SLEEPLESS IN SUDBURY

It has finally stopped raining here; it had been raining all night and all day until mid afternoon. I'm so glad we went to town yesterday! Mick and I both had restless nights last night. I just couldn't sleep and by about 2am I was so fed up of tossing and turning I got up and went to sit in the kitchen. I guess Mick must have sensed I was awake (I was being really quiet and only had a small under cupboard light on) because at 3am HE woke up. So I ended up making us both a cuppa .......it was so typically US.....very often at weekends or if Mick wasn't working we would have early morning cuppas like this. It was a nice way to start Valentine's Day and although Mick went back to sleep for a couple of hours before he was ready for breakfast it was nice to just snuggle like in the "old days".

Nowadays I only usual sleep 4 or 5 hours max but the lack of any sleep left me really feeling tired today...I've not really felt up to doing much at all. My tiredness, the gloomy weather and the fact that I have a painful stye have probably done me a favour though as it meant that earlier this afternoon I snuggled down next to Mick and fell asleep!!!!! A VERY, VERY rare occurrence. I even turned down a visit from my friend Sue when she rang to see if she could come over. She understood when I explained so has accepted a "rain check".

You may have already seen on "M.M.L.M.G." that I got a card in the post from Mick.......I am pretty sure Lynn was behind that...bless her......it was a really sweet thing to do.

All in all, it's been a nice together day...I've been wriggling my fingers into Mick's clenched hand and had lots of squeezes when talking about the garden and dinner...Stuffed Hearts tonight, a very appropriate meal for Valentine's Day and one of Mick's favourites.

♥ HUGS TO YOU ALL♥

IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY

"Oh, I love this song" she says releasing their embrace.

"What song?" he ask slightly puzzled, as all is silent.

"Your heart beat" she answers.

SUDBURY TOWN

I woke up early this morning really excited at the prospect of a trip to town. I put on the radio very quietly so as not to wake Mick. I wanted to catch the weather forecast and had fingers crossed it wouldn't say rain!













Mother Nature smiled down on me and the sun rose into a sea of blue sky.









Mick woke and ate a double helping of porridge! I was so pleased as I knew I wouldn't have to worry that he would feel hungry while we were out. It was a really pleasant walk into town and quite warm in the sun.



You can tell I haven't been out much....I kept saying things like "Oh look a bird" ......."Can you see that Virburnum in flower".................."See that plane up there"











"Oh look at that tree"....................... as though I'd never seen one before!!!






All my "Ohhing and Ahhing" quite amused Manda and Chris but when I said.................








"Oh look a puddle!"........I think they started to worry about my sanity!!!!!!













We had almost reached the town when we saw this chap in the white shirt jogging.............

We went into "Thing me bobs"...one of my favourite shops......................They have all sorts of everything in there and we must have spent almost an hour browsing......and BUYING of course. I'd been very efficient and made a list of all the February and March birthdays and all the silly little things that I can't get (cheaply) at our local shops.......like fuses, hooks, off the shelf spectacles,printer paper.......the list goes on and on.................

We also got to the ALDI; another brilliant shop with a fabulous range of well priced foodstuffs.

















By the time we'd finished there were plenty of full bags to carry









Thank goodness we had Chris with us!!!













Though Mick carried the MOST important things.....some primroses to brighten up the living room (I'll plant them in the garden once we have enjoyed their blooms).






We were all pretty whacked by the time we thought about going home. I thought we'd have a go at catching the bus; if you're VERY lucky and get to the front of the queue you can get on one with a wheelchair. There was a bus at the bus park when we got there but typically the bus driver hurriedly looked away when he saw us and closed the doors and sped off (despite the fact that one of Manda's friends on the bus was obviously trying to tell the driver that someone wanted to get on!) We've had that happen in the past; the attitude of bus drivers we've encountered hasn't been very compassionate. In the last 18 months a bus driver has NEVER put the ramp down for us to make it easier to get Mick on the bus; the ramps are always mysteriously out of order!!! The next bus was due in 30 minutes and although it wouldn't take us much longer than that to walk home; with all that shopping and Mick having to endure more bumpy pavements we decided to "sit it out". Unfortunately the next bus didn't arrive and we ended up waiting almost an HOUR before one did.........but we are home safe and sound which is the important thing....and Mick managed a quick yogurt before he fell asleep.






The end of a beautiful day

RAIN STOPPED PLAY

I had really hoped to get Mick out in the fresh air today...the weather looked promising first thing but unfortunately by mid morning when Mick was breadfasted and dressed the clouds had started to roll in and it's hardly stopped raining since.

