Fuel

After our trip along the motorway today we had to take the car for fuel, I was a but apprehensive but there were no silly queues today

Riding

Then we got in the car for f**king ages and headed to Pedal Power in Cardiff where I hired a trike. But just good lord, I am a lot fitter than last time I tried it, 6 weeks or so ago. It was just an excellent cycle round the park, by the river and further around to get back.

Afterwards we went for lunch to the place Denyse took me the first time I was here and it was excellent, if a little large, I left half of it, but it was delicious.

Then we came back, that was most of the day used

That's Better

So before my breakfast today I went for a pooh, ate my breakfast, walked into the kitchen, did my washing up, turned round and from there walked into the bathroom and stood there for the 3 minutes or so it takes to wash my teeth, from there walked back into the living room and sat back down in my wheel(ing) chair

All The Better.....

And tonight I really struggled with myself and twice women said to me "How are you?" and twice, on two occasions, I didn't reply "All the better for seeing you" like I have done for some years. Even Paul noticed and commented on how I was being more "real"

O&A

Then we had to go out, I was so bored that I had to

But I seem to have developed a taste for Dark Rum and Coke too

Daughter

Then that Freya came to see me and have a curry that I made with the OT t'other day for tea. She was in a bit af a rush today as they were having some kind of guides meeting this evening, so we took her there after dinner

Sara

Then shortly after Paul arrived that Sara came round to do "stuff" to free up my arm etc, yes, it blinkin' hurt but yes, I can feel the benefit already.

Then we headed to the swimming pool, me, Paul and Sara and she suggested some ways of improving the time we have there

UNwalkies

After walking so much t'other morning I got up today, ate breakfast, wheelchaired into the kitchen, washed up, wheelchaired into the bog and I was ⅔ of the way through my pooh when I remembered that I am supposed to be walking everywhere

Iechyd Da

Then tonight we were able to go to Iechyd Da Folk Club off king Street and they seem to be getting their heads together, so it seems that the next club will be next month as opposed to in two months so I think thay are getting it together with charging etc

Gymming

Then we went to't gym, good lord but it was hard again but I managed. There were a few extra members now and I was able to say "My.... was this f*cked when I started this" to some of them, I think I just gave them hope

Ding Ton

Then Ed was in s'morning, we were looking at each other and saying "What? Where?" most of the morning. After lunch 2day we need to go back to the beautiful gym. Which I dislike intently but I do like the outcome for me

Dinner

Then for dinner we went out again ('cos I need to) and had dinner in the Tafarn Tanerdy as I was going "Somewhere different, somewhere different". At a guess I have eaten in there only once before but not for ages and ages

Then on t'way way back we called into the Drovers Arms and had a pint.

OT

Then Sarah the OT came in and I stood up to help her cook the simple recipe that we had today so I can teach Toby how to cook that next week.

And I have got some ingredients to add to next weeks Monday shopping to cook on Tuesday

And she said that next week we can think about planting my pot

Bathroom Sink

Then I had to ask Tim for some help cleaning out the bathroom sink to make it drain quicker. He had to work on it for about an hour getting loads of black guck outa the tube. But I feel lucky that I have someone to help me, the rest of the residents don't, I think if they had complained about a blockage someone would book a plumber to come in which they would have to pay for

Timmying

So s'morning me and Tim drove to Morrison's to try to get more blueberries, couldn't get any so we jumped back in't car, drove to Tesco's and spent £1.75 on 'em there.

Luckily I am not paying for my own petrol, I think it must have cost about £4.50 for that journey

Air Conditioning

Gosh, well today we said in t'car "It's too hot". Then we shut the windows and switched on the Air Conditioning, I have never seen such a posh activity in a car, just WOW

Toby

And we went out with Toby. As Freya had to eat in the Harvester but Toby had not so we took him there for dinner. It was delicious, then we came "here" for a chat

Gymming

Then we went too t'gym s'morning. And I felt a bit left out as I am so much better than I was when I started there and the staff are paying attention to other clients that I feel a bit left out.

