Bother

Hoo-flipping-ray. Another day another dollar...

Scared

And I am scared as tomorrow morning I have gotta change the bed.  I have never carried the bag of bedding out on my own two feet, I useda take a day off my walking and carry it on my wheelchair.  Never, so am a bit intimidated

Well I managed s'morning, it was relatively easy, I might have been skiving somewhat in the past

Stress Cooking Pizza

And despite my moving stuff out before use etc I still found it needed loads of nipping about the kitchen to make pizza and chips but I fscking managed. On my own two feet

And it was a bit delicious 

Keep Your Dignity

Right, I had realised that not sitting in my wheelchair to leave the bathroom was making my big towel fall down, removing my dignity. So I had a look today in the cupboard and found 1 (Should have a partner, didn't see it today!) even bigger towel. So  I got out of the bath today, dried myself, got the biggest towel wrapped around my waist, was able to double over 6-8 inches and it stayed up while I walked out of the bathroom, carrying the piece of lifting device to be plugged in, my pants and my walking stick.

No passers by could look in the window and see my bottom

Gym Class

So me and MM are off in a bit to my only gym class that I go to each week. I am a bit excited about telling her how long it is since I sat in a wheelchair. And it felt a bit strange to listen to Timmy saying "You must fix his wheelchair" when I haven't sat in it for some days.

I s'pose that's future-proofing it etc but...

Well I went to class and worked really hard to try and get around this "You are being lazy since Christmas" accusation that has been made. I told Sam that it has been a number of days since I sat in a wheelchair and she made praising noises

But I am vaguely worried about Morrisons tomorrow, walking?  

Accesibility

So watching Breakfast Telly s'morning there was a piece about accesibility, gigs being more wheelchair friendly etc but I was nearly crying when watching and had to turn it off

Exploding Head

Now my head has blown up. That's because it is 2 or 3 days since I have sat in my wheelchair

Minor Panic

And I had another minor panic when I realised that 'cos of this "no wheelchair" rule I was gonna have to walk out of my bedroom after napping, carrying the washing basket and carry it all the way to the kitchen and put it on. I had always sat down to carry stuff before

But today I managed. Carrying in my right hand, walky stick in left hand, it just worked

Gymming

So as Timmy was with me today and he had his "being in charge" head on I went on a bike and did the full 10km in just over 50 minutes.

And he did say that yesterday's crisis was just me forgetting that I have done it before at the pool, and when he said "It's broken" I panicked

Fear

So tonight I am in bed with no wheelchair at the side. Fark, how much better am I, have I got?????

Aargh

So I was gonna come into the kitchen, I pushed my chair away from the desk, went to start pushing it in here..... No, you got a stand up and walk, that is not a moveable wheelchair

Grumpy-ness

So today I am doing that "Walk everywhere" thing again. (Which is excellent etc, I know)

BUT

Because I am walking everywhere I no longer get to think "Ahhhh, that's easier" when I get into my wheelchair for the first time, usually in the afternoon after my nap

Panic

And finishing my lunch I panicked, thought GGtGG better nip out to the car and bring my wheelchair back in. I can't have a bath without it. But after conversation I just went to the bath without it. It was hassle coming out on foot, carrying my 'pants, the tuner for the lifting me out device, my 'stick, towels etc but I managed. Only having one and a third hands that work can be such a hassle

Wheelchairless

And while I was making lunch I said to GGtGG "Take my wheelchair out of the kitchen (where it's in the way) and put it in the boot of the car". I know he will be able to fetch it back later if necessary but as I didn't use it at all last night.....

Gymless

So we headed into town first. Looked in 3 shops and eventually picked up sum new sandals as my old ones were coming undun etc.

