Cut

And I found a new volunteer who cuts his own hair and he agreed to try and cut my hair. In the end after much begging he cut the other side too

Tuesday morning

So I woke up this morning at about 7.05 I lay there thinking "Awww" in the end at about 8 AM I got up, for breakfast etc. I have nowt to do today except book Taxis for tomorrow and Friday to go to the Day Hospital

Which I have done now, booked

Good lord, my visitor today, I forgot to mention it

Rain

And it has been raining all night, it wasn't raining when I got back earlier but it is raining now

Back

And then I went back into Carmarthen, bought a bowl to wash my feet in and looked and looked everywhere for a new purse but I couldn't find one that matches my requirements, I suspect I will get one in the market which was all closed by the time I made it today

Shopping

Well, I got up etc, in a bit I am off to buy my weeks food (apart from the veg, I get them on a Saturday)...

Did it, got it all except for a new washing up bowl which they didn't sell, but everything else was bought. I seem to be getting better at looking at the whole shelf rather than just choosing the first thing I see

My Toe

So the MOS that's qualified came to cut my toe nail today, the one I can't manage. She looked at my foot and said "Euch, there is an infection there, see a chiropractor" so I will have to ask on Wednesday when I am in the Day Hospital.

Hoo flippin' ray

....and Ixion has come back on after being off for about 40 hrs

Nervous

So today I have been wheelchairing everywhere as last week I walked miles without my 'stick which I want to do again, so everywhere in my house should be reachable but I am a smidge nervous

Sunday

Ho hum. It's Sunday morning, got up, had breakfast etc. Tomorrow morning I am going to the supermarket but today...... NOWT!!!

Stickless

And I went down to the walkable bit outside, stood up and walked off with my stick in my right hand not touching the ground. I only went about 10 m but I turned around, still with no stick, and walked back to my chair stickless. It was the first time I was doing it outside

Grating

So tonight I am making a pizza for dinner, in the kitchen I took out a big bit of cheese and went to the cupboard for my complex grating machine. I looked into the cupboard and took out a plain grater instead. I was a bit scared but it proved well possible to use. So obviously summat is better than before and the washing up pile is a lot smaller

S'morning

This morning because I am going into town I am in my wheelchair but also, I think, now if I am walking Wednesday and Friday then I'd better give my legs a chance to recover so Thursday and Saturday are now wheelchair all day days, as I need to reciover/rest afterwards etc

Gosh

Well, it's Saturday morning so in a bit I will book a Taxi to go to Waverley Stores to buy some organic veg etc

Repeat prescription

So today a nice lady from Boots came over and delivered my Asthma medication to my front door. I am a bit impressed, I have never used a 'deliver my repeat prescription' service before but this was WAY impressive

PDH

So I am off to Day Hospital in a bit for my Physio but today she said she is gonna start working on my right arm as well as my legs

Blinkin' flip, but wow generally. It hurt but worked again etc. So she said "Your hand" took it in hers(1) and painfully stretched it out for 4 minutes etc. THEN we did my usual exercises etc

(1) I had to tell her that I have been dreaming about holding her hand for ages but I was distracted by this "getting better" thing that I was doing

Folky?

So here I am, nowt on today. There is a folk club tonight in Llansaint which is generally very good but it is too far away to pay a taxi, but I might be able to get a lift..... wait and see now

AND while I was there there was no folky intermission.

Yes, I spent £700.00 or so each way in a taxi to find a normal, almost empty pub, not a Folk Club

Welsh summer holidays

And indeed it is gonna be school summer holidays next week so it is raining so hard ATM

Free

Then today after I was at the Day Hospital for lunch someone came round later and said "They have loadsa food across the way, want a veggie selection?" and then brought me a free dinner, loadsa salad, Samosa's etc

Bruv

Then half an hour later my older brother came up to see me. He is only from Belfast 'til tomorrow morning so not a long visit. BUT amongst the stuff he handed me a new guitar, which is a bit posh, I had a half a play today and it seems really nice

Back

So I am back this morning at PDH, I missed last Fridays because they were having a review of me....

And gosh but they remembered me, it was very hard and exhausting but I have done it before - so keep it up.

They also said this time that on Friday a) they will have me walking towards a mirror in order to see my problems and b) they will start work on my right arm which I want to shout about etc

Freya

And tonight's visitor came, it was a bit..... but...

Scared

Well, I am slightly too scared to talk about what's going on in my head but........

Fear, OK, if I am this sick now, sicker than most people ever feel, how ill must I have been 7.5 years ago

Well...

So here I am again....... too much to talk about out....

Well

Some of my kids and their Granny and Grandpa came to visit me today

Aargh

Gosh, yesterday before the car broke down we were looking at were I useda live, with no memory (much) but......

