Yum Yum

And I cooked pasta for myself tonight again. Nice it was, I can manage it now

Sorry

Today's T-Shirt

(Snigger)

Church Road

So we popped out front door, turned left and walked down the footpath then came onto Church Road.

It is the minor right turn just after we have driven off to town but I went up it, uphill it is. Soon we were level with the roof of our house

Come On, Plumber

Come on, waiting for you to phone s'morning

So Timmy phoned them at 11am, they said they had ordered the spring and the wrong one had arrived, so he had to order the full expensive part (that we had been waiting for a week to avoid) and hopefully will be in touch tomorrow. So instead of heading off to Headway in Swansea we are heading to Aqua Fit @ gym, luckily Timmy had brought trunx just in case, then shower @ pool

Stressed Hand

So we went to Carmarthen tonight, parked on Llamas St, walked up past the old town hall and along King St. For the whole time my right hand was sitting at my side, where it should be.

Then we turned down the steep downhill at the end of King St., Little Water Street. My right hand went up in the air and stayed there until I had walked the five yards through the very steep uneven bit when it went back to my side

Pasta

And I cooked some pasta for tea tonight which I haven't done for ages, I had kind of gone off it as I struggled using my knife at the same time as my fork to scrape it on, to eat, but nowadays that is straightforward again, so  I think I have changed my eating habits a bit

And I was sh*tting myself about carrying it to the sink to drain but it just worked, my own two feet with the pan in two hands

Visiting

And I went across the road to ask the neighbour summat and she said "Come into my house and see" and I walked up the side and into her house. Lord but she works hard to keep it nice

And she did say that even from her not very close neighbour position she can tell how much better I am getting week after week. Like, she said, "I used to be in a wheelchair"

Bl**dy Sunday

So here it is, Sunday. MM is out the front cleaning the rest of the stones underfoot then he is gonna move small stones under the car as they have all moved away from the manhole and that is sticking up a bit so he needs to make it all level once more. I will take a pic once he moves his car away......

No Contact

And the plumber hasn't been in contact yet so we will have to go to the fscking gym again for a shower

And as one assumes he won't be doing business on a Sunday we will have to shower there tomorrow too....

Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t

Cooking

And I did most of the weeks cooking, chopping etc s'morning. So it is currently cooking in a big saucepan, needs more cooking time then in a bit I will add some lentils and yellow split peas then later bake some spuds to accompany it

And it was rather delicious when finished. So I have frozen the rest and taken a portion of last weeks that we still hadn't finished out of the freezer for tomorrow

Tie Them

And I am wearing my tie them velcro-less trainers which I tied by myself again s'morning

What A Night

And we went back off to the pub down the road (Llansteffan, The Castle Inn) and had a few beers. Also had a big chat with the landlord

BUT first of all we walked for ages along the beach and back along Llansteffa

And I stood at the bar for the first 2 2/3 pints

What A Day

Lordy.......

So first things first GGtGG arrived to work and said that the plumber had phones, he had finally found the spring and had ordered it, and was expecting it to arrive thru the post today or tomorrow, in which case he would come here and fix it. He hasn't contacted us again today so fingers crossed for tomorrow. Well we wen't down to the showers @ gym after the class today and did igt there again. What fscking fun

Then still early we popped over to Sports Direct and looked at more Velcro trainers but tried on a pair of just tie proper laces ones which I could manage now (Unlike how ill I was when we bought the last pair 3 or 4 years ago) so we bought a pair of slipper/trainers to use in the house

Then we popped across the car park to Home Bargains where GGtGG bought much cleaning products for the staff to use here. He also bought me a few flowery plants, a Bush Lobelia which hopefully will fill the bed with flowers

It's Broken

And my PC in my bedroom wouldn't connect to the Interweb last night. I tried again s'morning and it still wouldn't connect. So I said to MM "Can u have a look?", he said "In a bit", I said "Well I will switch it on then", went in, switched it on and it conected.

Shrug

More Fun

And we set off this evening to just walk around town. Parking on King St, walking along King St then down past Caffi Iechyd Da to Llamas St then back up past the old town hall

Fun Showering

And we still have no hot water in the house so had to go back to the gym for a fscking shower later

What total fun

What a fscking day

Well what a day we have had. Went to gym and did my ritual 3.25km cycle which fills me with such job. I came home and did my therapeutic exercises then later we did another kind of fscking exercises

OK despite all this exer-fscking-cising we popped to Caffi Iechyd Da first thing and fetched the veg then went to Morrisons and fetched the usual shop plus a packet of kitchen roll which we were about to run of. Then later in the afternoon I was in the kitchen cooking and I ran out of kitchen roll!

