Right Hand

So I was cooking pizza for dinner. There I was chopping mushrooms when suddenly I thought "With my right hand!". I hadn't decided to use my right hand instead of my left, it was just force of habit.

So my old habits are waking up once more

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Razing

And I had another shave with my new razor s'morning and just wow it works so much better than my previous....

Busy Morning

So I need to go get my weekly shopping in Aardvark then go off to the Drs to have an injection in my bum then to my gym class, the only one I actually attand a class

Then catch my breath and relax

Well, first of all I was wheelchaired across the road to Aardvark, I left my wheelchair outside then did my shopping. Then we put the shopping in't boot and went to the Drs and I walked in there and stood up while she injected my arse. It doesn't hurt at all now, obviously she was good and steady handed.

Now we came home, put my shopping away and we will be at gym in about 20 minutes 

And on reflection we had to go back to Aardvark to but the rest of the veg that we forgot s'morning. My excuse is the assistant was so beautiful that I was eager to see her

Out - chairless

And we went to our local pub tonight and when I walked in there a local commented on "Where's your wheelchair?" which was nice

Visitors

And Julia's parents came in to see me today. And Brian, who I saw last year, commented on how much better I was.

Which was nice as I can't tell how much better I am getting...

Physio-ing

Then we had a long session with Sara Davis the physio. She txted me s'morning and said 'Shall we paddle today?' but as my ex- inlaws are coming to visit me I wouldn't have time. So we did loads of practicing walking with no walking stick which if difficult was very good

'Wimming

And we went off and did 4 lengths swimming, loads of jumping up and down and being pushed nearly over. OK, it wasn't 'over' but if my balance wasn't so good it would have been

And I had a bit of an issue with the shower at the changing room

Walking

And I am walking today without an FES being fitted and without a s(t)ocking being fitted because we are off to the swimming pool in a bit, but I am so impressed with how little my right foot is turning over the wrong way. Dunno what or who to thank but a combination of factors have worked big style

Napping

And it feels odd but nice. Firmer (but no phnaar phnaar)
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And it feels odd, the mattress is about an inch thicker than the old one and it seems really strange getting on to my own feet as the floor is further away...

Nap-worthy

So I am just about to go for a bath and my first nap on my new mattress

Gym-ming

Off now.....

And oh what fun we had. So first of all I did 3 exercise machines then 20 minutes on the bike. It's definitely the right way round to do it, after cycling I would have no energy for machines but t'other way round I have some for the bike, after 10 mins I am knackered but I just carry on

And we left my wheelchair here and went without it. Walking is still difficult and slow but I am 100 times better at it, I find it easier, than last week

And today we were walking in thru the café when we were called by 3 women from Tuesday class who recognised me. "Where's your wheelchair?" they said, they haven't seen me since I was attached to my 'chair so were just generally pleased and praise worthy to see me on my own 2 feet

Deliverer

So I was half way thru eating breakfast s'morning when my mobile rang. It was a chap saying "We weii be with you within an hour", then after I finished my coffee and about another 12 minutes the mattress delivery people arrived. We had just finished taking the old one off and putting it in the garage when the new one came. They dropped in into the bedroom then Timmy took charge. I have only sat on it so far but it felt really comfy.

So when Paul has recovered and is back at work we can put the old one in the back of his van and take it to t'tip

Hooray

Off swimming in a bit, hip hip......

(swear word)

And it wasn't too unpleasant, yes, chaotic and grubby but not too bad, I am so much better

Sandwitches

Then we went down to the park looking for this gig. We couldn't find it, there was some kind of war re-enactment thingy on in the main bit so we were about to head off. I said "Can u push me to the loo first?" so we went right round behind the wartime actors then suddenly heard music, Sandwitch were playing to almost no-one on the other side but by god they were excellent with it

Toast And....

So earlier on today because my usual lunch stuff of bread rolls had ran out I took 2 pieces of bread out of the freezer (OK yesterday but...) and had it for lunch today(1). It was lovely, toasted with jam which I did all the 'putting it on' myself

(1) We shopped before lunch time today but that wasn't planned, so I had to eat defrosted bread for lunch anyway

More Reasons To Shop At.....

