing Club. We spent many happy years tacking the wind in our new boat. We also bought a mercury outboard motor to clip on the stern of the boat to use on the canals. We had many happy years with the family on this boat. But as our children got older, there was only one of our five kids who was interested in carrying on sailing. That was our eldest son, Lindsay, and eventually he went to Leeds University to study his PhD so he had to sell the boat.
We are left with happy memories!
Many years ago, my wife and I and another couple - friends of ours - were on holiday in Scotland. We decided it would be nice to hire a rowing boat to go on Loch Lomand, the biggest lake in Scotland.
When we were right in the middle of the Loch we observed a large day trip boat coming up at the side of us. We waved to them and were pleased when they waved back.
Unfortunately, we soon realised to our horror that the people on the other boat were waving to warn us to keep away from them!
The first wave hit us sideways on. It shook us up. The second wave nearly capsized us!
Fortunately, my wife Margaret - who was in charge of the steering - had the presence of mind to turn our boat to face the oncoming waves. Fortunately this saved the day!
We swore never to go in a rowing boat again!
Many years later, and despite our traumatic experience on Loch Lomand, we bought a superb 14 foot skipper sailing boat and became members of Bala Sailing Club. We spent many happy years tacking the wind in our new boat. We also bought a mercury outboard motor to clip on the stern of the boat to use on the canals. We had many happy years with the family on this boat. But as our children got older, there was only one of our five kids who was interested in carrying on sailing. That was our eldest son, Lindsay, and eventually he went to Leeds University to study his PhD so he had to sell the boat.
We are left with happy memories!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Respite
It's been a long time since I've written on my blog. I've been in respite care for 8 weeks while my wife Margaret had a replacement knee operation.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Poor cat
I was working on my yard. The neighbour across the road was mowing grass for haymaking. He came and asked me if we had a black cat. I told him yes we did. He told me he thought he had caught one in his mowing machine.
My wife and I went looking but there was no sign of the cat. We left thinking he was mistaken.
At 2am that night, after we'd gone to bed, I heard a faint miaowing coming from the front room. I went downstairs with a torch and there was my cat. Three of its legs and its tail were badly damaged. It just sat there miaowing at me.
I didn't know what to do so I phoned the vet and described the problem. The vet said he could come but only to put it to sleep as there was nothing he could do. The vet said he would come or I could put it to sleep to sleep myself. I asked him if he meant kill it. He said yes, that is all that could be done.
So I called the neighbour who brought his 12 bore shotgun. I couldn't watch but at least it was killed immediately.
The poor cat. It had taken 12 hours to travel from the field to my bedroom window only to be put down. I felt dreadful but what else could I do?
My wife and I went looking but there was no sign of the cat. We left thinking he was mistaken.
At 2am that night, after we'd gone to bed, I heard a faint miaowing coming from the front room. I went downstairs with a torch and there was my cat. Three of its legs and its tail were badly damaged. It just sat there miaowing at me.
I didn't know what to do so I phoned the vet and described the problem. The vet said he could come but only to put it to sleep as there was nothing he could do. The vet said he would come or I could put it to sleep to sleep myself. I asked him if he meant kill it. He said yes, that is all that could be done.
So I called the neighbour who brought his 12 bore shotgun. I couldn't watch but at least it was killed immediately.
The poor cat. It had taken 12 hours to travel from the field to my bedroom window only to be put down. I felt dreadful but what else could I do?
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Bicycle race
When I was about nine years old I had a bicycle race with a group of friends around a large field.
For the first three rounds I was well in front of the others but at the beginning of the forth round the chain came off my bike. I had to get off to put the chain on again. But by now the other cyclist were 50 yards in front of me so there was no hope on my catching them up.
I was pedalling along to get back to the finish and I heard this little girl saying to her mother, "Oh mummy, look at him, it's a pity he's last!".
I couldn't explain to them that I had been well in front for the first three rounds. It was very embarrassing!
For the first three rounds I was well in front of the others but at the beginning of the forth round the chain came off my bike. I had to get off to put the chain on again. But by now the other cyclist were 50 yards in front of me so there was no hope on my catching them up.
I was pedalling along to get back to the finish and I heard this little girl saying to her mother, "Oh mummy, look at him, it's a pity he's last!".
I couldn't explain to them that I had been well in front for the first three rounds. It was very embarrassing!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Singapore
The armed security guard's hand dropped down to his revolver and his left hand lifted up for me to stop, which of course I did, in my wheelchair.
My wife and I were passing through customs in Singapore where everyone was very friendly and pro-British. I asked someone why the armed security guard had appeared so very aggressive. I was told that they are very aggressive against the import of any drugs - drug smuggling can even lead to execution in some cases.
I had heard a little 'ting' sound as I passed through customs, but that was caused by a tin of tobacco and a steel stemmed pipe that were in my pocket (I gave that obnoxious habit up many years ago). Nothing prohibited on me!
My wife and I were passing through customs in Singapore where everyone was very friendly and pro-British. I asked someone why the armed security guard had appeared so very aggressive. I was told that they are very aggressive against the import of any drugs - drug smuggling can even lead to execution in some cases.
I had heard a little 'ting' sound as I passed through customs, but that was caused by a tin of tobacco and a steel stemmed pipe that were in my pocket (I gave that obnoxious habit up many years ago). Nothing prohibited on me!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Memories
I was reflecting the other day on the happiest and also the saddest days of my life.
The happiest was of course June 4th 1955, when I married - who I thought then, and still think of as now - the loveliest and most sensible girl in the world.
The saddest without doubt was in 1941, when I was 11.
I had a little brother called Idwal. He was 3 years old. I can see him now, sitting on the fifth stair up, reading my comic 'The Hotspur' upside down with a mischievous grin on his face! He used to say you can't have it, coz I haven't finished reading it yet! Then a few seconds later he would give it to me!
A few months later my Mother was holding Idwal on her knee when she noticed his breathing was husky. She said to my Father we'd better take him to hospital, which they did. We left him there for treatment.
The following day Mr Williams from the power station came to our house (because we didn't have a phone) to say the hospital had rung to say that they should go there as soon as possible. They went.
They came back a couple of hours later. My Father was very quiet and my Mother was crying. I asked what was wrong and she said that Idwal had died of pneumonia.
I prayed every night for weeks that there had been a silly mistake, to no avail!
Scores of years later we had five lovely children and lots of equally superb grandchildren. Not a day goes by that I fail to realise that we cannot take anything for granted.
The happiest was of course June 4th 1955, when I married - who I thought then, and still think of as now - the loveliest and most sensible girl in the world.
The saddest without doubt was in 1941, when I was 11.
I had a little brother called Idwal. He was 3 years old. I can see him now, sitting on the fifth stair up, reading my comic 'The Hotspur' upside down with a mischievous grin on his face! He used to say you can't have it, coz I haven't finished reading it yet! Then a few seconds later he would give it to me!
A few months later my Mother was holding Idwal on her knee when she noticed his breathing was husky. She said to my Father we'd better take him to hospital, which they did. We left him there for treatment.
The following day Mr Williams from the power station came to our house (because we didn't have a phone) to say the hospital had rung to say that they should go there as soon as possible. They went.
They came back a couple of hours later. My Father was very quiet and my Mother was crying. I asked what was wrong and she said that Idwal had died of pneumonia.
I prayed every night for weeks that there had been a silly mistake, to no avail!
Scores of years later we had five lovely children and lots of equally superb grandchildren. Not a day goes by that I fail to realise that we cannot take anything for granted.
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