Gardening +++

So GGtGG got stuck into gardening today and put the 'edge of the grass' plastic bits around and got some of the grass out of the flowerbed

And we put the rest of the veg out growing in a compost thingy too

Drowning

So we are off to the first swimming session today.

Hoo-flippin'-ray

But I feel sh*t, like I had a heavy hangover, after my 3 pints last night!!

Gord, that was hard work today but I managed just about everything. Gord it's hard work but it is doing me loads of good

We Are Going Out

So we are going to have dinner out tonight....

And we had a lovely night. We had food first then got stuck into playing card games which I could have done without but we did have a nice night. Chatting to a newbie eg

And we did win the game!!!!!

The Plumber

And the plumber phoned GGtGG s'afternoon and said "I have been having trub getting the spring to go in the middle, I got the two outside bits. Eventually I found it, I can have it by Friday or I can spend £100 and buy the whole piece by tomorrow".

GGtGG had said "Neil will probably be tight fisted, I will confirm but unless you hear from me assume we will wait a few days"

So hoo fscking ray a few more days in the pool shower but it is worth it to save a hundred quid

FES

Tho just walking about on the way to the shower without the FES device on my foot makes such a difference, it might be a pain in the arse but it doesn't half make walking better/easier

Bigger Sigh

So we had to pop to the pool again s'afternoon and say "Going to the pool" and take ourselves into the shower and make myself clean

Sigh

So we came over and had a meeting with Sam@gym and discussed me entering the "I'm doing well" competition which I said "Yes" to but she is gonna find lots of old "How well am I ATM" stuff that we will then be able to compare how much better am I now with

Then we said tara and went upstairs to get stuck into a 10Km cycle. Which I still have two thirds of to go

Which I finished. It took me ages because I had accidentally pressed the button to make it harder 6 or 7 times but I still managed it in under an hour. Just

Going To Bed

So I was going to bed tonight and I reached to switch on the PC which every night since I bought it has required a couple of minutes worth of faffing about to eventually switch it on.

Tonight I just pressed the on button and it came on!!!!

Boiler Fixer

Is he gonna be able to get that bit and come tomorrow?

Loopy Nuts Are We

And I have just watched about 8 hours of well impressive snooker, the World Snooker Championship (noisy link) and I was just gobsmacked about some of their clever play

????

So I have to meet Sam Gleeson tomorrow mornin' to talk about someone who wants to write an article about me, after they have interviewed me, about how I am exceeding all expectations in getting better. Or summat

Walkies Again (More)

And we popped into Carmarthen after dinner, parked on Llamas St and walked thru town, up past Debenhams to the top where we sat on the stone benches, which were actually warm today. We sat letching for about 20 minutes then walked back to the car

2nd Visit

Then we had to go back to pool and have a fscking shower as my boiler is broken over Bank (and "boiler bits" suppliers) Holiday weekend. Hopefully some progress will come on tomorrow but I need to go and see Sam Gym at 11 AM about some "reporting how well I am despite all medical advice" scheme

First Visit Of The Day

So we popped to gym as there is no swimming class today so we did loads of exercisey machines etc. Some of the weights on lifting machines were set at 25 or 27.5KG or about 4 stone!!!!

We will have to go back later to have a swim (which is what they call using the shower) as it is gonna take some time for the boiler to be fixed

And Again

Then after dinner we headed into Carmarthen and walked for miles again. There were loadsa drunk folk about as it is Bank Holiday Weekend but......

Walkies Out

So we went out s'morning and decided to head for the Enormous Car Boot Sale at Carew, a few miles West. When we got there there was much uneven walking surface, and some grass to walk on too. We walked for miles, I bought a tool to enable me to bleed radiators, Tim bought a spanner then a few stalls later we bought loadsa "edge your lawn" strip, we were only looking at 2 boxes (to make it long enuf) but after much sales we bought 5 boxes for a fiver, which Timmy carried back to the car

Warm Weather

So it is about half past 11 at night, the heating has not come on and I still just had to take my fleece off as it is too warm

Aargh, Let's Go For A Walk

Then s'evening we went out for another long walk around town. And tonight I was walking on all kinds of surfaces, slopes and uneven surfaces etc and it did occur to me that that is just so much more possible these days.

