(Sigh)

(Double sigh)

So we are off to the swimming pool in a bit with my extra "work harder" swimming instructor

Aargh. Well it was as much fun as usual. Today I managed 8 lengths with flippers and a float and I managed 1 breadth with nowt on, just kicking and moving my arms

A Bit Embarrassed re Last Week

And a bit embarrassed re last weeks trip to NIreland. It turns out that my Dad paid for the hotel for the 3 of us

Out

And today's trip out was to Farmfoods where I walked the whole way back and forward to get some Sweet Potato Oven Chips and some garlic bread rather than shortcutting between the 'tils so it was a little bit theraputic

Speaking of therapiutic, this time I carried my shopping basket the whole way round, when it was full of heavy shopping and all, didn't pass it to Timmy when it got a bit full

Out For Dinner

And I was just looking thru my diary for next week and it turns out that me&MM are out for dinner next Monday courtesy of Headway, they are having a once a year dinner

Angela-ing

So I have had my temp MOS. Angela working today. It has been a bit odd but is generally going OK, I haven't been too smutty.....

We went out s'morning and just had a look around Carmarthen and it's neighbours. We popped into Cwrt Henri (the first place we lived in Wales), then we popped down past Dryslwyn Castle (stopped for a few mins to show it off), across the River Towy then came back along the old A40 (now it's called B4300) to Carmarthen

S'afternoon we popped out again and had a walk around town, up hill around the back of Woolworth's, past Iechyd Da, back down from King Street

Rugger

And 3/4 of the way through the Wales v New Zealand rugger match Wales are winning

But while I was typing this NZ scored a try to win the score

No some foreigners won. Bother

But "we" did win a football so......

Which Buttons Where?

Ah, it said at the bottom of your screen but that actually meant in the middle at the side

BackToNorm

So yesterday (day before now) after I came back we did shopping etc then I got stuck into sorting out photos etc and it took me all night. Yesterday I couldn't find time to read any Ixion, the mailing list that I read mainly, but today I was able to get back into my routine

Praise

So at gym today I was thinking "Lord, am I moving faster this week?". Then later in the day MM said to me that I looked like I was moving quicker, so obviously I am. He also said that I seem to be walking more "evenly", less lopsidedly

Gym

Well I went and had my weekly gym class today which I was a bit nervous about having been resting this week but I think that long walks etc have kept fitness and health up. I went to the class and just did it like normal

Sam announced half way thru the class that I was a Mwnci drwg

Normality

So as well as feeling odd I need to get myself back into exercise routine today. As it happens Friday is the only day of the week that I go to an organised class @ Leisure Center

Feels Odd

So yesterday I was having my breakfast in a different country. System=shocked etc

Gordon

Bennett.  So we had lunch in some cafe by the road and made our way back. Done the washing, had my bath, got into bed for a nap. Afterwards we have to head to Dr's and chemist to get a new 'script then to MoreReasonsToShopAt... to get some dinner for the week then I may begin to land a little, actually look at my 'puter.

Pooh

So we left so early s'morning to have a 20 min period in't loo so I hadn't been able to have a pooh. When we got to the airport I went and sneaked one. Phew

Too Early

So we got up early and headed off to the airport home. Sitting at the airport now. We left too early to see any family s'morning but when we called in to get petrol that was where Gareth sells food so we did see him

What A Day#27*2

After nap we hung about for a bit then my parents, 2 brothers, one brothers wife and grown up son appeared and said "Dinner". They were about for ages, altogether too emotional for me.

One of my MOS when I said let's go pay for hotel tonight said "Your father asked me to keep this secret until we need it" and gave me the receipt for the hotel bill

What A Day #27

Well... so s'morning we headed off, just my Dad, me and GGTGG.  So we went exploring places that used to be familiar, in the end we popped into Grand Prix Tyres place where my big Bro was working way too complexidly fitting tyres to folks cars for my Dad's company.

