Thursday 23rd May 2019

Zulu: NgoLwesine 23 Meyi 2019

02:50hrs. Well, flipping ‘eck, a good nights sleep had! Caroline’s advice tried, and it seemed to work brilliantly! Only interrupted twice for a wee-wee, and the last session last for about five hours, I reckon. Of glorious, unbroken bliss! Woke a lot more refreshed, but still, the heavy eye-lids from previous sleep deprivationing lingered. (Clever word, eh? I looked it up!)

A little mind-musing and wandering about nothing and everything, then I pulled together my thoughts and freed myself from the second-hand, £300, c1968, grotty-beige rickety recliner. Got my balance, Arthur Itis and Anne Gyna both in a good mood; got the stick and wandered off for a wee-wee. Definite improvement with the infection now, a fair liquid this time, a blast experienced that lasted a decent while, and, with no pain or blood with it! Double-Smug-Mode engaged!

The legs amazed me. They are almost in the same condition as yesterday, and that hasn’t happened in months. Same colour (pale), knees not as warped, etc. No new papsules or bruised.  Although maybe the left leg has gained some fluid retention? Even the right ankle is not sticking out so far today. Most encouraging!

The morning medications were taken, and health checks are done. Sys a bit high at189. Ah, well, you can’t win em all!

Back to the wet room for a Porcelain Throne visit that came on a bit suddenly. The second session of the week. It was more a tad painful, but far more voluminous (is that the right word?) and a successful session this time. And, no bleeding either. Smug Mode Adopted!

It was then that I began to muse about all the medical appointments for the rest of the week and next week. They seem to get added to pretty regularly as well! Just look at them! Grumph! Still, it shows that someone is caring for me. Caroline – Sonia – Jemma – Muhsina – Angela – Josie – Jane – Stroke Kerry – Physio Charlene, etc. ♥ Contented-Smug-Mode-Adopted!

Please note: No Whoopsiedangleplops heretofore? Yee-Haa!

I got the Thursday… no, Wednesday blog updated and sent off.

Washed the mugs, made a brew, and put some shirts and socks in to soak – cleaned them and got them hanging to dry. All with no accifauxpas! Treble-Smug-Mode-Engaged!

I’m not used to these Midas Touches, and streaks of good luck – surely something will go wrong soon? Hahaha!

Got the ablutions sorted, wee-wee, teggies, shaved, washed and polished the head. Again without any mishaps! (Haha!)

Peripheral neuropathy nurse and Jemma are calling today. Getting out shopping and appointments is hard.

I then had a go at putting on the Ankle-Support strapping myself. I found it problematical, discommodious and devilishy difficult, not to mention detrimental to my determination. However, surprisingly, my willpower was rejuvenated, when after what had begun as a mission impossible, I struggled on and got it fitted, in a fashion. But it was not tight enough for real protection. However, if I can do this today, I can on other future days. I can always ask someone to tighten them later, thus pleasing the Care supervisor and cancelling the carer calling. I decided to cancel them today.

 Carried on with creating this blog, until a carer arrived.

A first-time caller. Etienne (French). I explained I could manage in future and asked him to cancel the visits. I also told him to tell his boss that he could have four boxes of disposable Protection Pants. Then explained to him what they were and showed him. I asked him to tell his boss to call and make a date for collecting them, to suit himself. Showed the man the unwanted new balcony with its finger-trapping openings, gaps, feathers that had come through the cracks between the windows and the complicated, uncleanable for old folks, farcical opening system.

I considered making a prandicle for a late breakfast. But decided not to. My options, preferences, selections, choices, alternatives, opportunities, appraisals, judgements and decision-making qualities; even before the Stroke, left much to be desired. Nowadays, things have gone from bad to worse, retrogressed to an unfortunate state of affairs. This is noticeable every time a decision or alternative are called for. So much so, I tend to find myself being manipulated easily or going along with anyone’s first suggestion. Without working out the problems or affect decisions can have on other issues. Oy Vey!

