Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Blog No. 220 - Camino Soul Songs Part 23, 8 April 2025

 

On Monday 6 May 2013, Harold and I walked from Ponferrada to Pareje; Pareje is the first village after Villafranca del Bierzo and it is about 5 kilometres after Villafranca del Bierzo.  The Brierley distance today was 30.7 kilometres.  [Note: The Brierley distance was 28.7 kilometres and not 30.7 as noted in the diary.]

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River Sil, which runs through Ponferrada.  It was just after dawn when I took this photo on the 6th ofMay 2013.

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Another view of Ponferrada as dawn was happening on that Monday.


Ponferrada is a large city and it took ages for us to walk out of the city.  Harold and I were not the only peregrinos who got lost trying to follow the Camino signs.

The Ponferrada municipality erected many poles just like this one to provide nesting places for storks.  The nests made by the storks were very heavy and could cause church steeples to collapse – so the poles were erected to persuade them to stop nesting on the church steeples.

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We had nearly got out of Ponferrada when I took this photo.

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At long last, the Camino took us away from cities and towns and back into quiet walking.

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Another view of the Camino once we had left Ponferrada on the 6th of May 2013.

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Harold insisted that we have lunch at Moncloa in Cacabelos on 6 May because it had a stunning variety of preserved meats that could be bought.  This photo gives some insight into the array of produce available at Moncloa.

This is the business card I collected at Moncloa – and no, I am not sponsored by Moncloa at all.  It was a good place to have lunch.

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River Burbia in Villafranca del Bierzo.  We kept walking through Villafranca del Bierzo because Harold thought it would be too packed with peregrinos – and there were certainly plenty of peregrinos there.

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The bridge over the River Burbia at Villafranca del Bierzo.

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As we neared Pareje, the major roads increased in number and in the volume of traffic they carried.  A barrier kept us separated from the road in this section of the Camino.

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Diary Entry Made on Monday 6 May 2013 at 6:50 pm

Harold and I are at Pereje, the first village after Villafranca del Bierzo - about 5 kilometres after Villafranca del Bierzo.  The Brierley distance today was 30.7 kilometres.  [Note: The Brierley distance was 28.7 kilometres and not 30.7 as noted in the diary.]

This was a cool, cloudy day with drizzle developing as we walked.  It was ideal walking weather.  By going on to Pereje instead of staying at Villafranca del Bierza, it will hopefully make tomorrow's walk over the mountain into Galicia just a little easier.  The albergue here is beautiful and it is empty except for a group of 5 others who are from south Africa (nice people).

We are now firmly in mountain country with rushing rivers, dense greenery and singing birds.  Most of today's walking was through countryside with vineyards on both sides of the Camino.

Today's walking was through gorgeous country.  My feet and body are not in pain.

Distance Walked Today: 28.7 kilometres.

Total Distance Walked So Far: 582.8 kilometres.

Total Distance Covered So Far: 604 kilometres including the 21.2 kilometres by taxi.

Soul Song Number 27 - Beauty in Bierzo

(6 May 2013)

Today you left the city of the Iron Bridge,

Trudging through dreary suburbs.

The dreary suburbs gave no indication of what was to come…

Eventually the suburbs surrendered,

Permitting the countryside to show its true colours.


Up towards the sierras the Camino climbed.

On either side, vineyards covered the ground.

Not yet, the sea of green that was to come,

But budding with the beginnings of what was to be.

Oh! The flowers!

They were determined to change the world immediately,

Change it by painting it in waves of white, red and blue.


So you walked through a world bursting with life and colour,

Edging always upward,

Upward into the hills.

As the day wore on,

You walked in a land of rushing rivers and deep, deep green.

Into the heart of beautiful Bierzo you walked,

Until you came to rest after yet another long day.


Then time stopped for you.

You were in Pereje.

Surrounded by green.

Surrounded by beauty.

You were definitely at a very good place to sleep.