Then we popped into The Old Mill at Dundonald and had a lovely lunch

After lunch we headed back, picked up my little Bro from his house then dropped him off with my Dad then headed back for bath/nap

Out For Dinner

And tonight, as we ate in the hotel last night and have booked in tomorrow for my Dad's birthday, we popped out to somewhere else for dinner today. We headed down to Donaghadee on the coast and had a meal about 20 yds from the harbour

Not Hot

So as I have just had a shower I am lying on the bed naked without any covers over me. Not that it is warm today even tho it is cooler than yesterday

Aunties

So today first if all my folks and us headed "up the road" and saw an Auntie of mine who was very close to my mother when I was little. It was lovely, we went into her house and had buns and coffee. When we were leaving her husband appeared, much older than her, at a guess he is 90 and a bit struggling generally but he was well enough to come and greet me and say tara.

Then we headed to my folks house where we had lunch then my father's older sister and hubby came to see us before very shakily leaving

Rather Impressed

 And as I was eating brekky s'morning a number of staff from last year commented on how I was walking this year. But it is impressive to me if they keep staff from one year to the next. They must pay OK and not be unpleasant to work for

Walkies

So tonight I feel a bit knackered cos it's such a long walk from the lift upstairs to my room but I have managged it

In Belfast

So here I am napping after my morning travelling and my afternoon in Belfast. I still can't believe I am here. Without my wheelchair which both my parents commented on

Phone

And just after we came back my Father phoned and said "C U in't morning"

But if I am not taking my wheelchair, just wow and aargh etc

Quiet Day

So we had a(nother) quiet Sunday today. We may be walking to The Pub later

Yep, we managed. Walking uphill to the pub then later coming home. Again it was a new barmaid so she couldn't be too impressed with me walking but l8r a woman came out of the kitchen who did understand

Penultimate

So tomorrow we are flying to Belfast.....

Warmth

So it is 10 to 11 at night and I am still sitting outside, it is so not cold

Pulling My Knuckles

So in the photos of me today I am sitting in both working to open my right hand further with my left hand. I had no idea that I was when the photos were taken, I only found out when looking at the pics later

Across The Way

So s'morning when I was sitting outside the neighbour from across the road was working in her garden. So I set off around the bottom all the way to her and told her how lovely her garden was and how I was too lazy to have one like it. She smiled at that but did comment on how much better I have got since she moved in last year. She did say how I used to be stuck in a wheelchair whereas "today you can walk round and talk to me"

Compliments

And when we were in town we met a couple of people who complimented me on being out and about with no wheelchair in sight. One of whom was the woman whose garden I was staying in when I first came to Wales many moons ago

Bankwards

So s'morning we need to nip to the bank to take out some Petty Cash to give to chappies when they accompany me to Belfast as their "spendable" cash.

And just generally 'cos I want an excuse to nip out for anything

So we did nip in, got a parking space a the end of King St, walked from there to the bank, queued, got the cash etc, walked the rest of the way along King St, had a rest on the benches then walked almost the whole length of King St back to the car. The cash I took out after we came back I gave it to GGtGG to lock away in the office safe 'til Monday

Out

And for the second time in a week I walked to the pub. Me and Timmy and Andrea set off tonight, we walked up the hill and back

Such A Struggle

And wow but it is a struggle being relatively clean with Andrea but it seems to be working. Seems

No gym class

So the proper gym class was cancelled today but me and Timmy and Andrea headed up to gym anyway and I did 2 machines, 10 mins rowing and 10 mins cycling. I was nearly crying with exhaustion but...

Both Of Them

So we have Timmy and Andrea working tomorrow but no class @ gym. So we will have to see what we do..... (And try to keep myself clean....)

Walking

And I just walked from the front door to where I leave the bin for the bin men. No FES fitted but I couldn't help noticing how flat my right foot is anyway. All those months of wearing FES had made such a difference to my walking

Food, yum yum

And I cooked roasted veg for tea tonight and I actually got all the timings right. It was all cooked and delicious with no burned bits or raw bits

More Practice

Further Screenshot Practice from my phone

Greenhouse→Plate

And I went to the garden today and picked the first of my veg from the greenhouse. It was delicious and extra nutritious

I Can't See

And as I can't see enuf to read my emails yet after the tests I had at the Drs..... Which went well and very quickly but they have left my eyes wonky....

