Champion's League Football- Arsenal v Olympiakos.

Slept reasonably, but was disturbed a couple of times by noise from outside, loud conversation around 3 am and at 6 a dog barking loudly.

I drifted back off each time with a little bit of THC, and finally got woken up when I must have moved.

As soon as I move in the mornings even if it is just moving my arms a fraction it results in horrible cramps in my arms.

It is unpleasant, it is difficult to straighten my arms, and this morning my only o-option was to literally grit my teeth and did my arm exercises.

Still painful during and after but then I could stretch my arms out and use my hands without too much trouble.

Hands are noticeably, more clumsy and it remains potentially very frustrating doing things, it does not put me off doing things.

Sometimes I cope by shouting, once I have reassured Richie I do not need his help, I can shout as much as I need to.

This morning was extra painful and my arms were very tense and very difficult to do anything with.

Shed a few tears because I hurt so much, Richie was over holding my gently and whispering lovingly to me.

The Spike started to squeak until Richie lifted him up onto my bed, where he very careful came very close and snuggled down in to arms.

He was extremely quiet and very delicate so as not to hurt me anymore, we had the loveliest cuddle for about 40 minutes.

After which Richie took Spike off and put Marleen onto my bed, much to her delight and when she had also done her bit in making me feel better she was returned to her own cosy bed.

Richie did my leg exercises and massage after that, my legs did not feel so tense and painful.

The baclofen tablets were duly taken and after washing face, neck and hands and brushing my teeth all done in bed my day could start.

It is lovely having two such nice dogs like Marleen and Spike, they are a delight, so glad we re-homed them now.

They give us such pleasure everyday, with their playful good nature and their total trust and affection for us.

It is very endearing to see how much they love us and their lives and where they live.

Really lovely to see, especially as both of them were not in such a good condition when we got them.

Spike we found online at a Dog Rescue in Den Bosch, he had been dumped as a puppy and was just 7 months old when we took him home.

He was hysterical and depressed and badly in need of love, poor little dog, he could not believe his luck when we took him home.

Even more so once we got home and it became clear to him that he was getting lots of attention and best of all toys and games.

He was very excited when I returned from the Pet shop with a bed and bowls for him plus a ball.

I recall his excitement as he snatched the ball out of my hand, we think it was the first toy he had ever had.

We were both extremely surprised to see that his paws were still pink, he had never been for a proper walk, and maybe he had been taken for a quick walk on the grass around the dog shelter.

But from what we saw and heard the day we went to see him they did not have any time.

They did not have the time to check his collar, they told us that he had suddenly been coughing but seemed healthy, they were puzzled by this.

When we got home Richie remembered what they had said at the shelter and checked his collar and found that the collar was far too tight.

The wee dog had outgrown his collar and it was just starting to cut into his neck and the skin was very red and raw, another day and it would have cut his neck and it would have started growing into his neck.

No wonder he was so hysterical, the pain must have made him slightly demented.

Marleen we found in 2005, also on the internet, she needed to be re-homed as the new baby had asthma and Marleen is very fluffy.

She was twice the size of Spike, at 12 1/2 kilos to Spike's 6 kilos, we gave her slightly less than Daisy and Spike and she soon started to lose the excess weight.

She was so fat she could only get into her bed with a huge effort, grooming was a nightmare as she lay in bed like a large seal.

She constantly flopped around trying desperately to groom, with little result, she panted if she walked only a few steps.

She had never had toys or played both of which she learnt with us.

However in the park she ran like crazy, stopping to pant and then getting her breath back so she could run again.

She loved to swim and dedicated herself to swimming, after two months of not getting extras she lost 6 1/2 kilos and looked and felt better.

It had been noticeable that she had been depressed when we got her, gradually she cheered up, and losing the weight gave her a new lease of life.

Now she is our gorgeous Marleen, who is happy and loves to run and play, she is the top dog and she knows it.

I am very pleased and happy we have been able to make a difference to the two dog’s lives, they have certainly made a difference to our lives.

Glad we re-homed them both, it is very worthwhile thing to do and it has been good getting to know and understand them.

They certainly give us great pleasure, they love to spend time with me in the bedroom and seem to make it their mission to look after me and keep me entertained.

Would for sure advocate people giving rescue animals a new life by re-homing them, they will repay you hundreds of times with their love and devotion.

Arsenal Football Club is playing in the Champion’s League tonight against Olympiakos, a Greek team.

It is going to be very exciting, hope that I can cope with watching the game tonight.

Have a good day, I intend to despite my pain and the lack of blue sky and sunshine, it is our first grey cloudy day.