Well, we went off to North Wales on Monday. More of that later. Whilst we were there my Dad was taken ill (Wednesday), and taken into hospital – lung infection, kidney infection, and issues with heart rate and blood pressure. The hospital stabilised him, and sent him for all sorts of tests and scans. It was another occurrence of the problems plaguing him over the last three months – that have never been properly solved, and this time it was worse. On Thursday, things weren’t looking good, when at last, it was identified that he had a gallstone blocking his bile duct. So, he was moved hospital (to Oxford) where a procedure was undertaken on Friday to ret and alleviate the problem. It didn’t work. The doctors have since re-evaluated the situation, and he is now having an alternative procedure tomorrow.

Tricia and I saw him today, and he is doing well at the moment compared to how he was earlier in the week. He is pleased that the root cause has been identified, and that if all goes well tomorrow he can concentrate on recovery, and get back home. Prayers will be being said tomorrow morning, hoping for a straightforward procedure and a solution.

The holiday in North Wales itself was quite good. We were camping, and it rained very heavily at times, but it was mainly in the evenings / overnight, and some of the days were quite good. We had done a good job pitching tent, and so the rainfall was of no real issue.

The scenery in North Wales is breathtaking. On one of the days we went up Snowdon. Tricia and Robbie completed the trip to the top. I went up with Ellie, we got abvout 90% of the way up, but the route we took had dramatic drops on either side at that point, and Ellie had had enough. We also visited Caernarfon castle, and Portmeirion. Ellie and I visited the Lloyd George musuem, whilst Tricia and Robbie went walking up more peaks. I like the history of the early 20th century, and Lloyd george was a prominent, and interesting character, so I enjoyed the musuem trip. We got back Saturday afternoon. We have been catching up on the Olympics, there have been some wonderful performances the last few days. The football season started yesterday, and West Ham started with a win. 3 points in the bag, good start.

Back to work tomorrow. Not that it really is an issue, I have been enjoying my work at BP this year, and I am happy to get back into it. I have another week off in October anyway, which isn’t too far away.

Some holiday pics…

A good profile of me in the castle, and a railway station with a very long name.

Robbie shows how to ‘eat’ an ice cream, and Ellie outside her dream house (it’s pink) at Portmeirion. Portmeirion, as well as being famous for its design, was used as part of the set in the 60’s series The Prisoner.

Tricia and Robbie at the top of Snowdon.

Another one of Robbie at the top of Snowdon, and a view from up high.