Happy

Happy New Year (Noisy)

Dinner

And tonight I was invited down to no 7 for a dinner, there was loads of roasted veggie stuff, hummus, salad, it was delicious, and I took a hip flask full of Whiskey Mac with me, even nicer

Aardvark

I asked a MOS s'morning if anyone was going to town. He said "Yes AJ is going to Aardvark". Which made me very happy on two fronts, 1) It's just around the corner from Sheffield House which is where I was gonna try and send a MOS if they were going into Carmarthen at all, and 2) I said to her that I used to work there ages ago so please say "If anyone remembers him that Neil says hello"

And she did, so I was able to stick up various calendars and pics of Freya and the kids. Then I figured out how to make 4 or 5 pictures into an animated gif which looks impressive on a web page

Gosh

Gosh I have been "out" since just after lunch, to No. 7. I only went 'cos I had heard about a cake (which was nice) then I had a glass of Baileys which was very good

Mile

So just now I went outside and was walking up and down without my 'stick on this path. I had up and downed a few times when a MOS walked past, I asked him "How many KM in a mile?", he got out his diary, while I carried on walking, when I got back he said "1.60summat" so I carried on walking until at last I had walked without holding anything 1.625 kilometers. So I walked a mile without my walking stick

Visitors

Then later this morning more visitors came to see me, Brian and Rita, Julia's parents. It was a bit strange but well OK, they were talking about how I was when I first had the accident and when I first came out of hospital and how I am now etc which was a bit upsetting but reassuring too.

And for a Xmas present from them first of all I opened a half bottle of whiskey, thought "Oh.... erm... thanks" opened my second present and it was a bottle of Ginger Wine. So combine the 2 together and it will make a Whiskey Mac. VBG

I commented how I used to think Julia was very beautiful but looking at Rita I can see where she got it from!!

Up

And at 'em again, 8.30ish AM

See me

Then later today all my kids came and had dinner, all of them. It was the most I have had sat this dining table, ever

Post Mortem

It occurred to me while at my sisters summat came on't telly saying "post mortem" and I thought "What a sh*t job, looking at bodies" etc

Gossip

While I was staying at Carly's I felt that her loo was much too low, if you are sitting down to pooh it proved really difficult to stand back up, I had to pull on the sink and the door handle but I managed in the end.

But on the way up I went to the loo before leaving then didn't need to go again until we were 3 countries away, so obviously summat is getting better

Slept

Well I slept last night so at a guess I am a bit better today. This afternoon my 3 kids are coming together and I will try to cook us all food etc.

Weary

Gosh I am worn out/knackered. Today we travelled back in another aeroplane this time to Cardiff, then an hour and a half rest of the way back. So far I have eaten my dinner and put pics together in web pages, I hope they are lovely but I am now too tired to do owt else 'til tomorrow

More Xmas

Then as no-one here gave me any presents but I got some anyway so that Santa must exist.

We hung about talking and drinking red wine and did not much else. BTW I was the master of ceremonies

Happy Christmas

Good lord, at my sisters house and I have been sitting on the PC for long enough to actually do stuff like this so....

We had a really long drive t'other day to Bristol to t'airport they scooped me up in ambilift in my wheelchair then I had to walk 10 paces without my 'stick to sit down. We had a briefish flight to Glasgow where we were met by my brother=in-law and taken to his house.

We had loads more adventures, me, my little brother, my Mum and Dad, and my b-I-l's Mum. I will have to tell u more later but for now there is a que for the 'puter

Heathenmas

Well, Happy Heathenmas to one and all

Not Strong Enuf

Last night I was sitting outside for a bit, it was chilly so I tried to stick my hands up the opposite sleeve. Left hand no problem, right hand couldn't do it. It was a combination of not being able to move it round and, majorly, not being strong enuf to maske the elasticated cuff move out of the way.

Seagulls

Jonathan Livingston, I got it for Chrimbly. I last read it about 20 years ago and I had forgotten, but WOW how cool, and I am a bit jealous

Visitors

Then after lunch my Dad and little brother came over to see me, we didn't do much except taking a few photos and then went out for a lovely meal. They are gonna have to take me away in't morning tomorrow, so see you when I get back

'Puter Woes

Then today suddenly my computer stopped being able to look at interweb sites, it just didn't work. I thought "Oh woe" but suddenly a load of email arrived so I knew it was still connected. I restarted Firefox, it still wouldn't work, so I restarted the whole PC. Now it works perfectly again, email and www access. (shrug)

I was so excited that I woke up

Very early s'morning, lay there for a bit then got up too very early

Because my Dad and Brother are coming over today to take me to Scotland tomorrow, to my sisters house, for Chrimbly. Then when I come back it should be much warmer again, just proper cold December temperatures

Strange Memory

So I went outside today, I was looking around and in my head was a song, oh dear, my memory is getting better

Aargh

So yesterday someone phoned me and told me that the Ambulance wasn't coming s'morning to take me to Priory. After I had set my alarm clock and I forgot to unset it. So I got up early s'morning, went out with my thermometer and it said nearly minus eight degrees, yes, it was very cold

Double Take

This afternoon someone knocked on the door, I thought "Too early to be Freya", went and answered it and it was my big 19 year old son who has been in Manchester for months. Later Freya came too, I saw them both!!

Priory Off

Someone phoned me just as my dinner was ready and told me that there will be no ambulance coming for me tomorrow, so I'll see them at Priory Day Hospital in the new year

Walkies

So today I walked outside, with no walking stick some 165 feet, or just over 50m which I measured

AND today I managed 100m, 328 ft stickless

Sand Witch

So since ages ago I have had a sandwich for lunch followed by a plate of salad. But today I was sat at't table, put peanut butter and jam on my pieces of bread, put some salad on it then made it into a sandwich. Mmmmm, I haven't eaten like that for a number of years

Posty

And the posty made it today, apparently this street is one of the worst so..... I got my compass and my 2nd pair of long johns so phew

Blue Badge

Well today the postman managed to make it to here and he delivered my Blue Badge for parking, so now I can park on double yellow lines if I need to etc

Phew

I am just relieved that today I got up, had breakfast, sat in front of my PC and it just seems to be all working, no crises, today

Bright &.....

Dunno woke up at about 6.40 s'morning and was up and at 'em by 7

Gosh

Abnd some of the staff are staying here because the roads are so shit, better to have someone in't morning

No webspace

And it sez my web space has been suspended but there is no-one answering phonecalls until 9AM tomorrow

Hah, phew it works now

(Hooray)

Oops

And because I had put a plate with some water on it on t'table in my back yard for the birds to drink from it had snowed a cm last night so it was frozen to the table, I had to get a MOS to help me free it so I could wash it and put it away again

Snow

So everything is stuck, some staff are off etc because of the snow. But we are lucky. Many people in other places in the country have had more than a foot of snow, but we have only had 2 inches. I dunno what would happen if that much fell here.....

Sorry, I have had 2 or 3 cm of snow, they have had half a meter or more

& At 'Em

So I woke up s'morning, all clad in my splint for my arm etc. I thought "What time is it?", looked at my watch, I read 11.35AM, thought "Oh no!", got up and went and had my brekky. Then I looked at my watch again, this time it said 8.50AM. So dunno if I can't read it properly first thing or what

Marginally Aprehensive

And I am a bit scared, I am supposed to go off in an Ambyvan to Priory Day Hospital soon.....

And after the Ambyvan was an hour late coming here I phoned Priory and said I was too scared to leave here so could they phone the ambulance supplier and tell them not to worry today....

And she said "Don't worry, no ambulances today" so....

Sigh

So I went to bed about 12.30 last night and got up s'morning an hour before my alarm clock goes off at about 6.30. Hah, sleep is for the weak!! Or summat.....

Aargh, there is more of that slippery underfoot cold stuff now too....

Tai Chi

And I was supposed to be going to a Tai Chi class this evening to have a look and see if I think I might be able to do "stuff" there in order to speed up this getting better thing but it is way too supposed to be snowing in an hour or 2 so we decided "Nah, lets go after Christmas"

And the weather forecast said it was gonna snow outrageously now, but it's not saying that any more

New Toys

So this morning I received my new free bus pass. So I will have to go with a \MOS the first few times until I am used to it, but hopefully it will be good

I also got s'morning a letter from the DVLA telling me to make an appointment with a doctor miles away to test my driving skills.

So neither of these were the groovy letter I was hoping for but a load of "important stuff" too

T-Shirt

And I purchased a new T-shirt 'cos the message attracted me

Physio

And we did my Physio and impressed him with how well I am doing etc

& at 'em

Well I got up early to wait for my ambultransport. I could have had a lie in, it's still not here

Yes, I was sitting outside, I had just taken my phone out and was looking for Ambulance Transport when she came, said sorry etc. She had had a) an emergency to deal with and b) an out of date SatNav which didn't know where I lived

Visitor

After worrying most of't morning my visitor came to see me this afternoon, it kind of was better than I had been worrying etc...... It does my head in having visitors when I am this flipped, but......

