I think i will make this my final blog. Not many people reading or responding these days and it takes up time.
Simon is well. We have many challenges with his disabilities that place great strains on us, but we are strong together.
It looks like he will be dismissed from UniSa very soon. That is a depressing thing for Simon because he always intended to get back to work, but two years is too soon after such a devastating injury, and the University were unable to provide any guarantee of access to their buildings. We still have not received the personal items that were in his office before he became ill. Personally, I now think that UniSa are poor employers and I don't much care that they hear me say it (I am also employed by them for Phd supervision). I won't work for them again, and will never recommend that anybody should. Enough said.
I would love to be able to tell you that Simon is walking, talking, writing and working. He does a bit of all of those things at about 15% (walking)-60% (talking). It would be nice if people who knew him and worked with him would keep in touch. It does help.
So I sign off now. Thanks to those who supported us all this time.
Our love, Marian, Simon, and Skippy xx
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
4th July 2011: Nearly two years
Hi everyone,
On 6th July it will be the second anniversary of Simon's devastating stroke. He is alive and, although very disabled, he is quite well, and I feel so proud of him for this incredible achievement. I hope that you will join me in congratulating him and wishing him well. Simon would be pleased to hear from you. He can read and respond to email and has a gmail address that you can guess.
I am so busy that I cannot find time to visit this blog too often but will try to do so once each month.
Much love,
Marian
On 6th July it will be the second anniversary of Simon's devastating stroke. He is alive and, although very disabled, he is quite well, and I feel so proud of him for this incredible achievement. I hope that you will join me in congratulating him and wishing him well. Simon would be pleased to hear from you. He can read and respond to email and has a gmail address that you can guess.
I am so busy that I cannot find time to visit this blog too often but will try to do so once each month.
Much love,
Marian
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
31st May 2011: Winter approaches
Hi friends, sorry it has been so long. I work, spend as much time as I can with Simon, then sleep and try to optimise those three elements of my life. Actually I am failing in this and wondering what I should do for the best. I spoke with our Priest about this. He advised me to go where my heart sends me. Well, my heart sends me to Simon and to my students, so I guess that means that I have to stop sleeping! It will soon be the end of our teaching semester and I may get to have a break for a week soon.
No more complaining. Simon is trying to maintain his fitness, we exercise everyday and he goes to a sports physio twice each week. He also goes to the Springboard programme in the City once per week. This is a little bit tedious for him, sometimes he has to spend twenty minutes patting a balloon across a table - not quite the level of intellectual stimulation that we were hoping for. We do as much as we can at home. It would be good if any of you who live locally could come to visit Simon, he does lift when we have visitors (and by the way, we have a very good stash of fine wine and a spare room).
Simon continues to add to his music collection, we will soon need to build an extension to accommodate this. Meanwhile, I still enjoy reading eclectically - recently discovered Bryce Courtenay, 'Smokey Joe's Cafe', and very special was Leonardo Padura Fuentas, 'Adios Hemingway'. Now I can't decide whether I should read Hemingway or consign his books to the compost heap. Better not take the risk, just in case EH got to heaven.
We planted two fruit trees: a plum and a peach, both saplings from our neighbour Maria's garden. We have had good rains and so the garden is very productive. We already have carrots and beets, some chillis, radish, rocket, parsley, and even some mandarins.
Skippy is as fit and cranky as ever. If you never saw the utube on Simon's Cat, look it up, it is Skippy to a tee.
First day of winter for us tomorrow. All you folks in the Northern Hemisphere - have a good summer and make the most of it.
Much love, Marian
No more complaining. Simon is trying to maintain his fitness, we exercise everyday and he goes to a sports physio twice each week. He also goes to the Springboard programme in the City once per week. This is a little bit tedious for him, sometimes he has to spend twenty minutes patting a balloon across a table - not quite the level of intellectual stimulation that we were hoping for. We do as much as we can at home. It would be good if any of you who live locally could come to visit Simon, he does lift when we have visitors (and by the way, we have a very good stash of fine wine and a spare room).
Simon continues to add to his music collection, we will soon need to build an extension to accommodate this. Meanwhile, I still enjoy reading eclectically - recently discovered Bryce Courtenay, 'Smokey Joe's Cafe', and very special was Leonardo Padura Fuentas, 'Adios Hemingway'. Now I can't decide whether I should read Hemingway or consign his books to the compost heap. Better not take the risk, just in case EH got to heaven.
