Neighbours

Gosh, I can't wait to see one of my female new neighbours, hopefully with said chap attached, when I see them I will say "Gosh, god said 'Love thy neighbour, wow, I think I might have it easy'"

Busy Day

Gosh then we nipped out and it started being well busy etc. First of all we went to the mobility place in Carmarthen to get a new loo seat but we got there at about 12.15 and the sign said "Closing at 12 on Saturday"

Then we went to Curry's to buy a selection of phones for the new place, every room shall have 1, all linked to the same land line but if someone in room 1 wants to speak to room 2 they simply press 2 and it rings differently, just in room 2

Then we loaded Paul's van up and headed back to Herbie The House with another load. Then we came back here for lunch.

Then we loaded more in the van and went to Herbie via a curtain shop where we were able to buy white blackout things to make my curtains work etc and we also nipped into Tesco's and bought some more effective Hayfever remedy. At last we went back to Herbie with a load of bits from the kitchen etc and made up the spare bed for the first time with the duvets etc we bought last night and today

In The Sky With Diamonds

This morning Paul said "We need to go and buy a Lucy..."

"A Lucy?" I said

A "Loo seat" he repeated

Hidden

And when I woke up s'morning I had a song going thru my head...

"Ooooh weeeeee ooooooh,
the brighter the stars in disguise...."

They must be hidden...

Weary 27

Aargh, then after buying stuff we came here and faffed for a bit then went out to Tesco again looking for more furniture for my new house to no avail, then went to Waverley stores and did shopping and met up with Freya, who we took out for dinner as my head is in bits mid move, then we took her over to Herbie where her and Paul spent hours putting together new desks and unwrapped a new filing cabinet etc

Busy

Then after shopping that Toby chap had to come and move some heavy furniture with us

More Shopping

Good lord, this morning we were off buying more furniture and then we came back here and loaded a wardrobe from here too, so the van is looking a bit full ATM

(sent from my phone, please CC hippyweb at btinternet.com too)

Cleverer

That Sam has just emailed me, he got a first in his degree, so phd seems to be calling.......

Nooneraft

What an afternoon. First of all I went to gym where it was really strange talking to stroke victims who are a lot less mobile than me about how I used to be a lot less mobile then they are now, but just keep at it. I did and look how well I am now.

Then we nipped to supermarket, bought some blueberries and salad and a pint of milk to leave in my bungalow because we were going there to wait, so we may as well have a brew

THEN the representative of the bath lift supplier was coming out to try one in my bath, rather he was coming to fit one and let me try it. Just good lord, I immediately bought one off him and want to use it

Morning

So s'morning we have creamed my feet, tried to set up a mail redirection service with Royal Mail which refuses to accept my card so a bit stuck. Ed is currently in the garden trying to beat the melted plastic off the rest of my oven

And he has just about finished nearly all the plastic is off, about 98% so not too bad. As I will be leaving here in about a week I am not too bothered

Pi##ing

So here I am sitting in a Folk Club tonight, it is about 10.50 and I haven't had a piss since I left my house hours ago

(sent from my phone, please CC hippyweb at btinternet.com too)

Oven Crisis

So tonight I switched on't oven and want to bed for ½ on hour to nap. Got up, opened the oven to put food in and UGH. It looks like a small piece of plastic was sitting on the top shelf and had melted and dripped down making a stuck-on mess on all the shelve and a bigger mess of the bottom.

More Purchasing

Then later today we went and tried out a Bath-Lift which seemed really comfortable, but he is bringing it to my new home to try tomorrow afternoon, then we will decide yeah or nay

And we bought a posh armchair too, it raises electrically etc

Meeting

So there is no-one here to look after me s'morning as they are all having a meeting "about me". They will be here after lunch

What An Afternoon

So after lunch we went to Leekes of Cross Hands and nearly bought a table and chairs, then at the last minute we walked over to Happy Home Furnishers which was a bit cheaper and nicer and there we spent far too many pounds on a lovely table and chairs which we then loaded in the back of Paul's van and then came home for my nap, while I had my nap Paul and Dicky (my new MOS) took them to my bungalow. Then we met up with Toby and I said "Too mad, lets go out to eat" so then we went to Frankie and Bennys where I was again sitting down in a proper chair to eat, then we went back to Herbie and made up the table and chairs which looks beautiful through the window on the way out