Double Gosh

And we went to go out for dinner but they have a puncture. The company said "See you in a bit" but didn't show up. Now we are awaiting the next tyre fixer and the Pizza Deliverer man to bring us dinner.

(Sigh)

Gosh

Well today I have been putting up with my dad and sister all day...... but..... Then this afternoon some people came along for my review meeting and it was surprising how positive about me they were, but they were. No calm down Neil, walk before running etc etc

I can

So I can open it I bragged. I can, but it's the place with the cross wire stopper. But, I found out when I asked them yesterday, I am allowed in, it's there for another reason.

(Tap, tap, tap)

Waiting for my Dad and my Sister....

Gosh they turned up and it was....

But now they have gone away 'til tomorrow...

Well...

Yes, I am here again.....

PDH

I'm off to the PDH today...

And it went well, lots and lots of exercises which hurt less than last week!!

And good lord, I don't feel tired as such but everything suddenly seems like it's way too much hassle or too difficult so perhaps I am a bit weary...

Visitor

And my beautiful daughter came to visit me today. She was listening to 80's music the whole time which made me feel a bit strange.

+

And this morning I realised that I can walk a short distance without my 'stick

Lot less aargh

S'morning when I got up I can almost move my arm freely again, I can turn my head both ways and it is only in the last 5° when it hurt again

AND I walked after I got up, it was 12.00 b4 I sat in my 'chair - so obviously summat is better

Less Aargh

Well I have been to the Dr, he said "Physio" etc, it seems much better now so p'raps I will have to walk in't morning then

Double Aargh

So I was waiting for my Taxi to the Drs. 10 minutes later I phoned them, they said "What booking" so a MOS had to take me, which did save me a tenner in taxi but a bit disgruntling. So I saw the Dr. he cant do anything about my foot himself but is making a phone call to sort them out. Or summat.
A waste of time

This is SO impressive

And I was sent a pic of Toby in his new school uniform. He may be getting his head together, hope so

Roof space

So today a man came, knocked on the door then said "I need to do some stuff in your attic". "Oh, where's my attic?" I asked

Shop

So I have just been to the supermarket(1) and got most of my shopping for the week. My sore neck/shoulder is some better but still a bit bad, if I turn my head to look right it hurts. And as my eye doesn't move to look that way....

(1) (sing)More reasons to shop at Morrisons(/s)

Aargh

I woke up s'morning, had breakfast etc. I am now waiting for my Taxi to the supermarket but my right arm seems to have stopped working. My shoulder hurts no end if I try to move it one way...... at least I will be at the Doctors about summat else this afternoon and I will be able to change the subject

Dubious

And I remembered some nowadays politicially incorrect lyrics to an old song tonight

...... Bloody Sunday

Well I had a shower and changed my clothes earlier. (Still hung over tho) And did bugger all today.....

At the party last night....

And at the party last night I met 2 women (visitors here) who were staring at me for ages and I was looking at them thinking "I must have met you" then they introduced themselves. They both used to shop in Aardvark and recognized me from there

Sleep

Last night I went to bed, fell asleep and woke up agaon about 4 AM. I didn't bother getting up but tried to drop off again. I was still awake at about 6.30 then I fell asleep. I well overslept and didn't wake up until 10.15 AM

No Neil

So here I am s'morning..... I got up walked past my 'chair and all the way into the kitchen on foot, as planned. On the way I passed my new power chair. BUT it is only to be used when I am gonna long way up hill etc outside

And someone is coming to take my powerchair back on Monday as I am not.... dunno why but they are

And about

Then, as it wasn't raining, I decided to try going to town on my new powered chair to see how far I went. The whole way!!! So in town I tried a couple of pubs, including one that used to belong to my next door neighbor's, some years ago

AND this caused loadsa grief, my sister doesn't believe that I went into town safely and I have had to promise that next time I am out on it I will take a taxi to Carmarthen.

Physio

So today in Physio I did standing on your toes with your heels down the way again. It didn't hurt so much today so.... And I did more lying down and stretching my bum upwards. I dunno why but it seems to help so.....

Again

So I have prebooked 2 taxi's for this morning. One to take me to the Day Hospital for my Physio then afterward's another to take me to the dentist

And I went to the dentist, did everything then had it taken out of my imagination....

Aargh

So here I am, living in my new flat, with a powered chair in my possession for the first time so I can go out and explore a bit. Except it's flippin' raining

Gosh

Well, today I lot of stuff happened, the electric wheelchair man came and I have forgotten everything else because that is so special

Out

And I am going out tonight. Someone volunteered to help me suss it out WRT going alone

(s)

Shout it means shout....

"She was beautiful, had medium length brown hair, was having a lot of trouble walking but had to relearn, her persistence in the face of such big impediments was striking to those of us with similar difficulties"

My persistence is the reason I am here, now.....

