Starlight Walk for The Peace Hospice

The Peace Hospice is a charity based in Watford caring for people with life limiting illnesses and their families in south west hertfordshire.  It was started in 1925  and over many difficult years it has had its ups and downs, and was even closed down in 1988 after the building was vandalised and was falling into disrepair. Even the historic clock that was there from 1924 was stolen from the facade.

After public outcry an office above the Hospice shop was set up and campaigning started in 1991. By 1993 it had raised enough money for a temporary day care centre in a portacabin alongside Watford General Hospital. It was opened by legendary entertainer Roy Castle.

Gradually, funds were raised to move the centre back to where the old hospital building had been and building work began in 1995, with the new location being opened by Princess Michael of Kent the following year. Five years later, the princess returned to open a new wing with 11 inpatient beds.

In 2005 the hospice started a Hospice at Home service and in 2008 they added two new inpatient rooms.

The hospice is growing and supported throughout the local community but continue to look for donations and fundraising, as they require £4m a year to run  and develop their services.

The Peace Hospice Care provides medical, physical, emotional, social and spiritual care, comfort and support to people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and also their families.

Its services include:

1.    In-patient Unit: 12 fully equipped home from home type rooms which all have direct access to the garden, for when people need to stay with us for a while, either to provide respite, or due to medical need.

2.    The Starlight Centre:

The hospice provides information, support and care as soon as a diagnosis is made so that people can be supported in living as positively and as well as they can, for as long as possible. There are a range of services including legal advice, social care support, classes such as yoga, meditation, art therapy, group meetings and HOPE courses amongst other services which can all be accessed by people who are leading full lives and visit the Hospice to attend specific sessions.

3.    Hospice at Home:

People who are able and would prefer to be supported in their own home can be through the Hospice at Home Service.

4.   Counselling:

The hospice provides counselling for adults and children and a range of complementary therapies such as reflexology and massage therapy, for patients and family members affected.

5.    Education and Support for Young people:

The hospice provides support, education and training to teachers and students in primary and secondary schools to assist them in supporting each other if a young person is going to be bereaved of someone close to them. Bereaved children also visit the Hospice to attend support groups where they can meet other young people in the same situation, and begin the journey of coming to terms with serious illness or loss in the family.

ALL OF THE SERVICES OFFERED BY THE HOSPICE ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

And for this reason I shall be doing the ‘Starlight Walk’ for Peace Hospice Care today, Saturday 21st June. I didn't realise how far 6 miles actually is. We start at the Watford Colosseum, walk all the way down Rickmansworth Road, past the Harvester (ooh can get a takeaway) up the hill, past my friend Gills House, all the way to the Ricky School, along Croxley Green, down Baldwin's lane to the bottom (near enough to wave at Scott and Claire, and the Simpkins) then back through Cassiobury park all the way back to the Colossuem. We're starting at 9pm, and my team leader for Arnett Hills Lucky stars is a beautiful 11 year old - Hayley.  If you can still support us, anything would be grateful for this amazing charity. 

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/alexisnoble1

OK, two days later and I have cake!!!
I have Portuguese Custard tarts to be honest. Enjoy! They are delicious.

Take care 

Pessimism, and why I don't get it. .... and an amazing Sophia the First cake

I forgot that I wrote my last blog about emotions, so this one could be linked, so sorry. I'll try and think of something funny to write about next time, or review the next bit of market research I'm doing for you.

But today is all about Pessimism and why I can't understand people who are pessimistic (and why I can't spell it very well).  As you may or may not know, I am very optimistic. Maybe too optimistic that I piss a lot of people off, so optimistic, that when things don't go the way I planned them to, I just think how it will go to plan next time and everything will be wonderful! That is why I buy lottery tickets every week. Someone has to win eventually, why can't it be me?  The glass is definitely half full over this way, and if its virtually empty, there is still that reminder of how lovely that glass was when it was full and aren't I lucky to have had it.

My darling husband (who doesn't actually read my blogs, so I can say what I want about him) and many more of my friends and family are Pessimists. So how are they still alive? Not that I wish them dead or anyone for that matter (well, there is the odd serial killer blah blah who I wouldn't miss if they were gone), but how can they live their rich and fruitful lives with so much pessimism around them?

The Pessimist will receive a party invitation and think - it might be a crap party, why should I go? The optimist will be choosing what to wear even though the party is months away.
The Pessimist will look out on a sunny day (like today) and think, bloody hell, this is no good for the grass growing;  its going to be hot in the car later; I'll get heatstroke in this weather blah blah....
The optimist is out there with their factor 30 on. The sun is out for gods sake! No time to moan!

So why do pessimists survive? Surely they don't go out anywhere, or do anything because it might turn out crap, or they might not like what they see, or who they're with.
They can't have conversations with friends and family because the others might get the wrong end of the stick and misinterpret what they are saying.
Can't have a party or even invite one person over for dinner, because if they decline (for reasons unknown to the pessimist) then that's a person smack round the face to say I hate you and never want to come to your house/party (unless its at a time when I am free).
Pessimists complain about their jobs, and complain when they don't have a job. They complain about the weather, they complain about what to eat.
STOP COMPLAINING AND BEING SO PESSIMISTIC AND LIVE YOUR LIFE!

I watched a programme the other night on the people of Brazil, living in their Favelas. They have nothing. Most of them don't have roofs that keep them dry when it rains. They sell the rubbish surrounding their homes to live. They don't always get paid on time, but they smile! They smile because they have hope and faith. A lot of this comes down to religion, and I am not a religious person, but even the pessimistic hubby could see how religion keeps a lot of these people alive, because they are hoping and believing that things will work out for the good.

People over here should look at that and pay attention. By no means am I saying, give up everything you have and live in  Favelas, but look at what you have and look how lucky you are and who is around you, and who loves you and remember that even if they are not there when you want them tomorrow, they will be there next week. And next week will be so much more fun than tomorrow, but tomorrow we will be excited for next week and think of more things to get excited about.
Stop trying to pick fights with someone to feed your own pessimism, its not healthy. If you're stuck in a situation you're not happy with, or people you're not so fond of but have to be around (we all know who we're thinking of), get over it, think positively, think optimistically and think how you can benefit your lives as well as theirs!  You may still not like them but you can think of optimistic ways to bide your time with them!!

Now, before I go and buy another lottery ticket, check out my cake I baked for Molly's 6th Birthday party. It was a joint party with her friend Elyse. The girls had a fantastic time and all the cake got eaten :)

People eating my cake is enough to boost my optimism permanently!!

The top half was chocolate, the bottom half wheat and dairy free. Both were deliciously moist and very very tasty!!