Heather and I had a really quiet and wonderful Christmas Day 2011. The roast turkey roll and vegetables were cooked well and eaten with gusto and we both enjoyed opening our gifts from all our wonderful friends. A lot of care and thought by some of you too! It was humid, cloudy and rained off and on all day and the only bummer was no bike ride this morning...hopefully tomorrow will be better. So to everyone caring to read this, have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your holidays. CJ and The Babe
I received these lovely flowers from Scott, Elaine and Cora for Christmas. I look at them all day. Thank you so much. Love The Babe
I came home again and after another sensational dinner, and a very small glass of wine, some ABC TV viewing, I was very tired and so went to bed and slept a solid eight hours. I was up with CJ at 6 am having toast and coffee, wanting to go riding, or to walk the dog. Then oops, I forgot...bloody legs won't work. But they will!.... Anyway I felt so good today I took CJ and Zed for walk in the park. Sale's Botanic gardens are looking really lovely this year with all the rain we've had. Love The Babe
My first day of hydrotherapy! I had my physio, CJ, two support workers and a good friend holding my hand. I was still scared, but I did it!! My speedos didn't fit so well though And it was hard, but if I want to get better, I'll have to keep going. So I'll be back next week. The Babe
I was home last weekend, and I can certainly attest to the fact that CJ is getting to be pretty good at preparing really nice dinners. I can hardly wait till I get home for good! The Babe
About 16,000 of us saw the sign and said now "that's an idea!" So we collected at 6 AM Sunday morning (yesterday) for Around The Bay ride (200+Km). Showers, cold and then sun and a monster westerly wind all day. So we all got a medal for finishing! And below..."The Best Dressed Bike" of course!! CJ
Hi everyone. I have a new physio now - Kathy is her name. She has got me moving more now and today I was successful in standing up and using a walking frame for support. I still needed lots of assistance from Kathy and CJ though, and I'm a long way off ever trying to walk again, but "No pain No gain" is what I say. I'm smiling because it's all over for today - until tomorrow. The Babe
Even though the TV room was a bit of a mess with the ironing last weekend, it was great to be back home and enjoy the home cooking. CJ is getting better... The yellow roses were nice and we watched "La Bamba" on the big screen. The Babe
Sometimes the simplest and cheapest of equipment, can make all the difference. My new physio, Kathy, has got me using this hand rail in the nursing home. I put my feet on the floor and pull myself forwards to the edge of my seat of my wheelchair. Then with nose over my toes, and concentrating on standing, I pull myself up and try to weight bear on my feet. Kathy and CJ support me, and I count to five, weight bearing on the balls of my feet. Then I sit down. I repeat this until I get tired. Today I changed weight from one foot to the other. Later I said to CJ, "You know, I am going to walk again..." The Babe
CJ took delivery of my new reclining arm chair today. We chose the fabric from our local store and is much better than what were the standard choices by the chair manufacturer. Apparently, CJ said it is very comfortable, which can only mean one thing! I can hardly wait to get my chance when I come home for another trial this weekend.
Next week we have a big Team Meeting about me coming home permanently and I go to Melbourne to see my ABI specialist. I'll be busy. The Babe
Last Saturday, CJ was in Melbourne at a conference. Meanwhile the weather was perfect here in Sale for my first long walk - over an hour walking around the Big Lake in Sale in the wheelchair. Saw the ducks and swans and birds. In the end I got a sore bum and lots of Vitamin D and Kerry got real tired pushing me around in the chair. Can't understand why she didn't use the motorised one! The Babe
Last Saturday night I went to my first rock n roll dance in two years. It was an Elvis dance...I loved Elvis. I'm wearing a cool cardigan which I bought from Lansky Brothers store in Memphis, when I visited years ago. Anyway it was a great night and we had a good band. I remembered many people, but not your names or quite how or when you fitted into my life in the past. But somehow I knew that you all had a place, and it may help recovering more memory. So to all, who came to say hello, many thanks. I know it must have been hard for you to do that. Thanks to CJ for asking me to go and meeting me at the Hall - he was DJ for the night. And also thanks to Catherine G and Kerry my Support Worker fro getting me there. I had a great time. All I need to do is get rid of that blank stare look at times... The Babe
For my home trials, I use a hired bed and chair. The wheelchair you can just see behind the bed and the standing / lifting frame is something that one day I want to get rid of, but at present I need it. There is also a commode, but I guess you guys don't wanna picture of that! The Babe
I chose the curtain fabric in March, but we weren't told that it would not available until June 30th!! I couldn't decide on an alternative, so we waited. Hopefully we will have our curtains up and installed by late July. CJ
It's almost normal again - Zed
It's been 621 sleeps since I last stayed in my own home following my accident in October 2009. All I can say, its so peaceful here and there simply is "no place like home". The Babe
After 2 hours intensive work with the OT and Physio at the Lodge and then at home, Heather stayed for dinner cooked by me. Thai Red curry chicken and vegetables would have to be the best meal I've made for her and probably the best she has had for almost 2 years. Hot and spicy!! Institutional meals do get boring and bland after a while... She loved it and there were no immediate adverse reactions. She returned to the Lodge at 8 PM, but did not want to go.