Pain(t)

And someone reminded me t'other day that one of my paintings was done with her feet by a sufferer who couldn't use her hands

WOW walkies

And a walking track that I have managed twice in the past I did 3 today, with no walking stick

And we found a measuring tape this evening, it is 10 meters each way so a total of 60m (or 65 yds)

Tired

Gosh yes, I was so tired yesterday that I didn't go to bed until about 2.10AM and still woke up at 9.15 s'morning

Lord

Lord what a hectic day so far. I got up s'morning, was half way through my brekky when my phone rang, it was the professor who was due in at 10.30 today, he said "Sorry, I am a bit early as I hadn't explored, so can I come and see you now?" After I had finished my muesli I opened the front door, and there he was. We didn't talk about much 'til my father got here at 10 o'clock. Then he was saying how surprising it is to him to meet me, the medical notes said I was f*cked but then he met me and appreciated how much my perseverance can do.

Then me and Dad went and had lunch in Carmarthen, then we went to look for Lidl, my Dad went in and asked for a bottle of Whiskey Mac they said "Not here", I phoned J again and she told me Aldi which neither of us had ever seen so went on to Morrisons and spent loads on food etc. Then when I was back, my Dad had gone to town for a smoke alarm I looked on line, my Dad came back and I have sent him off to Stephens Way to try to buy some now

Then I went out and had dinner in Dad's hotel which was lovely, but I am exhausted

Irish Humour

With a thick Irish accent please....

Q) Oh I'm desperate, what do you do about sex?

A) We keep our spuds in them

Ade

Gosh, what a mad/bizarre coincidence. Earlier I was out in my Dad's hotel, I asked him summat about my camera he didn't know but asked a chap who was working taking pics of the wedding. We got chatting and he said "Gosh yes, I was nearly dead 10 years ago when I had a major heart attack, well done for getting better, keep it up etc". He used to be a fireman but had to retire as he was in bed for 4 years. But now he is well enough to work as a photographer

Visit

And as my Dad said "What shall we do s'afternoon?" I took him around where I lived years ago, I thought we should.... after but it was too dark, at 4.30 s'afternoon

Then we went out and had a delicious meal in town somewhere, where the staff now say "Hello again" to us, how sad must we seem

FTP

And thanks to Stuarts help/advice I managed to get my FTP program to work once again, so I could put stuff "up" on my website once more

Intimidated

So I got up at about 8.15 today. My Dad is coming over to see me later as he is gonna be sitting in a the meeting tomorrow with my assessor. Gosh, I am feeling a bit intimidated but I am sure it will be fine

Erm...

Yes...

?

Fun AND exercise

DFK

So here I am relaxing in my room late. WHAT A.....

So I went to Day Hospital today and the instructor was being half way really dead pleased at my progress and half way being "Well in that case keep up this progress be doing this until it hurts" and it works.

Then Toby my precious firstborn child came to see me for the first time in months. We talked, he has fu*ked up again in his new place and all circumstances have really gone mad around him so he is now against his will staying with Julia and her new chap BUT WE REALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW HE FUCKED UP AND WAS NOW REALLY TRYING ALL THE TIME TO MAKE IT WORK he is nearly a grownup now. &c etc

Then a MOS came in and cared.

Then I had some dinner.

Then....

Then...

Then my Dad phoned and said see you on Sunday as I have just received notification of your assessors coming on Monday to see you

Then...

....Then...

Grated Cheese

And I opened and tried my new packet of grated cheese today, gosh it made making a pizza easier!!!

Toby

Then later my firstborn son came to see me. What can I say, I haven't seen him for a couple of months and he came today. After we had admired each other etc we got talking, I had to tell him be rebellious most of the time if that's what you want/need but when it gets scary just say "Sorry, won't be that stupid again". Even if you are lying you need to tell 'em that. After we both talked I feel a smidge more secure, he fuc*ed up when I had my accident, continued to do so for ages but perhaps, perhaps, he now knows etc

L8R

Then later after I phoned him and said "When r u coming?", he sais in an hour

Well

Well later I was taken off to Priory and did all my stuff. When I was there I showed him my hand being straight and he was quite pleased, as it is because I am doing so much in my own time apparently

Scared

Good lord, I got up I am waiting for the Ambulancve to take me to hospital and FTPing wouldn't work any more. I had to "system restore" to make it all work again. And it is still first thing in't flippin' morning

Blinkin' Flip - Geetaring

Well, I have just had another play on my guitar, I am still shit at it but it is sounding so much better then before, like loads better than I was at it a couple of weeks ago.

Lentils

So I cooked a curry, an onion, most of a packet of mushrooms, in oil to fry, then water and a packet of stir fry veg and curry powder. I didn't look right. Last time I was in the kitchen it ocured to me, lentils, now it looks much nicer

Scared

S'morning I got up etc about 7.30. Now it felt really strange still wearing a splint on my right hand. It had felt really odd going to bed last night and equally odd, or odder, waking up s'morning to find my hand still all wrapped up in summat.

Now s'morning I had my brekky etc and now I am waiting for the taxi to t'dentist, as one of my temporary fillings fell out so I have a great big hole in front of the other half of a front(ish) premolar

Well it is done now, no pain etc, she did another temporary filling and made arrangements for an extraction when I am back for a "proper" appointment in January

Heat

And I have just been outside, and while it was still chilly it was much warmer than earlier. A MOS passed and agreed with me

Lord

Well I got up dead early s'morning, waited for ages, eventually my lift to Priory Day Hospital arrived, went there and had about an hour Physio on my right arm. Then another MOS saw me and made a "when you are in bed" splint for my hand to keep it better. Then I waited for the Ambulance. Then I waited. Then they phoned. Then I waited some more. Then they phoned again. Etc. Eventually I got picked up and brought home, it was dark!!! There was a serious road accident apparently, caused the confusion

Aargh

Gosh, me and Freya had words sort of.... I just initially asked her if we could stop listening to "love songs" as it did my head in, as I used to love her mother and it went pear shaped. She said "But it was 7.5 years ago" which to her might be more than half her life but to me as I was unconscious or barely concious for ages it still seems modern to me, but she has a new dad and brother who she loves.....

Healthy, Wealthy, Wise

So I went to bed about 11.30 last night and woke up, and got up, at about 6.30 s'morning

Out

And we are going to "Headway" again tonight

And loads a point in going to there there was,mmm. I had a coffee and "some" mince pies, listened to them reading out the minutes from last time and that was it, lets go home

And I was talking to a MOS who took us last night, I said that by normal standards I am very ill but by the standards of 'here' I am very well. He agreed and called me a "Lucky bastrad" and said there was no reason or logic in it

Shopping

Well, a taxi came and took me to the supermarket s'morning, I bought my weeks shopping and all went well. Then a different taxi took me home and dropped off my stuff and me. I opened the front door and took my stuff in. Then I realised, I had 4 carrier bags at the shop there are only 3 now. So I phoned the taxi company back and they said "Hang on, we will check....... Oh yes here it is, we will bring it to you ASAP". So here I am, still waiting....

And he brought it back, was most appologetic about it being between the chairs, he said "What's frozen, I will take it off you and nip to the shop and replace it" which was fine except I then then had to say "Nothing - it was in the other bag". But at least I got it all in the end and he grovelled a bit

Up

So I woke up and got up an hour a quarter before my alarm clock went off this morning

S'evening

And I am still up this evening

Up and At 'Em

Well, this morning I got up......

Jar Crisis

So I had a new jar of gherkins to open to start them with my lunch. I tried to open them but no, it was stuck. So I went and got my opening jars tool from the kitchen, but no, the jar lid was too big. So I buzzed, a man and a woman came. They both tried, neither of them could open it either. They said all other staff were all women so no one stronger was there. So phew, it wasn't just me, but I couldn't open my new jar of pickles. I said "OK, c ya" and went in to eat my lunch. There was a knock on the door it was another female MOS. She said "My granny taught me this" and banged it upside down on the floor, and then opened my jar of pickles.

Every day you learn summat

Changing

So I got up s'morning took the covers off my bed, put them in't washing machine, had breakfast and tried to fit the new duvet cover, 1 corner I had got up, tried to do the other and couldn't untangle it. Tried for about 8 minutes, no can do. So I buzzed, got a MOS to help and it took him ages too, but in the end it is fitted. All I need to do now is finish my coffee and fit the sheet.

Blinkin' Flip

Gosh, I am knackered now, busy day

Denyse

Then we did loadsa talking about important stuff etc. Easiest if I just show u what she left. "Why I am looking for a voluntary placement?

