Bollock-Knees

And I thought I recalled Ed's eating habits so I said to him s'morning "Want fried veg or Lentil Bollock-Knees for tea?". So yes, I did recall and he said "Anything but fried veg".....

Failed On Two

So I have failed twice this month, recently!!

Wibble. Suck Seeded in the end, sorry for talking nonsense

Scared

Festival Of Dead today.......

Tories

Hooray....

Exercises

Just wow again, how much better am I at my Tofustring exercises this week...

Second Things

So I went to my only class @ gym at lunchtime today. Again small improvements, I didn't used to be able to step onto the trampoline thing with my right foot, it was too high, now I can. Also doing the hold on and get down to the floor. I couldn't do it at all a few weeks ago, now I get down, crawl backwards, turn over and get into a sitting position on the floor then reverse the actions and pick myself up from the floor.

First Things First

So s'morning we nipped to Aardvark (*) and did my weeks shopping, milk, yoghurt, veg etc. While we were in there another woman came in shopping, it was Ann(e) who with Graham owned and ran it when I worked there

(*) We had to park out the back again, luckily they don't mind important customers parking there although you are not supposed to

It's all done now, quiet few minutes then off to my once a week gym class in a bit

Iechyd Daing

So, not much time after the last trip there we are going out to Iechyd Da again, just for a come all ye folk night this time

We got there early, we were the only customers for half an hour but it did pick up later

Gymtastic

As we went mega cycling yesterday today I just went on lifty machines. On the bendy leg one I was able to have it set to bend my leg further than last week.

Small improvements but they are coming every week

Dinner

And I explored in my cupboards then went shopping and bought veg so we are having a Pasta Lentil Bollock-Knees for dinner tonight

Ooooooh. Wasn't that delicious. I made noise eating it and Gareth also told me it was well worth the hassle. I had to remind myself how to cook it by looking at a very small webpage. And I did all the chopping with my right hand!!

Perhaps

So I am not sure. I said to Gareth s'morning "No swimming, half term....." he replied "Perhaps...." so I am getting all my FES on etc to go to gym and taking my trunx with me, we will see which is quietest and if we do go swimming I will have to take my FES off and wrap it up etc

So no, by the time we got there the pool was full of kids so we went upstairs to the gym instead. I got on a bike again but this time aimed for a quicker cycle. By the time I gave up I had gone half of the distance I covered t'other day but I only took a third of the time I took that day. Half the distance in a third of the time

Stirring Fry

And we are having a stir fry for tea tonight, which I used to cook once a week or so but haven't for ages. But as I can't remember what to do.......

And it was quite nice....... 

Gymming

And me and Alex headed to gym and did 4 exercises and 10 mins on the bike. Just good lord again, it is all easier than last time I tried, again

Out For Tea

And as I protested about cooking for 3 of us* we are heading out to The Tafarn Tanerdy tonight, for a petty cash dinner and I will pay for mine

Yes and very nice it was. The landlord said "We usually see you at the weekend. Monday??", I s'pose I am distinctive looking...

* This is the last night we will have 3 of us fir now, Mark is "fully qualified" to drive me about etc now

Flippers

And s'morning before we headed off to the pool the postman knocked the door and handed me some swimming aids

And good lord, what a difference they make. It is still difficult but I seem much more .......

Busy Morning

So first of all we have to nip to Morrison's and amongst other stuff try and pick up a stir fry pack with additions, I used to make these regularly but I haven't for a while....

Then after someone has taken off my sockings we need to head to the swimming pool

And we went shopping and did that, now we are back indoors for half an hour before swimming. Hooray

But when shopping I had on my list a stir fry ingredients and a sauce for it. I had no noodles on my list as I own some old ones here but I am looking forward to tomorrow....

Right Hand

And I have just peeled all the veg I am roasting for dinner with the peeler held in my right hand. 6 items, I didn't start with my right then give up half way thru, I just did it all

And then I chopped it all with my right hand too.....

Out In Carmarthen

So it had stopped raining about 11.30 s'morning so I said to Alex "Head to town" so we did, was a bit gobsmacked at how many shops were open/people were shopping, the god botherers must feel that they have lost

Time Will Tell

And waking up s'morning I had to set the time on my watch and the battery clocks in the front room and the bathroom but all others have changed themselves. My PC, my mobile phone, my iPad...

Eating An Apple

I haven't bought any apples for ages because my teeth couldn't do with biting them, once it was cut up it was fine but I couldn't do this biting thing....

