What a day today has been

♬ ♬ ♬ What a day this has been ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ What a rare mood I'm in ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ Why its almost Like being Ache free ♬ ♬ ♬

♬ ♬ ♬ There's a smile on my face ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ For the whole human race ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ Why its almost like being Ache Free ♬ ♬ ♬


♬ ♬ ♬ All the music of life seems to be ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ Like a bell that is ringing for me. ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ And from the way that I feel ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ When that bell starts to peal ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ I would swear I was falling♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ I would swear I was falling ♬ ♬ ♬
♬ ♬ ♬ I would swear I was falling innnnnnnnnnnnnnn Oh darn it  I was falling  OUCH. OUCH, OUCH

Make an early coffee

And another Saturday is here, well last night did not go well, I was waking ever hour or so with the aching in my thighs and my "Gluteus Maximus Muscle" At about 5.00 am this morning I managed to massage some Voltarol ointment into the area and that helped, I must say it is not as problematic as it was yesterday and the ache from the right side has mostly dissipated so it is only the left side that still hurts, anyway by 6.30 I had had enough so make a coffee and go and sit in the lounge and watch the early news on the TV.

Carole my Carer.

However the time was well spent and I managed to catch up on facebook and some other bits and pieces on the computer which needed to be done and then at 9.00 Carole my carer arrives, she was not at work yesterday, as her Son and Daughter in law were down with a cold/ flu, and she had her grandson with her for the day. anyway she is back today and her normal cheery self so she soon has me washed and groomed for the day and then she is on her way to the next client, so I have some chocolate star cereal for breakfast and a banana and then I text Pauline to let her know all is OK.

11.00 o'clock toast

Once breakfast is over I get the washing up done and then text Pauline, Pauline phones back to say that she and Gordon will be coming in later today with Agnes, there friend from Weymouth, so that will be nice so once the phone call is over I go and get dressed and then walk round to get my Morning Paper. it is a milder day today and it is a pleasant stroll round to the Tesco Express, in fact there is blue sky and sunshine today, anyway once I have the paper I get back indoors and make another coffee and then sit and read the Paper and get the crossword and the other puzzles done in the paper, by now it is 11.00 so I get a couple of slices of toast and a nice ripe fresh pear as an 11.00 o-clock snack.

Pauline, Gordon and Agnes Arrive

Once I had had the snack I then again get the washing up done and have a lie down for 30 minutes and then make a coffee, and then go back into the lounge to watch some Spike jones videos on youtube on the Smart TV. they are so funny, a very talented guy, anyway while I am watching those the phone rings and it is Pauline to say they have the light bulbs i need and do I want anything in the tesco express as Gordon has dropped her there and is on his way round with Agnes, so time to get the kettle on, as I am in the Kitchen getting the cups ready Gordon and Agnes arrive with  Misty the labrador and Pauline arrives just after.

Well it was a nice hour or so here with the three of them not forgetting misty of course, she was very quiet and just mooched around, she had a walk into the back yard, and spent time just lying around in the lounge with all of us, it was nice to, have a chat with Agnes, and hopefully will see her again next time she is up with Gordon and Pauline. anyway the time went very fast and soon it was time for them to head back home so once they had left I got the washing up done and then watched a bit of TV until 3.30 when I had a couple of Buttered crumpets with a coffee and then got started on todays Journal.

So all in all it has been a good day, the time has flown by and the aches and Pains are almost a distant memory until the next time I do something stupid, it is now 6.20 and I really must get dinner ready so to thank Agnes for visiting I will leave a short Scottish Poem and get this journal Posted

Let the lily of France in luxuriance bloom,
Let the shamrock of Erin its beauty maintain,    

Let the rose of fair England still waft its perfume,    

But the Thistle of Scotia will dearest remain.    '

Twas the badge that our fathers triumphantly wore    

When they followed their sovereigns to vanquish the Dane,    

The emblem our Wallace in battle aye bore;    

Then the Thistle of Scotia must dearest remain.    

It blooms on our mountains, it blooms in the vale,    

It blooms in the winter, in snow, and in rain;    

The type of her sons when rude seasons assail. To Scotia, her Thistle will dearest remain.

so  until tomorrow I will say Cheerio,

And Another Friday creeps up from behind.

