Chewing

And at lunchtime today, for the first time since I was at the dentist t'other day I was able to chew food with both sides of my mouth!!

Dr

So the Dr came to assess me s'morning for my case. Gosh it was hard, he was mainly testing my memory which was a bit unpleasant from my point of view.

This was a scarier incident than it sounds like from here

We generally did it, as scary and unpleasant as you like

Visiting AGAIN

And tonight my father and sister came over to be here in't morning to see my assessor

AND we went out for dinner again tonight and I had Aubergine with cous cous which was "not chewable" enough that I enjoyed it

Morning

So this morning first of all I had to take a taxi to the dentist. When he had finished taking my stump broken tooth out I had to take another taxi to the f***ing supermarket, then after shopping I had to take a third taxi home again

And earlier I couldn't be bothered reading on my 'puter, I think I needed distracting but now I can, my tooth is a bit better

Sleep is for the weak

So last night I had to get up at 3.10AM to stop the tumble dryer beeping 'cos it was finished. This morning I was up and dressed and put my splint on before 8 o'clock.

Nervous

I am slightly nervous now 'cos in't morning I get up, eat etc, go to the dentist in a taxi, have treatment, then get another taxi to supermarket, buy loads of food etc then come back here in another taxi

Shirt Crisis

I had a shower earlier and was putting on my shirt when one of the buttons came off. So I picked it up, went around to get another shirt out, got dressed etc,. Then I went asking for help, I said "Help" to some chap, he said "No, my Mummy does all sewing I need, no can do" then a woman came along so I asked her and she kindly sewed my shirt up. The chap has annoyed me with his sexist "Men shouldn't sew" talk, I was well capable before my accident

Walking

So I have just been out for a walk up and down the street and I noticed most of the time, except where there were metal bits on which I had to take care with my 'stick, most of the time I was walking as quickly with my right foot as I was with the left. And yes, I had to move my 'stick quicker than usual to keep up but I was definitely walking more 'evenly'

Tabs

Hoo-flippin'-ray, at last I figured out how to make new tabs appear how I want them. No Neil, not in the control panel like you have been looking for weeks, Tools->Options->Tabs it is in

Calendula

Duh, after a MOS seen it they said that the calendula that I bought last week is supposed to make your bath better so I went back online and bought some definitely ointment cream

Scared

So tomorrow I have booked a taxi to the dentist. From there I will book a taxi straight to the supermarket to do my weeks shopping. So I woke up s'morning and for some reason I thought I was waiting for my taxi from the dentist. And I thought I had forgotten to bring my bag of bags with me so I would need to either make a double taxi journey or buy a load more bags at Morrisons.
Luckily it was just a bad dream, but I had woken up first...

Sleep, or lack of

So last night it felt as if I looked at the clock every twenty minutes or so, but I don't feel too tired today so I must have slept some

Washing

So this morning I took the sheets off my bed and washed them. I had to get some assistance as I couldn't cope with the anti-allergy under sheet as it was very creased.

Breathing

I told my sister about my asthma attacks when wiping my poo off, she said "Ahhh", popped in the shop on the way back tonight and bought some adult kind of Baby Wipes. I thought "Yeah but..." but I have just been to the loo and used them to clean my bum. No Asthma attack.
How strange

Dinner

Then we went out and had dinner, and my big sister was saying how important todays meeting had been and how I am moving on

AND she said that she would have to come back on Monday night to meet my next official visitor who is coming to see me on Tuesday

Solicitor

Well the solicitor who was supposed to be here got stuck in a traffic jam where both sides of the motorway were stopped today, round about Newport, a fire in a tunnel. But his assistant came and we did a huge meeting where they talked about how I am getting better etc

And they talked about how I am gonna be having a lot less paid for by Leonard Cheshire carers pestering me, ATM I am supposed to have 28 hours per week in future I will have just 7 hours but lots of support workers paid for by me effectively who aren't necessarily attached to here

Chartered Physio

And she came and saw me s'morning. As she was testing me for the claim she had to try me right up until I failed with much stuff. Which was scary but I did much more than I thought I was capable of first IYSWIM
And she reminded me, I shattered my right Tibial Plateau which was before I was remembering stuff

Nervous

So I am very nervous over my visitors today but my Dad and my sister insisted that there is no need "Don't panic Neil" so...... I am still panicking but "Shhh, don't tell anyone"...

