Taking a break.

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

When I decided to take a break from blogging on 11th of December I did not intend to stop for as long as I have, as it's now three weeks ago that I wrote a blog post.

On 11th of December there was a lot going on here, we had the unexpected visit from a good friend John, who we had not seen since 1993 apart from a brief visit in 1999.

It was quite incredible; it was very emotional but lovely to see him again after all these years, a very special visit from a special person who is a close friend of Richie’s.

When I decided to take a holiday from blogging I only meant to stop during John's visit which was from 8th of December until 16th of December.

On the day after John left I decided to extend my time off from blogging to enjoy the days before the winter solstice and then Christmas before writing again.

Apart from time off from blogging I wanted to see what life would be like without my laptop and my connection to the outside world via the Internet.

I discovered that I can live without my laptop and the Internet; however my conclusion is that I can live without but I'd rather not have to do so.

I still have so much that I would like to write about, during my time off there were days when I could feel that I was overflowing with ideas for my blog posts.

Last night I decided I would start blogging again from today; it's not easy as my left index finger which I rely on is not functioning well, and is becoming inactive.

I should have made more of an effort learning how to use the Seetech computer in August instead I chose to write using Dragon voice recognition.

So now I have a problem because I can not use the laptop like I used to and it is very frustrating to feel that my index finger won't work that is so frustrating.

There is nothing worse than sitting in front of my laptop unable to click on any items or to scroll down or to surf the net or do anything much.

The Seetech computer worries me, however I will not let fear rule me and I intend to learn how to use the Seetech computer so I can keep writing and communicating.

I have not only missed the writing I have also missed the communications with blog friends who have become important for me, I'm glad to be writing again today.

Happy Anticipation .

 

Roberto Matta.

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

Two weeks ago we suddenly got a phone call from John a good friend of Richie's, from the oil rig where he is working, telling us that he would be coming to see us for a visit.

The visit was planned for the 8th of December for a week, which he hoped was okay with us, as he did not want to make problems for us.

We immediately reassured him that it was not a problem in fact it was the opposite; it was excellent news that he was finally coming to visit us after all these years.

it is absolutely not a problem to have such a good friend of both of ours, visiting us here, in fact it is the opposite it is a pleasure to have him visiting us in Amsterdam after all these years.

On Wednesday John phoned us to tell us that he was still on the oil rig due to the fact that unexpected snowfall meant he could not get a flight back to Glasgow.

He hoped that it was going to still be possible to get a flight back home to Glasgow, but may be it would have to be postponed until a later date; he promised that he would keep us informed.

We didn't hear anything more until around 1200 today when the phone rang and it was John to tell us that he would be arriving approximately at 1900 this evening.

Now we are both looking forward to seeing him again, how very typical of John to suddenly come and visit us, I think it is going to be a very good weeks visit.

Asking for reassurance.

Roberto Matta

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

I really can't believe that today is Friday, it is amazing how time flies when everyone is enjoy  ing themselves.

I'm really enjoying Aud being here, so nice to have the chance to get to know her better.

This afternoon my good friend Anja came over to visit with me, lovely to see her, especially because she was happy and looking very good.

it was an extremely enjoyable visit, just when she was on the point of leaving I asked her for reassurance that she wasn't visiting out of duty.

She immediately said that it was not like that at all, she was coming to visit me because she enjoyed spending time with me.

Something that I did feel was so but nevertheless at the same time I also needed to be reassured that I was not a burden or a duty.

it was good for me to hear Anja's response, she also told me that she got a lot out of coming to see me that it was not a one-way street.

Before she said goodbye she told me that she loved me, which was very moving for me to hear her say this to me.

I'm so glad to have such a good friend like Anja is, and I'm also happy that I asked her for reassurance.

After Anja left I felt so much better, it's good to spend time with friends, old friends as well as new ones.

 

It's Friday.

 

 
Cyril.

It’s Friday; sadly it is another grey, misty cold day like yesterday, just no pouring rain today.

Richie is out shopping, he wants to get it all done today so he has nothing to do tomorrow and can watch the 6 nations rugby.

Tomorrow afternoon a good friend will come by for an hour which is a pleasant prospect, nice to see a friend.

We could really do with more friends visiting us and less business visits, but guess we will see more people as soon as the weather gets better.

Everyone is still in winter hibernation until end of February beginning of March when people start phoning to make arrangements. 

Before I lived here I never had a yearly diary, but here you have to have one as everything is done by appointment only.

It is quite rare to get a spontaneous visit here, and sadly since I am so handicapped we need to know when people plan to visit so that Richie can have me showered and dressed, sitting in my wheelchair.

