Fredumpkins

Then Freya came down later and was well cool. She ate that pasta and stuff that I had cooked and complimented me on it's loveliness

Odd Shop

So after fixing the internet me and Timmy nipped to Morrison's, then to Tesco's as they had run out there.... So t'other day Timmy was discussing my diet with Denyse and she was a but insistent "More protein" so we were looking for a selection of mini cheese treats which we did find in Tesco. So 2 mouthfuls and it's gone but I need it every day, apparently

Hectic Day

So today we have a technician coming to fix my 'chair, to put some "prevent it falling backwards" equipment.

Concurrently Timmy will be fitting the new wire on the internet, so it will be even faster...

 So the 'chair fixer arrived at 9 s'morning, fiddled about said "Nah" and arranged to try again next week

Then

Then we went to swimming pool. I had as much fun as usual but it is incredible how much progress is being made in this getting better malarkey

Out

So s'morning we started by going to the doctors and picking up my script, then walking across the way and down to the chemist. Waited 20 mins then left, with a bagfull of medicine. IIRC it is the first time that I didn't use my 'chair for any part of the journey, I walked all of it.

Then we drove to Aardvark where again I walked from car to shop and just picked up some pasta sauce, as Freya is coming tomorrow when Timmy will be here who doesn't eat my food, and I cooked some last week and put half the chopped up veg into the freezer, so everything else is here, ready

Force Of Habit

So I am travelling about in my wheelchair as it's evening. So I zoom about with my right foot stuck out in front and propel with my left foot. But NO, my right foot works now, I should be using it. But force of habit....

That's What It Is

And while we were out we were passing loads and loads of a flower that I asked Timmy(?) if he recognised it t'other day and he said "No", but tonight as I was with Alex, and he said "Horses like it, it's called Hedge Parsley (1)" (as he feeds his wife's horses so knows about that). According to the interweb it can also be called Cow Parsley so they must like a nibble of it too

(1) Amongst other things e.g. Queen Anne's Lace

Oot For A Drive

And we nipped out for a drive. Turned off the main road, turned off again, I have no idea where we were but it looked good. And the rain stopped there too

What A Morning

So first of all we went to the hospital and drove round and round the car park and couldn't find a space.

So we drove off to gym. And got there too early so it was full of schoolkids having lessons. But pushing between them I managed 4 weight machines and a 20 min cycle

Then we tried hospital again, it was much quieter by now so we managed a parking spot and went in to cue for the blood sampler. Eventually he saw me, had some trouble finding a vein again, but succeeded in taking my samples which will be sent off to the testosterone Dr.

The Internet

Megaweb, suddenly out of the blue tonight

Hooray

And we are nipping to t'pool today.......

And strangely enuf, I did various exercises first then Timmy said "Breast stroke action, like we did last week", I was puzzled but in the end with a weight/float in each hand and my legs just doing a front crawl action, with a support round my chest I did not one, not two but 3 lengths trying to make my arms move strangely sideways (noisy link)

Maps

Just been looking at Google Maps around Carmarthen and it is just WOW, how posh can computer software be, holds so much information....

Dinner Tonight

So we are having my usual Saturday dinner tonight, roasted veg, as we had the first pasta I have had in years last night

Fark, I love that dinner, it was delicious.....

Bruising

And while we were out in the daylight Paul said "Good lord, a bruise on your head" and yes, there is one just to the left of my mohawk from t'other night

Out

So s'morning Paul came in and handed over. Then he made a cuppa and passed me a pack of Oreo Cookies which were rather nice. Then we nipped off to Morrison's and did my weeks shopping, very little was required, but we did notice that the Go Bars (healthy snack) were half price so I brought 7 packets home instead of the one per week I normally eat

Falling Backwards

And it is still astounding me, t'other night when I fell over I was able to get myself back up, from on the floor to on my feet with no problem

Micro Sleep

So I woke up s'morning at about a quarter past seven, thought "No, too early to get up" and lay there. I was thinking gord nose what and next time I looked at my watch it said 7.35 then at 7.37 thinking "I will get up at 8 as normal". Next time I looked at my watch it said 8.15, I must have micro slept the last half an hour

Haven't Made This For Ages

So for dinner tonight I asked Ed "Roast veg or pasta?" and he replied "Pasta" so I got stuck into chopping veg and grating cheese etc and even tho I haven't made it for ages it was reasonably lovely.

