Quote

And yesterday when Timmy knocked the door I walked and answered it. He commented that I have never done that. Fairy nuff. It only occurred to me that usually I am too scared to walk until someone else has tightened my right boot, the one with the splint in

Much Warmer

And tonight being outside this late it is merely a bit chilli, not as cold as a very cold thing which it has been for 5 or 6 days

No Hands

And I am still working on this standing without helping by pushing with my hands as it is still improving so ..... hoo-flipping-ray

Shopping

Then we went out to Morrison's and bought half of the stuff that was on my list for Monday as I will be busy on Monday afternoon so I want it to be finished quickly on Monday

Lunch

And after our shopping trip today we went to the bakers and bought a cheese and onion pasty and a custard slice. Now I have known about cheese and onion pasties for 30 or 40 years but these Custard Slices, I have no memory of eating one before my accident but now I think mmmmm Why didn't I know?

Tim

So with Timmy today first of all we had to fix my electric toothbrush as it wasn't charging. Then Timmy was able to take his coat off. But he had to put it back on as we went shopping for body warmers as I don't wanna big coat on sometimes but it is too cold to just have my jumper on.

Then I came back, had a nap and now......

Skype

God. Talk about technology has gone mad. Well on the laptop which has a built in webcam you can "phone" other webcam onliners and talk to the real time moving image of them. Good lord, I feel out of date

Freya

Then Freya came round and had a quality just father and daughter hanging out day, I was well pleased

Swimming

So me and Small Paul went to the swimming pool this morning and had an excellent swimming and walking up and down the pool session. And I seem to have got a bit used to Paul being there and helping me dry etc, it seems less embarrassing today

Then after we went swimming we stopped and had a sandwich for lunch in the café there. I parked my chair at the table, walked to the counter, ordered my food and carried my tray back. On my own two feet

Freestanding

And I have noticed recently, from my wheelchair, the loo, seats in class etc that I seem to be able to stand up most of the time without using my hands to pull me too

Less Nap

And as I was nervous because Toby had told me he would be here at 4 PM, and I couldn't nap 'til 3.20, I only had a 20 minute nap today

And it is now 11.10 and I am still up

After midnight still up now

Cooking

Then I cooked the dinner from the lentils, the veg selection I bought yesterday and the leek that I picked from my garden t'other day

Singing

Then eventually Ed gave me a copy of the video that he had been working on for a couple of weeks, so at last I have a video of me singing

After lunch

So then after lunch we went to the gym where I was alone with Samantha again. It went well and she was telling me, and I could see it myself, how much better I am getting and how ½ the exercises that we do are irrelevant as I should concentrate on some

Ed-ding

So Ed-ding came here this morning and did stuff on Laptop for ages, this afternoon we are going back to gym, so....

FC

And then we actually made it to the folk club tonight which was rather excellent and we are actually going back there on Sunday to watch the rugby and then the band that are playing

Busy

So today me and Tim(my) went out the back and looked at my veg patch and picked some organic leeks from there

Then me and him went to...... shh.... Tesco's in order to buy some ingredients so tomorrow I shall be cooking vegetable stew in a saucepan. With my leek

OT

Then Sarah The Occupational Therapist came round. First of all she was videoing me doing the nine peg test, then I had to do it with both hands 3 times and counted etc. Then she talked about my shoulder and the restrictions of movement and how I need to buy some sponges and use them to clean my cupboards etc

Noisy link

Tim(my)

So Tim(my) came round this morning. He fixed the loo roll holder to make it more upright, took me to the shop and bought Toby a loada food, delivered it to his house, did some paperwoprk etc

Freezin'

After it was minus 1 at half past 6 tonight it is flippin' freezin outside tonight

Busy #7

Then that chap Toby came round, he seemed cheerful and well, and didn't owe people his giro on Tuesday so hopefully.....

