Friday and Sunshine and Champagne.

Henri Cartier Bresson.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Cartier-Bresson

Today there were sunshine and blue skies when Richie drew the curtains open today; this made a fine change from the rest of the week.

We were planning on getting me out of bed and showered quite quickly as my appointment with my ergotherapist was at 13.30.

I would need to be showered, do my leg exercises on the Motomed and take pills and eat and drink before Johanneke arrived.

Just as Richie flapped the duvet back to do my leg exercises he noticed that the bed was wet, he immediately checked the catheter.

It was in but leaking so he whisked me out of bed having done one leg exercise, we got to the bathr3oom and as soon as Richie took off my leggings the catheter was dribbling urine everywhere.

Good that it did not happen before as that would have been quite messy in the bedroom, once Richie realised the catheter was not in proper2;ly he adjusted it expew2rtlpy.

Then he proceeded to shower me and get rid of the unpleasant smell of urine, amazing that we did not smell lit before.

Can only think it happened after my exercises, as just before I got my arms out from under the duvet the duvet fell over my head and if the catheter had been leaking I would have smelled it for sure.

Oh well we both stayed calm, pointless to do otherwise, once I was showered and Richie put clean clothes on me, I felt good.

Once I had done the exercises with the Motomed, Richie put me back in bed and I got myself together for Johanneke’s visit.

She got here a t 13.40 and stayed until 15 pm, she will organise the bed which can be adjusted to sitting up position plus bed with raised knees.

And she is getting two long cushions made which will keep me centred as well as a cushion for between my feet and the foot board.

And she is going to see if a simple device that we hope can asset me in reading books, would be nice as there are plenty of books out in the hall that I would like to read.

She is also getting in touch with the company R.D.Kompagne, the supply gadgets that will assist me with using the phone, switching on the TV, lights, opening door and starting the laptop up.

A useful gadget, it was a very productive meeting, our third meeting, second with Ludwine, my first ergotherapist.

After Johanneke went, not too long after our friend Cecile came by with a bottle of real champagne she had left over from New Year.

We were celebrating my goods news that Dr Smit thinks that the wee wound will be healed in two weeks and Cecile got the all clear, that she is clear of cancer.

We were also celebrating her article had been published plus her investigative piece was on the TV.

We had plenty to celebrate, the bubbly was delicious and the two of us had a fine time together.

When the bottle was empty Cecile left but not before she rang an old aquaintence I had not spoken since 1989.

Was very pleasant talking to her it was sweet she remembered me too.

Happy memories and even happier anticipations of getting out into the spring sunshine pretty soon.

Bright And Extremely Cold.

Ton, from the Rehabilitation Clinic , came by yesterday to see if the small patch had healed over, as soon as he walked in I burst into tears.

Had not realised until that moment quite how tense I had been, especially as Richie had made no comment, which had led me to believe it had got worse.

So it was a big relief when Ton, looked and pronounced that it was half the size it had been last week.

What a relief and that made me sob some more but eventually I stopped as the happy news percolated through into my brain.

It has been a tremendous blow to have to stop sitting until the skin has healed again.

Have noticed that my muscles in my torso really need the support of the adapted chair even if it is only for 60 minutes a day.

That is time out of bed which is good for the muscles otherwise they get even weaker.

Right now because I can not sit in the wheelchair, I have to do my exercises at the Motomed in the shower chai, which gives me no support at all.

The other day it felt like I was building up my lower arm muscles because I had to use my lower arm to keep me upright in the shower chair.

At the end of the session I felt like I had been weight training, my arms felt all pumped up and I was exhausted.

Today has been a busy afternoon first a social call from Anne with rolls filled with tasty Dutch prawns.

We drunk some very refreshing and delicious black cherry juice and chatted, it was a good visit, sadly Mathilda, my physiotherapist fell on the ice and broke her wrist, so she won’t be here today.

Got a sad voicemail message that she had been to the hospital for treatment and would see me next Monday.

And my final appointment was my wonderful ergotherapist Ludwine, who brought her colleague Johanneke over to introduce her to me.

She seemed a very nice pleasant person, very alert and on the ball, think she will be a good supportive person to work with.

Look forward to discussing possibilities that can improve my life with her in the near future.

Seems the snow and ice could be gone soon, hope so, I am looking forward to this month of snow and ice being over soon.

Today is a good day; I am enjoying the late afternoon and early evening very much.

Very disturbed night last night.

Stanley Spencer.

Very disturbed night last night and had to finally ask Richie to get me a lorezepam to get me to sleep.

It was not my body that was keeping me awake but my mind which I could not switch off even though I was extremely exhausted.

On the verge of nodding off I had a thought and that was the end of sleep, two lots of thc were good but my mind would not stop.

It was like a hamster on a wheel just kept going round and round, even when there was no new input.

Guess I was too tired and too stressed, so that made sleep impossible, hated taking the pill, but knew that I needed to finish sorting out the paperwork.

This is all done now, bar a couple of letters which will be written on Sunday, Willes, our neighbour, will assist me.

Very tired now but feeling good now it is all sorted out, think that tonight I will sleep soundly.

We have a plan to help me sit, Rich is going to sit me at the edge of the bed with my legs over the edge and he will support me so I remain upright.

I was a suggestion from Ludwine, the ergotherapist from the RCA (Rehabilitation Clinic Amsterdam)

Looking forward to watching Later with Jools tonight and look forward to tihe weekend.

Have a good weekend too.