OK, not as bad as I thought. I was able to read 5 emails, much harder than normal but I managed. And apparently it gets easier and easier from now on....

Well phew, I can see again now

Double phew, as my vision was wonky today I was excused going to gym. So obviously I still can't see that clearly

Screenshot

And today I am just doing it to remind myself that I can take screenshots from my phone

Nearly 4 Days

In the morning it will be 4 days until I head off to Belfast

Kept It On

And tonight MM put my FES on about 4 o'clock as we were out, I didn't ask him to take it off again 'til 11 PM. It just feels slightly better in some aspect....

Drowning

And MM suggested that we do try swimming today even tho the class for Wednesday is not happening this week, he can be in charge.....

Hooray {sings and dances}

And we went and had such fun. On the way in we met the instructor from the class and she came in the pool with us and asked a few questions etc so she now has more of a clue about me specifically.  When she left MM was being a "cruel instructor" but I did do another width with no floats on etc

1st of June

And I have succeeded in starting this month.....

this picture is taken mostly so I can remind myself about screenshots from my phone but.....

Pant

Then we popped into town for a walk s'afternoon, partly to make up for getting half an exerise s'morning. We were lucky to get a disbled parking space outside the new Aardvark premises, from there we walked past M&S, all the way round to Mansel St so we went up past the old Aardvark all the way round to the new one again.

The surface was as shit as a shit thing on occasion but I managed it all

Busy Morn

So first of all I phoned to make an appt with Dr Rice soon. I was held in the queue for about 10 mins but eventually spoke to someone. She said "Can u come next week?" And we arranged a time to visit. I hung up, went to write the appointment down and realised that I will be in Belfast next week. So queue again for ages and changed the appointment, no problem.

While this was happening I received a txt message from Ceir Cawdor Card asking me to phone them to make a service appointment. Which I did too, made an appointment for the day before nipping to the Drs

So then we popped to the Drs to pick up my new script. We went to the next door chemist and got everything except for one tube of cream which will arrive tomorrow or Thursday.

Then we nipped to gym and did half a mega cycle when all the lights went off and all machines stopped working 

Wonder Horse

Champion The Wonder Horse. I did it

Out

So we headed out for a walk after dinner tonight. We walked all the way up Dol-y-dderwen where we discovered that unusually for a Monday the pub was open. So as I wanted to extend the walk we went the little bit up and across to the pub where I only had 1 pint. The walk home was vaguely unsettling, it was slightly downhill which is harder for me than uphill.

But we made it happily while it was still light

Nearly A Month

And will I be able to beat a months games tomorrow?

No swimming, it is half term

So we popped to the gym today, not the swimming pool as we had been warned that it would be really busy. So we got in on a lovely hot summers day and all the swimmers..... must have gone to the beach or summat. When we got into the centre to go upstairs to gym there was only 1 person in the swimming pool

Oops

But I did pull down, kick and lift up exercises and my morning lunges before getting stuck into cycling for 10 minutes

Mental

And we discovered yesterday when exploring that on Thursday I have to go to a specialist hospital to have my eyes tested. It used to be (and still partly is) a mental hospital for the mad folk of Carmarthenshire. St David's Park it is called....

In One Week

In 7 days time I am setting off to fly to Belfast for a few days.

This is where we are staying

No Longer Sweating

And as it's a quarter to 9 in the evening now I am actually cool. Not that it has been warm today...

Emptying It

And I also got stuck into another thing which has been added to my timetable, emptying my razor device of fluff

Cleaning The Bath

So day before yesterday I tried summat, and carried it on yesterday so hopefully it becomes part of my routine. Usually the bath lifter device is covered behind with black bits of "dirt", from the bath after they have washed it out, just getting thicker and grubbier until they wash it again. So what I have done is get out of the bath without emptying it, dry myself then get loadsa water in the jug device and use it to rinse the sh*t off the seat and as I let the water out I can then rinse it all down the plughole. Which make "tomorrow"s bath a bit more pleasant.

And I did it again today, one less task for my MOS to do... I am a bit worried that as I improve they are getting lazier 

Out

And we popped out tonight, he said "Wanna pint?" and.......