We planted two fruit trees: a plum and a peach, both saplings from our neighbour Maria's garden. We have had good rains and so the garden is very productive. We already have carrots and beets, some chillis, radish, rocket, parsley, and even some mandarins.
Skippy is as fit and cranky as ever. If you never saw the utube on Simon's Cat, look it up, it is Skippy to a tee.
First day of winter for us tomorrow. All you folks in the Northern Hemisphere - have a good summer and make the most of it.
Much love, Marian
Friday, March 18, 2011
19th March 2011:
A while since I've been online here, sorry about that. Much to report, and mostly good. Simon is now several weeks into the Springboard programme in Adelaide, and has successfully passed his probation period there, so he can stay with them for up to 3 years. The programme is run mainly by volunteers and involves lots of group sessions. Simon finds some of these a bit humdrum e.g. they often have a session where they pat a balloon across the table to each other! However, this is interspersed with valuable speech therapy and physio. It is a very long journey for him, so we have decided to just go on one day each week. We go to a local sports physio twice per week, and he is making good progress there.
Last week Simon gave his second speech at Flinders University to the Speech Pathology students. He did really well and we received some wonderful feedback from the students. He is going to be a regular guest speaker for them from now on. Next week, Simon, Matthew and I will give a seminar at Flinders Business School, this will be an important milestone, and we hope that it will launch Matthew's research into a new phase.
We have had a great harvest of squash, tomatoes, peppers, and chilis. I am now trying to persuade some carrots and beets to grow. My neighbour, Maria, advises me about the moon-cycles which give an indication of the best times to sow seeds. This may be where I have been going wrong in the past.
My sister, Margaret, set off on a cruise holiday today to Japan!! I hope that they will be safe. They are very good travellers, but even so, when you are stuck on a ship there are not so many options. However, Margaret is the type of person who would wrest control of the ship and turn it around by herself if necessary. I fully expect to see her steaming up the Torrens with a jolly roger at the mast, wearing an eyepatch and shouting "Arrhharrr, Jim lad...."
Our air conditioning is broken, and is going to be horribly expensive to repair. Luckily, we have not had a hot summer and so we have managed without. I will need to repair it because the same system also gives us heating in the winter. Simon needs heating because he is not able to move around enough to keep warm.
We bought a new PC and this is helping Simon a lot. I am trying to set up narrator and want to get some dragon speak software. Anyone used this? Any good? Next week, I will give my first live on-line tutorial - very scary but I want to crack the technique. We still have limitations, because Oz broadband is underdeveloped at best we have ADSL, not even at the speeds we were getting in the UK five years ago. There is a national plan to improve this but it has been contentious and many delays. I am involved in a project to deliver an MBA with a regional/rural focus, and I desperately want to get the online stuff working well. My poor long suffering undergraduate students are the victims of my experiential learning. Don't worry, I will look after them, even if I have to replicate the tutorial physically each week.
Skippy caught a mouse recently. He strutted around the house triumphantly for many days.
We feel blessed to be in this part of the world that is so untroubled. Even other parts of Australia have been terribly damaged this year, and it has been terrifying to watch that happening. I don't know if prayers help, but I keep trying.
Lots of love, Marian
Last week Simon gave his second speech at Flinders University to the Speech Pathology students. He did really well and we received some wonderful feedback from the students. He is going to be a regular guest speaker for them from now on. Next week, Simon, Matthew and I will give a seminar at Flinders Business School, this will be an important milestone, and we hope that it will launch Matthew's research into a new phase.
We have had a great harvest of squash, tomatoes, peppers, and chilis. I am now trying to persuade some carrots and beets to grow. My neighbour, Maria, advises me about the moon-cycles which give an indication of the best times to sow seeds. This may be where I have been going wrong in the past.
My sister, Margaret, set off on a cruise holiday today to Japan!! I hope that they will be safe. They are very good travellers, but even so, when you are stuck on a ship there are not so many options. However, Margaret is the type of person who would wrest control of the ship and turn it around by herself if necessary. I fully expect to see her steaming up the Torrens with a jolly roger at the mast, wearing an eyepatch and shouting "Arrhharrr, Jim lad...."
Our air conditioning is broken, and is going to be horribly expensive to repair. Luckily, we have not had a hot summer and so we have managed without. I will need to repair it because the same system also gives us heating in the winter. Simon needs heating because he is not able to move around enough to keep warm.
