tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317846417699265042024-03-13T09:48:22.640-07:00Coping BadlyLiving with no energy - eating my elephant a bite at a time!Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-9200958545520994722022-04-10T05:42:00.001-07:002022-04-10T05:42:33.174-07:00All About Rest - Part 3 - Vagal Nerve Tone and Mental Anxiety (Article written for The 25% ME Group)<p>Part 3 - All About Rest - Vagal Nerve Tone and Mental Anxiety<br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So, we’ve covered sleep, breathing and
physical body positions – what about our mental positions?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Well, sticking with the physical for a
little longer - </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">IMPROVING VAGAL NERVE TONE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I’d never heard of the vagal nerve
(mentioned above briefly in the context of sleep) before I met Lynsey, but it
turns out it runs down from our heads to beyond our stomachs and is enormously
important in regulating breathing, our heart rates, eating and swallowing as
well as our immune system. In addition, as I found out from a recent TV
programme where experts helped various previously undiagnosable Americans with
their health problems, damage to the vagal nerve can prevent proper digestion
and absorption of nutrients. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">The Vagal Nerve is attached to our vocal
chords. So, if we hum or sing or chant or gargle, the vagal nerve is
stimulated, and ‘exercised’. So yes, I have started humming. Very quietly and
very gently. When I wake up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other
stimulants for the Vagal Nerve are to laugh (who doesn’t enjoy that from time
to time?) and also to breathe deeply (back to diaphragmatic breathing). I’ve
also started telling myself Knock Knock jokes that make me smile, and I’m
working on my breathing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">NUTRITION IN MODERATION</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Crucially, at the head end of the body, the
Vagal Nerve controls the Parasympathetic Nervous System, that is, our moods -
which includes happiness, depression and anxiety. And, as the Nerve at the
other end regulates digestion and the gut, there’s a link between them – the
body is a whole organism with different parts that interlink and influence each
other.<br />
<br />
We are what we eat! I’m pretty confident in saying I struggle with my addiction
to sugar. Years ago I removed it from my diet entirely, these days I keep
trying and failing to do so. I have managed to stop buying (and eating) whole
tubs of Haagen Daas icecream, and I’m working towards reducing sugars down to
‘natural’ ones like honey and fruit and using sugar as a condiment rather than
an end in itself. Sugar is an inflammatory, it has no nutritional value and
disrupts a variety of hormones that my body uses to regulate all manner of
interconnected systems. The hard question for me to face is, if I know my body
is struggling, why am I putting things into it that make it struggle more? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">The NHS (England) website has a great deal
of information on what a ‘healthy’ diet looks like – it has fresh vegetables
with plant or meat based protein balanced with some fat and some carbohydrate.
The trouble for people with Severe ME/CFS is not only getting help to prepare
nutritious food, but also in actually chewing/swallowing and digesting it. Many
of us have severe dietary intolerances and difficulties eating and swallowing,
never mind actually digesting food. Doing what we can to build a healthy gut
flora and improve vagal tone may in the long term help, and I am acutely aware
how flippant it sounds to suggest that a daily session of gentle ‘humming’ is
going to change that. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">What I would say is that one of the most
difficult things about being chronically unwell without any answers is the
feeling of being in limbo and there being no control, that hopeless feeling
that there’s nothing we can do. If in healthy people, their bodily systems can
be improved by changes that are small for them (humming is nothing to a healthy
person, to one of us it may be something we can only do occasionally for a very
very short time), then I would ask, why can’t ours? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">My body still (eventually) heals itself
from a papercut, so some of it still works the same way that normal healthy
people’s bodies do, so, I ask myself, can I take some control with these small
changes and, without hurting myself, support my body? And, to bring us back to
the mind, how does having some control and purpose in my life, to support my
mind and body, make me feel? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Lynsey on the Zoom course talked about the
mind and mental issues in a way that was new to me: the brain is a muscle
inside a box made of bone. It cannot see, hear, taste, touch or feel. It is
