Girls just wanna have sun...

Where else in the world, other than Llandudno, would you get photo-bombed by a seagull?

Nowhere!!! We took total advantage of this Friday's INSET day to escape to the seaside. We had absolutely no idea how Elin would be, especially given how she was last time we went to the seaside (see previous!). However, this time was a totally different kettle of fish. Goes to show how things can be so devastatingly different for no palpable reason in Elin's life. For whatever the cause, Elin was 100% happy to be out for the day and equally to be in her chair. This meant we had as near a perfect day at the seaside as you could wish for. 

With Elin, you kind of know within about five minutes of her opening her eyes whether she's going to have a good sitting day or not. Today, all the signs were good but we still weren't sure- it's a fair drive to the coast after all. Today, that didn't phase her one bit. It was smiles galore and we couldn't have been more happy or relieved.

As we rolled down the prom, we came across several children just like Elin, all in chairs and all clearly with smilier conditions to her. What's amazing is, without hesitation all the chairs stopped together to talk to us. It turns out they were a local school on a trip. They didn't pass by with a smile, they stopped. We didn't know them at all, yet we knew them inside out. We exchanged names and chats with all the children and there was even another little girl with the middle name 'Haf' !! The school staff were so lovely and clearly dedicated, it reminded us of Elin's school. This is sometimes what I absolutely love about being out and about with Elin, you find like-minded folk and it's like you're all part of a special club. Elin grinned widely at the children from the school and there was an unspoken agreement amongst the adults and carers that we were amongst the company of some really special and amazing kids. It's a camaraderie. I knew then that today would be a good day. It really was.

Elin loved the pier. She got some cool new red glasses and I got to obsess about what would happen if the pier randomly collapsed while we walking over it (I will never get over this fear when walking on a pier, but it's under control I promise). It really is hard to beat North Wales in the sunshine, it's just that North Wales is so rarely sunny that this is particularly easy to forget. But of course, the minute the sun comes out the long winter days are forgotten. Especially when Elin is doing good sitting. 

"On a clear day, you can see forever" said The Queen (and by that I mean Shirley Bassey)

I swallowed my deep rooted fear of the pier and afterwards we went for lunch, predictably but reliably, to the St George's Hotel. Paul nearly made the mistake of getting Elin out of her chair but we have learned that whilst she is happy, that's exactly where you should leave her. The staff were lovely and did their upmost to accommodate Elin, who clearly thought she was pretty special :-)

Following lunch, where I went to the ladies for probably less than two minutes total and Paul managed to order me the wrong sandwich in my absence (seriously, I have prawn practically everywhere we go but Paul decided I'd said Salmon- something I haven't eaten ermmm..since...EVER because I HATE IT!!) when it arrived and I explained politely it wasn't what I'd asked for to which the waiter replied 'Well, it's what your husband asked for' I couldn't believe it! I bit my tongue against the knee jerk classic 'I only gave you one job!!" and luckily the lovely waiter saw the funny side and to save a fellow male in distress brought be the correct order in no time while Paul looked sheepish and I looked hungry. "They're both pink fish" Paul reasoned. I reasoned that he better leave the waiter an extra large trip and give me the lion's share of the chips. Tidy.

After lunch we took a VERY long stroll down the promenade. We were on an absolute high that Elin was sitting so nicely and enjoying herself so much. I don't think she stopped smiling all day. It felt amazing to walk along without any stress or seeing Elin in distress. Eventually we got to the 1950's Butlins-style paddling pool, which had a definite charm since it's refurbishment and which was still relatively quiet given he local children were still in school. We had a sunbathe by the side and then of course Elin needed to get her feet dipped in! Just heavenly in the heat and we actually ended up staying there much longer than we had anticipated. This was the first time we had got her out of her chair all day. Unheard of!

Not long after this and after being unable to find a Mr Whippy in the vicinity we decided to cut our losses and go home whilst the going was good. Elin had literally spent hours in her chair and regular blog readers will know what this meant to us. We were so happy. She even continued the good spell all the way home.

Today was the chalk to the cheese of the last time we went to the beach.  I think it served to reiterate to me what I have always known since Elin came into our lives- that is, you can never expect two days to be the same and as bad as one day is, another will be as wonderful in equal measure. The bad days will make you appreciate the good days all the more. The shadow, as ever, is just a part of the light.
Have a good weekend folks, tonight we are hitting the hay grateful that the capacity for great days is still as within our reach as it ever was, grateful for the smiles, the health and the happiness of our girl.  We can't really ask for more than that, can we?
Ruth xxx