NYout

And we (me and Alex) are off in a bit to the local pub up the road

And no-one was celebrating new year, we were home by 11pm, we were there alone most of the night, a neighbour came in by himself at about 10 past 10 and had to leave with us about 17 minutes later as they threw us "all" out

'Wimming

So s'morning me and Alex went swimming, and did loads of exercises

(embarrassed)

NYD

So it is New Years Day today but the first item in my diary is nip to Cawdor Cars and have some modern computer tool updated so hopefully it will fix some of the random errors it is showing on the display

But as we were driving there I said "Oh, that thing with the code number on it, they looked in the office to no avail, is it in the manual here?", and he found it while sitting at traffic lights on the way there.

And the tyre pressure sensor appears to have stopped randomly saying "Help"

He Has His Uses

So last night that SmallPaul got stuck in with a screw driver and mended the bathroom door and the door to the airing cupboard so they both now close properly without having to push then so noisily and loudly

You might think "WTF?" but if I am gonna live here I want stuff to be right

Nearly Crying

And so me and SmallPaul went to the swimming pool today. We went in, that beautiful worker was sitting behind the counter and she said "No swimming today, it's broken"

Better Weather

After being forecast as freezing 'til midday and freezing again at 6 pm t'other day it is not forecast as freezing at all today, phew, much less cold (And my heating is fixed anyway...)

Heating

And as I sat on't loo s'morning I can feel the heat coming from the radiator next to me. It is fixed...

Dave

And I have just watched a program about Dave Allen being on telly in the 70's and just wow

Surprise Visitor

After lunch there was a knock on the door. It was Brian, Julia's father and Toby, my first born son who I didn't even know was in Wales, come to see me.

Plumbing

So s'morning we kind of hung about here waiting, no phone call from the landlord as he had promised. Eventually a strange van pulled up and someone knocked the door. It was two plumbers that the landlord had arranged to fix the heating. In about 2 minutes it was up and running but then he said "We promised to fix this bit last time, hang on", made a phone call, popped off and did a purchase then came back and fixed the flaw that they promised they would fix months ago.

I was nervous running my bath after they had been operating but it all worked well. So long may it continue etc...

It IS Over

So back to (closer to) normal shop opening times etc now

And yes, s'morning we headed to More Reasons To Shop At... (noisy link) and got my usual Sunday shop, then we popped into Wilko's and got some de icer for the car (I had to borrow some off SmallPaul s'morning) and some pens for the whiteboard in the hall, it had run out

Bye Bye

And my parents came round s'morning and stayed for a couple of hours and at about lunchtime they went off, back to Belfast

They did compliment me on being so much better too, which was nice. For them too, being able to

And they are currently having a getting home thru the snow crisis. They made it to the airport, checked in...then the airport said "We will take you to.... airport in a coach then try a try a plane" so they left the airport and were queuing for the coach when someone else from the airport said "Belfast flight, we will try it" so they had to queue through check in again

And they have just landed, some hours after they left here. I was just about to go to bed, they left at lunchtime

Its Over

Bring them...

Out For Dinner

So we are going out to Tafarn Tanerdy for tea then up to the local pub for a quiz

And the dinner was delicious, and the pub quiz was entertaining too, even if we did come last

Shopping (little)

So we went to Wilko s'morning and bought some new batteries for the FES as we are down to the last one. It should last weeks and weeks but I need to have a replacement within easy reach, as it is important

S'evening

And I carried both my christmas hats out of the car tonight and out them away. I am taking off my christmas jumper later and will be back to "proper" clothes and no hat's tomorrow

Xmas#2

And s'evening we headed back into the hotel and had a Christmas buffet, not a big meal like lunch but nice it was anyway

Shh

And as I have been able to go out, have dinner and not need a pee until after I come back several times now I think I'd better stop talking about this. My bladder is better. QED

Shhh

New Trews

And today I am wearing my new trousers that my mother bought for me. They are two sizes smaller than the ones mum bought for me last Chrimbo

Xmas

Then l8r me and GGtGG headed into town and went to the hotel my parents are staying in. Again I walked in and out, I think I am an EX-wheelchair user. So walked in, sat at table and had a delicious Christmas Dinner. We all decided not to have a starter so we could fit in a pudding, mmmmm Xmas pudding I had

Now headed home, nap then going back into the hotel later to have some dinner

Ho ho ho

So we got up, I had breakfast and medicine first, then went in and opened my Chrissy pressies which was nice. Then my parents arrived, we had a cup of tea and a small portion of the Christmas Cake they had just bought and brought. Then they went off early and I had a bath but no sleep yet as in half an hour we are going to their hotel for Xmas lunch

At a guess I will have a nap(lette) when we come back here later

Kids Xmas Dinner

Then we went out, I walked from the car and into t'pub up the street (I had no FES fitted either!!) where I bought Sam and Emma and Freya dinner. It was nice I didn't get too drunk to be able to speak to Freya etc. And I had a piss before we went out and I still haven't had one, I need one now but I haven't had one for about 3 hours.

