Out

Iechyd Daing again. It was good apart from the dull as..... electrical chaps who played in the middle. After a few minutes everyone was ignoring them and chatting amongst themselves. As ever I took some photos but no need to publish them. They are just the same again

End Of Busyness

So s'morning we went shopping and gymwards and that was the last of my couple of weeks of being way too busy. S'evening there is a folk night at Caffi Iechyd Da and tomorrow there is no gym class.

And one of the MOS for the cafe said tonight "No wheelchair, I gave never seen you walk".

Busy Morning

So we got stuck in s'morning and did my whole days worth of diary events. So now, after the washing up, I can relax until we pop out to The Folk Night at Caffi Iechyd Da

So we picked up organic veg that is delivered to Caffi Iechyd Da with their organic veg order, popped to Morrisons and got my weeks worth of top up, went to the gym and did half hour on the bike (5km today) then came home to eat lunch

{sigh}

And so we are off to Aqua Aerobics in a bit......

And we did it, it was as much fun as ever but the biggest story is I didn't use my wheelchair again, just walkies on an unstable, ungrippy floor 

All Gone

And the birds nest by my front door is empty now. Yesterday they were teaching the chicks to fly so today they must have flown off. It takes just a few weeks from start to finish

Parts

Part 1. So the first part of my hectic day was having an early (11.30) lunch. Then over lunchtime the physio lady came and did loads of walking back and forward with no stick, I need to practice to make it go into my memory.  I was marginally dischuffed because she was praising me big style. I suspect from part of what she was saying that most ABI sufferers don't make as much of a recovery as I am doing

Part 2. Then s'afternoon Timmy took me miles away to Llanelli to see the Dr Rice that I saw last year. He wasn't there but his (Greek accented) glamorous assistant weighed me, took my blood pressure and talked. She said that my weight was down, blood pressure was where we wanted it to be and last week when they tested my blood that was good too

And she did say that the 6 monthly jab should be accessible so she is gonna write to my GP and tell him to look for that, not the monthly one that I have had for the last 2 months 

Busy

So as I am uberbusy today and this person is coming then and I need to travel to see someone else then it is all getting hectic re lunchtime and bath/nap time.

I think as it stands if I have lunch at 11.30 before anyone sees me......... just aargh

That's My Line

So ATM I am reading a Terry Pratchett novel, Equal Rites, and at some point in the book one character said to another "How are you?" To which s/he replied "All the better for seeing you". That's my line!!

Yfory

Not that I am busy tomorrow

Learning To Fly

And the birds nest above my front door has been busy s'afternoon as the little 'uns are learning to fly. To my neighbours roof and back

Out Of The Car

And we have gotta take the car in for a service today, they will give us a lift home then we need a taxi to take us back to get the car later.

After my bath/nap etc

So the chap brought us home, but as we reached the pub at the end of the road I said "Stop here, therapy if I walk home from here" so we set off from there and walked home. And we had a discussion, they will drap the car back and we will take him home

Which we did and when we were nearly there I went for a long walk in town

"Out To Dinner....

.... with a gorgeous singer,

to a little place I know....." (noisy link)

So Freya txted me today and said "I promised you a late Fathers Day last week when I was somewhere foreign......" so we made arrangements to pick her up later and go out for dinner

So we picked her up and went out to F&B's for dinner, that Freya had booked. It was lovely and Freya and Timmy seem to find loads to talk about

Lust, lust, lust

So Andrea is working today and I have been able to not ask her to marry me too often today so I s'pose that's good

S'evening the pub up the street is playing the football (Wales vs NI!!!) so I guess we better head there instead of cooking dinner at football time

Well ultimately the team that I supported most won. Honest (as I dunno myself)

Snak

So tonight I tried one of the packets of snacks that aren't as fattening as you would think and are better for you on so many levels, according to MM anyway. They were nice and I felt reallly full afterwards, more filling that my usual sneaky evening eats

Busy Few Days

And Sara contacted me today and said "Can I come see you on Tuesday next week instead?" which I said "Yes" to but it means I am gonna have a very busy few days

What Card Is It?