Monday, April 7, 2025

Blog No. 219 - Our Cancer Ghosting Experience Part 5, 7 April 2025

Margaret’s health declined dramatically in late 2008.  Because she loved Ireland so much, and because we had so many close friends in Ireland, I considered taking Margaret to Ireland for an extended period (six months or more).  I felt if I could remove her from her toxic work location, she might regain her health.  To enable this to become real, I looked at house swaps under which someone from Ireland would live in our home while we lived in their house in Ireland.  I also considered buying a house in Ireland so that Maragret could start again in a place where she had no unhappy memories.

In the end, I shelved the idea of moving to Ireland.  We were getting married in Ireland in July 2009 and I hoped that the marriage would lift her health without the need for transplanting her from her home in Adelaide to a place she had only visited as a tourist on holiday. 

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The Chief Organiser of our marriage in Killashee House on the 30th of July 2009 was Ann Ryan.  She visited possible locations and made recommendations to us about suitable places to get married.

As from the 26th of January 2021, when Margaret was dying from cancer and had just finished (on 20 January 2021) a gruelling course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Ann Ryan transformed herself into the Chief Architect of our Cancellation through the implementation of a campaign of Cancer Ghosting which has never lessened in intensity even though Margaret died in my arms (quite literally) at 3.16 am on 22 August 2023.

Our wedding in Ireland was attended by so very many of our friends from Australia and Ireland.  An idea of the scope of our Cancer Ghosting can be gained by looking at the friends who came to our wedding and asking what happened when Margaret was diagnosed with untreatable cancer in July 2020.

This is a summary of what happened to us.  It is extremely depressing and distressing.

Who (Only Includes Those Whose Names I Still Remember)

Relationship to Us

Action After Margaret’s Diagnosis 

Action When Margaret Died

Action Since Margaret’s Death

Anne Ryan

Margaret’s best friend and organiser of our wedding.  Honoured Guest at (1) Our wedding in Killashee House; and at

(2) Our 10 year anniversary celebration in Killashee House

Refused to come to our home

No cards or texts; refused to come to the funeral

Ignored all attempts by me to reach out to her

Paul Ryan

Ann Ryan’s brother and Honoured Guest at (1) Our wedding in Killashee House; and at

(2) Our 10 year anniversary celebration in Killashee House 

Ignored all attempts by me to communicate with him and tell him about Margaret

No cards or texts; because he lived in Ireland, I did not expect him to come to the funeral although his sister Ann Ryan could easily have paid his fare


Nothing 

Aine Ryan 

Ann Ryan’s sister in law and Honoured Guest at (1) Our wedding in Killashee House; and at

(2) Our 10 year anniversary celebration in Killashee House

Nothing ever from Aine

No cards or texts; because he lived in Ireland, I did not expect her to come to the funeral although her sister in law Ann Ryan could easily have paid her fare


Nothing; ignored invitation to be present when I scattered Margaret’s ashes in Ireland

Paula Ryan 

Ann Ryan’s niece and Honoured Guest at (1) Our wedding in Killashee House; and at

(2) Our 10 year anniversary celebration in Killashee House

Paula maintained regular contact with me until 18 July 2023 when I told her Margaret’s cancer had miraculously vanished

No cards or texts; because she lived in Ireland, I did not expect her to come to the funeral although her aunt Ann Ryan could easily have paid his fare


Nothing; ignored invitation to be present when I scattered Margaret’s ashes in Ireland

Heather Long

Margaret’s friend of 50 years’ standing. Honoured Guest at (1) Our wedding in Killashee House; and at

(2) Our 10 year anniversary celebration in Killashee House

Refused to come to our home

No cards or texts; I know she was at the funeral only because she signed the Commemoration book

Nothing

Andrew Long

Husband of Heather Long who was Margaret’s friend of 50 years’ standing. Honoured Guest at (1) Our wedding in Killashee House; and at

(2) Our 10 year anniversary celebration in Killashee House

Refused to come to our home

No cards or texts; I know he was at the funeral only because he signed the Commemoration book

Nothing 

Mick Martin

“Officiator” at our unofficial wedding in Ireland in 2002 and Honoured guest at our real wedding in 2009

