December 30th: A message from Simon

This is a message that Simon wrote by himself using WordQ software:

Happy new year to all our friends, best wishes for 2010.

Love Marian and Simon XXX

PS here is our very naughty dog Spike

27th December: Season's Greetings

Firstly, my apologies for the lack of xmas cards this year. I did write a batch of twenty or so, then lost them in the move. Thanks to everyone for cards and messages, we will certainly try to make the best of 2010.

Simon has been home for three weeks now. Before xmas we had visits from therapists most days, and Simon has made more progress with his speech. We are struggling a bit with physio work since we don't have the gym equipment that he used to work on. We have installed a walking rail in our living room and hope to start using that this week.

The house is still full of boxes that need unpacking, however, we have made a dent on it, and Simon is in the process of shelving his CDs in alphabetical order. We have created a beautiful music room for him which looks over the gardens. In the mornings we are treated to a wonderful display of native birds that roost in the trees behind us. Our cat, Professor Skippy Orlando, a well known ornithologist, spends much time observing these creatures from his hide in the far left corner of the garden behind the agapanthus.

We still have to finish off the house at Brighton and get it on the market. It will take a couple of weeks, then I hope it will go quickly - the bridging loan is wicked.

We have been trying to get Simon a powered wheelchair. This failed to materialise despite all the promises, it turns out that the Disability agencies have run out of funds and don't get their next allocation until July. My sister, Margaret, took up the case and went to battle with the agencies. She managed to extract an agreement that they would raid next year's funds and give Simon priority. However, this may still take several weeks. I tried to hire a powered chair before xmas but there were none available. Perhaps I'll just go in the shed and build one!

Our new dog, Spike Milligan, is a hooligan. He eats everything (except bananas), including clothes pegs, my handbag, biros, and socks. He is also a great escape artist and regularly manages to wiggle his way out of the front door. At night we have to confine him to the laundry so that the poor cat can come indoors and relax.

Hope that 2010 brings you health and happiness,

Love Marian xx

18th December: Farewell to Asher

This has been a special week. Asher and Simon have been able to hang out together in the Vale visiting some favourite haunts and catching up on many stories since they last met. It has been wonderful to have our good friend here for Simon's first week at home and it was with great sadness that we said goodbye today. We will all meet again; soon I hope.

Meanwhile, we have acquired a dog. His name is Spike Milligan Shurville, a maltese cross (unspecified), just about a year old and mad as a hatter. Spike came from the RSPCA rescue centre where he had been taken in as a stray. His fur was terribly matted and about five inches thick, so they had him sheered. When we met him he looked like a little skin-head. Spike has settled in well at our new home although our cat, Skippy, is not happy about it. For the moment, we keep Spike in the laundry at night while Skippy comes indoors, then release Spike in the mornings once Skippy has gone out on patrol.

Simon has four weeks of rehab in the home underway. Almost everyday a therapist from one of the disciplines (speech, physio, occupational therapy) comes out to McLaren Vale from the Repat hospital (a long way to travel) and spends up to an hour with Simon. We also have a therapist who comes three mornings to help with showering. This team is doing really good work with Simon, his speech is particularly improved. I have learned a lot about how to transfer from bed to wheelchair to shower-chair etc. We have also successfully managed to transfer to and from the car and load the wheelchair into the boot of the car. This is difficult and heavy work and quite painful for Simon but it gives us a bit of flexibility to go out of the house.

We had some disappointing news about the funding for Simon's home assistance and his powered wheelchair. The state agency responsible for this had run out of funds (only six months into their budget) and said that we were on a hopeless waiting list. We really cannot do without the powered wheelchair, Simon would be trapped in the house on his own, he cannot manage the ramps by himself and it is dangerous in the event of fire. My sister, Margaret, got on the case today. She made repeated phone calls to various state agencies insisting that Simon should have priority for funding. After much perserverance, she got them to agree to raid next year's budget (six months ahead) to fund Simon's wheelchair. It might still take several weeks, but we think that this will happen. When Simon heard this news he insisted that we jump in the car and go to see Margaret to thank her in person. Which we did. We found her at the plumbing shop where a number had gathered for the staff/customer/hangers on xmas barbecue. This was a lovely way to end our day. Here are some pictures of Simon and Gerry in the plumbing shop warehouse, and Raina (aged three) with her daddy driving the fork-lift!

Pictures of Spike to follow....

Love Marian x

12th December: A day out in the Vale

Simon was discharged from hospital on Tuesday 8th December after just over five months. It was wonderful, emotional, and terrifying all at once. We arrived at our new home in McLaren Vale which is in a chaotic state, full of removal boxes. But it was just splendid to be able to close our front door and know that we were home to stay. Asher arrived later on Tuesday having spent 27 hours in transit. He managed to stay awake while we went to the Barn for dinner. It was a great day.

Asher and Simon have been out on some long walks around the Vale, visiting various cafes and wine bars. They have found some really good places and are making friends wherever they go. This picture shows Asher doing a pile of ironing, while Simon sports his new hair-cut and Akubra hat.

Saturday we went to Willunga for the farmers' market and had a big shopping spree - loads of free-range goodies. Simon is managing to get in and out of the car very well, although it is quite an effort so we limit the number of transfers as best we can. Later I drove up to Samuel's Gorge - one of Simon's favourite wineries, then back down the hill via a fantastic new cellar door: Alpha, Box and Dice. We hosted Margaret and Gerry for drinks in the afternoon, then Mel and Pen for dinner.

6th December: 5 months in

Tomorrow Simon will have spent five months in hospital. He has decided it is enough and, ready or not, he is coming home. We move house tomorrow (Monday) and Simon comes home Tuesday lunchtime. We have been packing like fury, but still not finished. I have managed to clear everything out of the furniture that needs shifting, and got all the fragile Hi-Fi and TV stuff into their original boxes. The rest will have to go in car trips.

Tomorrow I face around 150kms on the road plus supervising the move at either end. I wish I had Simon to help.

My sister, Margaret, rocked up today and took away a car-load of stuff. Not sure how she managed to unload it by herself the other end, but she did it. Good on you Margaret. One of these days she will really retire.

The house is not really ready but sufficient to get started. I spent Friday night/saturday morning painting with a five hour break for sleep. While this is exhausting, I feel exhilirated by this challenge and this great breakthrough. It was my great ambition to bring Simon home. If all goes well, it will be very much ahead of schedule. I could not bear to see him spend any more time in hospital, even criminals don't get that long.

Now our lives will change. I become a full-time carer as well as having a full-time job. Wonder when I will get to relax? Maybe never....

We have been told that we cannot have any care assistance at home. I thought this had all been sorted out. Never mind, we will cope.

This will be my last post for a few days. We have to switch broadband providers. You know what that means - at least three hours a day waiting on hold while they transfer you to a help-desk in the whoop-whoop!