Sometimes, without even realising, we can get so caught up in the mundane essentials of everyday life, that our lives can unwittingly grind to a mish mash halt ! The daily trivia can become a huge looming monster ready to engulf all senses and basic practicalities of daily living !!
Well that is what happened to me last week. Between juggling carer shifts and beaker measurements of testosterone, mounting paperwork needing dealing with, tax deadlines - only too familiar as I am trying to convince the revenue services of a non-return as I was a mop in hospital ( Their last response being that the board needed to discuss my reasoning, even though I had doctors reports etc, etc ), more juggling of follow up sessions with various doctors from Stanmore, trying to get Dragon right in order to resume a working life................................... Then arrives a letter of attachment of household goods in lieu of a £1000 non payment of electricity bill from the tenant prior to me - this is after copious hours over the past few months trying to explain that I am the " new " tenant, and I have a new account with them !!!!
Brain malfunction ! Over-ride ! ......... I sit in the 4 x 4, looking out at the railway track and collection depot below me - wondering " what's next ". Doorbell rings, Jeeves answers, and I hear a lot of talking - I am summond by Jeeves to sort the problem. Well,........ It's a messenger of the court with an eviction notice for late council tax payments dating back prior to my injury.............. Lots of explaining that I am a new tenant et etc etc"......... ' The wheels on the bus, go round and round, round and round............ ' comes to mind, but in all reality the mind is thinking more along the morose sounds of Roy Orbison - those deathly depressing lyrics he wrote !
I return to the cheerie railway track and veg depot below to gather my wits ! Two choices comes to mind, and from over-load, to ' lets bang these all on the head ' and get on with life !! I cancel all medical trials I had agreed to in Stanmore ( requiring loads of time travelling to Alcatraz to be a guenie pig, ), I farm out the electrics, council tax debacle to the charity from whom I got the flat, i attack the tax returns.................... And suddenly, having achieved almost everything in one day, which has been mounting for weeks - I feel hugely proud of myself and can good order off to Alcatraz for my two week intensive top up of therapy with a clear mind !
So, I book the transport for Monday 10m. Semi packed and not quite finished with the morning regime, buzzer goes at 8:30, and ambulance has arrived for my transfer to medium section Alcatraz ! Just what I needed, but determined now, not to let minor issues cloud my new-found enthusiasm to life - pack, dress, and three Jeeves running behind me with odds and sods I might need. I Jeeves is accompaning me. The bitch driver, obviously peeved at having to wait, made sure she hit every bump and pothole in the road ! A ' pleasant ' trip to Alcatraz, with very mixed emotions of having to return. Wanting so hard to have huge expectations, but deep down knowing that it is a small step forward in this eternal road to recovery. Institution life again ! The food ! The noise, the .......everything !! I have really had enough of hospitals !
We turn into the dreary entrance to Alcatraz and an unbelievable sense of calm came over me. The derelict buildings, half baked roads, depressing unkept gardens, cluster of ambulance's to'ing and fro'ing inmates, ............. This is home for me for two weeks, this I CAN do, it is temporary, and I need to be more appreciative of having the chance of more therapy !! The roads become like velvet, the gardens like those in Babelon, and the buildings like a new development !!! I AM HERE AND I AM GOING TO GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT.
I am admitted to the same cell block, given a bigger cell than befor - two windows plus doors leading out to a weed infested patch of grass ( beautiful ). Plus I have a TV - never ceases to amaze me at how inconsiderate staff can be - no remote, I mean, how the hell is a cripple supposed to get out of bed and switch the bloody thing off ????? But, I also have a basin with both hot and cold water ! Big plus - mirror to high, I mean, why, in a cripple infested jailhouse would you put low access basins with normal head height mirrors ? Nice big closet, really spoilt,........... Hanger rail far too high to reach - I rest my case !! This is temporary !!!
The old familiar staff to greet me ! Loads of laughs and jokes. Mark-Adam, Mizz Hollywood Boulevard, all there as if I had never left. I am treated, and rightly so as an out-patient that's ' sleeping over '. My carer attends to most of my needs, and it is my responsibility to get to my scheduled therapy sessions. The Physio's and OT'S all greeted me like a long lost friend. Again, as I have said before, I cannot believe that this was ' home ' for me for all those months ! But, now I am vacationing in the country for two weeks, and I get to good order on parole this weekend ! Out on Friday afternoon, back on Monday !
As always, sent with love and ongoing good health wishes.
G.
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Stuck in the Mud !!!!!
Ongoing from my previous blog, thought you might like to share the trials and tribulations of a cripple trying hard to do all the right things in order to find my legs again !