Then we headed into swimming pool, got changed, went by the pool GGtGG went to ask the chap for the stairs device that I get down and up he replied "No, it's broken". After much humming and hawing I got half way in down the ladder but changed direction then and got back out. I didn't feel confident enough to go down the last 2 steps as I needed to be able to reverse the project. So we came back here, had lunch then I will have a proper bath and nap

'Wimming

And we need to go swimming s'morning. Hoo-fscking-ray

More Walkies

And Alex fixed it for me s'morning, carried the other chair in and put it in place so now I, hopefully, no longer need my 'chair by my bed

Muscles Contracting

I don't know any more detail but there was proof. I was standing at the loo having a piss, I farted and it stopped my piss coming out for about a quarter of a second. Don't know why but it must be some form of contraction

Walkies

So today, as suggested yesterday, I used my wheelchair into the bathroom, used it to carry my washing to the machine afterwards, then parked it and walked. I have been wanting to/feeling guilty for not walking more for some time now

And I walked while I cooked tonight. It was a struggle but I manged

Still walking everywhere. 8.23pm. 10.15pm now... Effectively all day

And I was walking all day, I went off left my wheelchair in the kitchen, shut the door then realised that I don't have a seat by my other PC so had to go back and get it. I'll fix this tomorrow 

Ahhhh

That's how I take a video. I was looking at my camera a bit puzzled today, thinking "It can take video's, but how?" but Alex knew, "Press the red button next to the taking photo's button"

Cycling

So I headed to gym today and got straight on the bike. I said "Don't measure my distance as if I do it takes about an hour 20 to finish and I am not prepared to do that ever again. I am just cycling for half an hour then we are going home"

Dentistry

So today I was able to brush my teeth and use mouthwash which I was advised not to last night but everything seems to have worked. The hole has closed over and seems to be well mended

Oops, shop

Then s'afternoon I looked at the veg I am cooking with and decided there wasn't enough. So we nipped to Morrison's and bought some broccoli and half a red cabbage to add. Wow but red cabbages have loads of content, I had to get a bigger saucepan out to transfer it to

Right, as it started to cook down it was looking like I had put too much water in after all. So I enquired off Timmy "What will thicken this?", he said "You haven't got any cornflour" (looking in t'cupboard) then suddenly he said "Lentils". D'uh, why hadn't I thought of that

AARGH, and I forgot to pick up a na'an bread for Friday......

Lunch

So then later I thought I would just make a cuppa coffee for lunch as my mouth felt weird. Then I thought "Eat yoghurt, that's soft" but actually had some yoghurt and 2 bananas for lunch, before drinking my coffee

Dentist

And Timmy phoned the dentist at about a quarter to nine and said "Neil..." and they said "Come in at 11.30" so...

Fark. So we went along, she prodded, said "That tooth is dead, not connected, want me to take it out otherwise you will get loads of infections?" so I thought for a minute then said yes. So she gave me loadsa jabs then waited for a minute then got stuck in. First of all she got some "pliers" then went to attach them, thought "No need" and just attacked my tooth with a screwdriver type device. She got in, attached it then instantly handed me the tooth, no struggling and pulling, it wasn't attached. Then put a rolled up bit of cloth on and said "Goodbye"

But again I did this trip without wheelchair. Timmy drove there, got out of car, walked down the stairs outside then to the door, reversed route on way out. Up/down the stairs, not around the longer stairless route for wheelchairs and those of us who can't use the stairs

Right, I have had my bath and my nap now and the anti-hurting stuff has worn off and it does hurt now. But only some, not enough for a "Parrot to eat anything" etc

Everybody Needs Good....

Then (noisy link) there was a knock on the door tonight, I went to see who it was and it was Simon and Vicky my new next door neighbours, who have just moved over from England and seem interesting

Sigh

So.... a quiet Sunday, we nipped to More Reasons To Shop At... (noisy link) yesterday as I ran out of salad..... and the only thing on my diary was "Ask Timmy to phone about AF" and he said "No, you had such a stressful journey last year, it took 13 hours to get there, just head for SOS this year"

Aargh

Then after Ruth had been round telling me to make a life etc I had a bath and was just sitting on the edge of the bed about to get in it for my nap when the doorbell rand. Ed answered it then came back in and told me it had been the new next door neighbours coming round to make friends.

Aargh, missed them

Surprise

Then someone came and knocked on the door s'morning. It was Ruth and her son who was born about the time I had my accident and is a bit massive now. Basically she invited me to her house for tea once a month or so in order that I can start having a life once more

Early Shop

So as I had run out of salad and needed sum today I thought I may as well so my weekly shop a day early. So 1 basket, 1 bag of stuff but we couldn't get any na'an bread so I will head back on Tuesday or Wednesday and fetch them

Calendar

Someone posted a link to his wife's calendar for this year

Busy Day

So I am having a busy day today, on antibiotics so not being "naughty" but Sam did txt me earlier to say "we" would come over later.....