But having talked to one of the bosses and I realised that they are thinking about how to continue improving me, they are not just thinking "Do this exercise"

Walkies

So I got up s'morning, thought "I'd better get my wheelchair and make the bed/open the curtains etc" like I usually do, then I thought again "No Neil, u can walk" so I walked down past my bed without holding owt, opened the curtains, few steps back, make t'other side of the bed and walked the rest of the way back, without touching owt with my hands to steady me

And I ate my breakfast, stood up and walked to do the washing up, walked back thru and carried on walking, to the bathroom, had a pooh and then brushed my teeth and walked back out to my seat. It was hard work, especially the standing still for ages to brush, but I managed!!

Fun

So with (Oh God, Again...) Ed driving me I went shopping s'morning. What fun we had. I will need to go back after lunch to buy what I forgot, some herbal tea bags to replace my coffee with dinner to see if it improves my sleep. Normal tea I am not that keen on so some fruits numbers...

And we went back to t'shop bought some fruity tea and some Superglue which Ed used to mend my right boot. As he has fixed it it saves my a 120 mile journey to say "Help" again

And I have just drunk the first of my Pineapple And Grapefruit Green Tea instead of a cuppa coffee with my dinner and it was nice

And then we went out and had a good time in Burry Port Folk Club although we seemed short of numbers tonight

And I was using my right hand to play a shaker

No T shirt

I got dressed/changed tonight and it occurred to me that as it has been so warm to not put a T shirt on tomorrow. Now that seems like a sensible small decision for most of us but just deciding what to wear for me has become such a big decision process

But it was easy!!!

Privacy

Then today I decided to no longer put mailto links to MOS in my Blog, just spam prevention etc

Bowling

So me and Ed went to try out the Bowling Alley today to see if I would want to eg go there with my kids. It was a bit odd, there was more room for us wheelchair users than I remembered seeing b4, I was told I didn't need to change my shoes unlike Ed etc. It was strange, Ed said "I haven't done this for ages", I had never done it, but I WON!!!

Time

So last night I had to reset some of my clocks, most of them changed time automatically but some I needed to do, so I was up later than usual last night, and there was an hour less before....

The one clock of all that I couldn't sort was my radio alarm clock, I tried everything, to no avail. So s'morning I asked Ed for help, he looked at it for about 7 minuted then fixed it. He turned the radio on and switched it off again and it accessed the broadcast time signal and put the clock write

Wow

So then Ed came, pottered about for half an hour then we went to the Carmarthen Folk Festival. And wow what a good crowd was on, they were a variety of folkish performers. And I went into the Harvester next to the stage and had lunch, then came back out and listened to more.

And I only needed 1 piss outside between 11 AM and 4.30 when we came back, and I have been drinking extra water for a number of days too

And we are going back out tonight too

And enjoyable it was tonight too, with just 2 of the bands from earlier playing, in the Tangled Parrot which I needed to walk up one step while someone carried my 'chair behind me.

And I didn't need a piss all night, hours

Panic 2

Last night I got into bed and couldn't find my arm splint. This morning I looked around the bed, on't floor, on the shelves, still couldn't find it. I thought "There will be a MOS here soon, better find it", went into the bedroom again, still couldn't find it. Had a brew and thought "Look again", for the third time I went into the bedroom, looked all round, eventually glanced up at the top of the cupboard where I never set owt, Sara the physio had set it up here out of our way

Panic

So s'morning at 7.45AM I was just waking up when my phone rang. It was Freya, she said "Can u check on the back seat of your car and see if my purse with that cash I took out of the bank yesterday is in there? Because (panic) it's not here so it is either in your car or hopelessly lost (/p)". I couldn't have reached it myself if it was there so I waited 3 minutes before a member of Leonard Cheshire staff came past and I said "Help" and opened my car.

And she reached in and passed me Freya's purse.

