10 September 2010

Thank goodness my electric UpEasy cushion was returned today, or rather a new replacement for the one sent for repair.  It’s amazing how  one comes to rely on these gadgets. I often wonder how I managed before..  Of course, the problem now is that we depend a great deal upon electricity.  I shudder to think what will happen in the winter if we suffer from the usual number of power cuts.  Who knows where I might be suspended, in midair on a chair or hoist.  The longest electricity cut we had last year lasted for 27 hours.. At what stage does one call 999?

After completing my work I treated myself to a lazy day and watched the first of the 50/50 over cricket matches between England and Pakistan.  I suppose after 60 years of work I’m entitled to the odd hour or two off!  England performed reasonably well with no-one in particular shining with the bat except hero Davis with his 87 and possibly Trott with his 59..  England finished with a workmanlike 275 all out from the 41 overs, rain reduced match.  Ajmal. the Pakistan bowler took a creditable 4 wicket for 58.

Pakistan were up against it from the beginning having been.. bowled out for under 100 three times already on this tour. For a while it looked as though they were in with a good chance but in  the end only  managed 250 for 9  and England won comfortably by 24 runs

8 September 2010

Some very good news for my friend Kit’s daughter, Rosamund Lupton.  Her first novel was published on the 2 September, in the UK, and in the first week, WH Smiths apparently sold 22,000 copies.  I gather that the book has already been translated and published in a number of other languages and that negotiations may well proceed for TV and film rights.  A genuine success story for this first time novelist.  The book incidentally is called  Sister and, although ‘my lovely’ has bought a copy, I shall probably get one online and read it on my laptop.  Congratulations to Rosamund.

Today I was supposed to be at the Law Court Branch meeting of the Arbitration Club to witness the handing over of the Certificates to the successful swimmers in the Great London Swim Event.  But, for the reasons given in an earlier entry about the difficulties in travelling on the train, I had to forego that pleasure.  However, the most important aspect of the whole affair is that these three brave souls raised over £6000 for the MND Association plus another £8000 for the Heaton-Ellis Trust, which is funded by the MND Association to carry out research into this insidious disease.  So, a good result all around..

I spoke today to Guy Smallman, HDTI, Coventry University, about the progress of my recently patented healthcare product.  Although the first people he showed it to were not interested in pursuing the idea he has at least two further major retailers who are certainly giving it serious consideration.  I should know something more positive within the next couple of weeks.

7 September 2010

 

Another geriatric golf day. I very nearly didn’t go because of the appalling weather forecast, however, in the event, we had wall-to-wall sunshine all day. I rode with Griggsy who played a single against my good friend John Gray. It was a happy three hours and we sat outside the clubhouse, before lunch, enjoying my favorite cigar, Monte Christo No. 2. After the severe shock I received last week in collapsing at the entrance door of the club, I was much happier today as, our secretary Scott Ballantine, was on parade and his superior strength gave me a great deal of confidence each time he picked me up going and coming from the clubhouse. He has very kindly raised the problems of access with the club Council, who have generously agreed to install a ramp at the Mens entrance. Hopefully, not specifically for me, as I’m sure there will be other members who will need to take benefit from this in the not too distant future..

We had two lifting problems today. One, before I left for the club, in the early morning, to get me off the loo, and the second on arriving home, when Jane ‘the sheep’ and Kit were simply not strong enough to raise me to my feet. On both occasions we called on the young man opposite, Luke, who is building his own house, who willingly came to our rescue. Having said that we cannot possibly continue to rely upon this young man’s goodwill. We believe that a hoist system in the bathroom, currently being considered by OT, will solve that problem, and, indeed, the difficultly we will have to face when I can no longer stand, that of getting me in and out of the shower chair. In the meantime ‘my lovely’ has come up with a clever solution which I do not intend to spell out here..

Barry Pritchard, from the Springboard Housing Association, came round this ofternoon with Neil Butler, the builder who installed our wet room, to check out the minor defects which he happily agreed that he would remedy in the near future.

England won the second on the 20/20 series cricket against Pakistan by a comfortable five wickets, having bowled out the opposition for 89. A fitting end to the international cricket season. Finishing with England on a high with their next challenge being the Ashes in Australia.. However, it does rather concern me that there was as much media coverage about this cricket match as there was over the abect misery being suffered by the millions in Pakistan today, as a result of the floods.

