I had forgotten how beautiful the view from the top of a mountain can be. As a long time retired fairly basic skier I used to enjoy the amazing vistas you were able to enjoy when at the top of a chairlift. Yesterday we took advantage of a summer visit to the top of the Norquay ski hill in Banff. It was somewhat strange going up in the chair without skis dangling from your feet and I had forgotten how much movement and bumps you had to endure on the way to the top but they actually stopped the chair to allow you to dismount - no balancing tricks trying to ski off. What a view, we have been waiting all week for a clear day and we were not disappointed.
A coffee in the restaurant rounded off our visit, the return journey was a bit daunting. Although I had travelled up a mountain many times when skiing never had I experienced the chairlift going down.......just a wee bit scary!
We are almost at the end of our stay here but obviously have been in touch with home and all things going there. One of our sons colleagues had a little baby boy at the end of June. Baby CT was diagnosed just last week with a heart defect and had a procedure on Tuesday at the new hospital for sick children in Glasgow. I got to hear about this and thought I would get in touch with ER our local Linus co-ordinator to see if it was at all possible for a Linus quilt to make its way to the family at this anxious time.
I thought this was a long shot - especially as I'm on the other side of the Atlantic involving time differences etc. I heard later that evening that a quilt was delivered by a contact of ERs. They had managed to find the family. All I had given was the little boys name!
The procedure went as expected. This is the photo Mummy F sent to Linus and is posted on their Facebook page. I am sure they won't mind me sharing. This was taken just before he was discharged from hospital. This family certainly need a hug at this anxious time, especially as Daddy (32) was diagnosed last year with early onset Parkinson's.
Well done the Linus ladies!! The family are extremely grateful! Happy ending, C is now back home and doing well, just over a week after surgery. The power of the Internet, and the diligence of the Linus network system is working well. However that's not the end of this story. Mummy F sent a lovely thank you note to Linus and posted it on the Project Linus UK Facebook page. Low and behold, not only did the post pop up on my feed it made it to the pages of UK Quilters United yesterday!
All I did was send one little quick email! It just goes to show how wonderful the folks out there are who make quilts and blankets for Linus and other charities. This has helped a lovely little family, who will treasure that little quilt and I am sure it will provide lots of fun for C in the future. This story has reached a huge audience and raised awareness and hopefully will recruit more quilters and knitters out there to perhaps donate their time, talent and materials to spread the love and hugs around to many more children in the future. It has also served to remind everyone that the Linus charity is there for all children of all ages right up to teenagers. So if you know of any child, now or in the future who you feel needs a little extra comfort, whether it is a hospital stay, accident, family breakup or bereavement just get in touch with your local coordinator (or the one closest to the child) and they will do their best to fulfil any request if they can. There are networks all over the UK and in many countries all over the world. More information can be found on the Project Linus UK website.
Packing up of the sewing equipment will start later today. I've had fun with this block, it bright and colourful and was great fun to do.
I have not quite managed all the blocks needed to complete the quilt but the finished ones are travelling back to Scotland with me so you should see the end result on the design wall in the not so distant future.
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