Time is Marching on!

We have had more snow on and off for a week, not very deep but some nasty blizzards.  This is not unusual for up here we often have snow in March and at least the days are getting longer.  The worst snow for many years was the March I came home from hospital after my stroke and Liz had had to dig the drive out for days.

The stroke rehab session I mentioned last month may be saved but I would have to pay £5.50 for a 45 minute session.  This is very expensive and we have been looking at membership of the leisure club as it would work out cheaper for longer. The only problem is I wouldn't have the lady who is Stroke trained  watching me exercise.  

Nell has an obsession with chasing rabbits and we have had to add more chicken wire to some of the fences.  She can still escape when she sees a rabbit and is difficult to get back especially as I struggle to get over our style and have to walk all the way round the road.  It is a big worry! 

I am still waiting to hear about more physio after my visit to see the specialist in January, my next appointment  with her is next week and nothing has changed!  I haven't been wearing my leg brace as it comes with a soft sandal and that is really not practical living here especially in the snow and ice.  Plus Nell has decided to chew the sandal and it now has no straps so I can't use it!  

I am now well into doing my jigsaws thanks mostly to the easier ones I got for my birthday!  I have completed a couple of 250 and a 500 piece jigsaws and am now onto a map of Europe which is harder because it is smaller pieces but my brain is starting to focus on the task.

News from the frozen North

Last week we had our first snow of the year, about 3 inches which has been freezing since it came so isn't moving at all and is now rather slippy under foot.  This is not good news for stroke victims who are not too steady on their legs and have balance problems. But Spring will come eventually.  On the plus side Nell loves the snow especially as she can play out all day and not have to be washed when she comes in!

Still having problems with my leg, have now been back to see my original specialist who has referred me for more physio.  She suggested wearing my leg brace but this is not practical  as there is no way you can put wellingtons on with a leg brace, and sandals are not an option at the moment.

Also started back at the Leisure Centre for the Stroke Rehab session, which is an hour each week exercising the legs and also the arms, just had notification that this will cease at the end of March due to lack of funding which is a big shame especially if there is nothing to replace it.

Finding it hard having to be indoors most of the time at the moment,(last winter I had the Aphasia Centre at Newcastle to occupy me) can be long days!  Started doing a jigsaw which has taken a long time to complete and had to have some help for Liz, just got another one with less pieces which are also bigger so hopefully I will be able to manage this one on my own.  

Liz has now got a part time job at the local vets, she is in the part which deals with the large animals (farm animals) and the horses.  

Happy New Year

Happy New Year and best wishes to all for 2015. 

 Let's hope it's a good year and I can still make some progress on my recovery.

Merry Christmas

All prepared for Christmas so now just sitting waiting for it to happen! Have put the tree up and amazed little dog hasn't pulled it down yet, she just keeps going and looking at the decorations and wondering if she dare touch. There is no way we can put any presents under the tree as that would be just too tempting for a puppy.

Went to the Stroke Association Community Cafe at the Witham, disappointing that not many people turned up but was good to meet fellow stroke survivors and hopefully others will come along when they hear about it.  Also went for Christmas lunch with Arnold, Linda and Amy, really pleased that Arnold decided to try to get onto the course at the Aphasia Centre in Newcastle after I first met him, and that he has been accepted onto the course starting in January. Hope you look after him girls!

Have also been sent a copy of the video I made with Amy and Kathy, would like to link it to my blog but will have to consult with the IT brains of the family over Christmas!

I have been trying to persuade Channel 4 news that when they use sub-titles in news stories and features (eg when translating foreign speakers) people who have aphasia and/or are partially sighted cannot read the subtitles and therefore cannot enjoy the article.  I have emailed them 3 times now and did get a reply the second time saying my emails had been passed to the editor and presenters but nothing has changed.  They don't use the audio help which other channels use.  I think I need to start a campaign!!

Really proud of my son John who recently won the Guild of Motoring Writers award for his blog Engage Sport Mode.  He had to attend the award ceremony at the RAC in Pall Mall London and have just heard he is short listed for another award.  Dealers are now giving him cars to test drive after years of ignoring him with the exception of Audi in Newcastle who obviously saw his potential some time ago.

I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Latest News

Can't believe how short the days are now and it is dark just after 4pm, where has the year gone? Have now had some rain so stream starting to fill up, came as a shock to some of the lambs as they have had a very dry time since they were born. Also the little dog wondered what it was at first but soon got used to it and realised there is lots of mud to play in.

