These small strokes seem to take longer to recoup from every time. It's always been 4 steps forward 2 steps back for while. But I'm puzzled why it seems to at least another half a step back this time. Their isn't any more medication I can take - I'm on everything already, and then some.

Lifestyle choices are at optimum, likewise cholesterol and Hba1c, and everything. Diet is spartan, but good. I've been getting up an hour earlier at 04:50 to ensure one of my girls gets up for work at 05:30, and perhaps I've been pushing the weight-training a bit hard - but I'm loath to cut back on exercise.

Just goes to show that there's only so much you do before you have to let the old bod get on with it's stuff :)

Hey, but, no, but....

I've had the deeply amusing experience of someone speaking to me v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.

I thought the poor chap had some sort of disability - until I realised that he thought he was being helpful. If I have one fault, it's that I speak quickly, if a little slurred.

That's because my pet hate is those who, again trying to be helpful, finish off my sentences for me.

That stopped being funny when I had to concentrate very hard not to pause long enough to allow someone to jump in. It wouldn't be so bad if they don't throw in wild guesses, and worse, multiple wild guesses. But people do... Besides, they wouldn't really want to get inside my head. They'd need wellies on.... *sigh*

Have you ever come across the "Does he take sugar?" syndrome? When some ignores you, talks past you or over the top of your head to a partner or carer? One of the advantages to having a deep voice that carries, is the perverse pleasure I get from watching the shock and awe when I say quietly "No, he doesn't, one sweetener, top pocket, thank you" :)

A lot of these started amongst my own kith and kin -and it took me ages to train them out of these odd habits, but it taught me an important lesson. If you have a disability, you really have to learn to be forthright and assertive. Otherwise you'd go slowly bonkers :)

Someone commented to me that I should "thank my lucky stars that I get any social interaction at all." A fair point. I have friends, and a family (wife and three kids last time I checked). I don't get out much - I can't walk very far and I'm not allowed to drive.

I'm an intensely private person, but somehow managed to become a father. As for friends, I just kinda made them along the way. It's hard not to be socially interactive when you have a busy, bustling and loving family around you, and my extended family and friends have just had to accept that since I don't get out often to see them, they just have to come and see me if they want time with me. Thanks to the tinternet and the mobile phone, that is now so much easier.

I get the occasional opinionated fruitcake who'll say daft things like "you can do anything if you put your mind to it" or "It's all about willpower and mind over matter". Yes thanks, I know, I operate on that principle 18 from 24 hrs a day. The rest I'm asleep. Now, if they'd like to swap bodies....no? Thought not.

There's a teeny element of truth in such truisms tho'. My heart goes out to peeps isolated by disability. I couldn't imagine life without me and mine,

Cya :)