The Story Begins

The night was dark and there was not a star in the sky on this cold and dismal October night. The lights in the building were dim and the rapid footsteps among the corridors were muffled as the weird droning sound in the distance got louder and louder. the sound of the door opening was a welcome distraction and then the squeaking of what seemed like a dozen wheels filled the air as the droning in the night sky became louder. 

Suddenly there became total confusion as voices were raise, there was a wailing sound echoing around the room, the droning noise outside was replaced by the sound of crackling, A high pitched whistling and bright flashes of light followed by an orange glow, reflecting of the walls within the room, the wailing turned to a high pitched Crying, and suddenly there was a bright light and an excited if not quavering voice coming out of the light, "Its a boy Mrs Smith" you have a baby boy, and here I was, Born in the middle of an air raid on that night in October 1943. in Fareham.

Yes folks, this is really me

So what is this all about you may ask, well all I can say is that as so many people are now reading my daily Dermatomyositis journal from all over the globe and the readership is growing on a daily basis I thought it was time that you got to know me a little better. so over the following days, and weeks, and month,s and seasons, and years, and decades. and centuries, I will add  snippets of my life over the last 70 years,

Well Its Friday again

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch

So here we are and the dreaded freaky friday is upon us once again, not a bad nights sleep but very achey around the top of my legs and buttock,s today, I know that it is down to the results of my escapades with the Fridge yesterday and probably overdoing the walking with the wheelchair while out shopping. anyway I slept through from about 11.00 pm last night until 6.30 this morning when I got up for the bathroom and then made a coffee and took that back to bed, and listened to the radio until 7.00 when I got up and went into the lounge to wait for the carer to arrive.

British Flood Defence worker

Once in the lounge I listen to the local radio, one thing that did bring a smile to my face was the interview with the the advisor from the environment agency who said that with the impending increase in temperature plus the rain that is expected that to lessen the risk of flooding in area where there was deep snow, that people should go out and build snowmen to help protect the areas from flooding. Still I suppose in these times of government financial cuts to public services it is cheaper than upgrading flood defences.

"Come back Frosty, all is Forgiven"

Care company supervisor

However while waiting for the carer I get the laptop up and running and check out the emails and also facebook, checking out "Words with Friends" and seeing who is around, not many spam emails today, so not so much to delete, anyway the carer comes at about 8.50 and it is another new carer, no Carol again so that has made my mind up that The Care company is not providing the service that I am paying for so I will be canceling my care with them from the end of the month and will make alternative arrangements. the company have had enough chances to sort things out, and I will be lodging a formal complaint to the Care Commission and Portsmouth Adult Social Care Department.

Once the new carer has got me groomed and has left I text pauline and let her know all is Ok and then get myself some Gluten Free Porridge  and a cup of tea for breakfast. I enjoyed the porridge, just the thing to warm you up on a cold winters day, it very cold outside, anyway get the breakfast things washed up and then get dressed ready to go round and get my Paper, as I am getting ready Pauline phones to say that they are on the way to Salisbury, to do a couple of cleaning jobs and then they will be meeting their friend Agnes from Weymouth, who will be coming down to Portsmouth with them for the weekend. Once I have finished speaking to Pauline, I go round and get my daily Paper and then once back home I settle down to watch some old sitcoms on the TV and to get the crosswords done in the paper.

Crumpets

Chocolate Brownies

at 11.30 I make a coffee and have a couple of Gluten Free Chocolate brownies and then at 1.30 I have a couple of Gluten free Crumpets with butter and a cup of coffee, These are really tasty and go down a treat. The one thing I like about Gluten free products is that they have a far longer sell by and Use by date than ordinary products, so very happy with a gluten free diet. Once I have had the crumpets I have a nice yoghurt and the Methotrexate tablets, then I go for a lie down for 30 minutes. at  2.45 after a nice lie down I make a coffee and go into the lounge to make an early start on todays daily Journal..

At 4.00 Gordon Phones to say that they are back home and that Agnes is with them, Agnes is an old friend of Gordon,s and  lived in Scotland before moving to Weymouth last year. anyway I asked gordon to ask her if she was wearing tartan Knickers as today is "Burns Day"  as today in 1759 was the birth of Robert Burns in alloway Scotland

Burns Cottage, Alloway, Scotland.