(PROUD)
And I was still in mid breakfast before the door knocked and it was Freya, her Mum was giving her a lift into town and she called here to pick it up
(/P)

Coracle

So tomorrow we are having a day out, hopefully it will be exciting

Tea

And I was stood outside tonight when Alex came past, stopped, spoke to me about hiow he needs to go home and take summat to help him sleep as he needs to be up at 6AM. I said I was having the same problem and I have bought sum tea to help me sleep. He said "I had this problem years ago but it went away when you gave me some Valerian Tea". Which happens to be what I bought this afternoon, lets wait and see

Well I had a drink of it about an hour ago and it is definately time for bed now (which I haven't felt for ages) so hopefully....

What a day

Flip. What a busy day I have had. First of all that Paul came round and caught up with sum paperwork for half an hour then that Sara Davis the physio came round. I was pleased to see her again then she hurt me no end, my back, my neck and (more to the point) my right arm.

When she was finished I was quite pleased to se her go. Then we went to the swimming pool and I forgave her as you could see how much better my arm was then. It continues to seem better, even now much later so I will look forward to seeing her next week at a guess.

Then we went to a café and had lunch, I napped for half an hour then got up and that Freya came round.

I couldn't decide what to cook her so we went out to the newish place in town and had a delicious dinner. While we were there Freya continued arguing with her Mum by txt eventually grudgingly accepting the order to "Come home tonight" so instead of taking her to the youth club like we normally do we took her back to Kidwelly, home

As well as all this I bought some Valerian tea to try to sort out my sleeping/napping patters

Ybot

Then, better late than never, that Toby chap came round for his tea etc

Gymming

So "we" went to Gym after lunch today. There was a new member of the class today, a chap called Chris who suffers from the after affects of a stroke. EG he can't move his left arm at all.

Banking

And for some reason last night my online bank wouldn't let me sign it so after some trouble I had to fill in the "ask for new password and memorable information" which I did last night but then it said "Phone us to confirm some details between 10AM and 7PM tomorrow" which I was shitting myself over but it went OK s'morning and I can now go back into my bank account

Ed-ding

So s'morning that Ed is "on duty" for the first time in a week or so. When he showed up I nearly couldn't remember him but then I remembered who is the tallest person in my life ATM so.....

Out

Gosh, first of all we went for tea opposite the railway station we wanted to go to, had a quick dinner, crossed the road and met a load of folkies on the station. Eventually our train came, I stood up and climbed on board properly, we didn't need a rail to assist us, then we went to Ammanford by train, musical train, went in the end to an Ammanford Folk Club and played and listened to them too. Then it was time for the train back to Llanelli so we poppped into the Folk Club there which was suddenly much busier than in had been all night.

SaraH

And SaraH the OT came round today and tried to make my hand splint different. Dunno how succesful she was but she took the phone number of the supplier off me so she will be able either to ask 'em for a new one of some "splint making material".

Timmy again

What joy, Timmy again.

Today we are getting bored now, then Sarah OT is coming, then quick shower, quick nap then we are going to Llanelli to catch a train in the Heart Of Wales Railway to Ammanford where we are having an "out here" folk club just tonight, in the Great Western Hotel

Ybot

And later I was panicking "Where's Toby", we waited for ages, then drove to his house. No answer. So we went out anyway and had a dinner in a restaurant, panicking. While we were there Toby txted me and said "Sorry, it wasn't my fault, see you Thursday"

Timmy, Timmy and more Timmy

So Timmy is in s'morning, at lunchtime he will take me to the gym then later today that Toby chap should be coming over for dinner

Ho hum, I've done the gym now, it was OK as ever. As ever I still didn't like going there but it is flippin' doing me some good so.....

Folky

And we went to the folk club tonight which was excellent but they said "On Wednesday, come along" so we are getting a train to Llanelli and having a good time then we are back

After Lunchtime

And it is already after lunchtime and I am not hungry yet, I s'pose I'd better go and eat summat Well I have eaten now and read well into Harry Potter 5 but I had to stop reading. Too gripping or summat, and I need a nap. So see you later (perhaps not WS)

Bored with Timmy now

Ho hum, this morning I am with Timmy then this evening Paul is coming in. Hooray, so s'morning we went and did (an it didn't look like) a weeks shopping in Morrison's.

