Trick/Treat

And some Trick or Treaters arrived, knocked on my door looking very scary in costumes etc. I gave them far too much cash as I have no memory of a Trick/Treat knocking on my door before

Iechyd Da

And we are off to Caffi Iechyd Da (noisy link) tonight. Me and Alex are gonna sing Blowing In The Wind (noisy link too) and I have a limerick to perform too

Oh my good lord. Various folk praised me for being in tune the whole time, just WOW

And more to the point Alex had to stand up and play guitar so he didn't have a microphone. I was the only person singing thru a microphone

That Place

So me & Alex went to Trysordy and I did a lot more computing work. I think I have finished about ⅔ of the entries, I should finish in another 2 or 3 weeks

Solitaire

‎And it was the third game before I won s'morning - the third game‎.   

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Gareth Pleased

And Gareth told me today that he had just had a txt from his business partner who had had to send the HDD off their business PC to Scotland where for about 300 quid a chap managed to find all their billing data etc. I told him, and he said "Yes, obviously", to back up the new HDD every day

Aargh

And we went swimming today, and it was half term so really busy. We couldn't get the proper double disabled changing room as it was busy etc

Trip Out

And we had to go into Carmarthen to Poundstretchers to buy a new battery for my switching off the light device. Which we did, we found some, a box of five of which only 2 are the right size. They didn't have any other way of buying it, we needed the right size so now in the spare battery drawer there is a box of 3 dunno what they will be for ones

In A Bit

Off to see Sam(antha) in a bit, which I am pleased about, but she is gonna have to make me do stuff that I haven't managed for 11 years which is pleasing too but a bit scary

Gosh. Well I saw a woman who hasn't been there for 3 weeks and she commented on how much more able than I was 3 weeks ago. Gosh, dunno but I must be getting better, she wasn't the only good comment I received today, so....

And I did that "getting down" thingy with Sam again, talk about a lot easier than I few weeks ago....

Quiet Day

And me and Gareth have got hardly nowt on today, so we will nip to Morrison's after lunch (when I have finished last weeks edibles) and get some more

Hurricane

And the weather seems faultless ATM (11.45PM) - no rain and not even a noise from the garden so I think it is windless. Wait and see....

Calm before the storm?

Apparently it is more hitting England now, Wales will be OKish....

And it missed us entirely, no wind, hardly any rain etc

Tart

And at lunchtime I got out the box containing the last piece of Apple Tart that my parents had shared with me and presented it to Timmy. He said "No ta, you eat it" Which I did, happily

Strange Memory

So Mum was over here and the news was talking about Prince George being christened. I said "I have a strange memory of names, Charles Philip Arthur George" and she said "Ah yes, Prince Charles names"

So I can't remember a year before my accident but do remember important stuff like this

Peace And Quiet

Then my parents and brother came round for an hour and talked about how my life will improve now.

Then they headed off to Bristol then flying to Belfast later, just before the hurricane hopefully

Whoops

And whoops. So s'morning my toothbrushing timer was still showing summer time. A closer and closer look found the small switch to actually change the time

Changing Time

So I need to change clocks tonight.

My PC - no automatically, my iPad - no automatically, my bedside clock - no automatically, so all I actually need to do is my wristwatch

Having just been into the bathroom I can increase my count of clocks that don't need resetting, my timer for toothbrushing says time most of the time and doesn't have a change time button

ReLearning More

And because I was talking to my brother and parents today I learned that I wasn't in 2 care homes b4 here I was in 3. I started off near Swansea, then I moved across to a brand new place where I shouldn't have been for long but they said "Potential, how has he been looked after?" and kept me there for longer, then finally to the place that I have most memory of.

Once he told me looking at pics of the second place does bring back some memories but I have no recollection of being in the first place

Parenting

So my parents (and bruv) came up before lunchtime, we nipped to the market and didn't spend too much of parents cash. Then they went off and had lunch and me and Ed came back here, had lunch then I did the bath/nap ritual. After I woke up they came back, ate some apple tart, then we went off and had a delicious dinner(1) at the pub up the street

(1) I had a nut roast which I used to be able to make but I haven't eaten one for 11 years and I can't even recall how to make it but it was lovely, with goats cheese on top too

They have gone now and are gonna come back in't morning and head off to Bristol at lunchtime and take a plane home

And they have been here because I won!!!

Oui

‎I won(/quiet.now.Neil)

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

VBG

"So it's a bit disappointing not being able to brag but I won my case"

I've Won!!!