Morning

So I had a VERY good morning at Physio today, again I didn't see the point but as it is making me so much better..... AND as I was sitting in a seat by my table today, a woman caught my eye. (s)She was beautiful, had medium length brown hair, was having a lot of trouble walking but had to relearn, her persistence in the face of such big impediments was striking to those of us with similar difficulties(/s)

Watching

And tonight I am trying to watch telly but on my 'puter, not "my telly"

Visitor

Gosh, Freya came and was bored here, but that's actually good, if she is relaxed enough to be bored...

It was special and it was ages ago

Tuesday

Weary.........

Et...

AND this is making my life feel a bit more in control....

AND...

And today I am not doing much having been at shops on Sat and Sun....

Phew

I am now beginning to get over the ultra visitor who's just been here.......

BF

...Flip.....

(1)

"Hide extensions for known file types"

AND he made me speakers stop cracking by swapping them over, L/R, which means I will leave them on all the time, it's easy, not dangerous, not un-environmentally friendly.....

Blinkin' Flip!!!

And he came back, took me out to explore, had lunch then came back. Then did the same again but with Dinner instead of lunch, had a good time and (proper) reconnected as adult men who are coming out the other side(/p)

And he fixed some stuff, advised me how to do these computer things which are suddenly fixed THAT BIG THING THAT YOU HAD REPRESSED REALLY WELL SINCE IT "BROKE" ON THIS NEW VERSION OF WINDOWS WHICH WAS INSTALLED ON THE NEW PC(1)

And......

BF

Blinkin' flip, he came to visit me today, we went out, came back etc

aWow^2

Hitler - a game (noisy)

Wow^3

Then Toby came to see me. And it was the best visit I have had for 7 years too......

Wow^2

Gosh what a morning!! I woke up, had brekky then went to Priory Day Hospital for my twice a week physio. Which went with them all thinking "Neil will be better soon"

And GOD it was special, they all new I was "Getting better, passing thru a phase" phase and they knew it too

Wow ^1

What a flipping day!!!

Out

Oh, I am going out tonight, and I learned not to eat first 'cos I will eat there

Better

So I found that this morning when walking into the kitchen to make my breakfast that I was walking again, for 4 or 5 steps, without my walking stick on the ground. Obviously it is just an early stage yet but it is MUCH better than they predicted I would be

Well

So I was sitting out at the end of the drive, it was dark, 2 women passed on the other side. I made a comment about their dog and they asked me "Are you OK there" as I s'pose I must have looked like "Some crippled guy sitting in the middle of nowhere"
Bit no I didn't need any help, I brought myself home a few minutes later

Slightly less scared

Next Friday I have to leave the Day Hospital early as I have an appointment with the dentist. Originally I thought "I'd better take my 'chair that day", but on reflection perhaps not...

Scared

I'm going off in 15 minutes without my wheelchair

And it worked. I managed to get in and out of the Taxi on the way there then do "stuff" then get in and out of the ambulance which had a flipping ramp so it was harder - but I managed

And she was getting me to walk with a clearer lift of my right foot and a more definite bang of my right heel. Which felt a bit odd but apparently it looks more realistic when I walk

Freya

Then this evening was worth it when I fed my visiting daughter and generally was just nice

Carol

My case worker came to see me today. And she talked some sense even tho I wasn't able to listen to much etc. She talked about me getting better still and some plans for the future. She also mentioned a Carmarthen society of "get betterers" which I may have to go along to next month and see how it is.

She also talked about me becoming a teacher again which is what I will probably want to do but it feels so scary at present

Walkies with no stick

This morning I walked into the dining room. Moved my 'stick into my right hand in order to do "stuff" with my left. Then I picked up my coffee pot and mug with my left hand, my 'stick was "folded up" in my right as in it wasn't on the ground..... and then I walked from the table into the kitchen, making coffee space, with no stick!!!

AND I was able to do it back later carrying a hot pot of coffee

It broke again

And my alarm bell thingie broke again today. I thought "They said press all 3 buttons" So I pressed all 3 buttons. Still broken. A MOS went and asked the boss and she told him, "Press all 3 buttons for at least 5 seconds" Ahhh, it is all fixed now

Aargh

And someone said that they went to the Motability Office by the railway station in Carmarthen and they saw my new powered 'chair sitting there waiting to be delivered. Aargh, hurry up (/shout)

Walkies

I walked into the kitchen and made breakfast, kept walking 'til I went shopping, came back and walked more until about 2.30 this afternoon

They phoned

And Ethicalsuperstore just phoned me to check some delivery details so hopefully the 12 tubes of Tomato Puree is being delivered this afternoon, to make making Pizza from Naan Bread etc easier

Or this evening....

