If a fairy came and touched you with her magic wand and you were cured of AF, every other ailment you have, had loads of energy and there had never been any COVID19 (that was just a nightmare you had). What would you plan to do?
For me it would be to join loads of rambling clubs and plan my holidays.
Jean
I think the fairy just visited us as we booked a holiday next July (2021) and looking forward to it.
Jt is great to be optimistic at a time like this.
Sounds good Cyrtis.
Easy one Jean - travel to some new countries I want to visit. I've got a few on the hit list and hope now it will be later in the year - it depends of course on how it all pan's out. It's looking unlikely at the moment but who knows.
Happy Easter 
Paul
Happy Easter to you Paul. It's such an odd situation right now isn't it. I'm still trying to get my head around how the Chinese managed to completely get rid of the virus!!!
Apparently they reported 108 new cases yesterday, which isn't good!!
I don't believe anything official that comes out of China. They lie to their own people about this virus. Why should they tell the truth to the rest of the world? They are now trying to censor research into the origins of the virus. Censorship means they have something to hide.
Puzzles me how from 1.4 billion population there were only a little over 3000 deaths.
Do we have to trust these figures ? I don't do you ?
No, I don't trust them at all! I wonder too why it didn't spread throughout china as it did in other countries.
It probably has done, they're simply issuing fake figures; rather like our Govt with deaths in our care homes likely doubling the Covid fatalities to 24000 ? We cannot trust our politicians to do the job properly, and if you do, you must be one !
Definitely plan lots of holidays and especially visit the sea.
I live by the sea and it is nice, but I'd far rather look out over rolling hills, or mountains than the sea. Are you a water sign? I'm fire.
No I’m a fire sign, Leo, but love the sea and just watching the waves I find it very calming.
Hi Jean , Scorpio a water sign am I. Most misunderstood sign in the Zodiac, so whilst
you all think I'm crazy, the truth is I am extremely intelligent, ha ha !
Ok, I believe you're sane, though I guess thousands wouldn't!!!😂😂🤣
I’d be enjoying adventures across the globe (if my budget was big enough) ✈️⛵️🚁🚖🚠🏖🏕🎡
Me too, but if we were full of energy we could cycle or work our way around the world. Isn't it odd though how once we get the chance to do what we've always wanted, it can sometimes lose it's appeal.
I’d drink the finest French wines I could find.
I'll join you, if I may. Yes tour the vineyards to find the best.
That's what we did every summer Jean - we called it our river crawl (Mosel, Rhine and Loire). Happy days. Do join us in our fantasy drive with large lorry behind to hold the purchases.
Sit down and have a good cry and thank God I had my life back and then go for a very long walk to some of the most beautiful mountains where I live (Wales)
👍🏻
Me too - but a long walk to the sea in Wales
I love Wales, it's actually my favourite place to go in the whole world. So beautiful and good walking country. Can I please join you on your walk please? I have all the right gear. 🙂
Of course you can you would be most welcome. I live near Swansea its about ten minutes from the Gower and its beautiful beaches we are very lucky
I'm from Swansea & still love visiting
I was in a pub, known as a popular place to meet and get to know locals when I saw 3 really large women at the pub talking to each other. I couldn't make out everything they said, so to be friendly, I asked them ‘Are you 3 ladies from Scotland?’ They replied ‘Wales, you fool!’
So I asked again, ‘Are you 3 whales from Scotland?’
Honestly, that's the last thing I remember before waking up here!
I felt so well just 2 weeks after my last ablation that I was close to tears (of joy!) Just being able to do the simplest of tasks like going to the shops, making arrangements to have visitors or meet up with friends without that knowing feeling that another bout of af was starting. So it felt a bit like a fairy had waved her magic wand. Not lasted though & needing to get med's sorted & tweaked again. Good thought provoking question
After my third and most successful ablation, I had to have a cardioversion about 6 weeks later. Don't give up hope, it's early days.
Are you still in permanent af? (Think you mentioned this a while ago.) I have had cardioversions but not lasted more than a few days. Yes I know early days but, was hoping after 3 months i would have a slower hr - still, you are right & I know it's still considered the healing period.
Yes, have been in constant AF since last November.
Hope your heart rate soon drops back to normal.
If the fairy came and touched me Jean, I'd just wish for the fact she looked ike Jennifer Laurence, not all hero's wear mini capes 😂
I had to look up who Jennifer Laurence was. Yes I can see why she appeals, I hate to say this but the fairy will be touching you with her wand, not her hands!!!
😂
🤣 The way things are at the moment Jean a punch would be fairing better than our current circumstances, least we have our humour,i hope your keeping OK x
I would take my whole family to a massive cottage near the sea for a long holiday all together.
That's a lovely idea. I've often started planning to do that, but given up when it starts getting complicated as to who can come when.