Good lord, what a stressful day. Denyse (my case manager) and some
Financial Wizard chap came to see me s'morning

They talked it through with me but basically what they were saying was
"You've won your case"

Now, seems strange to me but I do approve, they haven't said "Right
Neil - here's 75p for you for ever" but they have looked at my expenses
(my staff etc) and basically said "Here's £2.30 a year, for that and to
keep you in style, paid to you every year" so I can't brag about how
rich I am but can relax, some money will be paid to my deputy every year so I'm set up for life. So it's a bit disappointing not being able to brag but I won my case

<sings and dances with relief at last>

Not Volunteering

And we didn't go to Trysordy  s'morning as life is a bit too hectic.

Erm....

Well, my parents are coming here s'afternoon. They have to meet various solicitors etc s'morning and then they are coming here to take me and Freya out for dinner

Well they came and we saw them. It was OK, apparently they think that might be the last meeting as the process is coming to an end

No RHS

‎And I couldn't do one side tonight as Timmy had to finish cooking and therefore serve food

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Wimming

And we are off swimming in a bit - my favorite part of the day

And it went OK, we actually got a changing room with 2 showers etc

And I didn't have to do too much as they were demonstrating, so I had to do a bit of this followed by a bit of that

Sorted

And for a number of days I have had instructions for a really long winded and difficult way of adding "tags" to pictures, descriptive terms that search engines can find. I thought "It can't be this hard", remembered to ask TechnoTimmyTheBoffin s'morning and he said "Ah yes, try it like this..."

RHS again

:)

Right Hand

See being able to wrap the towel around my ‎ right hand side by using my right hand... it might not sound very important to you but it is to me, I am getting better

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Aargh

Well, I had to ask Timmy for some big computer assistance but it all seems fixed half an hour later

Basically I didn't know why my email wasn't working and I still don't but Timmy The Boffin fixed it

RHS

‎Well I remembered s'morning

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Sigh

So I am off to do that down/up thing again with Sam in a bit

And gosh it was still "Don't try thisy" but in the once I did it it was easier than last Friday which was in turn easier than last Tuesday.

A pattern seems to be emerging

Forgot

Aargh, I forgot entirely to transfer my food with my right hand, as it looked so delicious I was a bit excited so completely forgot

Doctors

I went to see the Doctor today.....

Again

And I got my food from the pusher and back with my right hand again.

VBG

Sara-ing

And Sara came in today and repeatedly gave me the same advice about walking, hopefully it will sink in in the end. We discussed FES and my Bioness etc too

Crosswording

And me and Gareth got stuck into the Guardian quick crossword last night and completed it. 100%

RHS

I managed to set my trolley to the right hand side of my table again s'morning. My bowl of muesli was heavy but I managed it.    

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

(link to yesterdays first time)

Out&About

‎So me and Gareth nipped out and drove about until we found a shop that sold ice cream tonight, as it was getting dark

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Aargh

And my BT account wasn't working, either my email or my BLOG, but in the end, after a couple of hours being as grumpy as sin I made it work again

Ooh

And today for the first time in 12 years I put my tray to the right hand side of my table and passed empty plates onto it‎ with my right hand

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Using It

Then later I cooked pizzas for tea which were as delicious as I have come to expect. But as a new tube had to be opened today I was using my new tube squeezer and it seems to work well and leave no mess.

So :)

And it works properly, almost no left behind etc etc

Shopping

And we went to town to pick up loads of Listerine Mouthwash stuff and some more Xmas pressies

It Didn't Work

So gym at lunchtime didn't go so well. She did my kneeling down exercises again but they felt harder today, my Botox is wearing off, I think I need somemore.

Hoo-flipping-ray

First Thing

So first thong s'morning we nipped to Aardvark, parked putside, walked all around the shop, got some proper muesli this week and walked to the till, paid standing up and walked back outside to my 'chair

Windy

And we were watching an episode of Trumpton about Windy Miller and Windy said "We must whistle for the wind", so I whistled a brief tune and then they repeated the same tune back. So I can remember how to whistle for the wind even after all my injuries etc‎

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Out

And we hadn't planned to but now we are all going out to Cafe Iechyd Da to watch a band of chaps who are at school with Freya‎

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Gosh, the first hour was a couple speaking to each other in Welsh, just talking so it was a bit dull but when the band came on they were very good. All sung in Welsh but well good playing etc

Voluntary Work

So me and Gareth nipped up the road to Trysordy where I did more entering members data into their PC

Warm enuf

So weather was supposed to be turning wintry this week.‎ Which is why I had to take off my fleece tonight, and I checked the radiators, no heating hadn't  been on tonight

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Later

So then after their meeting and lunch me and Paul went out looking for another cheap Persil, ie not from Morrison's or Tesco. We wanted summat else too but that shop was shut

Weather's Changed

So when "they" all arrived s'morning it was windy and pouring with rain. By now (when they are still sat in't kitchen)  there is a cloudless blue sky and almost no wind

All Here

So ATM, in my kitchen, having a meeting about me there is Denyse, SmallPaul, Gareth, Alex, Ed, and Timmy

A bit intimidating....