Which they did, they are on their way back to Sheffield and called in to see me one last time....... they were only here for an hour but it was nice

HNY

Well Happy New Year to one and all. It must be about..... 2003ish. WTF's happened to all the intervening years, I don't remember them. It's now 2016

Java Snow

And as I managed to update one of my web pages with snow Java today but I can't find a way of making it just be over the picture, any clues pls let me know

Just in time

Then we headed over to Aardvark half an hour early and just caught them, they were closing early too but I did manage to get everything

Anti

And I started taking my antibiotics s'morning. I had initially thought "Wait 'til after tonight" but as I would then have to wait 24 hrs so couldn't start 'til Saturday I just went for it

From The Sky

And when we were heading out to gym today suddenly the sky opened with a massive hail shower that left a couple of inched of hail. Scary and slippery

Less Busy

So me and MM headed off to gym s'morning. I did 4 exercises plus a full 20 mins cycling afterwards so it is slightly easier than a few days ago.

Busy

Then s'afternoon I phoned the dentist to ask about an appointment. It sed "Were closed but phone this if it is an emergency" which I did and they said "Pop into town, see you in three quarters" so we had an emergency appointment at Water Street Dental Practice. She looked, found the pain, said "No fillings have come out but the gum is swollen" sold me some mega mouthwash and put me on antibiotics, so no getting drunk tomorrow.

Then I had a late bath, got up again and suddenly looked in my diary and it said "Go to docs and pic up 'script", we phoned and they were still open for another 25 minutes so we shot down and found the chemist next door also closes a bit later

Gym gym jeroo

So we headed to gym s'morning and I managed 4 weights before a 20 minute cycle session, that was all I could do yesterday, just the cycle

And on the way there we popped into the Spar, just walked in, and picked up a small book of stamps as I had used them all up on birfdé cards

Luscious Linda (or Gorgeous Greta)

And the totty is coming here (if she can get thru the rain) in 15 minutes to cut my toenails

(Or is her name SexySuzanne?)

Excited

And my 3 offspring and one spouse are coming over for me to buy them a Chrimbly Dinner tonight.....

And they were all there tonight. I didn't need a pee from before to afterwards, a number of hours, but generally it was just so special

Struggle @ Gym

And good lord, after 4 or 5 days off I really struggled at gym s'morning. We called it a day after 20 mins cycling....

Best

And these are the best pics of 2015 apparently, from Da Gruniad

Busy

So me and Timmy headed into town and pottered today. While we were there we popped into the cinema and booked 2 seats in Star Wars 76 or whatever it's called for tonight, using my Chrissy pressie of a free film view certificate

When we were on the way home we called into the pub up the street and booked us into there tomorrow, when 3 kids and 1 kids wife are coming to see me

And I owe Denyse and the team a big thank you, the film was a bit excellent, I took me back a few years etc

Going Out

And Sam phoned me tonight and said "Me, Emma, Toby and Freya want you to buy us dinner next Tuesday", so.......

Slimmer

And at the end of Xmas over eating and over boozing I have lost 1lb in weight so at least I am still moving in the right direction

Christmas Is Over

And the shops were open again s'morning, my parents have buggered off....... the Christmas Celebrations are over for another year

Shopping

So we headed off to the shops s'morning. First of all to Wilko to pick up 4 boxes of small tissues to fill the shelves for the next 6 months or so, then we headed over to Morrison's (noisy link) to pick up the rest of my weeks shopping, I think we needed 4 items today

Tara

Well they have gone off now and in the morning they have gotta leave too early to nip over here for a bit. So thanks for a cool visit

Visitors

So we just sat in here s'morning and my parents came to visit, had a cuppa and a mince pie and chatted for a couple of hours. Mummy has taken a few Cream Crackers etc and they are gonna have lunch while I eat lunch, bath and rest, then later we are heading out for dinner somewhere else

And the dinner was as delicious as expected. 