totally dependent on the signals it gets from outside itself, those little
chemicals sparking up and down our neural pathways, the molecules carried in
our bodily fluids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But more than that,
it’s what we as self aware entities tell the brain to DO with all that
information flowing in and out of the bone box affects the brain’s ongoing
response.<br />
<br />
For example, a child falls and skins their knee, we all know that if we rush up
with a look of concern the child will feel the shock as something bad, and be
concerned and start to cry. If we rush up and say Oh my goodness has your leg
fallen off? That’s so ridiculous they’ll be distracted, and laugh because the
‘injury’ of the graze is minor in comparison to the magnitude of a missing leg,
that the graze becomes minor.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">The graze itself hasn’t changed – what’s
changed is the perception of the child based on what they can see, hear and
sense about how the external world views that graze. Because what the brain is
interested in is pretty binary – is it safe or is it dangerous? Because that’s the
brain’s purpose, to keep the organism that is the ‘meat sack’ that is the body
safe and well, and if it gets signals that there’s danger, then it will send
commands to fix what it can. As a self healing entity our bodies are pretty
impressive, it can heal skin, bone, muscle, tendon, repel invaders such as
unwelcome bacteria and viruses etc. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">But those same systems can react when they
shouldn’t and they can fail to switch off. They can get ‘stuck’ in ‘danger
mode’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was new to me, was that I
can consciously be aware of how I think or behave and that can, in certain
circumstances, contribute to the brain’s decision whether it’s safe or in
danger.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">At first I have to admit this sounded a bit
‘woo woo’ and frankly, ridiculous. But when no other help is on offer, it seems
like a good idea to listen to see what’s there. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">REASSURING THE BRAIN ON PAIN</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So, going back to the diaphragmatic
breathing (above) when Lynsey first asked me to look at the pain in my body,
just notice it, not do anything about it, I was horrified. ‘I’m not doing that!
I spend most of my time working really hard to ignore any pain because it hurts
and I’m scared it’ll get worse and not stop’. ‘How’s that working for you?’,
was her response. My honest answer? Not well. (I’m pretty sure that my working
so hard to ignore pain is one of the reasons I’ve got minor urinary
incontinence, because at the end of the day, the system the body uses to tell
my brain the bladder is full, well, that’s pain, pain as a ‘gift’, pain that is
going to start getting stronger as the bladder becomes overfull as a warning
signal. Except me, I’m refusing to listen to any pain, helpful or otherwise.
Sigh. Unintended consequences…)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Lynsey’s point was, that if we notice pain,
especially when it’s appropriate (like my bladder) or not a cause for alarm,
and we tell the brain it’s safe, the brain isn’t going to be ramping up the
response, and screaming emergency. If we ignore the pain (yeah that’s me) the
brain’s natural response is to send more urgent signals that something needs to
be done. Over time, the brain gets into a pattern of ramping up signals and
then the nerves that carry the signals become oversensitised to pain, and the
body ends up feeling and experiencing much more pain: is the theory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">And I have to say, I do feel pain more
strongly than I did when I was well and the more severe my ME/CFS the more
extreme my reaction to what ought to be minor pain, and as my Severe ME/CFS has
reduced in severity to far more moderately Severe, my reaction to pain has
reduced too. So maybe there’s something in this, maybe the body does get
overstimulated and stuck in pathways, and maybe I can help reduce that by my
attitudes to myself, to how kind I am being to myself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">In addition, I’ve found that painkillers
don’t work on pain that isn’t really there (as in there’s no actual site of
injury that needs healing or action - the pain exists - in that it’s a signal
that has gone to the brain, that the brain has received (or thought it did) and
needs to decide what action to take - but it’s not actually needing a response,
the signal exists (or is recorded as existing) but there’s no actual danger to
my body, like the phantom pain an amputee gets. So yes, the pain is all in my
head, but at the same time, it genuinely exists there, the brain has those
signals, the brain as a muscle inside a bone box has no imagination, it is
binary in its responses to signals, either they need action, or they don’t).