Sleep is for the weak

So I went to bed about 12.30 last night, woke up for the 3rd or 4th time at 7.30 s'morning so I gave up and blinkin' got up then

Waiting

So I am waiting for my sister to arrive in Cardiff airport, my father is there already....

And yes, they arrived, they seem more cheerful and positive than me but they remember how ill I was and how much better I am now, I don't

But I went out for dinner with them and I will see my father in't morning while my sister is interviewing Jackie then I will see her at lunchtime

New Strap

And the postman brought me a delivery today. A new ladies fine watch strap. As my neck was proving allergic to the strap of my caller I needed a new one, to fit somehow. And good lord, it does now

Water

I was in the back garden and I suddenly thought "Try the new water carrier". It was raining over the last 2 days so there should be summat in there. I was nervous but I reached down, turned the tap and loads of water came out. So I don't need to complain to anyone, it works!!

Watching The Weather

Now it has been raining all day here. I looked at online weather chart and it said that it would stop raining by 6.00 and then start later again. Now I needed to put my bins out tonight so at about ten to six I ventured outside with the bins. And good lord, it was stopping raining. About 3 small drops landed on my nose then no more

Tum Ti Tum

Dull day, it's raining

Walkies again

This morning I got up, dressed, had breakfast, washed my teeth and did mouthwash, then went outside and walked from one end of the street (touch wall at end) to the other (touch second wall)

Lord

What a knackering day. Firstly Denyse came round to chat for a bit then watch me shower. Which was very strange, speaking to a woman on the other side of the room while washing my bits etc, but we both managed. Phew. Then a new lady called Sarah came to see me. I think I was sort of interviewing her as my new Off Topic (or Occupational Therapist or summat they call themselves). I think it went reasonable well, she seems to share my twisted sense of humour and just generally comes from 'the right direction'. When they were leaving she said "See you later", I said "Alligator" then she replied "After a while crocodile". EG

Then just after they left Freya came to see me for her weekly visit but I felt too exhausted to properly do owt

More DVLA

So I got a letter said DVLA on the envelope s'morning. I gulped and opened it. It said "Come and be vision tested with this optician" so next Monday I have to phone them and make an appointment, then after my appointment fill in the form that was in the envelope and send it back to them

Fruit

So tonight for supper I had a banana, the first one that I remember eating in nearly 8 years. And what can I say, mmmm, I thoroughly enjoyed it, I recall why I used to enjoy 'em

Lavender Blue

And I complained a little today as both of the lavender oil that I ordered they are actually coming, I ordered 1 ages ago then it didn't come so I ordered another and today I was notified by both that they are coming. Then the MOS said "But you have some already, in your first aid box". Ah, oops, I had forgotten

Big Walk

So today I was looking at the path and asked a MOS to keep me company and catch me if I fell on the scary up and down bit but I managed to walk it OK. Then later without the MOS I went out, parked my wheelchair and walked from one end of the street to the other, and back.

Flooding

And as I had to wash out the small jam-pot before I put it in the recycling I was washing it under the tap. I thought "What's that noise?", looked down and the drainer had come off the sink so water was pouring out from below onto the kitchen floor. So I had to press the buzzer and shout "Help"

Monday Bloomin' Monday

So s'morning I went to the supermarket on the Dial-A-Ride bus again, I am still so impressed by it, it picks me up by my front door takes me to wherever I want and it's free. Anyway I got most of my shopping and some new mouthwash. I suspect you use it after you brush and it keeps your mouth germ free for hours. BUT after I got home was unpacking I realised that I forgot to buy lentils which I finished last week. I have got the rest of the ingredients waiting.... so I asked a MOS and he checked then said that a woman is taking a chap to Tesco later so she will be able to get me some. Phew
AND I found the ingredients for a Whiskey Mac too.....

And I bought a small pack of Bananas for myself, to try and break my addiction to sweets

And I bought a first course for me and Freya's dinner tomorrow

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Oh we have such fun......

