Right Hand

And after I had my bath today I was thinking about how much better at drying me my right arm/hand has got. But I am out of the way of using it, I generally just dry with my left hand. What is the quickest and easiest way of breaking bad habits?

Up

So we got up later and sitting about, waiting 'til about 12.15 when we go off and meet Sara at gym where she can tell me to do loadsa extra workouts etc

And wow, what a different day at the gym that was. So last few times we have been there together we have been working on Cardio Vascular stuff, improving my heart etc, but today I was working on the machines that I usually walk straight past, working on the lifting weights machines. Lifting them with both arms

It was well different, hard but again I can feel myself getting better

Getting up

So I was up for a pee about quarter past 5 s'morning and the noise of the birds singing then was unbelievable

And when I got up again at 8 o'clock they had finished singing for the day

Dinner

And for dinner tonight we had potato gratin and a mushroom and onion pie from M&S and it was delicious. A bit too pricey to eat every day buy very good

S&M and Gym

Then after lunch we headed into Marks and Sparks where actually Timmy helped me, pushing me about and reading what was on the shelves, so we spent the last of the voucher I got at Xmas (1).

Then we nipped to gym, instead of swimming 'cos Timmy didn't feel up to it and I did nearly as much as was requested.

(1) And the voucher had worn away, she had to call a supervisor to read it as the bar code had gone 

AND we got an entry into a competition with the receipt

Poor Timmy

And poor Timmy came into work not feeling too great today and I immediately called him and went "PC issues". 2 hours later after working on my phone and PC it is sorted. There is just the iPad issue to look at when he comes out of the loo

Then we can carry on with the day, go shopping

Which we did, to Morrison's (noisy link) and got some new frozen food to try and very little else, it was a small shop

As Soon As Their Back's Were Turned

Then s'afternoon, after my parent's had left, I had to do some rebellious teenager thingy....

And relax

And we are taking it easy today. As we were so busy yesterday we are just relaxing here and not going out for any walks today

And my parents are leaving here, to go home, about time I start to cook tonights dinner

And It actually turned out a bit delicious again. It was roasted veg night and we had 1 Linda McCartney Sossij and a load of veg and I think it was all well chosen this week, with the exception of the mushrooms most of it was yum yum

Summertime

Well I got up about 6.15 s'morning and had a pee, and didn't need to switch on the bathroom light, I could see anyway

Summetime is coming...

Peeing Every 15 Minutes

Oh that's such a thing of the past

Staying In

And we decided not to go to Botanic Gardens today, as was on my plan, as it is raining, then 20 minutes later blue sky then a quarter of an hour later it's raining again.

So my parent came over here, talked, drank tea then they went off to have lunch, I will bath etc then txt 'em when picking up Freya

And we decided, phoned 'em, said "Book" etc so we are just going to eat in The Ivy Bush, their hotel, so we will see them when we show up with Freya in tow tonight

What a performance. Freya was late, we were therefore late, we got there after we had told my Dad to book a table but it was fine in the end. We all had a lovely meal and they had a good chat

Cooking

And I cooked 4 pizzas and a big pan of oven chips for all of us. And it was yummy

My Memory Is Improving

And today we were walking through town and my Mum said "Ah, that hardware shop it has closed, bother". I was thinking about it later in Belfast, 200 yds from the street we lived in was a shop, dunno if it is open, but I remembered the name and I haven't seen the shop for 20 years

Off Out

So we are off in a bit to my actual class @ gym, with my parents to spectate

And it went well.

