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I was reading an article that claimed one in ten people would consider ending a relationship if their other half was a duvet hogger causing them to have constant disturbed nights sleep. On getting married the husband and I struggled with duvet sharing. It didn't help that the CFS didn't always let me sleep so well, and that the husband gets up at 5:20am for work. I love to be cocooned In the duvet, with tucked under me all round. The husband likes to throw the cover around through the night. Neither of us could tolerate having any part of us touching the other while slerping. And so when we moved, and treated ourselves to a king size bed, we also bought single duvets. It has been one of the best things we have done. We don't disturb each other as we sleep, we don't try to nick covers off each other. We have found that we keep to our sides of the bed, rather than following where the duvet has gone and finding ourselves both on the same side of the bed. We are not adverse to a bit of creative thinking when solutions need to be found!

Last

Well I'm not quite sure why, but this last two weeks has seen a marked improvement in my health. We haven't done anything particularly different, if anything we have been more busy than usual. I know not to rest on my laurels and accept this as the new permanent norm, there is a chance it's just a temporary peak, but I'm happy to accept it as a temporary norm, and pray it becomes a permanent norm. We are off on holiday the week after next, the husband and I have become used to a more slow pace of life, and in all honesty both quite enjoy it, but it would be nice to holiday knowing that we can do that little bit more. We are hoping to visit Southwold for the day while on holiday. The last time we went there we had to take a wheelchair so I could be pushed along the prom. This visit will most defiantly be a marked improvement on that! I'm hoping this weather continues and we can spend long enough on the beach to build a mega sandcastle, which will then justify a trip to the chip shop!

ago

This time two years ago I had finished work, handed in my last essay and dissertation. And then I spent a month where getting out of bed took pretty much all my effort. The husband had to shower me most days as I sat in the bath tub. A good day was one in which I could get myself out of bed, make a very slow painful journey downstairs and fetch myself some water and toast and collapse onto the sofa until the husband got home. To get back upstairs the husband had to push/support from behind. Two years ago. Two years. If you'd have told me then how well I'd be in two years time I simply would not have believed you. I'm hoping that in two years time I am more well then I could dare to dream now. You know, like the completely well dream.

Spafford

Horatio G Spafford wrote one of the church type songs that resonates most with me. You know, the ones that when you sing it's like the words, the music, the meaning are part of all that you think and feel.

 When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 It is well, With my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

 My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

 But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

 A few weeks ago at church we learned about the circumstances Spafford was in when he wrote it. He had already had a bit of a rough time, with a son dying and a lot of property he had bought as an investment going up in smoke. He and his wife decided to take a trip to England, thinking the break would do them good, and it would mean being able to support D. I. Moody who was preaching in England at the time. Some last minute business prevented Spafford from travelling with his wife and daughters. Unfortunately the boat they were travelling on was struck by another boat, causing it to sink. His wife survived, but sadly his children did not. On arriving in England his wife sent message to him saying 'saved alone. What shall I do....' Spafford set sail for England to join his wife. When the boat he was travelling on was at the same place the boat carrying his family went down the captain informed him of this fact. He went to his cabin and penned the above hymn. What a testimony.

 Life has thrown various curve balls at me at times. There have been times when it's been hard to see how to make a way through. But through it all, through tricky jobs, bad relationships, struggling with studying, parental illness of various kinds, all that went on with mum and auntie B, moving away from loved ones, depression, CFS/ME, through everything I can, and always have been able to say, it is well with my soul. All thanks and praise to God.