So this week I bought 2 small apples, dunno why, they just cried out to me. So at lunchtime I got lunch, an apple and I brought a knife so I could cut it up. But because they are smallish apples and my teeth & mouth are better than they were last year I could just eat the whole apple without using the knife, I just bit it

My mouth and jaws are well 'better'

Half A Gadget

So one of my new purchases arrived s'morning. It is a "hold your Kindle upright, so you can read it comfortably" device, and just WOW.

It is like the "Prop your iPad" thingy I had been using but half the size, it fits and can be moved about comfortably. The iPad and device are in the background of the photo

Gym-credible

Then me and GGtGG went to gym and got stuck in to a class. But halfway thru I was doing a "get down and crawl" exercise when Sam approached me and said "Right, finish crawling and turn over to a sitting position". I said "No, I won't be able to stand back up" she said "Try it" and I did it, to sitting on the floor. Then I turned back over, crawled about 10 moves forward, grabbed the chair and was able to stand back up. WTF, really gobsmacked so I had to it again to prove to me that I can

That is just a wow, how much am I improving. So if I fall over anywhere I will probably be able to get myself upright, unasisted

Busy Day

Well there is the usual busy Friday day today....

So we managed the Aardvark shop first thing. As well as "normal" shopping I also headed upstairs (switch off your FES, walk up, switch it back on) and bought bog roll and toothpaste too. But I found everything that was on my list

Club Iechyd

Then we, all 3 of us, went off to a groovy "Gig" night, as opposed to the usual open door do at Caffi Iechyd Da. And it was rather nice, eat from their 100 veggie menu, drink some organic bitter beer and have a listen

Did The Washing Up

Then after lunch I did the washing up because we are going out to a bonus Iechyd Da night tonight as well as next Thursday

Team Handed

Right so we are going swimming today, me and Timmy and MightyMark and we are meeting another therapist, Sara(1), in't pool

But I mustn't get my stuff out of the cupboards first, MM has gotta learn what to take and where it lives

(1) SexySara?

Good lord, we did it. 1) Sara was well impressed with how much better I am than
a few months ago when she last saw me and 2) We managed to do a bit of
forward swimming with no aids, only a few meters but it is still an improvement

Mega Cycle

And today instead of swimming I have gotta go to gym and do another 10km cycle, which took me the best part of an hour last time I did it but it is supposed to be "slightly quicker" today

And "how sad can I be" but Google Maps tells me that is about the distance of my long cycle as a youth, from my house on Lisburn Rd to Steph's house in a nearby town, Lisburn

Well, against my will, I did that 10km, and I did it about 10 minutes quicker today

Wrong Day

So I am going swimming today instead of on Monday....... to confusing to....... dunno, can't think of an excuse but.....

Fried Dinner

And me and Timmy cooked a just fried veg and cheese omelette and some sweet potato oven chips for tea. It was very nice if a little complicated to cook

It Works

So today for the first time I was able to leave the bathroom after my bath and shut the door behind me, no 57 point turn to shut it then 57 point turn to get back out, it just works!!!

Limerics

A good post from ATP

Not Swimming

And today I am just going to gym not swimming as Mark has to learn about this and he is working today. So I am going tomorrow instead

So me and Mark went to gym while Timmy sat downstairs and waited for us

Shopping

So I went to Morrison's s'morning, did the rest of my shopping

And Nowt On My Diary to do....

So my usual Sunday chores.

1) Change the bed.

• No did that yesterday as the rest of the washing was empty yesterday

2) Perhaps go shopping.

• No, because Mark has to come with us and learn my routine tomorrow

And we are going to gym Monday and swimming Tuesday because Mark has gotta learn my routine using which machines etc and he is working Monday next week

Phew

And today Neil's Unwillingness was taken into account and we didn't head off to Laugharne to see the gig tonight....

Lighter

And today I am under 16 stone for the first time in a long time. Am I so much lighter because Ed the ex-barber, ex-care assistant and now nurse was working for me today? (And cutting my hair!)

Out

And when I walked into the pub up the street tonight one person commented on how he had never seen me walk before, last time he was in't pub I was stuck in my 'chair

Dinner Time

And we had that delicious Friday treat tonight too.....

-ing

And I went to gym and did loads of exercises. Yes, my limbs are still fscked but they are so much better than they were a few months ago........

One of the things I achieved was the getting down to your knees, crawling backwards and forwards then picking myself up. Even Sam said "I don't need to watch now, you can just do it...."

