Sitting Around.

Street Art.

It was sweet sitting in the front room again, loved watching Richie prepare and cook our dinner, pleasant seeing him chop up the vegetables.

We were both very happy that I was there, so were the dogs, they were delighted and were playing happily for us.

Spike spent most of his time sitting or lying right next to my chair, so Richie would regularly let me know where he was, so I did not roll over him.

Every now and then Richie would say don’t move now, he is lying right between your front wheels, amusingly Spike had to keep his head lowered to sit there.

As soon as I started to sit again it was a shock to discover that it was so exhausting, almost got me down, as I had thought that the adaptation would do it all.

Really could not have foreseen that it would be such a slow process.

Told Richie that I could see now that the idea of me going to the gig on 21 November, a mere three weeks after starting to sit again had been extremely unrealistic.

Richie agreed that it had not been realistic, but reminded me what a big boost it had been for me to think that I might get to the gig.

He said he thought that having a goal had done me a power of good, he is right; it really had cheered me up.

I was buzzing in the weeks after, which was a good feeling, glad Richie reminded me of the positive effects.

Just the thought that it could be possible was so empowering, after 14 long months in bed.

Richie also reminded me that I had got a response from Peter that I had not expected; it had confirmed what I had thought about Peter and The Test Tube Babies.

Really kind of him to mail me back; nice to know he reads my blog, it is always good to make new friends.

Sitting yesterday while good made me aware of the progression of my MS, my right arm is weaker than it was last year, I have built up muscle in my upper arm so it is not strength that I lack.

My arm is just not as flexible, can not move it as fluidly, found eating to be quite a struggle getting the fork up to my mouth.

Thought eating sitting up would be effortless; perhaps with time it will get easier, hope so.

Getting up soon look forward to late afternoon and evening sitting up and enjoying our Saturday evening together.

Peter and The Test Tube Babies @ Melkweg on 21 November 2009.

Great start to the day today, had a response from an email that I sent to Peter and The Test Tube Babies.

Yesterday I looked on the internet for gigs we could go to when I am up and about in the wheelchair once more.

Saw a brilliant gig in The Melkweg on 21/11 with Peter and The Test Tube Babies and 6 other punk bands.

Peter and The Test Tube Babies have been around for 31 years and is a brilliant band.

Sadly the gig was already sold out, so I found the band’s website and sent them an email last night.

Got an email from Peter himself this morning which was a wonderful surprise and totally unexpected by both of us.

The response I got from Peter was wonderful, he will see if he can advise us how to get in and I can buy cd’s via him.

I am very touched by his response and so was Richie, who had not expected me to hear anything from Peter or the band.

I got quite tearful and choked up with emotion at the idea of a good punk evening in The Melkweg to celebrate my return to mobility.

Going to see Peter and The Test Tube Babies would be a great way to celebrate being mobile once again after more than a year in bed.

Here is the mail I sent:

Hello Peter and The Test Tube Babies,

Overjoyed to see you are playing at the Melkweg in November and then devasted to see it is sold out already.

Not a surprise as you are popular, but very upsetting for my partner, Richie and I, as we really fancied seeing you.

I have been in bed for over a year now with a pressure sore that is only healing now, I will be getting my wheelchair adapted in mid to end of October so was looking for a good gig to go to.

I know you have no say over ticket sales and allocation but just wanted to mail you in case you had any advice how we might still get tickets.

I am desperate to get out of bed and rolling around town and a good gig like yours would do me good.

Regards,

Herrad

My blog:

http://accessdenied-livingwithms.blogspot.com/

What a wonderful man Peter is, so pleased he took the time to mail me, his mail has made my day, it has shown him to be a real punk darling.

Today is a good day, have had a nice visit from an old dear friend Malte and phone calls from two other dear friends.

One an ex colleague from a company I worked at in 2003 and the other a friend who moved out of Amsterdam in 1990, real nice to hear from both of them.

I am enjoying today, the weather was great until just after 4 pm this afternoon when the sun went away and now it is slowly moving towards twilight at 17.43.

The neighbourhood children are enjoying playing football outside and I am enjoying hearing them.

Hope today is a good day for everyone