Back in Wales

And it's raining again, hooray

(from my phone)

Lunch is murder

And we ended up eating lunch at McDonalds, I had a veggie burger but it still feels wrong being here

(from my phone)

Wedi Gorffen

So weve done that and finished. "He" seemed most concerned about immanent diabetes but he seemed a bit more relaxed when I told him there was no family history

(from my phone)

Ready

So here we are sipping a coffee after breakfast as we have a couple of hours to go before we need to be at the Doctors while he assesses me

(from my phone)

We're Here

So here we are, having fun in TheWirral. So we drove about for about an hour looking for fun, couldn't find any. So her we are sat in the bar at the hotel for an hour then give up and nip to bed, early night

(from my phone)

Newtown

And we have stopped in Newtown for a coffee and a pee (OK and a hot apple pie) and IT HAS STOPPED RAINING!!!! For the first time today

(from my phone)

Midwales

I am bored looking at mid Wales now, still only half way there

(from my phone)

Cwrt Henri

So we are en route to NE Wales looking for tonights hotel. We have just travelled past Cwrt Henri where I used to live years ago and looking at it it is not as posh as where I live ATM

(from my phone)

I Remember It All

And out of the blue I recalled a song and remembered all the words

We're Off, in a bit

So s'morning we have finished packing my bag etc with everything that I need to take with me to The Wirral where we are heading in a couple of hours

Drink

Well, so tonight I felt the need to nip to Tesco's and bought more booze and a packet of Mint Flavoured Aero Bubbles

(from my phone)

They are quite nice but....

I am a bit unhappy with the Aero thingies, dunno why, it's hard to say, they are delicious but too...... summat 

Blind

So I did a webpage today and thought it hadn't written "Wave your cursor over pic" on the RHS. I looked, looked again and still didn't see it.

So obviously I need to move my head further

Only Gym

So having a new 'choose 2 from 4' gym classes this week, today I am having the only gym class that I have time for, doing important stuff all the other days

And I went along, said "Only time I will be able to come here this week" did my exercises, did 10 minutes cycling etc and came home

Beer

And I am having 1 pint in t'pub in Carmarthen

(from my phone)

Yes, me and NaughtyNick came into town and had a good look round everywhere, from the Cattle Market Car Park (now known as Debenhams) all the way up town, along King St, the old heart of town etc

Antibiotics ✔

And when Nick was creaming my feet s'morning he commented on how much better the anti-biotics have made my leg look since yesterday

They seemed to spend a couple of days sussing out what the problem was then 24 hrs to fix it

Teaching

And I am going off  to see if I can get voluntary work teaching complete beginners computing, which was my last, and be far my highest paid, job before my accident.

OK, this won't be paid but it is living&learning

Good lord, I  might have a job. I came away from there feeling really positive and my first shift is not this Thursday as I will be in England but the Thursday after. I start work at 2 but I will show up at 1.30 to find my way round etc.

Just WOW etc, I might be actually meeting folk, helping some and just meeting others

NaughtyNickyNewJob

And I think I'd better give Naughty Nick a new nickname, but Nick The Gardener doesn't slip off the tongue

Sympathy

So I was sitting out the front just now and I heard a baby crying next door. Good lord, sympathy etc. I could very well just cry every minute but I am trying to do better.

(from my phone)

Hoo-flipping-ray

So today I read webpages and figured out how to put txt on links that will come over when you wave a mouse over a picture. You need to move the mouse off and bank but then it does show your txt

Bank Holiday

So I have no gym today as it is a bank holiday. Hoo-f**king-ray.

And NaughtyNick, my temp MOS is in s'morning. For today and tomorrow and 2 days next week, then hopefully my new members of staff will be working

Stu Crumble

Then later today a visitor came, it was that friend Stuart who came on one of those scary motorcycle things but seemed to enjoy it. He chatted for a couple of hours after he gave me his present, he had brought a load of rhubarb from his garden which I have already made into a crumble, with Timmy's advice

More Reason's To Shop At..... - a link

Then later we nipped out and did the rest of the weeks shopping. Timmy did remember and said "Remember u are going away on Thursday and Friday before I bought too many 'Use by' products

Changed

So I changed the bed s'morning, Timmy said "Wanna wait 'til that has dried before changing it?" as he obviously didn't know that Mum bought me another sheet that fits

Shopping

Then we nipped out s'morning and bought "stick carpet to floor" tape and some velcro etc on Petty Cash

Then we nipped out to the same place after lunch and bought carpet cleaner to clean the carpet in my lounge

Star Wars Day

May the Fourth be with you

Fredumpkins

Then tonight Freya came over later and we had an excellent night playing hangman etc, then took her home later

Next Week

And then when I was having my dinner Paul announced that we are gonna have to, together, travel to the extreme of NE Wales next Thursday, to stay in a hotel so we can show up at 11 Friday morning to a hospital there to have an appointment with our team

Interviewing

And I am going off in a bit to interview the first 2 perhaps members of my team

Oh my lord, just sheesh, I now appear to have 2 new members of staff. Gosh it was hectic, saw 1 for an hour, had lunch then saw the other for an hour. They both did actually seem rather pleasant, we shared an interest etc. And one of them had a silly beard too!!