With all the other cards visible what is that one at the top of the second row?

And We're Off

Then s'morning I have to go to my Doctors for another jab

Then s'afternoon to gym for a class etc

So first of all we went and got my jab. Golly it is so much easier these days. Park car, walk into Drs, sit down, stand up and walk into treatment room, bend over, take injection, walk out of room, walk out of Drs. It used to be get wheelchair out of car.......

Then when we were on the way back from that MM said "No gym class today" which I had forgotten so we went straight there and got stuck into various machines before lunch 

Loadsa Point Voting

Hooray after all our hassle to vote yesterday it turns out that a narrow majority of folk disagreed with me and "we" lost

To Hospital (2)

And I can really tell the difference. It was hard at first, it just felt different, wrong in some way but as the day went on I find myself walking easier, my right foot is a lot less likely to strike the floor on the way forward (although still sum) but I just noticed how many steps I was taking without my walking stick when cooking dinner. It seems easier so.....

Bladder

And I went for a pee b4 we left house s'morning and didn't pee again until after these 3 events. Oh lordy, I used to need the loo nearly every 15 minutes, this has changed big style

Veg

Then, still without going home we parked on King Street and walked down to Caffi Iechyd Da to pick up my veg which had been delivered there s'morning

Vote

Next we drove back to Carmarthen, drove to the kids old school, thought "?", and phoned the place we were heading for, the Electoral Registration Officer. They gave us proper directions so eventually we found them, went in, gave them my letter that I had been told to print last night on the phone and was given another voting card which I was able to fill in and hand it in.

What a performance, round and round we drove, after asking 3 passers by directions we eventually found it

To Hospital

And s'morning we are going to Morriston Hospital to see "the expert" about FES

So we drove for ages to get there thru morning traffic but we made it. Sat there for a few mins then the chap came to see us. He asked if I minded having a trainee sat in but I said "No, carry on". He looked at me walking, said that it was better than last year, and made some changes to the FES that I so don't understand. He switched it to a lower current but higher... summat else.

I did comment to the trainee that the NHS is so skint that my doctor couldn't even afford socks

Pub-inski

Then later (at MM's suggestion) we walked up the road to the pub. When I was there a regular bought me a pint which I did like. I was 2¾ of the way thru my beer when I finally needed to nip to the loo bit I was still watching (3 mins later) when ROI won the match

Peeing. I needed a piss about 2½ pints later than I used to and it just wouldn't finish. I was bored peeing and it just carried on coming out

Voting

So I phoned some election office tonight and told them my story. I had destroyed my postal vote form and wondered if I could just show up. They said "No, but come to the office tomorrow and pick your new election card up, you can take that to the poling station tomorrow". So I have had to type and print a letter saying "Please" and I will have to go tomorrow

Aqua Aerobics

And I went and did various up down exercises and lift/kick routines and just exausted myself in the pool.

When we got in all the disabled changing rooms were being used so I had to go by myself into a small normal cubicle and change myself but when we came out we did get the biggest 2 shower changing room. 

*BUT* I got changed and walked from the changing room to the pool. Pushing my chair but not sitting in it. This was the only time in the wek I was using my chair so potentia;;y there is a chairless week on the cards

Rain Rain

So it was drizzling s'morning. I looked out the window and thought "Greenhouse - for my lunch" and looked at the clouds. At about 11AM there was a pause in the rain (Dunno if it is a stop for the day or not) so I thought "Vitamin C doesn't break down that quickly" and went out and got the last of the lettuce from the greenhouse. Luckily there is being an organic veg delivery tomorrow and I have already requested a Salad Pack

And it hasn't rained since

Busyness

And after I thought I would be busy next week I actually looked at the week after. Lordy, well busy with medicine/therapy and a car service in the middle of it all

Death - Shaking Hands

Lordy. I have just finished my latest book, Terry Prarchett, Shaking Hands With Death and it felt a bit too close to my reality. It wasn't a usual Prachett he was talking about his disease and dying.