And as I went on 2 or 3 women expressed astonishment at what I can do now that I couldn't do a few weeks ago, and as my parents haven't been to a gym class in over a year they were astonished

Aardvark-ing

Then after my parents had a cuppa we went off shopping in Aardvark. I got a fair amount but forgot eggs <shrug>. My mother bought 3 jars of welsh honey, which she bought last year and thought "Mmmmm". Then she paid for my shopping too

And when we were going too the shop there was rain and hail stones falling from the sky, by the time we parked the car the rain had stopped and by the time we came back out of Aardvark there wasn't a cloud in the sky, 100% blue

Parents

Then my Mum and Dad arrived. We sat drinking tea for a couple of hours and caught up with some gossip then we nipped to the pub up the street and had a rather nice dinner. I think Mum and Gareth were not satisfied with how little chicken there was in their curries but I had a broccoli&cheese bake which while very burny was very nice once it had cooled down.

They are coming shopping to Aardvark with me tomorrow morning then coming to watch my class afterwards. I think they will be astonished to see how much better at it I am

Doing The Dishes

And as we were going out for dinner tonight I thought "Better try" and did todays washing up earlier, when perhaps ⅔ of it hadn't been used. So it was easier but I still managed

Quiet Day

And we are having quiet day today as my parents are coming over later

Toes

So s'afternoon I had a bath. Got dried etc then got into bed for a nap, naked. As I was lying there my left foot was warm enough but as it has felt for the last few months/years the toes on my right foot, just the toes, felt chilly

Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Gymmery

And Alex asked me s'morning "Wanna go to gym or swimming?" and as "Neither" wasn't an acceptable answer we decided to go to gym. So today I was walking in the treadmill with my FES working which felt a bit strange but I was able to do it. Then today we went on a proper bike rather than the hand one that I had to get off early t'other day and it worked. I switched my FES off as I got on the bike and I was able to do 15 minutes no prob. It sez "Use effort level 2" but I had it up to 6 for 14½ minutes then on level 14 for the last 30 seconds.

And I was glad when that half minute came to an end

Batteries

And today, for the first time since I bought it, I thought "Why isn't my mouse working?" and realised that it isn't connected/plugged into anything and it's batteries must have run out. And yes, all the issues I had over the last few weeks are fixed

Praise

And today I was walking about without my FES switched on and Paul said to me how much better I am walking. Without my FES

Docs

So we nipped over to see the doc in Llanelli at dinner time tonight. He looked at my results and at my throat. He said it looks like I have got sleep aponea. He said in the next month or so they will contact me and tell me to pick up a testing device and we go from there

Gymming

Then we nipped off to the gym for a bit. It was easy on't treadmill, as I am getting fitter, but I had to finish the hand bicycle device early as it was hurting my shoulder

2 pics moreso

So after much fiddling about and redoing sizes with captions etc now we have a 2 pics together with text on pic which appears different size on bigger photo. The new finalized version

2 pics, 2 slogans

OMG. Wow. So I figured out how to put 2 pics side by side with a caption on each and how to make that slogan appear in size on a bigger version of that picture.

Blog Crisis

Then today out of the blue I went to make another Blog entry and the "Click here for new post" button had disappeared. What a performance. We had to switch off everything that was working and restart the browser and take a few more steps before it came back.

Then we had to switch back on the desirable gubbins etc etc

Umlaut HERE

So yesterday I finally gave up trying to make an umlaut be visible on my site, today I was trying again and after much work with Timmy and myself he said "Give up, I'll send u a link to check more if you are bored" and then I found another site which said summat about ALT code or &# code but didn't mention this one but I tried it &#0220 and it worked. 3 or 4 days later we found a way to win

'Wimming

And we went swimming today and did a good long session. I did loadsa exercises and a length and a half swimming on my back with just one support behind my shoulders, this is the second time where I have been able to swim with just one support and I did half a length extra today

Watch Filums

And good lord, I had got a letter from Amazon saying "Watch....." which I hadn't really understood so s'morning when Timmy came in I showed it to him, he said "Good lord, there's thousands of free video's for you to watch on your PC or iPad"

And good lord#27 I found Fawlty Towers in the first 2 minutes of looking...