Looking forward to Richie coming home soon and having a shower, clean clothes and enjoying Richie’s company.

A Good Friend And Neighbour.

 
 

Georg Grosz.


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

Today is a totally different day to how the weather was yesterday when the sky was blue and it was warm and sunny.

When I woke this morning it was a dismal and grey rainy day, an incredible contrast to what it had been like yesterday.

Sadly did not get outside yesterday as our ex neighbour Willes came by to visit us, was very good to see her again.

Even though we did not visit each other daily, we knew she was around, always abit of a buzz around Willes.

Miss her being in the building, the other neighbours are just not like her, it has been such a pleasure being neighbours for the last three years.

First really good neighbour since I lived in England, what I like about Willes is that she is very direct, very open and honest

.

What you see is what you get, she is not a prejudiced woman, on the contrary, she treats everyone exactly the same.

Great to have someone like her around, good to get to know her, yesterday we gave her a little present to let her know how much we appreciate her.

Nice to let friends know that they are appreciated and a very good thing to do especially yesterday with Willes.

She has been an outstanding neighbour and is a good friend.

Nothing Can Change Me.

Maleonn.

http://www.craigscottgallery.com/?sec=2&artist_id=6

''Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity ... " ~ Gilda Radner


Woke from a wonderful deep sleep and was looking forward to the day and to writing my post before Richie showered me.

This was not to be; as I was not getting all the benefits of the fan, it had got enveloped in my mosquito net, so I asked Richie to tie it back; as soon as he did he discovered that I was lying in a bed awash with urine.

Until Richie discovered this, I had no idea having just woken up, had not felt that anything was wrong, had not felt cold nor did I smell anything.

Yet as soon as Richie said, I instantly felt wet and cold, as well as smelt the unmistakable ‘’gorgeous’’ odour of pee.

Horrible start to the day, made better by Richie’s swift action in getting me hoisted out of bed and under the shower.

He soon got me showered and dried and dressed, ready to see our good friend Anja who was coming to visit at 14.00.

It was very good seeing Anja, she is my best friend here we have known each other for a long time now.

The first time I saw her was in 1983, we first met and got to know each other in 1984, that is already 26 years ago now.

Funny how time flies by, seems not long ago that I moved to Amsterdam, one minute it was 1981 and the next it is 2010.

In 1981 I was 30 and here it is I am 59, despite the MS knocking lumps out of me, I do not feel much different then I did in 1981.

By that I do not mean that 29 years came and went without affecting me in any way, as of course they did.

What I mean is that I am finding out that despite everything that life has thrown at me and the effects of this nasty disease and getting older, essentially I am still me..

Guess this is what confused me when I was a child, every birthday I would rush to the mirror and examine myself.

I was looking for signs that getting a year older had made a noticeable difference and I would feel maybe even be different.

For years I was sad to never see any obvious differences, every year I was disappointed until I became a teenager and no longer rushed to the mirror every 17 March.

Now I realise that I was not only looking for outward signs, but I was also expecting to feel different too, to be somehow changed.

Which is not possible as I totally understand, now I can see that I have aged and that I have been affected by this shitty MS but nothing can change me or make me different

New catheter.

Slept well again last night despite the doctor's appointment today, our GP is coming round to change the catheter at 12.30.

As soon as I woke up this morning I was moaning with pain which Richie remedied with a bag of THC and that helped me off to dreamland again.

Sadly could not get the doctor’s visit out of my head and had to finally acknowledge that it worries me.

And yet it is not worrying Dr. van Wijngaarden is a very good doctor who knows what she is doing and does it well.

It is not a painful procedure and yet it is not me favourite thing, would love to phone and cancel arrange another date but that would only postpone it to another date.

Then I would get to fret and worry and even panic slightly all over again.

No won't do that just have to let it happen and once it is done I won't have to think about it for another two months.

Instead of concentrating on the doctor’s visit I will think about my dear friend Anja who will be visiting this afternoon which is a nicer prospect than the doctor.

12.30 the doctor was here and before I knew it she had installed the new catheter and it was all done and dusted, what a relief!

The sun is shining brightly and Richie tells me the weather is mild so will be able to open the windows in a minute and enjoy the balmy air wafting in through the windows

Nice visit from a good friend.

Nice visit from Karin.L yesterday, one minute it was 15.00 and she arrived and we started to talk and the next minute it was 17.00.

Time goes quickly when you are enjoying yourself and always do when Karin.L is around.

She will be back next friday, looking forward to it already!