A bit close to the bone

Didn't Believe Me

So today I went into gym and cycled for 10km (confirmed by GGtGG) but when I put my device in the machine to say "Finished" it said "No, nowt on this"

First Thing

So immediately after brekky today I ordered this weeks organic food and veg which I will pick up from Caffi Iechyd Da on Thursday. After I have been to the hospital for a check up

Footy

Lordy, Wales are playing Russia tonight, 20 minutes into game and Wales are winning 2:0

Fark. 20 minutes to go and it is 3:0 for Wales

The best they have ever done. Ever

Clean Up

So I swept the kitchen floor tonight. I was holding the brush in my right hand and I swept the whole kitchen. All of it with my right hand. That is an improvement

And it hurt my wrist, was much more difficult than sweeping with my left hand but I managed

Baby Birds

And the nest by my front door I looked up today and saw (I think) 3 small heads cheeping for food off their Mummy and Daddy

I took a pic a couple of days later

Bladder Improvement

When we came out of the swimming pool today I went towards the disabled loo in the hall but someone was already in there. No panic, headed out to the car, drove home then had a pee. A couple of months ago I would have been forced to look for another loo etc

Damp Second Bit

Then today I go to the pool with my disabled swimming p/t teacher who works for me the rest of the week.

Hoo-f**kin'-ray

Well I went. Did it. Swam 8 lengths with flippers etc, swam 1 breadth on my back with nowt, swam back on my front with nowt and actually made a complete width, for the first time in gord nose how long. I did various exercises too then got out and got changed.

Actually it wasn't <whisper>too unpleasant</w> today

Luscious Start To The Day

So then LusciousLynda the Foot Fairy came and did her work on my toes

She made another appt for 6 weeks time

Looser

And I have won every game this month until yesterday. I failed yesterday and today

AwesomeOrAwfulAngela

So that Angela has been working again today. Looking absolutely beautiful which is only expected of my reaction to women but there you go

We haven't been out of the house all day, it has been raining since before I got up s'morning......

Hopefully the weather will be better next Saturday when she is working again

Fathers Day

Which it is tomorrow, who is the letter from that has been sitting on my table for 2 days?

Death

So I downloaded another Terry Prat-sh*t novel to read yesterday but it is about dying from terminal disease etc so I well like it but I have to take it in small doses. It is called "Shaking Hands With Death" (noisy link)

Out

So while we were out we just drove around a bit as it is such a lovely day, stopped for diesel in a station that doesn't have those pay by the pump fittings as it is no longer an issue. I just walk in and pay.

Aargh

So s'morning "we" decided to change the end bit on my walking stick. We took it off, got another one out of the drawer and it wouldn't fit. Neither would the other in the drawer. So we headed down to Cantre Mobility by the railway station and bought a few more, trying them on before we left

Light

So I got up for a pee at 10 to 5 s'morning and it was already light, the sun had come up

Gymning

So we headed over to gym s'morning, to my proper once a week class.

Who?

So my diary said "Timmy" today but I was puzzled when GGtGG appeared instead. Apparently Timmy changed the diary as he wants to go to his sons first sports day at school but he hadn't told me

Less Busy Nooneraft

Then I watched the football twixt Wales and England until 10 mins before the end when I couldn't stand any more tension. While I was in the bath MM shouted that England had scored a-fscking-gain

Busy Morning

So I have done everything in my diary for today s'morning. So first of all I headed to Iechyd Da and picked up my organic delivery. Came here to put it away.

Then headed over to gym and did loadsa lift and kick exercises finished off with 5 minutes on a exercise your hands pedal this machine which I don't think I could do last time I tried it

Then after 10 mins in the house we headed off to Morrison's and did my weeks shopping.

