Friday, April 30, 2010

Being Outside Again For The First Time In 20 Months.











Absurdist Art



Today is Queen's Day here, the Queen's official birthday a national holiday which was brought in to replace May Day as a public holiday.

Sadly last night there was a huge thunderstorm and rain all night which has brought the temperature down from 23/25 yesterday to 15/16 degrees today.

Even more pleased now that I went out yesterday, it was brilliant; it was warm enough for me to go out without a jacket just had a hooded top on over my two t-shirts.

After my physiotherapy session Richie and I went outside with our two very excited dogs, should have seen them strutting proudly next to my wheelchair.

It felt good, it really did, coming out of the building and feeling the warm wind was excellent; and speaking to the first strangers on the street since August 2008 was wonderful.

We went down the road to the dog toilet and while they were busy there I sat for the first time in the sunshine since 19 August 2008.

After the dogs had done their business we walked slowly back up the road enjoying the sunshine and being outside together again.

Richie asked me if I wanted to go straight back upstairs, which I did not want to do was enjoying being out too much.

So instead I suggested that we go and do the shopping together up the road at Bibi's our friendly Turkish shop.

Got there a split second before Bibbi arrived to take over from her brother, she was delighted to see me again after so long.

It was lovely rolling down the road saying good afternoon to people we encountered on our way.
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Everyone we met was friendly and was very helpful at moving out of the way so I could roll by.

All in all it was brilliant going out again after so long, it has been 1 year and 8 months since I was able to go out.

Yesterday happened very easily and naturally, had thought it would be more difficult but it was not.

I just rolled out of the door and into the lift and was out the front gate and out onto the street with no problem.

Even the unevenness of the pavement was not a big problem and I was not over the top about being outside again, just drank it all in and enjoyed every moment of being outside.

It was brilliant and I can not wait to do it again, think I will go to the market with Richie this Saturday and carry our shopping home hanging off the back of my wheelchair.

In the excitement of going out Richie forgot his camera so there no pictures of me sitting in the sun.

But there will be soon so everyone can see how brilliant it is that my world is getting bigger again.


Please visit Steve, on Saturday is the Memorial for BobRobert in Belcher where they will have a good wake for Steve’s much loved partner.

Hope that we all continue to support Steve in these difficult first weeks of his bereavement.

Let’s weave a web of support and friendship and caring around the globe for Steve.

Please visit The Wheel Of Fortuna and leave Steve a supportive comment.


http://spinfortunaswheel.blogspot.com/

21 comments:

Richie said...

It was a great afternoon! You were so brave about it and you did brilliantly. You are amazing.

Anonymous said...

YIPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! :))
Can't wait to see some pictures!

Jen said...

I'm absolutely THRILLED for you, Herrad. I also enjoy reading the love story between you and Richie. What a great source of support.

Love you lots---


Jen

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

soulful sepulcher said...

I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND RICHIE!!

THANK YOU, Richie for taking Herrad outside, and Herrad, all I can say is YAY!!!! this made me well up with tears.

So glad you could enjoy that moment, so very glad!!!

HUGS

Unknown said...

wonderful news!!!!!!

I'm so happy and excited for u!

Stacey

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Herrad:)

I am delighted and thrilled to read this wonderful news. I can see how much you were excited and how happy you were. I can see you trying to chat with people whom you met on the way. I can see your face gleaming with joy at being outside after such a long time. Wonderful,wonderful,wonderful news indeed.

I will visit Steve right now.

Best wishes to you and Richie:)
Joseph

steve said...

Carpe diem! I am beside myself with joy over this post.

Herrad said...

Hi Richie,
It was scary but a good sort of scary and you were there to help.
It was nice to be outside with you again.

Hi Rain,
It was very much a yippee moment.

Hi Jen,
It was very thrilling.

Hi Stephany,
We were overjoyed yesterday, it was an exquisite moment and sitting in the sun was good so good.

Hi Stacey,
It's brilliant, a good couple of hours.

Hi Joseph,
It was a wonderful afternoon being outside and seeing people and all the life on the street.

Hi Steve,
We were pretty ecstatic yesterday, sitting in the sun was amazingly good.

Thanks everyone for coming by.
Yesterday was an amazing afternoon.
It was surprisingly easy to go outside, before I knew it I was rolling up the road with Richie as if nothing had ever been different and I had not just spent 20 months in bed.
Thanks for all your support it is much appreciated.
Love,
Herrad

Marit C-L said...

HOOORRRRAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!! Oh Herrad - I'm SO SO SO happy for you and Ritchie! :) Yippeeeeee! Enjoy the sun and warmth and being outside! :)

Marie said...

What a joy to read your post!!

I find it harder and harder to get around, but I am always so happy when I make the effort. So I can empathize somewhat. But it certainly has been more of an ordeal for you.

Thank you for sharing your adventure!

Marie said...

P.S. Have I ever told you that I am of Dutch descent? I can't remember if I have.

My grandfather was from Rotterdam and my maiden name was Andriessen. :)

Bibliotekaren said...

Woot! Most excellent news Herrad. I hope you have many more lovely excursions in the future.

Herrad said...

Hi Marit,
It was brilliant really good and seems I got very lucky with the weather as it was a mini one day heat wave between 23 and 25 degrees which was just right for my first trip.

Hi Marie,
It was so joyful going our after 20 months.
Pure bliss.
No you never told me you were Dutch descent.
Do you speak Dutch?

Thanks both of you for coming by and sharing the golden moment when finally after 20 months I could go outside again.
We are both so happy.
Have a pleasant evening.
Love,
Herrad

Herrad said...

Hi Donna,
It was great being outside yesterday and good to know there is more to come.
Love,
Herrad

zoomdoggies said...

What an exciting day! Thank you for sharing it with us. I am looking forward to hearing about many more like it!

Marie said...

To my shame I do not speak Dutch. I really should learn.

I have two very dear friends from Holland, Hans and Arda. They are always speaking Dutch to me to encourage me.

Travelogue for the Universe said...

So nice to hear! Love, Mary

Webster said...

I am so happy for you Herrad, and you too Richie, that I have tears in my eyes and a frog in my throat due to the emotion.

I once spent my first year with MS being pretty much home bound, and "confined" to a w/c, and I remember how thrilled I was to finally be strong enough to get out by myself. (wasn't married then)

What I went through wasn't one tenth that you did. You have no idea how much I admire your incredible spirit. I hope your Summer is wonderful- with friends and picnics and prosecco and concerts.

Vicki said...

Wow. So glad to see your pictures, but will be happier when they are pictures you take.

Feeling better feels for good for all of us. Keep it up.

Enjoying the Ride said...

Richie and Herrad,

Congratulations on your outing. Hopefully there will be many more this summer.

Mitch

Herrad said...

Hi Zoomdoggies,
It was very exciting, a beautiful afternoon.

Hi Marie,
Don't worry about it, but I bet you have picked up a few words from your friends.

Hi Mary,
It was so good to do really wonderful.

Hi Webster,
Thanks for your kind comment.
I too hope this summer will be good fun.

Hi Vicki,
You are right feeling better is I guess good for us all.

Hi Mitch,
It was so good to be outside after so long.

Thanks everyone for coming by really appreciate it very much.
It was magical and somehow unreal and yet at the same time very normal as if we had been doing this everyday for the last 20 months.
Looking forward to going on many more trips out.
Have a good Sunday.
Love,
Herrad