Afletiks

Eating lunch today the news finished so I switched over to European Championship Athletics. By jassus, it's just not possible to be doing what they are doing

The rings, the rings.  [Weeping]

Walkies

So me and GGtGG popped into town, parked on Llamas St opposite Aardvark and walked along Friars Park to Wilko, walked for miles in there, bought more bird food and walked back to the car

Missing Her Already

And Andrea has left 'til next Friday now. OK I was quite impressed with her. Will I be able to keep myself in control next week?

I Won The 11th

Hah. And today I won the game that has failed me since the 11th of this month, wonder if I will be able to do a full month?

Gym

Then at lunchtime we headed to the leisure centre for my once a week gym class. It was as hard as usual but I did it again.

As I was leaving one of the other students said that I was an inspiration to her. She has known me for some time and the very fact that I keep going, and the benefits from that, are the inspiration 

Jabbing

Then me and MM left Timmy and Andrea talking and headed over to the Drs for my jab. She couldn't get the stuff from the bottle into the syringe for ages, it was well thick and gloopy so I was dreading having it stuck into my arse but she was so steady handed etc that it didn't hurt one bit

And hasn't hurt for the rest of the day either. Phew

Hiya

So first thing s'morning Andrea arrived for a cover shift, she is in being talked to by Timmy ATM but she will drive me to gym in a bit

Happy Night Out

And we popped down to Caffi Iechyd Da and had an excellent dinner and night out

How To Clean Lens

So hopefully my new purchase will make pictures be without blurs and whited out bits

And it seems to have done what it it supposed to and there is still 97% of a tube left.  Happy

Hectic AM

So we are really busy s'morning and the first part of the afternoon. Then it al goes quiet until the take Timmy to his favourite folk sing-all-ye evening at Caffi Iechyd Da

Well that was a bit hectic. First of all me & Timmy headed down to Iechyd Dato collect the veg. But we were too early!! So we sat down and had a brew which was about 3/4 finished when chapped arrived with it. Looks good and I got everything I ordered this week. Then we popped up to Morrisons and did the rest of the weeks shopping. We came back and put it all away then headed off to gym where I did 3 lifty machines then 10 minutes on a get your heart beating machine

So the hectic morning has finished now I have had lunch so it's a bit quiet until we head back to Caffi Iechyd Da tonight

Not Drowning

Then we went to the Aqua Aerobics session in the pool and oh what fun we had but it went well and she was paying attention to me, suggesting alternatives when I couldn't manage exercises etc

And About

So me and GGtGG headed into town, actually got the stuff for my injection so phew, the appt has been made for Friday morning at the Docs, they will jab me then.

Then we headed up, parked on the end of King street and walked half way along it to Lloyd's Bank and got change for the container full of pay for parking cash in the car

Phew

And the chemist has just phoned me to say that the testosterone injection "stuff" has arrived. We have been trying to get this for nearly a week. The Dr wrote a 'script, the chemist couldn't get it, we tried another chemist, still no, went back to the GP and got a different 'script for slightly different medicine..... finally arrived

Providing I don't get there, ask for it and they say "It was on the bill, but I can't find it" like they did t'other day during the same process

Feed Me

And I went out the front door tonight and could immediately see that the bird feeder was empty. Like really empty, 2 days after I filled it

Gym-tiddly-teroo

So me and Timmy went to gym s'morning, I said can we do cycling today and summat that is over quicker on Thursday as that is a "do loads" day.

So I cycled for as far as a..... with 0.5 km extra as there will be every week in the future until I reach 18 miles or summat

Stress, stress, stress

So Timmy was writing some stuff on the new kitchen wall chart, including stuff about our trip to Belfast in a fortnight which is exciting and sh*tting myself in equal measures

align="top"

This was all it took to differentiate between this and this.