Although we had to go elsewhere (that T place) to get some blueberries

Young Men's Heathen Society

While we were in Swansea checking out the bowling place we diverted a bit and found where I used to work, years ago. I was a bit confused because across the street was different from my memory but as I am thinking about it that was the Student Union for the poly in Manchester that I was confusing it with

More Timmying

So with Tim s'morning we are going off to have a look at Bowling in Carmarthen, if I like it and can use the aid then we will have a day for me, Toby and Freya on my birthday. Bowling then buy 'em dinner.

It turns out it was in Pembrokeshire so we drove miles west, got there and it seems closed down for good. So it looks like on my birthday we will go bowling in Swansea instead, we will have to go visit there at some point

(Sigh) So s'afternoon we went eastwards to Swansea and found the bowling place there, it was noisy but looked OK, most places have a step up to the balls but there was a temporary ramp that I could see. I might be able to walk the short distance to there but I couldn't pick up an enormous heavy ball with my only good hand so I need to be sitting down

Half Time

Half time and "we" are winning the rugby - 6 nations

Full time and we got the tournament and a Grand Slam

TimMY

So Timmy came round s'morning, washed and creamed my feet, then we went off to Boots and bought some new eye-patches then we went into that McDonald's place where he bought me a strawberry milk shake, which was nice but a bit thick

And as I was being paranoid about drinks I looked and it was vegetarian

Guitar

And I tuned my geetar and was playing it tonight. Yes, I am still sh*t at it but a lot less sh*t than last time

Mouse Mat

And today during a discussion about using my right hand to work my 'puter someone said "You need a mouse mat that holds it up", someone else said "Look in the bottom drawer" so I now have a new mousemat sitting on the RHS of my keyboard which I use some of the time

#29

And after such a hectic day that Freya came to see me, she seemed cheerful although I was too knackered to speak to her much

What a day #28

After lunch Sarah came back (I said "Perfect strangers, I haven't seen you for ages") and the chap from The Chair Manufacturers came round and demonstrated his less wheelchair but adaptable assistant seat which I am really impressed with. So I have asked someone to buy one for me (noisy link), when they have found the £2,500 they will do.

What a day #27

Gosh. So first thing Sara and Sarah came to assess my right shoulder and wrist etc. Firstly I had to get on the bed and lift the stick that lives next to the bed with both hands to practice moving my right shoulder. Then Sara(h) did loadsa stuff hurting my shoulder but it did help. She has made an appointment to come back and get stuck in again next week

RHS

Then later on I put on a clean shirt. I was able to use my (ex-ish) wonky right hand to roll up and button the left arm.

Then I was able to hold my camera with my right hand and take a picture of that

Ybot

So after my haircut that Toby chap came round for a visit, as he missed Tuesdays, and he was pleasant if a bit worried about finances

Edding

And so that particular Ed came round s'morning, he sat on his laptop while I went out and nearly but not quite yet finished Harry Potter 4, so far I have read 96% of it

He had agreed that, after I go to gym today, he will cut my hair, well the sides and leave the mohican looking mohicanish!!

And phew, gym went well, as ever. I tried standing up from a chair with no cushion on it, and failed dismally, but not as dismally as last time I tried. Now I will go and have a nap, then Ed can cut my hair while Toby visits me and uses the shower

Folking

And then we went to Llanelli folk club and it was excellent. We asked if there were disabled seats on next weeks trip out on the Central Wales Railway but they said "Dunno" and will txt or phone me and let me know

So after the excitement that the cinema held...

So after the excitement that the cinema held I decided to go out for diner. We went to look again at the new place that I couldn't find any vegetarian on the menu of but TimMY was actually able to find some so I went there for tea, I am looking for somewhere else to take my kids and it was OK

Timmying

So Tim came round s'morning. Firstly we nipped to the shop and bought more Blueberries....