So we nipped to Morrison's s'morning to get a few bits to let me relax tomorrow morning etc. So when we went in there was a woman stood in front of us, with a big trolley to fill up with food, and her 2 yo daughter standing picking up a basket. Mummy was saying summat along the lines of "Put that back, hold onto the trolley" so I got stuck in. I caught daughters attention, held my hands out and said "Can I have that basket please?", she didn't even hesitate, held her hands out and said "Here you are"

So I carried that basket around and filled it with my shopping

Knife

And when I was cooking tonight I actually used the full sized 'bread' knife to chop the vegetables instead of the much smaller knifes I have been using for ages. Dunno why, at a guess I was just too scared of not being able to handle the big knife but it is actually much easier to use, with a longer cutting stroke too

Emergency Shopping

Then we had to go shopping to buy some more "cover your plants" stuff and it seems to have worked, Alex had to get stuck in with scissors and string but it seems to have worked now

Tomorrow

And we were a bit confused. Alex said "Shall we go out today" but it turns out he was mistaken, where he planned to take me was on tomorrow but it does seem relatively good, and I hope Gareth will enjoy it too tomorrow

Little Old Lady

Sara Bailey came into check on my "speech and language" and my swallowing and choking etc s'morning and was very pleased and positive. I last choked about 5 months ago and her 'eat like this' methods have become second nature for me now.

So it was a positive visit

Busy Morning

So at about half past ten when they had finished the handover me and Gareth went to look at a house. It wasn't bad, it needed some work but I came away being relatively positive. So when Denyse is back from holiday next week I will ask her to come and look

Then I went to gym and did my usual workout. When he was doing the lift arms exercise I was impressed, my right arm now lifts as far as my left. It takes a lot more effort to get it there but it goes

Then we nipped to Aardvark and spent loads on food etc

It was nearly 3 o'clock by the time we got home but a useful days activity compressed into a morning 

Out Tonight

And we went out tonight (as I couldn't see to cook) and used up the £25 voucher I won last time. Which was nice

Clinic

And we got ta go out s'afternoon to a diabetes clinic where they are going to...... dunno

And they put some eye drops in and took photos of both eyes. Dunno why but she will send the results here when she knows.

Now I can't see, not to drive or use heavy machines....

And I can read emails again now, we have been out for a couple of hours now my eye works again

Looking At Houses

And we went out s'morning 7 miles north of Carmarthen, OK it seemed like 20 miles but we were only 7 away and went to look at a house. But it was beautiful but too many stairs inside, up and down.

On the way back we went to look at another house that Timmy had seen on the 'web s'morning and it looked well worth a second view, so we will have to phone agents etc etc. It is bigger than it looks in pic, it goes far back

And after a phone call we will go and meet them tomorrow morning

Tongue Brushing

And as instructed by my dentist today I have just, for the first time in my life, brushed my tongue after my teeth
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Walkies

So we took my wheelchair to the dentist but left it in the car. I walked in and the lady behind the counter noticed and commented. On the way in I took the long way round, avoiding the steps, but on the way out I walked up about 8 steps and across the car park to my car

Dentistry

And I am off in half an hour to see my dentist for another checkup

And I saw the hygenist and then the dentist and just "Wow" I didn't need any fillings etc, not one

Agents On T'Phone

And my phone rang s'morning, I answered it and it was an estate agent telling my that they have made an appointment for me to look at the house tomorrow morning

Camera Everywhere

And today I took a picture in the loo. When I had my old Nikon I would have set it down and nipped to the loo but nowadays my digi-cam is in my bumbag, it travells everywhere with me

Foot

So s'afternoon I went to bed for my nap. I dried myself after my bath and lay down on the bed. As it is summer I was able to lie there without pulling covers over. I was warm enough, my left foot was, my boll#cks were, my hands were but my right foot, the one with the bent over toes, felt freezing

Gym

And we went to gym s'afternoon and it was as much fun as ever. We decided to do my other exercises first before the cycling and I think that was good, after cycling first I am too knackered to do exercises.

Woe Is Me(1)....

So in a couple of weeks I will do longer able to go swimming as it will be too busy with school holidaying kids....

(1) or should that be "Wow" or other happy chappy noises

Dunno

Perhaps this new one is worth it, pop over and have a look s'afternoon

No wasn't, house looked OK but the garden was well hilly.