Fredumkins

Then later we went and picked up Freya, along with Maiah to give her a lift into Carmarthen. It was nice, first of all we nipped out and had an ice cream looking over the river then we came back and cooked together, which was nice if a bit hard for me to cope with cutting it all but as I was trying to set a good example to Freya ∴ don't use your hands

And in the car tonight she did say "Eating in or out?" but as I had a Banoffee pie waiting for us here for pudding we had to come back here

Panic S'morning

But when I woke up s'morning I couldn't remember where my brown, daily, inhaler lived. I panicked for a bit 'till I was in to kitchen with Alex when I asked him where they were. He pointed and said "There", sitting on't table in a box

Quiet Day

So we are having a quiet Sunday, not much happening. I did my washing s'morning and watched Gareth cut the grass

Then after napping etc we are going over to pick up that Freya. And hope she doesn't like banoffee pie which I bought as a treat for us yesterday

Circumstances

And everything depends on circumstances. So I am due to change my bed "over the weekend", and because my washing basket was full today I put it off until tomorrow.

Still the weekend but with nowt else going in the washing machine

Dinner

So tonight I had roast veg (veg as recommended by Alex last week) for dinner and while it was burnt to a cinder it was still delicious. When I was making it I had to peel 1 carrot, 1 parsnip and 1 potato. I did it all by myself, peeling everything cleanly. It is still much too hard holding stuff in my right hand but I am a million times better at it than I was even a few weeks ago

So Near So Spar

So I had to nip to my nearest shop to buy some stamps today, as I had used the last one I had to reply to a questionnaire from my Doctor, so we drove to the Spar. Alex fetched my walking stick from the boot and I walked into the shop, without my FES being on. It was fine, I need to practice walking short distances like this

noisy link in title

More Reasons To Shop At Morrison's

Well, so we went out to M&S looking for some delicacies to feed to Freya tomorrow, couldn't find any there so we nipped to Morrisons to buy them, I thought "Well, I am due here on Monday to do my shopping, may as well pick it up today if the best before date is fine and it was

noisy link in title

B&Q

Then even tho it was lunchtime we nipped to B&Q to pick up a piece of edging for the carpet. The piece that was on there was bent as I discovered at midnight last night when I tried to close the door behind me on the way to bed. So instead of phoning the landlord we just bought a piece and Gareth fitted it

Gym

Then we went to gym, the class, which I missed last week. By gosh I can tell how much better I am at stepping up, a few things that were nearly impossible a month ago are easy now

Aardvarking

So we headed out s'morning to Aardvark where (as usual) I spent too much on food etc. I did ask the assistant for discount "'cos Celia usually gives me some" and she did knock it down to the nearest pound

Wireless Broadband

And my PC stopped working for a bit today. Luckily Timmy was here and he switched some switches off and on again and got it all back working. I said "What's that icon here, there's usually...." and he said "It's a Broadband icon, what you have had here (for a number of weeks/months) is a Wireless Broadband icon

So good lord, it is slightly faster and more reliable now.....

Off

And I am not going to gym for a practice session today as I am having an early lunch then meeting Sara (a physio) at the National Botanical Gardens (noisy second link) where we are going for a long walk

Oh. My. Ged. Wasn't that amazing, such a good place. So I walked miles up and down a slopy bit and about ½ way round the largest glasshouse in Europe or summat. But I was too busy walking to take many photos but it was lovely

Docs

Then last of all today we had to go to the Drs and pick up another prescription of TestoGel. In theory this will be the last 'script, he will inject me in a months time

Hygenist

And I had to go see the dental hygienist and she was a bit more impressed this time. I didn't have to see the dentist afterwards this time, so obviously my toothcare is working

Instead

So instead of going swimming today we nipped into gym for a practice session as I have got a dental appointment today and I would be too exhausted etc. It went well tho....

Phew, email to and fro my phone

So Timmy was working again today and he managed to sort out my phone so it receives and sends email again. It only receives when I switch on the program etc and ignores the rest, I delete them from my PC but not my phone, it is set that they are still on the server until I receive them on my PC

So phew from the POV of SOS for example, not that I will have much to say but even some....