I used to have to walk in the road if the pavement was too wonky - used to

Plumbing Crisis #2

Then we had to go to gym, heading for the shower, said "Swimming pool please" when we went in, "Sorry, no, shuts in 5 minutes" he replied so we had to say "Actually we weren't headed for the pool..." and explained the crisis and how it's a fecking bank holiday weekend and they did let us in in the end

Plumbing Crisis

And GGtGG has just spoken to the plumber and he is still waiting for the part to be delivered. So he said "Carry on with your day, I will phone you if it arrives".

So we are heading out to meet WWEG for a coffee and a bun and a chat/flirt

 And it was nice, had a good chat then walked about town for an hour before coming home for lunch

Local Pub

We were out exploring last night. On the way back we called in to The Tafarn Pantydderwen, my local pub. Except it was closed. Apparently she has closed up the business and it is up for sale

Instead we tried The Castle In in Llanstaffan which although 10 minutes drive away was very friendly. "Are you tourists?" they asked us

So...

And as the plumber hasn't phoned back then I'd better go to gym to the Beautiful Samantha's class....

I Forgot

So I was concerned about the plumber coming back today but Timmy reminded me, to the Drs for 11AM with GGtGG for my quarterly testosterone jab

Oh what fun....

And by the time we got back the plumber hadn't phoned..... And he still can't answer his phone, it's out of signal, only a mobile...

Sigh

And it stopped raining s'afternoon so after dinner I tried another walk around town. This time it was nearly 2 hours of walking. Then I said "Let's go have a bun" so we drove to St Clears but the café there was shut so we came back to Carmarthen and Timmy chose McDonald's where he bought me a bun and a hot chocolate. I think one of the café's might have been better but as we don't know which one is still open etc this was the easiest option

Rowing

Then we popped to gym and got stuck into rowing. And I think that after having time recuperating etc I still did my 3.25 km in the quickest time ever

Sam came and spoke to me halfway through (and I still managed the quickest ever time despite distractions) and said "That thing you wrote a few weeks ago, about being better and better, it has come to some bosses attention and they want to write an article about you and they said 'Can we have a photo' so can I take one of you when you have finished on this machine?"

Dunno what to say, fame beckons?

Iechyd Doo-dah

THEN we popped to Iechyd Da and I thought we were about an our later than usual but I think the veg had just been delivered. And there were no NA's on my list today, everything was there

Then we popped to MoreReasonsToShopAt....  and got the rest of the shopping which cost f all this week as I had a £5 off token to add too

Fixer?

So the bath fixer says he will be here at 11AM s'morning, which is about the time I need to pop to Iechyd Da to get the veg but I suspect he will just be here for 5 mins until he looks and decides what the problem is then fscks off to buy the bits he needs

Ho hum, hecticness

Aargh. At 10 to 10 s'morning GGtGG said "They are here" and I thought he meant Timmy, looked up and there was a van saying Hot And Cold on it, ah, the plumbers were early. So they did much work while I left them alone and didn't get in the way, he said "Ah, 'tis the water pressure being too high....." and went on to say that he thought summat expensive was fscked but went on looking at plumbing then said "Ah, look" and pulled a small piece out which was in about 27 pieces. So this was the problem, causing all the pressure issues etc. So he got the heating to work, just the heating, and said he will hopefully be back with the bit tomorrow.

So yes, it is gonna be expensive but not as expensive as I thought when he first spoke to me

Well, for my shower we boiled a couple of kettles and I just had to wash standing at the sink. No Dermol medical wash today but as, hopefully, it is just for one day that shouldn't be an issue

Went Out

So we went out at dinner time tonight and walked for miles and miles (and miles) around town. Like a long way.Then we walked a long way to a restaurant for dinner. We took a shortcut on the way back to the car so it was merely a long walk

Then after dinner I got in the mood where we would take it further but when we came back I hadn't been to't loo for about 4½ hours

