Thursday....... nearly a week.

It's been nearly a week since I hit the 'create' tab............ and I don't feel very creative. There's been plenty happening around, but I seem to have been playing catch-up, trying, but unable to get ahead of the game.

We've lost a neighbour this week. He's been going down hill for months, with a series of complications caused by old age. The funeral is next week, but it looks as if it will be a private affair, close family only. I look around, and most of our neighbours are in their 70's and 80's so I suppose we had better get used to losses.

Speaking of losses, one of my Credit Cards has been compromised. I must praise the Bank. They picked up the problem within 24 hours, phone card top-ups in different parts of the country, then rang me straight away to querie the transactions. So I'm card less for a few days, probably a good thing!

I have managed to get Cag out this week, before the weather changed and the wet stuff returned. We went shopping and she saved £60! Now I have difficulty in understanding the logic of being able to spend money and yet save £60. This has got to be another example of the Mars/Venus syndrome. If I dwell on it for too long the pain in my head will return.

We are planning another trip to see Cag's sisters at the weekend all being well. They might have grandparent duties to take care of, which will mean a change of plans, so it will be a last minute decision. They usually make trifle for us, and I like trifle, so hopefully the trip will go ahead. I'll have to remind them................... about the trifle.

Friday........ the weekend cometh

I knew this would be a difficult day when the perforations disappeared on the toilet roll.

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I had twinges yesterday but was it developed into neuralgia today and has been hitting me every few minutes for most of the day. It has begun to ease now but usually takes about three of four days to disappear completely. Just what I needed.

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I don't know if it's the pain, but I've had some strange thoughts today. Juggling only becomes difficult when you use more than one ball.......................... silly things like that. I've even thought about applying on Cag's behalf, for her to become an astronaut in the European Space Programme. She has always wanted to be a star. This way, she would be half way there!

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The one sensible thing we've managed today is deciding on a new car. The choice is very limited. Cag chooses the colour and I chose the engine size. The make and model is already decided by the fact that the Citroen Picasso is the easiest car to do wheelchair transfers. It's high, has no foot wells and plenty of room in the front seats. It will be our third Picasso and probably not the last.

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The change is not due until October, but the order has to be placed a good 12 weeks before, and that's not all that far away. It also gives Cag time to change her mind. Women and colours!!!

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Nearly midnight, and I'm going to have an early night. Cheers!

Wednesday 7th May

Tuesday, and the day went well. It was a rush, an early start, to get everything done before the hairdresser arrived. Then get Cag back to bed, and get myself ready for the trip to the clinic. I arrived with minutes to spare, was called straight in, and was out in about five minutes. Easy!

The surgeon was very pleased. I coughed in all the right places, and promised to ask for him again if I even needed to have the other side repaired. He said there was about a 30% chance that I would, and I thanked him for that good news!

The weather is absolutely wonderful today, so I took Cag to our favourite Garden Centre. I thought we may return with another orchid........ and I was not wrong! The day also gave me time to see how Cag was coping, now things are about back to normal.

The news is not good. It always happens after a set back. Other times it's been because of something happening to her, but this time it's been my little problem. There are things she could do a few months ago that she just can't manage now. Little things to help me with lifting, or being able to steady something with her hands. Being able to hold an item tightly has long gone, but I now have to move her fingers even for her to have a tissue in her hand.

She quickly gets tired, and will drop off to sleep at odd times during the day, something she would never do before my operation. The problem is that once a step back has been made, it can never be caught up with again, at least in Cag's case. 'Don't use it, lose it', comes to mind, but it's so true with her form of progressive M.S.

Anyway, summer is a'coming, and we shall do what we can, when we can. We are not looking too far into the future, just taking it a day at a time. The serious thing is, we're out of custard tarts, so it's shopping for me tomorrow. That's far enough to look forward.

May Bank Holiday.............

I hate Bank Holidays. They really mess up the week. I shall spend the next few days wondering what day it is........ and it won't be because of a senior moment!

Tomorrow is going to be a little hectic. An early start to get Cag up and breakfasted before the hair dresser arrives. Just enough time to get her back into bed before I have to leave for the Clinic for the surgeon to check his handy work. Then to the Post Office and Bank in the afternoon.