Busy #6

Then I just had time for a nap before next thing

Busy #5

So after lunch we fitted my new loo roll holder on the rail that's in my bathroom being careful not to drill any of the bits that were there

Busy #4

Then we went to Gregg's Bakery and parked outside, then I walked in on my own two feet and bought a pasty and a custard slice for lunch which we then came home to eat

Busy #3

Then we went to Wilkinsons and tried to buy a bog roll holder, either free standing or to attach to the rail next to my loo. No avail so we went to B&Q to try and buy the bits to make one. Eventually we found 'em and bought them

Busy #2

Then we went to the gym again. For a start I had my pet rude parrot with me to brighten up their day, and secondly I think it is doing me some good. They seem to think that my attitude has changed for the better

Busy #1

Then first thing this morning I couldn't get onto LloydsTSB but after much Pauling I got it sorted and was able to check my balance and transfer cash again

Dropless

After the weather forecast was saying "Be scared, snowy" I went outside my front door s'morning and it is cold but snowless. In fact there is a motorbike sitting outside my flat which wasn't here yesterday.

Stay At Home

So tonight as Paul was snowed in Pembroke we decided not to go anywhere to the Folk Club. But no snow here, no more there, so lets hope it's OK by the morning.

But we drove down the road to the pub

Exploring

Then we went out exploring as I was bored s'afternoon. We went and had a look round another supermarket. Good lord, I won't be going back there, it was nearly all chocolate and booze

So next time it is Aldi that I need to look around

Shopping

And as usual on a Monday we went to (More Reason's To Shop At) Morrison's to buy some of my weeks food. For the second week I was pushed in in my 'chair, got thru the gates and stood up and walked everywhere all around the shop, thru the till, put my shopping in bags, paid for it still on my own two feet, walked out of the shop before I sat down again

link noisy

Grr

And "someone" had contacted the folk that own my property today and asked 'em to take the covers off the radiators so I could dry clothes on there. They said "Yes, no problem" but I have to pay for a technician to do it as 'my staff' aren't allowed and I can't manage by myself

So the next morning I discovered in Argos 4x2 legged clothes driers for a fiver, so I bought them instead of paying 40 quid for someone to come and undo them

Early

And early this morning Toby came round to print off some copies of his CV. He still plans to go back to college in September but he is really bored now, so looking for work

Centre Clicking

(This is to learn about this, a reminder to myself)

So if I am clicking on a link that I want Google Chrome to open in a new window then I will centre click it with the roller that I generally ignore the rest of the time.

Because I can't find a way to make chrome always open new pages in a new window. Any Clues?

Tra la la

So Edding came in at 10AM today as this is the first of my seven day weeks of support. Mmmm, but I may want/need a day off occasionally. What will I do on my days off? OK fairy nuff but it just feels a bit too much at pres

And we arent gonna to go to the afternoon folk club today as again 3½ folk clubs per week is too much

Later

So we set off to town to buy some more carrying bags then we went into the Wilkinsons cafe and had a sandwich for lunch. Which was nice but was more expensive than the 2 bags we got

When we went into shop we went to the desk and said "Where's this", showed 'em a bag and they didn't even say "Aisle 18" they said "Wait here" and went and got 'em for us. I must be special today

I also bought some Tiger Balm in the quid shop as it is supposed to help you relax etc

Witty Abbreviations

So as I told Ed that Tim's name was Timmy I had decided that his name was Edding so what was Paul's extension to be. He thought for a bit then said "Paulsmall" so now everyone in my direct team has an extension.

Denyse should be? ScaryDenyse?