08:30hrs. Made another brew, and went on CorelDraw to do some more blog page top graphics, and then created another draft for WordPressing. This was the plan anyway!

Around 10:00hrs, Jemma and Muhsina arrived, from the Stroke Support Team. Much chinwagging took place in between tests, exercises and medical examinations.

Shame about the pulse-finding, apparently I died twice. Shame. Hehe! The third time I sprang to life: Dia sat down: 124, Sys was 64. Stood up: Dia 128, Sys 68.

They kept it quiet about what the pulse was or wasn’t. Haha! My weight was 88 or something in foreign money. I inquired what that was in English; it pleasingly turned out to be 14.4st Super-Smug-Mode-Adopted!

Jemma tightened the Ankle-Support for me, as I explained that I am freeing the carers from their duties, and going to do it myself, despite the pain and struggle – in the hopes that things will improve later.

Rubbish, Josie not eating chicken, so I had a black bean meal readied for tonight.

Mushina called the St Anns Valley Centre, to check if the drop-in Nail-Cutting Service will be available next Monday or not, with it being a Bank Holiday. Nope! So I changed the appointment on the Google Calendar, to the following Monday – if I can still walk, that is! Humph!

Some physio exercises later, with well-aching limbs, the nurses prepared to depart. They reminded me that I have to vote, and I went with them, using the three-wheeled trolley; down and some more nattering was enjoyed. A real tonic these helpers are. Caroline picking flowers for me, all with a caring nature… Made my day, they did! Ah, Bliss!

Jemma gave me a list of medications to check with the Doctor, for those that should have been stopped according to the Chemist they are still on the list?

We parted company as the girls got to their cars Sad! And into the Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights Flats, and Administration shed for the Generalleutnantess Wardens Temporary HQ, Tea-break room, Sarcasm & Insult distribution area, Tenants Socialisation Shed. Rumourmongering Clinic. Telling Inchcock off Zone, Things like crockery, raffle-prizes, books and pottery to be stolen from, and residents room. Cast my votes in the Euro elections, glad I took the three-wheeled-walker me.

On the way back, I had a little Dizzy Dennis moment and had to stop. But it was all over within a minute, and I continued nice and steadily up to flat 72.

Joycie was letting someone out of her apartment as I passed. I checked to see if she like chicken, but she does not eat it at all. So I will demolish the black bean and chicken meal tonight. I got inside, put the wheels away in the spare room, changed into my slippers, then got the oven warming up, ready for the black beans and cobs to be cooked later on.

Shaddath, the Carer Supervisor rang, he will be calling to see me in about an hour. He can pick-up the PPs then to distribute to those in need.

Updated this blog for a while until Shaddath arrived.

He stopped the Carer service. Then got me to carry some of the boxes off PP’s down to his car. Humph, cheek! Made worse, when I realised I had not taken the door fob with me to get back in! Hahaha! Luckily someone came out, and I nipped in!

I got the nosh in the oven, intending to add the part-baked cobs later. Added some part-baked cobs later when I stirred up the black bean with an extra half can of black beans and black bean sauce. Yes, I like black beans and sauce. Hehe!

Although tired, the day has been another busy mind-testing one for me; I ate all of the meal with a certain relishness, but ate it slowly, to savour the excellent delicate flavour! I did three whole mushrooms with balsamic vinegar over the day in the slow-cooker, added some small tomato-halves. The Sharwoods black bean sauce with peppers is another discovery I made, expensive, but truly tasty and worth a mention for any food connoisseurs. I purposely overcooked the mixture, almost caramelised it – and it was gorgeous!

I reckon the wee-wees infection is a lot better now. Just one more Nitrofurantoin in the morning finishes the full antibiotic course.

Despite feeling so weary tonight, and all the concerns milling about in the brain, which I oddly expected to keep me awake, although it took a while, Caroline’s tips on getting to sleep, eventually worked ♥. And a good seven hours uninterrupted sleep flowed blissfully for me! Ah!