That's a normal time frame, so obviously I am much better

I was nervous giving Sam and Emma their present in case they didn't like the picture he had painted but they both sounded positive, so.....

Folks @ Jim

So I went to gym s'morning and met my parents there. As it is about 6 months since they have seen me there they were well impressed etc

Loos

So I was sat on the loo s'morning, having my morning pooh as usual, I wiped, flushed and then it occurred to me.

Isn't your loo a remarkable invention?

Wrinklies

My parents have landed in Cardiff now...

Nearly at Swansea now...

And they arrived, unpacked then came here for an hour before taking me out for dinner at their hotel, where they are staying. It was as delicious as expected but they had to come and say "Sorry, no veggie lasagne, what do you want?"

And tonight I had a piss before we left home and didn't have another until after we had come home again, ages and a half later

And someone at the hotel did comment, they only remember seeing me in my wheelchair which I had abandoned tonight

Drs

So first of all we went to the docs and picked up another 'script for cream for my chest. Today I got out of the car, walked into doctors, walked back out, walked across the car park and walked down to the chemist. Again, more proof of how quickly I am improving.

Then we went to gym and did a quick workout

So next week when I order my cream 'script I better phone them instead of using the online form. The past 2 weeks I have ordered 2 cream and they only give me 1, but as the doc said "Use it for 6 months" and one tube only lasts a week it means lots of visits to my doctor, I want more 'script and fewer visits

Don't Buy It

No Neil, it's not funny, no

Picking It Up

And when I was in t'loo s'morning I got a piece of loo roll. Because of "gord nose what" disasters a piece of loo roll, perhaps 1 cm x 0.75 cm fell on the floor. I just bent down and picked it up like a normal person, no holding on with one hand and lowering the other etc, I just bent down and picked it up

This is a small event but it is evidence of how much better I am nowadays. A year ago I would have to shout "Help", 6 months ago I would have bent down while holding on to the sink with one hand etc

Parents

And my Mum and Dad are coming here tomorrow to stay for 3 or 4 days

I Was Busy

Fscking "rehabilitating" but I had not heard about this disaster until it was mentioned on the news today

Relax

We were in't car today heading home from gym, GGtGG said "Relax now" and I said "No, I haven't laxed even once, how can I do it again?  Relaxing?"

Jim

After we came back from the shop GGtGG said "Swimming now" but I protested and said "No, school holidays" so we went to the gym instead where I a) walked up the stairs and b) got stuck in and did my exercises and cycling.

Cycling does my head in too. Yes, it is still difficult etc but it is so much easier than it was even a month ago

Shopping

Well first thing s'morning we headed to Home Bargains to pick up some more (much cheaper here) mouthwash, I got a months supply.

Then we had to nip to Aardvark and pick up coffee, muesli, juice etc which I usually buy there on a Friday but it is closed this week. As I didn't know we were gonna go s'morning yesterday we already went to the supermarket and bought a load of organic ss milk which I had frozen, so next weekends shopping is already in

My Mind Is Boggled

Good lord, this interweb thingy is truly mindboggling sometimes, here is my firstborn and an old friend.....

(boggled....)

More Reasons To Shop At....

So we went to Morrison's s'morning, got the usual small amount plus some milk for next weekend to put in the freezer as Aardvark is closed on Friday when I usually do my weeks shopping

OMFG

So I got out of bed s'morning, took off the sheets, put them in a basket then walked into the kitchen carrying the basket in my right hand/arm. No wheelchair was needed to carry etc. The first time in more than 12 years when I have managed to carry summat that heavy and walk

Pick It Up

And I went to my wardrobe s'afternoon took out a change of clothes. Then accidentally I dropped my pants. "Help, help"? No, today I could just bend down and pick 'em up

Just wow etc, how much better am I getting?

Pittance

Aargh, today's conversation (on Ixion) about work/wages etc eventually said "not to mention whether you might feel that earning a pittance and having ... support you would make you feel guilty" I feel that I did worthwhile work for a pittance for years, eventually I found myself in a well paid job and 4 months later someone tried to kill me

Oooh and not posting summat to this effect to Ixion hurts my soul but I am sick of being seen as......