Why? To give me routine. To give me practice "job"bing. To prove that I can keep a routine commitment. Practicing talking to folk and being appropriate. Stop being bored. Use my skills and interests. Another opportunity to practice walking and using hand. More confidence.

Grasslands Trust. )
Wildlife Trust Of S Wales ) Denyse is gonne phone them/factfinding arrange a visit
Wildlife And Wetlands Trust )

Aim to go once a week with a support worker which we need to find.

I will be able to take holidays

Cash will be provided"

Chopping Board

Then I just had time to unwrap my new chopping board then Denyse, my case manager came to see me

Arm

Gosh it seems like days ago, but then I went to't Day Hospital and worked on my hand/arm. He sounded really positive about how much progress I am making etc. And yes, it hurt, no pain no gain

Aargh

So at about 6AM s'morning I had woken half up when suddenly the door was knocked. I thought "Nah", lay there for about 5 minutes then gave up and got up. I opened the door, no sign of anyone. So I 'buzzed' for help, said "Who knocked my door so early?" and he said "No one, I was out having a fag and I know there was no one. But the roof makes a knocking sound, might have been that?" pointing at the roof outside. Dunno but I was up very early today

Using My Right Hand

Just now I had a wash in the bathroom. When I was washing my left armpit I was casually cleaning it when it occurred to me, "Blinkin' flip, you are using your right hand to do that, you haven't been able to for a number of years". I was just casually using it again, obviously summat knows!!!

It's not over yet. For Andy(1)

Scary story from Ireland, just goes to show that some bitter folk still exist

(1) Re "Clucking bell"

Where is it?

But it's melting outside...

Forms

So then I was able to taxi to the PO to hand in my forms, the application for a bus pass. After I queued for ages in the PO I suddenly realised that I needed to take some photographs to go on the form which I then did. All was well, now waiting to hear from CCC about my bus pass, then I'd better take a MOS with me to try it first.

Forgetful

So I was in bed lying awake this morning, thinking not much as I had just woken up, when suddenly my alarm clock went off. I switched it off and thought "WTF?". Slowly got up still wondering why it had gone off, I was eating my breakfast slowly minding my own business when I suddenly occurred to me "Hurry up Neil, taxi is coming to take you to the post office". Oh yes, that's right, whoops, forgotten

No Breath

I have just been outside at about 11PM and I had no visible breath, it is obviously much warmer than it has been for a while

A Phone Call

And this afternoon I had a phone call from Brian, my ex-father-in-law and he asked me what I am doing about Xmas as him and Rita are coming down to stay with Julia in her new house and he wants to see me too.

Up Early

So I got up at the scrake of day to go to Day Hospital. I waited for the Ambulance to take me. Them waited some more. Then I phoned and said "Am I on your list?". She said "Hold tight, you are next"

I was going to park my wheelchair and walk again but as soon as I went in the door a man called me so I just stayed sitting down.

When I was there we were working at my right hand, good lord, it is so much better, I can now bend it backwards, like I couldn't do last week. Like loads better

But I am slightly nervous about going on Friday because we are making progress but it hurts, flipping loads. No pain, no gain so I'd better keep it up

Prog Rock

I seem to have moved on from Punk now to Prog Rock. I have been listening to Marillion tonight. And good god, despite the fact that much of my memory is a bit wonky I remembered all the words, for songs that I haven't heard in a number of years

Came To See Me

And a beautiful visitor came to see me today which was nice. For dinner we had summat I had made and couscous with stuff in it. I may have cooked it before but I haven't cooked it for a number of years now and it was delicious

Sex

Pistols. Yes, I have bought 4 albums of them today, dunno why my head was being punk but it was/is

Aargh

Thought there was supposed to be a blizzard last night?

But anyway, I feel trapped, I am moderately immobile at the best of times and I am stuck now, I can't even go and put my bin out tomorrow

Dusk

So about 4.45 tonight I went outside to look at the dusk and what was there in the sky outside my front door? A star - at 4.45PM

Shopping

So because they were too scared to let me go off in the snow to the shops alone today I was accompanied by Tristram another veggie who can't be taking ages to cook. He spent most of the time saying "Have you tried this, or this?" etc . Because he was nagging I spent about a tenner extra this week. Couscous seems to have attracted my attention this week, and some other stews etc. The veggie stuff seems to cook in about 5 minutes so it is easy...

And when we were in't supermarket today an announcement came over "Will the owner of car registration plate "CY570 NTH" please come and....". I want it

Cleaning

So this morning I was sitting in my PC chair and I noticed that the screen on my PC was grubby, loads of "bits" on it so I got a damp cloth and had to clean most of it

ETB, ETR....

Well I went to bed at about 10 past 12 last night and woke up again so I got up at about 7.30 s'morning.....

Strange Buying

And I looked online for ages to find a Pocket Sized thermometer to see how cold it is when outside etc. I looked and looked and looked, was just about to give up then found a cheap "whistle" that when I read a bit more is a multifunction thermometer. Now I don't suppose I will whistle much but a thermometer for a couple of quid, excellent

Sport

And I found myself watching sport on't telly again. Dunno, it seems more up to date, it doesn't matter that I have watched very little telly recently

Turn

And today I asked again and this time the third person that I asked actually knew the answer to my question and actually knew how to switch my heating up.

I am a smidge upset that 2 MOS didn't know because the central heating is 'theirs', not summat that I own/had fitted

Tap

So I got up s'morning, went into the kitchen and turned the tap on to fill the kettle. Nothing came out. I was just about to shout "Help" when suddenly it started, about 5 seconds after I had turned it on. Now it's back to normal, switching on instantly like a proper tap, so dunno

Oh Dear

Didn't We Have A Lovely Time... (noisy)

Sorry.

But I asked a chap s'morning if Dan The Haircutting Man was about. He said "It's me!", so embarrasingly enough he then said that he has got to take somebody to hospital this afternoon but after that he will tidy up my (now) scruffy long mohawk

And he did it, it looks not half bad

Weekend Now

So I woke up and got up s'morning. Today I am being lazy and wheel-chairing

Gad

So I got up early and took myself to Priory Day Hospital s'morning in a flippin' taxi because someone had contacted here and told them there were no Ambulavan's available. Yes, it was very scary being out in the snow but I coped. Unlike everyone else there, they closed early. So I phoned another taxi, they said "No, sorry, schools are out early, no cabs available, so I phoned yet another taxi company and they said "OK!", thought "Oh, I was looking forward to lunch" etc. I phoned the taxi company back and said "Where's my cab", they said "Sorry, chaos everywhere, we will phone you when your taxi is coming". So I was the only client there eating lunch, but I did enjoy it.

ObAnd I didn't see any Ixies (or anyone) riding a bike today from my taxi.

When I eventually got back here a MOS said "Ah there was a parcel delivered to you today, I will get it", got my parcel out and said "20 minutes after you left in a taxi an Ambulavan was here looking for you". So AARGH. I phoned Priory and said "Right, next Wed. if it doesn't come I am not paying for a flippin' cab again" and she said "Fairy nuff"

Iechyd Da Folk Club

I am off out in a bit..... to the hole in the wall first then to Iechyd Da

And wasn't it fun tonight, I need to go to bed almost immediately

Fear

And a MOS has just told me that a chiropodist is coming this afternoon to cut my flippin' toenails. I assume we will arrange to see her again in 6 weeks or so too

And just WOW. A woman called Gaynor came to see me, cut all of my toenails and my feet feel so much better now. On the right foot she explored a bit (as I had an infection in my left big toe) and found under the toenail was a folded bit of more toenail, an infection in a month or so, but she fixed it today

ETB, ETR....

Well I got up at 8.40 today, not having gone to bed until about 1 AM s'morning....

Teeth

And I saw a MOS today that I trust and said "My temp. filling has come out should I leave it for the 6 weeks until my next appointment?" but she said "No, phone your dentist tomorrow"

Which I did and made another appointment

Footy

Well I actually sat and watched Rangers play Man U tonight, but they lost

Lord

So I got up early s'morning and went to "the exercises for my right arm" at hospital. But it hurt loads all the stretching I was doing but "Wow" my right arm is better already and it will get even better when I go again on Friday etc

But there is a problem, no ambulance available on Friday so can I please take a taxi. So yes for Friday but I am not paying for any more

L8R

So I walked into the kitchen s'morning, stayed walking until this afternoon, again. Then later I was thinking "Where's Freya?", phoned her Mum, she said "Should be with you". I waited for another 15mins, phoned J again, she said "She must be on her way home". So I gave up, turned around and was just starting tio leave when she arrived. She had missed one bus and had to wait for another. But she came. Then, when she was here I cooked the first stir~fry that I have stirred for about 7½ years, mmmmm

Up Again

And I am up at 9.15AM today..... still feel a bit trapped here but....