Going Out

And I asked a MOS where a shop was in Carmarthen and she told me of a new development. She said "I must take you around and just show you the new places etc". So tomorrow she is gonna look at my diary with me and make a date

Mad

Well I had the maddest dream last night, luckily it was just my mind going mad as opposed to my life going madder

Lunchtime

At lunchtime today I had a cheese and salad cream like I have been addicted to for a number of years now, but before I put the second bit of bread on top I put on a little chilli sauce. Mmmm, it was delicious

New Skill

See this "read the instructions" thingie? Might be a bit old fashioned but because I did I figured out how to record sound without taking a photo on my camera. It might seem strange but I worked it out

OK, the instructions I read weren't an actual "piece of paper" but are stored on my 'puter as a .pdf file

At Least

At going there a Dial~A~Ride bus came and picked me up from my flat, took me to outside the door for free

Podiatrist

Then s'morning I went to Pond St Health Centre to..... dunno what, my GP had referred me, basically he cut my toenails and we talked about foot care.

Weird

So I was awake last night from 3.3x to about 7.2x. Then I dropped off. Woke up again at 8.2x but initially it felt much later

Book

And today my audio book copy of The God Of Small Things arrived. Except it was cheap because it is on 2 cassettes. Oh dear. In the cupboard under the stairs I had a tape player, that I couldn't life out. So I asked a MOS to help but then we discovered that no lead was attached. In about the 7th place I looked I found one. So hooray it works, I have listened to just side 1 so far, 3 more for tomorrow and the days after

Tai Chi

Well, it was a good class again, but I found it a bit frustrating as I needed to move my right arm loads. On one level my arm moves better than it did a few weeks ago, but on another (seems more urgent to me) it's f**ked.

(Weep)

And in the middle of this chaos my phone rang, I answered. It was Ruth said "Sorry, unexpected work, can't come and see you tonight" Tomorrow? I said "No, I'll be out at Medical Centre"

Hello

So this afternoon I went out my front door and I met a woman. She said "Neil, do you remember me?". I had to say "No who are you?". She pointed across the road at the rehab centre, said "Alex who works there, my son" Good lord yes, I recall now, so I had to stand up and give her a kiss on the cheek....

Dial~A~Ride

Good lord, Dial-A-Ride didn't phone me back today, I forgot to phone them until after 12.30 when they are officially closed. I phoned the number anyway and spoke to someone from the council, they said "He will contact you when he's back later". So I thought not looking promising for tomorrows trip to the Health Center so I'd better phone a Taxi. I had just finished that when he phoned me and said "Tomorrow and Monday is on". So I had to phone the Taxi back and say "Sorry, no need tomorrow"

Wheelchair Fixer

And the man came s'morning and replaced the broken stabilizer extra wheel on the back so hopefully I won't break one again

Cut It

And today I was making dinner and instead of my usual "straight edged" knife I used a serrated blade one and good lord but it was much easier to use, just sawing back and forward instead of just pushing down

Tai Chi today

And I woke up at 4 summat AM today and I don't think I dropped off again

I Got It Right

And tonight after reading more "how to" pages etc I tried a new webpage with sound on and it seems to work now, hoorah. OK it's not a very good practice page yet but at least it works now.

So does it work with different browsers etc?

Aah

And I was just getting the muesli out for my breakfast and I dropped it, so I had to clean up(*) before I ate breakfast

(*) Carpet sweeper, then hoover, then help from a MOS

Link

Then I had to explore and find out how to make links underlined in my blog but I think it was easier than last time to change stuff in there

Awww

Then Freya came to visit me. Eventually, as the bus drove straight past her with her hand out at the bus-stop so she had to get the next bus to Carmarthen then walk to here. So she arrived I started reheating dinner, the curry that I made yesterday, and we were both nearly finished when Moishe came to fetch her. With her 30 month old son who thought I was a right weirdo

Interviewing

Well we interviewed my support worker to be this afternoon. It was mental being on this side of the bridge as it were. He laughed at my jokes, told me that he was trying to tell his wife a joke off my blog last night. Dunno yet, but he seems reasonably sound. If "everyone" else agrees we will offer him a job

Healthy, Wealthy, Wise

So I woke up, and went to the loo, at about 7 this morning. I went back to bed then, lay there thinking "What time is it now?" then gave up and got up about 7.50 (sigh)

Thickener

And I put all my lentils in my curry and it was still way too runny, so I had to ask a MOS what to use. She said "Cornflour" and coincidentally someone else was heading to Tesco's so I have given him instructions

But I solved it alone, leave the lid off and boil it for a couple of hours.