Soon I will need an early lunch as we need to meet Sarah OT at cinema at half past one where we are gonna try to find a better seat for me to sit and see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Which didn't strike me as a must see but she was saying "Cinema next week" so I looked to see what was on

And it was rather good in the end. I had to walk up about 8 pairs of steps, I think we should have not been as far to one side but I did it. And the film was OKish too

By Myself

And I had no one here s'morning as they were having a meeting.

Followed by That Denyse talking loads and then she had to leave quickly, followed by Paul.

And as Toby said "Can I come and have a shower (ours is bust) as I am going to see an old friend of ours from Mynyddcerrig tonight, oh, I was supposed to see u too, erm.... Thursday?"

Noisy Afternoon

Then I went to a Folk Club which went rather well, including a strange instrument...

Quiet Afternoon

Then we had a quiet afternoon, nowt to do so I sat on my PC. Ho hum, Folk Clubbing later

Shopping (Walkies)

So me and Ed went shopping s'morning, we parked outside Morrison's, I got out of the car and walked, left my 'chair in't boot

Dropped It In

I went to the loo after watching the match, and tucked into the back of my belt was the TV remote control. I had forgotten it was there, was standing at the loo when it fell out of my belt and fell down the loo.

Panic

So I tried it, no working, took out the batteries and set it on the radiator, hope for the best

And this morning (12th) it seems to have dried out and be working fully again. Phew

Ding again

And we hung about all morning, him typing email etc and me reading Harry Potter 4. Nap soon then watch the end of the rugby

And we won the 6 nations rugby 'cos England beat France today!!!!

OK, hopefully, just about.....

Little Telly

And I was watching the rugby on my littler telly today and WOW what a difference. I couldn't see the ball between plays and I was able to just move my eyes to find it, not having to move my head.

It is such a big difference

Rugger

I have just watched the Wales rugby match, ooohhhhh

Ding

So Ed came in s'morning, I took him off at first to buy some toothbrush heads, but they seemed to have gone well up in price so we went to Morrison's but they had gone up there too. We bought their pricey ones anyway as it was easier/cheaper that going back in a car

Wiv Freya

And we had to take Freya out to buy a swimming costume for the party she's going to tonight, which she didn't know was a swimming party until she was on her way here, after dinner wiv me. Then we took her out for dinner, looked at the menu of a new place and went somewhere old anyway then

'Wimming

And I managed to make an excuse s'morning so I couldn't go swimming. Paul insisted "Next week", wait and see

Ruth

Shortly before I went to Gym that Ruth called round to say "Hi"

Gyming

And at the gym today was a new member of the class. He was having trouble with some movements (stroke last year) but I told him to stick with it, to carry on as it's helping me

Carmeling

This morning Ed and me went to Carmel to the National Trust site where I am taking pictures of litter etc and we didn't need to take a single pic today, it's all tidy

Out

And we went out and had a good time tonight at Folk Club

Cinema, or not

And as the van with my new, smaller, TV is on it's way today I had to ask Sarah the OT if I could wait for it and make a date for next week. Much to my surprise she said "No problem"

And then me and TimMY went shopping, in the hardware shop that replaced Tesco's then into Argos to try and get attachments to fix my new TV up at eye height. After we couldn't find any in Argos either he looked online at the model of my new telly and says "Oh, we can't get one". So then we looked at shelves in Argos and got a reasonably cheap one to put up, fix my TV to it and.....

Walking

And I had to have the high heel bit on my right boot made slightly smaller as..... dunno..... my foot might be getting better by itself. It feels a bit strange but better

Ybot

Then later today that Toby chap came around. He was cheerful etc but hadn't been to bed since yesterday so we had to take him back to his Mum's house early

But this is slightly positive, he doesn't wanna be at home so he goes to his Mum's, obviously they are better together than they used to be

Booking

And we booked a wee holiday in Belfast on or about my Dad's birfday today

And I had to pay for it

No, too much seriousness for one day, I can't have done that.....