AND I have got half the veg I chopped in the freezer now so it will be even easier next time

Ache

And I feel a bit wonky s'morning but no bruises from my fall over last night.

I think, on reflection, that GGtGG had to rearrange the room and pick up my wheelchair etc but I was more than capable of picking myself off the floor, which I wouldn't have expected myself to be able to do, so perhaps I am less fscked than I give myself credit for

Fell Over

Well after being so drunk that....... tonight..... I went to the loo, had a crisis, fell over backwards...... had a MOS pulling..... I said "Do it like this" and managed, I was scared but managed..... got back up on my feet

Out

So we went up to't pub but Jo (the neigbour) didn't show up

Dinner

And what do we have for tea every Friday?

Yum yum it was

And I "did" loadsa washing up while it was cooking but there is still loads for GGtGG to do, loads.

Because it is not a heat frozen food dinner at a guess I should just get used to it

Making Friends

And we are off to't pub tonight to meet up with my beautiful neighbour and her hubby who have lived here about 2 weeks longer than I have. We met them last week and she said "Next Friday" so go about making friends locally etc etc

......jeroo

And we are off in a bit to my one class at t'gym each week. Wish me luck.....

And to some extent it was inspirational. I did say to Sam how much I don't like the class but.... and she said "But you can see how much good it is doing you", how right was she. She did also comment on how my right arm is no longer going into the holding baby position when I am doing some exercises which it used to. She also told me how I inspired one chap to come and keep exercising. He had had a stroke and thought he had got as well as he could so was gonna leave class, one day he saw me walking in and said "He used to be wheelchair bound" and realised that there is hope for us all

Aard......

So we went to Aardvark s'morning, had to pay to park but..... So we went into Aardvark, did my usual shopping and then, when we were ½ way to the till I thought "No, pasta too" so we bought some pasta, some veg and some organic tomato and chilli sauce so next week we have another meal that is properly cooked (OK, not made from scratch but better than the frozen thingies I have been serving). So next week, I cook pizza one night, roast veg another, scrambled eggs another, then the pasta and nonsense a fourth night so a minority of frozen food, only 3 night

Friday Feeling

So shopping in a bit

And practicing typing this on my new phone...

Gymming

So after a brew s'morning we headed over to gym. I did some lifty weights and astonished myself that I can now just do one of the arm exercises, I really used to struggle with my right arm but now it is so much more equal. Then I had about half a session on the bike because I was trying too hard and exhausted myself. On the way home I walked up the stairs in't gym to make up for it. Down in lift, up stairs and back down in lift to head home

More Shopping

So after my nap we went shopping, looking for a bigger washing up bowl, one big enough to actually take a plate flat. We found the tape, measured the sink and the old bowl. First of all we tried Wilko's but they were all as small as my existing bowl. So then we headed to The Range and after some looking found one that was 1cm bigger than the sink. But Alex said "It's tall enough to be out of the sink" and when we bought it and brought it home it is. And the plate fits in it flat

Another Busy Morning

So first of all me and Alex headed out to buy a screen protector for my phone. First of all we went to the recommended shop, they had loads of protectors but not one for the A5. So then we headed market-wards as it was market day and in the end found another shop, she thought she had none but then found one. Because I was being charming she cleaned off my screen and fitted it, which was nice.

Then we nipped to the 'wimming pool and did my usual exercises and lengths. It was too busy to swim breadths so I couldn't try swimming on my front but.......

My New Phone

Does this work then? 😑

Well it does work but you can't see the smiley I put at the end of the line, but it is proving itself capable of everything. Samsung A5 it's called

Lordy. I have stopped playing around with it long enough to go on my PC for a play. I seem able to type pretty well, even tho it doesn't have buttons which I am very glad about

Timmyday

Good lord, so I am having a Timmyday today. So s'morning we went to gym, on 2 machines for half an hour, then we nipped to the O2 shop and hummed and hawed then decided to get a Samsung A5 phone. Then we came home, ate lunch and every minute since before I finished we have been getting stuck into phone. I am still confused etc but Timmy said "Just play with it" so....