Standing Up

Then at gym s'morning I was doing my stand up from a chair. Today I tried it, for the first time in 9 years, I tried to stand up from the low down chair, without a cushion. First time I failed, but every time afterwards I succeeded. I could stand up properly. They are called sit to stand

(Sent from my phone)

Pi#sing

So tonight out at folk club I only needed one p#ss tonight before we left. And my p*ss is still white healthy colour

(Sent from my phone)

Folking

Dunno what to say, another good evening with a variety of singers/musicians

(Sent from my phone)

Walkies

So on the way to somewhere else tonight we stopped off at Morison's to buy a packet of oats to make summat with Toby tomorrow. I wheelchaired thru the gates then stood up and walked, to the middle of the shop, turn left and walk 4 aisles, turn right walk to the end. Pick up your goods and return. I got about 1/2 way back and asked for my wheelchair for a sit. Sat still until rested, stood up and walked rest of way to till. My walking is improving

(Sent from my phone)

Nooneraft

And this afternoon we hung about, didn't do much. I had a haircut followed by a shower followed by a nap so I was actually drier than usual when I got dressed later.

Really we are filling time now, after dinner we are going out Folk Clubbing again

Expensive Shoppping

Lordy that was an expensive shopping trip. Not only did I need my usual items I also needed toothbrush heads, tooth paste, floss and washing powder

(Sent from my phone)

Trial

Last trial of the night now....


(Sent from my phone)

Sometimes

So sometimes I send an email to da.hippo21.(CODEWORD)@blogger.com and it has gone thru all night but not first time I tried or the last. So????

So it does work now?

OK Neil, sent as an email from ur phone and it HAS worked.


VBG


(Sent from my phone)

Work?

What a day... my head is full of bits about moving etc and Toby and Freya met up with me earlier for lunch (and to give me presents) but my heart was elsewhere

(phone)

Father's Day

So Ed came in and did my feet s'morning, later Toby and Freya are coming over to wish me happy fathers day and let me buy them a lunch

And it was lovely, me, Toby and Freya sitting at a table together, (no wheelchair involved) and Ed was sitting across the way by himself, it was excellent. I was a bit nervous being out with both of them but it was fine. They were interesting companions and didn't row. Much!!

Bed Making

After my feet me and Ed went over to my new bungalow and put together the single bed, for the staff room. Gosh there were only 8 little bolts screwed into the corners but it seems really solid.

After lunch we will head back and do the double spare bed

Which we did, good lord but it is starting to look like a home!!

Lordy, lordy, lordy

What a manic day it has been.

First of all Paul came round and did my feet, then we experimented with some strange steps up to the van to enable me to get in, then we went and bought some beds (and unrolled the mattresses) then nipped home for some lunch. After lunch we went back out this time to Curries which Paul had phoned s'morning and said "Don't deliver Wednesday, we will pick 'em up today". First of all we contacted that Toby chap and said "Can we have a lift", picked him up on the way then delivered my fridge, fridge freezer and washer/drier

Then I met Freya but she didn't have time to come to mine as the Girl Guides were going out somewhere so we had to go to that McDonald's for dinner then drop her off very soon

Lordy

Good lord, what a strange day it has been. S'morning I got my phone back, then went to gyn, and ever since I have been trying to relearn my phone. It is so different than before (eg sending blog posts by email now) but currently I have relearned 50-60% of it

New method

So does this work, sending an email from my mob?

Sent from my Nokia phone

And it did work, so I can fill in Blogging if I am out and about. :)

Sent from my PC

Gymming

Then we went to gym. We couldn't get upstairs because the lift was broken so we, in the end, had 3/4 of a session in the squash court. What fun it was again.

Afterwards we nipped over to check out the width of summat at my new bungalow

Phone

So first thing s'morning I received a txt then a phone call saying that my phone is back so (HOORAY) but I am getting used to all the updates etc. But it was fixed for free

Because I pay monthly insurance

What Fun

So then I had a good time at Folky Clubby. Initially there was only "us" there but as the night went on it got better

Out&About

Then this afternoon we had to go to Curry's and say "Don't deliver Wednesday as no support will be given" can u come after 10AM (We told 'em why) on Tuesday.