Gym-ming

So Paul came round s'morning and soon after we had to go to the gym. As usual I was being a mouthy f**ker but I am beginning to realise that people look at me and think "Last week he couldn't do this...." and I said to a chap who was walking between 2 MOS that "You couldn't walk" so.....

Groovy

And despite the troubles we managed to have a good time seeing the bands/singers today

...dington

So s'morning me and Ed (well actually Ed alone) took off my boots and splint and creamed my foot then put my footwear back together and took me to shop, Morrison's and there we parked next to a trolley pile, I got out of the car, walked a short distance unaided then got a trolley and had to walk a lot in't shop, I walked it all without my wheelchair

Then we just hung about this afternoon, didn't go anywhere, had a nap..... what fun

Toby

Then we promised Toby that we would nip to the shop and buy him some bread and mayo to keep his stocks up

Fixed

And I have been reminded that we fixed underlining links and opening them in a new window on Blog

Which I had forgotten, I was trying to fix it again....

Rugby

And I we are watching the postponed Ireland v France rugby match. And Ireland are winning at half time. It looks like only the second victory they will win in France in about 50 years. Wait and see

Ooooh, 17-17 at the end, that was too exciting

Sexy

And out of the blue today I was muttering a song that I recall and had to search the Interweb to find it

Wiv TimMY

So TimMY came round s'morning, and moaned loads about the council inflexibility etc.

He was able to make my phone actually link to the mobile version of my diary so I can now read it/update it on my phone, if I ever want/need to

Cream

And now to keep the infection in my foot at bay I need someone to spread cream on my feet twice a day

Toby

Then we had were asked to give that Toby chap a lift home from Kidwelly and he seemed to be learning

Pink Hair

Then Claire the psycho babbler came round and talked about all kinds of stuff. She said that she hadn't been asked yet to write another report but is expecting to

Ho Hum

Then s'morning Small Paul came round again to see me. First things first we went to Waverley Stores because we were at the f*cking doctors yesterday when I usually go. They had nearly everything fresh and did say "We were so worried when we didn't see you yesterday"

I was talking to a MOS there about how I am pissed off with having to make effort after effort to get properly better and she said "Yes, I understand. I broke my ankle 5 years ago (Which wasn't as serious as your accident but....) and afterwards I could have sat down bored or make myself learn to walk again etc"

Doctor's

And the doctor, who I haven't met before, gave me loads of advice and a weeks worth of more antibiotics.

I asked can I drink and she said "Not too much but yes"

Recording

And I have been a bit puzzled for a number of days because recording on my Nokia E7 phone have been saved as a .amr file which I couldn't do out with without downloading extras. But today I thought I was doing the same and it saved as a .wav file. Dunno what is going on but long may it last

Pauling

With Paul on we had little to do s'morning. Later on we went to the Doctors to get a "tell me more" about my leg which is a lot less swollen than it was but still some. She said lats of stuff basically I need to rest it with my foot up to get the blood away. Then we met Freya in the Doctors as she had to meet me there instead of going to Waverley stores like we usually d on Friday. Instead we will go there tomorrow morning. Because I needed some veg to cook tonight's dinner we went to Frankie and Benny's and has a 3 way meal. We took ourselves to that Tesco place and bought some milk and some new sox, not too tight round my ankle like the old ones.

Pis*ing

And it has come to my notice that my pissing is just about back to normal, at last. It is ages since I have needed a pee about every 15 minutes, I am so glad.

(I would say "I am relieved" but that implies just had a wee)

Gym-Ming

Yes so this afternoon I will go and see if they have forgotten me at Gym as it's called

And phew, it's done. I said I couldn't do as much walking as usual because of the swelling so she moved the end walking chair about 2m and just said "Go for it". I wasn't alone this week as a chap called Chris who can't communicate (or use his right arm) after his stroke was there too

Me&Ed

And this morning me and Ed went out to get more Classic Salad. Today we parked next to a trolley load, I walked there, got a trolley and walked into the shop. I left my 'chair in't boot