T

So then we nipped out to buy more Sweet Potato Oven Chips but first of all we went to Farm Foods, as I was confused, but we got some frozen food and ice cream there then headed to Tesco's where we just bought the chips we wanted

Paint

Then we nipped to B&Q to buy a small tin of (very) expensive "painting metal" paint to do the door numbers and a tin of emulsion to paint around where that goes and over the door etc etc

Physio

Then after lunch Sarah Davies the physio came to see me and did balance tests etc, my berg balance etc

GorgeousGertrude (SexySuzanna?)

So LusciousLinda came and did my feet s'morning. She has been all over since 7 o'clock this morning, I can't imagine having my toenails cut so early but I suppose some people have it dun in't morning before going to work for the day

Bladder

So I went to bed at about 12.summat last night and stayed in bed until 8 am s'morning, no loo visits. I did need a pee when I woke up s'morning, I went to the loo, started, carried on, and carried on...... and carried on some more. It was an enormous pee. But it hadn't leaked out at all last night or owt

More Reasons

And because my timetable for tomorrow is full of Georgeous Gertrude (or Luscious Linda) coming to cut my toennails we headed for Morrisons. And bought bugger all as my salad is ready to harvest here.

But the electricity seems to be properly fixed s'afternoon, it's working

Power Cut(s)

And I got up s'morning, said to GGtGG "What's that beeping noise?" he said "The router?" and then we discovered that the light wouldn't come on to help us look, it wasn't working either, no lights, ah we've had a power cut. He was boiling a kettle on't cooker while I went to the fridge to take out my cereal, when I opened the fridge the light in there was working, power had come back on, everything was working again

Then half way thru my muesli it went off again

And half way thru my coffee it came back on

Roasted Veg

And we had the usual Sat dinner of roasted veg tonight with 2 differences. I put most of the veg on to roast for three quarters of an hour but added 1 red pepper (chopped in 4) and a floret of broccoli 20 mins before I took it out and it was extra delicious

And I did all the chopping for cooking with my right hand

Hot Water

And it occurs to me, in the bath, that any time of day or night I just have to turn the hot tap on and it comes.

Any house that I lived in with my parents or later alone or with a partner, in any/every house you needed to light the fire or turn the immersion on. 

See these modern systems...

In Town

So we nipped to Carmarthen to buy some printer paper for "them", so then I said 'Push me around town' so we explored from one end of town to the other

On the way around town I met one of the wannabe singer/guitarists from..... Folk Club. She stopped to speak to us and did comment that when she first met me, a year or 3 ago that my speech wasn't as clear then, whereas nowadays it is as good as most peoples. Which was good to hear, because the people I speak to most are "my staff" who have practised listening to me so they can't really say if it is clearer or not. So not only was it good to meet someone that beautiful, but she made me feel happier about my speech

Not that I can shut up nowadays, practicing you see...

And while heading around town we called into Nomads shop where I wish my brother hadn't bought me so many clothes (from Belfast), when they wear out I will have to replace them from here. And I knew the woman who was working there which felt a bit strange

Pub

So we went to my local pub tonight. When we got in there was one other person playing the fruit machine. Within 3 minutes of arriving a coachload of chaps looking for food arrived followed again by 5 or 6 locals who came round and chatted with us. Noted was my neighbour from half way up the street (no. 40) who I was flirting with as her husband had fallen asleep on the sofa, they had been to another pub first

Friday Fun

So then we went to the usual Friday ritual of going to proper class in gym, with Sam.

It does my head in as I am so much better but still struggling with what would have seemed like minor inconveniences this time last year, but they are still big struggles

-ing

And we went and spent loads on loads of food in Aardvark s'morning. It was quick, leaving home to leaving Aardvark was only half an hour apart

Sheet

Timmy will be pleased

Moishe's Do

Then tonight we headed out to see Moishe's do, to fund raise for her trip to Canada. Basically there was an ongoing auction of various goods and services that had been donated but I was way too tight fisted to be involved in the hundreds of quids being raised. Between times there were various muso's and entertainers who were also well worth it.

I sat next to Julia who was there with Freya and also saw Stuart and loadsa folk that I don't know as well but have met before. 