Out Tomorrow

So me and SmallPaul are out tomorrow, going to the Ivy Bush hotel for 12.00 where we will interview one of my new MOS's, then at 1.00 we will have lunch there then at 2.00 interview the second member of my team.

So if both these chaps seem OK we will take 'em both on to cover 1½ vacancies

Bionessless

And as I didn't put my Bioness back on tonight I have just put on sandals instead of boots to let my feet breath a bit

What A Morning

After Sarah Jones came to see me about my voluntary placement(1) me and Timmy nipped to town. 1) We went into the County Council offices to get some free blue and black bin bags. 2) Then we nipped into Carmarthen Garden Centre to pick up summat to kill the dandelions which we managed AND they sold organic scrumpy there too, so I had to try some. And we nipped into one of the places where I might be volunteering and it seems incredible

This afternoon we are off to the Doctors to see if I need some antibiotics for my slightly swollen right leg

(1) And she has made an appointment for me to meet the computery teacher folk next Tuesday. I am a bit excited about this one

Another Infection

Shit. I (ok, Timmy) think I may have another infection in my right foot. Hoo-flipping-ray.

Off to the doctors later to check it out

Pauling

Then Paul came round and said "We have had a hard day interviewing" and told me that we are going to meet one member in a hotel in Carmarthen, then have a hotel lunch then meet the next provisional on Friday

Nipped Out

Then we nipped out and spent some petty cash (Now I have it again) on gloves etc

Jim

And we are off to gym in a bit. As well as working I will ask her when the mobility and balance class happens

And I tried walking about gym with no 'stick today but apparently I was keeping my knee straight so perhaps I need a cane

But Sam gave me the timetable with 4 classes marked on it, any 2 of which I can go to

Again...

But I can't tell you....

Pissed tonight as it's my nanny-versary

2 double whiskeys tonight

(from my phone)

Darling happy anniversary....

Sheet. It was the 10th anniversary of my crash a few hours ago. Hoo flipping ray. I am still fu**ing alive

OK, it was close, I nearly wasn't but I am

Only Smarties have the answer

So I went into the kitchen, got a packet of mini smarties out, tipped loads in my mouth, started chewing, started choking. I coughed and coughed, took 2 tissues to wipe up, drank a glass of water and I felt tha stray Smartie come back up

Brushing

Then s'morning I had a plan to prevent me dribbling toothpaste down my top when I brush my teeth. It looks a bit odd but I can do it twice a day now when I brush and stay tidy looking

New WWW

And 20 years ago today the first web page went online, when I was 24. How much has the world changed in 20 years

New Class

So s'morning I am going to take a look at the next class up in't gym. If I do go this would be the third class I have been to, ever improving

And it looks good, a little intimidating but hopefully I can manage. There is a lot of walking, hopefully without a 'stick, but hopefully I can manage.

I am in gym normally tomorrow so she can give me dates and time etc, then perhaps next week I will go to 1 new class and 1 existing class

Samming

And as we spoke to the beautiful gym teacher Sam about what she approached me about last week we found out that the next gym class is tomorrow morning at 10.30 so we are going along just to have a watch

I think perhaps I will attend 1 of the harder classes and 1 of my current classes every week but will know more after I watch tomorrow

Bored

So as I was bored s'afternoon I asked Ed to cut my hair again, which he did

Getting Ready

Sort of more mentally, kind of psychologically trying to get myself ready for Jim-Jim-Jeroo (noisy link) - gym

And it was OK, working really fast again. At the end we spoke to Sam and she said come in tomorrow and see what you think of the more advanced class

FreyaDumpkins

And tonight I had the pleasure of Freya's company for about 4 hours. She is SO busy doing her 'O' levels that she was only on the PC asking for translation. It was cool, perhaps she is a bit better and wiser than she was a week ago or summat but it was nice

(from my phone)

And we were able to share my apple pie that my neighbours brought for me today. Gosh it was nice. There is only a small piece to share with Ed tomorrow

Scrambled Eggs, yesterday

And yesterday I microwaved some scrambled eggs like I generally do once a week. Yesterday before putting them into the microwaveable bowl I read some instructions and it said smear some butter or spray fat on first. Sheet, what a difference. Last weel I had to get clean washing cloths as he had to throw away 3 trying to clean the bowl, yesterday it just cleaned easily

Curry's

Then on the way to the supermarket we called into Curry's to have a look at their SLR digicams. As of Andy's advice I could use them upside down which felt strange but wow generally

Shhh

No Neil, you said you would be quiet.... "BUT it is such a great story from my POV"

Summer light

So I have just got up for another pee and didn't need to switch any lights on. It is a quarter to six

(from my phone)

Interactive Television Service

Then today I have been practicing pressing the red button on my TV remote control to watch stuff that is not being advertides on a channel, today it's the Snooker.

