Seize The Moment.

Gayane Khachaturian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayane_Khachaturian

Last night I must have slept extremely well as I don’t remember much, hopefully my snoring did not keep Richie awake.

This morning I woke up quite suddenly with a small yelp as consciousness reached me at the same time as a leg spasm did.

Waking up to sunshine this morning was lovely, I enjoyed seeing blue skies and feeling the breeze coming in through the window.

My attitude towards autumn seems to have changed, this year I am not so upset that it is autumn now.

Still sad summer has finished, it’s always seems too soon, but this time I am enjoying noticing the changing of the seasons.

The changes would be more noticeable if we lived in the country, they are not so noticeable in a city, what is noticeable are the cars now the summer holidays are over.

My own changes, my MS progression has not been uppermost in my mind today which is pleasant almost like a holiday.

Good to enjoy the moments, I am happy to notice that I am getting better at grabbing those moments and appreciating them.

Moments are so important, never realised before how important it was to make the best of them all, glad I became aware of what seize the moment really meant.                              

Saturday At The Market.

The Diplomat.1939.
Peter Purves Smith.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Purves_Smith

Today was a beautiful sunny, warm day, except for the very cold wind which was horrible for me.

I almost wanted to go back home, luckily there was sun on the other side, so Richie suggested we cross to the sunny side.

Once we were in the sun, everything felt better, my muscles no longer felt painfully stiff as they did when we first got outside.

Richie took over the controls until we got to the market, then I rolled around quite happily looking at all the stalls.

It was great fun, even got one of the stall holders to sing abit of an Andre Hazes song for me which was good fun.

The people running the Greek stall greeted us warmly, we bought various delicious salads, olives and filled peppers.

I thoroughly enjoyed being on the market, being part of it all was good it gave me a huge boost that has lifted my spirits.

When we left the market I managed to steer the wheelchair, until we got to where we needed to cross, then I asked Richie to take over.

A good outing which we both enjoyed, we also enjoyed eating the Greek delicacies for our tea.

  

           

Sunday, 3, April, 2011. Grey, Cold Sunday.

James Gleeson. 1980.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gleeson

Today was a total contrast to yesterday, then it was warm and sunny while today has been a colder grey day.

So very glad we went out yesterday and I got to enjoy the sunshine and the people on the street and on the market.

The positive experience has really lifted my spirits and given me a huge much needed boost that has done me good.

So good that I want to repeat the experience as much as possible this spring and summer

and I will.

Last night I was tired after our trip up the road to the market, I did not realise how exhausting rolling up the road would be for me.

But it was, last night I felt quite exhausted and looked forward to sleeping soundly last night, this did not happen.

Thanks to our neighbours across the road who had a party that lasted until the early hours, the loud music and their shouted conversations stopped us sleeping.

At some time around 05.00 I finally managed to get to sleep only to be woken up at not long after 08.00 by kids playing outside on the street.

Ah well live and let live, tonight all’s quiet outside so I think that sleeping won’t be a problem for Richie and I tonight.

A Sunny 2 March Today.

Pillars.
Rodolfo Morales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodolfo_Morales

A beautiful day, blue sky and sunshine which is lovely to see, really has given me a boost.

A sunny day makes me feel positive, my life is the same but somehow it feels better because of sunshine.

Richie has gone to buy fruit so that I can drink a delicious fruit shake before he takes the dogs to the park.

I think the dogs will enjoy a run in the park in the sunshine, should make them happy, hope it cheers Cyril up and makes him feel very good.

Trying to use my right index finger is becoming more difficult but well worth the effort, it is very difficult to even stretch my right arm out enough to touch the keyboard.

Painful too, my right index finger has stopped functioning now; the fingertip is too bent to be able to type

There is little to be done if the fingertip can not straighten up and select a letter, I had not realised previously how important the index fingers are.

I used to type with all my fingers, when that became impossible I used both index fingers, these days mainly the left.

My hope now is that my index fingers will work for quite sometime, despite problems, so I can keep typing.

A Sunny Day.

Gordon Onslow Ford.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Onslow_Ford

Today is another beautiful bright sunny day which was wonderful when Richie opened the curtains.

What a treat to have two lovely days, this weather has such a good effect on me, it lifts me.

My arms and hands and fingers are not suddenly restored because they are not.

This weather gives me a big boost, which I needed right now after two weeks of grey, misty, dark days.

A boost is welcome as it makes me feel good, feeling good has an effect on my perceptions of my day.

Right now I feel optimistic about today and the two appointments this afternoon, one at 13.30 where I will get a demonstration of other methods of steering my wheelchair.

The other appointment is about the cushion on the shower chair, which needs to be fixed better so that it and me do not slide about and make Richie’s life very difficult during showers.

I am feeling optimistic that the appointments will go well and they will all be gone by 14.30 and everything will be done.

I am getting today’s post written now, so that it can be posted before my shower and I can relax and enjoy the afternoon.

A Bright Cold Day Today.

Le Pont de Europe.

Gustave Cailleboutte.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Caillebotte

Yesterday had a good session with my lovely physiotherapist Mathilde; she massaged my arms and shoulders before we started to do arm exercises.

Massaging my arms and shoulders helps me to stretch my arms, makes doing the exercises much easier, which is good for me.

After Mathilde left we had a late lunch and then I wrote my post, was funny to notice how foggy it was

Today the weather is clear and bright, with a pale blue sky and sunshine; perhaps it is colder than yesterday.

Have to wait until Richie takes the dogs out to get a report about the temperature outside today.