Expensive

Then GGtGG phoned round s'morning and has found someone who will hopefully come and look at the boiler tomorrow. "They" seem to think it is a minor crisis, wait and see
Today there isn't a problem as we are going to the swimming pool in a bit and the shower finishes the ritual there

Drowning

And because I didn't have any distractions this week I am going to my second swimming session in the pool s'afternoon

Hoo-fsckin'-ray

Boiler's Fscked

And I had a cold bath and did the washing up under a tap that ran hot then cold then hot again. Dunno, can't look at anything, it is all locked up under warranty but it disnae wurk, the hot water boiler

Out To Party/Flirt but not Bowl

Then later we are popping to Xcel Bowling to meet up with WWEG folk and chat while they bowl

Well that was nice, we had a load of sitting watching folk ploy bowling etc

Hectic AM

So s'morning we had to pop to the asthma nurse who said "Sorry, the room is upstairs" but that is not an issue for me anymore. She asked loadsa questions, watched me take my inhaler, and basically said "You are OK"

Then we got a 'script from over the desk there and went next door to the chemist and got loadsa cream for my armpits etc

Then on the way home we called into gym and did an enormous cycle, without needing to stop for a rest and I think it was the quickest ever for that distance

Manyana

Then tomorrow morning, before the gym, I have an appointment with a nurse at the Drs to see about my asthma, a review. I suspect she will say "It's all going well, keep it up" but we need to see her

OCD

I am becoming obsessive. "What are you gonna do today, Neil?" "Watch snooker"

Swimming Is On

So today's Water Works class is up and running, I phoned them to confirm when I was in the loo having my morning pooh.

The receptionist said "Is that Neil?" and then flirted with me when I said yes. But I don't know who it was that answered the phone!!!

Well I did it. Sorry but I impress myself with how much I am getting better somedays

WTF?

So what difference is having this injected next Friday gonna make?

Walkies, again and again

So we went out s'afternoon for more walkies around town, again up Mansel St and then up to King St miles it was. And today we called into The Tiger shop, a kind of novelty funny things shop but luckily I didn't spend loadsa cash on tat

Then after dinner we headed back into town just cos it is good for me, this walking. Again we went round town

Standing Differently

And today standing about the house & garden I realized how I had been lopsided since my accident, I was holding most of weight on my left foot with my right foot being just kind of off to one side holding the rest. So today I have been attempting to do it the other way around, hopefully when I practice some more it will become interchangeable depending on what I need

But by heck but it is harder, possible but harder

And I also walked a bit on the chippings around the house, again that is so much easier that the last time I tried

Old Faces

And yesterday we met a beautiful woman at some point, she said "Hello Neil" I replied "Erm....." but it turns out she used to work at the local pub when I still drank there regularly and, more to the point, she hadn't seen me since I was stuck in a wheelchair.

Which was nice, she was surprised and pleased to see me on my feet, I was a wheelchair user last time I saw her

Sorry

I know I have seen this every day for some months but I laughed out loud s'morning

Much Cooking

So then s'morning I did the cooking most of the rest of the weeks food. It is nice now but when I sprinkled in yellow split peas I overdid it and it is somewhat lentily. But I enjoyed eating it tonight, for all that says about the food I cooked, but MM ate it all too, so I think it is nice

Walkies

And as the weather forecast changed from raining during the day today we decided to try it at dinner time. Parked in the usual spot, walked up the hill, along King St, down the little st by the library then along back to the car looking at the back of all the shops.

It kind of does my head in, how easy/straightforward is walking these days 

Hard Work

Then after an early lunch we went to a gym class which as ever I detest but I can see that it is doing me some good. Today's main highlight was walking noticeably faster than I have been able  to for about 20 years, I think it was as fast as I have managed plus about 50%. Even GGtGG commented on how fast I was walking.

But who will I be able to chase?  

Chopper

So we popped to the toenail chopper s'morning and she did a good job, it didn't hurt and feels better

To The Green House

So we popped out to the greenhouse today* to water the plants that we planted yesterday and they look well, as if they have taken to their new home OK

* But RoyGBiv walked ahead of me and had opened the door before I got there so I couldn't test myself to see if I could open it

Boogying

And so after lunch I did the washing up for the day as we are going out to Caffi Iechyd Da folky night for dinner tonight

And eventually a good night was had

Breathe

Then we are off to do the Thursday morning busyness in a bit....