Ho Ho Ho

So I had a morning with the parents s'morning and they were verbally very pleased with their pressies, as was I. So I had an early bath and I am now in bed for an early nap then we are meeting them in town for lunch

Which was pleasant, we had lunch, the veggie option was peppers stuffed with cous-cous and it was actually rather lovely. And as for the Christmas Pudding and Custard, I am in pudding heaven

So as requested by Mumsie we are heading back to see them in the hotel after an hours break

And we had a delicious much lighter meal tonight

Happy Parenting

So we are meeting my parents later who are already in town(1) but I needed nap etc so we will see them in a bit

(1) Much earlier than they reckoned when I spoke to them yesterday 

Unexpected Shopping

So me and Timmy went into town for a walk today. We parked outside the Drovers Arms and I walked the whole way up he hill to Nott Square. There I pleaded tiredness so Timmy was pushing me back in the 'chair when suddenly it started to rain really heavily. We paniced and ducked into Aardvark which was on my list for later today shopping. I thought they had a delivery later on a Thursday, hence my plan to shop later, but everything was already there. So luckily I had stuck 2 shopping bags in my pocket on the half-chance as we were coming to town so I was able to fill them both with products

Can Do It

And I noticed in the kitchen today that I was standing and walking all the way around the central divide without my wheelchair or my walking stick. It is no longer such an impressive fact for me, I just do it

Caught Up

Then the phone rang s'morning and it was Brian, Julia's Dad saying "Can I pop over and see you today?", so yes, he came over today with Freya and they both had some cheese and biscuits and grapes (which Timmy had txted me to say "Buy this"). It was nice to catch up

Gymtastic

So we headed into gym and did loadsa exercises etc. Because time is at a bit of a push Alex said "No time for bike 2day"  but because of that I arrived at gym, walked upstairs, did my exercises, and walked back down.

UberCycle

So me and Mighty went to gym s'morning and I did a 20 min cycle, just over 4 km.

But first of all we nipped to Aardvark and bought my Mum some Organic Chocolate Spread which she asked me to get for her, she will arrive about half an hour after it closes for Chrimbly so she felt the need to ask me to fetch some. While we were there I got some extra tins of tomatoes, tins of mixed bean salad etc that will be used up in a couple of weeks

Unexpected Shopping

And this evening I was about to start cooking when I realised that the "Timmy burgers" I had bought were looking sad without bread rolls, I went to the bread-bin, looked at tomorrows rolls and realised that they were much too small for the burgers. So we nipped out and bought more. Got some petty cash cleaner etc while we were out

Swimless

And I have got off swimming today (Hooray) because a) I really complained last time, and b) it's the school holidays so it's gonna be full of kids etc

Right. Well as I had no swimming I actually got stuck into the exercises like a normal gym exerciser. I put weight up by 10 kg on most of them and just went for it. With a visible layer of sweat on my face at the end

Cooking

And I was chopping the roastable veg tonight. I managed to peel all items and chop all of them with my right hand.

And it was cooked well tonight, none raw and undercooked and none burned/overcooked.

Yum yum, it was nice tonight

Ooh

And MightyMark came into work today, said "Morning" then immediately got stuck into sawing the legs off the outside seat in the front garden so it now fits properly without having to be propped up on one leg

Dinner

And I asked Ed "Want roasted veg or casserole?" so he said "Casserole", I chopped up all the veg with my right hand and remembered all the ingredients tonight so it was actually a bit lovely

First Time In 12⅔ Years

So after bath today I went to put my jumper on. As usual (since my accident) I went to put my right arm in first. I thought "No, see if you can...." and put my left arm in first. I used to be stuck at this point and need to take if off and put my right arm in first as it wasn't flexible enough to reach/stretch. But today I just put my left arm in first and then put my right arm in. It was slightly more difficult than doing it t'other was round but only slightly. My right shoulder is so much better than it was last time I tried....