Nothing 

Nothing

Nothing 

Ann O’Brien

Honoured Guest at (1) our unofficial wedding in Ireland in 2002 and (2) at our real wedding in 2009

(2) Honoured Guest at our real wedding in 2009

Nothing

Nothing

Nothing

Mary Doyle

Honoured Guest (1) at our unofficial wedding in Ireland in 2002; (2) our real wedding in 2009 and at (3) our 10 year anniversary

Nothing 

Nothing 

Nothing 

Nes Fernandez

Honoured Guest at our real wedding in 2009

Refused to come to our home and stopped all contact

Refused to come to funeral

Nothing

Peter Hussey

Honoured Guest (1) at our unofficial wedding in Ireland in 2002; (2) our real wedding in 2009 and at (3) our 10 year anniversary

Nothing

Nothing

Nothing

Sue Chapman

Margaret’s friend of 50 years’ standing. Honoured Guest at (1) Our wedding in Killashee House; and at

(2) Our 10 year anniversary celebration in Killashee House

Refused to come to our home 


No cards or texts; I know she was at the funeral only because she signed the Commemoration book

Nothing 

Denise Flynn 

Honoured Guest (1) at our unofficial wedding in Ireland in 2002; (2) our real wedding in 2009

Nothing

Nothing

Nothing

Maeve O’Byrne

Extremely close friend of Ann Ryan and Officiator at our Handfasting Ceremony in 2009.  Honoured Guest at (1) at our unofficial wedding in Ireland in 2002; (2) our real wedding in 2009 and at (3) our 10 year anniversary

Nothing

Nothing

Nothing

Dave Dalton

Husband of Maeve O’Byrne Honoured Guest at (1) at our unofficial wedding in Ireland in 2002; (2) our real wedding in 2009 and at (3) our 10 year anniversary

Nothing

Nothing

Nothing



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Cancer Ghosting increased after Margaret died.  This is a summary of the extra ghosting.


Who (Only Includes Those Whose Names I Still Remember)appropriate

Relationship to Us

Action After Margaret’s Diagnosis 

Action When Margaret Died

Action Since Margaret’s Death

James Michael Redden

Margaret’s brother and co-executor of her Will


Mostly appropriate

Appropriate 

Stole about $50,000.00 of Margaret’s jewellery on 23 November 2023 and falsely told Margaret's niece, sister and sole remaining friend Cheryl Scopazzi that they could take Margaret’s clothes and the jewellery he had not already stolen.


Ensured remaining family members cancelled me after 23 November 2023.


Refused to do anything to help in estate administration

Jameson Henderson Redden

Margaret’s nephew and co-executor of her estate

Appropriate

Appropriate

Confirmed his father had authorised taking of Margaret’s jewellery and clothes.


Cancelled me after January 2024.


Refused to do anything to help in estate administration

Maurine Redden

Margaret’s sister

Appropriate

Appropriate 

Cancelled me after 23 November 2023.

Cheryl Scopazzi

Sole friend who continued to visit Margaret at home.  I now think she did this so she could give reports about Margaret’s health to the Cancellation Crew

Appropriate

Appropriate 

Took as much of Margaret’s clothing and jewellery as she could. 


Cancelled me as from January 2024



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Cancer Ghosting is real and it is vicious and debilitating.  Margaret and I were both victims of Cancer Ghosting and I have continued to receive Cancer Ghosting even though Margaret has now been dead since 22 August 2023.

We both thought Ann Ryan was our close friend but she treated both of us like pieces of rubbish before Margaret died.  She has continued to treat me like a piece of rubbish in the time since.


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Margaret was thrilled that she had been able to help Ann Ryan buy her own place in Glenelg.  I took this photo on 11 April 2018.  Margaret is with the sales agents who facilitated the sale of the unit to Ann.

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Margaret with her “wonderful friend” Ann Ryan on 4 April 2018 at Sellick’s Hill, south of Adelaide.  Ann said she liked the statue of Kwan Yin, Goddess of Compassion, but no compassion had found its way into her heart when Margaret began to die from cancer in 2020.