Monday 23 June 2008

Nae Hospital! and Wedding Dowries!!

Right- that's the end of week one of cycle 3 and unlike the other two cycles I haven't ended up in hospital and feel better than I did the last two times. Hope that's reflected in a lower paraproetin as well.

Since I feel like this we're going to try to have 2 or 3 days away and go to some Highland games at the week end- I need my fix of the countryside, pipe music and general things Scottish. Might make it to the Drumtochty Highland Games - we'll see. We'll stay at a wee coastal village called St Cyrus- the east coast from Montrose north has some lovely wee fishing villages and we'll visit some of them. St Cyrus has another claim to fame- it has a dowry system for new brides. As part of the Old welfare system under the Poor Law a number of dowries were made available outside usual principles. So at St Cyrus dowries were and still are available for the tallest bride, the shortest bride, the poorest bride etc- still apparently on the go and a nice wee custom hearking back to someone with a sense of humour.

2 comments:

Trinabelle said...

Dear Stewart,

It's been so helpful and uplifting to come across your amusing and informative blog. My dad was diagnosed with Myeloma last year after suffering acute kidney failour. Luckily after treatment, he made a good recovery however he is at a point where doctors are trying balancing his treatment with chemotherapy and steroids and the odd hospital stay for dehydration and infectionetc. I phoned my Mum, who takes care of him to tell her of your tiredness and exhaustion while undergoing your treatments and from reading your blogs (only a few so far), I told her that it's possible she can look forward to my Dad recovering some of his old vigour. He's seventy seven now but was working as a gardiner, cutting hedges and lifting his huge old lawnmower in and out of his car up until the month before his diagnosis. His "old ladies" are missing him lately and he's looking forward to getting back to doing a bit of strimming again soon. Interestingly he spent a lot of time with pesticides and a petrol mower. I'm so pleased to have comew across you and thank you so much for sharing your experiences as they are so helpful and have cheered my Mum up no end.

kind regards,
Trina (Dublin)

Don said...

Wonderful that there was no hospitalization this time!

The pipers were there on the marathon route. One solitary man about halfway along, and further along a band at the only hill on the course, with drums and pipes and more. How delightful.

Best, Don