Have had a bit of a rough time health wise lately and very frustrating as my leg is still not working properly, still getting some physio but will have had my 6 allowed sessions soon!  The doctor tried some muscle relaxing tablets which resulted in my arm and hand not working properly!!!  Have stopped taking the tablets and very slowly getting some use back in my arm and hand.  It isn't nice going backwards, the most annoying thing is the lack of grip, I set off carrying something only to find I drop it and only realise this when I get to my destination.

Seem to have had lots of visitors recently which is very nice, we also had Senna Dog to stay for just over a week which pleased her friend Nell.  John and Ceri went to New York and Boston for his birthday and really happy as they got engaged in Boston and now busy planning their wedding next year.  Nell and Senna get on really well together and tire each other out!

Have been busy with Stroke Association as I have met another chap who is thinking of going to the Aphasia Centre, hopefully I have persuaded him to try and get a place.  Also been on a training course with Amy Waite as part of my role as "expert patient".

We have finished with the vegetable plot for this year, it's not worth trying to grow anything here over the winter.  Also been busy giving some of the windows a coat of wood stain to preserve them, I can do some of the preparation by sanding them down and Liz can do the painting.  

Going to a Stroke Association Communication Cafe tomorrow in Barnard Castle, this is the first meeting so hopefully plenty of people turn up.

Catching up with news

Just realised it is almost 3 months since I wrote on my blog but it has been a really busy summer and a new dog to keep me active😃

Physically I have noticed a few changes, the main one being I have more movement in my right arm and in the last few weeks my thumb has started to move which is great as although my fingers could move my thumb refused. I don't have any strength in my hand or arm but you never know what may happen in time.  I have also noticed my right eye doesn't hang down like it did so I am even more good looking! Haha   On the down side I have had to return to physio for my leg as it's not as good as it was and I can't walk as far as I was able to in the past.

We thought we had bought a little Jack Russell the same as as 2 previous dogs but Nell has grown into a long legged variety and has obviously taken after her father not her mother!  But she is still a great little dog and we are busy trying to train her, which, anyone who has ever owned a terrier, will know is not easy as they are very energetic excitable characters!  But she is clean in the house and sleeps well at night so we can't complain, she just loves life, chickens, sheep, muck and running around and very unusually for a JR she loves water so is often in the stream.

I had a visit from Amy Waite who is the Aphasia Communication Support Co-ordinator for the Stroke Association, she talked to me about the Aphasia clinic at Newcastle University and asked if I would consider being an "Expert Patient" for the Stroke Association.  This would involve talking to people with Aphasia but also explaining to people who are unaware of Aphasia what it is, how people are affected and how they can help and communicate with aphasia sufferers.  After some thought I agreed and have already met with one chap who is thinking of going to the Aphasia centre. As part of my role I today made a video about my story with Amy and Kathy.  Waiting to see what that turns out like😳

The garden has done really well this year and really pleased with our vegetable plot, we now have a stash of potatoes and a freezer full of carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and jars of pickles!  Just waiting for the frost for the sprouts.  The good weather has meant we have got most of the big jobs completed with a few mishaps, cross words and laughter.

Decided to buy a quad to help me get about the place, so had a trip over to Hawes to buy it.  The throttle is worked by my right thumb which we thought might be a problem but after a discussion we decided to leave it where it was and it makes me use my thumb more.  Have been busy moving stones  and soil helped by my little dog.

The monster has arrived.

One of the things we promised ourselves after I finished at the Aphasia centre was a new puppy to replace the great dog we lost last year.  See attached

She is of course a Jack Russell and is very demanding unless she is having one of her naps! But she is keeping me busy and is great fun.

Still haven't heard anything about my angiogram the NHS lives up to its poor reputation.

Went up to Newcastle to meet friends from the Aphasia clinic and visited Saint James' Park, there was a problem in going to see the pitch as they were preparing for the Kings of Leon concert, it was looking very spectacular.  Good to meet up with friends.

Good news is we have sold the flat but means we now have no where to stay if we go up to Newcastle.

Been taking part in the Limbs Alive research and been busy playing my circus games, this came an end last Friday and Sharon came to do final assessments etc and take away all the equipment.  

In the garden things are looking good, the potatoes have just come into flower and everything else is growing well, plenty of lettuce and radish!  Have to be careful to keep the rabbits off but we now have a secret weapon (when she gets a little bit bigger). Nell the Jack Russell

My speech hasn't been so good this week probably because I have been abit tired and missing the students bullying me!!