Oops

And whoops, didn't mean that. So I was going to make me a coffee when "something" hit the pot too hard and broke it. Aargh, and I was at the shop s'morning. So I have ordered a new one which will be delivered on Wednesday, instant coffee 'til then

And luckily I bought an extra jar of instant for whatever reason last week. Obviously I knew

Up and Out

So got up s'morning and went shopping in Morrisons. It all went well until I was home when I noticed the BB today on my salad which I had bought for the week. (Sigh) The staff know I want summat, they will ask me when somebody is going

(Scream)

And I am not, as I did every illness to affect me in nearly 40 years, gonna get better and go back to my life. That life has gone now and I am working towards a new life

Filling

And one of my temporary fillings fell out of my tooth tonight. At a guess I will leave it as I have an appointment with the dentist in 7 weeks

Still not going

Whoops

And I spoke to my sister today, she said "Don't go yerself" she is gonna go. On Wednesday after Ian (her husband) and her have just come back from an Aunties Funeral

Sigh

So I walked into the kitchen again s'morning...... I will be on my own two feet 'til this afternoon

Aaaah

And my internet banking is broken!!!

Still Thinking About It

YES!!!

Tidying

So yesterday I had to brush my path by the lawn as it was fulla leaves. Now it looks a bit healthier, so today I took some photos

Sleep

And so s'morning I didn't get up 'til 9.15AM, Saturday layabout

In Need

I turned my telly on earlier got Children In Need and I am still watching it, a number of hours later

My Head

So I am thinking ~ "What does my future hold? What shall I do with the rest of my life?".

So I am not leaving here to get my life back, I am getting a new life

Up Again

Well, so I got up and walked to the kitchen again. My new hobby, walk every morning, chair in the afternoon

New Plan

So rather than walking every other day I think I will walk each morning and rest in the afternoon

(Dunno)

Up

Well I got up today and walked in to get my breakfast etc. Walked

Excited

So today I am a bit excited as to making a stir fry tonight

Simple ingredients

And it was delicious

Opener

And tonight I tried to twist summat, couldn't twist it, get it in my opener and then open it, no problem

Over now

Gosh, long day, busy day but for the "first time today" I have been catching up on Ixion sat here

ETR....

So s'morning I got up at about 5.15AM, walked to the loo, walked back, went to bed to try and sleep for a bit and dropped off, to my surprise, until 9.40AM ~ a lie in!!!

1, 2, 3

And today I retried putting a close this sign in a webpage but I realized
it must be an extra opened window not the main, first, one

Forgot

Went shopping, bought salad, a pepper, mushrooms, forgot to buy fryable veg, at a guess I can fry loadsa mushrooms & and have that with oven chips, I have got summat else to experiment with when Freya comes on Tuesday

Stir Frying I believe now I have thought of it

Well

Up half an hour before my alarm clock(s) today, ahh

And in another hour my taxi to take me shopping is due

Look

So even tho I got a see your Doctor letter off the DVLA t'other day, I don't think I am gonna rush as A) I can't afford a car yet and B) I am still getting better and I have an appointment with the eye specialist early next year, for now patience

Sigh

Yes, I'm still here......

Sleep

So I woke went to bed about 1AM s'morning, up at about 5.10 walked into the bathroom, had a piss, walked back, thought "Shall I get up?" then thought "Nah, too early ~ try", got into bed and actually went back to sleep, I didn't wake up again 'til 9.15

Radio 7

And tonight I tried for the first time in ages and I am well impressed. Listening to Dad's Army ATM

My Right Knee

So today I can walk but when I am doing so my right knee is hurting in a way it wasn't before. Lets hope it just gets better by itself

It seems to have not hurt when I was making lunch, so..... dunno

Walkies

So I got up s'morning and walked into the kitchen without my walking stick. Long may it continue...

And today I feel better at walking than I did t'other day, so I am getting better again

And yes, I am still walking after lunch, unlike t'other day....

Sleep

And last night I went to bed about midnight (I was flipping knackered) and actually slept s'morning until 8AM

Eyes

So I was outside tonight and I thought "Try my eye again", took off my patch, thought "Flip!!!! So as my my eye is usually under an eyepatch or I'm asleep, WTF is it improving? Too much to think about

L8R

So later I felt absolutely knackered because I had gotten up so early but there is no point going to bed early as I will wake up even earlier tomorrow

Botox

The ambulance taxi arrived and took me to the hospital where they were going to inject me. Both Doctors were there, 1 the chap I saw on Tuesday and 2 the chap that I haven't seen for about 3 years. First of all number 2 was really impressed with how much progress I made in that time. They had a conference about my arm and did decide to inject me. So Doctor 1 got 4 syringes ready and injected it into 2 muscles. As of yet it hasn't made much difference but I will wait and see

Actually no, just stretching on the table and possibly it doesn't hurt as much as it used to, as in the tightness is going

ETB, ETR....

Gosh, I got up at 5.30AM this morning but it may be because I am eager to go to hospital.... which I will, in hours

Visitors

Then later this afternoon that Han who I first met yonks ago and her boyfriend MRFS who I have known thru Ixion for some years but never met in the flesh came to visit. Han said "You won't remember last time I came to visit you, you were still in hospital". She also said that the last time she saw me I hadn't relearned how to speak, I could make a couple of noises but not recognizable as speech. They both also said how much better my Ixion posts are recently, I have learned partly how to communicate once more.

Gosh, I feel close to tears just trying to express how it was to see them

And I was speaking to a MOS earlier and I said that "This beautiful woman and her BF were coming to see me later" and yes, I was right, she is

Cripples

And when I got back today there was a message from Lucy saying Jackie asked her to send this, blinking flip, he's a disabled punk

S'morning

So after brekky today I was taken off to the Day Hospital to see the chap who is hoping to inject my arm with Botox tomorrow. We had to talk for ages, he was asking me loadsa questions which he will repeat hopefully in a few weeks to see how different my right arm feels

Well

Well I still got up and was having my breakfast when my alarm clock went off. Up tomorrow too. So I went to the hospital today and we had to talk about all sorts of stuff so he will be able to see if tomorrows injection has worked or not. Then we did some stretching etc, I will see the same chap at another hospital tomorrow

Knackered

Gosh I feel tired but if I go to bed now I will wake up at about 3.00AM tomorrow

Memory

So I remembered another unsuitable rhyme today, which made me think "Aargh" but I mustn't wish I would stop recalling stuff as it is a symptom of me getting better. Even if it is with such sad memories

Orthoptics

And the postman came this morning and delivered an appointment with the "Orthoptics" department at Singleton Hospital next (flippin') year. So I had to Google Orthoptics and apparently it means someone too try to fix my right eye!!!!

Wheeling Again

So today I am "resting" in my wheelchair once more, tomorrow I will leave it here and go, in an ambulance transport vehicle, to Priory Day Hospital on foot

Because of fear I am gonna take my chair with me tomorrow, hopefully I won't sit on it between arriving and leaving but stop me being scared etc

Visitor

And today however briefly that Freya girly chucked me off my PC and....

Forgot

And I was trying to do another webpage with a small link on it and I had completely forgotten how to do it. After about 4 hours of work I finally managed but the site isn't that exciting, just relearning

Sound

And I wanted to record sound for summat, I couldn't figure it out. Until someone said "You have sound on videos" and I also have an MP4 to MP3 converter. Done recorded sound

Shock

I am a bit shocked at how difficult walking is today. So I had about 4 days off and I feel well out of practice.

