tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242203102024-03-13T14:16:54.646+00:00Keep Buggering On!'I dropped a hammer on my foot. I said, Ouch, I bet that hurt'.
A sometime light hearted rant about life with spinal injury. The Glamour of Family, Friends, the NHS, Wheelchairs, adaptive equipment and the weather is all here on KBO!
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.comBlogger651125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-28156730960542999072013-02-01T22:36:00.000+00:002013-02-01T22:36:27.446+00:00Winter Winds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ij3xnwTZRyY/UQw8Q9KQZaI/AAAAAAAAAoI/EjnZ2VDqKd8/s1600/19577_278848723746_2336619_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ij3xnwTZRyY/UQw8Q9KQZaI/AAAAAAAAAoI/EjnZ2VDqKd8/s400/19577_278848723746_2336619_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Im sure everyone reaches a point in their lives where they think thats it, Im officially old and decrepit. At the moment Im at that point as this winter has almost killed me off physically. I feel its sucking the life from me and if I had a ticket to somewhere warm Id be on that plane yesterday with no intentions of coming back for some months. While I dont mind snow as such, once we get it Im trapped in the house. Last week we were in for 9 days. I have learned through bitter experiences that its better to sit it out than get stuck. But my God the cold is unbearable. The cold doesnt usually bother me that much but this year for the first time Im really suffering. My tendons in my feet are absolutely screaming at me, so much so that Im actually screaming with pain, as my feet arch and writhe. Im certain its to do with cold as this just doesnt happen in warmer weather, my legs shriek with sciatica and my hands are white and numb with cold. Im gobbling Tramadol and Gabapentin like they are chocolate buttons and I have long hot baths to ease my aching body and plot my escape to warmer climes. Anywhere will do to be honest Im not particular. Please take me a way from it all, failing that gifts of thermal socks will do.</span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-69575779492016935092013-01-29T23:17:00.000+00:002013-02-01T20:45:04.431+00:00A Step Up.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73s3MAB-hOY/UQhWCfF4wtI/AAAAAAAAAn0/iOhJT9xwkVE/s1600/IMG01183-20130128-1539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73s3MAB-hOY/UQhWCfF4wtI/AAAAAAAAAn0/iOhJT9xwkVE/s1600/IMG01183-20130128-1539.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Rainy Days in January.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of my biggest bugbears in the 21st century is lack of physical access century. Its is still acceptable for a company such as Boots Pharmacy to operate with a large step outside. I have worked in planning and I know while it may cost to remove the step it isnt actually that big a deal and I know of only one premises where this really would be impossible. However as Boots have a near monopoly on high street pharmacies they think they can get away with making people like me sit outside with our prescriptions and ring the bell for assistance. if you know me at all you will quickly realise I would rather crawl over hot coals than do this and so I end up either asking someone to go in for me or driving to the nearest accessible pharmacy which is 20 miles away. If you had to do this you wouldnt think its acceptable and frankly neither do I, But Boots thinks it is, and continues to be a serial offender. Shame on them.</span></div>
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<br />Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-22690599527752058362013-01-27T22:58:00.000+00:002013-02-01T20:46:11.489+00:00DING DONG! What did you say?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ive mentioned sometime ago in the dim and distant past that I have tinnitus. I have had it for years and didnt realise for a long time because I naturally assumed that everyone could hear what I was hearing, which is a loud squeal or ringing and a shhhhhhh-ing sound. Actually its hard to describe and I dont think anyone could really reproduce it. Anyway over the past year I have noticed that its been getting a lot worse and to put it bluntly Im going deaf with it. The main problem is that the tinnitus has turned itself up in volume which means I cant pick out other sounds. Loud high pitched noises are particularly trying as I can actually feel my eardrums vibrate and it causes me some discomfort. Crowds stop me from having any meaningful conversation as I cant pick out what you are saying to me as opposed to the person sitting 10 feet away. Basically I can hear a lot of noise and no detail in the sound. The good news for the time being anyway is that I can happily play music to myself and enjoy it, I just dont want to share it with lots of other people. </span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-58448049628232275172013-01-04T23:33:00.000+00:002013-02-01T20:46:41.728+00:00Resolutions 2013<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another Year older and wiser. Not sure about wiser but I have a few resolutions for this year. They're not particularly serious as I never make serious ones.</span></div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wear leather trousers and boots more often. The reason for this is practical. Think motorcycle gear and wet weather and you get the idea. Plus I need shoes with a fairly big space in them and you have Me with boots and leathers. Cool huh?</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">be honest with people. Answer the question and stop rambling.