Manyana

So tomorrow we are off to Laugharne to see the special band playing

Aardvarking

So we went to Aardvark s'morning and spent way too much cash on food....

Sigh it's Friday

So s'morning to Aardvark then to gym for my class

He's Fixed It!!!

And after Mark did some WD40ing yesterday the bathroom window now opens again.

And, more to the point, it shut again 3 hours later

How Far?

So today me and Timmy headed out to buy some spinach to add to tonight's dinner (Dunno why?) then we went to Gym. Where I cycled the furthest I have gone since my accident. 10km in total. So yes, I feel a bit fscked now but.....

In just under an hour I managed it, just

Copper At Door

Then s'morning there was a knock at the door and it was a policeman saying "2 houses were broken into up the road yesterday, up your security" so.....

Then s'afternoon someone dropped this thru my letter box

More Cooking

So we had another made from scratch dinner, we had Green Beans with Tomatoes and New Potatoes (without the olives as described in the recipe) which doesn't really tell you how it was made etc but it was nice anyway

But First

But first we all nipped out to Aardvark and Morrison's to get the ingredients for tonight's dinner

Team Handed

So me and GGtGG and Mark have gotta go to the pool s'morning. Mark's advice has already helped so we will see if his teaching ill folk to swim experience helps even more

He just encouraged me, saying "Keep it up, you're doing well" etc, so.....

More Spectating

Then tonight I got to watch/help Alex make a delicious casserole

The video didn't work so we have 1, 2 and 3 parts

Gymming

And we headed to the gym s'morning and did various exercises on machines. Today, for the first time, I tried a Cross Trainer (noisy link) which was possible but made my head explode. You need to move your arms in a different direction....

On the video I was only doing the first exercise, for now......

Spectate @ Dinner Time

So today I had the first of my week long "Watch us cook" nights. So I watched Timmy make a Spanish Style Omelette which while nice was far too much hassle and I think a Normal British Omelette with oven chips eg would be nicer and a bit easier to cook

Swimming

So I went to the pool with Timmy, got in, did some exercises then set off swimming. So Mark had said, after last time when he was in there with us, that while still breaststroking that I should try moving my hands diagonally downwards while on a stroke instead of straight backwards. Now I had all sorts of issues with the new stroke but it was working. Timmy commented on how much faster I was swimming etc

Bored Tonight

We had a chat last weekend and I agreed to go see The Martian (noisy link) tonight.

But today I decided all by myself to go see The Suffragette next weekend instead but after GGtGG said "Well it is on at 7.20 tonight" and left it at that, OK, I am gonna use my CEA card tonight to see The Martian, and possibly next weekends trip out too. Timmy will be pleased

And it was a bit excellent, we were sat in the wrong place for vision but I coped

More Reasons

Today, just before lunchtime, we headed to More Reasons To Shop At (noisy link) and did my weeks extra shopping, but we didn't need and salad today, I had run out early this week so presumably we will run out even earlier next week

Suggestion

And "someone" suggested that instead of watching the rugger on t'telly here tonight that we head into The Ivy Bush Hotel and watch it on their big screen and have dinner out while watching the rugger

So we will have tonights planned dinner tomorrow

And we did go, had a lovely dinner in nice surroundings with a good (but not raucous) crowd, but we did get to watch Wales losing rugby

And for the first half of a half I sat in the proper low down chairs until I got uncomfortable and moved back to my wheelchair.  I was shitting myself, I tried to stand up, failed, thought "Erm...." but just managed the second time. But a few weeks ago I wouldn't have been able to manage standing from such a low starting point

And I had a pee, went out, watched the rugby for 2 hours (give or take..). and didn't need another pee until I had been back in the house for 10 or 20 minutes. It's a bit embarrassing to talk about fairly regularly but last year I would have been out of the hotel room 2 or 3 times during the 2 hrs of a match

Friday Dinner

So tonight I made 2 pizza's as usual on Friday but also had to boil some pasta and microwave some pasta sauce from the freezer as Mark was working on a learner basis too

Class

And then we all went to my gym class which went well, even tho Sam is on holiday today.

On the step over device which I usually have to put my right foot round instead of over, they had put some lower tiles in every other go. So I was able to step over each one, alternating right and left feet

Aardvarking With.....

So Mark is gonna come to Aardvark with me and GGtGG so he will learn how to park/shop etc.

