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.

Where do the days go to ??????

Welcome to..................

It just seems like no sooner does the day start than it is soon time for bed again, They do say that as you get older that the days seem to go quicker.

So seeing as the days going by so quickly must be a sign of getting older perhaps I should buy myself a book on getting Older ..................

After my positive appointment with my Consultant Neurologist on Friday and then the taking of the Methotrexate, the week end went pretty much like every weekend does after freaky Friday.

Saturday 7th September 2013

Friday night was a decent nights sleep and saturday was a bit of a nondescript day really, so did not do an awful lot on Saturday, I did go for a bit of a walk round to co-op in winter road to get my morning paper but most of the day was spent watching old repeats of Bonanza and Gunsmoke on the CBS action channel, so that is one of the good things to taking the Methotrexate it wipes me out for a day or two so I can catch up on some nostalgic TV series from my Youth

Those were the Day,s

Bonanza 1959 - 1973

Saturday evening was a good evening as I spent a good 4 hours watching the last night of the Proms live on BBC 1 and 2  from the "Royal albert Hall"

The Royal Albert Hall, London.

Last night of the Proms BBC 1 and 2

Sunday 8th September 2013

Sunday was much the same although my Son Gervase came round to see me for a few hours in the afternoon and took me down to Asda in Fratton to get some shopping so that was a nice change, by Sunday afternoon the Methotrexate "Yucky" feeling is wearing off.

Asda at Fratton (Stock Photo).

anyway once we had done the shopping we head home and after putting the shopping away we sit and have a chat and put the world to rights before Gervase heads back home to Leanne.

Monday 9th September 2013

well come Monday and it is time for the slow cooker to come out of the cupboard as Autumn is approaching, so it is time to get out the Slow cooker recipe book. when I was shopping with Gervase Sunday I got a nice chicken breast quarter and a nice pork cutlet along with a nice pack of fresh casserole vegetables so after breakfast I get the casserole pack into the slow cooker with the Chicken breast Quarter and add the water and stock cubes and set the slow cooker on its low setting so that it will be all cooked ready for dinner at 6.30 this evening.

Casserole Vegetable pack

Fresh chicken breast Quarters

Pauline and Gordon were down at there Flat this morning and popped in to see me for a coffee about lunch time so we had a coffee and a chat an I gave Gordon his Birthday Card and Present as it is his birthday on Tuesday. Pauline and Gordon stayed about an hour and then headed back home to Waterlooville, so I settled down to catch up with some Tv and also to get another "Myo Man Dreams" Cartoon strip done, I did one on Sunday as well It is nearly a year since I did the last one so decided I had better start getting creative again.

Sundays Cartoon strip

Mondays Cartoon Strip

well monday was a pretty good day all round and I was ready for my Dinner from the slow cooker so at 6.30 it was a nice Chicken Casserole followed by fruit in Jelly and It was very tasty, and there is enough vegetable left in the slow cooker to have with the slow cooked Pork cutlet on Tuesday.

A Tasty slow cooked Chicken Casserole home made with fresh ingredients 

 Monday night was spent watching the TV before heading off to bed at 10.30 to listen to the local radio quiz before getting off to sleep at 11.30.

Tuesday 10th September 2013

as Usual Like any other morning it starts with a trip to the bathroom before a coffee which gets taken back to bed.

The morning Ritual

Once I have had my Coffee and lie in I then make another coffee and take into the lounge, where I send the text to Pauline and then have breakfast, Pauline phones back and says that Gordon is having a birthday lie in today and then they are going into the town later on this morning so ......................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORDON

So another day of watching TV, and relaxing until tomorrow when it will be shopping with Pauline down the city centre and also Morrisons. anyway at 10.00 I get the Pork cutlet into the slow cooker and also the remainder of the vegetable from yesterday, I add a rasher of Bacon and some extra stock and then put it on to the slow setting so it will be ready for dinner tonight.

A tasty fresh organic Pork Cutlet

Once that is all ready I get the washing up done and then settle down to get this journal written. I will be so glad when I get my new computer, which hopefully will be the second or third week of October if all goes to plan, anyway after a little while I take a break and  go and get a paper and some milk and then have another spell at the Journal, at 1.00 I make a nice Toasted Bacon and Egg sandwich for lunch and also a Banana, before getting back to the Journal.

Toasted Egg and Bacon Sandwich for lunch

So it is now 2.40 and the vision has just about had it with the computer for the day so I am going to end todays Journal and to remind you all that it is only 11 days to Myositis Awareness day on Saturday 21st September. so do what you can to raise awareness of Myositis in your community.

so until the next Journal I will say.................

Here we are with the combined Monday and Tuesday Journal.

Well here we are on another Tuesday. so today it will be a shopping Tuesday as Gordon and Pauline will be down this morning about 10.30. While Me and Pauline go down to the city centre and Morrisons, Gordon will do the weekly flat clean for me and then he will come and collect me and Pauline when we have finished the shopping.

Monday 12th August 2013

So after staying up late Sunday night watching Die Hard 4 on the TV I got to bed at 11.30, it was an indifferent nights sleep and did not sleep very well as it was very close and humid anyway kept waking up every two hours or so until about 5.00 and then slept through until about 8.30 when I went to make my morning coffee and then into the lounge to text Pauline.