Ding

So s'morning Ed(ding) came here and said that someone will be here every day from 10AM. Hoo-flipping-ray. Yes I like having assistance but I need some free time, the odd day off, too

Freya

And then I had dinner with that Freya and it went well, our relationship seems to be getting better week by week. Some of it is her behaving better but also my grumpinedd/temper/stroppiness is improving and she appreciates that.
(noisy link)

And she also appreciated the delicious dinner that I made for her

'Wimming

So Paul came in s'morning, gossiped for a bit while my hangover from last night went away then we went to the swimming pool in Carmarthen that I have paid for with gym. It was strange, obviously I am getting better as even I could see it there

Yakki

Da. Ho hum

Gymming

Then this afternoon I went to the gym for the first of my prepaid sessions. It went very well, Sam was there doing stuff and this week I wasn't alone, a stroke sufferer was struggling on with me. Sam said that I was so much better than a year ago, I dunno, I can't see it, but she said "You didn't used to be able...." etc. And twice I was able to distract her which was nice

Half Fixed

And the wheelchair mending chap came out s'morning. He replaced the 2 front wheels so it feels a lot better, steerable etc, now. But when he was here last writing up what parts to order he wrote carefully back canvas. But they misread that and sent a cushion cover front/bottom canvas.

Sigh

So next time I see him he will have the proper bit to replace the broken bit

Then b4 lunch we went to Morrison's where I got some Tomato Salsa and Guachamole so I will be able to prepare some delicious dinner for Freya tomorrow, she really liked it last time I made it so hopefully she will grin and help me tomorrow

Folking

And I had a dinner slightly too soon tonight for my teeth as we were going to Llanelli for a Folk Club which was good tonight

But my teeth are better now, and feel a bit strange, like proper teeth they feel, which they haven't for some years now

Dentist

And we went to the dentist and finished off my course of treatment today. It didn't hurt too much but some. My ragged fillings on my front teeth are now properly smooth etc.

And if I pick my nose it is numb too.

So I have an appointment with the hygenist in four months which will be free as I now have a Denplan direct debit set up as the NHS doesn't seem to hold any competent dentists now

Busy

So s'morning Tim(my) was with me, firstly we went to the Docs surgery and picked up my script for asthma medecine, then we went to the chemist that's nearby and got my inhalers.

Then we went to Argos and bought a "clothes airer" that's bigger than the one I own already so hopefully I can outsmart the expensive and global warming tumble drier

Toby

But at least Toby came round for his half of delicious dinner tonight although I hardly saw him, I was so busy preparing it and cleaning up afterwards

And he said "Mmmmmm"

More Stuff To Talk About

Then shortly after I had got rid of one serious converser Denyse phoned me and said "I need to hand this report in by the end of December(#), may I ask you....."

(#) Late with permission as she was mid house move recently

Off Topic

Then Sarah the Occupational Therapist came to see me and instructed me making some delicious food, Refried Bean Quesadillas, to sharer with Toby. Which were delicious but a bit hard to eat with one and a half hands.

Then we talked a lot about me, my attitude and what I am learning. She said that next week we won't be cooking but she will concentrate on my right arm

Gymless

And I had no gym today, all the staff that know me were away

He's Back

And the road was open again so Paul was able to come here today....

Hooray

We talked a bit s'morning and he is cleaning the bathroom now, we need to nip to shop later then be back when Sarah OT comes to do some cooking. Then Toby is coming and he will hopefully like what we cook

Traffic Jam

And we are not going to the Folk Club tonight, not even going to the local pub as there has been a major accident and the main road is closed

And I did go to my local pub with Ed (Paul was still stuck in traffic trying to get here) pushing me there and back. There was loadsa cars queuing one way only both there and back

It seems pretty bad too, now

On My Own Two Feet

So Ed came round some hours after I had woken up today we talked for a bit then went to t'supermarket. There I was pushed through the automatic barriers then stood up and walked round the s'market. I had to sit in my wheelchair briefly after that when I was trying to decipher the bumf on the back of a packet. Then I stood up again, before we had moved and walked to do the rest of my shopping, queued for the til on my own two feet and walked the rest of the way to the door of the shop.