Me to probably but I would make it irresistible 😂
Right then, my list is long. Holiday, holidays , holidays. That would include cruises, buying a place on Costa doc sol, enjoying my torquay home too.
With any spare time I would be enjoying Argentine tango dances, pick up on NHS governor work again, learn Spanish language, learn to play the piano and see more of friends and family.
No apologies for it all being about enjoyment but I have paid my dues over many years working hard, caring for elderly parents and extended family and others plus bringing up our own child, oh and paying an inordinate amount in taxes.
Time for me (us) now as planned but thwarted by health issues. Some of these things I can do now but with much less freedom due to health being compromised. Now just where is that fairy and her magic wand. X
I knew my friend meadfoot would have her head up in the clouds with me. We dreamers have it planned already don't we.
Move To Malta Now I've just Got Citizenship.
Sounds like you may do that without the fairy's help?
Buy a blue water yacht & scuba gear & go live on it & roam the oceans and write on the state of sea life & the oceans
Yes, that sounds an interesting idea. Come on fairy, we've got things to do. Even more ideas now.
Hope the fairy would do the same for husband. I would walk further, go back to Pilates and swimming. My family would continue to phone as often as they are at present and I would inflict myself on them far more than I did before. A trip to Lanzarote would be good too. We've been going for 25 years. Thought last year might be our last visit. You never know
Of course she'd help your husband too. My daughter should have been in Lanzarote now, they love it there. Have never been myself. I guess you've seen a lot of changes over the years? The Greek islands were where we went a lot. Now I don't spend a lot of time sat in the sun, would rather sightsee.
Indeed the gravel paths by the sea where we stay and needed torches at night now blockpaved, well lit promenades. However some of our favourite restaurants have been there from our first visit. Alas I wonder who will survive this crisis.
Have 6 pints of Lager, have a takeaway then have Sex,
The simple things in life are best Haha
Bless you, but you're right the simplest things are often the best
I’d run up and down the stairs a few times(right hip won’t let me anymore)Have a party and dance all night, then book a holiday to Barbados!
🤗
That sounds a brilliant idea.
When I visited Barbados about 20 years ago I was amazed at the young girls coming out of small shacks on their way to school. They were absolutely immaculately dressed and glowing with health. I think they wore something like white dresses with blue cardigans and had matching blue ribbons in their hair. It's odd the little things that stick in our memory regarding places we've visited! It's one of the Carribbean islands I'd love to go back to.
Are you fully recovered and back at work now?
Yes I’m fully recovered Jenny, thank you. I ended up being 7 days ill, 3-4 mostly better but tired with partly sore throat. Then perfectly better! I think 7 days is the turning point, you either recover or go down hill from there. My husband is scared of me, he’s read that the virus is active for 35 days, so he’s still in the spare room which means I have the whole bed to myself!🤗
Back to work on Thursday😐.
I’ve been to Barbados 7 times🙊and I love it there. My favourite place in the world.
Am I right in thinking Barbados had a Woolworth's in the town, or some major store we knew from the UK. I was there briefly while on a cruise, but of all the islands we visited over two weeks, it was the one I thought I'd most like to go back to.
Glad to hear that you've fully recovered.
Jean
No Woolworths now, as far as I know. You’d have stopped in Bridgetown on a cruise I suppose. We stay 40 mins drive away on the west coast.
The reason I love it is because it’s safe to go anywhere, white beautiful beaches and there are no poor cats or dogs, as I’m an animal lover (not that I’ve seen). The Bajan people are so friendly and love English people. Trouble is, it’s such an expensive holiday😱. Every year I say we can’t afford to do that anymore, then I think, let’s go while we’re still able🤗
Yes, we drove through Bridgetown on our way to visit an old plantation house.
The same in India and in Kenya; little girls walking through the dust in the most colourful school uniforms. We were enchanted!
Yes, enchanting is the word. You wonder how their mother's can turn them out so pristine when living in a very small shack.
That's an interesting point of view. Think I'd still like to do all the things I used to, but walking in the countryside is what I miss most. Enjoy looking at wild plants, birds, trees etc. Just love the beauty of nature.
Certainly wouldn't want to go back to work again. Want to go out and play every day. Might go on an archaeological dig somewhere.
An archaeological dig sounds good. I had a geophys survey planned for a field next to a stately home near here to look for the 18thC gardens that show up very faintly on Lidar. Also a dig across some Iron Age enclosures close to a nearby church. But all canned!
What a pain.
As children we found a hoard of about 300 silver coins in a field. Mostly Elizabeth 1st, Charles and James.
We were meant to be in Antigua with our daughter, her husband & granddaughter now. Luckily all transferred to next Easter - can’t wait for that as we love to travel. Love Malta & France too Would go somewhere every few months if we could
Yes, it's just the money factor that holds us back. Perhaps the fairy should leave us all with a million pounds too, or would that be too greedy to want after receiving the gift of good health?