The beautiful woman who was due to work for me but couldn't fit it in was there too

Waste Energy

So GGtGG and I were talking and I said "Wot?" he said "Have you never heard of..." and I said "No"

Talk about wasting energy etc

X-word

And as me and my chap got stuck into the crossword together today, I had done about 50% of it before he arrived and we finished the complete crossword s'morning.

They call this one "quick", it is much too difficult for us normal chaps.....

Walkies

And as I am walking today I am making the special effort to bend my right knee just a fraction after I have put my right heel down. Which is making a big difference, walking is easier/better

'Wimming

So we are going off swimming in a bit before coming back and awaiting the wheelchair fixer chap who is gonna fit some don't tip over backwards bits to my new chair

Well that was strange, I was thinking my right foot/leg is better but I can't say how/why but then it occured to me, getting into the pool I was able to use my right leg to get me down the last long step getting in, then when I was getting out I was able to use it to do the opposite. For 12.summat years my right leg hasn't been that capable but today it is

But we just beat him here, he was 25 minutes early so I was still eating my lunch when he arrived, he fitted a tip the chair backwards up a kerb device instead of what I expected, but I am pleased anyway, it works and makes it easier to push me

Pooper Scooper

And first thing s'morning the phones stopped working, I thought "WTF ?" Then realisedd the internet was down too then a few minutes later it all started working much faster

New Router

And there has been a surprisingly large number of gadgets which won't work until I have enteres the password for the new router, eg printers, blog etc

Red

And I finished my new book t'other night, I did enjoy reading it, so I got another few tonight, see how they go

Shopping AND gym

So we headed off to Wilko's (2nd time in 3 days, I know) and I walked in and carried my heavy basket with 6 mouthwashes, back to the till all by myself. No help was needed even tho I nearly cried out for some, loads

Then on the same trip out we went to gym, and walked in despite the wind now being so strong, and did my strength exercises

Nipped Out

Then 'bout dinner time we headed down to Farm Foods and bought some more oven chips and a few Cream Egg lollies

Hectic-ish

So in a few days we hopefully have the "switch on the uber-broadband" and the next day I am scheduled to get a new mobile phone

Dunno, I might keep this one, and pay a lot less as it is paid for. Just paranoid about being able to get everything that I use this phone for on my new phone

-tastic

So we (me and SP) headed to gym today. I said "No swimming, it's half term" but when we got there the pool looked empty but 4 under 8yo kids had passed us as I walked in so it might have been busy in 10 minutes. So I did 20 minutes on the bike and then 10 minutes on the rowing machine. SmallPaul was just astonished at how much better I am generally

It is frankly astonishing being able to use the rowing machine tho, I just couldn't a while ago

Actually Reading

So I have bought another book for my Kindle and, this is the third or fourth I have got in the last week or so and the difference is this one is actually readable, I am enjoying it. The previous ones lasted 5 or 6 pages before closing them, this one is excellent

Dinner

And for dinner tonight I baked a spud and baked some Quorn Sossiges later. With the tattie I had some real butter and a corner of grated cheese. Mmmm, it was well lovely, and dead simple

Bank Holiday Tomorrow

As it's a bank holiday tomorrow we had to nip to Morrison's s'morning, for an even smaller than usual shop. I needed rolls, naan bread, blueberries etc but I didn't need salad today, and by the looks of it I won't need it for a few weeks

Exciting

And I had such a full on, busy, Saturday today. All day we were...

Well I did have an EdHaircut today...

Garlic Pizza

So I made my usual Pizza's for tea tonight (and it was perhaps even lovelier than usual) and as is now usual I crushed some garlic to add. I thought I could taste it on most mouthfuls but for some reason on 1 mouthful I could definitely taste garlic. Dunno why, don't think it was too strong but for whatever reason 1 mouthful tasted well garlicky, I could definitely recognise the flavour

New Router

And it was posted thru the letter box while I was @ gym, so we read the instructions, it said "Connect" so we plugged it in and it wouldn't connect. So we've reconnected the existing router until Wednesday 6th when it will cease working.....

Gym Class

So I went in (walking in) to my weekly gym class. Which was as much fun as usual but Sam did comment on just in so many small ways I am a load better

Aardvarking

And we are off in a bit to Aardvark.

But BT are supposed to be delivering my new router......

