A Treck into the wilds of Milton.

Good Morning all you lucky people it is me again, with more exciting and nail biting tales of life with a Rollator. so welcome to................

Should get up when
 I wake up

Well Saturday morning was interesting to say the least, For the second morning running I woke about 3.30 isn with a very painful shoulder, Why this is happening again I have no Idea, anyway it was a case of applying "Deep Heat" and taking a couple of co-codamol and then getting back to sleep again,  before waking at 7.30.

I have a suspicion that I "Cricked" my neck on Thursday, reaching to get something out of the cupboard , anyway if it happens again over the weekend I will phone the doctor on Monday,  anyway instead of getting up and out of bed I decided that I would just check on Facebook with the iPad, Big Mistake, still there at 9.00 am

My Trusty Rollator

Once I am out of Bed I text Pauline and then get some breakfast and get dressed before Pauline phones and we have our morning chat, Pauline has only just got up, so looks like we are all having a lazy start to the day today, Anyway after I have spoken to Pauline it is on to the lap top to check emails etc before deciding that as it is such a nice day today and that we are in for some wet and stormy weather over the next week I will go for a walk to Bransbury park and Milton road with the Rollator, I am under no illusion that I will probably suffer for it over the next few days but I know that my leg and thigh muscles are getting weaker , and my Knees are starting to give me trouble, so I need to walk while I still can.

So  after making sure I have an ample supply of Food, water, Tena, Medication and camping gear I head of out to explore the wilds and to face the perils of walking to Bransbury Park with my Rollator.

The Reason I am so attached to to this area and why I live here is that it is where my Mother and my aunt and Uncle were  born and raised and where they all lived from 1918 until about 1925 when my Grandfather was Posted to Ireland before moving back to Fareham, just outside of Portsmouth in about 1928. so here we are with a photographic tour of my walk today

The first Photograph is walking east along Goldsmith avenue towards the Milton Road, with Milton Park to the left.

This is Milton School, it is in milton Road, just after entering from Goldsmith Avenue, This is the school that my Mother, Auntie Maud and Uncle Fred went to, Mum would have gone there in 1918, when she was 5 years of age.

The two photographs above show one of the little independent shops still trading in the Milton road " known locally as "Milton Market" it still has sweets in the jars and weighs out the sweets you require and serve them in a little paper bag, memories of days gone by.

This shows one of the flower beds by the bus stop in Milton Road, at the entrance to Bransbury Park.

Time for a coffee at the "Art Cafe" situated in Bransbury Park, an excellent little cafe with a wide range of food and very nice tea and coffee, a independent cafe .

These two Photographs above is the area of Bransbury park, that the "Art Cafe" is situated in a nice peaceful place to sit and enjoy the sunshine

This Photograph is the area that runs along the side of the sports areas, tennis, soccer , miniature railway etc. that is about it for me so now tio head back home, I have been out almost 2 hours, 

The final two Photographs are taken as I go home via the side roads and shows the victorian houses and architecture  along the Tree lined roads that makes up most of the residences in the southern half of Portsea Island and the district of Milton.

So here I am back home and I am absolutely tired out, my legs feel as if I have run a marathon, I have been out about 2.5 hours and enjoyed it but I now need a light lunch of Chicken soup and then go for a cat nap for an hour or so.

Chicken soup for lunch.

That was a lie down that lasted longer than I thought, anyway I now need to get this journal written while listening to the Portsmouth soccer match on the Radio, which Portsmouth drew 1-1 against Exeter, it was the first match of the 2014/15 season. well the Journal is written and now to get it Posted before thinking about tonights dinner which is a nice Marks & Spencer fruity chicken curry, my saturday treat after Freaky Friday,

Tonights dinner will go down a treat

So until tomorrow I will say.............

and so here we are into October.

I remember writing on my last journal on Friday that the rollator was made for walking but my legs were not, well a bit of a misquote there I think it should have read "But my Body was not" as I will tell you after welcoming you all to...................

I ended Fridays Journal saying that I was going to get dinner ready for Friday evening, well I had dinner about 7.00 pm and then from 8.00 until about 9.30 I spent between the lounge and the bathroom vomiting and bringing my dinner back up (not a pretty sight), I felt so ill that I even had to phone gervase and he came round to be with me for a couple of hours, I let Pauline know and she and Gordon wanted to come down but I said that Gervase was coming round, and we would phone if it got any worse and let them know.

Anyway this went on for about 2 hours until it started to settle down at about 10.00 ish, at which time I thought that Gervase had spent far to much time with me and that he needed to get back to Leanne , as the poor lad had not even had time to have his evening meal. so after much nagging from me he went back home after making me promise to phone him if it started up again, anyway once Gervase had gone I phoned Pauline and gordon and then went off to bed feeling very old and fragile.