Pauline Phones back to say that all is Ok with them and that they are waiting in this Morning as they have BT Coming to connect their land line telephone and also their Broadband, and then they will be off to see her Sister Fran as it is her Birthday today and after that they will have some shopping to do, Poor gordon is going to be exhausted today LOL.

Very Smart Gordon

Once I had spoken to Pauline I check out emails and Facebook and then have some Gluten Free "Chocolate star Cereals for breakfast before going up to the new spar shop that has opened in Devonshire square to get my morning Paper, It is a longer walk than to the tesco express so that will probably do me more good and hopefully keep what muscles I have mobile, It is not to bad with the Rollator so that was good.

This is what I Really need  a Elderly member of the myositis Rollator Chapter "Rock on"

Once back home I read the paper and get the crosswords done and then spend a little bit of time researching "Fort Cumberland" at Eastney as this is where our ancestry in England starts when "John Michael Smith (Schmid) Born Prussia 1764 and came over to Portsmouth after the Napoleonic wars and was a Sergeant in the 60th Foot Regiment and was discharged on Monday 27th January 1817 from Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth.

Ariel View of Fort Cumberland, Eastney, Portsmouth as it is today

Fort Cumberland today

Fort Cumberland is a Pentagonal Artillery Fortification built to guard the entrance to Langston Harbour. It was sited to protect the Royal naval dockyard from enemy forces landing from Langston Harbour and attacking from the landward side. Fort Cumberland is recognised as the finest example of a bastion trace fort in England.
It was first constructed in 1747 - 1785 by the duke of Wellington and rebuilt 1785 - 1812 and it was rearmed in the 1850,s and again in the 1890,s

One of the many reference books about Fort Cumberland

I spent a couple of hours on research and then had some toast with some sardines for lunch before going for a cat nap at 2.00. At 3.00 I get up and make a coffee and then watch two episodes of Bonanza that I recorded yesterday before preparing dinner for tonight.

I have dinner at 6.45 and watch emmerdale and then fake britain before watching two old black and white episodes of Gunsmoke until 10.00 when I go to bed and listen to Radio solent and the radio quiz until 11.00 when I get of to sleep.

Gunsmoke starring James Arness

Tuesday 13th August 2013

And so we go into Tuesday, I got to bed slightly earlier last night at about 10.30 and listened to the radio for an hour before turning it off and getting of to sleep at about 11.45. It would have been a decent nights sleep apart from the fact that I was awaken about 2.30 in the morning by the local "Cat Mafia" who thought it would be good fun to sit around on the rear wall and cause chaos, mind you it could have been the local Urban fox out looking for his breakfast that started them off, but they were certainly making a racket.

Pesky Noisy Cat,s

But to top it all off after I had got back to sleep, and woke at 7.45 I got up and made a coffee and took back to bed with me to listen to the radio, I opened the bedroom window and next doors cat decided to come and visit me, He was lucky I was in a good mood, but what a cheek after last night, he was probably one of the ring leaders

Pesky Cat,s got a cheek !!!

well at about 8.30 I got up and into the lounge to text Pauline and then check out my emails and facebook, Pauline phones back about 9.00 to say that her and Gordon will be down about 11.00 and then we can go down town to get the shopping etc. so I then get some breakfast before watching "Heir Hunters" A genealogy program on BBC1 before getting washed and dressed ready for when Pauline and Gordon arrive.

Heir hunters BBC 1 Genealogy program

Gordon and Pauline arrive at about 11.30 and we have a cup of coffee and a chat before I phone for a taxi to take me and Pauline down to Commercial road to get some shopping and other bits and pieces sorted out and Gordon starts the two hour weekly cleaning of my flat.

Don't think about it to hard Gordie

Well once we get down town Pauline takes my prescription into boots the chemist for my Lansoprazole and methotrexate while I go into the nationwide Building society to get a couple of things sorted.

Pauline goes to the Pharmacy department in Boots the chemist

Frank goes into the bank to carry out some business

Once I have finished I meet Pauline outside of Boots and we go into Wilkinsons as Pauline needs to get some cat food and a Harness for Charley Cat, and then once we have those we go back to Boots to pick up my medication. They have all of my Lansoprazole but only have half of my Methotrexate so I have to collect the rest anytime after tomorrow, so I will have to go and collect them next Tuesday when we are back down town shopping.

Methotrexate 2.5 mg Tablets

Once we have finished down on the city centre we make our way over to morrisons, I walk part way and then Pauline pushes me the rest of the way in the wheelchair.

Market Way Portsmouth On the way to Morrisons

Flat house quay road on the way to Morrisons

Morrisons at Victory Retail Park, Portsmouth

Once at Morrisons we have a coffee and then get the shopping done, once we have completed the shopping, we Phone Gordon and he comes to collect us and we head home. Once indoors I make the coffee and get the shopping put away and then after coffee and a chat, Pauline and gordon head off home and I make another coffee and then go and get the vegetable prepared for dinner before settling down to complete this daily journal.

Getting the vegetable ready for tonight,s dinner.

So it is now 4.30 and it has been a good day today, so looking forward to a nice piece of Plaice for my dinner tonight with Potato, Cauliflower and Broccoli, so I am going to get this journal finished and Posted before settling down to an early dinner and an evening of TV. so until Thursday I will say...................