Clubbing

And tonight was the emptiest folk club I have ever seen, finished early as it was empty

(sigh)

Then I thought we would be straight off to folk club with no time for a bath but after we dropped Freya off we had an hour spare, so guess whay I did?

Ex

Then Freya came round to see me, as she is away on Friday when she usually comes and off school today. Her Mum brought her down and came in to admire my house and it was generally just fine. I am coming to terms with not being her chap any more. It has been years but I was unaware for the first ages

Edding - quiet day

So we don't have much to do today, later, when Dicky comes in, we will go to the doctors to a) show him where it is and b) order a repeat 'script for cream for my feet, then show him the dentist

Later today Freya is coming in for tea, as she will be away on Friday, then we will take her and Moishe's daughter to guides

Gymless

And I missed gym today 'cos Denyse came to see me..... oh woe is me.....

Then later today I stood up from bed and walked out of the room, it felt so much more normal that I rather liked it

What a day again, so Denyse stayed here talking about my life etc, then giving Dicky a Working With Brain Injured folk lesson until after we had fetched Toby and Paul cooked a rather nice baked pasta with loadsa cheese and chilli dish for dinner, as me and cooking are in different places

This afternoon, in our discussion Denyse said that they will look into a perching stool for me to use in the kitchen, again losing my wheelchair

And "they" have said that I should have broadband again by the 16th or 18th of this month, hoo-flipping-ray but I want to scream at the delay....

Out&About

So we went out to a Folk Club in Burry Port tonight and it was excelent, esp a group af chaps playing with 1 guitar, one violin and one whistle

And earlier when Timmy was putting cream on my legs he said how much smaller my left foot looks ATM

Bathing Again

And I had an earlyish bath today as we are going out after tea. Good lord, thats the third bath in 3 days

'Mail Crisis

And s'morning I turned my 'puter on, collected email, and for my main account it said "Nah, wrong password". It worked yesterday...... So I went on to BtYahoo and changed my password and it still wouldn't work. In an email they sent to me it said "It might take time, try again in a bit". So I went in t'other room for a bit. Came back and it still wouldn't work. Greeted Timmy, made him a brew tried again and it finally worked

What A Night

So last night I got drunk, Ed nipped to bed, I got more drunk then tried to go to bed. Except I couldn't find the lightswitch to my room. So I sat in the living room for a bit, feeling grumpier and grumpier, until I gave up and found my way in in the dark and went to bed

VBG, v v v v v v v

:) ;) :)

Don't Walk Anywhere

And today, for a bit, I abandoned this chair with wheels thingie, completely. I was able to stand up by myself and walk to my wheeled device without holding on, afterwards

BETTER Walking

Good lord, today I was able to walk about 3 times as well, and as far, as I could yesterday, just not holding on with my left hand as I pass the sink etc, if I continue to get this much better this quickly I will be running up the road after totty within about 2 weeks

Bigger Walking

Well I started walking earlier today anyway and it is already later then the time I stopped walking yesterday but I am gonna carry on for a bit I need to practice, it is good for me

Walkies

So I woke up s'morning, walked to the bathroom without a splint, had a pee, went back to bed.

Later when I got up properly I was walking everywhere again.

When we nipped into town to get more petty cash out I was in my wheelchair, when we came back I ditched it again. Today I am walking alone or with my pushable aid

'Til after 3 today, that's 8 hours of walking

Happy Chappy in the extreme

Gosh it is lovely living here

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

Alarm Clock

So here I am sitting here eating my breakfast at what time o'clock? My alarm clock is no longer set as I dont have to be up by staff coming time so my "You can't get up yet" notification is switched off so whenever I wake up I get up

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

Bathies

And I had another bath tonight. Good lord, can I be this clean?? All went well, with my new bath rack stopping me having to stretch to put soap down etc. All went well until I let the water out, pressed up, got about half way up and stopped going. I had to shout "Help" until Ed came and fixed it, luckily he managed and didn't have to lift me out but the whole thing was unsettling

Walking

So this morning I got up and walked into the kitchen pushing my new pushable chair, then pushed it into dining room etc. After lunch I thought "Enough walking" and sat in my wheelchair for the first time today

But it feels wrong wheeling anywhere so obviously my brain in getting better which it a first step....

More Dongling

And today we had to go to another shop in town to buy another Dongle for them to connect laptop email etc, but this time we gave the chappie the postcode here and he said "Ah you want one of these, then" so we bought it and the connection on that is nearly twice as fast as my dongle so we swapped over as they need next to no interweb connection

Shopping

Then we nipped into town for some bits for them, a dongle to connect their email etc then it occurred to me. Organic Tomato Purée, to make pizzas. Waverley Stores don't sell 'em, Morrison's don't sell 'em, Tesco's don't sell 'em, Lidl don't sell 'em etc...... we had tried every shop for miles around, apart from Aardvark. So we went there, some difficulty getting in but we managed, I asked and she supplied me. Bother, I used to work there but it is not very wheelchair friendly, so I haven't been there for months, but we did it

My First Night

Gosh, so I slept for my first night in the real world last night...... It was a but strange but that's just because I have got used to being somewhere else.... It was cool

'Puter Chair

So today I was able to look at the chair which arrived 2 days ago at Lon Ty Cwm and we finally transported it here today and just wow, it is comfortable to sit in, slightly mobile/turning around when seated in, and walkable behind and pushable, it has a grip on the back and I think I may well walk more rather than 'chairing it now

Napping

I seem to have moved!!!