Then we went to Dream's and checked out the beds that hopefully we will be buying from there next Tuesday.

Then we nipped into Morrison's and bought more salad and blueberries

Sian Evans

So s'morning my new Social Worker came to see me, she seems OK but I slightly resent needing support like this

Chiropodist

So this morning I was in the loo having a pooh when my BT phone rang. I couldn't answer it then my mobile rang. I couldn't figure out how to switch the call on so someone then left a voice message which I can't get back because it is not my proper phone. I looked on "missed calls" it said "Chiropodist" so I phoned her, she didn't answer so I left a message. She phoned me back 10 minutes later and agreed to come in 10 minutes as tomorrow she can't come, that was my original appointment but she needs to speak to a doctor instead of coming out tomorrow

Ybot

Then I had that Toby chap down for tea. He cooked us some Naan Bread Pizzas which he has done before but I can't think about diet and teaching him to cook etc ATM, but it was delicious tonight

Gym

And I had to go back to't gym where I had as much fun as usual.

I seem to be becoming an inspiration to some members of my class, it is possible to get better....

Brew

Then I was making a cuppa coffee s'morning. I "boiled" the kettle then let it cool while I was getting my cereal. I forgot that on my new, posh, kettle it doesn't "boil" so hot

Not So Weary Now

And I got up s'morning 3/4 of an hour before my alarm went off s'morning so, at a guess, I am better, rested now

Weary

Gosh, so s'morning I had to go and 1 ) Take my phone back to the shop to get it fixed (a), 2) Get some shopping in Waitrose and 3 ) Get the rest of it from Morrison's. Yesterday afternoon we went out and bought the white goods, fridge etc, for my new house, they do not need to be delivered quickly so they will deliver them free next Wednesday. Then I had to spend some hours putting my pics from Belfast on my website. I have done so much and I only had ½ a nights sleep last night so I decided not to go out Folk Clubbing tonight

(a) So I am currently using a loan phone which seems really strange, no interweb

Home Again

Well so today was spent at my Mum and Dads house as we needed to leave the hotel early and we didn't set off for Wales until nearly dinner time. Eventful trip but it is now really late and I am home in Wales again

Last Night

Good lord, so last night I met up with Stephanie and Floyd, the Cool Person (Rajesh). I haven't seen Steph for 8 years and she commented on how much better I was, able to hold a conversation now whereas last time she spoke to my Mum and I could only chip in. Rajesh I haven't seen for 25 years so..... It was excellent to see then both and catch up

What A Day #27

Well, what a day.

First of all s'morning me and Paul went shopping in the middle of Belfast. Gosh, you didn't used to be able to drive there, there were security barriers all over it but now just a confusing one way system. Anyway we bought a Leprechaun for Pauls 6 yo son.

Then after that we met up with my parents and stayed in their house and ate loads.

Then we went to my Auntie Dorothy's house and spoke to her for ages. 1) She was impressed with how much better I am and 2) We looked at photos of her daughter getting married, in my head Claire was still about 15 but she is married with 3 little 'uns now

Dinner

So for dinner tonight we just ate here, so Paul sloped off, left me with Mum and Dad and Gareth. We sat around for a bit then were joined by David and Nora. So we sat down at dinner table, ordered drinks and said "Give us 5 minutes longer to choose food" then another waiter came to our table and said "Bottle of champagne from Rajesh RanaS the friend I havent seen for 25 years but am seeing tomorrow. Then we had a delicous dinner and drank another bottle of champagne with Dads birthday cake

I can't cope

Lordy what a day. My father drove us to his housw s'morning in his car. While we were there he went and fetched my Auntie Margaret and Uncle Hubert from their house to see me, they haven
t seen me since b4 my accident so it was a bit strange. After they were taken back I was pushed along to see the house I lived in until I was 11 and 2 or 3 streets up the much bigger house my parents lived in until after I left Belfasr

Snory

Lordy, apparently I snore. (According to underslept Paul)

Breakfasty

So here we are upstairs (OK, up in the lift) in the hotel having breakfast

Belfast

Lordy, we are sat in our hotel have just had tea with my parent's, Gareth, Paul.