Daytime

And I was walking by the castle when I glanced upwards and noticed the moon in the sky. I thought this only was visible at night but apparently not, daytime too

Out For A Walk

So today Alex said "So, gym or a long walk?"

Then s'afternoon he took me to Carew Castle which turned out to be rather nice. It is built by a small lake which has a footpath the whole way round. When we got there the carpark had a damaged (by rain) path to it so I stayed in my wheelchair until we were on the proper path. I walked nearly a mile until the far end of the path where it turned into a country lane with traffic again. It was lovely being able to take pictures all round the castle, all round

Strangely enough the far side of the castle has "Not castle like" windows, dunno if they were original or added at a later date

Gardening

So me and Alex just got stuck into..... no, Alex got stuck into, while I watched, clearing out the Veg Trug of last years veg. And it took less time than we expected, it was just 3 or 4 plants that had gone mad and overgrown, with a few Strawberry plants, which we left, mixed in. Hopefully the Strawberry plants will come back and the few Blueberry plants in te tub next to it will come back too. Alex took the pullings off round the back and put them in my compost pile

More Shoe Shopping

Then we had to nip out again to buy more sandals as all the Velcro that keeps it closed had come off one of them

THEN

Then we were able to go swimming. Where Paul was impressed by how much better I am getting as we haven't been together for some time. As he was impressed he came up to me and suddenly pushed me in the chest - and I didn't fall over which is because my balance is much better.

He also said "Walk across, don't turn around and try walking back backwards", something which I wouldn't have been able to do a few months ago, but it was easy for me today

Then

Then we had to pop back to Morrison's (as the 'chair fixer came early) and get some oven chips which I had forgotten yesterday

S'morning

So we had to sit around waiting for the 'chair fixer to come and replace the seat bit of my chair and it is so much higher now, in proper position not kind of sagging somewhat

Out&About

So s'morning we went out and just explored town, sitting in the sun etc

Then we nipped to Morrison's and did a (my usual small) weeks shopping as the wheelchair engineer is coming tomorrow so I may be busy

Spring Has SprungI

So here I am tonight still not having put a top on over the t shirt that  I have had on for the last 10 hours or so....

Slimmer - Slowly

And my weight is down by 3 pounds again this week.....

LOL

And I have just had Ed in "my office" laughing out loud a Bill's Jokes from my website

Fredumpkins

And we had some girl visiting tonight who didn't approve of many aspects of my life but she will learn to live and let live one day

Test

Ees
--
Neil The-Hippy

hippyweb@btinternet.com www.hippyweb.me.uk

Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Cold Bath

So this afternoon I started running a bath, got into 3/4 of an inch and suddenly the tap started running cold. Reaction to the power cut s'morning. After I got out of my cold bath, switched the heater off and on again it now works again

Crisis crisis crisis

Lordy, we had a power cut s'morning so I had turned the router and the PC off, then when the power came back on the PC worked but wouldn't connect to the interweb. Much fiddling then, much later, the connection just started working again.

But I haven't been to gym today, we went to Aardvark, left the PC off, came back tried it and nowt so I was much too stressed to nip to gym

But it seems to be all sorted now, so.....

Yes Please

So s'morning Gareth came on duty then about an hour later Paul and Denyse came here. We all got in the car and went to look at the house. I didn't feel any different this time and asked Denyse to contact the chap with the cash and tell him to start looking into it. She did warn me that loads can go wrong but still wished me well in the process

My Fist

And I can't help saying how not wrinkled over my right wrist looks in the picture of me with a frying pan that we took today

(Shudder)Tesco(/S)

So then we had to nip to that Tescos place and pick up expensive (well, more than I paid, buying over the Interweb) ink* and an enormous^ packet of bog roll for him too

* Ink for his printer
^ 24 rolls

So....