And as we have been suffering an icy blast of very cold weather over the last few days I though this poem of Robbie Burns would be a topical poem for Burns day

O wert thou in the cauld blast, 
On yonder lea, on yonder lea, 
My plaidie to the angry airt, 
I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee; 
Or did Misfortune's bitter storms 
Around thee blaw, around thee blaw, 
Thy bield should be my bosom, 
To share it a', to share it a'. 

Or were I in the wildest waste, 
Sae black and bare, sae black and bare, 
The desert were a Paradise, 
If thou wert there, if thou wert there; 
Or were I Monarch o' the globe, 
Wi' thee to reign, wi' thee to reign, 
The brightest jewel in my Crown 
Wad be my Queen, wad be my Queen.

So there we are then folks that is about it for today, the rest of the evening will be taken up watching the TV and relaxing in my recliner after a very busy day of doing nothing, but that is what Freaky Fridays are all about, so until tomorrow I will say tatty bye 

not enough hours in the day.

Wish it would hurry up.

It certainly doe seem to feel like there are not enough hours in the day, well that's the way it seems as I seem to be getting later and later writing and posting my daily journal. I intended to take my camcorder out with us today when I went shopping but it was to cold to be holding and videoing today so took the pictures today with my cell phone. the weather today is freezing and the forecast for tomorrow is for more snow from 9.00 am until 6.00 am Saturday. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  Roll on Springtime.

Oh dear, stuck again

well it was a funny old night last night, slept pretty well but was awake by 6.00 am this morning, felt pretty good so got up early and thought I would have a little sort our=t of the fridge and a bit of de-frosting, why ? no flaming Idea really any way that bit of it went really well, getting back up of the floor from a kneeling position was a different story, if nothing else I would be able to get a job as a contortionist. Well I eventually managed it in the end with a lot of huffing and puffing and using the kitchen stools to lever myself up, "felt like the big bad wolf from the 3 little pigs" Oh what fun we have with this silly Myositis.

Pauline on the phone

Texting Pauline.

Well once I was up on my feet I thought "sod that for a laugh" and made a coffee and went to watch the Breakfast news, by this time it was 7.30 so not worth going back to bed, well what can you do, you got to try these things otherwise how are you going to know what you can or cant do. anyway after a coupe of coffee,s and a check on the laptop and looking at the emails and facebook it was nearly time for Carol the carer to come. A it is Carol arrives at 9.10 and is very busy as she has had extra clients given to her today so she is a bit stressed, so not a lot of time for a chat today as she is running late for her next client, once Carol has left I text Pauline and then have some chocolate star cereal and a Banana for Break fast. Pauline phone back to say she will book a Taxi for 10.45 to collect me and then down town to do the shopping.

So I make another coffee and at 1.15 I have a shave and get dressed ready for Pauline to arrive with the Taxi, Pauline arrives about 10.55 and she has brought my washing back for me that she took on Tuesday, so that was good of her, anyway we leave that indoors and get the wheelchair into the taxi and then we are of down to Commercial road precinct to get the shopping. The taxi drops us at the usual place and we go to the nationwide first and then out into the Precinct, It is market day today and so there are many market stalls around.

Market day today

anyway the first thin I need to do is to go to the T-Mobile store in the Cascade shopping arcade and look at the mobile phones as I need to upgrade my Cell Phone next Month.and I am thinking of getting an I-Phone. anyway before then Pauline decides that she will have a cigarette.

Time for a cigarette then Pauline.

Next we have a chat with the lady in the Dinky Donut Wagon, These are really nice donuts and you also get a tub of jammy or Chocolate sauce to dip them in, They are absolutely delicious This wagon is here every week day all day and the lady who serves is very friendly so if you are ever down this way get yourself some Dinky Donuts, you will not be disappointed.

Go on Pauline, treat yourself

As I said next it is in to the cascades to have a look in the T-Mobile store and do a little window shopping before having a nice coffee and Toasted Tea cake at Boswells cafe in the Cascades.

