Had an interesting and enjoyable day today...

Watching and using some of natures BEST predators!

I am country boy at heart and LOVE being outside interacting with

Nature and all its creatures (Assuming the teeth and claws are

smaller than mine?!!)

I had an enjoyable, if not frustrating (Have you tried to get a well

fed Bird of prey out of hedge and back to your hand?!) few hours walking

and chatting (And secretly hoping no rabbits pop out to their demise!)

Even if you do not approve of such hobbies the magnificence of the 

birds has to be acknowledged?!....

Well my "Little Boy" is not so "Little" now......

(11 months old soon!)

I had been feeling a bit tight chested, heart pounding,

and taking an "extra" big breath now and again...

I went to the GP and ended up in Frenchay Hospital !

After a night in, lots of blood tests, echo and ECG, I

was left in a bed until one of the obviously overworked

doctors came to explain that although all the test showed

abnormalities, it may be that's just "heart trauma" post transplant?

QEH have been great and are seeing me Monday... Keep your fingers crossed

Team Transplanters!!....

A hugely tragic day in my life...

When I had my transplant, there was another "Matt" waiting and in

desperate straights, waiting for a heart donation... I went into surgery

thinking he would not be around when I woke up.... To my delight during my

coma etc, he'd also been given the gift of life and when I finally awoke he

was also nursing a big scar!!

During our recouperation, and ongoing check ups we'd meet, chat, laugh at

the stupid things we'd tried to do to soon, and we kept each other spirits up.

It was with enormous sadness that I learnt he'd been admitted on Thursday

with heart issues. He emailed me on Thurs and Friday to say he felt a liitle better

but there was still concerns etc, but he was in talks with QEH to be transferred 

there next week.... Sadly this never came...

He had complications and passed away. The whole QEH "family" of

recipients and staff are mourning a likeable YOUNG man.

We will miss you Matt...

Our thoughts are with your family and loved ones at this awful time. 

Rest in peace....

Dad and I just had a TOP boys adventure!

I have been to Anguloeme "Circuit Des Ramparts" before but Dad

had not...(Can you see it coming?!) So in "Typical Matt" style I

decided he needed to go, so began the tenuous and ill thought out

planning!

(Huge thanks to Jane for having Samuel for a week while we went!)

Anguloeme race is a MUST for all historic car nuts (ie Dad and I !) as

its a gathering of lots of classic racers that are USED and not stored and polished!

I got flights to Limoge (Yes QEH! I tookLOADS of sun screen!) then onto a

friends house...(Who had agreed to loan us his campervan to drive the rest

of the way and stay in for 2 nights!) So after parking it at night RIGHT outside

the local prison (- Who were understanding and let us continue our stay there!)

we had a sleepless night listening to the locals in the town, each others farting, snoring, various grunts and toilet wanderings! But were refreshed and excited to see all the sights, drink coffee and watch as the mad French let all the racers (all un licensed and no number plates etc) all drive through pedestrianised shopping arcades, closed roads, local roads, and not once did you hear

"Oi - put a silencer on that thing!".... The circuit is around a small town in

the south of France abd not without danger, as there is nominal barriers, and beyond the barriers peoples houses!! 

My wonderful heart propelled me around admirably and coped with the heat

unbelieveably!!

Roll on 2014?!....

After a top buy at a second hand shop,

Samuel took to the skies!!

He's growing SO fast, and develops more everyday. He wakes up

smiling, and normally stays that way all day! (Full tummy and empty

nappy prevailing!)

I had no idea what to do for my darlings Janes Birthday,

so I went a bit "Typical Matt" and with no experience, no

particular skill, and a dopey idea that "it might be fun", I

hired an electric launch !!

We went up the Bradford on Avon Canal (And I didn't hit

one boat!!) A memorable day thanks to my new ticker!

Some beautiful, tranquil, scenery...

Thankfully all remains stable in Team Tansplant land !

Samuel however, is growing up fast and making good progress

with standing, "talking" and of course eating and sleeping!!

For those of you who have emailed here's some recent pics.... 

Had a lovely day today...

When I was in QEH, "Big Phil" (An orderly) was SO kind to me, and helped

me enormously, not so much with my physical recovery, but my MENTAL

recovery and coming to terms with the new heart and lifestyle etc....

He has a similar outlook to me and the same awful, (often "black) humour"

I have and we hit it off.

When I left hospital we remained friends, and kept in touch. Toady we

had a QEH reunion and he got to meet Samuel (Sadly Jane could not

join us this time.)  We agreed that who would have thought almost 4 years

ago, we'd be sat having lunch together taking it in turns to entertain Samuel !!

To you Phil, I give my heartfelt (pardon the pun) Thanks!

After my transplant the simplest of things take on new meaning

and hold an enjoyment overlooked by those unfortunate enough

not to have stared death in the face!

People go through life missing the joy of the life changing

events that happen everyday for someone!

Having now got Samuel in my life, watching him discover things

we take for granted is a wonderous thing....TODAY HE LEARNT

ABOUT (Albeit wrapped in my coat!) THE JOY OF SWINGS!!