So I walked all around the supermarket today

'Noon

Very strange, the afternoon folk club then we picked up Toby and took him out for dinner on't way home

Dull Quiet Morning

No MOS this morning until I am being taken out s'afternoon

Walkies Shop

And it occurs to me that when we nipped to (More Reason To Shop At) Morrison's (noisy) yesterday I was doing the walk everywhere in't shop thingy, as we got in the door I stood up, pushed my trolley until we went back out through said door

Evening

Here I am sitting..... all alone..... bored......

Before Lunch

So we were on the way to St Clears and I thought "We are a bit early", headed up to Whitland, tried to find the farm I used to work for then headed out t'other side of Whitland, that I don't really know but WOW what a drive from there to lunch break. We passed a wind farm which produces enough energy for a small town, a castle and the most environmentally friendly house in the UK which I can't find a link for. He is, when his house is finished, not going to have any 'leccy bills (solar panels) no heating bills (dug down enough, warms up automatically). He might have a phone/internet bill but selling 'leccy from his panels should cover that

Lunch

So for lunch today Timmy said "Where you wanna eat, in or out?" so I said "Out but somewhere new" and he thought for a minute then suggested a place in St Clears which I was astonished and really pleased to find. For a start the food was very delicious (including the dressing on the delicious side salad) but most of the ingredients were organic. My kind of place

And after such a lovely lunch I am still not hungry at dinner time. I just had a pie, no oven chips with it for tea

Local Food

And I was in Waverley Stores last night, where I buy my veg and I was able to ask "the boss" if their veg was local as well as organic. She said "Yes" obviously eg bananas aren't local but they specify that everything has to be as local as possible.

Visitor

Then we brought Freya back with us and we had a lovely few hours.

And she elbowed her way in and made dinner for us. I had to chop up some veg but she did the rest

And when I said "Whaddaya want?" in't shop she bought some Soya organic pretend yoghurt things which were very nice

But I lost at cards today

Waverley

Then as Paul mentioned today as Freya was meeting us at Waverley stores again I had better leave it there on my timetable and not move it to Saturday as I had planned

Optical

Then we went to the opticians. He tested me loads, both eyes. Basically I am slightly short sighted on my left eye but there is no point giving me glasses which will sit on the shelf as I don't need to drive and he mentioned how it will actually help me seeing the Computer and my Kindle. My right eye is long sighted but as it is usually under a black thingy there's no point being concerned. And he said continue wearing the black thingy to prevent double vision

Practice

So me and Paul after some conversation went around town so we can find the optician that we need to go to soon.

After finding it etc we went to Gregg's Bakers and there Paul said to me "If you walk in here I will buy your lunch". So I did

Napless

So I didn't have time to have a nap today as I was busy all afternoon, but not it's 10.30ish and while I feel tired it's not too tired

But with respect I functioned OK last night but I still didn't sleep much last night (I was up b4 my alarm clock went off s'morning)

Kindling

As I finished my book last night I have moved onto the first of my books that Sam sent me, the first of the Harry Potter. And good lord, it is exciting already

Bored

And as Ed was here working today and I am scheduled for a shower tonight I got bored waiting for my hair to grow and had him cut it

Exhausted

Then I went to the Gym for my twice weekly session, although I missed last Tuesday. It went well, she was working me hard but still being distractable until Ed would tell us both off. Afterwards I filled in the forms to pay my new membership by direct debit which was a bit scary but it's done now

Ed-ding

So this morning Ed came in, we sat around talking nonsense for an hour then we went to The Coop at Cross Hands to meet up with Charles Evan who coordinates work at The Woodlands at Carmel. He bought us a cuppa to pay us back and discussed work we are doing and future projects

Wibble

And at the folk club tonight they ran out of whiskey macs and after 2 I had to go back round to drinking Guinness

Dating

So when I was having a look around in't shop earlier I saw a bargain box of dates. So I looked at 'em for a bit, thought "I used to like these but I haven't tasted any for nearly 9 years" but bought them to try.

WOW

How nice are dates?

