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/

Another Busy Afternoon.

New York Art.


Another busy afternoon after I had sat for just over an hour I had to go back to bed for an appointment with my occupational therapist Johanneke and Jenny who works in the RCA technical department.

Jenny wanted to see what my posture is like in bed so she can make some long supportive cushions to keep my body in one spot.

The cushion will be from under my lower arm until halfway down my calf to stop my knees splaying outwards which destabilises me.

She is also making a cushion to go between my feet and the footboard to stop my feet pointing outwards which causes the foot to hang like that, pointing downwards.

Make wearing shoes difficult as the feet slip out of them and then the feet won't be easy to place or keep on the wheelchair foot stand.

Jenny also brought somet3hing else it is a simple device which fits a round the hand and has a protruding bit with one of those rubber finger tips that help you turn pages and shuffle through paperwork.

This simple device makes it possible for me to read books again which is really exciting as there are a few books on our bookshelves that I would like to read.

After they went Willes came upstairs to help me organise the papers to be taken to our tax advisor.

And as soon as we were done Marianne came round for a visit and to check that the pillow case she made fitted the neck support pillow.

Before she went Cecile turned up for the paperwork, what was especially nice fro me was that they were happy with the clothes I gave them.

Good to recycle clothes like that, the turquoise trousers and top were perfect for Marianne and the little black dress and jacket was excellent for Cecile.

Sadly after everyone had gone Richie discovered that the catheter tube had slightly got out of position maybe when Jenny moved me up and across the bed.

So we had to go right away to the bathroom for a wash and clean trousers and so Richie could put the saline solution through t he catheter to check it was not blocked, it was not.

I am back in bed now waiting for the delicious lasagne Richie is making and for the football game Barcelona versus Inter Milan, should be good.

Am going to enjoy this evening very much.

Please visit Steve : The Wheel of Fortuna

http://spinfortunaswheel.blogspot.com/

BobRobert died late last Friday night, Steve needs plenty of support in these diffcult first weeks.

New Perspectives

New Orleans Art.

It has been a good afternoon, I sat for a total of 3 hours and 45 minutes which was great, just felt a wee bit tired before Richie put me back into bed just after 17.30.

Had another useful meeting with my occupational therapists, Johanneke and Ludwine, Ludwine was handing over to Johanneke.

She explained the adaption and showed Johanneke the recent changes that had been made and the things that needed attention and possibly adapting at the next appointment with Ruud from Summit.

After they left Mathilde came round for my physiotherapy session which was great to do in the wheelchair.

Afterwards I sat in the front room with Richie and the dogs which was brilliant.

Lovely sitting and looking out of the window and just being part of things again, the dogs were also happy I was there.

Richie was delighted, we discussed clothes for outside, and Richie is going to adapt some of my jackets so they are easier to put on.

We ended up sorting through quite alot of my clothes and we weeded out all those that are no longer suitable.

It was in the end a whole big bag full, which Richie will put in the refugees clothes container up the road.

Nice to do this together and good to do it today, it has given me a huge boost and made me keen to move on to the next stage which is going out of the building and onto the road.

My other big excitement today was that I went out of our door and on to the landing for the first time since 19 August 2008.

Feel very positive now about going outside and about having a life outside of my bed, it is very exciting to get a taste today of what it will be like.

Now I can be more mobile again I can entertain all sorts of ideas which were not applicable while my only perspective was making the best of life in bed.

Good that finally life is starting to improve for me and Richie, we are both looking forward to the summer and me going out with him and the dogs.

Can’t wait forw Perspectives us to go to the market again, it will be brilliant, tomorrow I shall go out for a roll round the block with Richie and the dogs when they return from Spike’s final visit to the orthopaedic vet.

This Friday we plan to go to the end of the road and see the Queen’s Day celebrations.

After I post this I shall visit Steve and leave him a comment on The Wheel of Fortuna

http://spinfortunaswheel.blogspot.com/

These first days just after his beloved partner BobRobert has just died must be very difficult for him.

Then I intend to take it very easy indeed and enjoy the evening with my darling Richie.