I consoled myself with the fact that at least it was doing the garden good. Hopefully the weather will be ok one day this week as Manda has said she will join us for a trip into town. I had tried to get some transport that will take Mick in his wheelchair but it is so difficult to book and the best I could do was next week....Manda will be back at work then (half term at the moment) but as we are intending to get into town this week I will use the transport to get Mick and I to one of the local garden centres.........we can save buying our Valentines gift until then!!!! How lovely to go to a garden centre and have a good excuse to SPEND!!!!!

I hear the garden centre calling me already...........LOL

I have been continuing to try to sort the other bedroom out. We have so many occasional tables (that used to live in the living room) crammed up there that I have taken them all apart and put them into a large cardboard box............that's saved a lot of room on floor space which I desperately need for when the Cannas and Begonias need "starting off".

I explained to Mick what I was doing and was rewarded with a squeeze of my hand..........

a moment to cherish....

CHINESE AND SAY CHEESE

Please don't anyone mention FOOD........it's Sunday afternoon and I'm still stuffed from the Chinese Takeaway we had last night. We ordered from somewhere we hadn't tried before and it was delicious.......and the portions were HUGE!
They even threw in Fortune Cookies and Chopsticks (which Lynn handled like a professional). I'd made Mick cod in butter sauce with bubble and squeak as I wasn't too sure how he would handle swallowing noodles. He ate all that and then shared in my Chinese as well. He particularly liked the Fried Seaweed that came with the starters...it was so SWEET...and as you all know by now, Mick has a very sweet tooth. We were all too full to eat the lovely chocolate dessert than Leanne had brought for us (very kind of her as she wasn't here to try it) but there's always tonight!!! The only problem being that Lynn has now returned home so Mick and I will have to eat it all ourselves..............bet you feel really sorry for us don't you!!..................LOL

Took this lovely photo of Mick and Lynn. We had sat Mick in his special armchair and both Lynn and I are convinced that he WHISPERED "Yeah" a couple of times when she spoke to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THREE WOMEN AND A MAN

A quick early morning post; just waiting for Lynn to arrive. We had a nice evening last night; Leanne managed to get a lift from her friend Kim (the one who took part in the Charity Run); it made such a difference to the time Leanne arrived as she had a 20 minute car journey instead of an hour and a half bus trip.

Dinner went down well both for us and Mick! Manda popped in for an hour and ended up staying till 11pm!!!....we had a few drinks and a good chat and Mick dozed in and out listening to our girly chatter as we put the world to rights.

I took a couple of photos; this is Manda have a smile at one of the many silly things we talked about. I took a photo of Leanne as well.....................SHE HATES IT....as she say it shows up her TWO TINY wrinkles! and has dared me to post it. Always one for a challenge I say "PUBLISH AND BE DAMNED"

Leanne....instantly recognisable by her wrinkles.....LOL

Well must dash and get the kettle on ready for Lynn's cuppa when she arrives. Have a good day!!

SQUARE PEGS INTO ROUND HOLES

Leanne's coming to stay tonight (minus children...they are staying with their Dad this weekend) and Lynn is coming tomorrow morning and staying Saturday night so Mick's had a nice shave, fingernail cut and general pamper so that he will be looking his best for his "girls".

I'm slowly....and I mean S..L..O..W..L..Y... trying to get some spring cleaning done. I'd love to get the bedrooms looking like bedrooms and not a Second Hand Furniture Shop! We've just got so much of the downstairs squashed into the upstairs rooms. I'm trying to do just a little each day; I don't like leaving Mick downstairs on his own too long especially when I'm crashing about upstairs moving furniture around; I'd hate him to think we had burglars in the house or that the ceiling above him was about to collapse. I've almost finished one bedroom (the one that used to be ours!) but the problem is that I've put so much into the other one now that I really wonder if I've made the problem worse!!! It's probably as well that Phil, Kirsty and Mel aren't coming as I only have one bedroom in "working order" so to speak.

Well must dash; still more to do yet!

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”

Mick and I went out in the snow today....big kids at heart!!

Mick wrapped up in fleecy blankets and waterproofs sat watching me acting like a 6 year old...............It was a lot warmer than I anticipated and I was soon throwing off my hat and gloves.

I built a snowman.............................






















I think Mick was suitably impressed at my efforts.......










I suppose it was a bit mean throwing a snowball at him when he couldn't throw one back..........................................but
the urge was too great to resist!!!!!!!

Snuggled back indoors now.

SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS

Although today was really sunny Mick and I didn't go out; as it was kitchenshower day I didn't want to wear him out too much. He has a little cradle cap at the moment and so I massaged some baby oil into his scalp first thing this morning and was pleased when I washed his hair to see the cradle cap clearing.

He really enjoyed his shower and had a nice restful sleep afterwards while Manda and I cleared the kitchen up. If you imagine a wheelchair in the middle of the paddling pool you'll get some idea of what I mean by kitchenshower. We do get a lot of water over the floor but at least it gives the floor a wash...LOL. In the summer we carry the paddling pool full of water out to the garden and use it to water the plants. This time of year though the grass out the front of the house gets the water. It's surprising how heavy water can be and it takes both Manda and I to carry it down the front steps. I'm sure the neighbours must think we are mad having a paddling pool full of water in this cold weather!!!

Talking of Manda; do you remember the funny episode about her making a Christmas Angel well it was sent back to the school today and she brought it round for usManda has insisted that if I post a photo of it that I must reiterate that she made this VERY quickly just to show the children how to do it.

I was pleased to see that although we are only in February that the sun is edging more into our garden. Hopefully in a few weeks there will be enough sun for me to be able to sit Mick near the back gate where he can bask in the (warm?) sun and watch me pottering about. I'm looking forward to that...the garden means a lot to us both and it just seems RIGHT to have him out there with me .

Well Mick's rousing now so must get on with dinner...a little later tonight due to the shower and sleep....Chicken Risotto tonight!

ON THE MOVE

It was such a beautiful morning although it was so cold that Mick and I took a wander around the estate. The sun was really bright and I'm glad I put Mick's sunglasses on him.He had his eyes open for most of the trip and seemed really interested in the red Japanese Quince near our local shops. I could see his eyes visibly widen when I pointed it out to him.

The pads I made seem to be doing the trick and appeared to be quite comfortable for him to lean on.

That nasty bruise has really started to fade and hopefully we will have no re-occurrences.

Good news on the bowel movements; for the last few days Mick has been doing a small amount each day without any help from Movicol. I'm pleased about this as he must be so much more comfortable than when he goes days and days without performing. I'm sure the fact that he's eating a little better must be helping, and seems to be managing savoury food with more relish than he was a few weeks ago; though the desserts go down A LOT faster. It takes about an hour and three quarters until his main course is finished but only fifteen minutes for his dessert!

I'm pleased he's back into savouries it'll give me a chance to try some Crock Pot recipes. Gledwood directed me to a site the other day which had a couple on and after a bit of surfing about I found a really good site Southern U.S. Cuisine that has over 1400 on so we will be spoilt for choice.

TEARS FOR FEARS

I had a cry today....(no don't worry...no major problems with Mick).......it's just not something I do much. You might think that strange considering my circumstances....especially as I'm the type of person who normally would only have to see the last two minutes of a sloppy film and would burst into tears! It's not that I've suddenly become a HARD person; I'm still as soft as cotton wool inside.......no it's just that if I cry it weakens me .........a cry at the moment stays with me all day....like when you have a bad nightmare and you can't shake off that feeling until the next night has passed. But today I cried................I had a message in my guest book......it was marked PRIVATE so you won't be able to read it if you're about to scurry down the side bar to see what it said. Suffice it to say that it was from a lovely lady who had lost her husband a few years ago. She directed me to a post in her own blog....one she had done in memory of her husband. It didn't say a lot....there were a few photos of her and her husband and a lovely couple they looked..........there was also a poem.........a poem that reached out and touched my soul.....I think she must have written it herself....the words were truly those of one who had dealt with what I and Mick are going through at the moment.....it was a simple poem, no long words or hidden meanings....it said so much in just a few verses. I know it's frustrating for you reading this but I'm not going to print it. When the inevitable happens then I'll ask her if she minds if I put it on my blog................but now is not the time......not yet......please not soon! I really sobbed as the emotions welled up inside me..........I so wanted to give her a hug so that we could cry together. I've "pulled myself together now"...........in it's own way the cry did me good....there's only so long that a person can hold on to all that pent up emotion. It has to come out sometimes. But now, as my dear blogfriend Icarus once put it (many comment boxes ago and in another guise), ONWARDS AND UPWARDS....it's a new day......a new day to taste, relish and savour.

After all that I thinks it's time we had a laugh. I saw this on Jenn & Cazz's blog a little while ago and as with all their jokes it really made me smile. I hope it makes you smile too.