Swelling

when SmallPaul was measuring my leg s'morning he looked at my left leg and said "Ohh, smaller", measured it and it was 2cm smaller than it has been for a week

Poohing Myself

I am flying to Belfast today.....

Early

So I thought an hour ago I'd better nip to bed 'cos I am travelling to Belfast tomorrow, I will just get a free audiobook to listen to...... so far I have got 2 books, partway thru

HELP said Toby

Then we took that Toby chap out and spent some cash buying him food

Dentist

Then we were going back into town and I thought "Gym" but then I realised that we don't go there on a Wednesday so I was looking at my diary on my phone to see. I hadn't got it to load yet when we turned into the dentists car park. Oh yes, I had forgotten, the hygenist had been too brutal and knocked out one of my fillings a fortnight ago so I am now happy with all my teeth fixed

On the way to the dentist we called into Waverley stores to say "Won't see you this Friday"

Llanelli

Then I got another email saying that my new kettle had arrived so we headed out to Llanelli to pick it up. So now I havve a kettle which stops heating the water at 96° so I can make proper nice filter coffee without waiting for it to cool from 100° then guessing when it has cooled enuf

Timmy

So Timmy came round, did my cream etc. It said on my timetable that we were s'posed to go to Llanelli Asda and pick up a new kettle today but after much telephoning to check I can confirm that it is in a lorry half way up a motorway now, so hopefully by s'afternoon it will have arrived

Tea

Then we had to go miles away to pick up that Toby who was stranded at his girlfriends house when he was s'posed to be cooking my dinner. He came back here and got stuck into making a very complex but delicious dinner.

So I have said that this was so complex next time we will cook some Brownies and he can take most of them away

Busy

So first thing s'morning, after my cream etc, we went to Dreams to pick up a price for a single bed for the staff room. I had requested that someone pay for a double but they protested and said the room will be too full with one so I saved the funder about £800 by changing it to a single

Then we went around town looking for a birthday present for my father but they were all costing more than the £2.50 I had imagined

Then we came back here and ate lunch

Then went out to More Reasons To Shop At.... to replace 2 ingredients for Toby's cooking today. I had bought them for last week but he couldn't come and they had gone OOD

Lyrics

And I found out tonight which song contained, as a lyric, one of my favourite "things to do/be"

Switch Off Machine

And during the course of today "someone" told me that my parents had said at some point that the doctors told them that when they switched my "keep him alive" machine to off that they expected me to die. Thank god my stubborness worked

Folking

So tonight we went to Loughor Boat Club as Burry Port where we usually go on a Monday had closed it's doors. During tonight someone told us that Burry Port has changed to every other week but it will be on next week

Trousering

So this afternoon we tried to find some trousers to fit me. Dunno, I am not that fat but they won't go round my waist, where do fat folk shop?

Gosh

So with Paul in today we started sorting out stuff for going away to Belfast on Thursday, then we had to go to Morrison's and get some small amount of shopping

Proper Shower

And I had another proper shower tonight. It has come so straightforward that it is probable as easy as washing my pits and my bits at the sink. Getting dried is still hassle but practice......

Tonight I went out the front for 5 minutes with no shoes on, to properly dry my feet. It was a bit cold but seems to have worked

Dull noon-er-aft

Then this afternoon we had very little to do. Tiny was tapping away at the laptop and I was doing........ bu*ger all

Out'n'about

So me and Tiny went out trying to buy Chino's today. No where sells big enough ones for a fatty like me and buying online won't work as they won't be posted until Wednesday, after the bank holidays, and as I need 'em for Thusday when I go to Belfast it will be too late

And during our look about we had to go into Boots and buy some anti-hayfever medicine. There was a branded drug thingy at £3.75 for 10 or a Boot's own medicine which contained exactly the same quantity of the same drug which only cost £2.25 for 10. Which was buy one get one free. So guess which I bought?

Up Pillows

And I slept on my up pillows for the first night last night and I must say it is much better, about 1 inch higher than on my old pillows but I like it

May

So a month ago I said "Hooray, hooray, the first of May, outdoor sex begins today" but I am still partnerless

Rehab

Well today we were going out in the car to my new home, away from "here". I got in the car, put a CD I haven't listened to in ages on and the first song made me join in loudly and give them the fingers to the office here as we left. "No, no, no"

Whoops

Earlier we took a couple of boxes, which we emptied there, down. Then I went for a nap, as I lay down it occurred to me "Timmy, did we get the anti allergy covers off those s pillows we put down s'morning" meaning they should be on the bigger pillows on my bed now?