OT

Then Sarah the OT came round. First of all I went to Morrison's to practice walking behind my trolley and we realised/decided that every time I go shopping there I will walk pushing my trolley. I will at first be followed by someone pushing my wheelchair so I can rest periodically.

Then we talked about loadsa stuff, generally about practising more walking

Dentist

So s'morning Timmy came in, we spent half an hour doing my homework for Sarah OT who is coming in thuisd afternoon then he took me to the dentist which wasn't too bad, I just had to see the hygienist today and she said that my teeth looked much better recently, suggested I spend longer flossing the back LHS and suggested I change the size of my flossers. Then we went to the shop, bought tooth care products then came home

Dinner

So for dinner tonight I made a veggie burger thingy which I would usually have with oven chips but today I decided that as I am slimming just 2 pieces of bread to make a sandwich would be more slimming. So dunno, but I hope so

Looks like I might be right

Freezer

Then tonight I was gonna cook my dinner, I opened the freezer and reached for the top drawer. It wouldn't open, it was stuck. I strugled with it for 2 or 3 minutes, still no joy. So I pressed "emergency call" and asked for some help. He said "10 minutes, is that OK?", eventually arrived and tried to open it.

No joy, he struggled, got the big knife that I had tried, still no joy. About 7 minutes later he finally got it open and turned over the packet that was jamming it

TOO Busy Then

So then this afternoon Paul and Denyse came round to tell me what they had been talking about in their meeting about me and then there was a knock on the door and it was that Toby chap coming for his weekly visit early as he had plans for tonight. I think next time he comes early it would be fine but as Denyse was here having a meeting it was a bit strange. Afterwards we took him to Waitrose and spent loadsa on food but I wouldn't buy him f*gs

Ultra Decadent

So because there is no MOS coming here s'morning so my alarm clock was set for 8.45 as usual when it went off (I forgot to switch it off last night) I reached out, pressed off and nodded off again until 10AM

Out

So tonight me and Ed and Paul (because someone was learning about "me") to Burry Port Folk Club and had fun. Again it didn't seem "the usual" people singing so.....

and it seemed reasonably quiet tonight too

Ed-ding

So Ed came in s'morning, made my bed (I had unmade it and washed it), did some paperwork then took me to Morrison's to do a little shopping. This afternoon after my nap we will go out exploring a bit then he is scheduled to stay and go to the Folk Club with me tonight. Oh hoo-flipping-ray. A Folk Club yesterday afternoon then a different one tonight - what fun

Napless

So after no nap today I have done all I needed to tonight but I am going to bed about an hour earlier than usual

Folky

So I said "Don't wanna go to Folk Club today, don't wanna eat", he said "No need Neil" so I went and it was excellent. It seems like a different crowd than is around Carmarthen and I re-broadened my views today

And someone performed this, which I thought was amusing too

And as we picked up Toby and gave him a lift home on the way back I couldn't have a nap like I had planned

No Underline Links

And last night I found out a way to put the name for the links without an underline bit for the 4 links at the top of my webpage to make them look a bit tidier against the picture below them

Up

And I am still up as no MOS is coming here 'til 2pm tomorrow

And I had a lie in s'morning, it was ......9.30 before I got up. Decadent

Phew

And phew, for the first time in 2 or 3 days I have finally found the bit to make Google answers to open in a new page, like I want, like I used to have.

Afternoon

So at midday, before lunchtime, we headed to Cardiff to the cycling place to do another hours cycling. It was good but just not worth the travelling time at all.

On the way there we stopped at services for lunch, I had a brie and onion panini, which wasn't as nice as a much cheaper cheese and onion pasty which they didn't sell

Morning

So I had the morning with Ed, dunno what we did, I read more on my Kindle, talked about swimming yesterday, not much else.