I have got a slightly bigger shopping list than usual as "me and my staff" are cooking more from Monday

Extra Hand

So today Timmy is working with the newbie Mark

Team Meeting

So today I have gotta try and mind my own business as Denyse and potentially the whole team are coming here for a "team meeting"

And I sat in for the first hour but have been asked to leave now so......

Went Out

And because he was at a..... me and GGtGG went up the street to the pub tonight. I was complaining about not being able to get in on Thursday for the Rugger World Cup and she did say that someone else (she wasn't working last Thursday) had opened, perhaps just with the door around the side as.......

Hooray For 'Wimming

And we (me and GGtGG) are off to the swimming pool in a bit.....

And he did manage to get me doing sum breaststroke

And I won't be coming to gym tomorrow as there is a "team meeting" happening in my house

I'm So Lucky...

That this doesn't apply to me, I have my own income.....

Alex Said.....

He said....."

No Neil, shhhhhh

In Town

So we headed into town s'evening because "I'm bored" but we did find ourselves shopping and bought a wig to wear to Rocky Horror Show in a quid shop

Jimming

Then after our shopping trip we headed into the gym where I did 5 machines then 4 and a big bit KM on the bike

Chemist

Then first thing we had to head over to the chemist that didn't have everything on my 'script yesterday to finalise that and it was done

I walked from the car, to chemist(*) and back

(*)Down the scary slopy bit etc

Made It Work

So s'morning I video taped the Dancing Flower that the postman brought yesterday

Batman

And for tonight's dinner I am trying that made from scratch pasta sauce

To The Docs

Then we had, all 3 of us, to head to the Drs to pick up a 'script for cream, because it was raining I wheelchaired instead of walking, then down to the chemist  to pick them up. They gave me an "owes you" 'script for 1 piece, so tonight or tomorrow we will be back

'Wimming Again

And this time I am taking the "teach disabled folk to swim" new MOS swimming so.....

And it went OK, we took out list of exercises to so and did them then I did 3 lengths breast stroke. Dunno why it wouldn't work t'other day, perhaps I just need a Timmy in the water or summat

Shaving

And I had my first "Shave your whole face the same" shave today

To Be Continued

Aargh, I watched yesterday's Dr Who s'morning, it was excellent but it says "To be continued" at the end......

More reasons to shop...

So I needed to go and buy more salad before lunchtime tomorrow and some bits, but as it's Timmy working in the morning and he will be grumpy about my looking for Quorn Sausages and Chopped Onion eg I decided that we better go tonight

Neil's Fashion

So today I was glancing at The Gruniad and there was an article about me

Nipped Out

Then we nipped out to Wilko's to buy another mirror as.....

OK, when shaving with my electric razor I can't look in the mirror and see my left cheek, because my eyes were so fscked and they only partly mended it so I can't look even the 5 degrees left required to see my cheek, so I now have 2 mirrors, one to use for most shaving and then bring another into play and shave my left cheek with both

Got That Saturday......

So it's Saturday today. I changed my bed, had breakfast and........ fsck all else

Dinner (Dinner Bat Man)

So we had the traditional Friday Night Dinner of na'an bread pizza and proper chips and again it was lovely

Farmfoods

So tonight we headed over, bought more traditional oven chips, more sweet potato oven chips, and a few bits of ice cream etc

Circulation

And as I am lying in bed after my bath, my right leg is warm enough, my left leg is warm enough, my bum and arms etc are warm enough but my right toes are fscking freezing

Samless

And we had a gym class with a chap instructor as Sam is away on holiday but I still astonished myself with how much more I can do

My right knee, I have been struggling to not let it go too far back on walking, but today I just realised that I need to tighten all the muscles in my whole knee and that keeps it in a proper position

Aardvarking

And I just about managed to not call "Gareth, ignore Timmy, we need to be @ shop" went to Aardvark, parked at the back, and bought everything. And we were back here three quarters of an hour before we need to pop to gym

Walkies To Pub

And I walked all the way to the pub and it was shut. So Mark walked back home to get the car, while I finished walking the rest of the way to the pub so I can say "Did it". So we drove into town and went to the Rose And Crown where the telly is on but the match hadn't started.

Ooh we won too!!

Jim

So we all went to gym and I did less exercise on more machines so Mark can get familiar

Marking

So Mark is shadow shifting with Timmy today. I have a few jobs 4 him then we (all 3 of us) are going* to the pub to watch rugger and have dinner at the same time

* Walking there from here, all of us!!!