Then we came back here for lunch

Watch It

Gordy, I watch almost no TV but this made me switch on tonight and just wow, watch it

I was most impressed during all the really impressive (and unsettling) stuff by a video of a teenaged gorilla being given 3 cushions which he stacked up one on top of the other then climbed up and was able to reach a balloon from the ceiling

Drowning

And hooray but me and Timmy are off to the swimming pool in a bit for my weekly Aqua Aerobics class. Just overwhelming hooray and hurrah

So me and Timmy got stuck in and did it. It was OK. This week we didn't seem to do any of the exercises that I had an issue with, I could just do it all. Dunno if that means we were just lucky with what she chose or whether I am getting better and more able. 

Duckduckgo on 'phone

And I asked Timmy s'morning. I was on duckduckduck.com/app to try and get the secret search engine on my mobile, but Timmy said "NO, go to Google Play Store and d/l it from there, like that is almost the only place on the 'net to download safe programs from"

Paint The House-er

Then later another painter/decorator came to look at the job of painting the outside of the house. I feel relatively positive and hopefully he will meet my requirements. His Facebook page seems positive etc so he will get in touch ASAP. He is too busy to do it immediately which is a good sign

And I did get it s'evening. Obviously he wasn't painting tonight

More Reason...

And we popped out to the supermarket s'afternoon to pick up a few "in cupboard, use many times" goods that I forgot last Thursday

Showin' Off

And I went to gym s'morning and got stuck into sweaty exercising. I had to throw away 2 sweat soaked tissues that I had been using to dry my face afterwards. Today, despite "being unhealthy and not exercising" in Belfast instead of exercising here last week, today  I managed 10km on a bike. Faster than I have exercises measured m'self  before

Week before last, last time I did this exercise, I could only manage 6.5km.

Bears

So I saw this piece in The Guardian so I searched online for "Japan bear video" to see if I could find owt but the results were a bit of a shock to the system

Not Cooking

So tonight "we" are going out for a meal at the renamed restaurant in town. Courtesy of Headway, they are having some "we've been open for ages" celebration

Well, there was only 1 veggie thing on the menu so I had ordered that. I was a bit doubtful but it was actually rather delicious. So a good night. Some folk that haven't seen me for ages said "Where's your wheelchair" etc

And one of the delicious bits tonight was the parsnips

(Sigh)

(Double sigh)

So we are off to the swimming pool in a bit with my extra "work harder" swimming instructor

Aargh. Well it was as much fun as usual. Today I managed 8 lengths with flippers and a float and I managed 1 breadth with nowt on, just kicking and moving my arms

A Bit Embarrassed re Last Week

And a bit embarrassed re last weeks trip to NIreland. It turns out that my Dad paid for the hotel for the 3 of us

Out

And today's trip out was to Farmfoods where I walked the whole way back and forward to get some Sweet Potato Oven Chips and some garlic bread rather than shortcutting between the 'tils so it was a little bit theraputic

Speaking of therapiutic, this time I carried my shopping basket the whole way round, when it was full of heavy shopping and all, didn't pass it to Timmy when it got a bit full

Out For Dinner

And I was just looking thru my diary for next week and it turns out that me&MM are out for dinner next Monday courtesy of Headway, they are having a once a year dinner

Angela-ing

So I have had my temp MOS. Angela working today. It has been a bit odd but is generally going OK, I haven't been too smutty.....

We went out s'morning and just had a look around Carmarthen and it's neighbours. We popped into Cwrt Henri (the first place we lived in Wales), then we popped down past Dryslwyn Castle (stopped for a few mins to show it off), across the River Towy then came back along the old A40 (now it's called B4300) to Carmarthen

S'afternoon we popped out again and had a walk around town, up hill around the back of Woolworth's, past Iechyd Da, back down from King Street

Rugger

And 3/4 of the way through the Wales v New Zealand rugger match Wales are winning

But while I was typing this NZ scored a try to win the score

No some foreigners won. Bother

But "we" did win a football so......