I have some Cornflour to use next time

Walkies

Then I walked up and down the road then up and downhill too. Probably the longest walk on tarmac in nearly 8 years

But afterwards I had to take my asthma inhaler, the first time I have used it in memory

Up Again

(excited)Got up s'morning and thought "What to do?" then it dawned on me, Dial-A-Ride is coming in a couple of hours......(/e)

And it came, took me to town for free and was cheerful. A new hobby

Patience

I have been thinking about making a bottle of Sloe Gin myself, but I think I may be well to impatient, drink some gin and watch the Sloes rot

Out

And I was outside looking a bit pissed off(0.7) and a MOS came up to me and said "Ralph wants a drink with you" so I went into number 2 to see Ralph, who can't do owt for himself, the MOS needs to pick up his cuppa with a straw in and give it to him etc. A "drink", I was expecting coffee but me and Ralph shared a bottle of beer to start. Then we moved on to homemade Sloe Gin, and Tonic, which I had a couple of

(0.7) Because I was thinking about the relatives who had just driven past me on their way home from 'across the road' who were too upset to smile at me and wave back. It occurred how stressful it must be to have "someone you love" being ill enough to be over there, if it was my kids or a loved one or my parents I would scream

Tea

So I had a coffee s'morning and fancied another drink about 11ish. I went to make it then thought "No, Neil, you are drinking too much of that strong proper coffee" so instead I took out an organic tea bag and had a brew. With lunch I will have another coffee but it has been ages since I drunk tea, my new habit(?)

It's lunchtime so I can have another cup of that dangerous harmfull stuff called Coffee ~ phew

Weirdness

So I woke up s'morning was sitting on the edge of my bed putting on socks and splint etc and I thought "Oh urgently, need a piss, shall I walk to the bathroom or wait 'til I can take my 'chair?" decided to wait put on my splint etc and left my bed. Since then I have been outside for a bit, back in etc still haven't gone to the loo, I seem to have forgotten that I was desperate for a piss

And I didn't do one until I was sitting on the loo an hour later to do a pooh, it wasn't urgent, it just came out

Dinner

So for dinner tonight I looked in the bag of veggie sausages, there were 3 left. I usually have 2 with my dinner but I thought..... then decided, "No, don't be silly, you are supposed to be on a diet", got the bread knife out and cut one sausage in half. So I had 1.5 sausages with cous cous for tea

Learned

I think that today's "partly clickable" page will be the last one I need to do to remind myself as I thing that I now know what to do

How lucky we are

T'other day I was wondering why it is still cold even under a blue sky in Winter time. Eventually I rethought it out properly, it's to do with us being half an earth thickness or less away from the sun in Winter and being closer in Summer.

So aren't we lucky that the earth is not a bit further away from, or closer to, the sun

More Walking

So I did another "twice the length of the road" walk today pushing my wheelchair in front of me.

Aargh

I woke up thinking it was Monday morning today and I had stuff on. Eventually I realised it was still the weekend

Walkies

So I was out the front walking up and down outside with my 'stick. At the top of the slope coincidentally a MOS came past. So I stopped him and told him about how without my 'stick my left foot wouldn't go forward of my right when I walked but it would when I was walking with my 'stick. But a few days ago I tried it without my stick and I seem to have learnt/remembered, but I was too scared to walk without my stick when I was concentrating on moving my left foot, so would he walk next to me and catch me if I feel over.
I didn't fall over and I can now say definitely my left leg is remembering where it is supposed to be going when I swing it forward when I am walking

Then later I walked up my road pushing my 'chair to the end, back down to the other end, then back before sitting down

Phew

Yesterday my big Sis phoned. She was trying to sort out Lloyds TSB after I tried to change my password (for security reasons) and since then it hasn't let me see my accounts etc. So she had gone to see them, I was shitting myself, but she told 'em what had happened and they said sorry and fixed it. OK, I still can't see my bank account but they have had to change my account number that I use to get in etc and this is being posted out.