However we received another email s'afternoon so we will pop over and have a look

And the last one seemed rather nice, 4 miles further away from Carmarthen but very good all round. So he will phone 'em in't morning and make arrangements for a proper viewing

'Wimming

So me and SmallPaul went off swimming s'morning and it wasn't as bad as expected. I got on well with the new x-r-cises I have been told to practice... and it is just not as scary as it used to be
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More Reasons To Shop At......

Well as me and SmallChap will probably be busy tomorrow I'd better go shopping today. First I need to finish salad etc with lunch then hopefully I will get a fresher one....

(noisy second link)

Fever

And it occurs to me that I have been suffering from hay fever this year but I haven't had any medication, just frequent blowing nose etc. This is how I remember being before my accident so possibly that is calming back down once more

Hopefully

Paranoia

So I was cooking the dinner, roast veg. Ed said "Make sure it's not overcooked like last times" but as I had just added the Linda McCartney Sausages I couldn't say "It's ready now"

But phew, it had been cooked for half an hour less than last time and it was all delicious tonight

Cut it off, it's all grey

So as Ed is working today I had another haircut. Which was fine etc.

But before he cut it I went for a look in the mirror, summat I haven't done much of recently. So I looked at my hair and thought that when Gareth had cut it last he had taken all the colour away, it looks grey now

It Sucks

ABI sucks, big style

Aardvarking

And we are off in a bit to do my usual shopping in Aardvark, but this week, unlike last week, I will need to buy a load of veg again, to roast. Because last week my parent's were here and taking me out for dinner instead, but this week it is back to normal

And we went and parked 100 yds away up the road which wasn't an issue but it took so long afterwards that Alex had to come indoors and put milk in't fridge then come straight back and take me to gym

Which was as much fun as ever but I am getting better at it. But today the instructor said that Sam is coming back to work at the end of the month. Which is nice (And I wore my FES today, kept it switched on 'til about half was through the session then I just left it switched off)

Chairless

And we went out s'afternoon for two destinations without my wheelchair. So we set off first of all to Morrison's(1) to get a small salad to last 3 days ('til I go shopping again on Monday) then we carried on to gym where again I cycled for 20 minutes. Gosh I am exhausted but it is proof that my walking is getting better

(1) no FES fitted as I was cycling at gym

Fixed It

So s'morning I said "HELP" about running an email client not off the BT website as that would only open 1 of my accounts at a time. So ATM it's fixed, Thunderbird again, so wait and see........

Until I tried to send an email. So back on BT single account again....

Recycling

And after months of not using the recycle bin on my PC I have got it back and running again. Because to do the 'throw away without binning' stuff requires a left hand and a right hand on keyboard simultaneously which was too much hassle back then but now my right hand is a bit better so I will struggle on and use it.

Because all exercise is better so it is improving it more....

Swimming

And we went off swimming immediately after that and had as much fun as usual

I am not as bad at swimming as I used to be but I still love it with all my heart

First Things First

So first of all s'morning we went back to the Vauxhall garage that we left in discust last week and said "Actually we have £200 so can we have that after all". So he said yes, filled in form after form but they agreed. So my new car should arrive within a month

And it was the only black version of this car available anywhere in the country so I had it quick before someone else sees it

Pay It

So Timmy txted me last night and said "I told 'em about your free car not being available, they said Denyse needs to check out a new car and she is on holiday, therefore pay for one, we will give you cash when needed" so tra lah lah, Peugots off list as they need "checking out" so I will go down and order an expensive Vauxhall in't morning

Right Hand

And I had to cut open two burger buns to have with dinner tonight. So I got them out, got the knife, board then cut the buns. With my right hand.

It went well, no problem so I can use my right hand better than I thought

More Feet

Then we went off to gym for another 20 mins on the bicycle. Again we went off with no wheelchair in the boot. Which was scary and intimidating but it turned out to be no prob, I can walk more than I think.

Busy(ish) Morning

So s'morning we went to Farm Foods to stock up on baking spuds etc. As we left Alex said "Bring wheelchair?", I said "Yes, paranoia, big shop" but then we got there and Alex pushed my wheelchair in but it was effectively a shopping trolley, I walked everywhere and all the way back to the car

On my own two feet!!