 It was a very restless night,s sleep and when I eventually got off to a decent sleep, I slept through until about 9.00 am when I received a text from Pauline to see how I was. The good thing about it was that I was not feeling "Nauseous" but the muscles in my lower chest and stomach were really Sore and Painful, I had certainly put some strain on them last night, so It was going to be a couple of days of rest for me, anyway I made a cup of Twinings fruit tea 

and had a small bowl of cereal for breakfast and then  settled down to rest and watch some TV. I also took a couple of co-codamol which helped to ease the pain and soreness.

well Saturday passed very uneventful, I kept my food intake down to a minimum and upped my fluid intake to stay hydrated and got through Saturday with no more bouts of sickness.

Pauline and Gordon came down to see me and to make sure that I was OK and to see if I needed to have the bathroom cleaned or anything, but that was OK, They also brought me my paper and some milk with them, anyway they stayed for an hour or so and had a chat and then made there way back to Waterlooville, Gervase phone to see If I wanted him to come round but I said that was not necessary as I was going to spend the day watching Movies. and so that is how my day went, I had a couple of scrambled eggs on a slice of toast for lunch and some chicken soup in the evening and also a complan, and then had an early night. at least I managed to keep my food down on Saturday and was feeling slightly better by saturday night.

now on Reflection I think that I had just really pushed my body to the limit over the previous few days and was now paying the penalty for my stupidity. I had walked far to much in such a short period of time and also was eating far to much as well. Through all the trauma over the last 2 years with the myositis diagnosis and the chronic dysphagia and the slow rate of improvement it was easy to forget that I was also diagnosed with a twisted stomach (Cup and spill stomach) and I need also to take that into account as well.

I slept pretty well on Saturday night and Sunday was much the same as Saturday, I was feeling better but on reflection I have decided that I need to eat 2 smaller meals in a day instead of one larger one so that is what I am going to do, Gervase came round and we went out in his car and did a little bit of shopping, we went to Marks and Spencers where I got  6 mini meals for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and then we went up to sainsburys where Gervase did his shopping I took it very easy with only a small amount of walking.  

M&S Mini Meals for one

So apart from shopping I spent most of the day recovering from the last aches and Pains from Friday, Friday night I slept pretty well and got up at about 9.00 on Monday.

Monday was again a day of rest and taking it easy, I am still making sure that I am taking it easy and pacing myself better throughout the day. I walked round to get my paper from the new spar shop and the lad that served me was on his mobile phone and did not stop talking even when taking the money for the paper, How rude is that, I certainly wont be shopping there again 

The worst shopping experience ever, really rubbish

anyway spoke to Pauline and Gordon and then just spent the day pottering around the house and catching up on episodes of Bonanza and Gunsmoke. Tuesday was also spent much the same way except on tuesday evening I went to see Gervase and leanne for a couple of hours, Leanne,s dad Dave was there as well and gave me a lift back home about 9.15, I am certainly feeling a lot better now but that was really a rubbishy last few day,s.

So Now we are at Wednesday and it is shopping day with Pauline. having two mini meals a day rather than one large meal has certainly been beneficial to my digestive system, so I will carry on with that regime at the moment, I will contact my speech therapist in the next few weeks and have a chat with her as it is getting near the time when they will need to do a follow up  Endoscopy to see if there has been any change in my cup and spill stomach.

Pauline and Gordon arrive about 11.00 and while Pauline and I go down to the city centre Gordon will spend a couple of hours doing my weekly flat clean.

Get a move on Gordon

Once down town we go to the bank and then boots the chemist, before heading into M&S to get 8 mini meals to take me through until Sunday, we then go to Morrisons in the Victory Retail Park to get the main shopping before getting a taxi back home.

Morrisons Victory retail Park. Portsmouth

once back home, we get the shopping put away and then we have a sandwich and a coffee for lunch before Gordon and Pauline head back home about 3.00. so that is the end of another day, suffice to say that the Rollator stayed at home today and I took the wheelchair, I have certainly learn a valuable lesson over the last few days and that is that with this Myositis, no matter how well you feel take it easy and do not overdo things as it is always lurking in the background ready to pounce and give you a reminder.

Anyway I am feeling almost back to norma again now and I really think the 2 mini meals a day is benefitting me so we will see how that goes, and certainly a bigger variation in my diet so hopefully less laxatives, but thats another story. So Until my next Journal I will say a fond goodbye.

Whoo Hoo, Its another Freaky Friday

Good day one and all and welcome to another Freaky Friday.............

again it was another good nights sleep last night, although I was woken at about 6.00 am with the rain hitting the window, anyway got up and used the Bathroom and then back to bed and slept until 7.30 when I got up to make a coffee and took back to bed where I lazed listening to the radio until 8.30 when I went into the lounge to watch the breakfast news on the tV and send the morning text to Pauline.