So, I listened to what Lynsey had to say and I’ve spent quite a lot of time
considering it. And from my initial somewhat dismissive and derisive reaction,
I’ve changed; I’m wondering whether it is possible to help my brain decide to
take action or not.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">The idea is that we can consciously help
our brains to decide what action to take in response to the signals that arrive
in the bone box that say ‘pain’. We can help our brain to decide that it’s safe
and no action is needed, or we can help our brain to decide that it’s dangerous
and action is required.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I admit it feels a bit silly, but we help
our brains by saying to ourselves ‘I’m safe’ when appropriate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So for example with the breathing above, if
my shin suddenly has a sharp stabby pain, I can have a look at it physically,
and mentally and say to my brain, ‘it’s ok, I’m safe’. (unless of course you’re
bleeding in which case yeah the brain needs to send the chemicals to stop the
blood and knit it altogether, but I’m talking here about that pain we get
without an obvious acute ie immediate cause). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lynsey calls this the ‘danger in me, safety in
me’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">For me, that suggests we have a choice, when
the body gives signals, and the brain receives them, is our conscious mind
backing up reality and supporting our body and mind? Or is it off with the
fairies in fantasy land undermining our body and mind?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So the killer question – How often do we
indulge ourselves in a story that says we aren’t safe? We visit Dr Google, we
lather ourselves into an anxiety of what ifs: what if I’m terminally unwell?,
what if it’s some exotic disease that’s going to injure me even more? And tell
ourselves we can’t do anything about it, that the illness has it in for us, is
victimising us? How often do we find ourselves foundering in stories that have
lost touch with the here and now? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I’m not saying that any of the above stories
are necessarily harmful, after all it is sensible to see if a new sensation is
a problem that needs dealing with. But that it becomes harmful when we chose to
tell ourselves it’s a problem when in reality it’s not (a grazed knee) or to dwell
on both the actual problems as well as the made up ones (grazed knee) to a
greater extent than the (few) good things in our lives. Our bodies and minds
are designed to operate in a balanced way. If we deliberately skew that
balance, we aren’t supporting ourselves, we aren’t being kind to ourselves, we
are sabotaging our own selves.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">And, what would happen if we said to
ourselves, yeah my shin hurts, maybe if I do some nose breathing, or relax with
pillows or tilt in space to give my body and mind a break, and tell my brain
I’m safe – would those pains that aren’t touched by painkillers, with practice
and over time, begin to hurt less? Would our pain responses be less volatile?
What would happen if we treated ourselves more kindly? What if we distracted
ourselves with stories about things in our lives that are going well? Things
that made us laugh, or pleased us – a brilliant blue sky against fresh summer
leaves seen in a postcard, the memory of a song or a person, our friends and
family having a success in their lives? Think of 3 positive things? (To be
fair, at my worst I couldn’t think of positive things, the loss and grief of
the other me, the one before this happened was too sharp. But over the years,
that loss and grief hasn’t gone away, it’s just that there’s a duller edge to
it, and thinking about the future, even in 5mins time is a lot easier, and so
is thinking of positive things).<br />
<br />
What would happen if we treated ourselves the way we would a child with a
grazed knee? Offer comfort and distraction? Be kinder to ourselves, suspend our
criticism and resentment of our bodies failures; even barely working as they
are, they are actually amazing organisms, doing their best in challenging
circumstances.<br />
<br />
It’s worth noting here that obviously any new unexplained or increased symptoms
need to be checked out with your doctor, it’s possible to be unwell with more
than one thing at once including new things. This technique is about dealing
with the symptoms we know exist, the pain we feel, physical, mental or emotional,
that the medications don’t touch).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">CHEMICALS OF ANXIETY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">It’s important that when I talk about
Anxiety, I’m not talking about full on genetically influenced or chemical
imbalances debilitating Anxiety as a disease. People with that sort of Anxiety need
to be properly diagnosed and helped by medical professionals. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I’m talking about anxiety as a natural part
of living life, part of the brain seeking information as to whether it’s safe
or there’s actual danger on the horizon, that a bit of action may avoid – the
sort that keeps Meerkat herds have one member on a dunghill as lookout, and
that makes the Government teach kids about road safety and looking both ways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I’m talking about how when we are
chronically unwell, we are naturally anxious, because our bodies and minds
become unreliable, we are not able to do what others expect of us, what we
expect of ourselves, never mind the basic functions of existence that healthy
people take for granted, such as eating, personal care, getting out of bed,
sitting up, reading, listening or even tolerating enough light to see by.