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Get my shoulder fixed because its bloody killing me.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">blog more often. I feel I will have a lot more to rant about this year</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">take a foreign holiday. Its been nearly 6 years and a change is as good as a rest</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">read more books. I didn't read as many as I would have liked last year</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">work harder and sleep more</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">take more pain killers. I have them for a reason.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">be kinder and not so sharp with my tongue. It does me no favours.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">appreciate my husband more. He is great and I don't realise it.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Se how the new year has turned me into a complete softy? Well its early days yet isnt it. Only another 360 or something to go.</span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-43171852190694426502013-01-04T21:27:00.001+00:002013-02-01T20:47:02.102+00:00Auld Acquaintances<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2012 saw me meet up accidentally or otherwise with long lost friends or people who I have known in a professional capacity. In September I bumped into our former rabbi from 10 years ago who was the guest over the high holydays. She greeted us like the long lost friends that we were and then gestured to me in a what's-all-this-I-shall-make-light-of-it kind of way. I find times like this horribly uncomfortable because I can feel their anxiety and almost smell the sadness at seeing me there. Immediately I go into play it down mode. I feel bad that they are feeling even worse and really I shouldn't. I have a bit of a back problem, I say, yes that's right, shoot me now. I don't know why I do it, and after all this time I should stop. So I have resolved to be more honest from now on. Am I in denial I ask myself? Should I really be brutally honest? 'Oh I broke my neck and I'm paralysed from the chest down.... but I'm OK really...' The trouble is, I am essentially always breaking bad news which isn't easy. Just when you think no more people from an old life can pop up, hey presto they appear on Facebook. I try to be kind but in the process I feel a bit like a fraud because I'm not being particularly truthful. But the truth hurts as they say and I don't want that. To be honest it is easier for me if people ask more direct questions, such as my husbands bestest ever friend from school and his wife.They are funny and I like them. She says how it is and I like that. So she says is the wheelchair permanent? Yes it is I answer. She nods and asks why. I tell her in a rambling way and as I'm going on a little voice in my head is saying shut the fuck up you are rambling. I ramble a bit more and shut up. She seems happy with the answer and I feel relieved that I don't have to go into the whole medical history, not too much anyway. Resolution. Stop rambling in 2013.</span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-2228145619978711312013-01-04T18:59:00.000+00:002013-02-01T20:47:25.054+00:00Munchausens Syndrome...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.... is a real condition where an individual feigns illness. Typically someone has a long long history of hospital admissions. The difference between Hyperchondria and Munchausens is that people with Hyperchondria genuinely believe they are ill while those with Munchausens know they are not and seem to do it purely for attention. Well that seems to be gist of the Wikipedia definition anyway. So why have I decided this was an interesting thing to talk about, well, its possible, nay likely I have come across someone who would clinically be defined a having Munchausens.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lets call him Mr X shall we? Mr X turned up at our club a few years ago in a wheelchair after an accident. I never found out the nature of it, but he did seem to me to be rather unusual. Over the months he had various operations, was hospitalised with swine flu, had another operation, then had meningitis which precipitated a miraculous recovery of his legs and was able to walk out the hospital upon recovery. In fact his recovery was so total he was seen carrying a fridge, yes thats right, out of a well known store. Now I learn that Mr X has had some sort of tumour removed from some place in his body. Or not as the case may be, who knows? Oh I forgot that his house was blown up in an explosion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So maybe Mr X is the unluckiest person in the north or maybe just creative. I dont know. I suspect I am right to be at least incredulous, what do you think?</span></div>
