September 12th 2015 - Save a Life September

September 12th 2015 - Save a Life September

As a member of St John Ambulance I am helping to promote SJA and our "save a life september campaign".  This is the 4th year it has been run wiith various activities taking place - from first ai demonstrations in shopping centers to the nationwide guerrilla style bandaging stunt.  

I have taken part in the bandaging stunt to try and raise awareness of SJA in my area.  My taking part consisted of Bandaging a Lamp post outside my house (on a main road):

 Bandaging a statue at Whitehaven harbour:

and Bandaging the railings down by the beach with Whitehaven Light house in the distance:

Whilst I in the process of bandaging the statue a man passing by asked me what I was doing - so I told him "bandaging a statue".  He then asked me why with a very puzzled look.  I explianed to him that St John Ambulance are doing their Save a Life September campaign again and they have asked unit members all over the UK to place bandages an stickers on things like lamp posts, post boxes and statues in and around their town to raise awareness.  He smiled (probably thinking i'm a total loony) and said he didn't know that Whitehaven had a St John Ambulance Unit.  He walked off and kept looking back me!

So it has worked, it has made my unit more aware to at least 1 person.  There were a few other people who walked past but didn't say anything, and I did notice after I had left they had gone to look at the bandage.  I really wanted to place 1 in the center of town somewhere but being a Saturday and market day it's really busy so I wasn't brave enough to do it.

I really hope that the campaign helps raise awareness of SJA across the UK.

July 4th 2015 - Whitehaven Carnival

July 4th 2015 - Whitehaven Carnival

Today is the towns carnival.  Most of the local dance and drama groups perform in the parade around town, along with floats for different organisations.  It is organised by the local LIONS group. 

Last year was the first time we had been to it as we missed 2013 as still trying to unpack etc.  It is a great environment with people lining the parade route, music playing from the vehicles in the parade etc.  Once they have done the parade round town they make their way back to the park on the edge of town where there is stalls, a fun fair and lots more.

This year I am not watching the parade as a member of the public but I will be there with St John Ambulance, who are providing the first aid cover for the day.  I really hope the weather picks up more than it has as its really dull and overcast, although not as dull as it was at 9am and has now stopped raining.

May 16th 2015 - Whitehaven Home & Garden show

May 16th 2015 - Whitehaven Home & Garden show

Today we went up town to get son some new shoes as he keeps pulling his to bits and to go to the Home & Garden show at the harbour.

I know alot of work has gone into organising it, but there seemed to be more food stalls than anything sadly.  And of the stalls selling garden bits none of them were that cheap.  My youngest son had taken the money from his piggy bank in the hope of getting something for his fairy garden.  He saw some wooden "plant pot men" and asked if he had enough to get one, he didn't and he had £15! Plus some of the stalls were not open when we got there at 9:30am.

There was no money spent by me or my family today, but we did go for a walk around to try and support the local events.

Whitehaven Parade

Today May 6th was a lovely day all round.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was the day of the Whitehaven Freedom Parade through the town.

Me and hubby decided to go down and watch.  Now this sounds like a good plan, except for the fact its only 2weeks since I had my knee operation, i'm still hobbling about, I didn't take my crutches or the folding chair (this wasn't thought about until the last part of the air display!)  Plus we parked at the multi story and had to park on level 5 and then walk down.  So by the time we had left the car park I was already knackered and in pain.  Oh well, we're here now!

We took a slow walk to the harbour front.  As we were walking down the harbour front we got asked by a steward if we were part of the parade - errr no we're here to watch it and we're heading down to the navy boat.  We were allowed to pass.  He did inform us that the parade was going that way and coming back the way we were walking.

As we approached the quay down to where the navy boat was they had a sign up showing its name -

and on the metal gate was a sign that said open 10:30am-4pm, we said that it would be worth getting the boys from school and heading straight down so they could look round the boat.  We walked down the quay to the boat (which was at the far end!!!)  As we got nearer I could see a rope ladder at the side of it - the only way on board - great!  I decided not to go on board as I didn't want to risk hurting my knee any more than the walking was going to do.  Hubby went on and had a  look around.  I took a few photos of the outside of the boat and then wandered back to the harbourside where I could sit down.

After a short sit down on a bench I could hear the band playing and someone said that the parade where on their way back to the harbourside.  I stayed seated until I saw the band come into the band stand and then I stood up.  I had a lovely view from where I was, that was until the police and stewards decided they were going to stand there.  However I did manage to get some nice photos of the parade.

After the parade had all been inspected and everything else done they marched past the end of where I was standing (couldn't sit now if I had wanted to as the area behind me was full of people).  The cheering and waving of flags and clapping was really nice.

It was then time for the arial displays to start.  They were really good, and I managed to get some photos that are very clear even though I only had the small cameras with me, yes cameras I had 2!

Following this great display it was the turn of the red devils parachute display team, from air to sea.  The plane had to do a few laps before it was cleared to go.

Apparently the sea was very cold, 1 of them said as they walked past - I will believe him as I have no desire to find out until the weather warms up much more! 

Finally there was another plane doing lots of tricks and leaving smoke trails.

I was glad I had gone down there for the event but I certainly knew that I had stood for nearly 2hrs.  I was in alot of pain.  By the time we got home my knee had swollen up and I have taken lots of pain killers and elevated my knee and had ice on it.  I got some really nice photos and had a lovely time.  The atmosphere was brilliant and there was a great turn out for a small town.