Well that went OK, first of all down King St to park near the top of the lane to Caffi Iechyd Da, said ta and see you later as we are going to a play it folk night tonight then off to Morrison's for the rest of the shop, took that home then went back to gym where today I had to do 3.25km on the rowing machine

Obscure Betterment

It occurred to me s'morning that for a couple of days I have been wearing that fleece which I didn't used to wear mostly as I couldn't handle doing up the buttons on the front, so I wore zippy ones mostly.

But it just isn't an issue these days, I just wear it and can do it up

Drowning

So we went and there was an aqua aerobics session today which was as much fun as usual. We were doing, at one point, standing on your right foot and move the left in various directions exercises which I just wouldn't have been able to do last month but now it is just straightforward

MORE Cash

And after I found 20p t'other day I found a pound lying on the floor in the changing room of the swimming pool today

Out For Dinner

And we are going out tonight to a Quiz And Curry Night organized by the West Wales Everything Group

Off To Hospital

So we are off to hospital for a blood test whenever they can fit me in s'morning.

Hooray

And we did that, didn't take too long. Even if we had to park a bit away and use the steep stairs to get there and back

Then on the way back we called in @gym and I got stuck into pedalling for miles

Bother. I pedalled for 3.25km and said "Right, lets go now" and he said "No, carry on, do the rest" as apparently on Thursday I row for 3.25km but Tuesday's I pedal for 10km. Only 5.5 to go now

Don't

I hardly ever drink on a Monday night (these days) but see being told not to as I am having a blood test tomorrow.....

And being told not to play with myself either.....

Just In Time

Then after bath etc we just had time to go to town and pick up the 'script from the doctors. The chemist gave me the form back when I gave them to her and said "It sez make an asthma nurse appt" and so after she gave me the drugs we went back into the Drs and made an appt to see the asthma nurse in a few weeks

Mr Independence

And when me and Roy were out walking yesterday I found summat lying on the pavement and I was just able to bend down and pick it up by myself, I didn't have to ask RoyGBiv for help or anything, just independence

Busy Morning

So we have to go to Bridgend to meet the physio and Denyse s'morning. Before that it sez on my diary but I think it will be later we need to pop to the Drs to pick up a couple of 'scripts and I have to ask MM to reply to a txt message that Sam's mother-in-law-to-be sent me talking about arrangements when we are there for the wedding, but M will be driving so knows about time etc

Well.... we set off for Bridgend half an hour after MM was at work, as in about 10 mins after he finished handover, but the visit went well. I said "Be gentle with me" as I can't sweat too much in the 48 house before my blood test tomorrow but it went well. We were doing loadsa balance exercises and she was well impressed at how much better I am today compared with a few years ago when I first met her

And M read the txt from Emma's Mum, I contacted her and said "Meet you on the day"

Bill Bailey

And tonight I have just watched a Bill Bailey DVD that I got for my birthday. After having to download a "DVD player" as it is no longer automatic like it was on eg Windows 7 bit not on new Windows 10

But I enjoyed it

Walkies

Then after dinner I said "Lets go out for a walk", we headed out the front door, turned left and walked along the path that leads to the main road in a couple of hundred yards, turned round and walked back uphill to the side road once more. Walked past my house along the road to the very far end, walked around behind the house until we reached the end of the curb, turned around and walked the whole length of the road until we reached my house

Sunday daytime......

Excited.....

Tonight

And tonight after dinner etc we are heading into Carmarthen where the remains of The Dubliners are playing. We have already bought tickets etc

Clap, clap, clap. 1) I was rather impressed with how they were playing and 2) I could remember songs that I haven't heard for 20 years which does impress me as my brain was so fscked but I can remember some stuff

Out Again

After I made the weeks food I switched the pan off , closed the windows and then we headed into town. Again we parked up on Lammas St and today walked down through the outdoor market, up and down and round and round through the indoor market then out through the back exit which brought us up further along Lammas St then back to the car. Then we came home and I switched the pan of dinner back on before making lunch for myself

And the dinner was delicious, according to Roy as well as me

Battery Running Out

And I noticed that the battery for my FES is running out much quicker these days, I thought "Why?", and then realized it is because the FES is switched on for about 2½ as long every day than it was a fortnight ago

Out

Then after my bath and nap and waiting about 15 minutes for the washing to be done so I could stick my sockings on the radiator to dry we headed into town and parked on Lammas St, on Dark Gate, then walked thru town to M&S. From there we turned and walked uphill past Iechyd Da to King St,
went all the way along to the end, then walked back past the turn off to Iechyd Da all the way to the end then walked downhill past the court house until we reached the car at the end

Aargh

What a performance. I tried to put my new Bill Bailey DVD in the PC and it sez "No, not on Windows 10" so I had to download a free player and get it to work. Which took a while (and a number of versions) and I haven't got time to watch it now as I need to have an early lunch then go to gym class.