Advice

And I spoke to Timmy s'morning about what I was saying in the last paragraph of "James" yesterday about walking without my FES and he did say "No, you need to keep it on....." for reasons I am not sure I understand or agree with but I will take his work for it now....

I AM Getting Better

Wandering about my flat today it occurred to me.... Walking is still harder than it was before my accident but it is so much easier than it was a few weeks ago....

Quote Timmy, "You are no longer a wheelchair user, you have one sometimes...."

James

The we went to the last gym session before Christmas and did as always loads of exercises. Frankly it astonishes me (and I had to tell Sam how much I need to praise her) how much progress I have made.

ATM the big one is being able to bend my right leg when walking. I couldn't do it previously and therefore I couldn't walk even one step without my 'stick

AND I switched my FES on, went into gym and switched it off almost immediately and left it off for the rest of the time. I don't know whether it is good or bad, being able to walk some but perhaps loosing out on it's improving facilities

Aardvarking

And I went shopping in Aardvark s'morning. Got it all etc

When I was there I walked up stairs and turned around and walked back down. GGtGG said "?" and I said "Practising"

Shopping

Then we went out to Wilko after dinner but it shuts at 6pm not 8 like we both thought. So we headed off to Tesco, looked there too and couldn't buy anything. So a wasted trip

...ing

So we went to gym at lunchtime. It was busy but not overly so. Today I was, amongst other stuff, doing the lifting weights straight upwards and as I did 2 then waited for a minute I could actually do 10 in total but it amazed me how much stronger/more flexible my right arm has got, I was able to lift it about 98% of the distance I lifted my left arm

If Only

If only I believed I would say a prayer for the kids who were shot at their school today

Fredumpkins

Then we went and picked that Freya up from school. We came here had Linda McCartney sausages, oven chips and I fried 3 eggs to go with that, we had one each.

My egg frying technique needs some practice

'Wimming

So we went swimming at lunchtime again. It is getting to be less unpleasant now I am getting more physically able in so many ways but I still don't enjoy it. Possibly on principle

The new laminated instructions makes it much better too.  I spoke to a swimming instructor today about how much I should be bending my knee from her point of view. She said "Almost no bend at all" but for therapeutic reasons I need to kick from a bendy knee. But I did try "proper" kicking for a few yards today

Noisy Bike

Later I was just about to get in the bath when the doorbell rang and a few mins later Alex called me and said "visitor" so I wrapped myself in a towel and came out. It was that Stuart chappy so I got dressed and left the bath for later. He was full of praise for how much better I am etc but had to leave early 'cos he didn't want to be riding his bike on icy roads.

But it was good to see him again

Then

Then after lunch we headed off to gym. Alex was softer than usual and said because I had been out walking so much earlier that I could not cycle today so it seemed like no time before I had finished the 'exercise' exercises

Early To Alex

So Alex came in at 8am s'morning, did his handover, waited for me to finish my pooh and then set off to Swansea to see the wheelchair fixer. And we found it, found a parking space and were still 5 minutes early. He looked at my 'chair, measured me etc and ordered me a new one. And he did say "I think so" when I asked "Can I have a pink one?"....

He said it should be delivered about February, they will contact me closer to the time.

Then we nipped to the Docs and picked up my script, then walked the hundred yards to the chemist and got my two 'scripts

Not Runny

And I don't have diarrhoea which was predicted as a possible side effect of the cream for my chest

'Wimming

So we went swimming today and it was the first time we were able to take the newly printer and laminated instructions and it did help me be a bit more positive about the whole session.

ObAnd we had loads of creams and soap substitutes with us to keep my routine as close to usual as possible

Next Week

So I looked at my diary online and clicked on "next week" and there is Christmas, OMG it's that soon......

Two Chocolates

And I was preoccupied yesterday morning and didn't eat my advent calendar so today I had two chocolates after breakfast

Another Week

So I am starting another week tomorrow. Sigh but wow too

Shopping

We nipped to Wilko's to get some lights for the Xmas tree s'morning, then we went to Morrison's and bought food.

Then after lunch we went back to Wilko's (and somewhere else too) until eventually we didn't find any Christmas headgear with antlers but we found some antlers which we were able to add to my Santa hat

Out

And an excellent evening was had in The Friends Arms just down the road

Less Spotty

And my chest seems to be much better, altogether less spots today. Dunno why but it's good......