Which Buttons Where?

Ah, it said at the bottom of your screen but that actually meant in the middle at the side

BackToNorm

So yesterday (day before now) after I came back we did shopping etc then I got stuck into sorting out photos etc and it took me all night. Yesterday I couldn't find time to read any Ixion, the mailing list that I read mainly, but today I was able to get back into my routine

Praise

So at gym today I was thinking "Lord, am I moving faster this week?". Then later in the day MM said to me that I looked like I was moving quicker, so obviously I am. He also said that I seem to be walking more "evenly", less lopsidedly

Gym

Well I went and had my weekly gym class today which I was a bit nervous about having been resting this week but I think that long walks etc have kept fitness and health up. I went to the class and just did it like normal

Sam announced half way thru the class that I was a Mwnci drwg

Normality

So as well as feeling odd I need to get myself back into exercise routine today. As it happens Friday is the only day of the week that I go to an organised class @ Leisure Center

Feels Odd

So yesterday I was having my breakfast in a different country. System=shocked etc

Gordon

Bennett.  So we had lunch in some cafe by the road and made our way back. Done the washing, had my bath, got into bed for a nap. Afterwards we have to head to Dr's and chemist to get a new 'script then to MoreReasonsToShopAt... to get some dinner for the week then I may begin to land a little, actually look at my 'puter.

Pooh

So we left so early s'morning to have a 20 min period in't loo so I hadn't been able to have a pooh. When we got to the airport I went and sneaked one. Phew

Too Early

So we got up early and headed off to the airport home. Sitting at the airport now. We left too early to see any family s'morning but when we called in to get petrol that was where Gareth sells food so we did see him

What A Day#27*2

After nap we hung about for a bit then my parents, 2 brothers, one brothers wife and grown up son appeared and said "Dinner". They were about for ages, altogether too emotional for me.

One of my MOS when I said let's go pay for hotel tonight said "Your father asked me to keep this secret until we need it" and gave me the receipt for the hotel bill

What A Day #27

Well... so s'morning we headed off, just my Dad, me and GGTGG.  So we went exploring places that used to be familiar, in the end we popped into Grand Prix Tyres place where my big Bro was working way too complexidly fitting tyres to folks cars for my Dad's company.

Then we popped into The Old Mill at Dundonald and had a lovely lunch

After lunch we headed back, picked up my little Bro from his house then dropped him off with my Dad then headed back for bath/nap

Out For Dinner

And tonight, as we ate in the hotel last night and have booked in tomorrow for my Dad's birthday, we popped out to somewhere else for dinner today. We headed down to Donaghadee on the coast and had a meal about 20 yds from the harbour

Not Hot

So as I have just had a shower I am lying on the bed naked without any covers over me. Not that it is warm today even tho it is cooler than yesterday

Aunties

So today first if all my folks and us headed "up the road" and saw an Auntie of mine who was very close to my mother when I was little. It was lovely, we went into her house and had buns and coffee. When we were leaving her husband appeared, much older than her, at a guess he is 90 and a bit struggling generally but he was well enough to come and greet me and say tara.

Then we headed to my folks house where we had lunch then my father's older sister and hubby came to see us before very shakily leaving

Rather Impressed

 And as I was eating brekky s'morning a number of staff from last year commented on how I was walking this year. But it is impressive to me if they keep staff from one year to the next. They must pay OK and not be unpleasant to work for

Walkies

So tonight I feel a bit knackered cos it's such a long walk from the lift upstairs to my room but I have managged it

In Belfast

So here I am napping after my morning travelling and my afternoon in Belfast. I still can't believe I am here. Without my wheelchair which both my parents commented on

Phone

And just after we came back my Father phoned and said "C U in't morning"

But if I am not taking my wheelchair, just wow and aargh etc

Quiet Day

So we had a(nother) quiet Sunday today. We may be walking to The Pub later

Yep, we managed. Walking uphill to the pub then later coming home. Again it was a new barmaid so she couldn't be too impressed with me walking but l8r a woman came out of the kitchen who did understand

Penultimate

So tomorrow we are flying to Belfast.....