So I walked everywhere until after I had put my lunch dishes away then I sat in my wheelchair. Perhaps I will do the same tomorrow until I get better

Sleep Is For The Weak

I went to bed last night at 12.02AM then I woke up and got up at 6.05AM

On My Own Two Feet

So today is the first time in about a week that I have left my wheel-chair by my bed, walked into the living room and kitchen....... It feels scarier, as I'm out of practice but I need to carry on with this getting better, even tho at Headway last night they were discussing coping with ongoing problems, but I am trying "to get better"

Now strangeness, first thing when I was walking today my right foot was trying to turn over, like it was when it was worse, but later I assume it's just because it is getting used to being used it is, if I concentrate, being more upright

L8R

And then after such a day I thought "Oh, it's Headway tonight, better phone a Taxi" but before I phoned I asked a MOS is anyone else going, and he said "Yes" so I got a lift, no Taxi fares. And the chap who was talking moved me rather a lot, he was mainly just talking about what can happen to those of us who suffer a BI and our families

What A Day

Flip. Blinking flip. Today was hard work. First of all I had to go to Priory Street Hospital for "stuff" checking my arms etc. He said he will be there at Hill House Hospital and inject the Bo Tox poison into my arm on Friday. He also said that I am not supposed to be there in my wheelchair although it is OK to chair on Friday as it's a new place. He did BTW say that it will be 1% as unpleasant as having my eyes Bo Toxed so that is good news, I hope. But he did make another appointment for me to see him at Priory on Thursday to "prepare" me for the injection on Friday. So on Thursday I will have to walk there. But when I came home I checked my timetable and I was supposed to be seeing the dentist on Thursday too, so I had to phone them and make a different dated appointment. Then I went to (More Reason To Shop at) Morrisons to do my weeks shopping, I did that, phoned a Taxi and they said "Nah, nowt for hours, school run" which is why I usually go shopping on Monday morning
But it's all done, it's over and Freya won't come here tomorrow and find an empty flat as I am shopping

Lloyds

So s'morning I went to LloydsTSB site, was about to enter my username and password when it occurred to me, that you don't need to move the mouse until the password bit is underlined then enter, you just connect to the site and the cursor moves in there automatically. It's small but impressive

Early

So I went to bed relatively early last night so I could get up s'morning at 7.30AM. Because of that I woke up at 6AM instead

In't Morning

So I am up early and off to t'hospital in't morning. So I wont write til later

Feet

And today at 7pm I will take off my boots ready for a shower, then pause, don't take your trousers off until "Oh Hel" has been in to inspect my feet, someone may have to come in and work on them, paid by my winnings

And yes, she took one look at them and said "Get some cash for when the cutter comes"

Footy

And unusually I was watching a football match on the telly. The first half was a bit dull but in the second half they scored 5 goals in about 9 minutes

Helen

So I said to Helen "Well Helen.... is that your name?", she said "Yes, well remembered Neil". So I said "Helen, Helen..... what can I say afterwards to make it memorable?". She said "Dunno, but do not call me Helen Of Troy". How can I not now...

Ah, it occurred to me later... if an abbreviation is a nickname I will refer to her as Oh.

"Oh Hel".... I will remember that

Or Helen Earth.....

....MAM....

...Makes A Man...

ETB, ETR....

Got up at about 5AM s'morning as I had already been awake for "ages"

Spend

As I have been instructed to spend my transport allowance I took a taxi to t'pub tonight

Sh*t, I had no idea

On the news tonight the US president is visiting India ATM and today he went here to pay respect

Try Again

So tomorrow I will try to start BLOGing again, if I can write about pointless stuff that's going on

Wheeling

Well what can I say... I learned so much about how ill I was a few years ago that I don't feel the need to talk about now, I was so ill, I am lucky to be alive

Double Goosd Lord

Gosh I had way too much to do s'morning and then this afternoon and then, at last, I was taken out for dinner. Gosh, they are impressed with me but.....

What A Day

Well, I have been out with my parents loads today, they had to take me to where they are picking me up tomorrow as a check etc. Good lord, I am glad they have gone now, even tho I did enjoy my dinner

Denyse Procter

Good lord, this afternoon I had 3 hours with my new Case Manager. I think I love her, not inappropriately, but because she seems knowledgeable and she cares. She willl be back to see me in a few weeks

Mmm and apparently she works for the (much lower paying) NHS 2 days a week and works freelance the other 3, she does care about all of us

Stropping

Good lord, I am getting really stroppy now, my parents are here helping me &c because the woman is coming in half an hour but it's doing my head in having my parents here helping, it reminds me of being 10 or so

Not Walking

As today is full of visitors &c I am wheeling. Walking requires me to be left alone &c

Lloyds

This morning, after my breakfast &c I tried to log on to Lloyds TSB. It said "No, sorry, we are fixing it". I panicked a bit and tried again before I had another cuppa and it works now. Phew, don't panic Neil

Mum And Dad

Good lord, what a day. Well, my Mum and Dad came over because I am having serious meetings over the next few days. And we all went out for dinner with my Daughter, awwww, they were all pleased to see each other

Mouse

And last night I was fiddling with random stuff on my PC, I was having a look on the Control Panel and I noticed a link called 'Mouse' so a bit of fiddling there.... A) I switched off the "shadow" on the mouse and B) I switched on 'Display Pointer Trails' which makes it a lot more difficult to lose the mouse

Happy Chappy

U&AT

Well I woke up and got up at 7AM this morning..... Waiting now.....

Mañana

Gosh, I am a bit excited because tomorrow I am going out for dinner with my daughter and her grandfather

My Hoist

And this afternoon someone knocked on my door and said "Can I maintain your Hoist?" so I said yes. Even tho I have never used it they need to maintain it in case the next person to live here needs one.

Did it

Did my weeks shopping, couldn't find one item it turns out they have changed processor etc

Well

So I got up s'morning, going to't shop in a bit to buy this weeks groceries, hopefully storable items as my Dad is coming over and we will hopefully be eating out some

Nearly

And I was working in't kitchen earklier when suddenly I heard a loud bang. When a member of staff came to help I had to say "This pipes come off" luckily he was able to put it back before I tried to drain my sink

Tuesday

So my Dad is coming over on Tuesday because I have loadsa assessment meetings in the next few days, but every Tuesday Freya comes to visit. I talked to her on't phone today and told her, she said "Good, yes, great, we can all go out for dinner as long as I am back by 6pm"

Hallowe'en

So it's Samhain again now....

Watch

So as it's day shortening I had to get up, I reset the clock by my bed, the computer had done it automatically so that only left my watch. I read the instructions, there is analogue and digital. Luckily in my usual settings I can only see the analogue because I was able to set that right, dunno about digital but I usually can't see that so.....

Whoops

And I had a strange conversation along the lives of "It's tonight", "No, it's tomorrow", "No, it's tonight". So I checked online and he was right, the clocks are going back in a couple of hours

Wheeling

But since I was panicking over how many bits of camera there were I have been sat in my wheelchair. So I will walk tomorrow then

New Camera

So this morning I walked into my kitchen, I was opening the muesli &c when my phone rang. It was a deliverer chap, his SATNAV couldn't find this place. I told him as best I could. In 10 mins he phoned me back while I had an assistant, so I gave my phone to the worker and said "Tell him"

In the end the deliverer found here and delivered my new camera.

So phew I can work it pretty much already although I will have to read about video &c tonight

HAPPY CHAPPY

But when I had plugged it into my PC I couldn't find the power lead. I panicked for a minute then called a MOS. He looked in the boxes &c, couldn't find it. I said this was a new lead but it plugged my cam into my PC, he looked at it and said "This is your power lead too, and unplugged it from there, plugged it into the plug and it is now charging my battery

And I haven't paid for it yet!!!

And how powerful is it?

Patience

So, I got bored reading Dirk 'cos it's taking me too long, I only read for half an hour each day and it is going to take me months. So I bought a new book, a series of quicker reads

More Lord

Gosh. That Toby chap seemed better, clearer thinking, more together and disrespectable himself than I have seen him for 7½ years.

AND he seems to be getting on well with his new school, predicted 2 A's at O-level (GCSE)

Lord

Aargh, my precious son that I haven't seen for months came to visit me today, the handsome chap who won't let me take a photo with my substitute camera

Toby (Later)

Mmmm, so yesterday Toby said he would be here in't morning, I just phoned and said "Where are you" he said "Ah, I slept in, just cooking lunch, c u in a bit"

Grumble

So here I am 'chairing again today, resting. But I am patiently waiting for my new camera.... no not patiently

Last

So I took a last photo with that digicam, my new eye patch. The first I have ever owned

Aargh

It's been a hectic day but my camera is bust, I have just spent £226.80 on what looks like a much more powerful camera, but I felt I needed to. I could have probably replaced mine with a cheap one, now, but I need(ed one)

Toby

And a handsome young chap called Toby just phoned me, from his Mums house. He is back staying there for now!!! It seems to be going OK and he asked me if he can come and see me tomorrow.

Carrying It With My Right Arm

Good lord, that was scary. Loadsa new stuff, carrying summat in my right hand while walking on an uneven surface etc. But I managed!!!

Gelatin

I had a delivery (well, the postman brought it) some sweets this morning. It contained amongst other stuff some Drum Sticks. Which are delicious but as I was exploring on that Interweb as I am bored they contain gelatin. So those of us holier than though veggies should send 'em back or throw 'em away. I used to eat them in the past before I had so much time on my hands so perhaps now I know not to buy any more

Up and At 'Em

Well I got up and walked past my 'chair into the kitchen. I will hopefully continue walking until 6PM tonight when the taxi is coming to take me to Iechyd Da

Haircut

And I nearly plucked up the courage to pay for someone to cut my hair, but I was nearly crying at the thought of actually paying for summat when a woman who works here cut it. Before nagging me about the state of my flat, but we are all happy now

Shopping

Well I spent some of my Mobility Allowance on a Taxi to Wilkinsons in Carmarthen where I bought the 2nd Halloween Mask I had chosen. The first, luckily I was wearing it to the till and it hurt my nose, so I had to go back and chose another

And I noticed later... on the price sticker of my mask it said £3.75. But on my debit card I only paid £1.74. So dunno, I don't s'pose I will be back so....