The Entrance to the Cascades from the Precinct

Excellent coffee in Boswells.

well that was a nice cup of coffee, afterwards we make our way back out into the other end of the precinct, opposite the fountain and Debenham,s and have a look in the shoe shop before going into wilkinsons and getting some bits and pieces.

In the Precinct opposite Debenham,s. department store

Once we have finished in Wilkinsons we make our way out and then into Tesco to do the food shopping,  we are not in the food aisles long and we decide to have another coffee as it is so cold outside so we have a coffee in tesco,s before paying for the groceries and making our way out to get the Taxi home, my hands are so cold that I have problems holding and opening the little sachets of Sugar and just my luck, being clumsy one lands in my coffee.

Ooop's it could only happen to me.

Oh by the way just to set the record straight, the chocolate Muffin is Pauline,s not Mine,
anyway we get the Taxi home and we get the shopping put away, we have a coffee and a chat and at 3.00 I phone for a taxi to take Pauline home, at  3.20 the taxi arrives and Pauline is on her way, and I make a coffee and then settle to check out facebook and then to get todays Journal written and Posted, well it is now 5.45 and all behind again, must try and get myself organised although I have never yet been organised so not much chance of that happening, anyway I am going to get todays Journal posted, so until tomorrow I will say Cheerio.

A video free journal today.

Well the one thing you can say about Myositis is that no two days or nights are the same going from Spasmodic sleeping patterns to sleeping all night long, from acid reflux to Flatulence, from aches and pains to no aches and pains, from Yucky Methotrexate, Fridays to Non Yucky Methotrexate Fridays, From Constipation to Diarrhea  and back again, we see it all, it changes more frequently than the British weather. Oh well Onwards and upwards as the Commode said to the Stairlift.

As you can probably gather from my ramblings above I did not have one of the best nights sleep last night, it was not to bad BUT I was up twice during the night to use the bathroom and as the speech from hamlet goes.

To wee or not to wee, that is the question,
Whether it is better to lay and wee,
Or to take the tentative steps towards the toilet,
Is it not better to wear a Tenna,
Than to lie and sleep in the damp
And remember days of yore,
When bladders were reliable
and nappies were just a distant memory. 

Global Daily journal Readership

Well there we go then, had to find something to write to take the place of a video, I tell you I really do spoil you lot. anyway at least I got about 6 hours sleep so really should not moan, however at 8.00 I get out of bed and into the lounge with a coffee to wait for the carer to arrive. As usual while I am waiting for the carer I check out Facebook and emails, and also check my daily Journal blog, The readership is still increasing on a monthly basis and I have a regular readership covering  20 country,s so am pleased that it is reaching people.

At 9.00 there is a knock at the front door and it is my Regular carer Carol, she told me what happened yesterday and why she was not here, She found the client she went to collapsed on the floor and had to stay with him while she phoned the emergency services and waited for them to arrive and get him sorted out, anyway she soon has me washed and groomed ready for the day ahead and then she is on her way to her next client, once Carol has left I text pauline and then get some porridge for breakfast, that went down a treat and then it is a case of another coffee before getting dressed as Pauline,s Brother in Law Colin will be visiting about 10.15 when he brings his son Stewie down to the Sunnyside Medical Centre for his appointment.

Sunnyside medical Centre, Portsmouth

The Tetley Folk

Once I am dressed I go and catch up with the news on TV. Pauline phones to say that all is ok and then I carry on with facebook until Colin arrives at 10.20. I make a cup of tea and we have a good old natter, and catch up, Colin Brought some Tetley Tea bags down for Pauline and also brought a pack down for me, they were on special offer when he went shopping so he got some for us both so that was kind of him and appreciated, he has left Pauline,s here and she can collect them when she comes tomorrow to take me shopping,

The Morning Paper

well colin is here until Stewie phones him at 11.15 to say he is finished and ready to go home, so he makes his way to pick up Stewie and I take a walk round to the paper shop to get the morning paper. once I have that I get back home in the warm as it is very cold and damp today. once home I settle down to read the paper and do the crosswords until 1.00 when I have a small Smoked Haddock fillet wit a couple of crisp bread for lunch, it was very tasty and went down a treat although I did find it a bit salty.