Pizza & Chips

For dinner tonight. And I remembered to put garlic on the pizza tonight....

Jimming

So we went to the gym at lunchtime, me and Alex. It was as hard work as usual but I got stuck in. What really amazed me today was just how far I can bend my right knee. For a couple of activities I concentrated and it is just wow, so much better than it used to be

And I wore my antlers today...

Aardvarking

And I went and did my shopping at Aardvark again. It is getting so much easier to shop on my own two feet. Today we parked across the road and I just got out, walked a bit up to the crossing, crossed and went in. And back, my wheelchair stayed in the boot

Pepper Pots

So because my battery powered pepper shaker has broken I bought another, very expensive but it should be delivered in the next couple of days.  But because that is broken I had to get out an old manual grinder which had to be replaced because I couldn't work it. But tonight I tried the manual one, which I havent used for a year or 18 months, and it just works. So obviously some aspect of my hands and arms is better, but I have already spent way too much on a new battery version

Late Gym

And we waited until after five tonight and went to the gym then. It was busy but not too much. So when I got on the bike I went at 40 for 9 minutes then at 75 for one minute. Well 75 for the first 30 seconds then about 65 for the last. So we decided that for my second lot of faster I should just do 30 seconds but do it twice. So thats what I did and I went faster for both sessions

Sad

And today we headed into town and tried 2 shops in the end we found a Christmas Jumper In Store 21

Care Homes

Just now on the news they were talking about how someone had closed a care home because it was.......unsatisfactory.

This makes me think about the care homes I have lived in. Yes, in so many ways I was unhappy but the standards of care were at least satisfactory

'Wimming

And me and GGtGG are going to the swimming pool shortly. I got my stuff out but he is checking lists etc as we speak

And it was mad, GGtGG's list of exercises washed off his hand but we remembered about 80% of the new exercises

Walking To Advent

And again s'morning I had to walk to my Advent Calendar to get my chocolate

Jim

So we went off to gym at 12 o'clock today, it seems to be a quiet time. So yes, we took my wheelchair but left it in the car, first of all I did 4 exercises then got on a bike. As we had had a conference t'other day I cycled for ages at 40km per hour then for one minute I didn't go flat out but at 60kmph. And yes I was out of breath when the speed dropped again but I wasn't too knackered to continue, I could carry on and do it again twice more

New Cream

So after my bath today I will have the first dose of my new cream put on my spotty bits instead of the older stuff I was using. So now I will use Clearasil bath scrubbing stuff still and this new cream, nowt else

And I was nervous afterwards, I had been warned "Don't touch it" so I went to bed in the nude as usual for ¾ of an hour, but today I put on a t shirt before lying down

Width As Percentage

So I had a photo on my website which looked fine in the browser on my PC. But on my iPad thingy it went all wrong with one picture above the other instead of side by side. So s'evening an idea came up, I asked Startpage if I could express picture size as a percentage instead of absolutely and then it looks fine both on my PC and my little iPad device too

Shopping

After all this (I had no time for a nap today) me and SP headed for Tesco's and picked up a load of Sweet Potato Oven Chips

Docs

And we went to the Drs to see my regular doc about the spots on my chest. She said "Dunno, try this for 6 months at least and don't put on other stuff" so we got that 'script and put my other wipes in the cupboard. I will continue to use the Clearasis wash stuff but no other.

But she was positive about my blood test results so at least summat is working

Swim

So me and SmallPaul went swimming today. SP knew where my own float was and so we took that. In the pool I was able to do about half a width on my front with the float. First time we did it my right leg just stayed still, couldn't kick but the second time it just kicked like a normal persons leg. But because it hasn't kicked for so long I got a strange pain to one side of my spine, just above my pelvis, at the back

Morning Walk

So I did my now routine morning walk again today

Choke

And I ate a snack bar earlier then Alex needed to come and pat my back as it was stuck in my throat

Muscle Memory

And I am still being impressed about how much my right foot remembers how to stay straight and flat when I walk.

I think the FES has taught it well.....

More Walkies

So I came out of my bedroom in my wheelchair s'morning as I had to carry my bedding to the wash, I put it in the machine, went out to the hall, parked my 'chair and walked away to have breakfast

In the past I have been unwilling to walk after being in my chair but I am improving all aspects.....

Walkies

And I just stood up in the kitchen, held my walking stick off the ground and walked out of the kitchen, across the hall and across the living room to my PC chair, without touching the ground with my 'stick.