And it has put me in a bad mood, I don't think I can appreciate comedy when I am this ****ed off. But as long as I can make it play again later.....

Will She Be Back?

So will Sam be back to take the gym class today?

Because yes, it's Friday so the one day of the week I go to a proper gym class....

And yes she was back and looking as lovely as ever and the class went well. Both Sam and MM commented about how I was much better at lifting my right leg by bending my knee than I was last time they saw me do it

Sneaked Out

Then this evening we were coming back from our long walk around town and I said "Lets stop in pub" and had 3 pints of yum yum beer

Thursday Fun

So first of all I have got to phone the prescriptions line to order more and ask them why the online thing is no longer working for my asthma med (that line doesn't work until 10 AM, the time Timmy arrives) , then go and pick up my veg then pick up shopping.

Which we did. Thay said the 'script has been renewed so next time it should've OK, we went to Iechyd Da and I had a complaint about their Facebook posts which make me wanna eat buns but I am on a diet but we got the veg. Then to Morrisons and did a bigger then usual shop. 

So we came home, put it away, then headed back to gym where I got stuck into a rowing machine where again I did the whole exercise without stopping, I only stopped once to take my fleece off and did the miles without stopping for breath

More Fun

Then we had an early lunch then headed off to Aqua Aerobics which was on today and again did loads of exercises

Sigh

So we are off to the dentist in an hour.......

Hooray he said sarcastically. It isn't an issue for me now, I clean my teeth twice a day etc but it still isn't fun

Well that was fun. So one dentist looked over my teeth, X rayed me then passed me onto another dentist who scrubbed all my teeth. That was all, no fillings or owt and I made another appt for 4 months away

A prelude to e-Minor

how this prototype electric Morris might change the world 

Roger Collier

Cycling

And I got stuck into cycling at full strength again for the first time since my secondary accident. And I did notice again that my right hand has got better at opening stiff doors again. So it's going well, only another 4KM to go

Well I did it. In just under an hour. And today I took no stops for rest, just went for it. And the last 2 KM I took about as much time as the first KM, I was going much faster at the end

Pollution

Plastic - A Solution from Da Gruniad

Lovely Weather

And it is raining again s'morning

Out

So later we went out to town. Parked on Lammas St and first of all walked to Savers and picked up more mouthwash then walked into town and went to M&S. Where we looked around at clothes then tried on some new trews. So yes, we liked them, spent most of my birthday gift on it. Then went downstairs and spent the last 50p on a bun

Hooray

And I have got no excuse so I am off to Aqua Aerobics or Water Works or summat s'afternoon

Aargh. So we went to gym, said "Aqua Aerobics" and held out my card, she replied "No, not today" so after some grumbling we went off to gym and did some exercise machines 

FESless

So I spent the day with no FES on but trying to walk loads without my 'stick. Dunno, "they" recommended I wear it all the time so it is back on tonight

Chocolate

So last week Morrison's donated a bar of chocolate to me as it was my birthday. Very kind, good marketing etc. But I ate it yesterday. Compared to the bar of Green&Blacks that I buy every week it just tasted rubbish, not half as nice

Rain In My Favour

So MM had planned to go off beach cleaning s'morning whereas I had planned to say "No can do, I am cooking the weeks food today, a casserole" but as it happened it is raining s'morning here, so that put a block on beach cleaning plan

Phew

Playing For Ages

And tonight I watched a whole game of rugby, all 80 minutes of it. Ulster vs The Ospreys, I suspect it was played yesterday but I watched it tonight

Aargh

Dunno what to say (noisy video)

Not Very Exciting

But I succeeded in putting a video on Facebook

Walkies

So we went to town s'morning and just walked about for ages, then round the corner and uphill and back etc