Once lunch is finished I was up the dishes and then go for a cat nap for an hour, after that I make a coffee and get a couple of rashers of bacon grilled and get some Potato and Cauliflower Cooking as I am going to make a Potato, Cauliflower and Bacon cheesy bake to go with the Salmon for Dinner Tonight, all Fresh Produce and all Gluten Free, Loverly. While I am waiting for the vegetable to cook I check out facebook and then once the veg is ready I go and prepare it ready to go under the grill tonight while the salmon is cooking.

Ingredient ready cooked and cut up

In the dish with grated cheddar cheese on top ready to go under the grill

once That is all done I get the washing up done and then settle down to get todays blog written and then to get it posted before dinner at 6.00 pm.

Gluten Free

So that is it for today folks not an exciting day but at least I am starting to feel that I want to get back to experimenting with my food more now, one thing that I will say is that with this "Twisted Stomach" that I have, I have found that since going Gluten Free Flatulence has almost now disappeared, that is one of the problems that the doctors had with my stomach no matter what they prescribed it did not seem to work. so that is a Plus for me and can't wait to discuss the gluten free diet with my GP  in two weeks time and with my Neurologist in March.

 So now it is 5.35 and time to get this journal Posted and then take my Lansoprazole before having dinner at 6.30, so Bye Bye until tomorrow when it will be shopping day down town and I will take the camera with me. 

Well now it is just getting Silly ??

Rich fruit cake slices.

You will all start to rue the day that I found out how to upload video,s to my daily Journal, It is just getting silly, it is a case of  a poor mans version of Candid Camera. But more of that in a minute. Not such a good nights sleep last night as for some reason I had the return of the dreaded " Acid Reflux" I have been quite good on that since I started the Gluten free diet but yesterday against my bette judgement I had 2 Gluten Free fruit cake slices, and I think the problem was that (1) it was to near to going to bed and (2) they were very rich in Fruit so, I will know better next time.

Strawberry Gaviscon.

anyway I had a couple of gaviscon tablets and that settled it down so managed to get back of to sleep and woke up about 7.00 so not a good nights sleep, anyway got up and made a coffee and then lay in bed dozing and listening to the radio until 8.00 when I made another coffee and went into the lounge to watch the the breakfast news on BBC 1 until the carer came

A different Carer today

well I am sat waiting for the carer but it seems that carol is running late today, however at 9.30 a different carer arrives and said that they phoned her in a panic to come round to me so it seems that carol has either had a problem at home, or has phoned in sick or has been held up with a earlier client, anyway the carer is very nice and gets me ready for the day ahead. Once the carer has left I text Pauline and let her know that all is Ok and then I get a banana and a Yoghurt for breakfast before getting the laptop up and running and checking out emails and facebook. Pauline phones back about 10.00 to say that her and Gordon will be round about 11.20 so that Pauline can take me shopping and gordon can spend a couple of hours cleaning the flat, and then he will come and collect us when we have finished. A it is a diabolical cloudy, drizzly and cold day we decide we will just go to Asda at Fratton. anyway Gordon and Pauline arrive about 11.20 and I am out side with the camcorder to greet them.

So Now you can see what I mean when I said earlier it is getting silly, anyway Pauline and Gordon, have a coffee and a chat and at 11.50 Pauline and I set of for Asda at the bridge centre in Fratton. ( you will be pleased to know I left the video camera at Home), anyway the weather is not to bad at the moment so I decide I will walk part way pushing the wheelchair and then when the muscles have had enough I will get in the chair and Pauline will then push me, well I did pretty well today I walked all the way from home to Fratton Bridge and Pauline pushed me in the wheelchair from then in.

Fratton Bridge Fratton (Stock Photo}

Once we are down by the Bridge centre in Fratton road we have a look in a couple of Charity shops and then make our way through the Bridge centre to Asda.

The two charity shops, Age Uk on the left and Sue Ryder on the right

we also go into a charity shop in the Bridge centre arcade en-route to Asda and then once in asda we go to the first floor and I get myself a nice jumper, (Due to my mobility restrictions in my arms I need to get Jumpers with a nice open area around the neck ie one that has either a Zip or Buttons so that it can be undone  t make it easier and can then either button up or zip up.