So today we had to put everything on hold until the deliverer delivered some ink for my printer. He had come when I was out on Monday morning between 9AM and 10.30AM and left a card but it was nearly 3 PM before he came today.

So as soon as that was done we went to Gym, not swimming today but gym and I did 15 minutes on the bike and 10 minutes on the treadmill, without my FES being fitted

Us Heathens

Wont be eating our pancakes tonight, no

I might have forgot....

Out For A Walk

So today instead of going to the gym we are gonna see if the footpath just down the road is accessible. In case it isn't Alex is gonna push my wheelchair next to me, as neither of us has been before but it looks good.

Another adventure....

And oh my wasn't it excellent. Rough stone surface, some muddy bits, not tarmac, up and down but I managed it all no problem. I enjoyed being out and about and came back feeling a little smug

Shrove Day

And as we were out looking for a new battery for my FES yesterday we passed a stall that said "Make pancakes easily" so we bought some add milk and shake then fry pancake mix which we are having for dinner tonight

Aargh

And Paul phoned s'morning, him and Denyse are coming here on Thursday morning and together we are going to look at the house I liked t'other day

Aargh, scared and intimidated and excited too. Buying a house, me!!!!

'Wimming

Then after such an exciting morning we had to go to the swimming f**king pool, where as usual I got better at stuff and generally improved nyself

This time I swam my length with just one floating long support thingy which IIRC is better than I have managed in ages

Viewing

So first thing s'morning me and Paul went to look at a new house which I am very pleased with, I think it looks good etc

And I walked the whole way from my car, around the house and back without switching the FES on on my right leg

Shopping

Then we went supermarket shopping today as we have to go look at a house tomorrow morning when I would usually be shopping

Drive Past

So we went out s'morning to view two properties but they were both no for various reasons.

This afternoon we have two more to view, obviously they are coming out of the water now Christmas is over

And we went out again, there is one to be added to the looking at list, so a good enough days work

Lock Up

And for some reason when I went to bed last night I forgot to get my muesli for the morning soaking, and I also forgot to lock the front door, it was still open s'morning when I approached to unlock it. And I wasn't even drunk or anything

Internet Playing Up

So today the internet decided that it was wonky and wouldn't send or receive my emails, luckily it's Ed the clever bug*er working today and he was able to fix it.

And fix my printer, needed the ink changing and I couldn't reach the new ink

Posh House

And it occurs to me s'morning, so my staff can go and have a shower and I can go have a pooh at the same time

Gym Class

So as arranged I went to the gym class today and I managed it all standing and walking, no sitting down to rest etc.

Gosh, everything is getting easier

First Out

So first of all we nipped to the Docs to pick up a new 'script for Diprobase, then we nipped to Cantre (opposite the railway station) to pick up a posh potato peeler that we ordered last week, but he said "I will phone you", then at last we nipped to Aardvark where I parked my chair outside was able to walk across the room, up the slope then into 2 more rooms and back without resting. Gosh, my walking is still rubbish but it it so much better than it was even a few weeks ago

Cash Card

So I went to the bank machine today, put in my savings account card and it said "No, wrong PIN number"' I tried again and it still said "No", so I panicked, I knew if I got it wrong again it would eat my card, pressed "Exit" and got my card back, put the other one in and took out cash. But "Duh" it wasn't the petty cash card, I had entered the wrong number twice.

Iechyd Down Dilly

And we are meeting Freya in the folk club that happens once a month in Iechyd Da (noisy link) tonight

And it seemed quiet but still rather good musicians tonight

Gym-eroo

Then we went to gym for a practice session and I did 10 minutes on the treadmill then 15 minutes (which I hadn't managed t'other day) on the cycle. Then we nipped to shops then came home for lunch

First Things First

So first thing s'morning the wheelchair fixer came out, made some notes on what I need and will phone me to make another appointment to actually fix it. He also said that as this chair is 9 years old he will put in for an assessment for a new one for me.

Then the gorgeous toenail chopper came and chopped my toenails and was generally as beautiful as a.....