And I was panicing at 7.35 pm, they already told me they delivered until 8 pm so I was beginning to panic fully, I phoned them up they tried to contact the driver couldn't get hold of him. Just then his van came around the corner, phew

(Sigh)

I'm off to Morrisons in a bit to "get some of this weeks shopping"

And I succeeded. I had asked the Taxi man to come back in an hour and a half but it only took me about 45 minutes to get all my shopping

Sitties

When the kids arrived today I answered the door standing up then got in my wheelchair as apart from that there are only 2 seats at t'table. After they left I was too tired/lazy to stand so I spent the rest of the day wheeling. Tomorrow I will have to take my 'chair shopping but apart from then I should be walking all day

Cool

2 of my kids are on their way over to wish me "Happy Fathers Day" now....

And they were and it was cool, they stayed for 5 or 6 hours, relaxed here as well as visiting, it was just well cool

Well done, Neil

"Today I managed to get my wheelchair forwards all the way up the ramp to my flat. Previously I had to turn around half way and go backwards as it was easier that way, but today I managed it all the way"

The first time in a number of years

(Cheers Chris)

Walkies

Well I have done 7 hours today, I have given up now but who knows how I will feel later

Just WOW, you handsome and clever bugger

And WOW. I got in my taxi (in my 'chair) went into town, did my shopping in Waverly Stores and I was just picking up my shopping when Sam arrived. He pushed me up many hills all over town, we were able to buy all I needed, we stopped and had a coffee then we came back here together. Sam had not been here, it was tidy enough (Phew) and he just thought it suited me. He was being a smidge grown up and told me not to say random stuff to random people which may have actually been what I needed to hear

Sigh #2

Well, as I did so well yesterday I am considering going to the Day Hospital on Wednesday without my wheelchair. I am now pretty sure I can manage but it is just such a scary process, I am attached to my 'chair. Even tho I have not sat in it at all this morning, I won't need to 'til I go out in a Taxi to the Health Food Shop later

But my right hip seems to be aching with all this walking, so "take it easy and take care" then

Nuff walkies

Well at 10pm tonight I sat down in my wheelchair again, that's about 6 and a bit hours walking, I will try to do more tomorrow

I am in town at the HFS and meeting Sam tomorrow, which will involve wheelchair's but afterward's...

BIG Grin

Gosh today's stuff is so important to me, so important

Sigh

Well I am supposed to be walking into physio today but walking is hard as I wore out my left leg on Wednesday ~ it hurts this walking

BUT I tried it and it worked in the end, so I was able to ditch my 'chair when I got there and walked everywhere.

THEN later I went across the road and asked "Did my parcel get delivered here?". They said "Yes" gave it to me, I got back, opened it up, couldn't put it together alone, asked for some help and now it works, my wheelchair is in the hall and I now walk everywhere

Good lord but this cooking while standing up is very hard, but I managed. Lockily I had summat simple on the menu for tonight, it will become more complex as I manage longer and more

Ho hum

Off to the Folk Club that's miles away from here tonight, it's where I used to live

And ho hum but it was an expensive taxi to get me there, but it was excellent when I got there.

Walkies

So a MOS said "Wanna coffee in number 7?", so I said "Yes, I will accompany you" but as I was walking with a MOS I asked her to push my 'chair as I walked along with my 'stick. Which went well but the bit of the road that's tilted to one side really made my right foot turn over that way.

Well, more walkies

So I have just bought a trolley that hopefully will carry my cuppa and meals from the kitchen so I will be able to leave my wheelchair parked in the corner and walk everywhere (Aargh, it is a bit scary but positive)

PHD

Well I went to the Day Hospital for Physio today. It went well and they asked me to ditch my 'chair when I come in on Friday and walk everywhere

Wow

Well I went out tonight, all I can say is WOW. Then tomorrow I am out.....

Playing

Then tonight, after I have cooked for/with Freya her mum is coming to pick her up. She has agreed to give me a lift into town so I can go to the Poetry Night at Caffi Iechyd Da in Jackson's Lane

Walkies

Then this morning I was sat outside doing exercises, when I had finished them I thought "Walkies" and went up hill to the top turned around, got out of my 'chair and walked all the way to the bottom where I turned round and walked back up, past my flat to the top of the hill

Radical

So s'morning I experimented with moving my mouse to my right hand side. It hurt but it worked, so progress. Every day I will do a bit of practice

Weirdness

And this morning outside the shop who came by but Faith from The Abbey. It made me feel a bit better about being in Carmarthen but a bit weirder too

Ho hum....

Well I am bored now, nowt else on today, nowt to do, but Jackie is off tomorrow and I need her to tell me whether Caffi Iechyd Da is accessible

Shopping

Well, as usual on a Monday I went to Morrison's to get my shopping. It was no problem, a passer by pushed me for 2 feet over the step in.