6 September 2010

6 September 2010

I got to the bottom of the swingeing reduction in my pension payments, by ringing the Inland Revenue.  Apparently, it’s all to do with a tax change resulting from my SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension)  kicking in last August.  Just to cheer me up the tax inspector told me that an assessment was on its way for underpayment of several thousand pounds.  This, on the day when it was announced that the Revenue had made errors in  millions (?)  taxpayers assessments which will result in them having to make  substantial refunds.  I just hope it turns out that I am one of them.

Still no  Toshiba so I decided to go into battle direct with them rather than getting through the MND Association.  It will be three weeks tomorrow since the laptop was  returned to them with a promise to try to turn it round within 10 days.  I spoke to a customer services agent who explained that the 10 day offer is subject to’ unforeseen circumstances and availability of spares’..  The spares for this bog standard laptop were apparently not available and had to be ordered from Germany.  In the first instance the customer service agent was unable to give me any idea when those spares would be delivered and the repair affected.  As the spares are basic components I find this very hard to accept, and told him so.  As I did not hear back from the customer services agent, as he had promised (no wonder he refused to give me his family name) I called again this ofternoon to be informed that the spares  had arrived and I could expect the laptop to be returned ‘shortly’, but could not be given anything more definite than that..

The lovely OT, Sarah Moss, came to demonstrate the hoist today but unfortunately the battery was not sufficiently charged so she will return for the demonstration on Thursday.  This was a precaution on my part as I have a sinking feeling that we may need to use it sooner rather than later.  We also discussed the electric wheelchair which I have already driven and presumably is being retained for me.  ‘My lovely’ is anti-as I think she believes I will use it like a go-cart and knock down some poor innocent child in the street.  However, I’m glad to say that Sarah was on my side and agreed that it would give me a degree of independence which the manual wheelchair would not.  Alice was quite reasonably concerned that I would not be able to control the direction of the chair with my dead hand and weakened arm.  However, as I was aware, and Sarah confirmed, I will be able to control the direction using my chin, or some  means. other than my hands, which I think placated Alice.  I think we will probably have the wheelchair delivered shortly and ramps fitted at the front door and the step up from the bedroom to the bathroom so that we are ready when the necessity arises.  The only area remaining which causes are some concern is the bathroom.  At present I can be lifted by ‘my lovely’ from the loo using the lifting belt but it is not going to get any easier and that could come a time when this will be too much for one person. (Only last week, Jane there Sheep had to call for help from outmanned in the kitchen from the local pub. Jane claims it is more difficult for her and for Alice as she is not so tall.).  There is also the business of the shower.  At present I can stand leaning on the but gutter frame when I wheelchair-bound I will need to use the special plastic bathroom chair, provided by the NHS, but  how to get in and out of it?.  The solution for both of these potential problems could be a horizontal hoist which Sarah is going to look into.  Again not immediately necessary but better to be prepared.

Whilst on medical issues I should mention that I received today a long letter from the NHS dental service concerning the unsatisfactory nature of my visit to the Saffron Walden Community Hospital dental department in July.  I now have to make a formal complaint which I am prepared to do for the benefit of others who might find themselves in the same position.  They have also kindly agreed that I can have a domiciliary visit to have my teeth descaled, for which I am truly grateful…

 

5 September 2010

5 September 2010

We went out to lunch today to a modest local café.  We sat outside, braced against the autumnal chill, so that I could smoke a small cigar.  When it came to ordering lunch it had a Fawlty Towers ring about it as, from a very limited menu our first two choices ‘were off’. I felt like asking the poor waitress if they could make me a  Caesar salad !! (You have to be a Fawlty Towers aficionado to appreciate that reference) Never mind it was an outing which caused us a great deal of fun and laughter.

I then went back and spent the afternoon watching England play Pakistan in the first of the 20/20 series which England won by 5 wickets with 17 balls to spare. Actually, I was quite impressed with the performance of the Pakistan team considering the black cloud of corruption that is hovering over them.. I couldn’t help reflecting on the attitude of society which gives predominance to a minor cricket match, over the misery of the millions of poor souls suffering from the floods in Pakistan

To cap my day, in checking through my bank statements I noticed that my last three quarterly pension payment from Canada Life (Formerly Equitable Life) were approximately 30% lower than they had been in previous years.  Why do these things always happen on a Sunday when it is impossible to contact anyone for an explanation?

