Page 17 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • June 1998 17
Babes come in three's St Andrew's Ridge
play area date change
Well they do in the Cottrell household at Abbey Meads, because life revolves around
The opening of the new play areas on the
one year old triplets. Tanya Parkinson went to meet them. Ridge has been changed to take place on
Tuesday 26 May, lOam to noon at the
When Jan Cottrell, went for her ture babies to 'forget' to breath. Alan is a lifelong supporter. They
pregnancy scan, she felt the same This is what happened to Imogen each have their own Swindon strip, open space close to Reynolds Way - not
as most other mums-to-be, nerv- and she now has a monitor at- love playing with a football and Monday 25 May as advertised last month.
ous and excited. tached to her when she is asleep to watch it on the television. Look out for the Octobus play bus.
These feelings soon turned to prevent a reoccurrence. Twelve months on, Jan is begin-
fear when the doctor said, 'either Laying smiling and gurgling on ning to surface. "It's a lot easier WHAT A BREAK
there is something wrong or you the lounge floor, surrounded by than when they were 5 months. I
are carrying more than one.' There toys, it is hard to imagine the chaos took my first trip into town in early
were further tests so when Jan had these lovely babies caused. It is May and was pleasantly surprised THROUGH!
the results she did not panic at the also very apparent, even from be- at how kind everyone was. I had
thought of having triplets, but felt ing in the room for only 15 min- doors opened for me; one young No more
a huge sense of relief! utes, that each girl has her own boy even carried my basket."
Life was soon to change dra- individual character. Looking back Jan is very grate-rate break ins
ful to friends who have given her
matically for Jan and her husband ful Burglar
Alan. Alison, Imogen and Lily were so much support. "State help for
born 9 weeks early on 17 May. multiple births starts at four ba- proof glass
Bringing the babies home from bies; there is very little practical
hospital marked the start of an support for mums with triplets. For more details,
endless and intense round of feed- "You cannot look at the guide-
ing, and changing nappies. Jan lines for one baby and apply them tel: 01793 765362
said, "the first few months of their to three, it just would not work. I Residential and commercial
lives were a complete blur. I was hope that one day more help will
practically house bound and con- be available for murns with triplets enquiries welcome
stantly feeling tired."
Their early days were not with-
out health problems either. Lily is Hillside Building Services
allergic to milk and now has to be
given Soya milk as a substitute. Extensions, loft conversion,
Until this allergy was diagnosed specialists in all types of building & plastering
each feed was followed by a pe-
riod of nonstop screaming. Alison Fully insured
had a hernia and had to undergo Contact Dave on 01793 488470
an operation to correct it. Jan and Alan Cotterell,
But by far the most alarming with Lily, Imogen and Alison
moment was when Imogen "For Lily, we call her Princess
stopped breathing while having a Lily, everything has to done in the SHAW SALON
feed one morning. Alan explained right way at the right time," said
what happened: "Jan came run- Jan. "She is much more gentle than ...............
ning in shouting that Imogen was the other two. A GEM
not breathing. I rushed in to see "Alison is very cheeky, she'll do
her while Jan called an ambulance. anything for a laugh. She likes to
I had no first aid training, but I had entertain the others. Imogen is the Now *iea 5;4z 54dc1
seen the kiss of life being given to model baby, she does everything
a baby on Casualty. So I did what by the book. She eats anything, We offer a warm welcome to all clients past,
I had seen on TV and managed to goes to sleep by herself and is a
bring her round just before the real doddle!" present and future
ambulance arrived." All three are Swindon Town fans Ladies cut from £9.00 • Gents cut from £6.30
It is not uncommon for prema- already - not surprising as dad Children cut from £4.50
OAP concession Tuesday & Wednesday
At your local fire station Shaw Village Centre, Shaw, Swindon
Tel: 874825
During the last month, Westlea fir e station have attended its usual
quota of shouts, writes Sub-officer Martin Lloyd.
These have included a himself out along the
motorway accident with a bough, some 20 feet up. BLINDS SALE
large number of casualties When we arrived he
requiring medical atten- was wrapped around the
tion, and a barn fire that bough, holding the boy Summer Savings of up to 50%*
was attended by opera- who was face down un- Blind for blind no-one beats our prices
tional units from Malmes- derneath and very dis-
bury, Wootton Bassett, tressed. There was a PHONE NOW 9w, -9pm 7 DAYS
Swindon and Westlea over happy ending when we Swindon
a period of 12 hours. Sadly 9 calves lowered the boy to the ground by
died in the blaze and investigation line and the gentleman elected to FAST LOCAL SERVICE 874655
showed the fire had been started use our ladder instead of climbing
deliberately. down. Our congratulations must
L,Y0800181958
On 5 May a young boy found go to him for his quick actions. M i.I..d rsnts
ct
himself stuck up a tree. A passing Training is going well for our VERTICALS ROLLERS VENETIANS ROMANS PLEATEDS
runner realised the lad was in dan- three peaks competition on 25 June
ger of falling and without hesita- and the organisational side is com- H I L L A R Y S
tion climbed the tree and eased ing together.