So, .......... As fantastic as I believe Stanmore / Alcatraz is, it is situated in between Bum-fuck-nowhere, and Half-way-to-Anywhere !! Built for recuperation purposes, way before the Jubilee line was added to the ' mole hunt ' of Londons underground, and placed between rolling hills and dismal grey sky's that only England can produce ! No taxi cab available for power chairs and the only bus available is the 72, closest stop about a mile away from the station with precious little consideration for wheelchair users to get there ! AND, to top it all.... Today the buses are on strike !
The very helpful, toothless wonder gentleman from the moth-eaten cafe' at the station helped us locate the area to wait for the hospital shuttle service. Bonus !! - bus arrives, but TODAY, the only shuttle bus cannot accomodate wheelchairs ! Yes, I kid you not - I mean, shall I get up and walk ??
The Italian and I express our disdain at this, swear, curse and get absolutely no further ! Let's not waste energy on the ' can't use this one ' then, and look for other options. Luckily we discover the 165 bus stop - in service and passes the hospital ! Heeeeeehi..........
Eventually the 165 arrives, and after a very scenic route we get to the spinal rehab unit enterance. I have now witnessed ducks walking across frozen lakes, sheep lying down hoof to hoof and cows protecting their udders from frost-bite - note to self ! Write a song for ' Britians got talent ' it will be called - , Webbed Tits '........
We find the Orthotics department, only to be told that the procedure needed will be done on my return for my 2 week stint !!! Thanks God - another slight of fate and sick sense of humour !!!! I mean why pick on me !
We leave, only to find a red corsa parked three quarters across the pavement ramp for my access to the bus stop to take us back to the station for an hours trip back to London and civilisation ! " lit's haptempt " says the Italian, we do, and guess what............... We get stuck in the mud - clay + snow + water..........do not work !
We work wonders................. Don't ask how, but we manage to get back onto the 165... ....... Home now with Jeeves now cooking a hearty meal of chicken Kiev, fried spuds and greasy eggs !
Love you all !
G.
So, .......... As fantastic as I believe Stanmore / Alcatraz is, it is situated in between Bum-fuck-nowhere, and Half-way-to-Anywhere !! Built for recuperation purposes, way before the Jubilee line was added to the ' mole hunt ' of Londons underground, and placed between rolling hills and dismal grey sky's that only England can produce ! No taxi cab available for power chairs and the only bus available is the 72, closest stop about a mile away from the station with precious little consideration for wheelchair users to get there ! AND, to top it all.... Today the buses are on strike !
The very helpful, toothless wonder gentleman from the moth-eaten cafe' at the station helped us locate the area to wait for the hospital shuttle service. Bonus !! - bus arrives, but TODAY, the only shuttle bus cannot accomodate wheelchairs ! Yes, I kid you not - I mean, shall I get up and walk ??
The Italian and I express our disdain at this, swear, curse and get absolutely no further ! Let's not waste energy on the ' can't use this one ' then, and look for other options. Luckily we discover the 165 bus stop - in service and passes the hospital ! Heeeeeehi..........
Eventually the 165 arrives, and after a very scenic route we get to the spinal rehab unit enterance. I have now witnessed ducks walking across frozen lakes, sheep lying down hoof to hoof and cows protecting their udders from frost-bite - note to self ! Write a song for ' Britians got talent ' it will be called - , Webbed Tits '........
We find the Orthotics department, only to be told that the procedure needed will be done on my return for my 2 week stint !!! Thanks God - another slight of fate and sick sense of humour !!!! I mean why pick on me !
We leave, only to find a red corsa parked three quarters across the pavement ramp for my access to the bus stop to take us back to the station for an hours trip back to London and civilisation ! " lit's haptempt " says the Italian, we do, and guess what............... We get stuck in the mud - clay + snow + water..........do not work !
We work wonders................. Don't ask how, but we manage to get back onto the 165... ....... Home now with Jeeves now cooking a hearty meal of chicken Kiev, fried spuds and greasy eggs !
Love you all !
G.
As the dust settles !!
So it is all systems " go " again !, as mentioned in my last blog, I managed to replace the girl factor from the equation of carers. We are now back to four guys, all viaing for my attention and the micro managing of testosterone levels. The primary live-in, who I have had from the onset of leaving Alcatraz, just gets better and better with my care. He is like ' super-mom ' !! There is nothing needed to be said. He goes about his day without a word, and is fantastic to have around.
Then there is the second live-in, who has replaced the girl. He is a South African, pleasant enough, but still finding his feet as to boundaries between ' master / servant ' relations. He is trying so hard to be my friend, and unfortunately given my experience of this caring crap - it is just not possible to be friends ! He has no spinal experience, but in time and with training, I think he will work out ok.