4 September 2010

Today, I finished the draft of the speech which I started yesterday, for the 20th Anniversary Dinner on the Arbitration Club, on 23rd  September.  This was a rather poignant undertaking as this dinner will be my swan song, almost certainly from formal occasions, of The Arbitration Club, of which, for the next two years or so, I remain, The Founding President.

Yesterday, I updated my profile on me Patients like Me webpage.  It was alarming to see that my Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)  a year ago was 93% and is now  64% having dropped 10% in the last couple of months.  When it gets below 50% it is considered to be’ severe’.  My overall condition is measured by the FRS which covers a whole raft of information, but is described generally as -Progressive rate percentile which is now at. 32.  Two months ago and it was 34 and is considered to be severe when it drops below 25.  In summary, the doctor at Papworth Hospital acknowledged that ‘overrule the trend has been one of a gradual decline’. The next visit to Papworth on the 8 November will be an interesting one in the meantime Carpe Diem...what else can I do?!

 

1 September 2010

I managed OK after my fall yesterday, so no real harm done.  However I’m rethinking the two visits that I was going to make to the Arbitration Club, in London in London next week.  Keith Kirkwood was originally intending to accompany and assist me but now, unexpectedly, has to go to New Zealand on business and I’m not sure that I could trust anyone else who has not had the experience already.  Also Keith’s absence is a blow for the 20th Anniversary Dinner all the Arbitration Club, scheduled for the 23rd September, because he is the organizer and todate, apparently, he has only received 56 firm bookings.  For the 15 years of I ran the dinner I never failed to fill the 225 places in Drapers Hall.  There is still another three weeks so I suppose I might be being a little pessimistic but I have every confidence that KeIth has, and is, doing his very best to fill the place. 

Readers will remember the saga of getting the Essex County Council to agree to provide a fingernail cutting service for the elderly of the county, through the good intervention off Sir Alan Haselhurst MP. In mid-July I received a letter from the Essex County Council which in essence said that the matter was not as straightforward as we were led to believe when told that this service would be introduced. 

I telephoned the Official concerned yesterday but as told, in true bureaucratic style, that there is still some negotiating to do with the Patients Can’t Trusts [PCT’s] before the service will be up and running.  The big problem to resolve is whether or not the podiatrists will be able,or indeed  allowed, to cut fingernails as well as the toenails.  No doubt this will require a number of committee meetings!.

The other episode with which I had to deal with today was the unsatisfactory  business of my  visit to the community hygienist to have my teeth de-scaled, which turned out to be a fiasco. (See 12 & 26 July entries). As instructed, today I telephoned the Tooth Fairy (Teeth Commissioner) to whom my private dentist has already reported the facts.  By the sound of it  there will almost have to be a public inquiry before I get my teeth seen to.  Again maybe I’m being a little pessimistic but we will see.

No sign yet of my laptop.  I must say I am disgusted with Toshiba for charging almost £400 to deal with the slight spillage of tea on the keyboard.  I do not know precisely what the ‘repair’ involved except I did hear mention of a system board.  Even so the cost of these components to Toshiba must be minimal and to charge an amount which exceeds the price you would pay for a brand-new computer with 320 gigs of hard disk and three gigs of RAM  seems to me to be scandalous..  But then what choice does one have?

Apologises to my readers for this whingeing, rather negative, entry but then, as we all know, it’s good to get these things off your chest.

 

31 August 2010

31 August 2010

Yesterday was the August Bank holiday Monday, At one stage, we had thought it might have gone out and had lunch and then decided that the world and his wife would also be on the same track and opted for required then returning catching up.   Tuesday’s come round fast and I was off again for another ride round the golf course.  This week (Sir) George Bull very kindly gave me a lift.  A fine day but rather like last week, autumnal.  Unfortunately, I had a rather frightening collapse going into the clubhouse both legs went as if it had not been for three strong helpers I could well have been in trouble.  I must say it gave me a real shock and I even found it hard after that to feed myself at lunch.  (Good old George helped out)  In the afternoon, at home, I was fearful about going down the ramp from my office on my frame, basically I had lost my confidence.  However, after a good night sleep, and a bit of teeth gritting, I am pretty well back where I was before, but for how long?  I also asked myself how much longer I am going to be able to manage the the Tuesday geriatric day.There is even a limit to the amount of help  I can ask, or expect, from the good members  Royal Worlington.