Weather

No, I don't think we should try The National Botanic Gardens today, it's f***ing raining

Dinner

Then I cooked the usual Friday dinner of na'an bread pizza and chips. While I was making the pizza I was puzzled, I nearly called Alex and said "What's missing?" but no. I prepared the na'an, coated it with cheese, garlic, onion and mushroom, put it in the oven and when the timer said 2 minutes it suddenly occurred to me, tomato purée. Duh. The "cheese on toast" didn't taste too bad but it wasn't the pizza that I have been looking forward to all day

Quiet

So as we didn't have to go to Aardvark s'morning we had an unexpectedly quiet morning but in a bit we have to go to my weekly session in the gym class, hopefully with Sam

And as Alex just pointed out to me this is the last gym class of 2015 today.....

And we did gym. Sam wouldn't give me "missing you already" kiss for Christmas. But she did notice summat and said "You couldn't do that last week"

Oops Out

And we are heading out to an unexpected Folk Night at Caffe Iechyd Da, Carmarthen, I had forgotten etc

Shopping

So we headed into Aardvark and did loadsa shopping but they had no mince meat to make mincepies so we had to call into Morrisons and pick up some. I had almost nothing on my list for there on Monday so I just did my whole shopping today too

Well Fit

Then I headed to gym, without my 'chair, and did the cycle for 10km exercise. It was the fastest time I have ever done it in today and I wasn't trying too hard, obviously my general level of fitness is improving

Pub

And we headed down to the pub and had a pleasant chatty time

Again

Right, off swimming in a bit

Hoo~fscking~ray

I Own It Now

So I can do as many "decorations" as I want

Mint Spys

Then we headed into town to fetch some of the ingredients for the mince pies I am making next week with Alex. I will buy mince and eggs in Aardvark on Thursday but I got flour and unsalted butter and a baking tray etc today

Scared

So s'morning me and Alex went to gym to do sum exercises. As I am getting better, and trying to get betted still, I climbed the stairs to gym today. While I was half way thru my first exercise it suddenly went "Beep, beep..." there was a fire alarm. So we had to leave the building by the stairs not the lift this time. So after 10 minutes in the gentle rain outside we were allowed back in. I thought "..." and climbed the stairs again partly to prove to me how much better I am. Then we went in and finished my exercises. Then we headed out thru force of habit I got in the lift, headed down got there and came straight back up and walked down the stairs to prove to myself that 2 ups and 2 downs is possible and I could still walk back out afterwards

Space

And everything is on hold now and I am watching telly as the astronauts are about to take off to the space station.

I am a bit puzzled as I was too ill to be aware when it first went up. Previously the last space missions were in 1969 (when I was born) and onwards from there

Hooray

And me and GGTGG went swimming today and I had as much fun as usual. Doing so I noticed that I am getting better in... a way but I can't be positive about swimming at all

Right Hand

Just WOW, cooking tonight I chopped 4 or 5 things with my right hand. The reason I say wow is just that it is so much better/easier than it was last week which was so much easier than the week before etc

Headware

And while we were in town s'morning looking for another pin on board to stick up my "How well are you getting on" newspaper cutouts etc we had to go to another shop and buy more Christmas headware to wear in the car

Marginally Chaotic

So this Sunday I needed to change the bed s'morning and it is Timmy working today and it is not his favourite, or most effectively done, task making my bed.

THEN we have to nip to Morrisons to check out the various tofu products that Tim swears are there but last time I was in the shop, with no Tim, I couldn't find any. Because the tofu burger thingies we bought from Aardvark are full of some coating (ghee?), which is well calorific apparently

Climate Change

So 195 countries have signed an agreement on summat that Timmy doesn't believe exists, climate change.

Gord knows, hope it improves life

Quiet Weekend Day

And as I look out the window to see the rain I think we will have a quiet day today.......

Nipped Out

And we nipped out later to the Tafarn Pantydderwen and had a socialise with locals night. Which was actually quite pleasant, folk recognised me and said hi and we all chatted

Yum yum

And we had that na'an bread pizza again for tea, like we do every Friday, and it was as delicious as ever

Gymtastic

Then we didn't have time to come back here so we were 10 minutes early for gym class. It was a small class today, only 3 students at the start although that was un to 4 by the end. Again I was doing my get down and crawl backwards exercise but when I had finished I crawled back to the stand up on here seat and this time I pulled my right foot forward instead of the left, I left the left out of the way so I was just using the right, and I pressed down and stood up like that. Fark, it is IIRC 13¾ years since I was able to stand up on my right leg, it felt easy today.