We bought a new PC and this is helping Simon a lot. I am trying to set up narrator and want to get some dragon speak software. Anyone used this? Any good? Next week, I will give my first live on-line tutorial - very scary but I want to crack the technique. We still have limitations, because Oz broadband is underdeveloped at best we have ADSL, not even at the speeds we were getting in the UK five years ago. There is a national plan to improve this but it has been contentious and many delays. I am involved in a project to deliver an MBA with a regional/rural focus, and I desperately want to get the online stuff working well. My poor long suffering undergraduate students are the victims of my experiential learning. Don't worry, I will look after them, even if I have to replicate the tutorial physically each week.
Skippy caught a mouse recently. He strutted around the house triumphantly for many days.
We feel blessed to be in this part of the world that is so untroubled. Even other parts of Australia have been terribly damaged this year, and it has been terrifying to watch that happening. I don't know if prayers help, but I keep trying.
Lots of love, Marian
Thursday, February 3, 2011
4th February: Start of Springboard programme
Simon began his new rehab programme on Wednesday. We have to travel into the City for this, and here he is having survived the first day. We went into Rundle Mall to pick up his beloved watch - he is showing off the new strap.
Simon goes to the Springboard programme twice a week - a long journey for him, so next week I have booked us into the youth hostel for the night so that he doesn't have to travel so much. We will see how that goes.
The first day at Springboard I was permitted to stay and participate, but they made it fairly clear that this was an exception and after that Simon has to attend on his own. They are a jolly bunch of people, very positive, and I can see him getting on well with them. They did give him a bit of grief about wearing his hat indoors. They wanted to take it and put it in a cloakroom. Simon never lets his hat out of his sight, and he stood his ground. Quite right.
I have been back at work, teaching and dealing with the supplementary assessments. Now it is time to get ready for the new semester. We have a number of new research students starting and they all need a bit of attention, but hopefully the other students will help them to settle in. A lot of them are from overseas and a long way from home.
We managed to find a decent paver 'Dave the Pave', and he spent last week relaying our patio, and the driveway. It had got very wavy which was not great for Simon's safety. He did a great job. He also removed a flower bed and paved over it which has upset Skippy who was accustomed to using this flower bed for his morning constitutional. Each day he goes out, looks at the new pavers and sniffs them, in the hope that somehow his treasured flower-bed will be restored. The first photo shows him stretched out in the middle of what used to be the flower-bed. Note our wheelchair accessible vehicle in the background (it is a monster and I am still learning to drive it).
Many thanks for the birthday cards for both of us. I had some lovely presents, including a luxurious pair of pink Ugg slippers. Reet cosy.
Love to all,
Marian x
Thursday, January 13, 2011
January 13th: Simon's big trip to the City
It was Simon's birthday yesterday. After unwrapping presents, we headed off to the City for our first overnight stay in a swish hotel, the Crown Plaza in Adelaide. We went to the cinema and watched "The King's Speech"; Simon was able to relate to the subject of that story and we both felt inspired by it. We had a good day out. It is challenging to stay away from home even in the best hotel, but we learned a lot and will know more the next time.
I am amazed by Simon's courage and his ability to engage people even with limited communication. I found him in a record shop this morning, he had the owner turning over his entire collection looking for rare R&B material; we spent thirty minutes in a cafe and the owner exchanged personal email addresses with him because he wants to talk more about further education; everywhere we go, people love Simon. I think they always did, but he didn't feel it. Now he does, and he appreciates all of your good wishes. Thank you so much for all of the video messages on facebook (and thanks to the genius Asher). We were in tears. It was so good to see you all.
I am teaching tomorrow, a postgrad course on Negotiations. Am tempted to go in with a single powerpoint slide stating: "Split the difference", but I have to make it last three days so must make it more complicated... In truth, I have some fiendish stuff lined up for them and my assessment plan is entirely reflective (Tom, you taught me well and we love you).
Love Marian x
I am amazed by Simon's courage and his ability to engage people even with limited communication. I found him in a record shop this morning, he had the owner turning over his entire collection looking for rare R&B material; we spent thirty minutes in a cafe and the owner exchanged personal email addresses with him because he wants to talk more about further education; everywhere we go, people love Simon. I think they always did, but he didn't feel it. Now he does, and he appreciates all of your good wishes. Thank you so much for all of the video messages on facebook (and thanks to the genius Asher). We were in tears. It was so good to see you all.