Next week we begin a series of regular overnight stays, with 24 hour support worker staff. (There will be staff who stay overnight with us). Then we make a decision on whether we can cope with all that and have Heather home permanently following extensive modifications.
Wish us good luck CJ
Last week I celebrated CJ's birthday. I eventually worked it out and remembered on the day! The local lamingtons were lovely! The Babe
"And thanks for the cards and birthday phone calls and SMS's guys" CJ
Well, almost two weeks ago, I received my nerve blocks and Botox to my legs. I was scared, but CJ was there and so I felt reassured, that I would get through it OK. I'm back in the Lodge and I hope to give you an update next week on how it has all worked!
The Babe
Wish all my cycling roads around Sale and district were as endless and magical as this....CJ
This morning, with no wind to slow us, the road beckoned. Heather imagines she is with me and I feel her presence...always...
Our home renovations have started at long last. They had been put on hold since The Babe's accident. View from the ex-Dado den towards the front hall, we had five painters, three plasterers, one tiler and the builder today and short visits from the electrician, plumber and concretor. I'm living in all this, but The Babe says she is glad to be in the lodge at the moment. The TAC funded home extension for her is on the move with tenders closing this week. CJ
It's really pretty in my room at the moment. The Babe
So Prue and Andrew presented me with a very large tray of assorted cakes from Brunetti. (I'm set now for a few days!) Here I am about to enjoy myself after my afternoon nap. Thank goodness my weight today was 60 Kg. Hate to think what it will be later this week!!
Prue and Andrew from Adelaide visited me today. It was really great that they came all that way to see me and celebrate my birthday which is tomorrow. They bought a special present Mmmm Mmmm!! My special nurse for the day helped me dress and I even went for a short walk with my guests. A really lovely day. Thanks. The Babe
I officially opened the library at the Inglis Medical Centre today. It was named in honour of me. I was a bit scared, with so many people there, but CJ prepared a nice simple speech for me to read. The champagne was nice, but I only had one sip. Many pictures were taken and CJ will post more on the blog soon. After speaking to friends I went back to Wilson Lodge and had a big rest. Thanks to all who came to see me today. The Babe
So for the second year running I wasn't able to attend the Tour Down Under cycling event in Adelaide. CJ went and had a great time. I missed him terribly. But he did bring back some nice clothes for me and lots of photos to look at and lots of hugs. (What a nice man). I'm wearing a cool polo top which fits me wonderfully. One day, I hope to get back there again, and in my dreams I still ride my bike and dance and cook and garden and work... The Babe
Hey Gang! Some of you may remember Bond St Boogie. Best little Jook Joint in town. Enjoy! CJ
Seen at Unley this morning. CJ
I've never seen Adelaide look so good for the past 25 years. Had a lovely ride back from Mawson Lakes today and poked around here and there on the bike. This place had special significance for me many many years ago. CJ
Another monster Day One crowd! The cyclists are in there somewhere...CJ
An institution in Adelaide, lots of celebs come here. And you can see why! Geez I need to learn Italian, just as soon as I've learnt Spanish, Samantha. CJ
At the Cancer Classic Street Race last night which was won by Aussie Matt Goss from HTC. This photo shows him crossing the finish line - a total blur. So not only do you Feel the Rush you can also see it! This is such a groovy town that a little later, many of the Pros rode back to the Hilton a mere 2 Km away. Crossing the road I saw the winner pull up waiting for the lights to change - even had his winners jersey still on. So a spectator who was obviously present asked him how he went in the goddamn race to which Matt replied "I won". Wonder how the spectator felt afterwards? CJ
The drive to Adelaide was different in trying to avoid flood waters of Western Victoria in mid Summer. Anyway SA, is dry warm and sunny. Pic taken just short of Tailem Bend. All of us on the road were getting tired and cranky. CJ
Today, I had a massage and then my Support Worker took me home in my chair to meet CJ for lunch. He was at work. He made me a warm meal of tuna and vegetables and for desert a fabulous small bowl of meringue, mixed summer berries, a dollop of yoghurt and ice cream with some raspberry sauce - Haighs of course! A cup of tea and I was done. Then we walked back through the Sale Botanic Park to Wilson Lodge. A really nice day. The Babe
I'm on a roll with these videos. Despite what you all might think, I hardly drink at all now. Three sips and I'm done. Bummer!! The Babe.
