We are having another spell of very hot weather, well over 35 degrees. So sorry to hear about the big Freeze in Europe, but maybe some of you will get to swing a few extra days off work.
Simon now has a powered wheelchair which was loaned to us by my student, Blake and his family. Many thanks to Blake, this has been a real Godsend. We are learning to use the chair which is quite intuitive, although potentially lethal in reverse! We have had a couple of runs up to the centre of the village, and enjoyed a nice meal in a restaurant that would have been inaccessible to us before. The learning curve is pretty steep - some hazard presents itself around every ten metres (Asher will know this from having pushed the manual wheelchair many miles during his stay). The main problems are: steep kerbs, potholes, inclines, overhanging branches, hedges, dog-walkers, cars and wheelie-bins parked on the pavements. Apart from that, it's a piece of cake! The chair has a potential range of 50km, although I wouldn't like to chance the battery for that distance.
I have also bought an exercise bike for Simon, he just wheels the chair up to it and pedals. It can also be used as a table-top hand bike. Most days he manages at least a kilometre with the right foot strapped to the pedal. Our rehab in the home service finished on Friday, and Simon returns to the Repat hospital for outpatient therapy from here on. He will probably attend there for two or three afternoons per week starting next Wednesday.
Other news, our house at Brighton is on the market. I had to work like stink to finish off the decorating etc, and finally we have wardrobe doors fitted (pity we don't get to use them). We need to do well on this sale, so fingers crossed.
It is Simon's birthday on 12th January, so I am looking for a nice restaurant to take him to on Tuesday evening. We are also just six months into Simon's recovery, and this feels like another milestone. We are going to set some goals for ourselves over the next few days. First up on my list is to find a holiday destination that is disabled friendly that won't break the bank. Any ideas? I'd love to get Simon into the sea somehow, and know that it is possible - I saw it happening at Benidorm in Spain (a nice peaceful resort these days, by the way).
Regarding Spike. Regrettably, he has had to move out. Our cat, Skippy, couldn't cope with him and so I was having to separate them. This meant Spike spending a lot of time in the laundry which wasn't very nice for him. Spike has moved to Mel and Pen's place around the corner - and they are currently trying to train him. This should be possible because he is only a year old. However, what the RSPCA did not tell us is that he may be crossed with a wild ferret!
Meanwhile, we are having our drive concreted. We expect this to be finished next week and this will mean that Simon can get out of the house safely and down to the level of the garden shed and lower lawn. Getting back into the house is not so straightforward, we need to adapt the ramps again. Am worried that Skippy will leave footprints all over the concrete, or maybe it will just add to the character of our home.
Back to work on Monday. I have an intensive course running for the next two weeks, also looking forward to welcoming one of our new Associate Professors, Greg Fisher. Hope he likes us!
Love Marian x
Simon now has a powered wheelchair which was loaned to us by my student, Blake and his family. Many thanks to Blake, this has been a real Godsend. We are learning to use the chair which is quite intuitive, although potentially lethal in reverse! We have had a couple of runs up to the centre of the village, and enjoyed a nice meal in a restaurant that would have been inaccessible to us before. The learning curve is pretty steep - some hazard presents itself around every ten metres (Asher will know this from having pushed the manual wheelchair many miles during his stay). The main problems are: steep kerbs, potholes, inclines, overhanging branches, hedges, dog-walkers, cars and wheelie-bins parked on the pavements. Apart from that, it's a piece of cake! The chair has a potential range of 50km, although I wouldn't like to chance the battery for that distance.
I have also bought an exercise bike for Simon, he just wheels the chair up to it and pedals. It can also be used as a table-top hand bike. Most days he manages at least a kilometre with the right foot strapped to the pedal. Our rehab in the home service finished on Friday, and Simon returns to the Repat hospital for outpatient therapy from here on. He will probably attend there for two or three afternoons per week starting next Wednesday.
Other news, our house at Brighton is on the market. I had to work like stink to finish off the decorating etc, and finally we have wardrobe doors fitted (pity we don't get to use them). We need to do well on this sale, so fingers crossed.
It is Simon's birthday on 12th January, so I am looking for a nice restaurant to take him to on Tuesday evening. We are also just six months into Simon's recovery, and this feels like another milestone. We are going to set some goals for ourselves over the next few days. First up on my list is to find a holiday destination that is disabled friendly that won't break the bank. Any ideas? I'd love to get Simon into the sea somehow, and know that it is possible - I saw it happening at Benidorm in Spain (a nice peaceful resort these days, by the way).
Regarding Spike. Regrettably, he has had to move out. Our cat, Skippy, couldn't cope with him and so I was having to separate them. This meant Spike spending a lot of time in the laundry which wasn't very nice for him. Spike has moved to Mel and Pen's place around the corner - and they are currently trying to train him. This should be possible because he is only a year old. However, what the RSPCA did not tell us is that he may be crossed with a wild ferret!
Meanwhile, we are having our drive concreted. We expect this to be finished next week and this will mean that Simon can get out of the house safely and down to the level of the garden shed and lower lawn. Getting back into the house is not so straightforward, we need to adapt the ramps again. Am worried that Skippy will leave footprints all over the concrete, or maybe it will just add to the character of our home.
Back to work on Monday. I have an intensive course running for the next two weeks, also looking forward to welcoming one of our new Associate Professors, Greg Fisher. Hope he likes us!
Love Marian x
A holiday sounds a really good idea. Somewhere with easy access to the sea? The beach at Coolong (sp?) where Simon and I camped last January was gently sloped and the sand smooth and firm. A wheelchair might run there...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the first week of teaching M
Love to you both
x
Great to see you looking so bright at your exercises Simon - you have come such a long way and may your progress continue. Good luck with the new day visits to rehab for therapy. Hope you get a chance to have a swim there. Best wishes for a swift sale of your old Brighton home.
ReplyDeleteMuch love to both of you...and Skippy, of course!
Shirl