Morning

Well, I got up and into my 'chair this morning, resting day not. I woke up and thought "I hope my PC is fixed now, I had no emails yesterday". As I was getting my breakfast I was kind of thinking "WTF" but when I was using my PC there was proof, I must have been having a scary dream, I did get emails yesterday. Scary dream, who knows

Walk Day Before Yesterday

Mmmm, it seems walking without fear is back tonight, so he was right

Cash

And I received my back dated cash for bus fares etc, my DLA Mobility Component, this evening. I got £3152.50 and I dunno when the next payment is gonna come and how much it will be

RHS

And I have noticed recently that when I walk my right arm is no longer holding itself out in front like it used to

Walking Well

For a start I am not as scared as I was at this time yesterday, dunno why.

And when Freya went home today I started to take her chair back into the kitchen where it lives mostly. I was walking pushing a chair and I thought "No" as it was slow and noisy. So I reached down, picked the chair up in both hands and walked the rest of the way, about 10 paces, with my chair held up

Well

So today, for a start, I have been walking everywhere, including making Freya's lunch as it is half term for her so she was here earlier today. Amongst other stuff we played loadsa games of cards, which I think I won more of but it was close. And she was being a bit naughty today too. Then when she had gone I walked back into the kitchen and made a small dinner as we had so much cooked lunch.

What A Day

Gosh....

Cold

Well today I was having to stay indoors as it was so cold outside but in the end I had to turn the heating indoors up a bit, as long as I remember to turn it back down if I am still here in spring

Walking Yesterday

And I have just had a conference with a MOS telling him that yesterday I was really glad to be getting on my 'chair at shower time, it felt that walking was too hard. He just said "A day off, hopefully it will be back to normal tomorrow" so (shrug)

Shopping

And this morning I went and did a weeks shopping at (More Reasons To Shop At) Morrisons even buying summat that wasn't on my list today

But tonight I went to cook a Veggie Sausage and I have none left, I have a Linda McCartney Lasagne which I mistook for a packet of sausages

Up

So I was up s'morning at 8AM despite the fact that my alarm didn't go off until 8.45.
Last night I went to bed and left the tumble dryer running, when it was finished it made a series of loud beeps so I had to get up at about 1.30AM to switch it off

Wheeles

So about 9PM I got back in my wheelchair in order to have a shower etc

Walkies

So my wheelchair has been sitting next to my bed all day, and my walking stick is on the back of it. Earlier on I got out my clothes to put on after showering later etc. I will continue walking 'til I have done the dishes etc this evening then I will take my wheel-chair into the bathroom and shower this evening

Still walking 1PM now

After 4.30PM now so I shall have to walk in and make my dinner soon

And it is 5.40PM now and I walked in, walked around while I was preparing, carried ot out on my own two feet and stayed walking while I did my washing up etc

8.35PM still walking

Full Bottom

And yes, I may have used a witty phrase to mean summat else, I don't have a Full Bottom either, I went and had a poo about 30 minutes ago

Printing

So I wanted to print out my shopping list today. But I am too tight to waste a big piece of paper when only about ¼ will be used printing. So I got a piece of paper that was the remains of last weeks printing, only ¾ of a sheet of paper and carefully fed it into the printer and pressed "Print". I waited 30 seconds and there it was printed on the top of the paper which didn't have a full bottom

Healthy, Wealthy, Wise

So last night I went to bed about 11.30. This morning I woke up at 7.00AM and lay there bored until 8.15AM when I got up

Out

Well I went out tonight to The Friends Arms, Johnstown, but tonight I didn't drink pints and Whiskey Macs so my drinking was much slower and I am not drunk as a lord tonight like I was last time I went

Tied Up

I don't know if it's because I am slimmer or just because I feel the need for stuff to be better but today, for the first time ever, I had to tie up the waist of my trousers to make them smaller

Walkies

So ever since I got up this morning I have been walking, standing or sitting in a proper chair. My wheel-chair is still next to my bed

It's 3.05 PM now, still walking

Today I managed to walk to the airing cupboard then walk with an armful to put it all away

I also managed to walk into the kitchen and prepare tonight's dinner, grating, chopping up an onion &c, all it needs now is putting into the oven later

4.30PM now...

5.10PM now, I am heating my dinner

And it was delicious and it is 6.10PM now and I am still walking

6.30PM. I am back in my wheel-chair now as walking was proving a bit scary

Up And At 'Em

So I eventually got up at about 7.50AM s'morning. Having been awake enough to look at my clock at 3.30 and 5.30AM too

Shower

Well, I'm clean and less smelly now

Cleaning Your Dryer

So today I did some tumble drying, afterwards I cleaned out the dryer, emptying the water out of it and cleaning the dust off it's filter etc. Then I thought "Oh", down at the bottom of where the filter fits there was a load of dust that I couldn't reach. I was stuck. So I asked a MOS and he said "Everyone's dryer looks like this - your stuck". So I thought "If only I had a device that could reach it.... HANG ON, I have", got it out and cleaned the dust off my tumble drier

Dieting

So today I had a Brainwave just as I was about to lift my lunch. Usually I have a sandwich followed by salad, today I just made salad sandwiches, no peanut butter, jam, honey etc

Wheeling

So I got up and straight into my wheelchair as I am having another resting day

Cash 2

So my extra money that was supposed to be paid into my account yesterday hadn't shown up. According to my sister they tried to pay it into someone elses account and it bounced. We gave them all my details and they f*c*ed it up

Veggie Burgers

So I walked into the kitchen to try and make veggie burgers for dinner but it all went wonky and had to be thrown away.

Cash

So when my sister was here t'other day I said "Please can't you be my "boss" any more and give me control of my own cash, once I get some from the court, please?". She said "Nah, I might be in charge on paper, but actually the court and various social workers are in charge of your cash"

Up

Well I got up this morning at 7.30AM, got dressed etc and walked into the kitchen to make my breakfast.

Still walking at 11.30AM now...

And I walked into the kitchen and made my own lunch...

3.45PM, still walking...

5.25PM still on my own two feet...

It's after 6PM now, I walked into the kitchen, made my dinner, walked back, ate it and then did the washing up etc on my own 3 feet.

Now I need to wheel' in order to put out my bins etc which I can't walk there and back up the hill while carrying summat

Clean

So I am back in black trousers now as I washed my yellow ones and myself too

Lasagne

And I used the last of last weeks (frozen last night) tomatoey and veg sauce to prepare a Lasagne for me and Freya this evening. It was the first time in 7½ years where I actually boiled the Lasagne sheets before putting them in the mixture, as recommended, so hopefully it will be extra delicious tonight

Mmmm, it was beautiful. And so was Freya even tho she had to leave early today, with some of my cash for a busfare

Morning

Well as I have just about recovered from yesterday I don't feel 3 bad now.

But today I got fed up with my diary being broken that I had to take on summat else instead, this so hopefully it will work from now on

What A Day

Good lord, what a day. So this morning a woman who is assessing me, called Janet McClean, came to see me and talk no end together. When I objected to one piece of what she was writing down she said "No, the more stuff I say you need the bigger your claim will be." So fairy nuff really. She was sensible etc

Then we (me, my sister and her husband) went out for lunch. We went to Waverley's Cafe but they had finished serving lunch so we went exploring. In the end we found Caban Y Dderwen and it was absolutely lovely

Then we went to Morrisons and did my weeks shopping.

Get Along

So they are talking about being tolerant etc but it had been thought of already

Assessor

So, according to my timetable (the one in my head) I should be going shopping this morning but I have got to stay here and see the 'assessor'. Hopefully she will have finished by 2 or 3 PM so I can get a lift to Morrisons [noisy] instead of a Taxi

Up

Finally got up at 7.30 s'morning but I think I was awake all night. Gosh, I may nave slept 'til about 3 AM but from then on I have been mostly awake

Manyana

Gosh, tomorrow the woman is coming to assess me and how much help I may need etc. (Scared)

Wetherspoons

And we went and had a really good tea at Wetherspoons. They were just about to cease the Sunday Roast when we got there, just in time we got there and it was very nice. Tomorrow the person is coming to see me in the morning, then in the afternoon they can take me shopping (and save me a taxi fare) then probably to the same place for tea then Tues AM they are going home

And we walked there from the car, took ages having tea (and pudding, for some of us), then walked back to the car and came home and it was only then I needed a pee, obviously something is getting better

In The Air

My sister and her husband are in the air coming here

They have just landed

27 miles to Carmarthen now

Books

Well I have got a hard back 2 books in one of Douglas Adams ~ Dirk Gently Omnibus which I did enjoy at the start but it is way too difficult to hold in my hand(s) to read so I bought 2 paperback volumes of each of the two books. I am excitedly awaiting it then

Wheeling

So I am now in my wheelchair until tomorrow, resting

But I did walk everywhere yesterday, my wheelchair stayed by my bed all day.