All behind with the daily journal again

Once we had finished our shopping we phone Gordon and he comes and collects us and we go back home, once Home I make a coffee and at 3.15 Pauline and Gordon make there way home and I get a couple of slices of cheese on toast for a late lunch and then settle down at 4.00 to get this journal written and Posted .

well it is now 5,45 and I think I have almost caught up with myself, I am just about to finish the daily journal for today, and then I will get it posted before getting myself sorted for dinner tonight, It is going to be a later dinner this evening about 7,30 I should think so it will be a gluten free Chicken Curry ready meal, so need to make sure I take a Lansoprazole 30 minutes before having dinner tonight,and also a little later going to bed.

so tomorrow I am looking forward to seeing Pauline,s brother in Law Colin who is going to come in for a cup of tea and a chat for an hour,  so for now I will say Bye Bye.

We start with a song LOL

well here we are then folks, Now that I worked out yesterday how to post video to Blogger then there is no stopping me so I can now greet you all

1963

Again I had a reasonable nights sleep and woke about 7.30 and just lazed around in bed with the radio and a coffee until 9.00 when I decided that I had better drag myself out of bed otherwise I would have stayed in bed all day, anyhow I get dressed and make a coffee and into the lounge to listen to the local radio as they are doing a phone in about the big freeze in 1963 and somehow comparing it to this year which really is a waste of time as this weather is nothing like the weather in 1963 as that went on for 3 months.

Good Shot Pauline
Behave Yourself

well it is still very cold out today although the Snow has almost gone and the pavements are dry so I will get some nice warming Gluten Free porridge for Breakfast and then get round to the Tesco Express to get my Morning Paper but first of all I will send the morning text to Pauline. I enjoyed the Porridge, just the thing for a cold winter Morning, Pauline phones to say that all is OK, Gordon is working this morning and then he will be home to take her up to the QA Hospital for a 2.00 pm appointment with her Specialist at the Thyroid Clinic to discuss her treatment options, She had her scan and Biopsy results last week and the nodule on the thyroid is Benign so that was great news. She will let me know what is happening when I speak to her later on.

Todays Gluten Free Lunch

well I g round to tesco Express to get the morning Paper before heading back home to get on the laptop and check out facebook and also my emails, more spam mail than anything else, still it is in the spam folder so I empty that every couple of days well once I have sorted out and answered a couple of emails and played a few games of "Words with Friends it is approaching 12.15 so it is getting time to have some lunch, anyway rummaging through the kitchen cupboards I check a small tin of baked beans to see if they are in date (which they are) and notice that they a labeled as Gluten Free, These are Heinz Baked Beans so that makes up my mind about lunch it will be baked beans and a fried egg on a slice of Toasted Gluten Free Bread, Heaven.

Writing Todays Daily Journal

Once I have finished lunch I make a coffee and settle down to read the paper and also to get the crosswords done, I do enjoy doing the crosswords in the daily paper and have been doing them for as long as I can remember, certainly since the late 1990,s, anyway once the crosswords are completed I go and wash up the lunch dishes, I cannot believe how many items I have used to prepare egg and beans on toast, must get more organised, anyway after that I get the vegetable prepared for tonight,s dinner, Make a coffee and then make a start on the daily Journal.

well there we are then, at 3.30 Gordon Phones to say that they are back from the hospital, Pauline has opted to have the operation to remove the Nodule, she has had a blood test and now waits to have a consultation with the surgeon and then she will be given an appointment. it is a 48 hour admission to hospital for the procedure and then that will be it, so good news all round. Well it is now 3.50 and more organised today, I will get this Journal posted soon as I need to get myself organised for Pointless on the TV at 5.15, dinner at 6.30 and then an evening of the soaps ( Emmerdale and Coronation Street) up until 9.00 pm and they are followed by Miranda at 9.00 and Mrs Browns Boys at 9.30.

Coronation Street ITV

Emmerdale ITV

 So that is about it for today, Gervase just phoned at 4.00 pm to say that he has been up in london all day at meetings and has just got on the train at Waterloo to come home so he will be home a little earlier today than usual. well then folks that is about it for today another very quiet and lazy day but tomorrow will be busier as it will be shopping with Pauline tomorrow so until tomorrow I will say Tatty Bye.