It is so different

Home Bargains

And we popped out about 5 to Home Bargains to pick up a new mop, a special one they advertised which has a bottle of whatever cleaning fluid you use on the front. And MM seems very impressed, it travels over the kitchen floor easily whereas the old mop struggled with the grippy floor

(Sigh)

So we have a swimming lesson with MM the part time swimming instructor today

Hoo fsckin' ray

Well I went and did it, swam a width with no floats etc, did various impressive stuff and was deeply unimpressed by the whole event

And it made me think. I was trying to swim as instructed by so many folk kicking from my thigh and hardly moving my knee, and some more of the time with both knees bouncing. But oh it felt so much better for me to be doing the bendy knee way

Quote From Me

I was looking thru the hotels website for when we go to Belfast and on one page there is a quote about the accommodation that I kind of half recognised and at the end of the quote it sez "Neil", was it me that said "Accommodated our needs to book in early"

"New" Trainers

So today we retired my trainers as they are getting worn unevenly by my walking habits. We got out the others which we bought on the way to Ireland last year as Timmy had forgotten to pack my others. I only wore them in Ireland, when we came back I started using my regular ones again. So these ones have been sat on top of my wardrobe for months, we took them down today, Timmy fitted the FES device and my new pink laces.

Shopping

Then we nipped down to Savers to get some sink unblocker as the kitchen sink is just starting to empty slowly

Just starting but that is the best time to deal with it and not require and proffesional help 

MiniCrisis

So s'morning we had to nip to Kwik-Fit through the rain, walk in there and say "The tyre light it coming on again", they said "Have a brew, we will check" came back 10 mins later and said "Yes, tack in tyre, fixing it" and because it is a Motability car just got us to sign and sent us on our way with a fixed car.

And it had stopped raining, was looking to blue sky by the time we left

Yes, the sky looked like this when I was in bed for my nap

EnormoCrisis

So tonight I was sitting at the table, just finishing my dinner, I reached for summat and accidentally knocked over my nearly full glass of apple juice, and watched as it ran, spreading out over nearly the whole table. Luckily Timmy was here and coped, getting cloths, kitchen roll and a bottle of Cif (which when I was living with Mum & Dad was called Jif)

I Have Come Such A Long Way...

But I have so much further to go

Feeding Timmy

And because of various reasons which I can't recall ATM we didn't have My Usual Friday Dinner last night so it's on offer to Timmy who said he actually enjoys my naan bread pizzas so he is actually willing to eat summat I prepare tonight.

Ooooh

Ah, we had to feed 3 last night, Andrea was here as well, and we only had two naan bread, they come two in a packet

Then

Then we popped further into town and interviewed my potential new MOS. His name is Roy and he did seem nice and knowledgable so Timmy is gonna send him an offer of the job type letter and then he will be able to hand in his notice where he is at present.

If he decides to take the job

Sigh

So first thing s'morning me and Timmy headed into town toBoots who told Timmy that my cream should be delivered today. The computer screen said it should be here but no, they couldn't find it. They asked us if we wanted in delivered Monday but we said "No"' Timmy is gonna have to phone the Doctor on Monday and get it sorted out

Tea Time

So then we had to nip to Morrisons and pick up a bag of new potatoes and a packet of salad, which we ate with a packet of Linda McCartney and it was actually rather pleasant. She has gone home now, she will be working again next Friday with MM again

Team @ Gym

Then we went to gym team handed, me MM and Andrea the new MOS. We got on well, we'll I did while they sat on one side gossiping

Temp MOS

And when we came back from the docs Timmy was midconference with Andrea, the new temp worker. Who has had to come all the way from Cardiff to work with me

But she is being such an OT. In mid conversation I said "Washing up, can't do that" and she replied, "Can't hear you, I'm an OT". Oh dear, we might fall out

Morning Jab

So we popped to the docs for the jab for my Testoserone but they said "No can do, they have stopped making that" and gave me a 'script for tablets for the rest of my life. So we went to the chemist across the way then the chemist next door and neither of them had the pills in stock. So Timmy is gonna phone round the chemists and try to find them. Otherwise we will be back at the docs s'afternoon

Right, they will have them in Boots tomorrow afternoon so I will go and get them. We want injections, I will have to put up with pills this month but hopefully they will have found summat by then

Right Foot

So today I asked Timmy about my right foot feeling un supported sometimes and he just said "When u walk press your right foot down harder" and it is strange,  I'm not sure what he meant but just trying to figure it out helps big style, my right knee just moves properly and doesn't bend too far back. So I will ask Timmy for another explanation tomorrow and just keep trying to move properly in the meantime

And Busy Again On The 'Morrow

So I had a busy morning today. Tomorrow morning MM has to take me to the Drs for a jab first thing, he is having to start work earlier than usual to take me, then in the morning Denyse is coming to talk about loo seats then bug*er off to Carmarthen to interview new staff, about the same time I will meet the woman who is gonna work the odd day to cover in the meantime.