After 6pm

And I am still on my own two feet

7.30 now

9.30 now, still walking

It's 10.30 now and I am just about to walk to bed

Carry

So I got up about 10 to 8 s'morning, got dressed etc, then walked around my bedroom, took the covers off my bed on foot, walked to the kitchen carrying that basket in my right hand, put it on to wash etc. I suspect that I will have to sit down in order to make my bed but we shall see

I carried the stuff into my bedroom on foot but had to sit down to do the quilt cover. Which I had to ask a MOS to help, as my 1½ hands weren't working properly

2nd New Book

And I have just finished The Mouse And The Motorcycle which, while a much less serious book (OK a kids book) still made my grin and smile on the last few pages, a happy ending

And I thought to myself "What next?" afterwards and found a copy of Douglas Adams - "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" and I probably read it before but I have no memory, it seems like a good new book

Fixed It

And for the last 2 days I haven't been able to send txts, they haven't been going. So in desperation I asked a chap if he could take me to Tesco's(*) to ask them, he said "Why?" I told him and he said "Try this to fix it, it might fix it" and it flippin' did

(*) It is a Tesco's phone

Wheeling

Well I got up today but today I am resting, in my wheelchair. Tomorrow I will walk again

Shower

Right, it's about 10 to 9 and about 9.15 I am gonna sit in my wheelchair and take myself to the shower room

Phew did so, but I am remaining in my 'chair now because the last walk to it was far too much, I felt as rough as a..... So tomorrow I will rest in it then walk everywhere on Saturday again

Table

And I finally figured out how to write a separate thingy under each picture. OK, it's not perfect yet but I am beginning to get the hang of Tables

Cooking

And I have just walked into the kitchen and made tonight's dinner. OK, I will need to take it out of the fridge and cook it but I did all the preparing malarkey on my own two feet. OK, I need to wipe the shelves but I thought "No, sit down first"

I stood back up, wiped around while I was waiting for the oven to heat and it was delicious. But done standing up!!!

Walkies

So I got up s'morning, walked past my 'chair and I have been walking ever since

Well someone came and delivered a big box of muesli which I had ordered. He knocked the door, I walked to answer, asked him to set the box just inside, had to bring my wheelchair, pick up the box and take it to the kitchen. I opened it and put my cereal away. Then I took my wheelchair back and started walking again

Multi Talented (new pic)

Then today I had to use my new device, which had only opened big jars, to open a small bottle of wine

Dinner

Usually for lunch I have 1 or 2 pieces of bread made into a sandwich and don't eat loads until dinner time. As today I had loads of Lasagna etc for lunch tonight I won't have as much dinner as I usually do, no oven chips

Lunchtime

On the way back from Skanda Vale we stopped in Waverley Stores to have some lunch. I had to get up and walk through the doors to get in and then she went off to the back of the shop, where the restaurant is, with my wheelchair leaving my walking behind to catch up. There we had excellent food but I had to complain. Last night because Freya visited me I made some Lasagna for tea, then today I also had a Lasagna there, and theirs was nicer

Morning

Gosh that was hectic. After my early start today I went off in a taxi to meet up with Kelly. Who is the mother of one of Toby's friends which she said to me at the folk club t'other night when we arranged our day out. All together we went to a Multi Religious Centre at Skanda Vale, which I just enjoyed looking around while she felt the need to pray. It was a bit scary but I managed to walk up an enormous hill to the middle. From there it was more scary walking to see the Elephant etc so I didn't this time. If we had been on a different day they do talk wheelchair users all round on a "bus" but not today so I only saw about ⅛ of it but it was still worth a visit.

Alarm

So my alarm clock was set for 8.45 this morning. I got up at 8.00 (sigh)

Visitor

Then later this afternoon a really charming and beautiful visitor came to see me. We had Lasagna and Oven Chips that I had made for tea and it was delicious. Lasagna still needs some work but hopefully next weeks will be even better.

After about 4.00 I sat in my wheelchair because I had loadsa cooking etc to do, but until then I had been on my own two feet

On my own two feet

But s'morning when I did get up I walked into the kitchen on my own two feet with no walking stick and ever since I have been standing. I also went outside and walked about 10 yards down the path to say summat to someone who was smoking in her car

Up

Well I went to bed last night at about 12.05, woke up s'morning at about 7.35, lay there trying (and failing) to go back to sleep and got up in the end at 8.00AM

Headway

And I went to Headway tonight, it was one of the Drs. that I have seen (and will see again in a couple of weeks) but I found it a bit upsetting listening to him talk about Brain Injury but....

Morning

Well I got up this morning and was half way through eating my breakfast when my alarm clock went off. Yes I was up in plenty of time, went to Morrisons, did my shopping, including a new fangled 2 litre bottle of milk.

Then tonight after I eat and do my washing up etc we are going to Headway and give them my raffle tickets that I have sold. (OK, I bought some and sold the rest)

Borders

And at last I figured out how to put a red border on pics instead of the black one that was standard.

And I found a Webpage that tells me about more

And I did some more fiddling about

Wheelying

Today I am riding in my wheelchair 'cos I feel a bit rough from last night

As Lords

And I went out last night and got as drunk as a lord. Today I am slightly overhung

And in the pub once I stood up from my wheelchair, walked to the loo with no 'stick, had a piss and walked back. With no 'stick!!!!

Out

And I am going out to play, in a pub, in a few minutes. Tsk, tsk, tsk

From Scratch

And I made another Pizza for tea, which is a smidge radical but hopefully delicious

And it was delicious too

Jamming

And at lunchtime today I spread the Peanut Butter and the Jam on my sandwich with my right hand

Geetar

Good lord, I practiced my Guitar playing. A) I realized how to get the arms of the chair out of my way, and B) It was much better, I won't go bushing yet but it was much easier/better than last time

Wheeling

As I was walking yesterday I am today "resting" in my wheelchair

Woke up

So I woke up s'morning at about 7.20, thought "No, go back to sleep", lay there still awake until about 8.40 when I eventually got up. (Ho hum)

The Beatles

After dinner someone came to see me they said "Ticket to see "The Beatles" copy band at the lyric, £15.00", I said "No ta, I'm too tight to spend that much", she came back in 5 minutes and said "We have a spare ticket, you can have it for free" so I went along, and had an excellent night, I was standing up dancing in front of my wheelchair most of the second half. An excellent nights entertainment

Dinner Time

And I have made a Pizza without any mushrooms 'cos they went off, so I shall have that for tea in a bit

DVLA

And I had a massive form to (get someone else to help me) fill in today, so dunno, hopefully they are deciding about another test

Tester

And someone came round today to test my washing machine and tumble drier for stuff

Up

I got up at 7.44 this morning.....

Smaller

And when I got clean tonight I got dried and tried on a pair of trousers that, last time I tried them, were too small. Now they are not too small but a perfect fit. So new trousers!!!!

Bite Your Lip

When I was in the dentist they said "Be careful you don't bite your lip as it is numb", I thought "No problem I didn't bite my lip last time", then later I found my teeth right in my lip, ah, I did bite it then. Oh, I can't wait until the numbness wears off and my f*c*in' lip hurts

And phew, it is feelable now and hurts a bit but not too much

Scared

Going to the Dentist in about 50 minutes, scared although he was very kind and good last time I am just scared of Dentists.

And it didn't hurt but now half my mouth is numb etc. She was sounding puzzled but managed to make a difference

Walkies For Now

So ever since I got out of bed this morning I have been walking, without a 'stick, but this afternoon when I go to the dentist I will be sitting in a wheelchair as I feel it is a bit too scary for on foot. Yet

And gosh but this walking is hard work but I need to practice and learn more

But next time at dentist I won't need my wheelchair

...Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

I woke up at 5.50 s'morning

Mañana

And tomorrow I will walk into the kitchen again, no wheelchair, hopefully all day again

Seeing

And I am a bit upset after seeing the eye Dr yesterday who said my eyes were f*c*k*d because there might be some issue with being able to get my driving licence back

Surprise

Then my phone rang this afternoon and Julia said "Can Freya come over today?", I said "Yes" and we had an excellent time.