I would be extremely thankful to the Gods, and then get a job, it would be wonderful to go out to work again, although part time.
Just carrying on with all the things I like to do but knowing that I had 100 per cent health and no risk would be a dream come true! Then I would suggest to anyone on this site that we organise a massive celebration together - just bring a bottle and a smile 😘
What a great idea!!!
I would just like to cycle!
Yes, I'd like to cycle again too, but not racing - just leisurely and stopping to sit along the way and admire the view for as long as I liked.
Well I’d make more of my mountains here get fitter uphill as afib has made me a tad worried about pushing myself harder uphill, and as u can imagine there’s not much flat here......and how nice it will be to nip with caravan into italy thru the mont Blanc tunnel as it’s so close, an hour away, and stay by our favorite lakes........an impossible dream right now as that area is ravaged by Covid.....
Don't forget in my fairy fantasy, COVID19 was just a nightmare we had and not real. Which are your favourite lakes? I've been to Lake Garda twice, but would love to see the others too.
Jean
Yes I like Garda and magiorre, the latter has little islands you a get ferry to which is nice.....but just before maggiore if we come from mont blanc tunnel, there is a delightful smaller lake, called lake Orta....it’s not really known Cept by the Italians....
Oh Covid was a bad dream.....oooo that would be wonderful Jean!
It feels like a bad dream doesn't it! Or like being in a sci fi film!
Have you been to lake Como, that was one I'd thought of visiting. Which lake do you think is the most scenic?
They are all pretty, I prefer magiorre cos u can-get boats to the islands....como is nice but I felt a bit more busy.....
Well just had macron say lock down now till May 11 then after that will let young uns out first, but fir oldies to expect to stay home for much longer....to be reviewed July.....well that scuppers getting the caravan off anywhere eh!!
Oh, no, but I suppose it's for the good of we oldies!🙄
If you do go to Lake Como Jean stay in Varenna. We went to Italy for my 50th birthday and we were recommended to stay there - it is a beautiful quaint village and a short ferry ride from Bellagio and Menaggio. Magnificent!
Sounds lovely, will go and write that down at the back of my diary, so I don't forget. Thanks for the tip.
Here’s the blog post I wrote about our trip to Italy with a few photos
I would chase the northern lights and learn to ski so that I could get away from light pollution (although maybe I would need to be a little younger too as I remember all the bruises I got from falling over when I went to Austria when I was younger!)
Oh I'd love to do that too! I once practised on a dry ski slope pending a holiday in France, but myself and ex husband split before we could go. We were going with friends who said for me to still said go with them, but my sister who lives in Texas offered to pay for me to fly out and stay with her for a while and that's what I did. I was her Christmas present that year.
Have always longed to have ago at skiing though, but guess I'm getting too old now.
Probably down hill skiing might not be a good idea but cross country skiing could be an option.😀
I tried and failed miserably in my 20s. Having seen someone break a leg on nursery slopes and keeping him company (complete stranger) till he got dragged back to hospital on a sledge, I restricted my adventures to après ski after that (and that was pretty exciting!) I'm sure jeanjeannie50 's fairy could turn me into an expert skier though!!
I've put your request into the fairy. As you helped someone I'm sure she'll oblige.😊
I’d buy a villa by the sea in Langkawi and have all my family and close friends from around the world to stay. I’d call it Kaftan Retreat because of the dress code 😂
I'm coming, been wearing my kaftan recently in the hot weather and have just lovingly washed and ironed it, hope it hasn't shrunk! Where is Langkawi?
You’ll be a star guest, we can wear our colourful kaftans at the same time.
Langkawi is a beautiful peaceful island off the west coast of Malaysia, an hour’s hop from Kuala Lumpur. It’s about halfway between NZ and UK so would be perfect for my family get-togethers. We stayed there on the way back from visiting my family in NZ a few years ago - best holiday we’ve ever had.
Kaftan might shrink a little bit, washed mine a few times on 30 degrees and it’s a teensy bit smaller, though it still fits and is a better length now, mid-calf, and softer 😊
I’d go on holiday to Italy. Sit outside in the evening with a bottle of wine and watch the fireflies.
Sounds like heaven, as is Italian food! I guess if we had lots of energy to burn of calories, that would mean we could eat more food!
I would plan to see my sons and their families, can't wait to hug my Grandchildren. Also a coffee with friends, The simple things in life please me.
I know exactly where you're coming from. I don't think I'd ever want to give up my voluntary work in one of the most beautiful places in the world and will always enjoy coffee out with friends.
Ha ha! My first thought was to plan a Holiday walking one of the British Long Distant Paths. We have long thought we would like to walk the Downs Way. Our last adventure was to walk from Melrose to Lindisfarne and that was just before my AF diagnosis 3 yrs ago. However, I am working my way back to fitness. We walk 3 miles nearly every day and I can do 5 so all is not lost.
