Keeping The Myth Alive.

Roberto Matta.

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

Today the weather has been pleasant, blue skies with fluffy clouds drifting by, a nice day especially after the torrential rain at the week end.

This afternoon Mathilde, my physiotherapist came by for a session of exercises as well as massage, at the end of which I felt good.

Being able to have the physiotherapist make home visits has been excellent for me; the sessions take away a lot of tension in my arms and shoulders.

Usually I sleep much better on Monday and Thursday night, both days when Mathilde comes here.

Every year our health insurers remove items that we can get without paying anything extra, which is very irritating seeing as we pay a large premium every month.

The other thing that Agis is constantly trying to restrict is how much physiotherapy everybody can have, luckily at the moment I don't have a limit because I have a chronic progressive disease.

It is 10 years ago now, that health insurance became another commodity to make profits on, so we went from a very efficient system to one that puts money first.

Previously premiums every month were very low; something like €30 per month now it is nearly €200 per month which is a hell of an increase.

That's what happens when markets get liberalised, which just means that everything gets deregulated and it becomes a free for all.

I think it is a revolting thought that it is considered acceptable to make money from the health services, such as hospitals.

Hospitals are there to care for people and are not profit-making, something politicians both here in the Netherlands as well as in England keep forgetting.

The other thing they seem to be forgetting is that people's health is of the utmost importance, is not a commodity it is something that is fundamentally important for the health of the country.

On 12th of September there will be new elections here in the Netherlands, I wonder what result this musical chairs will achieve and whether it will have a positive impact on everybody's lives, I doubt it very much.

The only purpose that elections serve is to keep the myth alive, that we live in a free democratic society where all have a say, if only.

Concentrate On Enjoying Life Now.

Marleen, Cyril, Tina

        

 Here it is another grey day, the weather in England is dreadful, they are experiencing high winds and torrential rain.

We are getting some high winds and rain, plus it is cool enough to have the heating on in the mornings and evenings.

Last night I got woken up several times each time finding my arms clenched tight over my chest and my fingernails digging into the palms of my hands.

No wonder that I woke up, and each time it took ages to get my arms back down by my side.

My spine is getting more deformed, it is more difficult to get me sitting straight; I did not notice it is as much in the wheelchair.

That’s due to the excellent support I get in the wheelchair, which I don't have in bed so I need regular adjustments.

I've been enjoying the football; it has taken my mind off my situation and given me something else to focus on.

Which is good as the stress of having to fight for everything has been getting to me.

I'm constantly either pushing for something to happen or I'm waiting for it to finally happen.

For example I've been waiting for Kees van Roekel, from Welzorg to come back since the beginning of March.

Plus I'm waiting to hear how the new application for the eye operated software is faring at the health insurers Agis.

It was made after an appointment with Dr. Janneke Stolwijk and my occupational therapist, Maurits, to discuss why the first application did so badly.

The advice they had previously included with the first application for Seetech was not up to date so they promised another.

They wrote a new advice, that I needed to be able to operate the IPaq with Seetech, as I could no longer use either the touch screen or the button.

My health insurers do not see the necessity of my having three dictionaries included, I will have to buy the German one myself.

I was amazed to be informed by the salesman from RTD Het Dorp that the German language dictionary only cost €158.

I thought it was going to be more, strange that my health insurers objected so strongly to this, major expenditure.

What is especially strange about the objections is the fact that they say they will assist people to maintain their quality-of-life.

In my case this means being able to communicate in three languages, as I was brought up speaking German and English, and I taught myself Dutch when I moved here in 1981.

In my case this did not count, all they were interested in was spending as little as possible.

They also objected to voice recognition, I guess this is also too expensive for them, strange as voice recognition only costs just €150.

They were quibbling about €308 which is why they turned down the application ‘from HES, last November.

I still haven't heard from the council when they will install air conditioning that I need so desperately.

The best thing I can do is to try and put it all out of my mind and concentrate on enjoying the here and now.