HEAVEN

Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, "
Do you want to go to heaven?
"The man said, "I do, Father."The priest said, "Then stand over there against the wall.
"Then the priest asked the second man, "Do you want to go to heaven?""Certainly, Father," was the man's reply."Then stand over there against the wall," said the priest.
Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and said, "Do you want to go to heaven?"O'Toole said, "No, I don't Father.
"The priest said, "I don't believe this.
You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?"O'Toole said, "Oh, when I die, yes.
I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."

COULD THIS BE THE ANSWER ?

Spurred on by the kind interest and suggestions of my Blogvisitors I resolved that I would get this wheelchair problem solved A.S.A.P. The more I looked at what was on offer the more I thought...."Mick's arms don't actually rest on the arm rest; just his elbows nestle in that gap. Therefore is there any point having something to cover the whole armrest?" I thought I'd dust off my sewing box and see what I could come up with.

I found that I had some spare fleece, wadding and Velcro and after spending ages trying to thread the needle........my eyes are getting bad.................it didn't take much cutting and stitching to make two of these;

The "proof of the pudding" will be when we next go out; much too cold and foggy to even contemplate a trip out today! Mick didn't wake up until after 9 anyway and by the time he was breakfasted, washed and dressed he was quite sleepy again so I think he's happier having a lazy day in the warm. I put one of his new t-shirts on him .............the colour really suits him.

My handsome Darling

BEAN v BEAN

As there have been a few comments about Sean Bean; just to clarify for any of you who don't know and so that there are no mix ups;

This is Sean Bean

This is Mr Bean

U.K. v U.S.A.

I had a look at some of the products that Dirty Butter had emailed me about and tried to find comparable items at one of the large mobility companies in the U.K. The immediate thing that struck me was the difference in price between the U.S. and here. These are examples of a couple of the items that interested me in particular.

This arm rest comes as a single item and costs $29.95 (£13.70) which equals £27.40 for a pair.


This nearest U.K. equivalent costs £46.95 for a pair (is not covered by VAT relief for the disabled)

£19.55 dearer in the U.K.


This in the U.K. costs £99.99
in the U.S. costs $99.95 (£50.80) a saving of £49.19
and this costs $24.95 (£12.68) a saving of £75.04


I know the products aren't exact matches but looking at the specs. etc they compare pretty well as far as comfort and ease of use go. Guess whose sent an email to the American company enquiring about shipping costs and time scale of delivery??????

NEEDLES AND PAINS AND A NICE SURPRISE

Had a text from Steve last night to say that poor Lynn's not well at all. He asked if it was ok to keep her at home instead of her coming to see us......bless him....he is so good about the fact that every other weekend he is left on his own (well he has Max their dog with him) while Lynn comes down to see her Dad. I know a lot of husbands would have got a bit fed up by now of their wife disappearing all the time but he never complains. He does come down himself sometimes but it's difficult making Max have the journey so regularly plus, being the handyman he is, there are so many DIY jobs that he needs to do in their own house. Lynn always says that she is better off down here when he has a project on as he likes to work alone but I know he must miss her.
I guess I'll have to eat all that cauliflower cheese I made for lunch myself as Mick doesn't like it much.........I'm not complaining about that!!!!

Manda and Nicole went to the doctors about their throat problems. Manda found out that her doctor retired 7 years ago....shows how long it's been since she last went to the surgery! It seems that both she and Nicole have tonsillitis and poor Manda has an inner ear infection as well... the doctor said he was surprised that she'd been managing to carry on! I think she's glad now that she went as it was getting her down feeling so tired and off colour all the time. The doc's given them both some antibiotics so hopefully they'll feel better soon.
I must tell you the story that Manda told us about the son of one of the women who works at the school. He is due to see the dentist soon and has an absolute phobia about needles. His mother had to take him to the doctors for a check up as he'd recently had an operation on his legs. Knowing the problem she was going to have with him at the dentists (if he had to have an injection) she asked the doctor if he could think of anything that she could do to relax him a little before he went. The doctor suggested.............

now wait for it

.................ACUPUNCTURE...................

FOR SOMEONE WHO IS AFRAID OF NEEDLES!!!!

What is the medical profession coming too?

Dirty Butter has kindly sent me some information re; the problem with Mick's wheelchair so I shall be looking into them. More about that at a later date.

I'll end this post with some really exciting news; last night when Chris said "Hello" to Mick.....Mick said "HELLO" back. We were stunned; Mick hadn't been in a particularly awake mode..........and went straight back to sleep afterwards. There's just no explanation as to why he suddenly will say something.........but all the time he does it lifts all our spirits.