Summer is coming

So I woke up about a quarter past seven this morning, and went for a pee. As summer is coming I didn't need to switch on the bathroom light, it was bright enuf

(from my phone)

Washing Up

And while dinner was cooking tonight I got stuck in and washed up the dishes we had already used to see how easy it was.

It was slow but I managed to wash up everything properly, I checked them a few minutes later

It doesn't mean I am gonna do it every night as I have to do the cooking too, but it was a lot easier than last time I tried

-ing

And we went shopping in Aardvark again but they were short of org milk and org apple juice today.

We got everything else on the list tho..

Right Hand

So just now I finished making my lunch. I thought to myself "Carry your cup to the tray and that bottle of milk (2 pints minus 2 cuppas) to the fridge. So I picked up the lightweight cup with my strong left hand and the much heavier bottle with my poorlier right hand. And carried them to their places and put them away

(from my phone)

Again

And again......

No Neil, you said you wouldn't talk about it - SHHHHH

12 Hours

And almost 12 hours after we left we are home again

Nice Looking Women

So SmallPaul grew up around where we are ATM and said that I would soon realise that English women are more beautiful than Welsh ones. I told this to a woman who was serving us lunch in England and said "He might be right". She laughed

(from my phone)

In England

Lordy. So s'morning we left Carmarthenshire heading east. We stopped for lunch then set off again. Eventually we arrived at Orthotics place and talked about what I need etc and walked up and down with various additives. So soon it's gonna be time for dinner

(from my phone)

To That E Place

So s'morning we are going over to somewhere near Glastonbury to have my walking/Bionessing checked out for my claim. Perhaps on the way back I can go and be a new age traveller again and throw some stones at a policeman or summat

Beyond News

As I managed to wipe my bum properly again s'morning it is perhaps now news not worthy of being written about here in my Blog

Out

And as I probably won't be back in time for the monthly folk club tomorrow we are going out to a blues come-all-ye at The Blue Parrot in Carmarthen

And it was good too

Newbie

So then Ed was in s'morning for the first time in ages. I showed him the video and he was able to tie my shoes the right way round first time

Well Wiped

And I wiped my bum s'morning and I was able to wipe it clean again without any Andrex Washlets. It is getting to be more regular now

Rest Of Day

And we had such fun....

Early Start

So we set off at 10 o'clock s'morning looking for Llanelli Volunteer Centre to meet up with Sarah Jones. We found Llanelli easily but drove round and round and in the end parked a distance away and was pushed in a wheelchair. But it went well, I came away with 3 volunteer jobs to look into. I have just filed them, next week Sarah is gonne come here and phone them etc

Videofluroscopy

And Denyse emailed my tonight and said "I have spoken to your Doctor and they have agreed to send you for a videofluroscopy to find out why you are choking etc". Like the Dr responded to my letter last week and said "Nah, can't afford that" so g*d nose.....

Nicking

So I have had a number of hours with Naughty Nick my temp MOS from England. He has been OK, not knowing but learning quickly. He even tied my laces properly s'afternoon

Aardvarking

Then we nipped to Aardvark to buy what I should have bought last Friday but I was away to Ixion SoS instead

Jeroo

And then today Nick my temporary MOS has gotta take me to gym in a bit

And it went OK, I was a couple of minutes late and then Sam was talking to a newbie by me for ages, so I perhaps didn't do as much as usual but it was OK 

Fixer

And after they said he would phone he showed up without phoning but he replaced the small wheels on the front of my 'chair

Odd but better now

And it has seemed a bit strange after 2 whole days absent having to get used to my habits and routines again but it's eventually working again now

Back Now

Sunday just before lunchtime and home again, home again, jiggity jig (noisy link)

SoS

I am excited and nervous and........

YES

So I have now got my new Bioness hired for a month and it is SO much better at keeping my right foot in line and proper etc etc

(from my phone)

Nap Time

And so we are waiting in Cardiff s'afternoon... I am trying to have a nap sat in the car waiting but it doesn't seem to be working

(from my phone)

Well...

