Last week I spent finishing off an essay and revising for exams due to start today (11 Jan). I had spent about four hours revising on Saturday morning when I suddenly became aware of someone calling, although I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I ignored it for a while but eventually went to investigate. To my horror I found Christine lying on the ground clearly in serious pain. The medical professional in her was still operating and she said, ‘Call an ambulance and tell them I’ve broken my right tib and fib. Then bring me a duvet, a pillow and two paracetemols.’ As I say, ever professional!

Loading Christine into the air ambulance

The paramedic who came was great but said we couldn’t get an ambulance up our drive (we’re still snowbound) and called the air ambulance. In less than four minutes from take off she was at Ysbyty Gwynedd!

Since then it’s been a whirlwind! It turns out that Christine’s diagnosis was accurate but only part of the story. It was a very bad break in several places and her knee and tibial plateau (whatever that is) has been damaged as well. She had a CT scan this afternoon and the Consultant Surgeon has decided to do the operation to pin and plate tomorrow as it will be a long job and he wants to be fresh. I’ll drink to that!

In the words of the song, What a difference a day makes. From immersion in University exam revision to hospital visits, running things at Trosgol, trying to keep everyone informed, walk the dog, and worry for Wales. Well I shouldn’t, but I do. I even managed to get lost on a 7 mile journey I’ve done hundreds of times!

One thing I am overwhelmed by is people’s kindness. From friends at Church, University friends, Facebook friends, everyone is universally caring. I can’t think very straight at present and people have spotted needs and come up with specific offers. One friend has taken our Welsh Collie Rhosyn for a few days as she is completely confused by Christine’s absence and I have to shut her in while I am in the hospital. I’ve been inundated with offers of meals – I’m torn between pretending to be a New Man, equally at home in the kitchen and accepting the offers. Actually with my fried brain at present, I think the offers win! Also, a couple of pals, Robin and Paul, have regularly rung up just to check I’m OK.

Thanks to the more than 50 people who have sent good wishes and prayers on Facebook, the 37 people who’ve sent texts and those who’ve rung. I have to say that if ever I’m asked to do one of those vacuous interviews where people list all sorts of things about themselves; when it gets to the question, ‘What is the greatest human attribute?’ – I’ll answer in a heartbeat – kindness.

Oh no! How can I have missed a whole month of my blog and record of life at Bangor University? Well, it’s mostly about the fact that I need every moment I’m not eating, sleeping or performing bodily functions to work on Uni projects.

You see, I came late to the realisation that I have to initiate my work and mustn’t just wait to for it to be assigned. That long list of books we were given is there for a reason. So, about six weeks into the semester I realised that the majority of my knowledge was going to come with what I read myself and make notes on. Only a relatively small amount was going to come via lectures and seminars. I’m sure to most people that would be, as Basil Fawlty elegantly put it, a statement of the “bleedin’ obvious”. However, I’ve done two more essays since then with encouraging marks resulting so it looks like I’ve got the idea at last.

These Christmas ‘holidays’ have been anything but. Apart from enjoying some family time (and our new HD tv) I’ve been working on the world’s most tedious essay about why Britain industrialised earlier than Germany. I should be doing the finishing touches now, but any distraction is welcome. All that’s left is an essay about Charles V, a Welsh assignment and revision for four exams starting in 8 days.  Take me now, Lord!

View of Moel Eilio from our living room on Christmas day

We’ve been a bit distracted by the snow up here at Trosgol – not that deep, but our drive became an impassible glassy slope which necessitated a commando raid on a roadside grit bin.

I’ve been reflecting on some of the blogs and Facebook updates I’ve seen and the general concensus seems to be negative about 2009. I can’t say I share that view and I’m optimistic about 2010 as well. I’m aware that I’m an incurable optimist but I’ve made six loopy, caring, space-cadet, supportive friends who are on the same courses at Bangor and they’ve taught me a lot. I’m loooking forward to Father Josh’s stories of a more eventful life of 20 years than mine of three times that number. I miss winding up Gary – mind you, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Quiet Joe’s radical politics stir me up; Rhonwen’s patience with me as I ask for yet another phrase in Welsh; Jen who gets so worked up about things and finally Neil Messerschmitt who pretends to be a Yid Army (Spurs supporters) hooligan hard man, but in reality is a completely kind softy (with an infinite capacity for beer). Incidentally, he had a tattoo of a verse from Psalm 23 in Welsh a week or so before Christmas – how cool is that!

I’ve decided on a New Year resolution: at least two blogs per month. We’ll see.