That’s normal. Totally and utterly normal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">However the difficulty comes when that
experience of such a traumatic change in existence that long term untreatable
illness brings, leads us to react more strongly to smaller things that wouldn’t
have bothered us before we were unwell. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">The body is supposed to react to stress, it
has mechanisms to do so, the ‘fight or flight’ responses. But these are
supposed to be fleeting in response to actual danger. The body’s reaction to
stress impacts our breathing, stress hormones travel in the blood and the blood
goes everywhere so multiple systems are impacted, including the autonomic
nervous systems. When that’s a temporary response, that’s fine, the body deals with
the danger then goes back to normal – that natural seesaw of balance in the
body, that’s what happens with healthy people. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">But if we are constantly under stress that
means those chemicals of anxiety are constantly sparking away, telling our
muscle in the bone box that is our brain that there’s danger, then, over time,
our brain changes the way it responds to danger, it gets stuck permanently ‘on’
and our bodies are adversely affected with poor immunity, digestive changes,
muscle tension, hormonal changes. In effect our bodies are constantly in a
state of permanent readiness – which isn’t sustainable and our bodies can’t
repair the damage from the state as quickly as it occurs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Whilst on one level I knew about stress and
fight or flight and how damaging it can be, this year I learned that
Homeostatis, (that is, the steady internal systems that keep all living bodies
operating in a stable way) is a see-saw of natural balance. Throughout the day
and night as our bodies go through the set habits and patterns controlled by
the Hypothalmus, as well as the various events and activities (mental and
physical) of the day, the see-saw of homeostatis tips gently one way then
another seeking to balance what’s happening. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">In people with chronic illness, this
see-saw appears to be stuck, either up or down, or like the Grand Old Duke of
York, partway, neither up nor down, and by making those ‘marginal gains’ to get
our ‘stuck’ systems – whether practising sleep hygiene, nose breathing,
reducing the pull of gravity on our bodies or giving our minds a break – each
of those tiny changes in our habits, towards a more ‘healthy’ life, it increases
the chance that our Homeostatis becomes unstuck, and our bodies work better.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Again, the stories we tell ourselves affect
how stressed we are. We’ve all watched a scary film (or in my case Dr Who) and
our anxiety has ramped up, we KNOW it’s fiction, and yet there’s a delicious
thrill to be had from being apprehensive about what happens next. That’s
normal, that’s natural, that’s part of why human civilisation has changed the
world, we’re curious, we seek thrills, we seek what is different.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">But if we tell ourselves stories that keep
that anticipation going to the extent that it alters our body’s chemistry –
that’s harmful, no? If I lie in bed worrying that there’s some obscure test
that’s not been done, or a normal test that’s been done badly, and I’m ill with
something that can be fixed (I think we’ve all done it) just once around the
time of the results, that’s healthy. If I spend the next 3 years in that state
of mind? Well, my body is in for a right hammering because the same chemicals
that gave me the delicious thrill of whether Dr Who would manage to run away
safely, they are going to be ever present, and start to damage my systems.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Again a killer question – how to break that
cycle? How to stop myself from catastrophising, fantasising about who might
come to my funeral (we’ve all lost touch with friends and family through long
illness, I doubt mine would need more than 5 chairs), whatif-ing until there’s
dinosaurs wandering around outside about whether the carer put the plates in
the dishwasher right, if they used the worktop cleaning cloth to do the washing
up, did they leave the strawberries out of the fridge, why can’t they find what’s
wrong with me, why can’t they fix it, it goes on and on and on and on. And it’s
exhausting. It’s exhausting for me, it’s exhausting for my family and friends,
and for anyone online that happens to see me, yet again, metaphorically shaking
my fist at some unknown assailant.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">BREATHING TO QUIET THE MIND</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">How to distract myself? It’s all very well
to distract yourself by reading or an audiobook, or a tv programme or music, or
imagining a place you’ve been or a time you were happy, but sometimes, I just
don’t have the energy to do that. I just can’t. So the technique of just
listening to myself breathe, not think of anything else, if my mind squirrels
away, to bring it back to breathing? That’s been a genuine Godsend to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that whatiff-ing and catastrophising has,
over time, reduced the more I’ve practised concentrating on breathing. I am
genuinely less anxious (though 2 years of betablockers is helping) and also
I’ve found giving my brain that circuit breaker, that time away from all those
circular thoughts and worries, it really does help.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">TLDR: TOO LONG, DIDN’T READ – THE SHORT
VERSION</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So in essence - what did I REALLY learn
about recuperative rest this year? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Well, that I need more rest, it needs to
happen when I am awake, not when I’m asleep, that sleep is for other purposes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I can get recuperative or restorative rest
by </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">breathing through my
nose,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">escaping gravity to the
best of my ability, </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">giving my brain a break
by listening to my breathing instead of my circling thoughts, and that </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">I can influence and
support my body and mind by choosing the messages I give my brain, by confirming
the actuality safety rather than encouraging anxiety and the fake news of
