Tracey’s 39th Birthday Afternoon Out With Rhys

On the 27^th July at 2 o’clock Rhys went to Clifton Downs to have a picnic.

Tracey had gone to Sam’s to help her mum with preparing the picnic. Rhys and myself were at the hospital waiting for him to finish the medication he was receiving on the drip and also for a phone call to let us know everyone else had arrived. Eventually the call came.

We went downstairs and straight out to the car. We were under strict instructions not to stop and talk to anyone on the way out or back in.

We got in the car and drove up to Sam’s and saw family. We saw Gran, Grandad, Aunty Jackie, Uncle Dave, Grampa, Amy and Tracey.

The three cars were packed with the picnic stuff and everyone followed our car to Clifton Downs.

The Downs were heaving there were cars parked along the roads. There were even cars parked on the grass verge. Finding enough space to park all three cars we pulled up onto the verge and followed other peoples example. Fortunately right next to where we parked was a secluded grassy area.

We unpacked the cars, put up a gazebo and the folding picnic chairs and sat down to enjoy the wonderful weather. Rhys was a bit quiet.

Tracey opened her birthday presents, chocolates and wine from Amy and Gareth, a CD from Mary and Brian and her main present a laptop computer from everyone.

Rhys had a brief game of football then sat down to rest. He had his own specially made sandwiches (one Marmite and one jam). He ate both sandwiches plus a packet of crisps. It was very warm and so Rhys drank constantly from the bottle of squash we had brought from the hospital. It was great to see him out of hospital for the first time in over 2 months.

After everyone else had had something to eat Rhys briefly went to try to fly a kite we had in the car. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough wind around where we were and so it didn’t fly for long.

After this we Tracey was given her birthday cake and we had a group photo of everyone that was there.

We began to pack up. While doing so a chap in a council van turned up and began given tickets to the cars in front of ours. I went over and asked if we were parked illegally to be told that we were breaking council bye-laws. We continued to pack up and when he approached our car I told him we were just packing up to leave. He let us off at that point and went and gave a ticket to the car behind our group.

When we got back to Sam’s we offloaded the bits that needed to stay there and Rhys and I returned to the hospital. We were just in time for Rhys to have a shower before he had to begin having his evening medication.

A short while later Tracey arrived back at the hospital and began to use her laptop.

All in all it was a really good day. The weather was fantastic and Rhys was able to get out of hospital to spend some time with Tracey. Hopefully spending time outside the hospital will be a regular thing.