Last night Richie took Spike and Marleen for a late night walk in the park, the dogs were very happy, as they obviously thought they were not getting a walk anymore yesterday.

Spike had a great time in the park charging around and thoroughly enjoying himself, Richie said it was a fine sight.

The extra calorific food has had quite a dramatic effect; Spike looks much better, he does not look pathetically skinny as he did last week.

He has more energy which is very lovely to see, and good to know that something as simple as the right extra food, with extra calories gives him such a boost.

Had helping Spike enjoy his life, while he is still here, we are both very aware that Spike’s condition can change quite dramatically.

For this moment, we are enjoying our lovely Spike and not even considering what the future will hold.

Today is sunny and bright which I am enjoying tremendously, I feel good despite all my pain and discomfort.

Living in the moment is a good idea, it takes some getting used to, but I think that I am getting the hang of it now.

Enjoying The Sunshine.

 

August Macke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Macke 

We were up quite late last night as we watched Later with Jools, really enjoyed some of the acts enormously.

It had been raining all evening and it was still doing so after the program had finished, as Richie had turned the light off I could hear the steady downpour outside.

Had been wondering whether I would fall asleep easily, the last couple of nights I was ready to drift off but each time could not quite do it.

That was because each time my nose got so bunged up that I could not breath through it, this stopped me falling asleep easily.

I always have a handkerchief right in front of me, on top of the duvet with a few drops of eucalyptus on it to help keep me breathing well.

Took ages for it to work, think that is because I have a tendency to open my mouth when I start to relax and drift off, which gives me a problem breathing through my nose.

Difficult to stop myself doing this as stopping myself means being aware which then stops me drifting off to sleep.

Last night somehow I managed to do this without becoming too awake in the process which was really good.

Before I knew it I was asleep and slept very well until I started to slowly wake up, must have slightly moved my arms which resulted in my arms and hands cramping up.

This resulted in both my hands, especially my right hand clenching up into tight fists with my finger nails digging in to the palms of my hand.

Not a nice way to wake, Richie responded right away to my calls for help, he came over and prised my fingers out and rubbed and massaged my hands and arms.

So that they were more relaxed and my fingers could be easily stretched out and I could use them again.

This helped me do my arm exercises after which my hands and arms were not as painful anymore as they had been when I woke.

Feels good and has helped me to write and publish this post and to enjoy the sunshine and the day today.

Enjoying The Moment.

Egon Schiele.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Schiele

Yesterday was a lovely warm day, it was 22 c, went out with Richie and the dogs, did not have to wear any extra clothes just put a big pretty scarf around my neck.

It was really lovely being outside in the sun with my darling and our doggies, I enjoyed sitting in the sun.

At first when Richie suggested going out I almost did not want to go, mainly because of my painful arms.

It was good we went out as yesterday may have been the last warm sunny summer day this year.

My arms were extremely painful, I had to stop very often for a couple of minutes but each time I could carry on again.

The dogs get very excited whenever I go out with them; Spike and Marleen get quite energised walking next to my wheelchair.

A sweet sight the two little mad faces grinning and jostling each other to see which one gets to walk right next to me.

Sometimes they are quite a handful for Richie to deal with; they are very over excited when I am out with them and they have only eyes for me which is sweet.

This gives Richie abit more work as he can't rely on them seeing and responding as they normally do, eventually they do what he wants them to do.

They got so excited they peed all up the road making a visit to the dog toilet quite unnecessary when we finally got there.

Really glad we went out as I did enjoy being outside very much, nice to feel the sun and the air on my face.

Good to get out and enjoy the moment with my darling Richie, the love of my life, good to enjoy the moments with the man who means so much to me.

Enjoying the Moment.

Australian Art


Another beautiful sunny day with blue sky, just starting to get cloudy now and the sun is not as strong as it was.

It’s a good day, had a nice shower, this is worth mentioning as showers are rarely nice these days.

Touching my skin can be a tricky move, as so often what I feel is at such odds with what is really happening.

Richie gently holding my hands can feel pleasant more usually it feels like an electric shock.

The shower can occasionally like today feel good, it mostly is something that I endure, and each water jet feels like a needle.

The softest and warmest towels feel like cold pumice stone and is very unpleasant indeed, added to that all temperature changes are unpleasant.

I do not feel the room temperature until it is roasting hot and Richie is melting and then I will ask if the heating is on.

Today the water felt pleasant and even the towels did not feel as abrasive as they often do, after Richie had dried me and dressed me, he placed me in front of the Motomed.

When he got me my fruit shake (banana/date/orange) Richie told me that he thought the skin had healed over totally.

Shame now that Ton did not come this week, should be confirmed good news next week Wednesday
.
Can’t wait to hear what Ton says then; think it is not a bad idea for me to have to wait until next week.

Give the skin extra time to thicken up before that I start to sit in my electric wheelchair again, funny sitting here and having pleasant fantasies about trips out.

Our friend Lin, from the British General Stores


http://www.britishstore.nl/

wants to take me out for a meal at her friend’s Jamaican restaurant Planet Rose, just 5 minutes up the road.


http://www.planetrose.info/

Another friend, Marianne I know is looking forward to our trips to the Ten Cate market our local market.

Cecile another friend wants to organise a barbeque outdoors in the summer, I want to organise a picnic on the street outside of our building, think it would be nice thing to do in June.

My fantasy I to be able to be mobile again and move around and go outside and come back in and do this whenever I want to.

The idea of being able to sit and go out again is brilliant, plans make it even better but sitting and going out is already an excellent respective.

Happy days are coming soon, I am enjoying the moment.