And we went off to Aardvark, did my usual loadsa shopping and the assistant actually gave me the money off that I deserve

And no BT man by the time we got back to find Timmy still working away here

Freya Meeting Us

And Freya contacted me s'morning and said "Iechyd Da?" so I replied "See you there later..."

And it was as excellent as a..... There seemed to be folk playing tunes as opposed to nonsense so....

Early Lunch

And we had an early lunch today as we had to go to the dentist for a filling. It didn't hurt much but was an unpleasant experience

But she was well impressed with how much better my teeth look since I started using those Floss thingies and my mouthwash

Salad

And I ate some lettuce/salad from my Trug with lunch today. So next week I won't need to buy any salad

Mynydd Cerrig

And we went out for a drive through places I used to live in, GGtGG said he could find Mynydd Cerrig (which I couldn't find last time, despite living there for ages) so we set off, thru there then across the valley past the Gardens

Can't Cope

And next few weeks are proving a bit mental. I get new super dooper faster broadband and fly to Belfast for my Dad's birthday. I have been too busy to get my head round it so far...

Swimming

So we went swimming s'morning. It was as much fun as usual but I managed to swim 1.5 breadths on my front again.

It is more than 12 years since I could do that before

Gymtastic

So me and Alex went to the gym for a cardiac workout. But I didn't see Jane or Sam so to get my heart beating I had spend 10 minutes on the rowing machine and then 20 minutes on the bike

Hows He Doing?

And Timmy is currently here with Alex and they are doing a "How's he getting on?" kind of meeting, in Timmy's role as the team leader

A Present For You

So I have made myself summat for the election and I have put a  zipped edition here to share

In Between Time

So in between me swimming and geekiness we phoned the airline, booked us on flights to and from Belfast for my Dad's birthday, and spoke to my mother who had been up to the hotel to view, was well impressed and booked us 3 nights there, in a disabled room, to be paid for when we leave

Uber Geek

Then today Timmy phoned BT and assisted me, enquiring about broadband. He hummed and ha'd and in the end they said that as my contract had ran out months ago and hadn't been renewed that I was currently paying far too much for my not very broadband. Basically on 6th May they are gonna switch my line to uber broadband and it is gonna cost less than it does ATM

Firstly

So at lunchtime we (me & Timmy) headed out to the swimming pool. We were doing exercises as usual when someone caught our eye. Basically I copied her and was able to swim the first breadth I have been able to swim on my front since my accident!!

4th Game

And it was the fourth game sitting at the breakfast table before I won it, s'morning

And Busy Day#174 now.....

Eat It

And today I harvested and ate some lettuce from my Trug

Wasted Sunday Afternoon

So we went out and drove around the place for a bit, had a push up the new shopping centre then went to Caffè Nero and had a brew

More Reasons

So we had to nip to Morrisons s'morning and got a small amount of food, but salad was the most urgent.

Having done that I cut some of the lettuce that I have grown in my trug and had those for lunch.

Which feels nice on so many levels

Out For The 'Nooneraft

So we went out getting lost^Hexploring today and in the end we made it to Amroth, beyond St Clears and on the coast. We called into The Temple Bar where I had an orange juice and soda then headed home

Oops

And I completely forgot to use my right hand to milk my cereal s'morning, I obviously hadn't woken up properly that soon

It Works

And s'morning and last night the radiators were on, which they haven't been for a week or so, it is much colder now but this is just proof that the new boiler is working as it said on the tin

No Right Hand

So I prepare my muesli night before and add blueberries and more milk with my right hand in't morning. But last night I put on some extra milk so I didn't have to do it s'morning with my right hand. Can't remember if I used my right or left hand last night as I have been extra concentrating and using my right hand in the mornings for a few days

Second Busy

So we have a second busy day today. First of all I go to Aardvark and do most of my weeks (according to Timmy too dear) shopping. Then I come back here and make a lunch to eat in the car on the way to my next appointment. Then we head to the major hospital in Swansea where they have my new wheelchair waiting for me, months after I ordered it

So we did my Aardvark* shopping, came back, put it away, made sum lunch to take to Swansea in half an hour and now I'm having a coffee instead of after lunch

And that was quick and easy. We arrived 15 minutes early, waited for 10 then were called in and in it seemed like no time I was given my new chair. It has some subtle differences, the velcro strap that I had to buy to fit my 'stick to the old chair is bolted on to this chair. The biggest difference is the tyres, they are now pump up air tyres like bicycle tyres