Then we have to go to my one class of the week at gym. Then breathe deeply

What A Morning

So, after my toast incident, me and Timmy headed over to the hospital for a blood sample which I new nowt about but I haven't seen Timmy for a week and he knew. Basically they need to check my testosterone levels before my next booster jab, which is tomorrow. So we needed it today which was already looking a bit busy. So we popped over to the hospital first thing, went around the car park twice looking for a space, said "No, too busy, come back later" and headed off down King St to park near Iechyd Da and get the veg. As we turned into King St it started to rain and Timmy said "Shall I run'?" so I sat in the car and let him. Then we went to Morrisons and did the rest of the shopping, including Blueberries which were marked as NA on my orgy porgy veg box. Then we brought this home then tried the hospital again. This time we got a parking space and when we went into the department there was no queue at all. So 10 minutes later she had finished and I thanked her for being so capable and not hurting me etc. Then we headed to gym where Timmy was describing how he thought I had been skiving and missing training etc and I did a mega cycle in 1 minute under target time.

Now I am sitting at home with less on the plate

What A Performance

Ugh. So instead of my usual muesli today I had to have toast for breakfast as my muesli deliverer won't be delivering until later today and I wasn't gonna buy a big packet as the deliverer will deliver org muesli later today

But ooh lord, I am so much better at buttering then last time I tried but it is still not as nice as muesli

But toast makes so much mess in the kitchen...

 

Struggling

Don't know why I feel like this, perhaps it's that BBC program about ABI but I just feel like ... I'm not happy being a sufferer

BBC say ABI can fsck you

 Sorry, shocked and impressed etc

Raining

And when I got up s'morning it was raining so heavily, like noisily bouncing back up. Now it has eased off to just rain and according to the weather forecast it is gonna stop raining within the next hour for the rest of the day

And by 10 o'clock in't morning the road was 99% dry again. Lordy, what's going on?

Phew

And tonight I just enquired if AlexTheLeaver was prepared for tomorrow and he said "Aargh, no" so I can think happil thoughts - no swimming pool tomorrow

And About

So first thing today me and AlexTheLeaver nipped to Morrisons and got some extra muesli, well a bowl of cereal waiting for the milk as my cereal is gonna run out 1 or 2 days before I get my weekly food delivery and I didn't wanna buy loads of non organic cereal

Then we nipped to gym over lunchtime and it wasn't busy at all, so we got in to do my exercises without queuing. The 'lift your arm' exercises that originally I was able to do 5 of, last week I managed 12, well today I managed 29 out of 30 target. So obviously summat is improving, big style

 And I did buy an enormous garlic bread for tonight as a)my sense of taste is improving and b)I did like garlic bread in the past. So tonights dinner is summat from the freezer, sweet potato oven chips and garlic bread.

      Yum yum

That's Better

And the posty delivered about last thing s'morning the special pads for the end of my chair legs at the dining table. So my chair is now 4mm taller and more to the point you can just move it about pretty silently and without it leaving streaks on the floor.

So MM tried to fit them with the supplied small screws and couldn't make them go into my chair legs at all, he has to drill tiny holes first

No 'Wimming Today

So as they are doing up the pool slightly there will be no swimming until Wednesday, my Aquafit session

And I suggested to MM that we go out for a long walk instead of going to t'gym and he said "Yes, as long as you are walking fast for a long distance" so happy chappy now......

Right, we headed out after lunch and parked near M&S in Carmarthen, on John St, then walked up, past Iechyd Da to King St, along that then down the hill past the court back to the car. It took us almost exactly an hour, uphill and downhill