Although again we didn't do much

Posty

And the postman came this morning with 2 parcels of stuff I had bought. 1 is a new bum bag in case this one gets more broken, it is still fit but 1 of the zips broke, there is another one there but.... And 2 was a load of sweets off A Sweetie Seller

Wenglish

And I was outside a few minutes ago and I heard 2 MOS's talking in English and Welsh. As I couldn't remember I asked 1 of them what it was called and he said "Wenglish"

Urgh

Well I got up s'morning at about 7.50 AM (grumble) but today I am wheelchairing because I am stressed and worn out by yesterday

But my body is at last realising because it feels wrong, like I am cheating, because at last my body feels that I should be walking

No Washing Up

And I had almost no washing up to do today as I had been out for lunch and dinner

Mañana,

And I think that so much happened today that I will stay sitting down in my wheelchair tomorrow

Mr Shuttleworth

And I had to spend ages in the company of Mr (or Dr) Shuttleworth tonight. He looked at my eyes, then under a very bright light, then after I had some dessicant put in etc. But it was a bit scary, now I know how f*cked my eyes are, I had been trying to make amends but whoops

And in the restaurant afterwards I had to ask someone to read the menu to me as my eyes were blurred but it seems to have settled down now to being in focus again

Gel

This afternoon I remembered to put some Extra Gel on my hair. In the past I used a handful, put it on, then washed my hand. Today I used about ¼ of the amount, put it on and still had to wash my hand. My hair looks much the same, so now I am a Gel Saver or summat

'Chairing

And I stopped walking everywhere when we went out to lunch. It seems to be stopped now, try again tomorrow

Lunch

And we went out to the Waverley Stores in Carmarthen for a frankly delicious lunch. And I approve, it is vegetarian and mostly organic, just like me. I had to praise a member of staff when we left and she said "Thank you for sharing"

Visitors

And 2 members of my family came over today and said "You need to take these", we couldn't find my passport but then my sister started looking and found it somewhere my father had just looked. If a job wants doing get a woman to do it, apparently

Morning

I woke up this morning (at about 8.30 it was), got dressed and walked from my bedroon into the kitchen without and walking stick, it's still behing my 'chair in my bedroom

(smug)I can walk!!!(/s)

(less smug)Only a short distance over smooth surfaces ATM but I can walk(/ls)

Foot

So I had a shower and didn't bother putting on my shoes afterwards. But good lord, my right foot feels all wrong, I think it needs the splint footwear to feel right, very odd

And just as I finished typing this the 'puter offered me an advert for shoes, which may have been in bad taste AFAIC

Out For Dinner

And we went out for dinner to their hotel tonight. We put my wheelchair in the boot but it stayed there, I walked from the car, across a bit, in through the door then thru the hotel to the dining room. When I sat down I was having a dinner which involved cutting with my right hand too

I WALKED!!!

Visitors

My Dad and Sister txtd me to say "See you later" I said "Why?" they said there was an eye Dr coming to see me tomorrow. I knew that, dunno why they felt the need to be here

I do now, this person isn't coming here to see me tomorrow they have got to take me to the hospital to see him tomorrow evening

Shopping

Well I went shopping in my wheelchair today as I'm resting. I don't know it I could cope with the shop on my feet, nowhere to sit and rest etc. Dunno, perhaps

Proud

Very proud and happy that I am now walking indoors with no walking stick, very proud

Big Steps

The song says "Getting better, a little better, every day" but today's process seemed like a big thing. I put my walking stick back on my 'chair because I can now walk everywhere in my flat with no help, no aids, nowt

Big Improvement In Walking

I was outside just now walking up and down without my 'stick and my right knee seems to be bending on every step now (or most of them), like it was supposed to and stopped years ago

Walkies

And I am walking without my 'stick sometimes today

Aargh, someone knocked on my door then, I got up and used my walking stick as far as the door because I forgot. Afterwards I walked back from the front door to the living room with no stick.

And I am now making my dinner without the aid of a 'stick. It is still on the settee opposite the kitchen door, I make the whole distance unaided

Now I am walking everywhere in my flat with no stick. I am walking everywhere with no stick. YES, I am getting better. It is difficult but easier than it was yesterday...

Ixies

And I have received replies from loadsa folk today (on www.ixion.org.uk) which I am quite pleased about because it implies that folk are reading my mail, I am not just being killfiled

Walking

So I set off from my bedroom on foot this morning. It's weird, but somehow walking feels a bit more sensible and proper, so obviously summat in my head has changed

And...

And when I got up early s'morning I walked with no walking stick to the loo. Perhaps it is a half dozen steps but progress

Early To Bed, Early To Rise....

So I went to bed last night at about 11.30 and pretty much went straight to sleep. So this morning I woke up at 5.30 (grumble)

Cut Toe Nails

And I had to have some help cutting my toenails today. I tried first and couldn't manage. Now as this is about the only thing that I need help with I asked who will cut my toenails after I leave. She said that I will be referred to a podiatrist, or a chiropractor, hopefully they will help

Bed

And I managed to completely change my bed this morning. It is still a novelty not having to ask for help but....

Walkies

So yesterday I was not in my wheelchair at all, I was walking everywhere all the time!!! (So I am resting in it today) Last night I couldn't get to sleep for ages (so I did get up and was walking barefooted for a while) but eventually I did drop off. Then this morning I woke up, thought "Morning", prepared to get up, looked at my clock and it still said "03.15" so I had to try and go back to sleep

I have just found summat dated 010810 saying I walked all day then but I suspect I had my wheelchair back in the evening then, unlike last night

Well I feel well rested now after 'chairing all day but tomorrow I will walk again which fits in with going to the shops on Monday, chairing then

Mmmm, chairing to Morrisons, well perhaps I could manage it on foot but I am scared, and there might not be a seat to rest on.

Barefoot Walkies

So tonight I couldn't get to sleep so I got back up and walked back here. It feels really strange walking without my splint on

Dieting

And so even tho I had some oven chips (which aren't that fattening) for dinner I only had one Linda McCartney sausage, as I am on a diet

Better All The Time

Just now I was sat in a proper chair about to stand up. I started to lean forward to grip the table then I thought "No need", simply stretched and stood up with no arm involvement. It was the first time in how long?

More Getting Better

And when I am walking ATM I have to concentrate less on keeping my right hand down, it finally seems to be getting the message

Columbia

Summat had a mention of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. I had forgotten but good lord, I have looked and bad luck.

Moishe

And I met Moishe Bagel at the Folk Club last night who was a friend of mine 10 years ago or so. Amongst the rest of our conversation she said that it f*cked up Julia's head badly when I had my accident, she wasn't really looking after the kids (my kids too!!) for a number of years afterwards etc. Because she did love me very much. Which I found upsetting but reassuring too, it was the first time I have been reassured that Julia did love me. So yes it is upsetting but it makes Julia's decision to get a life of her own a bit more understandable.

At least I know that I wasn't fooling myself tho.....

Walkies

So I woke up s'morning and walked from my bedroom to the kitchen..... and everything since. It's only 10.15AM now but I am still not in my wheelchair

At 11.05 I walk over to have my coffee

1.10PM now, still walking

3.30 now, still....

6PM now, still walking, prepared dinner, did the washing up etc from my feet. Still not sitting in my wheelchair

7.15 now, still walking

21.00 now, still walking, I suspect this is the latest in about 7½ years...

Off to bed now as I am so exhausted by walking, everywhere, all day, my 'chair is still sitting by my bed

Waiting

Now I am awaiting Freya but she has gotta finish her school day etc fist. About an hour after she comes a taxi is arriving for us, to take us both to the Folk Night at Caffi Iechyd Da, off King St

She's here now...

Sitties

I went to bed last night at about midnight and woke up s'morning at 7 (sigh) but today I am wheel-chairing everywhere to recover, tomorrow I shall walk again

Praise

I said to a MOS how I thought I would spend tomorrow in a wheelchair a;though today I was walking everywhere eg I did all my washing up after dinner on foot, he said that they had noticed how much better I was getting in the brief time I have been here

Well

I should be asleep now....

Such Hard Work

Well I walked today until after 6pm, gosh but it was hard work, I might 'chair again tomorrow and walk again on Friday

G-day

Well I woke up this morning, walked into the kitchen for my breakfast and am still sitting on a proper chair

Still am, it's 1.15 now

It's 20 to 4 now and I am still sitting in my proper seat

20 past now...

And yesterday I had to sit in my wheelchair to have dinner because that Freya was here sitting on my proper seat but she is not here tonight, I am still up and about

Aargh, but I will need to get into my 'chair in a bit to carry out 2 bin bags for the bin men.

But I did my washing up etc first, now I am sitting down again

Visitor

And that Freya came to visit me tonight. It went really well and she agreed to come out to Iechyd Da on Thursday when hopefully we can have fun together