There wasn't going to be a trip to the Bank, but a slip up on E-Bay has made the journey necessary. I've bid for three pencils (Druckbleistifte) on German E-Bay and didn't realise that the seller didn't take PayPal, only Bank transfers. It's times like this that I wish I could speak another language............. but it would probably be the wrong one. I won them for a silly price and now fear the Bank charges may be more than the items and postage............ so we will see.

Gott sei Dank für Google Übersetzer (that really messed up Spell Check!))))

30th......... and ashamed!

Yes, ashamed............ well, a little ashamed. It's been six whole days since I hit the keyboard in this direction. Where did those days go?

Sunday saw us taking our first real trip for seven weeks, to see Cag's sisters at Bishopsteighton. The weather was iffy, the journey long, the company good fun. There was sherry trifle and chocolate cake................... and hundreds of pictures from their recent holiday in the Far East and Australia. Literally, over 300! Hmmmmmm.

A phone call on Monday from the vicar in Torquay brought the news of the death of my mother's best friend. Arrangements had already been planned , but unfortunately I shall not be able to attend the funeral. I'm disappointed, because her daughter had managed to travel from Oxford for my mother's funeral, and I would have liked to return the gesture. It would mean a 4 a.m start for us, so you can see why it's not possible.

Bet mum is saving her a seat at the great Bingo Hall in in the sky.

Monday afternoon and a Community Nurse called to do a reassessment on Cag's situation, with regard as to who would pay for the recent care package............ I knew it wouldn't be me. Same old questions, same old answers. Care details, toileting, feeding, general medical health etc, then more specific questions. Swallowing reflex, mental process, communication............. the more detailed, the sillier the answer.

Does she loose consciousness? Not willingly!
Does she struggle with things? Only the pillow over her face!
Does she drink a lot? No, she spills most of it!!!!!

Anyway, the cost will be picked up by Social Services, as expected, as the care given was physical and not medical. Just Social Services trying to wriggle out of paying again. Wish I was a Rate payer so I could be really miffed!

I'm afraid the last two days have been all bladder and bowels.............................. Don't ask! Thank God for short nails!!

24th...........

I've been missing for a couple of days. Just some fleeting visits to see how you all are. I've been feeling unusually tired and have fallen asleep with very little encouragement. I've managed to sleep through some of the best programmes of the week and woken up in time to see the rubbish.

I've been chasing Cag's disablement benefit today. We had a letter at the beginning of the week to notify us of a small increase and when it would be paid into our account. Of course it wasn't. After nearly an hour on the phone, I found that it had been paid into another account and not the one designated.

Who changed it, and for why, is a mystery. It was paid into the Post Office instead of our Bank account, an arrangement that had been revised about five years ago. Nice of them not to tell us! It's now been put right and hopefully all will be well next month.

I've started making plans for next week. A few jobs to catch up on after my forced 'holiday'. Nothing too strenuous. A little weeding and tidying, then starting a few beans to be planted out in May. I've some power washing to do around the patio but that will have to wait for another week or so. I did all the digging before my operation, so there's no heavy work to do. Just plant and watch 'um grow.

21st and second.....

Blogger has been playing up. I've had a couple of 'off days' where everything takes an age to load.......... and then occasionally doesn't. I've tried to read my favourites, and leave comments, but it's been frustratingly difficult. I expect no one has noticed, but if you had listened, you would have heard me using the 'F' word more than once.

I'm still wondering what to do about our telephone account. My I.S.P have marked it 'fully payed' again today, and there has still been no withdrawal from bank account. They don't even have a Direct Debit set up with my I.S.P even though I have supplied all the details........ twice. Who's paying? And can I transfer my electricity to the same account?

I'd like to think everything was back to normal ...........down there.......... but there is still an uncomfortable feeling at times, like a dull ache, which seems to act as a warning when I'm pushing it a little too much. I still have to be careful if I cough or sneeze suddenly. That hurts! So I'm being as careful as I can.

I've managed to get Cag out of the home today .................. carefully. It's been six weeks since she has seen the light of day, six stir crazy weeks! She's more than made up for it by choosing some dining room chairs at our favourite furniture store. I recon that all women must have a 'spend to make you happy' gene. She had certainly cheered up by the time we got home for coffee and custard tarts. If only it was always as easy as that.