It's only half past 10 in't morning and they have both been and gone already

Delicious Dinner

Then for dinner tonight we had veggie burgers in bread rolls and mashed sweet potato. And the potato was so nice that I finished it all first then thought "Oh, I'd better" and got stuck into the also quite nice burger

Gym, gym, jeroo

Then we went, not swimming as it's half term, but to the gym where today I just did 10 minuted walking (with my FES) and 10 minutes cycling (without my FES) and then gave up and came home

Out Shopping

So first of all we went to The Range and spent loadsa cash on a blender, hopefully a good one that will enable me to make more delicious soup like I made with Denyse

Then we just nipped to Morrisons and got a bit more protein based frozen food

No To House

And first thing s'morning me and Paul nipped to look at a much cheaper house, but no, it was much too small etc

Then

Then we drove for miles to look at a house which was too far away and in a hilly area. After tea we went out to have a first look at another we found today, I think Paul better phone the Estate Agent tomorrow and express some interest. Tomorrow we are going to look at another of last weeks which looks good area wise etc and it is a lot cheaper than some others we have sern which is a bit making me paranoid, wait 'til I have seen it

What a day

Well, first thing s'morning Denyse came to see me, we talked about how I want Anthony to keep some of my giro every week, then we made a delicious lunch that Denyse had brought, a sweet potato and butternut squash soup. Which was actually relatively easy to make, if I follow her latest suggestion and get a MOS to chop up the squash and freeze it in portions

He Likes Quality Veg

And on Sunday I cooked my new regular roasted veg. And it was Gareth eating it and he said how you can taste the difference. Organic veg from Aardvark tastes "much" better than the poisonous stuff from supermarkets

No Swimming Today

So we set off to the swimming pool today kind of being a bit suspicious as it's half term, and yes it was way to busy so we took up plan "B", left the swimming bag in't boot and went to the gym. Today I did 15 minutes on exercise bike and a full 10 minutes treadmilling

War Over

On the news s'morning they said the last prisoner who was locked up by the Nazi's died last night. So summat has gone away

Now A Weekend Visitor

And tonight Freya came round. She seemed in better form than recently and helped me cook a new dinner. Well her part was new to me whereas mine was old hat

Far far away

And we popped to look at a new build house which I think meets my wishes. But he said "Make an offer next week, someone has already" and I need to take time, have Denyse look at it, then contact Anthony etc which I think puts me out of the market for this one

Next Door but no

And we went to have a look at the house next door which she is thinking of selling. On one one level it is perfect, her son is in a wheelchair so lots of adaptions and broader doors have already been done but there is summat about it, perhaps the separate kitchen and dining room that just says "No"

Backgammon

And I played the first game for ages today and had taken all my pieces off when the opposition had only managed one

Thinnest

And he measured my legs today and the right leg was the smallest ever

Out&About

And we went to have a first on the road look at newest house but it was much to hilly around and about

So then we went to Morrison's to get more cleaning products and I thought "Oh, f**k it" and bought my weeks shopping (like £6.18 worth) a day (or two) early

Rugger Bugger

And we are going up to t'pub tonight to watch the rugby. Here's hoping Wales do alright.....

Ooh, they won, big style. I think it was 27:6 in the end....

Gym-tastic

And I am off to the only class of the week in 5 mins.....

And we got there along with other clients from even further away and they said "Sorry, it's cancelled". They didn't contact us to tell us....

So then we nipped to Wilkinson's to get some envelopes for my team, there we left my 'chair in the boot and I walked in and around the shop. It was too far to be comfortable but as I was determined not to ask him to get my 'chair from the car I had to keep going. Which I did

...ing

And we went to Aardvark today, as the sun was shining I parked my 'chair outside and walked right in, uphill to the back room, paused standing up for ages 'til I had chosen veg, walked to the till, walked outside.

At no point did I ask Alex to go outside and fetch my 'chair