I have been so occupied recently that I missed another milestone in  this blog.  That was a 700,000 hit mark, which must occurred around a week ago as we are now in excess of 715,000 hits.  I think my readership has settled down now and remains fairly constant as every time I quiz  a member of the family or a friend, about the blog, they  rather shamefacedly admit that they have not looked at it recently, so I often wonder where the other 2500 or so hits a day come from

29 August 2010

Being a Bank holiday weekend, Chloe, Karl on the three little ones came down to spend the weekend with us. Fred, the oldest, had a very special treat by being taken to Lord’s on a Saturday which as I explained to him was probably one of the best days cricket cricket he will see in his life. My dear nephew, Tom Grand, made the trip all the way down from Aberdovey in North Wales to be with us -it was great to see him.. Sadly, the family left shortly after breakfast on Sunday so I saw very little of them but what I did made me very proud. They are all coming on so well. Fred starts his new school, St. Dunstan’s,. in September, and little Lara her school career at the same time, at Rosemead Primary School, where the boys have both been.. She is terribly keen and had made a wonderful diary of her recent summer holiday ,so I’m sure she will do very well at school. I was also extremely impressed with Seb’s beautifully written and illustrated daily diary which all pupils actually schooled are encouraged to keep during the holidays..

Over the three days the usual gang turned up including Dr. James Snowdon Barnett, Paul Newman and Roger Goldwin-who was stars when it came to taking me to the disabled loo – M.C.Patel; Anthony Bains-Walker and his mate ‘Col. Bill.’ and, on the lawn, Bob and Geoff. Lederman, as always, generously feeding and watering all and sundry.

A delightful incident occurred on Saturday.  Bob Lederman’s niece (Ann) was proposed to by Major Ceri John of the Royal Logistical Corps, in the Coronation Garden, opposite the Warner Stand whilst they were sitting on the memorial bench of Annie’s father (Gerald)..,,lots of tears and excitement, together with plenty of pink champagne made the day memorable.

p.s She accepted !!!!!

I spent the time from arriving at Gate 6, to the time I left, in my own wheelchair. Apart from the fact I think I would find it too far to walk on my frame, this gave us access to the wheelchair enclosure at the front of the Warner stand which was a prime position. If nothing else then my disability may be popular for this reason only with the boys who have been looking forward four years to the time when one of us would end up in a wheelchair and get this privileged treatment!

As Graham delivered the final part of the Mugs Guide today, that part covering what I call the Add Ons  Anecdotes; Photographs Jokes;  and Videos,  I decided I would try some out for myself

As Graham delivered the final part of the Mugs Guide today, that part covering what I call the Add Ons  Anecdotes; Photographs Jokes;  and Videos,  I decided I would try some out for myself

Irish Millionaire

Deaf Wife

The Parrot Died

Demolition call

25 August 2010

Not one of my better days.  Firstly, my electric UpEasy cushion failed and will need to go back to the manufacturer’s for repair and heaven knows how long that take.  In the meantime we will have to cope with the manual one..  Thank heavens I bought two.  On top of that I found out, by persistent telephone calls, that Toshiba have not yet started to repair my laptop but are waiting for me to approve their estimate of almost £400.  That seems a ridiculously large amount to have to pay for spinning a little tea over the corner of the keyboard but these people have you over a barrel and there is no choice but to pay.

Fortunately, the MND Association have generously offered to cover the cost of the repair but clearly I would not get the laptop back for another week or so.

Last week I took out a travel insurance policy to cover of the forthcoming visit to Thailand.  Having declared by medical conditions the premium quoted by Saga was just under £200.  Yesterday, I got an alternative quoted from getmytravelinsurance.com, virtually the same cover for £131.  A reasonable amount to cover any medical expenses, including any arising from my present condition, and even covering the cost of bringing my body back if the worst should happen.  Accordingly, I invoked my right under the Saga policy, to cancel it within the 14 days and to receive a full refund