 * I bought some blueberries in Aardvark too, they have obviously come back into season

Getting Ready

And s'morning I had to remove the plugs from my phone and my iPad which sit on chairs in the way in the dining room, usually "we" can fit round them but as a Team Meeting is going on today there will be too many seats sat on

So it's the start of the well busy 2 days, today we have a Team Meeting and tomorrow we have to head to the hospital in Swansea to get my new wheelchair, the one I have been waiting for for some months now

And when I was leaving the first part of the meeting I heard someone say "Shut that door" so I had to turn around, knock, and say to Denyse "Je t'adore"

More Right Hand Practice

And I used my right hand once more to pour milk onto my cereal

I Am Getting Better

And I took a picture of myself pouring milk on my cereal s'morning because I can now do it with my right hand. It hurt, was difficult etc but I can do it at all, so it will be a little easier tomorrow etc etc

Oh What Fun We Had...

So we went to swimming pool at lunchtime today. It was nearly empty and I did 4 lengths and various exercises

That Place

That T place, so tonight I requested a visit to Tesco's to....... pick up some more sweet potato oven chips. So while I was there I thought I might as well pick up some Cream Egg Lollies but they had none, not one left. So Farmfoods for that then

Aberaeron

So today after lunch we headed out to Aberaeron (due north of Carmarthen, on the coast), as recommended by Alex and it was remarkable. Very beautiful countryside on the way there and a posh, flat town with wide pavements. (There were actually loads of those cripple scooters there) There was a tidal harbour right in town which was remarkable and a walk past that was the delicious ice cream shop that we called at. There was also a "Bigbelly solar compactor" waste bin there which impressed me on so many levels

And not needing a pee every 15 minutes still fills me with joy even tho it has become habit now.....

And I feel that there were some photos "views of the whole town" that were not taken as I was too busy walking to look around fully

Light

And I was up for a pee at a quarter to six s'morning and I didn't need to switch the light on, it was bright already

And I walked into the bathroom in my bare feet, walked up to the loo without holding on to anything, I am so much better @ walking since last year. Just generally I am astonished at my FES device, what a difference it is making. We phoned them yesterday and said "Can we have a new infoot sensor...." they said "First try this..... and....." and by the time Timmy had finished talking to them it was working again

Not Swimming

And as my timetable is a bit fscked about this week Timmy said "Gym, not swimming" today and we got stuck into the heart exercises, the rowing machine followed by the bike. Timmy thought that I was too tired so should stop after 15 mins on the bike but I carried on 'til the end. And then walked out of gym to the car, out of car back indoors

......ing

So today we did a "how much has your timetable changed" incident by nipping to Aardvark and doing the majority of my shopping. On a Monday!!! It wasn't as well stocked as it is on a Friday (When I usually go) but we got enuf

Walkies

And I was able to walk on uneven surfaces, well wrinkly ones this weekend. I an getting so much generally better

Immediately Back Out

Then we got in home, put the washing on and then headed off to Morrisons to buy the weeks foor and a little milk, hopefully I will get the rest of the milk in Aardvark when I do my weeks shopping there tomorrow

Home Again (Jiggity, jig)

So we made it back s'morning.

For a start I managed the whole journey without a pee and it is still pale coloured....... So we left there to much positive noise, I had been trying to show off and many people commented on how much I was walking.

Yesterday we drove into Hay On Wye, parked up in the free car park which is a bit out of town, I got out of the car and walked the whole way into town, narrow pavements in places, not smooth underfoot in places, SP was pushing my 'chair in front to clear the way but I didn't use it in the ¾ of an hour walk thru town to a cafe, OR the same distance walk back. Many people coming thghe other saw my situation and stepped down out of my way, I was impressed with the general level of courtesy

I knew many of the people there, got to know a few more and just generally felt welcomed

And the loo in the bedroom in the hotel was even lower than this one here, there was no "Raise your loo" on it like here and I still managed to pee and pooh properly

So Much Better

Just walked from the living room to the kitchen, without my FES fitted and it is frankly astonoshing how much flatter my right foot is even without it being on, that device has done me so much good

Nervous

And we are setting off to SoS in a bit...