Power Cut

And it had just got dark today when the lights flickered then went off. So we lit candles etc and thought "We better go out for dinner(1)" when it all came back on. So phew and waiting to see if it happens again

                             (1) Gas rings on the cooker but an electric oven

Boozeless

And he said "No booze tonight Neil, we are going to hospital to give blood sample in't morning before breakfast" so keep it clean

Shopping

And we nipped out to the shop, to fill up my freezer a bit as there might be snow over the next couple of days. I said to Timmy "Morrison's" but he insisted on going to that Tesco's place so I could buy some curry and.... for tonight too

Gym Today

So after yesterdays crisis @ gym we went instead of swimming today. I started on the bike and managed 15 minutes on that for the first time in ages, did half a kilometer on the hand pedaler and then I was so exhausted I only managed half time on the treadmill. But it was exhausting, I did a lot today

Gymless

And as we were busy s'afternoon we didn't make it to gym until after most folks had got out of work and therefore it was much too busy and we had to leave it today. So go before 5 o'clock

Script

And we got my prescription for more BiggerBollockCream today, we have another month

Back To Normal

And I had my pooh at normal time once more today....

Shopping

First of all we nipped to the Drs to see if they had finished the 'script for Testostogel that I ordered at the weekend, they said "No" but then we walked down to the Chemist next door to pick up tomorrows treat, my Ted Stockings which I will start wearing tomorrow. Possibly back to the Drs....

Sigh

So s'morning we are off to super dooper market followed by a trip to the swimming pool

And we spent almost next to nothing in Morrison's (noisy link) s'morning (but did get a few essentials) so swimming next, after half an hour delay or so

Oh what fun we had, it was all in place, the steps to climb down etc so we did it. I walked, swam on my back, tried swimming on my front, said "No", stopped that for a bit, did some new stretches Sara suggested, tried swimming on my front again and just about managed this time, I am still not happy but I managed

Loosing Weight

And this week I weigh 1 pound less than last week. It's still in the right direction

Different pool - again

And I have tried another pool game today....

Radical

And I didn't have my morning pooh 'til 12.10 today. Radical

Testosterone

And as I get my testo-thingy rubbed in every day my mind is full of a song, sorry etc

Out In The Rain

And "we" went off looking for a house in the rain (which isn't 1 bedroom as they describe it), but we couldn't find it

New Pool Game

And because Paul was saying he was worried about me spending too much cash on playing 8 ball pool, as it started off free but as I got into it it is now a bit pricier, so I downloaded a game called Pro Pool 2112 which is a bit trickier but seems as much fun, if a little OODated. If this doesn't get my ballls rolling there are loads of other free games in the app stote

Dinner

And I had my usual Friday dinner of naan bread pizza and chips which was as lovely as ever.

Tomorrow I am having roasted veg but with potato and carrot instead of butternut squash this time. I think this will just last 1 night unlike butternut which had to be used twice

Busy 2

So after changing into my trainers we went along to gym class (1). Good lord, but this Testosterone seems to be making me work harder etc, I did it all from start to finish today.

Then we nipped to Aardvark and did another weeks shopping before coming back and having a late lunch (2)

(1) The last with Sam for 10 weeks, I nearly had to cry when saying goodbye
(2) During which I spilt half a glass of apple juice over the table, my leg and the floor. (grumble, grumble, grumble)

Busy

So today we were a bit busy. First of all we went to the chemist next door to the doctors, they said "Ted stockings, Monday" so then we went to the disabled stuff shop by the railway station and picked up my new bath seat thingy. Because this took so long there was no time to nip to Aardvark, after gym for that then

Aargh

And when I was distracted this Gareth chappie looked on Zoopla and found me the house I wanna move to. Well, I think so, we will have a closer look tomorrow

Visitor

Then tonight we went and got that Freya and it was nice. Exhausting but well cool

Gymming

So we had a session in't gym today when I got on the machines and used them 'til I was finished, as it were.

