The Last Post

Teresa Shute 5/12/1949 – 10/4/2018

From July 2013 until the end of January this year I placed at least one post here every single day of the year. Every day except one in 2016 when Terry collapsed and was rushed to the emergency chemo ward at Cheltenham hospital.

On January 28^th this year the latest Pet scan revealed that Terry’s (5^th) chemo had stopped working and that we were approaching the end.

We were told that she had only days to say goodbye.

Rich, Slivi, Annalia and Rafa came from Australia, Terry’s sister Jacky from Montana, Jane from Spain. Lell made it a house full.

Mike and Linda flew in from Portugal and Jools jumped in her car. Tony & Jan braved the M25

Dozens of friends called in, rang or wrote.

Overnight a hospital bed and other equipment arrived from the local palliative team and Terry was put on two syringe drivers with a cocktail of pain, sedation and anxiety drugs. District Nurses arrived every day to refill the drivers.

I cannot express enough thanks to the many people who helped us throughout the 9 years and especially during the last few difficult weeks.

There are too many to name – they know who they are and I can never say thank you enough times.

The Linc Edward Jenner Unit at Gloucester Royal

Lilley Brooke Chemo ward at Cheltenham

Stroud Hospital

Minchinhampton Surgery

Ambulance and paramedic teams

the District Nurse teams

The palliative team at Longfields Hospice

The carers from Longfields

Boots Pharmacy in Minchinhampton

Without exception Terry was given excellent treatment and kindness from all these services.

Alongside these professionals she had the loving support of family and friends – again they are too numerous to name and again they know who they are.

After a very difficult few days Terry finally passed away peacefully in her sleep at 10am yesterday morning.

This will be my last ever post, thank you for reading.

Teresa Shute RIP

Goodbye my love.

What Really Makes Britain Great

This is not the first time that I have talked about my admiration for the NHS and all those dedicated people who work so hard to make it the best thing about Britain. It will however, be the last.

Just over 9 years ago Terry was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma – a blood and bone cancer. It is a terminal disease that can be slowed but not stopped.

The original prognosis was 28 months.

A combination of her own iron determination and the exceptional treatment by the NHS resulted in her surviving some 4 times longer than was originally forecast.

Terry benefitted from an incredible amount of different drugs, MRI, Pet and Cat scans, numerous radiotherapy treatments as well as emergency hospital, ambulance and paramedic visits.

The people who looked after her were unfailingly kind and caring.

Remember this next time someone suggests privatising the best of Britain.

A Good Cause

For ongoing family reasons I haven’t posted here since January.

However, Kieran, a good mate from Askeans asked me to share this –

From: Kieran Hurley <
Date: 7 March 2018 at 22:14:58 GMT
To: “davidshute
Subject: Fwd: Liam’s Virgin Sport Hackney Half Marathon page

Dave

Could you circulate through your extended contacts please. Not a begging message but as with all things only way to raise money for others in the future

Thanks

Kieran

Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:

From: Liam Hurley <
Date: 7 March 2018 at 21:49:29 GMT
To: Kieran Hurley <
Subject: Liam’s Virgin Sport Hackney Half Marathon page

Hello,

You can help Liam Hurley raise money for this great cause by donating directly to their fundraising page – https://www.justgiving.com/liamhurleyhackneyhalf?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=liamhurleyhackneyhalf&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=VNypdyKpe.

JustGiving sends your donation straight to Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more.

Thank you for your support!

If you go to the link and know Kieran you’ll see that it is a very worthwhile cause.

Please help if you can.

 

Sunday Times

Just a couple of very short posts for Sunday – have spent most of day at Cheltenham Hospital emergency chemo unit.

This is a good competition for winning tickets to the 6 Nations

Australia’s Day

It was Australia Day on Friday and they celebrated with both their Men and Women’s 7s winning the World Series in Sydney!!

Looking at their environment you can see why they are so bloody tough and hard to beat!

7 Days

This time next week the 6 Nations kicks off!

If you’re not already excited, this might help –

Going Japanese

As from today (27^th January) you can apply for tickets for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan

Akira Shimazu (L), chief executive of the Rugby World Cup 2019 organizing committee, World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper (C) and Alan Gilpin, head of the RWC, pose for a photo in London on Oct. 27, 2015, in front of the logo for the 2019 tournament in Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont (C), Japan Rugby Football Union President Tadashi Okamura (L) and Fujio Mitarai, head of Rugby World Cup 2019 organizing committee pose with the World Cup at World Forum on Sport and Culture in Tokyo, Japan, October 20, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

General ballot applications for Team Packs and Stadium Packs — allowing fans to follow their favourite team through the group stage or base themselves in a particular host city — will go on sale.

Applications will be accepted until the middle of February.

Tickets for the tournament had previously only been available to a select number of people who are members of the “Japan rugby family” or Japanese club team supporters.

A World Rugby spokesman said there had been strong demand for tickets in Japan and he expected the same level of excitement globally in the ticket packs to be launched on Saturday.

Japan 2019 represents the first time the Rugby World Cup will be held in Asia and also the first time it will be hosted by a country outside the traditional heartlands of the sport in western Europe and the southern hemisphere.

The tournament will be held from Sept. 20 – Nov. 2, 2019.

 

The link for England fans is here –

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rwc-2019-team-and-stadium-ticket-pack-applications-open/

The key dates to follow England are:

Official Supporter Tours now on sale for international and domestic fans via www.rugbyworldcup.com/supportertours

27 January – 12 February: General ballot applications for team packs and stadium packs – open to fans around the world

19 May – 26 June: Individual match ticket applications for Supporters Club/Front Row members (register via www.rugbyworldcup.com/supporters)

19 September – 12 November: General ballot applications for individual match tickets – open to fans around the world

19 January 2019 – Real-time, first-come-first-served individual match ticket sales

 

 

 

 

The Party’s Over

Jonathan Pie is obviously very sad that UKIP appears to be ‘Bolton’ headlong (or rather headless) towards oblivion

 

The Chuckle Brothers

Piers Morgan and Niggle Farage articulate their unequivocal support for ‘Donzo’ with Shakespearean panache

6 and Out

Cassandra-like, I predicted a couple of days ago that in addition to the plethora of players already ruled out, there are likely to be more casualties before the 6 Nations kicks off!

Unfortunately it turns out I was right – Wales have lost Rhys Webb for the whole of the Championship – and because he is off to Toulon at the end of the season, he may even have played his last game in the Welsh shirt.

In a further bit of bad news for Eddie Jones, it has been reported that Maro Itoje has been unable to train at the England camp in Portugal and may be doubtful for the Italy game.

I suggest that all the coaches shuffle down to Superdrug tout suite and buy them out of cotton wool.