Warmth

So it is 10 to 11 at night and I am still sitting outside, it is so not cold

Pulling My Knuckles

So in the photos of me today I am sitting in both working to open my right hand further with my left hand. I had no idea that I was when the photos were taken, I only found out when looking at the pics later

Across The Way

So s'morning when I was sitting outside the neighbour from across the road was working in her garden. So I set off around the bottom all the way to her and told her how lovely her garden was and how I was too lazy to have one like it. She smiled at that but did comment on how much better I have got since she moved in last year. She did say how I used to be stuck in a wheelchair whereas "today you can walk round and talk to me"

Compliments

And when we were in town we met a couple of people who complimented me on being out and about with no wheelchair in sight. One of whom was the woman whose garden I was staying in when I first came to Wales many moons ago

Bankwards

So s'morning we need to nip to the bank to take out some Petty Cash to give to chappies when they accompany me to Belfast as their "spendable" cash.

And just generally 'cos I want an excuse to nip out for anything

So we did nip in, got a parking space a the end of King St, walked from there to the bank, queued, got the cash etc, walked the rest of the way along King St, had a rest on the benches then walked almost the whole length of King St back to the car. The cash I took out after we came back I gave it to GGtGG to lock away in the office safe 'til Monday

Out

And for the second time in a week I walked to the pub. Me and Timmy and Andrea set off tonight, we walked up the hill and back

Such A Struggle

And wow but it is a struggle being relatively clean with Andrea but it seems to be working. Seems

No gym class

So the proper gym class was cancelled today but me and Timmy and Andrea headed up to gym anyway and I did 2 machines, 10 mins rowing and 10 mins cycling. I was nearly crying with exhaustion but...

Both Of Them

So we have Timmy and Andrea working tomorrow but no class @ gym. So we will have to see what we do..... (And try to keep myself clean....)

Walking

And I just walked from the front door to where I leave the bin for the bin men. No FES fitted but I couldn't help noticing how flat my right foot is anyway. All those months of wearing FES had made such a difference to my walking

Food, yum yum

And I cooked roasted veg for tea tonight and I actually got all the timings right. It was all cooked and delicious with no burned bits or raw bits

More Practice

Further Screenshot Practice from my phone

Greenhouse→Plate

And I went to the garden today and picked the first of my veg from the greenhouse. It was delicious and extra nutritious

I Can't See

And as I can't see enuf to read my emails yet after the tests I had at the Drs..... Which went well and very quickly but they have left my eyes wonky....

OK, not as bad as I thought. I was able to read 5 emails, much harder than normal but I managed. And apparently it gets easier and easier from now on....

Well phew, I can see again now

Double phew, as my vision was wonky today I was excused going to gym. So obviously I still can't see that clearly

Screenshot

And today I am just doing it to remind myself that I can take screenshots from my phone

Nearly 4 Days

In the morning it will be 4 days until I head off to Belfast

Kept It On

And tonight MM put my FES on about 4 o'clock as we were out, I didn't ask him to take it off again 'til 11 PM. It just feels slightly better in some aspect....

Drowning

And MM suggested that we do try swimming today even tho the class for Wednesday is not happening this week, he can be in charge.....

Hooray {sings and dances}

And we went and had such fun. On the way in we met the instructor from the class and she came in the pool with us and asked a few questions etc so she now has more of a clue about me specifically.  When she left MM was being a "cruel instructor" but I did do another width with no floats on etc

1st of June

And I have succeeded in starting this month.....

this picture is taken mostly so I can remind myself about screenshots from my phone but.....