So we had to nip back down later and get 2 pillow covers

Timmy Shopping

So s'morning me and Tim went and looked around Curry's and Dream's and wrote down the serial number of the fridge, the freezer, the bed I will buy next week after Belfast. So we will tell Anthony cost, he will send me the cash while I am away then we will go shopping when I am back. And as we are buying it all from just 2 shops there will only be 2 deliverys to wait for

And we bought a thermostat kettle for making proper filter coffee from Asda, we will pick it up from Llanelli next Wednesday

And we bought 2 bigger wider pillows to replace the 2 on my bed, one on top of the other was too thick, one by itself was too thin so I needed fatter, broader, pillows

Sitting Outside

So I am sitting outside eating sh*t while Paul is packing the first of my boxes of "stuff to take when you move" then we will nip over and start to fill my house

Which we did, but forgot to bring boxes back today

On The Way Back

Then on the way back we popped into Morrison's so I could get more Blueberries and Paul could get a salad for his lunch, then when we came back here they said "Come to our Jubilee Barbecue" which I thought we had missed but went there for a veggie burger and a glass of wine. For free. So Paul will eat his salad at tea time and I will eat mine from yesterday too

Ho Hum

So after getting up early etc we went to Singleton Hospital for my eye test. First of all I was checked out how I am doing with both eyes, good lord, my left eye is better than most peoples, better than 20/20 vision and my right eye is improved since last time, it was 2 lined down the chart from last time I was tested

But he did say that he thought my eyes had lost the ability to look at the same thing, so even if they were both looking forward there would still be a double vision issue

But he did say how complex the operation had been, separating blood vessels from the eye then moving the eye and reattaching still complete blood vessels.

He did say mine was probably the best operation he had done in England and Wales during his career

Early To Bed, Early To Rise....

So I had to set my alarm clock extra early s'morning 'cos I have an eye appointment at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, and I still woke up, and got up, up 10 minutes before it went off s'morning

Iechyd Da

So me and Timmy are sat in Club Iechyd Da and Freya came to join us, it is going well with enjoyable entertainers. Then I looked up and thought "Why is that bloke carrying a lid?". Because it's Stuart who has come here to meet me, he is going to be a close neighbour of mine soon, as he is moving too

We were there for 3 hours, afterwards we took Freya home and it wasn't until I got back in my own place that I had a piss, which was still colourless

Gym

Then after my salady lunch we went to the gym (Hoo-flippin'-ray!!!) were as usual I enjoyed it so much but today she watched my walk and said "No, on your right leg try to bring your knee up rather than moving your foot around sideways" which I tried, it is much harder to concentrate on that too but what a difference it makes to my posture and my walk. It is a small change but what big differences it makes.

Hooray, summat else to concentrate on in this getting better process

Ding

Then Ed came in s'morning, did my cream on feet, then later we need to go to Morrison's (noisy) and today as I am practising getting better I will walk into the shop while Ed pushes my 'chair behind me so I can sit down while I choose what salad to eat, then I will stand up and walk out of the shop.

And I did it, hoo-flipping-ray

Lan-ethli

So now I am sat in "Lan-ethli" Folk Club and the chap who is playing ATM, Ray, is so like I used to play but better!!

Crisis

Then I went into the kitchen, tried summat and had to shout "HELP". Obviously last night I hadn't quite closed the freezer and it wouldn't close today because the ice was in the way. So Tim came and scraped off the ice, we tried again, it still wouldn't close. So we had to take the drawers out, scrape underneath and on top and behind them, then at last my freezer works again

Retired

So I went to Carmel today and didn't have to take a single picture of litter as the whole place was clean.

Then I emailed them and said "Too busy, too hectic to do this ATM. Perhaps I will do it again in a few months but for now I am retiting"

Sarah OT

Then after lunch Sarah OT came to see me, talked about how I am moving into the next stage of my life etc, so walking everywhere potentially etc.