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<br />Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-25933576534886361102012-12-08T23:26:00.004+00:002013-02-01T20:47:59.235+00:00Perchance to dream<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have a dream......... actually I have been having variation on a dream for some weeks now. Generally it goes like this. I am proceeding along a footpath, when I come across an obstacle in my way. The only way to continue is to climb over this wall, tower or whatever it is, there is no gong round it. The obstacle is very high and as I climb I realise that Im having to bring my chair up behind me, although it turns out to me as light as a feather if rather bulky. Once at the top I discover that getting down might be more difficult until I suddenly find an easier way of descending.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well what do you make of that then? Seems pretty much an allegory of life I suppose, but I find it interesting how the brain constructs these stories as it processes information. </span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-6333603507276452922012-12-05T00:02:00.001+00:002013-02-01T20:48:21.443+00:00Pain in the Neck.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have been moaning for months, nay years that my neck hurts me. I mean, it really hurts at times as if I have been hit on the back of the head. Actually come to think of it I have, but the medical profession is like a dog with a bone, and wont leave a particular symptom alone until there is no life left in it. You keep telling them your neck hurts but, Oh no they are far more interested in... your feet for instance! Despite my moaning and groaning and kvetching and complaining, no one has really taken a 2nd look. That is until I got a new GP this year. It sometimes takes a fresh pair of eyes as well as an enquiring mind to solve a problem. When I told him about this constant pain in the neck he asked when Id last had an MRI scan. Not for a few years actually as I had a bout of having babies which always makes medics run away. He nodded and I could almost hear the clock ticking inside his head as he decided to send me for a new scan. Consequently I was referred to the local BUPA hospital 2 days later.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I actually dont mind MRI scans at all. I know a lot of people find them dreadful but Im able to relax, listen to the hum and doze off. A week later we discussed the results. Interestingly I have moderately significant damage to C5/6/7 vertebrae which I suppose is an oxymoron itself. Can something be moderate and significant at the same time? Thats medico speak for you. Explains my hand problems and general am weakness. Nothing to be done. My GP just nodded sagely and gave me a copy. Im nosey, I like to know, he knows I like to know, but I have no expectations. One for the file I think.</span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-9585227283348658502012-12-04T21:58:00.000+00:002013-02-01T20:48:48.260+00:00Friends and family.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>We are but ships in the night.</i> Yes I come from a family with a useless saying for any situation but friendship is like that, it comes and goes. I have friends who I would like to ask, what happened? where did our friendship go? why did it stop? I have friends, well they used to be who I know actively avoid me. Life is too hard and what do you say. i have friends who read this blog and I suppose cyber stalk me. I know its You because I can trace your ISP address. Its not difficult you know. I have friends who pick up from where we left off and I have friends who want to be friends but cant quite do it the way it should be done. I have friends who I don't want as friends either. they are never the ones who decide to live in Australia for some reason. And finally some of my friends are the ships on a Mediterranean cruise following each other from port to port but who never stop still long enough to get together. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Recently someone I know was commenting 'well Fuck friends' he said, 'thank god for family. They are the ones who stand by you.' Really? I mean REALLY? We have siblings who live 400 miles away. They never call, write, text or e mail they never contact us apart from a birthday card. They never come and see my children and I don't know why. The hand is extended from this end but never grasped the other and after years of effort Im all done in. The logistics of travelling from one end of the country to the other with 4 kids and me isn't great and the prospect of the difficulty of getting into peoples houses doesn't fill me with excitement either. Various family members spend an inordinate amount of time enjoying ill health. Their thoughts are not with loved ones but themselves, only a few contact us from time to time to see how we are and fewer still come to visit. I am only a bit bitter and twisted by it you will be glad to know,but without doubt I am envious of people who seem to have huge amounts of fantastic friends and jolly family members visiting for fun weekends. </span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-16284463763681874302012-12-04T16:32:00.002+00:002012-12-04T16:33:21.098+00:00Parking Space Wars.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Its true, and I know you know its true, but really old people are so bloody rude they should have to take lessons in manners once they retire. Today I was at the end of some old blokes gesticulations and bad mouthing because he thought I was going to take HIS disabled parking space. The old sod was certainly more able than me as I actually need the space to get out the car and by the looks of him, a he strode across the car park he didnt not directly anyway. Sometime I feel like chasing after them and pointing my pointy finger and tell them not to me so ignorant, but its pearl before swine with these people as my grandmother used to say. So since manners maketh the man I shall ignore it.