Nowt

And I had nowt on my diary for the rest of the day, just recuperating. So today I have mostly been sitting here listening to Timmy cleaning up the whole house, corners and all, as Denyce and others are coming for a meeting tomorrow morning

Sigh

So I had to get up extra early s'morning so we could go out and sit stationary in school traffic waiting to get past. Eventually we made it to the Priory Day Hospital at Glangwili General Hospital where they grinned at me and gave me a cuppa tea. Eventually the nurse was trying to take blood from my arm, no chance. So she tried to take blood from my other arm, still no chance. Eventually they had to take it from my hand, where she left a  small tap in so she didn't have to find a vein next time. Then they injected me with stuff, then I had another cuppa and waited for half an hour before she opened up my tap and took a second blood test

After all the scary unsettling stuff we headed into M&S for a brew and bun, and then I found the rest of my Christmas presents, so I have just about finished my Christmas shopping

Swimless

As I was trying to find an excuse not to go swimming today I was very glad when Timmy said "Oh bother, as my missus put the bag in't car s'morning I have no swimming stuff"

I am slightly perplexed as we have to go to hospital quite early tomorrow (so no gym) as I am gonna have 'short syncathen test' to test my adrenal gland etc

More Reasons To Shop At...

So instead of tomorrow like it was in my diary me and Alex nipped to Morrison's (noisy) and did my shopping. I have to think harder as I am feeding Timmy on Monday and Tuesday so I had to be extra 'best before' vigilant.

Fredumpkins

Then s'afternoon we went into town and met Freya at the bus stop from her house. She seemed really pleased to see Edwina as he hasn't been on at the same time as Freya for a couple of months. Due to Freya supposed to be somewhere else today etc she hadn't brought her stuff to stay over, och well, it was good to see her feeling good about life

And she got well into the internet later

Fixed 'Stick

So Ed came in s'morning and adjusted my walking stick as it now has to be a bit shorter as I am keeping it more upright as I walk

Aargh Gym

So then I went back to gym. I was kind of hoping that Sam would just ignore me at the back, but no chance. After my warm up exercises I found myself on my hands and knees on the floor crawling backwards.

(Can't think about it, it is such a difference than a few weeks ago)

Aardvarking

And first thing s'morning we went out and spent far too much in Aardvark. And I promised the chap who served me that I wouldn't write about his error here, so.....

Peeing

‎And tonight I had a pee b4 we went out at about 6.45, another at half time there and not another until we got home at about 11.30. Just WOW compared with this time last year

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Shopping

So first of all Gareth persuaded me to buy a ticket for the comedians who are playing tonight in Narbeth.

Then he took me to a shop in Llanelli where I bought another deep bed sheet that actually fits on my bed. That's two now, one for on and one for washing

And actually the comedy club had nobody advertised as playing actually playing but the two comics were actually rather good anyway

Trysordy

And we are off in a bit for more voluntary working

And again I was on't PC entering loadsa members details. Gareth helped me today, reading out while I typed and it went as well and quickly as last time when we invented that technique

Halloween

And we went out looking for cheapo Halloween toys and found a mask and pretend hand with broken gun for a couple of quid

Cooking

And while I was cooking I thought "Oh, empty the waste food box" but then it occurred to me ‎that I am cooking for me and Timmy and he is a fussy bugger and no doubt will scrape away some of his meal

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

And WOW, he finished every mouthful tonight. He's a fan of pizza and chips(1)

(1) Which I made tonight instead of Friday as I thought Freya was coming on Friday and we wouldn't have enough ingredients but since I finished my dinner she has txted me and said "Sat not Fri as I am...?"

Fly Killed

So I gave up trying to be the first person to kill a fly and Timmy had a go and it worked, 1 dead fly later

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Swimming

Then me and Timmy went swimming today and actually....... actually..... (whisper)it wasn't too bad(/w)

It was difficult, as ever, walking down the step but I managed. So we got in the pool and it was OK. Then we got out and there was somebody in the big changing room which already had the shower chair in it so we had to go to a smaller changing room which had no shower chair. But actually that wasn't a problem. I parked, walked 5 or 6 paces there holding a handle on the wall and was able to do it OK

So it all made me proud of being able to manage

Swimming

Then me and Timmy went swimming today and actually....... actually..... (whisper)it wasn't too bad(/w)

It was difficult, as ever, walking down the step but I managed. So we got in the pool and it was OK. Then we got out and there was somebody in the big changing room which already had the shower chair in it so we had to go to a smaller changing room which had no shower chair. But actually that wasn't a problem. I parked, walked 5 or 6 paces there holding a handle on the wall and was able to do it OK

So it all made me proud of being able to manage

Out

So we went out to a pub in Carmarthen 'cos the local looked empty and they close early under such circumstances

Oh My Flipping Gosh

Just like WOW. So as usual on Tuesday I went to gym. Recently I have felt nervous because I was due to do a "getting down and standing back up" exercise. So today on about my third attempt I got right the way down.