... And At 'Em

So I got up about 8 AM s'morning, having been up needing a piss only once since I went to bed at midnight

Excited

And in less than an hour I can go out to Tai Chi followed by the Folk Club.

Wow, Tai Chi was really strange as I am much too ill to be trying it but just carried on, it was good. We just stayed for the first half as we were going off to catch the end of "The Folk Club"'s monthly meeting, it was very impressive too

And I did the first 3/4 of the Tai Chi class without sitting down, it was, I think, the longest I have stood up doing stuff for nearly 8 years

I am

My brain is getting better!!!!

Sigh

Well today is proving dull as ditchwater. Nothing good or exciting will happen 'til tonight when I am first of all going to Tai Chi then to the folk club for it's monthly do

Eat

And I cooked a curry today from the veg I had bought on Monday and water and oil etc. When I went to lift it I had to put about 1/3 of it in a box for the freezer, I thought "Where has it all gone, why is it so little?". Then it occurred to me, "Ahhh, you forgot to put any lentils in, no wonder it's small, and no wonder I was worried that it was 'too runny' for ages"

Dial-A-Ride

I phoned Dial-A-Ride yesterday, booked transport from my flat to the supermarket next Monday. They phoned today said "No can do, later?" I talked some more and the Dial-A-Ride bus is booked to come here at 10 to 11 next Monday and take me to't supermarket. Taxi back, but "free" journey there

S'afternoon

And this afternoon I printed out loads of bits of paper with my name, address, phone numbers, email and web addresses to give to people that I remember from the Tai Chi class tomorrow

Nowt To Do

So now I have no "extra" stuff to do, nowhere to go etc.

But I was reminded it's Tai Chi once more tomorrow followed by a late trip to the folk club, it's monthly night is tomorrow

Then

Then Freya came over to see me and I was so tired that I could hardly speak to her, but it was still good to see her

What a Day

So s'morning my Case Worker came and took me to nearly Cardiff on the M4 where we went in to the headquarters of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and I was "interviewed" and I think I got the job, helping them out with loads of photos on a PC that needs cleaning up. I don't know anything for sure yet but it looks as if they wanted me, so now I am waiting for them to check loadsa stuff to enable me to work there, and we need to employ a support worker to take me there and support me while I am there. It felt really strange being interviewed again but it was worthwhile

And then we were in my flat talking about all kinds of serious stuff until it was nearly time for Freya to come and see me, all in all an exhausting day

Grown up book

Today the first part of my new book arrived. So now I can try reading a 'grown up book' instead of the 'children's books' which I started this being able to read a book again thing. I have only read the first chapter so far but it is enjoyable etc

And I was sitting outside under the light at midnight reading some more....

Bus

And I have just phoned to check and the bus is wheel-chair accessible this morning......

Aargh, and then it broke down and an unwheelchairable bus came. (sigh) In another 50 minutes there was a wheel chair friendly bus coming, only going into Carmarthen but.... Eventually we got on that bus, said "Please go to supermarket". He said "No can do but after this finishes in Carmarthen I drive to supermarket between runs and start the next run from there, so just stay on"

So we went to the supermarket on a bus, now I have done it once.....

Gosh I am knackered now, obviously I didn't have to do much but the excitement/nervousness....

Leighton

So I have arranged for a MOS to come on the bus with me tomorrow, his name is Leighton. Fairy nuff. Then it occurred to me Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, I went there on my way to Wales years ago in order to persuade a beautiful woman to move here with me, which she did

Shower

Had an early shower tonight as it was so quiet otherwise

Yes

It's Sunday today......

Watching Telly

Now I was watching this BBC iPlayer thingie again, I am a bit of a fan, but I ATM only watch programs that I recall from before my crash, how will I get to know modern telly?

Book

This morning I started reading another new book that arrived recently, it's called "Short And Shocking" after the stories within. The first story I enjoyed, lets hope the rest of the book is this entertaining

Out

So I went out to "play" last night, it was relatively busy but on reflection it was a Friday night.