I am teaching tomorrow, a postgrad course on Negotiations. Am tempted to go in with a single powerpoint slide stating: "Split the difference", but I have to make it last three days so must make it more complicated... In truth, I have some fiendish stuff lined up for them and my assessment plan is entirely reflective (Tom, you taught me well and we love you).
Love Marian x
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 3rd: Happy New Year
Happy New Year to all, let us hope that 2011 will bring more luck and one or two changes of government. We have worried about you all struggling with the snow and ice in Europe. I remember it happened last around 1985, Elm Grove was like a black ski-slope for weeks. However, the following year was excellent for gardening because all the pests had been weakened.
We are having a coolish summer which is the result of La Nina. Some days we are boiling in 35 degree heat and then it switches to 18 degrees. The cricketers are baking one minute and rained off the next. The Ashes series is in the final test stage now and it is very nerve-wracking. Ponting has gone out injured. The English bowlers look very menacing especially with the sticky wickets which seem to suit their style.
Simon is on a break between rehab programmes and we have been managing by ourselves using a local physio. He is making good progress and I can see a time when he will walk again. Tomorrow we are going into Adelaide in our new wagon - this is actually a very old Ford Falcon that will take the powered wheelchair in the back. Simon has to sit in the front seat. It is a tricky operation and so we are doing a practice run tomorrow with the help of my nieces. Next week we will try the run by ourselves. We have booked into a nice hotel for Simon's birthday and plan a good shopping trip (many CDs to buy). I start teaching again on Jan 14th which seems all too soon.
For Christmas, I got a pasta maker. This is brilliant. The first attempt was a bit messy, flour everywhere, and it took both of us (me feeding the machine and Simon cranking the roller), but it was fun, and really delicious. The quantities are a problem, 100gm of flour to one egg, but this feeds at least four people. How to arrive at half an egg is the difficulty. We have masses of tomatoes and courgettes, so heaps of tasty sauce.
Simon has a new home-brew beer kit which is bubbling away in the music room. He plans to invent his own flavoured beer and serve it up to the neighbours from a bar in our garage along with plates of pasta - Simon's Trattatoria!
Skippy has recently been menaced by flocks of cockatoos in the morning. Big white birds that screech for a living. This morning he fled indoors and hid for several hours. Simon is more worried that the cockies will eat our tomatoes but I think they are more interested in the peach crop nextdoor.
Sorry that we didn't get Christmas cards out to everyone this year. We do think about you all and hope that you will stay in touch.
Much Love, Marian x
We are having a coolish summer which is the result of La Nina. Some days we are boiling in 35 degree heat and then it switches to 18 degrees. The cricketers are baking one minute and rained off the next. The Ashes series is in the final test stage now and it is very nerve-wracking. Ponting has gone out injured. The English bowlers look very menacing especially with the sticky wickets which seem to suit their style.
Simon is on a break between rehab programmes and we have been managing by ourselves using a local physio. He is making good progress and I can see a time when he will walk again. Tomorrow we are going into Adelaide in our new wagon - this is actually a very old Ford Falcon that will take the powered wheelchair in the back. Simon has to sit in the front seat. It is a tricky operation and so we are doing a practice run tomorrow with the help of my nieces. Next week we will try the run by ourselves. We have booked into a nice hotel for Simon's birthday and plan a good shopping trip (many CDs to buy). I start teaching again on Jan 14th which seems all too soon.
For Christmas, I got a pasta maker. This is brilliant. The first attempt was a bit messy, flour everywhere, and it took both of us (me feeding the machine and Simon cranking the roller), but it was fun, and really delicious. The quantities are a problem, 100gm of flour to one egg, but this feeds at least four people. How to arrive at half an egg is the difficulty. We have masses of tomatoes and courgettes, so heaps of tasty sauce.
Simon has a new home-brew beer kit which is bubbling away in the music room. He plans to invent his own flavoured beer and serve it up to the neighbours from a bar in our garage along with plates of pasta - Simon's Trattatoria!
Skippy has recently been menaced by flocks of cockatoos in the morning. Big white birds that screech for a living. This morning he fled indoors and hid for several hours. Simon is more worried that the cockies will eat our tomatoes but I think they are more interested in the peach crop nextdoor.
Sorry that we didn't get Christmas cards out to everyone this year. We do think about you all and hope that you will stay in touch.
Much Love, Marian x
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