Busy Afternoon

So..... first of all we nipped down to the folk I bought the car from(1), to order another. At great length, after much checking he said "No, you can't have a free one, there has been so many going that they have taken it off the free list". Erm... OK, see yah. So we went to the Peugeot garage, explained and they said "Yep, sign here". We said "No, gotta check it with the boss" and came away and went to have a brew. We went from there to Argos  and there bought another electric razor as instructed by my Dad last weekend

But since we got back Timmy phoned Paul (who is in charge while Denyse is on holiday)  and he said "Contact someone and see if they will pay a deposit to us" so dunno...

(1) I didn't have an FES fitted as we were supposed to go to gym afterwards but this took so long....

Swimmingless

And because the Fixer was late we have missed out on today's swimming pool period, so no swimming today. As we can go gymming at any time we shall pop over there later but it is much more fun than swimming

Fixer

And after a long wait s'morning half an hour after he said the fixer chap came out, looked at my chair, said "Yes" so he has now gone off to order the parts, so in a couple of weeks he will come back and actually fix it

Shopping

Then because the "wheelchair fixer" chap is coming to see me here tomorrow morning I did my shop in Morrison's today

Bye Bye

So my parents came over here s'morning and chatted for a couple of hours before they went off towards an airport to return home

It wasn't as bad a visit as I had expected, it was all quite pleasant, even when they were here with Anthony

Posh, modern scales

So today my Mum said "Ooh, lemme try your scales", tried them read the instructions on the back and put them up in the bathroom instead of on the carpet in my bedroom, and weighed herself again. It said 2.5 ounces lighter, which would take me through the 17 stone landmark. So tomorrow I will have to weigh myself for the second day in a trot

Out with parents

They came over s'morning then went off, then after they came back we went out, picked up Freya and we all went for a peaceful family meal

Unusual poohing routine

So s'morning I got up, walked into kitchen, made a pot of coffee, made my cereal, ate my cereal and had to go for a pooh then drink my coffee

Busy

And since then we have gone Aardvarking, gone for a walk along the beach and just generally been together

Meeting S'morning

So then s'morning at about 11 my parents came over here with Anthony and we talked about my will. Anthony was putting himself down but he suggested an addition etc, I was quite impressed about his knowledge and suggestions.

Then after he left my parents had another cuppa then went off. They are gonna meet me in Aardvark later to do my shopping

AND I didn't even have my FES fitted s'morning and he still commented on how well I was walking. Sorry, lets hear it again for muscle memory

Sara-ing

Then Sara came over to do more balance exercises and walking with no stick etc, but first we chatted for 20 minutes then my parents arrived. And were astonished at how much better I am in the months since they saw me. I walked and opened the door to them even with no FES fitted. Then Sara did more exercises for me and we showed them the video of my getting up from the floor etc

Then my parents went off to book into hotel etc and eat dinner while I cook mine here

Then after dinner they came back and chatted for a couple of hours. So I will meet then in the morning when I meet Anthony

Gymming

And we went to gym s'morning and for the first time I did 20 minutes on the bike machine and then did other exercises too. Last time I was there was the first time I did 20 minutes cycling and I looked so knackered we came home, but not today

And more to the point I walked from house to car, leaving 'chair in bedroom, then exercised and returned. No wheelchair involved

Hooray

And tomorrow my parents are coming to stay and be nosy when I talk about my inheritance with chappy on Friday

FESing

And the new fitting for my boots arrived today. Gareth picked it up tonight and said "Shall I fit it?" but I said "No, not until I can wear it and try it" so we will try and make it proper tomorrow

Strawberries

And tonight I had the first of my strawberry crop from my trug, mmmmmmm

Out

And we are going back out tonight to have a first look at 2 houses

(Sigh) No, nowt doing...

Hooray

And fscking swimming again today....

And it was as much fun as ever, 4 lengths, many different exercises and balancing things.....

BUT balancing. So today as an experiment I stood on one leg not holding on with my hands. I was able to do it on my left leg, it looked a bit odd as I had to lean one way then the other to balance but I did it. Then I tried it on my right leg, I was much worse at it but still managed a load. According to Gareth I was doing better than loads of 'normal' people who can't balance in the swimming pool at all

No 'Chair

First of all s'afternoon we headed off to Llansteffan, opposite Ferryside, across mouth of the river. We left my 'chair in the hall at home. There first we walked up and back along the path by the beach, then we headed across the car park and across another stretch of uneven walkway to the shop. Where I bought an ice cream.