It was a relatively exhausting, good, session

Roast Veg

And it occurred to me that if I can't handle the butternut squash in roasted veg perhaps next time I could try making it with (eg) 2 potatoes and a carrot or parsnip instead then I would be able to make it from scratch with no assistance required

Off To Docs

Sigh. As recommended by Sara we have got to go to the docs s'morning and get a TED Stocking to wear on my lower leg, dunno why etc but she thinks it will help somehow

OK, my MOS told me because swimming in the pool is obviously improving the blood in my legs this is to try and extend that effect

Power Cut

And earlier s'evening suddenly my PC switched itself off and the lights all went out. I was just going "Erm..." when they all came back on. Apparently all the lights in the street had gone off. But its all OK again, fingers crossed etc

Sara-ing

So with Sara today we drove to town, parked in (ex Tesco, now) Wilkinson's, walked, yes walked, along Merlin's Walk to Café Nero, across the road at the end, stopped there in a proper seat for a coffee then walked back outside, back along Merlin's to the car park. And it was a bit difficult at times, up hill etc but I managed it all no problem

Easy Cooking

And I have an easy cook tonight as Timmy has had breakfast today and he is on one of these "Eat once a day" dieting schemes. So he will have a "milk shake" for breakfast and lunch tomorrow so I can cook a proper meal tomorrow.

When I am trying that roast, half of my butternut squash is in't fridge awaiting me

Swimming 2nd

Then we nipped off to the swimming pool, and swam. It was as much fun as always but we did it

Shopping First

Then me and Timmy nipped to MoreReasonsTheyShopAt... and did my usual weekly supermarket shop. It was small this week

More Rugger

Oh, Ireland beat Scotland big style in more rugger today

Walkies

Then s'morning me and Gareth nipped to Morrison's just to get some veg that we will cook tonight (in my learning to cook class) we got into shop, I stood up and walked until after we had finished shopping

And it was delicious, perhaps too much hassle to prepare a butternut squash but the rest of it was easy

Strange Windy Weather

And today it was really windy earlier, then 20 minutes later there was no wind for a couple of hours, then it came back, then it went again....

Rugger

And I have just watched the rugby and it seemed closer than the final score says. But Wales won it :-)

Then the French looked better all the way through the first half of their game, then England scored in the first minute of the second half and proceeded to make them look daft until about 30 seconds before the final whistle when France got the game again

First Month Gone

And it is already February....

'Puter Broken

And over the last 36 hours loadsa bits of my PC have been saying "Can't read that, corrupt" but it seemed to stop doing so s'morning and many bits that I thought had gone seem to be back now

Gymming

So I went back to a gym class s'morning and I do have more energy etc. But The Georgeous Sam said she will be working away for 10 weeks, with a substitute here. I was nearly crying when I left t'class

Aardvark-in

And we are going off in a bit, thru the fscking rain, to Aardvark to do my shopping

Out With Freya

And me and Freya are going to Iechyd Da (noisy link) tonight.... (a bit excited)

And it was excellent, with a variety of performers. I didn't read out my poems, next month perhaps

And in Iechyd Da they announced that as from about March it will be a vegetarian restaurant. Which pleased me somewhat

Try Again

So we are going out s'afternoon to see if we can find the house that Paul couldn't yesterday

And we did find it, looked good, just a few queries for the estate agent

Hooray Alex

So today at about 1.30 Alex said "What time gym today?". I said "'Bout 11 s'morning" so..... VBG

Out Again

Then we headed out s'evening to take a first glance at a house that is in an area I like but in the end we couldn't find it and came home

House

And we went there, I walked into and around house then said "Need to try wheelchair in here" got it and sat down for final trip round and it was fairly nice. We are leaving it until I have seen some others but....

Brief Shopping

And we went shopping s'morning to buy some Persil in a cheaper shop than the supermarket, then s'afternoon we are looking at a house

Scared

And tomorrow with Paul we are going to look at a house which at a guess is a bit lovely. A bit pricey but it has been on the market for a year so far so hopefully they will take some persuasion. I will have f. all to do with buying, if I like the look of it I will contact Anthony, give him the details, and wait for him to buy it for me. Hopefully

Mmmm

And I have just eaten the first of the extra fruit I bought 'cos there were no small apples and it was lovely, a kiwi-fruit. I don't think I have eaten any in about 12 years and YUM YUM

Gym-ming

So we went back to gym s'afternoon, for an exercise session rather than a class, and by god did I work. The Testosterone seems to be working, I was hardly out of breath even after working out harder than ever.

This fitness thingy is a bit of a difference, in just a few weeks

Errand

So me and Gareth headed into Cantre Mobility to see why my bath chair replacement hadn't been delivered. After much looking up they said "Whoever took the order from you did no more" so they said they will order it now and hopefully I should have it by the weekend.