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

Buns

Buns. I am sitting here having a cuppa tea and a bun that our new neighbour dropped off earlier

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

Quick Carrier

Good lord, this team to move me is eficient.

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

MOS

And I am sitting outside s'morning and a member of Leonard Cheshire staff said "How u feelin'?" and I had to reply "Missing u already"

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

From An Establishment To The Real World

Today I am moving out of here to a proper (posh) house in a posh street.

Once a month folkism

Then tonight we went to the once a month folk club (noisy) in Carmarthen with an extra MOS shadow shifting and he enjoyed it

Unhectic Nooneraft

Then we hung about here, getting bored, no more moving to do, not going out on principle, just.....

At least Ixion is fixed once more. It went off-air yesterday coincidentally after I disconnected broadband to test my new Dongle, when we reconnected email and web worked but there was no Ixion coming thru....

Hectic Morning #436

Lordy, so s'morning Ed The Tall Person came in, did my feet then started filling yet more boxes with stuff from my kitchen, and good lord, after a few trips it really is beginning to look like my new house

Hectic Day #34.9

So s'morning Tim and Dicky (who is shadow shifting ATM) came in here, they did my feet then we set off for High and Mighty, a shop in Cardiff that is designed for us fatties . It was full of fashionable clothes which were in a sale ATM so I spent £253.02 on a pair of trousers, 2 pairs of jeans, a couple of open necked shirts, a couple of tops to go over that and a coat to keep me dry. Just blinking flip but wow, it was impressive

Then we had a lunch at The Harvester in Cardiff, which was lovely, if I had a veggie burger and chips again

Then went to the PC shop and bought a Dongle in case my broadband isn't working straight away on Friday. Hopefully it will be but I had permission to JIC buy summat

After all this we had to find somewhere to cut a set of keys for Herbie and apparently I am getting a Keysafe in a coupler of days free off my social worker

Sleeping at Herbie

So yesterday I napped in the bed in the guest room at my new bungalow yesterday. As I was getting my MOS said "It's low, call me and I will help u get out". I napped then sat up, thought "It IS low innit, pulled my wheelchair closer so I could reach it with #both# hands and stood up, all by myself

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

Scootering

So at my new bungalow today, when we left one of the neighbours kids, knee high to a grasshopper, was riding his scooter up and down the street outside. He wasn't in any danger and I thought "How lucky are you?". A kid, about 5 or 6, on a scooter in the street out the front of his house? Some of us are lucky to live somewhere that safe.....

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

Dinner At New House

And today I was a bit concerned during our busyness with moving furniture, I was a bit nervous and said "I wanna go out and eat with Toby because my kitchen is such a mess" but Paul was a bit adamant so we took Toby to Tesco's and bought some stuff then we had the first meal at my new house. Cooked by my staff because I was in a right state but we ate there, thanks to them

Loo Seat

And I eventually got it together to spend a few quid on a new loo seat, one that I can stand up from etc without shouting "Help"

Dicky-ness

And Dicky my new MOS has started work as my assistant today. He is shadow shifting to find out how/why etc

GymLess

And we are not going to gym s'morning as we are a bit busy moving stuff to make Friday easier

Folking

So here I at Llanelli Folk Club like I am 2 weeks a month. We got here, went round the back as usual. Nowt there. Erm... we were about to leave when someome else showed up. Oh, apparently it is in the main bar tonight and not in the back room as usual. Up some steps and it was. Very strange not being in charge as usual but....

So as we r here in a transplanted Folk Club we have got some new fans, who were just here for a beer and have been rather impressed with the Folkitude

Neil The-Hippy www.hippyweb.me.uk

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

Shopping And....

Then we nipped to Waverley stores s'morning then nipped to the post office to get a redirect mail form, as we are doing it like this it is proving cheaper than doing it online, which wouldn't work as my bank card address is different than mine now

Then later s'afternoon we nipped back to Shaws the Drapers and bought a blackout thingie which they ordered for us

Back To Normal

So I am back to normal now, someone every f**king day

Crisis

Last night I tried to put my arm splint on but a bit of it has broken off

Ssssh

I am finding it really hard not to talk about my disaster on Ixion

">> At what point is a bike beyond economical repair?

> When you see another bike you can afford and want more"

Or when u r unconscious for months in hospital, like I was

HTFH

Strange Memory

I was reading Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows again tonight and it mentioned the Peveralls (noisy) but I thought Peveril Of The Peak, pub in Manchester and Google says I was right. How strange, I have no memory of drinking there but I must have walked past it on the way somewhere else 20 years ago

Help

Well today, for the first time in ages, no MOS will come and help me. Fair enough. But what is their first duty every day? To tighten up my shoelaces and to tighten up, put on properly, my splint. But no-one here today so I had to ask a member of Leonard Cheshire staff to help......

But what is there to do all day? I can look out the window, go sit out the front, go sit out the back....

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