So today we drove for 2 hours, went to Daceys, the splint makers, showed him my splint and he said "Oh, it's broken". So we are waiting for 3 hours until his next patient has been so we can hopefully get a replacement

(from my phone)

Splinters

And "we" have to head over to Cardiff in a bit to Daceys, my splint makers for a rebooting and check....

We will tell 'em that we bought a new battery for the controler and it hasn't worked since

2nd Day Running

So s'morning for the second day in a row I had a pooh, wiped my bottom and managed to clean it properly with just bog roll, no need for Andrex Washlets

Drinking Slowly

So me and Paul headed to my local tonight and I practiced my drinking slowly and just had 2 pints when there. But "they" are starting to recognise me as a resident of near here

Battery

And after gym we nipped out trying again to get a battery for my Bioness. As yesterday we tried loadsa places but in the fourth shop they actually sold it. Hooray.

So then we nipped home, had lunch and he tried to change my battery. He is still fiddling with it, no joy

No joy, still no battery

Jeroo

Hmmm, so off to Gym s'morning without my Bioness walking tool. And I can really tell how much I miss it ATM, it is really impressive. Apparently, it is much harder to walk without it

And as we were heading to gym I said "If the lift isn't fixed I can't walking up the stairs" but the blooming thing was fixed so we had a slightly strange class without my Bioness

Battery Crisis

Then this afternoon the battery in my Bioness died. So we went looking, to 3 different places and couldn't get the right size anywhere. So no Bioness walker for 2 days as I am due back there on Thursday

So no Bioness at gym tomorrow either...

OffTopic

Then Sarah Jones the Occupational Therapist came in today and did two things. 1) We cooked some flapjacks because I have got out of the habit. 2) Then we cooked a curry, from scratch, not from a sauce, which was delicious but Timmy couldn't eat Cauliflower so we had to freeze it and eat summat else

New Shop

And today we went exploring to a new shop that Timmy recommended. So about 60% of their stock was no good to me but some of the rest was, and it was so cheap.

I don't think we will have to go every week but eg when I run out of oven chips I can stock up on them and some other

Jim-jim-jeroo

[sigh]I am off to gym again in a bit[/s]

And the flipping lift still wasn't working but the class today was in a downstairs room which I was much more pleased about but it went well

And we forgot to that my leg splint today, and it did feel as if my leg was turning over too much again, so on Wednesday Paul can put it in his pocket and see what happens

Thatcherite

Good lord, after watching a TV program about her whole life I feel to have become a bit Thatcherite, she was well working class and thought "they" should win, not traditional Tory rich gits

Dinner

For dinner tonight we had scrambled eggs, beans and toast. Making the toast was easier than last week, which was easier then...... etc, at last I seem able to marg. my toast from one side to the other

Bye bye David

So then after an hour of chatting to David and taking the mickey out of how much cereal he ate we dropped him off at the railway station for his journey home

Visitor

And today I had a visitor, my big brother came over from Belfast and had a good, chatty, time. We went out and had dinner at Con Passionata which was lovely

Nice Biscuits

Are these although I have onle had 1 because I am on a diet

Grate

And tonight for the first time in nearly 10 years I was able to grate a load of cheese by using my right hand to hold and move the cheese

And the pizzas were extra delicious because of that

Made Me Grin,

and I haven't even had breakfast yet

Someone Else Is Here

Then Freya came down and was nice to me too!!!!!

And it was nice, we picked her up before dinner time then sat, after dinner, talking in the kitchen for a number of hours

She's Here

And Denyse came here at quarter past 10 and until I was mid way thru lunch was sat in the room with Ed and Paul assessing them for.... god knows.

Then she came out, sat at the table with me finishing lunch and discussed loadsa stuff. 

No Birthday Friends

And because I have very few friends me and Ed are nipping to t'pub in a bit to have a birthday drink

And it was well busy, by it's own standards, perhaps 7 people just having a pint!! Now many recognise me and say hiya etc

Warm!!

So I am sat outside ATM wearing just a T-shirt on my top half. It is fine and warm and dandy then the wind strikes up again and it is shiver worthy freezing

(from my phone)

Jeroo

(Sigh)
So I had jim again s'morning. Today we didn't take my splint on purpose as it seems fine and it was. In the gym walking everywhere with my walkystick, just yes
</S>

Sad

So tonight I was sat outside when one of my neighbours pulled up in her car 2 doors away. It was as much as I could do not to call her and her son over and sing them a tune

Off Topic

So Sarah Jones, the OT, came to see me today. We talked about loadsa stuff and she is gonna bring ingredients next week so I can practice walking in the kitchen. Then I am gonna see her again the following week when she is gonna take me to the Carmarthenshire Volunteering Centre and we will have a look there