Nearly 14 years....

MegaWalk

So s'morning before gym we popped into Morrison's to have a look for some version of the Tofu Burgers which Timmy sez contain too much fatty cover in Aardvark. So I said to Alex "Bring the chair but push it behind me, I will walk 'til I am exhausted" but I walked in't shop, half way to the back turned left and walked to the other end, looked around and waljked all the way back to the car by myself. It seems like no time since I couldn't walk a couple of yards

Aardvarking

Then after Argos we are heading to the Aardvark Christmas Party. We will get a mince pie and a mulled wine and a 10% discount off shopping. So we will buy much tonight and go back tomorrow for the fruit and veg which is delivered on Friday morning

Emergency Shopping

So I got out of bed and saw Timmy and he was holding the staff kettle, saying "It's broken" so we got online and ordered one from Argos and said we would pay in store so we get a receipt

Knackering

So s'morning I went to gym and did my 10km cycle faster than last week.

After 8km I said "Knackered" and Timmy replied "But...." and I just cheerfully went back on for the last 2km. Dunno I s'pose my laziness overtook me 

Instead

So instead of going to the comedy gig tonight we headed down to Farmfoods and bought loadsa tat. Well when I went in one of the 'til workers said "Ah, hello Neil, sorry, we have no sweet potato oven chips or ice cream lollies. Sorry".

Thankfully she was joking....

Am I that notorious.....

X-R-cise

And as I had cried off going to gym after dentist today we first of all headed into town to get more salad from Morrison's. Without my wheelchair, we left it at home.

Then after shopping we headed down King St to look at the venue that there is a comedy gig at tonight. We couldn't find it, so parked at the far end of King St and set off on foot to find it. It is the 2nd last building at the other end so we were able to explore access etc. Then we had to turn around and walk (nearly) the whole length off King St to get back to the car

Dentist

And this mornings fun involves a trip to the dentist for a checkup. Hopefully I have learned loadsa stuff about brushing and my clean between your teeth attachment so hopefully......

Yeah, she was positive etc but still it wasn't a very pleasant experience

Nooneraft

Then this afternoon we had to go back to The Pound Shop and say "This Xmas tree light that I bought yesterday doesn't light" but they didn't have any more battery 20 light ones left but as Alex said "There is a plug in't corner" we took a plug in version. Once Alex had been to the garage to fetch an extension it works

Morning

So first thing we had to head to the Drs to pick up my proof of still being alive which the insurance company want every year before they will carry on paying out....

Then we headed to gym, did 4 (no, 5 apparently) lifty exercises followed by 20 mins on the bike

Lentils And....

So me and Timmy headed into town and bought sum lentils in Aardvark.

While we were in town we popped to  shop to buy deodorant in case I am proving allergic to the cheapy one that I have been using. 

While we were up the street we popped into Poundland to get some more Xmas tree lights,  Well, we wanted sum but I bought 4 light up decoration sets

CleverTimmy

And Timmy had to mend my Internet Banking so I could make transfers and pay Ed for the meal he bought t'other night for 3 of us

But soon he will be seen as Daft, Stupid Timmy to me as we get in swimming pool

And after my lunch I got stuck into cooking, chopped up loadsa veg etc added tomatoes, herbs etc then went to add sum lentis.  Erm... I searched, looked everywhere, called Timmy, he looked everywhere and neither of us could find the lentils. Call myself a hippy with no lentils?

Shopping

Then later we took a trip down to Wilko to buy some Sudocreme for my slightly infected but nearly better armpit

THEN later still, but still not very late, we headed into the about to close cos it's a Sunday Morrison's and got my full weeks shopping cos it's Timmy working tomorrow and he doesn't approve of the place

Ta Ra

So then s'morning me and MightyMark took David back to the airport and he went home again. Brief visit

Loveiy

And we went out and had a delicious dinner at The Ivy Bush in Carmarthen tonight

Davidism

Then we headed off shortly after Ed came here to fetch David from Cardiff airport