Then we panicked a bit as Alex thought we would head home for bath and rest etc then head back out to gym, but it was so late now, if we waited for sleep time to be over etc gym would be full of folk who were in work in the daytime so we needed to go now. Which we did. I asked a MOS to redo my key so it assumes that 20 minutes instead of 15 on the cycle then did 20 minutes at which point I was so overtired that we called it a day and headed home for a rest

FES

And the phone rang, Timmy shouted "Shall I..."  and I heard him discussing stuff. It was the FES shop appologising for sending us the wrong kind, she is gonna send us a second hand one as they are out of stock ATM, but when they come back into stock she shall send me a new one too

Pouring

So I opened another 2 pinter of milk s'morning, reached out to top up my bowl of muesli and poured it in using my right hand. It was difficult but it worked. For the first time in how many years...

Rescue

And Freya emailed me tonight "Did I leave my phone at yours?" I looked all around, couldn't see it, called Timmy and asked him to check the car, found it so we took it back there, I opened the door to the car and walked to the house, knocked etc, on my own two feet. It seems to be becoming a habit recently again

Booked

And we booked AF room tonight, paid deposit, balance when there

Luck

So I always put my phone onto nightime mode when I go for my nap. Today I didn't and it rang half way through my nap. It was Toby, he is in Wales and I have to buy him and Freya dinner

And it was lovely. All three of us were eating, he seems so much older, sensibler.....

Disgruntled

And today I am struggling somewhat with being dissatisfied. It is so much easier to walk etc now, but it is still too hard. Sorry etc, I can do it so much better but I am fed up with having to struggle

Team Meeting

So most stuff has been put on hold today as "they" are having a team meeting here to discuss my progress etc

Muscle Memory

So if you look at the pics of me walking at the shops today, I was walking without any FES switched on and my right ankle still stayed straight.

Muscle memory

Bare Feet

And as Ed didn't put on my sockings last night I woke up with free feet s'morning. I nearly said to him last night but then I thought that just once in a blue moon won't do me any harm so I just went with it

Shopping

And because there is a "team meeting" here tomorrow I guess we'd better go shopping for my few bits of non organic food from the super (dooper) market

And we popped out after lunch. I walked from the car to the recycling point, got a taste for it and stayed on my own two feet for the rest of the trip

Balance

So now when I get out of the bath I can lean down and dry my shins/calves without having to hold on to anything with my other hand

Just generally life is getting better easier

Expensive Trip Out

So me and Ed went out s'morning and I spent £400 that had been sent to me on a new mattress

We walked out of house, left my chair here, went into town, walked in to shop, across to lift, up, across to sales desk. Then back out, drove home and walked from car to house

Rubless

And after I had my bath and nap today I didn't have to have someone rubbing my boobs.

But I require some attention....

Nursey Inject Me

Then s'morning I am heading over to my doctors to let the nurse pull down my underpants and stick a needle up my arse and inject me with Testosterone

Which she did and I must comment on how painless it was. So I commented to her how it must be because she has a steady hand. Before we left we made another appointment for next month.

Then we went to Aardvark and spent two thirds of my weeks food fund.

We came back from there, put the shopping away then it was time to go to my weekly Samless gym class. My balance etc is so much better than it was a month ago 

What a busy morning...... I have got f. all on my diary for rest of today

Late Shopping

So then late we nipped out to that naughty T place to buy some ready chopped butternut squash etc

Out Tonight

And this evening we went out to the opposite side of the Lough than we went to last time we took a night out together

Cycling At Gym

So today while I was at gym Paul was being really encouraging so after my 15 minute work out on the bike he said "A few weeks ago even 3 minutes would have killed you, try 5 more", I succeeded so for the first time since my accident I was on an exercise bike for 20 minutes!

Busy-ish Morning

So first of all we went to Nantycaws to have a first look at a house, it was a bit small but it looked nice so at a guess we better have a proper look.