So then we had to go to Wilkinsons and get a load more gloves because they use 3 pairs a day taking care of me ATM

Lentil Chips

I have just had a packet of 'lentil chips' and they were actually rather tasty/nice

Swimming

And we went for this weeks only swimming session (because I am looking at a house on Wed) and as ever it went well and as ever was a right PITA getting showered and dried and dressed afterwards

Scared/intimidated but thanks too

And Freya told me today how much better I am than I was last year, not shouting at her etc.

Which I didn't realise but I do appreciate her telling me

No, not today

So after great lunch with Freya we tried the museum but it was closed all day today, summat they hadn't mentioned on Thurs when we phoned and asked about access etc

But actually we had an excellent afternoon, basically just talking together over coffee etc

Then we came home and I napped etc then stayed out of the way while Freya cooked dinner for me and Paul and it was actually rather lovely, so Freya took the recipee home with her because she liked it so much

Out

So me and Paul are taking Freya to the County Museum s'afternoon then we are coming back here and while I have my bath&nap Paul and Freya are gonna cook tea

And Paul saw the woman in't house across the road that I wanna buy arrive in her car alone today so he went and said "When u moving?". But she said hubby is seriously ill ATM, going into hospital soon for an operation on his leg soon so they won't be moving in the near future..... so that's a no from that house that I want

More Shopping

Then later we went out and bought the ingredients for Freya to cook tomorrow nights dinner while I am in bed tomorrow afternoon. Dunno how it will go, a test for Paul but hopefully it will go OK

Yeah, so we are going to the Museum early afternoon, then back here for my bath and nap and hopefully then they will both learn

Shopping

Then s'afternoon we nipped out to a shop and (oh, the shame) bought me a pair of trainers. They will just be for gym so we had to take the spare FES out of my gym boots and try it in them but it worked, I could walk etc

Phew

A quiet day. At last and rarely nowadays

Snooker in a rush

Then tonight Timmy suggested watching the World Snooker Shootout where they all play a frame against the clock and it was actually reasonably exciting, including a match by Jimmy White, the ex proper snooker World Champion

More Docs

And we had to go back to see the beautiful doctor who has been treating my leg for ages, we told her the issues, she said "I don't think it is infected" told me the history of this view, and gave me another antibiotic to keep "them" quiet, so hopefully they will realize that's just what Neil's leg looks like after tablets, cream and now more tablets

Gymkhana

So I went to gym and worked hard. 'Testy', well 10 mins before the end I thought "Ah, knackered" but I carried on to the very end

Aardvarking

So then I went to Aardvark and did my weeks shopping. I wheelchaired in as it was raining, parked and walked through all 3 rooms shopping. Queued up standing up, paid on my own two feet, then finally wheelchaired in order to go back out in the rain

Lovely Toe Chopper

So first thing s'morning Linda the beautiful toe nail chopper came and cut my toenails.

In conversation I mentioned that I was looking at a house in St Clears on Wednesday and she said "Oh move to there and a chap toenail cutter will sort out your feet for you" so suddenly I don't wanna move, missing her already etc

Test....

And we tried putting on my Testosterone Cream in a different style today which was much better so hopefully I will continue working hard at gym etc...

More Houses

And today we are gonna go take a preliminary look at another house, which is just up the road from yesterdays, but it seems nicer, so we will remember to take my wheelchair when we go properly. The garden is attractive to me

Gosh, yes, it looks good so me and SmallPaul are going on Wednesday afternoon to have a proper look, with 'chair

Exercise

And I went to gym s'morning and got stuck into it. I was harder working than t'other day, dunno if TestoGel is working

T

Then afterwards we had to go to that Tesco place to get some food waste bags, the biodegradable ones

Then s'afternoon we nipped out for a first look at a house that actually Denyse found on the interweb, and it looks good, back and front gardens and the bit of the house we saw from outside looked cool. So tomorrow that SmallPaul chappy is gonna contact the estate agents and we will go from there - Heol Goi, St Clears, Carmarthenshire this one is called

Grumpy/Agressive/Chappy.....