My weekly double up, the 7ft Italian, who eats 5 paninies a day, can hardly speak English is a dream ! Always smiling, willing to help with anything, and arrives at 7am ( on time ) everyday. We all treat him like Basil Faulty, and continually rag him - which he enjoys and takes with no malise.
The weekend double up as you know is my favourite ! Rameez, likes to break the rules, very handy around the house, completely happy to drive anywhere to pick-up stuff, goes to Columbia road to bargain for flowers for me etc etc - and he brings the most amazing samosas from his mother ! He has suss !
So........ Hopefully we have a team now that I can manage without all this hormonal competitiveness !
It's simple, I have explained to them. The live-ins are lead role, the double ups are junior roles, and all duties shared equally in time slots allocated by myself. It is amazing how well it is working, by simply giving them basic titles and basic work loads. A pleasure for me as I don't have all these people ' fiddling ' with me to ready myself to leave the front door ! LONG may it last !!
Last week was my major assessment by the funding group as to the care package granted to me. This entails an inspector assessing ones daily needs and weather or not the package should be increased, or more for their liking decreased. Two hours of intense questioning and observing just what the carers do all day ! The care company also sends a rep. Quite daunting, and as it is, I have only just come to terms of how reliant I actually am on the Jeeve's. I think we passed, and on leaving, I asked the inspector what he would do if he was in my shoes, and was drowning - " would you put your hand up to wave for help, or would you keep your head up and shout for help ? " what do you mean ?, he replies........" Well, look at me ! Either way, you gonna drown, coz if you put your arm up, your head is gonna sink, and if your head is up, your arm is gonna sink !," - not really sure if he got it !! Will keep you posted.
Had diner with Jen last Friday, and then lunch with G & N on Sunday. As always equally as great a time. Saturday was spent doing ' tax ' - yuk, yuk, yuk ! Just made the deadline.
Today, I am off to Stanmore for an orthotics appointment in anticipation of my two week return for further intensive therapy. It is good news, as they have discovered further nerve ending growth which hopefully means further recovery in the ongoing process of rebuilding this body of mine. So it's off to Alcatraz on Monday !! Very mixed feelings !
And that's about all the news for now ! Will keep you posted on all the new developments ! Sent with love and ongoing good health !!!
G.
Then there is the second live-in, who has replaced the girl. He is a South African, pleasant enough, but still finding his feet as to boundaries between ' master / servant ' relations. He is trying so hard to be my friend, and unfortunately given my experience of this caring crap - it is just not possible to be friends ! He has no spinal experience, but in time and with training, I think he will work out ok.
My weekly double up, the 7ft Italian, who eats 5 paninies a day, can hardly speak English is a dream ! Always smiling, willing to help with anything, and arrives at 7am ( on time ) everyday. We all treat him like Basil Faulty, and continually rag him - which he enjoys and takes with no malise.
The weekend double up as you know is my favourite ! Rameez, likes to break the rules, very handy around the house, completely happy to drive anywhere to pick-up stuff, goes to Columbia road to bargain for flowers for me etc etc - and he brings the most amazing samosas from his mother ! He has suss !
So........ Hopefully we have a team now that I can manage without all this hormonal competitiveness !
It's simple, I have explained to them. The live-ins are lead role, the double ups are junior roles, and all duties shared equally in time slots allocated by myself. It is amazing how well it is working, by simply giving them basic titles and basic work loads. A pleasure for me as I don't have all these people ' fiddling ' with me to ready myself to leave the front door ! LONG may it last !!
Last week was my major assessment by the funding group as to the care package granted to me. This entails an inspector assessing ones daily needs and weather or not the package should be increased, or more for their liking decreased. Two hours of intense questioning and observing just what the carers do all day ! The care company also sends a rep. Quite daunting, and as it is, I have only just come to terms of how reliant I actually am on the Jeeve's. I think we passed, and on leaving, I asked the inspector what he would do if he was in my shoes, and was drowning - " would you put your hand up to wave for help, or would you keep your head up and shout for help ? " what do you mean ?, he replies........" Well, look at me ! Either way, you gonna drown, coz if you put your arm up, your head is gonna sink, and if your head is up, your arm is gonna sink !," - not really sure if he got it !! Will keep you posted.
Had diner with Jen last Friday, and then lunch with G & N on Sunday. As always equally as great a time. Saturday was spent doing ' tax ' - yuk, yuk, yuk ! Just made the deadline.
Today, I am off to Stanmore for an orthotics appointment in anticipation of my two week return for further intensive therapy. It is good news, as they have discovered further nerve ending growth which hopefully means further recovery in the ongoing process of rebuilding this body of mine. So it's off to Alcatraz on Monday !! Very mixed feelings !
And that's about all the news for now ! Will keep you posted on all the new developments ! Sent with love and ongoing good health !!!
G.
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