Then we went and found that Dreams bed had gone, internet use, oh, it's now part of another shop. We went there, had a frightening lift ride up and tried out some matresses. So Denyse will ask someone to forward the cash and I will buy one.

Then back home for lunch then off to gym in a bit

When we came back I left my 'chair in t'car and walked in without it

Phew

And I did, great relief

Single

So after last weeks disaster now I am pouring my Whisk(e)y more carefully so a single is just that, not a one and a half-er, or a double or occasionally a two and a half-er.

So hopefully I will wake up in a dry bed in't morning

'Wimming

And I said "Can we not go swimming today, just gym?" and Alex said "No, because....." so we are off for my second trip to the pool this week.

Hoo-f*cking-ray

And it actually wasn't too bad today. Either I am just getting better at it all or I like being in a room with Alex where he can see my bum. G*d knows but I actually didn't hate it today

Chairless - again

Well my leg seems much better s'morning, still slightly stiff but I am back to walking into have breakfast today

Hot Dogging

So we have a packet of veggie sausages to eat today and tomorrow. While we were out today I said to Timmy 'Shop' and we nipped to More Reasons To Shop At.... There I bought some hot dog rolls. I cut them when dinner was cooking and managed to not cut them the whole way through, microwaved a small amount of chopped onion and had them with ketchup and sweet potato chips.

Just yum yum

Injecting My Arse

So Timmy phoned the Dr s'morning and said "Can you inject Neil's arse with Testosterone, please", they said "Why?", he explained the circs and made an appointment for Friday morning

Shit, shit, shit, marginally apprehensive but I am sure it will be fine. Well it better be

'Chairing

And when I woke up s'morning my right knee is aching, perhaps I over did it when dancing etc last night. So we are giving it a rest s'morning and gonna attempt gym s'afternoon

Well we went to gym and did 15 mins on the bicycle which seems to have helped loads

Out and About

So partially ta to a post on Facebook we took ourselves to a club tonight. Lots of folk there commented on how much better I was, basically my wheelchair was simply "my seat" from which I walked to the bar, to the loo etc

Busy Monday

Oh dear, right it's busy Monday, Morrison's then f*c*ing swimming

Well before we went to Morrison's we nipped out to try and buy some cheaper bits for my electric toothbrush. I walked miles along a street only to not get any, he pushed me back along to Waverley stores (that we had parked outside), went in and got some.

Then we went shopping in Morrison's, buying almost nothing from the supermarket

Then we went and had great fun in the swimming pool. It wasn't as unpleasant as I recall but still not fun

Father's Day

And Freya got in touch and said "Oops, can I meet you for Father's Day lunch in town?" so......

Oh, it was lovely in the end. Freya told us to meet her in a café, we parked outside and I walked into the café and met her, had a brew then set off to walk miles to another café that Freya had decided to have lunch in. I got about 2/3 of the way there then stopped, sent Gareth back to get my 'chair then finally made it. It was very lovely if a little slow coming but we had a good lunch before we dropped Freya off at her new house

Published

And in the video which I posted you can see how my right knee is bending as I walk. Even tho it is the first effort etc etc

Hardest Veg Known To Man

And at Aardvark yesterday I bought a butternut squash. Now I have used these before but only from packets of frozen, chopped up butternut squash. So today I had a raw one to deal with. 5 mins later I had to call Alex to help. Even he said it was the hardest veg known to man as he cut it

More Aardvarking

So today we have to head to Aardvark again to get the blueberries which someone dropped yesterday as they were taking them off the van to deliver, so a 2nd delivery was due last night

It was only last week they started selling them again, they came in season once more

And they were there, sitting in a bag with my name on it, waiting for me....

Out, walking in

Then because we had a late lunch today we went out at 5pm for a cuppa. We ended up driving past Timmy's house on the way to a very far away brew stop. There we parked a bit up the road and I got out of the car and walked all the way to my brew, left my wheelchair in't boot

Gym

And I went to gym s'morning and amazed myself with how much I have improved. We left 'chair here and just drove down and walked from t'car. I was in a conversation with another client about how much I am improving and she commented about how much more my right hand moves. We did that stretching up with both hands exercise and my right arm nearly equaled the left although it was much more difficult to do

AND on the way out I tried to open doors, which I have only been able to do for a month or so, I tried with my right hand. And I succeeded