And so s'afternoon after my bath I went to bed, woke up, put on trousers etc then called Paul and he put on the first of my Testosterone Cream. Dunno, don't feel any changes already but it has only been 20 minutes so just starting to get thru my skin

Cottage Not Acceptable

Aargh, Beech Cottage was very nice but not suitable for a wheelchair. We think, as I walked in, but on the list for next time we will bring a 'chair even if I am not using it ATM just to see if it will go

Exercise

And we went back to gym, wheelchaired thru the rain in there, stood up, did all my exercises and then sat down again to leave.

I walked thru the whole gym session

More Walking In Shops

So we nipped to Wilkinson's to get some toilet cleaner stuff, some toothbrush heads etc

And I got wheelchaired in through the rain, stood up and walked through the whole shopping, paid standing up then sat down again to go thru the rain

Looking At Houses

And I have just received an email from the estate agents we phoned s'morning to say "Yes, come and look at the house tomorrow at 1pm" when Denyse will be here so me and SmallPaul and Denyse will go together and look at it. Beech Cottage in Llangain apparently

Oh Dear

My hard drive disappeared again, I called Paul and asked him to turn it off and on again and it works again

Swimming

And I went swimming with Paul s'morning, the first time in ages we have been together and he was well impressed with how much better I am at most aspects of it

All Three Of Us

Then Freya txted me earlier today (after we had been to Lidl and got her food to cook tonight)  and said "Can Toby come too tonight" and he came out with us tonight, walked from the car with me walking and went to a restaurant with us all and ate. It is strange, in the last few months he has gone from being a stroppy failed teenager to being a successful man working in the care industry

And I walked into the restaurant too tonight and we all sat in a round, but slightly raised, seat which a) suited my difficulties and b) meant there was no-one sitting too far to my left where I can't see them with my wonky eye

And I walked from the car to restaurant tonight, too

Lidl-ing

So we went exploring today and went to Lidl's in Carmarthen to see if they had anything not available elsewhere. And we wanted summat to cook together with Freya tonight. I was deeply unimpressed with the store, cheap meat seems to be the main for sale stuff but we did find enough ingredients to make summat tonight.

Although I did walk from car to car via Lidl's

Sarah-ing

Then Sarah Bailey(1) came in to see me s'morning. She listened to me drinking and eating and was rather impressed.

And she said how much better I look, last time she saw me I still had an infection

Yes, she was impressed and said as I get fitter "stuff" will just become easier, swallowing etc

But she did my head in a bit. I asked her what was the problem with me choking, I thought there was some scar or summat from my accident. But she said "No, no physical injury, just your brain can't do certain things". So AAAARGH. But she did say that I sounded better today than I have ever to her so perhaps my brain is relearning

(1) The Little Old Lady as I remember her

Poohing

And I needed my morning pooh before breakfast s'morning

James

So we went to Gym s'morning, to a proper class. And it was hard work but I managed

Aardvarking

And we nipped to the shop s'morning, I left my wheelchair outside, walked in, did shopping, paid standing and didn't sit down until after I had left

FES

So s'afternoon we had to head over to Swansea to the Rehab Unit at t'hospital. When we were there I walked everywhere and they seemed pleased. They observed me and made loads of notes about how the device is set up and were generally pleased that it has made a difference to my life. So they gave me another cover so we can wash the one that's on and another load of pads. The next appt isn't for 3 months now

And we asked him if there is another way of attaching it, he said "Not really" the only suggestion he could make was a small shoulder bag

First Time In 12 Years

So on my new timetable it said "Go for a walk" s'afternoon. We proved a bit too busy but late s'afternoon I said "Lets go shopping" to Alex. First of all he fitted my FES device then we set off. We just went to Morrison's but I needed to pick up some frozen food and milk for the freezer etc. So we got there, Alex pushed me across the car park into t'shop, then I stood up and walked with him pushing my wheelchair behind. We headed for the very far end of the shop to the freezer section, halfway aalong the back to the milk then headed for the checkout. It took ages to get there but I managed. Walked thru the till and out of the shop. Then I said "Give up" and sat back in my wheelchair.

It is the first time in 12 years that I have managed such a long walk, from one end of the supermarket to t'other

(Sigh) Swimming

And we went to t'pool today for another swimming session. This time Sara was connecting with us too so I had to work as hard as ever, and she gave me a few extra exercises to so next time too

No Neil

And just because Wednesday is a "Having a drink" day doesn't mean you should have a Whiskey this early

My Memory

So this morning Alex sang "Reasons to be cheerful 1, 2, 3" I replied "No it's "Reasons to be cheerful, part 3" noisy link

Back To Normal

And I am back to my more usual routing s'morning.