</span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-27492933205928798752012-11-21T19:58:00.000+00:002012-11-21T19:59:28.766+00:00Goodbye 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so as we drift towards the end of the year, with little over a month to go, I see its a record low for my blogging this year. I suppose I needed to take some time away and I toyed about giving it up which I dint really want to but sometimes things come to a natural end. The year has been hard, my husband has been particularly unwell and has needed quite a bit of care, all coming from me. The health service hasn't been great on that point and its taken too long and almost finished me off in the process to sort him out. My youngest son has developed acute asthma that has seen him in hospital over several occasions, we had a long holiday in the summer which brought some fun back into my life and like most people I know times have been hard going. As for me I have had medical issues which remain unresolved at this point and I will take them forward into 2013 hopefully life will resume with some normality whatever that may be. So I return to blogging with a true sense of KBO!, get off my shoulder black dog, I am sick of seeing you there!</span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-55037253260795762632012-02-20T22:57:00.000+00:002012-11-20T23:40:27.797+00:00Diet update 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well so far so good. I have now been on a diet for 4 months and have lost x amount of pounds. I don't know actually because never weigh myself but I can report that I have definitely lost weight. My clothes are all hanging a bit better and a few pairs of trousers that were rather tight are much more comfortable. For me its a long haul as I'm not doing anything physical to burn off the extra calories. So I have given up what I call empty calories, The ones you just eat because they are around but serve no purpose. The odd biscuit, butter on my bread, cutting all the carbs out, banishing chocolate and alcohol. I'm very fat and carbohydrate aware these days. I'm used to it now and don't feel terribly deprived. It may take me a long time but it is working slowly so long may it continue, because I need to lose about a stone I suppose!</span></div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-31921921484643298672012-02-20T22:39:00.000+00:002012-11-20T23:40:27.794+00:00Stop the clocks, its 2012.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I haven't blogged for a while, just over 2 months to be honest. It was kind of deliberate, as I have been feeling a bit low and didn't want to appear to be a moaning, whining, self pitying old sod, but I suppose I am, just a little bit. I am fed up, fed up with being disabled and unable to do stuff I used to. I feel like a shadow of myself which a fairly good description to anyone who used to know me. I look tired because I am. I don't sleep that well any more, and I have quite lot of pain. Its not terrible agonising pain but an endless, day in day out, background pain that never goes away. I have continued to have quite severe tendon problems in my right arm and my left isn't great either. I can now no longer brush my teeth, write my name, tear, chop, slice things. I cant lift anything including a mug of tea and to be blunt I can barely manage my own toilet needs anymore. Its fairly grim but I'm trying to keep cheerful. I suppose you could say I'm upbeat if fucking frustrated. I feel like I'm heading back to the early days when you have to learn everything again. This time I'm learning how not to do things I suppose. My fine motor skills may be fairly crap but at least I can drive. It uses a whole different set of muscles and the top half of your body, which I don't think you have ever thought about before. Unfortunately the treatment options are few. I can try resting my whole arm. it may or may not help but isn't going to happen. I could have steroid injections which again may or may not help pain, but wont improve function. That's a definite NO, or as My Dr suggested, we could try a tendon transfer operation. I'm going to have to think about that one for quite a long time. That's one of those things that if it works would be really great but if it went wrong would be catastrophic. 2012 may be an Olympic year for some but I'm planning a quite year ahead, and I'm not planning on making any decisions on that for a while yet.</span></div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-78420406427230582622011-12-07T19:36:00.000+00:002011-12-07T19:36:09.312+00:00Saw the lady in half trick<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Good grief Ive been chopped in half. Actually it really does seem like that. Its unpleasant and I don't think I will ever get used to feeling as if someone has swung a great sword through me and disconnected the bottom half. In reality that's exactly what has happened, and the 2 pieces of me sit here together not talking to each other any more. the top half sways about like the top of a tower, atop the bottom bit of me which speaks to no one. Rather like a failed conjurers trick of sawing the lady in half, and its strange as I know I'm there but it doesn't seem like me. I tell the kids are bashing my legs by the physical sings not by the tactile ones and its weird because I know what they are dong I fool myself into thinking I'm feeling them. Really its the memory of touch that stays in my head. A blind friend of mine tell mes she still has a bank of stored images in her head that she uses for reference so I suppose the brain puts the memory in place of the reality. </span></div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-80758156759202469062011-11-04T20:21:00.000+00:002011-11-04T20:21:26.561+00:00Watch your Trunk.