When she left she agreed to not come next week etc until I, or Denyse, contact her and say "Come back"

Dentist

And I had to go to the Dental Hygenist s'morning which was fine except she accidentally knocked out a shallow filling I had

I waited for about 40 mins to see if I could see a dentist but was still waiting, so I made an appointment for next Wednesday

And I parked my wheelchair in the foyer and walked from there into my treatment room

Whoops

i took a load of washing out the machine last night and there was a tissue amongst it. So I need someone to sweep the floor and shake all the clothes to take bits off them. Then sweep again!!

And Timmy said "Put it in tumble dryer s'morning, then we can shake it properly" s'morning which worked, so clothes are now back in't airing cupboard and floor swept, big style

Proper Shower

And it seems to have become normal at last to have a proper shower

A few weeks before I have a bath again

Dicky

Then we went over to town to meet Denyse and Paul who had just interviewed the 3 chaps for my job. One was a no go so I had 2 to interview. A long and a short, Paul phoned one on his way home and asked him to come back and meet me, we were due to see the other chap on Monday. After chatting for a bit Denyse asked him to go out of the room, said the 2nd chap had txted her to say "Not enuf hours" so if I wanted to offer Richard a job I could, so I did. Now he needs to go thru all sorts of checks but his name has already been decided, Dicky

After Lunch

Then finally Timmy came here after lunch then took me to my new house where we discussed loads of furniture etc, what we need where and he drew out some plans of what will go where etc, and we were there for hours sorting it out.

Quiet Morning

So s'morning I had no staff as they were all at a Team Meeting to discuss me etc

Two Folk Clubs

So we set out tonight and drove miles to the first folk club, the one that was on last week, and when we got there there was nowt on so we then drove miles further and came acros a decentiss FC which nice beer on tap which I actually rather liked

Napping

And when napping today I realised that my right hand was flat on the bed, wrist flat and arm flat with only a small amount of play in my fingers. It didn't used to sit that flat/well on it

Double Aargh

Then after such an exciting/scary/busy day it went a bit quieter later. For an hour or so we did nowt but talk/read etc then I napped

Aargh

I am going off in a couple of hours to hopefully get the key to my new bungalow....... AARGH....

And we did it, went down, met the landlord&lady, took the keys off them and sorted out bills etc. It's mine now!!!!

Then we were able to do the rest of usual busy Mondayness and went to the supermarket although we needed to go to Tesco's too to get blueberries, but it's all done now

OK, the rest of it as we went shopping on Saturday as my list was SO long it would have taken me half of tomorrow too

Cleaning Myself

And then I had another proper shower.

So I finally get it together to properly shower about 6 weeks before I move into a house with a bath

Tobyless

Then Toby said he had to go off for a date and couldn't come for tea but he is coming later to dry an armfull of clothes

And he did so hopefully he can go off with the Princes Trust tomorrow for a few days

Oh What Fun We Had

So s'morning me and Ed went into Carmarthen, met Toby and Julia and her two little ones, and waited at the side of the road for ages until the Olympic Torch came into town. There was a bit of a preceding parade then it went past then it was done. Hoo flippin' ray, a once in a lifetime not very treatish treat

Home

Then today we went to my new house for a bit. It was strange, we made it walking around the side to the garden and it occurred to me, it's no. 53, so it's new name is "Herbie The House"

Fruity Water

And today as a gift Paul gave me a bottle (1.5l) of Volvic volcanic water with a touch of strawberry which I have finished already as it it so hot today but we nipped to the shop and bought more (and more blueberries!) as it was so nice

Towning

Then we went to town and had a look for steps up to Paul's van but couldn't find any, we went to a mobile shop where he replaced the dongle that I probably won't need but JIC...

J&T

And we met up with Julia and Toby earlier and he does seem much more controlled around her, so PHEW

Extra Shop

So SmallPaul came in s'morning, did my feet and then took me on an extra shopping trip to Morrison's because I had such a big list for Monday with all the extra cheese and Crème Fraiche and other ingredients for our cooking on Tuesday, and I thought I may as well get some of the other extra's that were on Mondays list, eg once a fortnight mouthwash and once a month cream for my feet etc

AND as Smally said "You smell" today we had to get some deodorant too

So it was the biggest shop I have got in some years