Oh he managed to tell me how to fix the bit on my webpage which every time I loaded the program it said "Broken"

Wiv My Daughter

Then today that Freya came over. She had pie and cous-cous whereas I only had cous-cous as I had had such a big lunch after my swim. Amongst Freya's baggage was a beautiful container that she had made at school. Also I beat them, Freya and Paul, outrageously at a game of cheat that we played with cards

'Wimming

First thing s'morning Paul was here talking nonsense with me

Then later me and Paul went swimming. Gosh, it felt better already. Paul asked me if I had done some magic exercises over Christmas, I was looking better. And I could handle being out of my depth too. AND when walking only 1 step that I took my right foot tried to tern over. A mixture of concentration and good luck seemed to keep me foot correct

As Paul said today was the best session we have ever had in the pool

Chrome

And suddenly tonight all the pics on my website were half sized and some of the txt was grey and tiny on Chrome but not on Mozilla, I couldn't find any way of fixing it. So I tried to download Google Chrome again but it said the version on your PC is newer than this one so no, so I had to delete Chrome (untick the boxes "Shall we forget everything"), then reinstall it and thankfully it seems as good as yesterday.

Thursday

Well Ed was in today. He spent most of the day saying "What's wrong?" but perhaps I was grumpier than usual. Later s'morning we went to a charity shop in town and dropped off my old bedside clock (radioless) and a set of sort of lace thingies, to tighten your shoes withiout pulling, that didn't get used

After lunch we went to the gym where today I had Sam to myself, the other 6 folk who were there t'other day weren't here today

And today we had to say to her that I had got a letter of someone who wanted us to come over there next week at 9.30AM to tell me how well I was etc but she said "Don't worry, I will contact them and tell them no need"

And I kind of broke it to them that when my cheap membership runs out next weekend I will stop coming. They all tried to say otherwise but dunno

Weary

And we had an excellent FC tonight, it seemed really good

OT

Then later Sarah the OT came to see me. We talked loads about new pathways in the brain after an injury so we can function. Also we talked about tone and how it is important to multi task so not to forget and put my right hand twisted while walking.

Next week we are gonna go and buy some blueberries at Morrisons and she will assess how I am walking etc

Shopping Twice

So today me and Timmy went out shopping for a new clock radio for next to my bed so I can listen to R4 in bed eg. First of all we went to Curry's and bought one, brought it back, plugged it in but it sounded sh*t, so we had to take it back. Then we went to Tesco's and got a much dearer digital clock radio so now I can listen to R4 in bed

New Library

So today that Toby chap came around first of all we took him out then we took him to the library where he learned a bit about using one, and after a few minute looking around was able to borrow 3 books

Then we went out and had a dinner in Pizza Hut which was delicious and I am trying not to make too much fuss about price ATM

Gym

So today I was back at the gym with Becky and Sam - this time I was in a class which felt a bit strange but went well. I was walking about the classroom without my stick and I had to do a fair distance

Timetable

And I was just about to go to bed tonight when I realised that "he" had done next months timetable so I had to write that all in, making a note of any queries before snooze

Headway

So we went to Headway meeting and it was as useless as usual, but as I said I want to climb and abseiling with them I'd better not leave too soon.

Then afterwards me and Paul went to the Stag and Pheasant pub which was noisy with people watching football, there I had a pint of bitter then was looking at all the shorts I couldn't decide so I asked "her"(*) for some advice and she suggested a Jagermeister which was wow and lovely but I drank it in about 15 seconds

(*) Who works across the road for Leonard Cheshire too

Rogering

So this afternoon Roger Weddell came down to talk to me again, he is some kind of psychobabbler that got in touch with me at Headway so I answered his loadsa questions and pocketed his cheque(1) for answering

(1) How old fashioned!!

Visitor

And after me and Ed had gone shopping that Toby chap came around to return the 3 books he borrowed last week and borrow a few more as he had finished them. He seemed cheerful and cool and went off after about an hour

And I think I might have to introduce him to the library as he needs free books etc

Wiv Ed

So Ed came round s'morning when I was still eating my breakfast as I had been on't phone to Lloyds TSB first to sort out my debit card but all is well now