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today I had to collect the car from Newcastle, and the nice people at Mercedes offered to pick me up. Great service from a lovely company I must say. Anyway I got into the car which was a fairly nice highish spec model and off we went. The driver explained to me that he had to collect a couple of other people in town, which was fine by me as I wasn't doing the driving. These are the kind of times that make me sometimes a bit more disabled than usual. My wheelchair is set in such a way that with a decent bucket I have to sit up straight. It would be fairly difficult to fall forwards for instance as my knees are considerably higher than normal. I use a CG lock on my car seat belt that firmly anchors my bot to the seat but as a passenger though I'm all over the place. With every turn of the car I was leaning as well. Left. right and left again, I clutched the seat in an effort to sit straight. Every time he stopped I lunged forward and at every acceleration I was pushed back into the car seat. This guy was a good and considerate driver, I wasn't being thrown about particularly it was just me lolling around all over the place. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the things they try to teach you with any kind of spinal injury is core stability, Really its the art of sitting on a big ball which I have always been pretty poor at doing. Balance at the best of times was never my strong point. Think of me as the young girl who couldn't even stand on a skateboard without falling off and you get the idea. Anyway now at the worst of times my stability is a lot poorer than I realised. I suppose having babies makes you very unbalanced and Ive never been able to improve afterwards. In an ideal world I could do with some new and improved core stability physio, but finding the time to fit it in is a problem. Id better keep an eye on my trunk and keep practising as I can.</span></div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-31082138745703520132011-11-03T13:43:00.000+00:002012-11-20T23:40:27.792+00:00Tin openers<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I need a new tin opener and I need one now. So far this year I have managed to wreck 4 different types, all of which assure you on the packaging they are 'easy to use'. I don't find them at all easy to use actually and because I cant grip them hard enough I end up using them at an odd angle which eventually causes the cutting blade to either snap or become unusably blunt. I have been thinking of getting an electric opener but have shied away so far as they seem big and bulky on the worktop, or I suspect the smaller ones are heavy as they take batteries. To be honest I try to use ring pull tins where possible these fays but even now they are not available in every item you want. So I'm open to suggestions. And as for hot water bottles, don't get me started on how hard they are!</span></div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-34036621536324770572011-11-01T22:04:00.000+00:002012-11-20T23:40:27.796+00:00Diet Update<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An update on my diet. So far its been going well, I've managed 3 weeks without falling off the wagon. In that time I've succumbed to 4 biscuits, no chocolate or sweets, no butter and I've cut the carbs right down. Eaten a lot of Porridge, and Snackajacks and Ryvita are my New Best Friends. Ive managed to lose some weight, but have no idea how much, a few pounds I'm guessing as people, including my GP have told me I've lost weight and I'm about to drop a size in jeans. Its a shame because my favourites are about to become the whoopy trousers as we say in this house! So I'll have to look for the next size down. Dear Boden please send me a new pair please!</span></div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-24451065024607571692011-10-28T22:23:00.001+00:002011-10-28T22:23:27.704+00:00Loshen Hora and Mr Gervais.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Judaism has an idea called Loshen Hora, or The evil tongue. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Speech is considered to be </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">lashon hara</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> "evil tongue" if it says something negative about a person or party, is not previously known to the public, or is not seriously intended to correct or improve a negative situation, I guess we would also call it gossip. Judaism recognises the strength of words and also most of us are very bad at speaking before we think. While I write this blog I try to think about how I construct the words, to convey my true meaning. to make sure I don't confuse or offend, I'm aware of how it all works, especially in the world we live in today. It has always been that the tyrants of the world have controlled free speech, in recent times we have had Goebbels, Hitler's minister of propaganda promoting the burning of books and more recently the global use of Twitter to spread ideas within minutes, we all know, you and me, words count and words are power. So when a comedian such as Ricky Gervais uses inappropriate words in his routine, should we be upset, or just say he is joking, it means nothing, its a laugh? Mr Gervais himself claims we are too PC, he didn't mean anything offensive , the world is just over sensitive. Really? Do we believe him? Do we really think a 'comic genius' doesn't know the power of words he chooses to use? Is he just being funny? I know what I think that's for sure, and I for one do know the power of the language I use.</span></span></div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-59540077590717386922011-10-28T22:06:00.000+00:002011-10-28T22:06:16.602+00:00Dreams and Fears.