Then I panicked because that had been so difficult would I be able to stand up again?

And yes, it was actually a lot easier than getting down.

So now folk can relax now, there is no issue. If Neil falls over he can get back up again

Thin Legs

And we have just measured my leg, as we do every morning, and today was the smallest diameter I can remember

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Late Run

So we had to go to Tesco's at 1.45 AM because when I tried to go to bed my bedside lightbulb had blown‎ and we needed another, and where would be open so late?

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Aargh, and the blub that we bought wouldn't darken when less electric is pumped through. But that Paul chap took me to Wilkinson's and bought a bulb that actually works

Gym

And I am off to gym in't morning which should be fine but I am just intimidated/scared by this getting down and getting back up stuff. It might work but I haven't been able to do that in so many years

GB

And tonight again I made Garlic Bread with the dinner.

Oh yes, learning how to do "simple" tasks again which are partly difficult because of my injuries/disability and partly because I have forgotten how to do them

First Time In Years

When we left the house now I took a bit longer than usual but it was because I locked the door behind us with my right hand. My right hand is working so much more than it used to

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Sara-ing

Then Sara came in today and did more walking practice, apparently I lean to my left when walking and it has become habitual as I have done it for so long. Even when walking without my 'stick I still lean over to the feft

Results

So Gareth had to phone the Doctor's and say "And results for Neils heart tests?" They were a bit vague and said "No worries" but couldn't actually give him results

I think it was OK but they were very vague

By hand

And it has come to my attention that for a couple of go's I have been able to open a packet of crispy treats with both hands, no longer needing 1 hand and my teeth to open the other side

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Garlic

And my new Garlic Press works, unlike the old one that someone else bought on my behalf, this one works

Hum ha

And this morning we hum'ed and ha'ed and in the end decided to nip to Morrison's s'morning

TV

Gosh, just turned on telly tried "Not Going Out" and the main character is in hospital in a coma and dreaming rude thoughts

Sounds strangely familiar

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Games

So s'morning I lost a few Solitaire games but since then I have won a Solitaire game and a Backgammon game. Just wow

Second Things Second

Then we went to gym. Gosh it was hard work today, me and Sam were practicing that "getting down and back up" thingie and I was able to go down about twice as far as last week. We had to do loads of other stuff too but this was the scariest

Just f*c*ed afterwards

First Things First

So s'morning we went to Aardvark where I didn't buy as much as usual but (perhaps because)  I walked in and back out of the shop to pick up my parked 'chair outside

Then we nipped to Wilkinson's (ex Tesco) and bought more gloves and cream to clean my feet and more printer paper for the staff PC

More Xmas Shopping

Then today after lunch me and Gareth headed out to Parc Trostre at Llanelli for a look at some different shops. We chose Trostre because Gareth has been there before and said the whole centre is modern and wheelchair friendly. And we found the other half of Freya's pressie and half of Sam's so we only have to find the other half of Sam's and my Dad's

Trysordy-ing

And I went out and did my (computer based again) voluntary work s'morning.

Today we noticed, I had entered about 10% of today's data alone, in the first third of the time, 'til Gareth came in and said "Shall I read that out to you?" and read out what I was typing in. So in the last ⅔ of the time we did 90% of today's work  

Xmas shopping

So we went Xmas shopping s'morning and s'afternoon looking in loadsa shops. At a guess we have done about half of it but we have exhausted most of the shops

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

And we went back after dinner to the only shop we hadn't been to, T, but they didn't have their Xmas goodies in yet

Bath Fixer

‎Then, t'other day, I finished in my bath, got dried then shouted "Help" to Paul. So he came in the bathroom, I explained then went to bed for a nap. While I was napping Paul fixed the bath, reattaching the side decoration bit which has been coming off for a number of months

written on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone

Out To Eat

So as I was having a crisis feeding Freya and Timmy together we went out and had an Indian meal at The Elaichi Indian Restaurant in St Clears and it was rather lovely. There was waty too much on the menu but we found summat and we all thought it was lovely

Samless

And this morning I am torn between crying "Missing you" to Sam, the gym teacher, as we had a cancelled class s'morning(1) and being pleased that I didn't see her and couldn't carry on with my "Falling over and getting back up" practice that we started last week

(1) Or rather "didn't have a class"

Fixed It

And Timmy came in s'morning and within 3 minutes has answered my technical queries for today