BBC Breakfast "Stock Image"

However I send the text to Pauline and she phones back to say that all is OK, She has taken Misty out for her morning walk and she is now indoors waiting for her Sister Fran who is going over to see her today, once I had spoken to Pauline I get some cereal for Breakfast and then check out the emails and facebook before going round to tesco express to get the daily Paper.

Getting the Daily Newspaper

Once I have the Paper I get back home and settle down with a coffee and read the paper and get the crosswords done before Doing a bit of Local History research on "Old Portsmouth" the area that was the original naval town of Portsmouth. When my sister Eileen came down she brought me copy,s of a couple of old maps of Portsmouth from 1880. and as I am very interested in Local history "Coming from a long line of seafarers" I decided to spend a couple of hours today going through the archives that I have.

One of the Maps that my sister gave me yesterday

The Point Barracks have long since gone but Broad street remains as does the fortifications along with the round tower and the square tower ( which is where the first fleet sailed from to Australia on the 13th May 1787)

Broad street in Victorian times

The Same area of Broad street today

The Following are photographs of the Point battery and fortifications as they remain today.

The Round Tower

The Fortifications and gun emplacements

The Fortifications

The Ramparts and Fortifications

Looking along the top of the Ramparts to the Square Tower.
You can see the monuments to the first fleet to the left

The Fortifications from the sea with the round tower to the left 

The First Fleet Monument at the Square tower Old Portsmouth

The First Fleet Monument at Sydney Australia

So after a couple of enjoyable hours trawling through my archives I get my self a sandwich and a custard pot for lunch and then after taking my 15 mg of Methotrexate I go for my daily cat nap for an hour until 2.30. at 2,30 I get a text from Pauline with a Photograph of Misty half asleep in the sun with her ear dangling in her water bowl.

Ere what you doing Misty

so once I have text Pauline back I make a coffee and then settle down to get the daily journal written. it has been a good day today and I have kick started my interest in our local history. anyway as it is now almost 5.30 I need to get this journal posted and then get my dinner started. tonight it will be the Sainsburys "Rumbledethump" with a couple of roasted Chicken thigh,s so until tomorrow I will say.................

Its the end of the week again so.............

♫ ♫ ♫ Its A Freaky Friday, A Squeaky Freaky Friday ♫ ♫ ♫
♫ ♫ ♫ Lala La La, Lala La La ♫ ♫ ♫

So here we are again so welcome to ...............

♪ ♪ ♪ Good Morning, Good morning. ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ ♪ I slept the whole night through ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ ♪ Good Morning, Good Morning to you ♪ ♪ ♪

Wakey Wakey Rise and shine

Yes thats right folks it was a good nights sleep last night, Went to bed at about 10.30 listened to the local radio quiz and music until 11.30 when I switched off the radio and slept through until just after 6.30 this morning so a good  7 hours of uninterrupted sleep, so at 6.30 it was off to make the obligatory morning coffee and then the morning ritual of taking it back to bed and just lazing in bed listening to the radio until going into the lounge to watch the breakfast news on the TV.

Nothing good on the news this morning

  At 8.30 I send the morning text to Pauline and she phones back to say that all is ok and that gordon left early to go up to Salisbury and that she has her follow up hospital appointment with her thyroid doctor this morning and that her sister fran is going with her and that she will phone and let me know how she gets on.

It all went well with Pauline,s thyroid operation

Once I had spoken to Pauline I got some breakfast and then once I had watched "Heir Hunters" and "Homes under the hammer" on the TV I walked round to get my daily paper and some milk from the local Tesco Express. Once I had them I go back home and then watch the 6th episode of series one of Bonanza before reading the daily paper and doing the crossword.

Reading the daily paper

once I had finished the crossword I go for a lie down at 12.45 for half an hour, before making some sardine sandwiches for lunch and I also have a banana and it all get washed down with a nice cup of Rosy lee (Tea).
Pauline phones to say all went well at the hospital she has had the results of the tests on the nodule that was removed and it was Benign as they suspected, but because the removed one half of the thyroid her thyroid levels are low so she has to take a daily tablet to keep it at the right level and her calcium levels are Ok so she has her next check up in two months time.

Once I had spoken to Pauline I go out in the kitchen and get the vegetable prepared for tonight,s dinner I am making a potato, cabbage, cauliflower and onion cheese bake to have with a nice fresh roasted chicken breast quarter, it will be roasted with its skin on and the vegetable bake will also cook in the oven with it so that should be ready by 6.30, as long as I get my timings right.

Roasted Chicken Breast Quarter

well it has been a really restful day today, I am waiting until after dinner before I take my Methotrexate today, otherwise I will not feel like cooking, anyway it is now 4.10 and I have got this journal written earlier today for a change, so as you can see not a very active day today, more TV watching than anything else today so now I am going to settle into the recliner for a nap while listening to the local radio, so I will get this journal posted so until tomorrow I will say .......................