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Although the outer me is confident and well spoken and all these things there are times the inner me gives it all away, even if its just to myself. My dreams are the usual source of anxiety where I float most of the time serenely through them without actually having to move. Last night however was an odd one whereby I seemed to be desperate to go on some kind of long distance hike. At the crucial moment my chair suffered a malfunction and the lady from wheelchair services refused to mend it for me. At which point I sobbed though the rest of dream. Dreams tend to bring out your worst fears and insecurities and this must obviously be one of mine. Big time!</div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-28820507403160234512011-10-28T21:56:00.002+00:002011-10-28T22:34:00.173+00:00The Miracle of Downton.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so anyone who has watched the Sunday evening historical soap that is Downton Abbey will have seen the everso lovely Mathew return from war with spinal damage. Oooer Mrs there will be no heirs, in fact no anything according to the local GP cum army Dr......Horrified look from the Earl, no heir, well that's the end of everything then. Mathew it would seem is condemned to a life of sitting tucked up with a tartan blanket in his wicker chair, to gaze wistfully across the lawns of Downton, becoming bitter at his lost life. Meanwhile Lady Mary will profess her undying love and the viewers hope for at least a minor miracle. Wait theres a twinge, I feel it coming on right now...!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course Downton is a slightly bonkers if compelling fictional drama with an unfathomable timeline, but afterwards I was left pondering about what had happened to all those disabled soldiers who returned during and after WW1 with frankly grizzly injuries. The country must have suddenly had to deal with thousands of blind, deaf, disfigured, paralyzed or limbless young men, so what happened to them all? Most received a small pension from the Govt and a thank you, and that was it, and remember you still had to pay to see a Dr as the NHS was another 30 years away. I did a bit of a google search to try to find some info and surprisingly there seem to be little about apart from odd snippets. Very few were able to return to a life of earning and looking after their family and it would seems a lot had to resort to selling trench souvenirs on the street, begging and I guess many many just sat in their homes unwilling or unable to leave it. Its a recent history that has either been quickly forgotten or was never even documented sadly. I shall have to dig further. </span></div>Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-80866645402726555912011-10-09T14:03:00.001+00:002011-10-09T14:04:09.723+00:00Standing Frames<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have really bad Achilles tendon pain, which Ive endured for weeks. I was talking to a friend about it yesterday who having broken his neck 40 years ago has a bit more experience than I do with this sort of thing. Honestly the pain is miserable and making me feel tired and irritable. The only respite I'm getting is actually sitting in bed with my feet up, I'm not sure why this helps but it is very impractical. Anyway my friend suggested a standing frame which does exactly what it says, It has you standing up which is useful, helps with stuff like bone integrity and blood pressure and also is really good for stretching out tendons. Its a great idea, I could do with one I suppose but the trouble with any of this stuff is it takes a shed load of space. Literally you need a shed to store it all in and it takes up half the living room which doesn't add to family life. I really should try one out I guess, but where we should put it I have no idea!</div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-86985906918122797502011-10-08T12:41:00.000+00:002011-10-08T12:41:30.719+00:00Can I be the Biggest Loser?<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZD2UjfxiykE/TpBEmY87X1I/AAAAAAAAAh4/SjccWZHAs8E/s1600/untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZD2UjfxiykE/TpBEmY87X1I/AAAAAAAAAh4/SjccWZHAs8E/s1600/untitled.jpg" /></a>Its no good, Ive decided to diet. Actually I don't like the whole diet psychological thing. The more you cant have something, the more you want it. So lets say Ive decided I need to lose some weight. I'm not telling you how much I weigh but I have a fairly good idea as I haven't put anything on for years, in fact I did actually lose a bit of weight with each pregnancy but its never progressed further and it should. If I look at a weight chart I'm at the top end of healthy, so given my condition I really should be at the bottom as it would make life easier, even with those day to day activities such as transfers. In and out the car 10 times a day puts a strain on shoulders and I feel it now. The main problem with weight loss is I cant really do any cardiovascular exercise and Ive worked out my calorific intake is only about 1800 calories most days anyway which is already slightly less than the suggested 2000 for a woman. So unlike the people on Fat Families or Biggest Loser, I don't have much to work with. Ive decided to start with cutting my fat intake, especially butter on sandwiches and crackers, biscuits, full fat milk, and carbs such as potatoes. All of these are pretty easy to get rid of as they are essentially empty calories. My aim is to lose a pound a month, is that an achievable goal do you think or should I aim for more? Not sure so I will see how it goes by the end of the month. I shall report back!</div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-23616594597973184482011-10-08T11:16:00.001+00:002011-10-08T12:56:03.430+00:00Overnighters<div style="text-align: justify;">
