Sad

Mom and Dad

Writing this post when on board of Ryanair flying back home. Things have changed since the 9th of November…

I got phone call in very early morning from my Sister. She was crying… All I could say was just simple ‘No’ which I have repeated numerous times. I was preparing myself for this phone call. But didn’t know that it will arrive so early. We were in Poland to see my Mom just at the end of August and beginning of September. Mom wasn’t in best shape but she was sitting in the wheelchair. She was happy to see us, even if she wasn’t actually recognizing us. She was smiling. She look not great but considering illness I think she was in good spirit… And just over two months later she passed… Just day before that me and my Sister were discussing financial difficulties surrounding nursing home and how we need to be flexible and creative to be able to support Mom. How we will organise Christmas visit to see her… Read more

Christmas time

Shining on with nice

Christmas time. Have spent that time in Poland. Glad that I have visited my Family there. Always good to see them. But will start from the beginning…

I wasn’t too keen on the Christmas visit to Poland. Don’t get me wrong. Time to time I need also to get back to Poland to see my Mum, Sister, Brother in law and nieces but not necessarily during Christmas time. Adding up my running form and mental state I wasn’t sure if visit will be enjoyable. Flight from Dublin. That was a disaster. I was so tired and all I wanted to do was to take a nap. just couple of minutes. But… it was so loud there. Kids were shouting, crying. Usually I don’t mind but this time, cause of Christmas, there was plenty of them and it looks like parents couldn’t handle them. Anyway, I was trying to get at least couple of minutes of sleep. Hoodie on my head, hands on the ears to block the noise but it wasn’t enough. Left the plane tired, half dead. And still had to drive first to my Wife’s Parents house and then back to my Mums. Another 120 km after horrible flight. Good thing was that instead of VW Polo we got A3 (too many cars broken), nice upgrade. First Chociwel. No delays on route, so we were there in less than one hour. After quick hello and goodbye I was on my way to Szczecin. Cause it wasn’t too late I have decided to visit my Sister first. Always better to get useful info before taking to my Mum 😉 we have decided where we will have Christmas Eve, where will be 1st day of Christmas and that I will take my Mum to my in laws for the 2nd day. All decided. After that visit was time to see family home, pass all information to Mum and decide how my visit to Poland will look like. I knew that I will need to continue my running, so already have found near by gym with treadmill. Days should be similar: morning run and gym, helping with Christmas. Of course that would change during 25th and 26th – gym closed. But that was the plan for those couple of days. In theory easy to follow…

In theory… why? Cause I felt sick on the 24th and kind of still am. Lost two days of running during Christmas and missed my one long run as well. Not too good and there was marathon waiting for me on the 30th of December. So, I was running every day on the treadmill for an hour, once added 7 km run with my Sister. Everything squeezed in days where we all were preparing Christmas and still not as much as I would like. Anyway, most important during that visit was Christmas time spent with family. Preparations, preparations… Christmas Eve dinner in my Sister’s house, 1st day of Christmas in my Mom’s and 2nd day with in-laws. Busy days and unfortunately being sick wasn’t helping with that. Plenty of gifts received, you are never short of running socks 😉

After short visit to Poland I was heading home. Still not 100% but good enough or that what I thought. After little bit bumpy flight I was getting straight from airport parking to Armagh. Next day marathon and I was staying with Clive Nesbitt. Thanks Clive for accommodation.