Six months onwards

It's been ages since I last put something in my blog. Anyway I went for my 6th month assessment on 21st May (3 days after I did the 10km walk for the Ear Trust).

I was expecting to have some hearing tests but it wasn't today so they increased more volume in the speech processor as I could tell it was getting quiet. I was told that it would be at my 9th monthly assessment where I would have hearing tests!

Saw the speech and language therapist and congratulated her on the 10km run as she took part in it (her second time!) and we just talked and listened to what she had to say and I had to answer it. No problem there.

I haven't learnt any new sounds but am still struggling to hear what the children has to say... oh... I've now got a new job - I'm Assistant Lunchtime Supervisor at my youngest son's school. The children are lovely but when they talk, they don't look at me and it's hard but I'm learning to listen what they have to say.

Thanks for reading so far and will be in touch soon and won't leave it too long next time!

I did it!

On the Sunday 18th May, both Howard and I left home and travelled to Manchester by train from Dewsbury. I've never seen so many runners in my life and it was phenomenal. The atmosphere was absolutely wonderful. I met Chris Raine and other people from the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Services... couldn't miss them as we had big "e" on our t-shirts!

Come round 11am, we did the warm up and then we headed for the "START" and we began to shout the countdown 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 and Dennis Law blew the horn and off we went. I could hear so many bleeps at the start as everyone was wearing the microchip and it really bleeped so loud!

The first 1km was a KILLER as everyone was pushing around to take over the runners, I wasn't actually running as I am not a runner but a fast walker and it was hard work for the 1st kilometre! I just left Claire at 2km as I just wanted to get into my pace rather than fast walking and the weather was just dry and sunny not too hot (just perfect!)

Saw the 3km sign.... 7 more to go I thought... it was lovely to see the runners, walkers etc and the spectators etc on the way.... saw Manchester United grounds and thought I'm half way there - great that was super!

After going round outside the grounds and by the river (near Imperial War Museum), it was getting better because I saw the 6km sign and the 7km sign. I sent a text message to my husband to see where he was and his reply was "800m sign".... that's a long way to go I thought!

More metres and time flew by and I saw this sign "1km to go"!!! WOW I thought and then saw Howard at 800m and I walked a bit faster this time and saw the "400m sign" and then I made it to the end!

It took me 1 hour and 49 minutes to do 10km walk. I was so proud of it and so was Howard. I collected my medal and my t-shirt and headed for a local cafe and had something to eat.

At 1.30pm my mum phoned to see where I was but all we could say was "We're having lunch and Rachel's got the medal round her neck".. mum was very surprised to hear that I did it in 1 hour and 49 mins.

We walked around Manchester and then caught the train back to Dewsbury and I just couldn't walk any further once I got off the train but we got home and had a shower and I felt so fresh again and went to mum's to collect the boys.

I have now raised £550 for the Ear Trust which is fantastic. Thank you for supporting me.

On the 2nd June, my Guides (10th Mirfield) did lots of quizzes and raised £110 for the Ear Trust so that's £660 so far!

THANK YOU for helping me to raise money for the Ear Trust.