The last time I stayed overnight with a friend was I think 4 years ago. They live in a nice house in Bath on a hill so from the moment we arrived it was hard work. I needed help up the path and then 2 men had to lift me up the front step as it was too high to bounce up. The door was so narrow I just about scraped in, and they had to remove a whole bookcase and shoe rack from their hallway so I could get in. At least the loo was downstairs, and I slept on the sofa. Of course their hospitality was wonderful because they are true friends, but honestly I so miss visiting people. I'm painfully aware how difficult it is, because most houses are not reality accessible. Id love to hop on a plane or train and just call someone and say can I come and stay for the weekend, but I don't. I don't want to impose myself or feel awkward and embarrassed. I know I would need some help at some time during the weekend and would need to be looked after in a strange country. I was once a person who travelled across Europe by train on my own when I was a student, but I don't have the independence or even quite the confidence I used to have what seems so many years ago. My wheelchair has taken that from me and I would be a fool to say otherwise. While there are people who travel the world and you hear these stories of them scaling the peaks of Nepal with a wheelchair, these are not solo travellers. Nearly all of them need a whole team of helpers.These days just taking a train to London is a huge challenge that I am frightened at overcoming and so my previous travels could be a lifetime away, they are 'another country'. I often feel very sad at the loss of the wider world and all those adventures waiting to be had but what I really miss is the opportunity to have opportunities and most of all I miss my friends that I now hold at a distance.</div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-34961605235053930082011-10-05T22:29:00.000+00:002011-10-08T12:58:13.665+00:00Touch screens, blessing or curse?<div align="justify">
Technology comes up with new things all the time. The latest gadget, improvement and must have usually it seems by Apple who are endlessly telling us about their new and wonderful everythings. I love most of them I have to admit and have been hinting that I would like a Kindle for ages now, but the one thing I find impossible to use is the touch screen facility, which is becoming inconvenient as they are starting to pop up everywhere. I know a lot of people with limited hand function find them fantastic, but I find them impossible as I also have limited feeling in my hands and so my problem seems to be no matter how much I try I cant find the 'button' space on the screen that I should be touching. </div>
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Last week in Waitrose I spent 10 minutes trying to get their scales to print out the number of bread rolls I was buying, No matter how many times I thought I was touching 2, I only got 1, and so eventually I had to meekly ask an assistant to do it for me, who then did it straight away. I curse at my satnav that it will not let me put in the right postcode no matter how often I try to touch the screen, and now there is the 'curse' of phones to deal with. Would I like to upgrade to a touch screen I keep being asked. No I like buttons I say. Touch screens are a bit of a torment for me, along with shirt buttons, small coins, and basically any small lightweight object. I also wrestle with packaging on daily basis but thats a whole new posting. So with each bit of new technology comes a blessing for some people and a curse for others! Remember, buttons are cool.</div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24220310.post-5761125577691014752011-10-05T22:07:00.001+00:002011-10-08T11:22:16.137+00:00Orkney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having said that we did manage a great holiday in August which has been the highlight of the year. Id been looking for adventure and scenery and something child friendly, so decided on Orkney because, well why not. It was like a foreign holiday without the change of currency. There was an amazing overnight road trip followed by a an hours ferry and we were there. The boys adored it, I loved it, my husband thought it fantastic. We want to go again and again and again. Its the kind of place that Id be tempted to up sticks and move to if I wasn't already living in one of the best parts of the country. </div>
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Id been feeling both excitement and trepidation at visiting a new place. The ghost of accessibility hovers just above me most of the time and there is nothing worse than heading off somewhere new only to find that what is supposed to be a restful week is in fact an exercise in getting up and down steps. Most of Orkney is pretty good. Beaches are not accessible and you have to get up and down them on your backside. Its worth the effort if you can make it though as the sand is perfect for rolling in! All the historic sites are well maintained and easy to get to, apart from Maes Howe which isn't. Some of the buildings in Kirkwall, namely the fantastic St Magnus Cathedral and the town museum are limited in their access but I'm not complaining. After all the cathedral is nearly 1000 years old. Now that I have been once I have all the maps in my head so access will be a lot easier. Plans are for a trip next Easter maybe including Shetland as well. Now that will be an adventure!</div>
Dr. Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513202784931937125noreply@blogger.com0