What a horrible day so far! Hopefully it will improve.

Started waking up from 2 hrs sleep as I spent the the night trying to cough the last remnant of flu from my lungs. So I listened to the radio and coughed.

New carer, Fundi had her first day solo and it took over 4 hrs. The strain was to be kind and polite whilst feeling like a bear with a sore head.

Thanks to all for the lovely birthday wishes.

So this morning I was doing the physio routine (I ask my carers to give my limbs a stretch every day) and I realised that because of my position at the time I was able to touch my face. I was able to touch the skin with my fingertips. So what you will ask? Well for 5 years I haven't felt skin on my fingertips. They are softer and more sensitive. I could feel the slightest texture change. From the hair on my cheeks to the dry skin on my nose.Wow.


I enjoyed the rugby and seeing SA as world champions. When we won the 1995 RWC I was on business in London so I watched inside a pub near Leicester Square. Who could predict that the next time we would win, I would be in a wheelchair, paralysed below my neck.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring but I still have a carer to train this week so I expect time will be limited.

I have been wanting to regain my enthusiasm and strength to work at the challenges of the life I have now but I have struggled lately. I have to keep myself from descending too far. I believe it will be too tough to get going again.

This past week has been a combination of bad flu work and training new carers. It was a long morning routine with Henry (trainee) doing his first session on his own. It took 3 hrs today and it should get better (hopefully) .

I have a picture here of a great puppy here. Alan has decided to keep a dog. He bought a Patterdale terrier. Take a look at these pictures

SMIFFY

I promised you an update and an update you shall have. I had friends over from Germany and they stayed till yesterday. I had a great time and I think they did too.

Milada visited me at the time of my accident in Germany. She had a house near the hospital in. Linda stayed with her for several weeks whilst visiting me in the hospital each day. She had lost her husband some time before and has a son Alexander, who coincidently looks remarkably similar to my son by the same name.

I picked them up from Stansted Airport and we returned home and my children arrived some time later. Unfortunately my children only stayed one night but in this time they got to know each other and enjoyed the time.

The weekend is over and after the fire incident we have sort of recovered. I bought 4 more fire extinguishers now that I realise how rapidly a fire can take hold and spread. I have also bought a fire blanket as powder extinguishers are short lived. I will keep this in the kitchen with a powder extinguisher.

As someone who has always been a bit sceptical about the need for a fire extinguisher in a domestic setting, I have now completely changed my view. After seeing the rapidity that the fire took I realise that a few more seconds would have been disastrous.

I was going to use this update to tell you all about my weekend with a friend and her son ,out here on a visit from Germany. Unfortunately I have been interrupted so often I just haven't the time.

I'll be back...

Fire Fire FIRE! !

How do I begin?

There I was just finishing my eleven's (cup of coffee and a biscuit) and going through work with Linda when Sharon, who is working behind me, asks "Should that iron be smoking? " Referring to the iron in my bedroom, where Ellie was busy with some ironing. Ellie had left the iron while she popped to her room to do something.

Linda looked up from what we were working on to go and have a look. In the next moment a flame developed. Linda was shouting for Ellie while smoke filled the room and the fire alarm went off. Rushing back to me as Ellie arrived she breathlessly asked "Do you have a fire extinguisher? "

Sitting helplessly in my wheelchair with my hand off the control, I replied with directions to the device which I bought a few months earlier, thinking I would never use it. Extinguisher in hand made her way back to the scene as smell and noise filled the house.

By this stage Ellie had unplugged the offending device which promptly fell to the floor and continued burning. Using the extinguisher Ellie smothered the rebellious spirit of the shamed iron with blue powder.

Picking up the pieces by intact cord, Ellie finished it off outside.

We were left with smoke and noise and a sense that we were saved by quick thinking and 2kg of blue powder.

Damage: Charred Iron
Burnt Floor
depleted fire extinguisher
Smoke smell

The dejected device