I like your plan, think I would like to do long distance walks too. Hadrian's wall springs to mind as does a hilly walk I once saw in the Peak District area. Some walking companies offer to carry your gear while you walk unencumbered and that sounds enticing too. Actually for anyone who wants to walk on mainly flat paths, but in beautiful areas, the river walks in the Peak District are some of the best and the villages around are stunning.
It's great that you have built up your walking distance, you're a good role model to everyone.
Me too. I have never been diagnosed with AF. Have had the 5 day ECG which caught episodes but was never given a diagnosis. Was told I was handling it well so to carry on with the Atenolol! I enjoyed my Ramblers club but as episodes became more frequent I was reluctant to go on long hikes as if an attack occurred somebody would need to stay with me therefore spoiling their day. But cannot complain as apart from episodes of fast heartbeat sometimes lasting up to 3 hours, I have been lucky with my health. They are just a nuisance as when we dont have them we worry that we will!
Yours is the very reason I'm reluctant to join a rambling group now. I'd be so embarrassed if I spoilt their walk. I usually just walk with a friend .
When all this kicked off with my heart, I had paid a small deposit to go to Moscow and St Petersburg. I had pre booked every sight seeing trip and was going to have a jam packed trip but nature has ways of messing with you and I had to cancel. Three heart ops later and I know I'll never get there because my mobility is so limited. To be able to go somewhere without being dropped right outside would be bliss. To have a nice glass of red wine without having my heart do a double back somersault with flik flak. There is so much we took for granted. Nice dream!
The only way I can comfort myself is to realise that there are far worse things we could have had. Loss of limbs, sight, cancer etc.
Focus fully on being well. Unlearn the habits (for that's ALL they are), of eating and drinking rubbish, of not keeping properly fit, of telling a lie, big or small, and of not consistently practising kindness. In this way, most physical and mental latter-day illnesses would be vastly reduced.
OMG that was heavy but you’re right....I’m happy to never fly anywhere again, enjoy the beautiful UK, stay close to our fabulous cardiac experts and enjoy a simpler healthier life. I’ve survived 52 years with heart disease, I’m not taking any risks now - a fairy godmother could buy me a vineyard to work in though - keep hydrated and all that 🤣🤣🤣
Plane emissions reduce better for the future generations. My grandchildren. Their children.
Agree. My mum went through the war and a man with his legs on fire cane down in a parachute. I was brought up to always be thankful for what we have. Mum just wanted her kids to survive the war. We lived in London. Bless her. I miss her.
Go for a long walk up on the Northumberland coast with the dogs and the caravan. But on my return I'd join some rambling clubs!
I’d go back to being a musician on a ship. It’s hard work and there are all sorts of drills and cabin inspections, all very military, but I get to do what I love, and see the world while being paid. So essentially, I’d just go back to work. As long as I don’t have AFib when I have my medical ( which you need to work on ships) then I’m good to go. I went to boarding school for 10 if my 12 years at school. Kids live in US and Denmark, I’m single, so no reason not to do all the above.
Brilliant idea.
Thank the fairy for this site it has been a Godsent
Thank the fairy. Plan my holiday (just had to cancel this years). Enjoy the little things in life like seeing my family. Be more active. Love Faires.
Around 40 years ago I started and used to run a regular evening meeting for 'Lively Minded Women'. I always remember one of our members, a well educated woman, claiming she had actually seen fairies. I still bump into her sometimes and will ask her to tell me the story again.
Jean
I do not want have to wait for such a thing. I am going to be the best I can right now how I can. I think what we must always do is take account of what we value and what matters to us. Taking proper care of yourself is something we should be doing with or without AFIB. I am going to play the cards I was dealt and hopefully play them well.
I love fairies so much that I have a fairy garden in my back garden. If you do bump into her again (once this horrible virus is in check) I would love to hear her story.
If I had a memory I would have been able to tell you the story. I don't think she was on her own and am thinking perhaps her mother was with her when she said she saw them. Once all this virus nonsense is over, send me a PM to remind me.
Jean
Thanks, I will do.
Tons of Hookers, blow, Booze, and cigarettes in a Penthouse suite overlooking Vegas Strip. Either at the Bellagio or Wynn Hotel.
After travelling to hug my children and grandchildren I would start to plan this year's holiday. I would have a few holidays with my husband, some with friends and a few on my own.
Lovely thread to read through, Jean. xx
Yes it brightens up the lock-down holiday weekend a little and draws us together. The forum is fairly quiet at the moment too. Once we're free of the virus we'll all be off out gadding with lots of ideas of things to do. x
What would you do in my shoes?
What would you expect?
What would you do with these BP numbers?
What would others do?
Ablation - If you had to do over again, *WOULD YOU?
