I Can Drive
Not legally, I should add and not on any public road. But a couple of weeks ago, when I needed to move the Jaguar, it was a struggle and I ended up stalling it in reverse. whether it was my arm or my leg, I didn’t know, but today, I was able to move it so I could put all of the bottles for recycling in the boot. I then did a three point turn on the stud yard.
It’s progress! I hope!
Premier Inn
On Tuesday night, I stayed in the Premier Inn by the Tower. I have stayed in places like this in the past, but what a revelation; a very clean room, a disabled shower, that was a joy to work and had a seat, full Freeview digital television, so I could listen to Radio 5, a compfortable bed, that you could fall onto safely a la Lenny Henry. So the breakfast wasn’t really too coeliac-friendly, but as I skipped it, it didn’t matter. If I’d wanted one, as it was the city of London, there are lots of places to have a snack.In the book, I will be using more of the hotels, but I still haven’t managed to get anything in Middlesbrough.
Travels With My Stroke
Yesterday, I proved that I could undertake simple journeys by myself. Admittedly, I had lifts to and from home, but everything in the middle was done by myself, whether on train, tube, bus or by walking.
Did I have any problems?
Not really!
I thought about it afterwards and feel it could be a newspaper column, followed by a book. I could visit all of those places, I’ve never been before, stay in cheap hotels or with friends, travelling most of the way by public transport.
Yesterday, was the first trip, although I suppose you could could the return from Hong Kong.
I travelled up and back to London, by train from Cambridge, then used the Circle Line to get to my hotel and then used buses to get back to Kings Cross. This would seem a model that could be used for many trips.
My first planned trip will be to Middlesbrough for the first match of the season. My secretary will drop me at Bury St. Edmunds station on the Friday afternoon and then I’ll take the train to Middlesbrough, changing at Peterborough and York. I’m still trying to find a hotel in Middlesbrough for two nights, as hotels and especially near the Riverside Stadium appear to be very thin on the ground. Surely, places to stay should be one of the priorities of a council these days, as it attracts visitors, who spend money and thus create jobs.
The next weekend, I’m going to Edinburgh to see Jarlath Regan at the Gilded Balloon. Again it will be by train, with perhaps a rush back to see Ipswich on the Saturday.
I’ll see how it all progresses.
Getting Better All The Time
My left hand that is!
I just ate a whole baked potato and my left hand was so much better, than when I ate the last one a few days ago.
You can’t tell from this typing, but I’m now starting to use my left hand for characters like A, S, W and others near shift.
Could it be, that I’ve been walking around London today with a case in my right hand and this has somehow got the arm to sort itself out, as it’s not doing any work? I don’t know and don’t care, so long as the improvement stays and even increases.
An Evening in London
After the cardiologist, I took the train from Cambridge to London, where the aim was to have supper with my son, stay a night in hotel and then do a bit of shopping and have lunch with a friend in the morning, before returning in the afternoon.
This was my first trip anywhere on my own, since I had the second stroke in Hong Kong.
As we often, do we ate in Carluccio’s in St. Pancras Station, which can do me gluten-free pasta, if I feel like it, as I did last night.
Afterwards, I took the Circle Line to Tower Hill, where I had a reservation in the Premium Inn.
At Last Some Good Health News!
I went to see the cardiologist yesterday afternoon. It was the sort of doctor’s visit that we all like!
He indicated that he had reviewed my X-rays ans scans from Addenbrookes and then asked me how I was getting on with the Warfarin. It has not been a problem for me and the anlysis at West Suffolk Hospital has gone very smoothly and professionally. He then said that the Warfarin should protect me from another stroke and that the leak in my heart valve was moderate and probably should be OK for ten years. As he knows, I’m a technologist, we talked a bit about how software and techniques are improving for a few moments. After the chat, I felt that if I did need an operation it would be a lot less serious than the ones my Mother-in-law had thirty years ago.
He then said that I should come back and see him in six months.
That last point really cheered me up!
A Simple Gluten-Free Lunch
I usually cook myself, but I am rather partial to Waitrose’s Tiffins for one. They come in a box and all you do is pierce the film and put them in the oven for twenty minutes.
Waitrose Tiffin-for-one
They will just about stretch for two people, unless of course the other is Billy Bunter.
I have found that since my last stroke, they also clear out my mouth as well and make it taste fresher.
The only trouble today, was that I had to share my meal with the large number of accursed flies that were around.
Like most proper Indian food, they are gluten-free as wel and suitable for coeliacs like me.
Dry Eyes
I have been suffering from dye eyes recently and when |I last went to Addenbrookes, I got a prescription for some eye drops to ease the problem. They do to a certain extent, but I can’t put the drops in myself. I have this thing about eyes.
I did find this page for stroke sufferers on the RNIB web site, which explains how eyes can be effected by strokes and also gives some helpful advice.
A common effect of stroke-related vision problems is an increased sensitivity to light. The brain seems to have difficulty adjusting to different levels of light. Tinted glasses or sunglasses may be helpful in reducing the discomfort some people experience.
Another problem which can follow stroke is dry eye. The rate of blinking may slow following a stroke and /or there may be incomplete eye closure with a partial blink which will cause a part of the cornea to dry resulting in the eye feeling uncomfortable. Artificial tears, and reminding the person to try to blink completely and often, may be a possible solution for dry eyes.
But then the RNIB should know about eyes.
So I’m wearing my prescription sunglasses and trying to remember to blink! That is not meant to be trite or sarcastic, but it is easier for me than to put the solution in my eyes!
Jill Bolte Taylor
Although, I was told about this remarkable woman a few weeks ago, I hadn’t followed her up until I read an interview with her on Caring.com. I have now found her web site and ordered her book, My Stroke of Insight.
She is a brain scientist, who suffered a much worse stroke than I did and her insight may well aid recovery for many and help to shape and improve healthcare.
Stroke-Friendly Food
I just wanted to put up a post about my supper, which was a tuna steak cooked with green beans and tomatoes. I’ve done it many times before, but today it tasted particularly good.
Why?
The wine even tasted better, so perhaps I’m getting my taste back. Could the hay fever be finally receding? I don’t know, but I’m taking some Vitamin C tablets to help.
I do find some food is easier to eat than others. Tuna steaks are easier to cut up, than say beef, so perhaps that was the reason.
Whatever it is, I’m glad I’m feeling better.
The Anonymous Widower 