I went there in my 'chair as I need to sit down and can't carry drinks while using my 'stick, but when I was there I parked at one end of the pub, stood up (with my 'stick) and walked thru the crowds to the loo at t'other end, came out and walked back to my 'chair

Busy

And I am busy ripping loads of CD stories that I ordered t'other day and they arrived today, I want to be able to click my PC and listen

C-ya Priory

Gosh, I feel exhausted from the hour or so of exercises I had earlier

Goodbye Priory

Well I had my last Physio at Priory Day Hospital s'morning. Gosh, it still hurt but was still good. My movements are still looking better than they were before and it still hurts trying to get better.

So for now I am finished, dunno what the future holds

RHS

So as usual the cuffs on both sleeves needed turning up before I put on my 'over shirt'. As usual I turned the right one up with my left hand easily, changed sides and was having difficulty with my right hand, as usual. Usually I try once or twice then buzz for a MOS to come and help me, we groan about how my right hand used to work etc. BUT TODAY I tried once to no avail, tried second time and it just worked, dunno if my right hand is getting more coordinated, stronger or what. But for the first time in nearly 8 years I did it with my right hand!!!

iPlayer

Well having had to download and install BBC iPlayer to let me watch that program with 2 Brain Injured chaps talking I tried downloading a couple of other comedy's which I watched 1 of earlier and I really liked it. Now my 'puter is set to switch the screen off every two minuted if I don't touch the keyboard/mouse but watching iPlayer I don't touch and it stays on, and goes back to "normal" switchy offness as soon as I stop watching programs

Last of, for now

And tomorrow I am going to Priory Day Hospital, which I haven't been to for a number of weeks, for the last Physio session, for this load of BoTox anyway

Tai Chi

And I am going to watch a Tai Chi class in a bit, to kind of see whether I should join it

Good lord, that can't be a marshall art, can it. But yes I am gonna join, wow that did me so much good, even if I could only do half of it for now but good lord, it was good. Fighting, nah, it's about making your energy flow...

And I knew half the "old hippies" who were there eg John who used to be my "landlord" at Happy Valley so next week I will have to take my contact details printed out so I can give them out

Bus Stop

Then s'morning I asked a MOS to accompany me to the bus stop to push me back uphill when I was returning. So on the way there I insisted that she didn't help me at all, as I won't have any help on't way to the bus stop in future. In future, for now, I will pay for my taxi on't way back as I will be struggling to carry a weeks shopping onto the bus. On the way home from the stop, the uphill section she still didn't need to push me, I managed it all by myself

S'evening

Gosh, I feel a bit..... summat after my DVLA interview today. I was really nervous about going at all, esp taking a taxi so far, but Denyse actually made that bit of the nervousness go away. I was just.... dunno, excited but in a bad way about it. After it is done I feel relieved. A lot pissed off that he couldn't answer me today but I kind of understand that too.

It's all done and dusted. Just waiting for an answer now

A Ride

Dial-a-Ride phoned me today and said "No can do on Monday" but there is a bus (running past the bus stop across the road) that can take wheelchairs and it is going to Morrisons supermarket on it's route to Carmarthen. So instead of Dial-a-Ride I will hopefully be getting a bus from over the road at 10.30 on Monday

S'morning

So s'morning I was taken, by Denyse (my case worker) over to see the DVLA doctor. He tested loads of movement and sight issues, I was actually surprised at how well I did moving, loads. My left eye can see straight well well enough but there is a bit of an issue with peripheral vision. When we were finished he said "DVLA will get my report, and from other folk they have asked about you, you should here from them in a few weeks". Apparently they can say "Yes", or "No" or "Go to Rochwood(?)" and be tested, they can fit various devices"

And he said "No, I can't tell u wether I think you have passed/failed, I am only a small section of their reading"

So ho-flipping-hum

Visitor

Then I had a few hours looking at Freya playing on my PC, but it was good to see her anyway

Tub

And after today I now have a rain water collection tub in my back garden. So if I grow some...... roses I will be able to water them from there

Gruntled

Strangely enough I don't feel disgruntled as much s'morning, so maybe they were talking sense