Breakfast then a pooh

New FES

And Timmy said s'morning "This FES is looking bad but they didn't give you any extra, you will be back there on Thursday", but I said "No, there were loads somewhere". So he looked everywhere in't office, didn't find any, I said "There were, I promise" so in the end we looked in my filing cabinet.

Oh yes, there they were

Gymming

Then s'afternoon "we" went to gym where I did my usual loadsa exercise. It is getting so much easier, so quickly, so I reckon this exercise must continue

But s'afternoon I told off the leisure center receptionist, she said "Where are you going, gym". I said "No, James"

No Volunteer

So I didn't go to my rearranged day of volunteery work as we hadn't told 'em that my day of work had been changed but frankly I am not missing it at all, in fact I am glad not to go

Drowning

So me and Timmy went to the leisure center for the first of my "more exercise" swimming sessions. It was OK, we got the big disabled changing room so that was easier etc etc

So we will be back there on Wednesday for more exercise

BUT one hopes they have fixed the showers in the disabled room by then....

Thermostat

So yesterday chappy was experimenting with the boiler, at my request. After about 20 mins he said "No, it all looks on" then a few moments later said "Ah, what about this thermostat in the hall that's turned down".

"Yes, might be that..."

Lighter

And my alarm clock went off at usual time s'morninng and for the first time in some months I didn't need to switch the light on to get up

Fredumpkins

So we were late picking Freya up today as we had been so busy etc but she came here in the end. Immediately we got stuck into cooking together but today Freya was instructing me on eating veg too. I said "I can't do that" but she pointed at a frozen packs of veg and it was actually rather delicious on the side of a main meal. We usually use it as an ingredient for more complex dishes but this was simple and rather nice

Then after dinner, as we are both banned from the PC in each others company Freya proceeded to beat me at pool. Not once

More Reasons To Shop At.... (link there)

Well s'morning we went to Morrisons to do the weeks shopping.

I was pushed in through the doors, stood up and walked thru 'bout 1⁄3 of the shop (because my FES was making my foot go over slightly), wheelchaired 'til we were about ½ way thru, then stood up and walked pushing my trolley through the rest of the shopping, the queueing up, the paying and the walking back out of the shop. I was back out of the shop before I sat in my wheelchair again

Marillion

So today while sitting having a cuppa in't kitchen I entered "Marillion" into Youtube on my iPad. Just good lord, someone with a brain injury who can remember every word, every lyric despite not having listenened for 15 or 20 years

Telly

So tonight, as recommended by Alex, I am watching "8 out of 10 cats does countdown" off C4 and it is rather amuzing

Not Busy Today

And I am actually just sitting down at my PC today. Ahhhh

All day. Ahhhhx2

Busy

And when I finally got to sit at my PC about half past 5 today the next email from Ixion said 10.03 s'morning

Then

After gym I had lunch and a cuppa tea cos I needed to be sleepy, I had no bath (as there was no time)  and went to see (Beautiful) Doctor Browne, telling her that the doc yesterday had refused to Botox my legs as she thought I still had infection. She looked closely and said "No, no infection", gave me an antibiotic cream for a week or 2, basically sent me on my way. She also said that I had just had all the blood tests that were wanting so I came away with no pain and no antibiotics

Being Evil

And before lunch we were at gym, in "Sam's Class" as I now do once a week and she worked me hard. But I do notice how much better I am getting in every way so at least partly worth it

As well as this I now go down to free exercise sessions (not classes) twice a week too

Walk To The Loo

And I took Denyses advice s'morning. I took off my bumbag in the living room. them walked to the loo, found it easy to put my LAS in my pocket, pull my trousers down and pee, then pulled 'em back up and walked back out. It was much easier, I tried walking there with bumbag, found it very hard to take it off and put it back on there so I started wheelchairing to the loo.

There is no need I found today. 

Thanks for being such a clever clog Denyse

Aardvarking

And we went to Aardvark, I parked and left my chair outside and walked the whole length of the shop, up the slope then across the second room, and back out.

But I have to pay on my way out...

And they were kind enough to give, give, me another bar of that soap that they gave me for Xmas and which I have been using for a fortnight and praised it to them last week