Kerfufful

Sorry, but something has gone a bit doo-lally with blogspot at the time of writing - I'm actually using Firefox and Chrome on two screens (I wouldn't use internet explorer unless you paid me :) )

Friends Connect doesn't seem to be working and Elizabeth's page seems to be down? Can't find her blog?

Andy Hill from Talk Stroke has started a Blog at http://andyhill242.blogspot.com/ More the merrier.

Even if you aren't a stroke survivor, There's no reason why you couldn't read and reply on Talk Stroke. I could ask you to help raise funds for The Stroke Association UK, and there's a lot you could do -for instance, sell SA UK Cristmas cards, or their raffle.

But important as it is to raise funds, and the vast range of charities that ask for help - and heck knows there are so many worthy causes that are scrabbling for a slice of an ever decreasing cake. People can't afford to donate directly y'see.

However, it's much more important that there is unbiased opinion, practical, useful and imaginative advice.

More, there's the the forgotten few. The Carer's who are ordinary people who are thrust unexpectedly into becoming extraordinary people, poorly supported, untrained, unnoticed and challenged.

We've all had different and extensive life experiences we can share?

Please sign up to Talk Stroke and be a friend.

Be back later. Lots of Love, Dray xx

Fuzzy Logic

There's more than one way to interact with your cat.

(felis annecto )

Ceeerashed.

Errr.... I've gone totally blank...something about furry routers. Ummm?

I've had a very busy evening. Here's me sit sat waiting for a nice storm. Meh. according to my anomem.., er, wind thingy, we had in Sheffield about 16 mph winds and the odd gust of 30 mph, with a bit of drizzle for an hour this morning. Since then, boring. Roll on winter.

Houseful. Must be something to do with the full moon tonight.

It isn't usual that I get Tots and her mates, son, daughters partner, Bear, and a mate around. Bit of bother trying to keep track of all the conversations.

Then in the middle of all that Sigma the Dog found a stray in season balding lady Yorkshire Terrier mate a third of his size in the garden, so he went all howling "I want out". Poor little beggar is still all hormones, bless.

Then Bear went in the bath, and I'm in trouble for shouting "Thar She Blows!" Left me all in a tiz, it did.

Do you ever get those days when you feel y'just aren't going to win?

~~~~~

My mate Dazman has got a job as a call centre worker after a very long period of unemployment. Well, after his training period is over he's got to travel way out into the wilds and find buses, and pay for them to get to work well before 6am. But it's fantastic. It's an opportunity. Well done that man :)

Bit urgent really.

A 14 year old neighbour has been threatened on facebook, and his parents have been given an incident number but told by the Police there's nothing they can do can do. I'm sure that's not right.

Can anyone offer me any advice please?

Liquorice All sorts

RLS has got me thinking about my garden.

Bear and Tots (I'm told I have to tell you she's 14) planted some potatoes some months back. They forayed out into the veg patch, dug up a few, and found they were a decent size, but still green.

Green is not good. The green is an accumulative poison. Green potato skins killed thousands during the Irish potato famine Don't know what to do with those :(

But, my Butterfly Bush (Davidii Budli) has gone Zoink! so I can't see my front path from here. Going to have to prune that before Rog (Father in Law) The Destroyer Of Trees claps eyes on it.

~~~~~

Tom, my widower neighbour, popped by with 5 sticks of Liquorice root. Blimey, there's a blast from the days of Temperance bars, hot Vimto and Sarsaparilla

Told us he was takin' the mick of a 6 year old neighbours lad, who was playing with a lass. "That your girlfriend is it?" "No. She's a mate" says the 6 year old. "But I know who yours is!"

"Eh? Who's that then?" "It's Grumpy Bear?" "Who?" said Tom. "Well, you always say 'I'm off to The Bears', not to Drays"

Out of the mouths of..... Heh :) Grumpy Bear. He'll go far, will that young man, he will. Chuckle!

~~~~~

I'm off to allow myself to get upset about 9/11 again. For a lot of reasons, it wasn't that far away for me.

The Enemy Within.

The Watchers.

The Watchers are a group of (usually) anonymous people who have worked for the civil service in one way or another over the years who look after their own. The term 'civil service' covers a wide variety of disciplines.

We have a funding drive running at the moment for service and ex-servicemen who are suffering from post traumatic stress as a result of their service. If you can give just a little one off donation, it will be greatly appreciated.

Their website is here, and there's an excellent article in The Telegraph (UK) here

How can an anonymous group raise funds? You just found out :)

My interest is that I was once a government employee who became a substance abuse councillor.

I heartedly recommend you read the Telegraph article. Cheers xx

Jack & Jill

Sorry for the delay, and thanks for the concern.

Two days later....

Well, I did it. I walked the walk :)

It was quite comical really. There's yours truly studiously concentrating on his feet.

What's that old joke about "how does a centipede with a wooden leg sound? 99 thump, 99 thump". Yep, that's it.

Bear hung on grimly to my 'bad' side, which was unfortunate, as she's totally deaf in the ear nearest me. "How Yer Doing?" Fine. "What?" "FINE!" "No Need To Shout!". Dunno why she was shouting too. My hearings fine.

"Look Ahead, Not At Your Feet Dray!" "What?" "Oh shut up you idiot" Heheh :) Had to stop to get my breath back while having a fit of giggles. Handy those BT Boxes.

The unfortunate thing about living in a city that has as many hills as Rome, is that we seem to live on all of them. It's not that far *really*. End of the road, down a 45 degree angle, across a main road, then flat for about the same difference.

It didn't help it was bang in the middle of the school run, and peeps beeped their horns, and shouted stuff like "Weebles Wobble but they don't fall down" and "Oy! Ooh let thee aout!" Chuffs.

I love 'em really. Double Chuffs for not offering us a lift :)

Anyways, we got there. I was propped against a trolly (bliss!) in the 'old mens area' Humph. While Bear did her Thing. Had a nice chat in his 80's who's 68 year old wife was doing the rounds. "I can do everything I need to do" he chuckled. "Just very, well, y'know?" No. No I don't :)

By the way, if I may be so bold, if you've ever wondered how stroke survivors handle THAT? It's easy. Start as though one intends to finish, go make a cup of tea, and a plate of egg and chips, come back later, sorted. Honest. Really....

~~~~

The trip back up that hill was horrendous. I have no intention of doing that soon. Yeah, a taxi would have taken 5 mins and cost about a fiver. But being stubborn, I was determined to try. It was awful. But I did it. I found I had an inner strength. I'm not going to joke about that.

I post infrequently on Twitter as @wheelieslug

*Edit:- André has a Watcher....Dray edit. Indeed I do, and I'm very grateful, but too much info there guys, so it's shifted. Love you all lots. I promise to be good in future. Honest xx :)

Walkin' the walk....

I'm off with the Bear to the local Lidl. Walking the walk. This promises to be interesting.

For those that don't know, I find walking difficult, to say the least. Update when I get back guys...