Perhaps a dozen and a half steps but without holding on to anything and without any assistance (eg FES), just proper walking.

House

Just before lunchtime we nipped out to have a first look at another house in Abergwili(1), which I was feeling more positive about than Gareth. It is beautiful, no neighbours etc but the road if it gets icy might be a bit slippery and Gareth was concerned about flooding in the winter, dunno, we will have to look into these but I think we should have a better look

(1) Abergwili pronounced as A Big Willy so why am I wanting to live there....?

You Can

I was in the utility room fetching my lunch and in the process I dropped 4 pieces of lettuce on the floor. I didn't shout for help, I didn't hold on and.... I just looked, moved my feet, bent down, bent right down and picked them up with my bare hand. I wasn't holding on with my other hand, I just picked them up

You CAN walk

So there I was sitting at my PC when it occurred to me, eat your Advent Calendar so I was about to go zooming across in my 'chair when I remembered, "No Neil, you need to practice walking" so I stood up, walked the 4 or 5 paces to get it, popped it in my mouth and walked back and sat down again

Access

And while I was eating my breakfast s'morning on the BBC telly they were being appalled at how poor disabled access can be around the country. Which initially I thought "Only me and about 7 other cripples" but apparently it affects 20% of the population, who can't shop there, eat there etc etc

Better

And we decided not to put a dressing on my right shin today as they do seem much smaller etc. We will check in't morning

Gym

Then I walked into gym with Sam today. I am a bit gobsmacked, I think day by day how I am doing but in gym I think "How was I ..... months ago?" and it is too much for my brain to take in

Ing

And s'morning we went to Aardvark again, walked in, walked up and down the stairs, walked into the back room, walked back out etc etc

Sigh

So I am off to the doctors in a bit for my diabetes blood test and then I am nipping to gym for a workout

So I walked into the Doctors, drove to hospital for my blood test (I know!), drove to Morrison's to pick up my 'script then drove to gym. As it was late I got on a bike. After 7.5 minutes me and Timmy fell out and I stopped and came home

Dunno whose fault it was but it's done

Right. So I called Timmy in, we had a discussion and I think we have mended our bits, we know what to do next time

iPhone

And I tried (again) sending myself a txt message from TinyTimmy's phone, an iPhone which doesn't have a keyboard and it proved possible, certainly not impossible so when my phone is up for renewal in March/April.... see what's available then and try it out

Again

So we (Me and TinyTimmy) discussed what was happening today and decided to do bugger all s'morning then have an early lunch and bath etc then go off and have my blood test then go to gym and have a late session again

Late Gym

So because we had been delayed s'morning and then The Git had taken off my iodine plaster so Denyse could have a look we didn't go to gym until much later, after my nap. It was well busy, too busy to get stuck in but we managed 2 upper body exercises before I got on the bike. So at 6 minutes I did a really fast minute and then I waited until the last minute to do another because I couldn't carry on yesterday after it.

I couldn't today either but my time was up anyway so I just finished

'Net Was Broken

And the internet connection broke s'morning, it was no longer connecting thru the wire but wirelessly. It did still work but slower. So "someone" has to get on their hands and knees and switch off and on again the router box which is half way down the back behind my desk and the router in the hall too. It all came back to life a couple of minutes later

The slow picture on my screen and the quick one

Hooray...

So (The Beautiful) Denyse is here giving Gareth and Alex their yearly assessments then I have to..... swear swear.... go to the swimming pool with Gareth The Git where we can do loads of new exercises that I learnt t'other day

And she was here for so long that we missed the quiet swimming pool window so I will go to the gym and do some exercises later

Meatless Snooker

I was watching a snooker match on telly earlier and in between games the commentator commented on how both players were vegan. No meat, no dairy....

• I felt bad about eating a yoghurt while this was on.....

Gym

And we went to gym after going to that Tesco's place to buy some more ink for the staff PC. It was quite good, did just arm exercises then got stuck into cycling, so after 6 and 12 minutes I sped up for 1 minute which was I think effective but after the 2nd fast session I was too knackered to carry on and finish my session. So far I must just do one faster session per class

Patches

And tonight Timmy was a bit concerned about 2 spots on my right leg so he put on iodine dressings before my iPad thingies so hopefully it will be all cleared up in a couple of days

Aargh

The bag is packed, the iPad is charged..... we are off to meet Sara in a bit....

(That sounded much to positive, I am not looking forward to it after the first meeting...)

And it was total fun today. On the way in Timmy bought some arm bands which actually should have been called "Feet bands" after much mucking about