emergency to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Being brutally honest, I don’t really know
why my symptoms have reduced and I’ve been able to do more over the last few
years, I don’t even know if I actually do have ME/CFS. I fit the criteria, but
what if there’s something else? What if what works for me won’t work for any of
you, because we don’t have the same thing? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I know some people are on a trajectory of
ME/CFS that never has any letup, it just gets worse, for some people it varies,
for some it has cycles: for me, over the last 20 years, it just got worse in
lurches, and I never want to return to the terror of 2013 when I first went
Severe. I am so grateful that in the last couple of years, it’s very very
slowly stabilised, so slowly in fact that I don’t actually realise for months,
and then it takes longer for me to feel confident that the stability will last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect partly it’s because there’s nothing
else wrong with me, everything else has been fixed, partly the pain and mood
meds I’m taking, partly it’s being forced to rest and convalesce, but it does
feel (in a totally unscientific and unrecorded way) that my health has
stabilised more quickly in the last 2 years. Apart from new building adaptations
and equipment making living my life less energy sucking, and taking
Betablockers; the only thing that’s changed is what I’ve learned about my body
and how I can make tiny marginal gains that do seem to add up to a higher
quality of life. Am I well? No. Am I better than I was? Yes. And that feels
like a pretty big milestone.<br />
<br />
Finally, I would say that the vast majority of members of the 25% are affected
for longer and more severely than I have been, so, if these were my opening
paragraphs, I’d expect you to snort with derision and move on: one question
that Lynsey asked us right at the beginning of the Zoom course was – are we in
a position to dismiss it out of hand? Do we have any better offers? It was
pretty devasting to realise I wasn’t and I didn’t but I’m glad I listened with
as open a mind as I could manage, because those marginal gains are beginning to
add up for me. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">**********************************************************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">All About Rest - Article Parts</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Background</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Part 1</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Part 2 <br /></span></p>
Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-16181592673630817072022-04-10T05:40:00.001-07:002022-04-10T05:40:10.087-07:00All About Rest - Part 2 - Breathing and Zero Gravity (Article written for The 25% ME Group)<p class="MsoNormal">Part 2 All About Rest Article - Breathing and Zero Gravity<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span class="3oh-">RECUPERATIVE REST</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Marvellous, we’ve cantered at great speed
through sleep, what about being awake? If sleep isn’t restful, then logically, rest
happens when we are awake – either during the day whilst we are trying to stay
awake, or at night when we are finding it hard to sleep. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Years ago I met Hannah Clifton of The ME
Trust (my then boss introduced us), who had been severely unwell and bedbound
with ME/CFS but who had recovered under the care of Dr Worthley at Burrswood
Hospital, and one thing she said stayed with me. She said that at the Burrswood
she learned how to rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years
I’ve wondered about that, was there some magic formula? Some secret knowledge?
Dr Worthley kindly did a few telephone consultations with me, and sent me some
handouts, I’ve got the Emily Collingridge Severe ME book, Lynsey on her home
visits talked me through some techniques, so I ought to have the techniques in
my toolbox and I do, but do they work? Are they what Hannah was talking about? Honestly?
I’m not sure, because I’m still a work in progress, I do know that in the last
few years my health has stabilised and symptoms have reduced, and I am
confident that the continued stability over the last few months has been a
direct result of the following techniques. What I don’t know is if they will
work for you. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Remember to eat your elephant a bite at a
time, choose a technique that you can fit into your circumstances<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and have a go, in tiny steps:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">MOUTHBREATHER OR NOSEBREATHER?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Amusingly Lynsey first talked to me at home
about Nose Breathing at a time when my elderly (now at peace) cat Tabitha was
breathing stertorously through her mouth due to longstanding health issues.
It’s the exception that proves the rule – Humans are (Tabitha excepted) the
only mammals that breathe through their mouths rather than their noses, said
Lynsey. Again this is one of my assumptions smashed, I had no idea there was
any difference between the two, still less that they have different
effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that there’s
significant differences for our bodies depending on whether we breathe through
our mouths or our noses.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Nose Breathing:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">The nasal passages are
specifically designed to warm and humidify the air as it passes into the body.
The lungs can absorb warm humid air more easily than the ‘shock’ of cold dry
air. The air temperature can rise about 4.5 degrees Celsius in the nose.</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">The nasal passages are
designed to clean the air – to remove germs, irritants and bacteria.</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Nose breathing is more
regulated, more even, and uses the diaphragm rather than the belly.</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">When exhaling through
the nose, the airflow resistance means the air stays in the lungs longer and
increases oxygen intake up to 20%, and we take up more Nitric Oxide, which has
an important role in the immune system and vascoregulation (how the body
regulates where blood goes in the body).</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Breathing in and out
through the nose affects our nervous system – it stimulates the olfactory
nerve, which passes that impulse on to the hypothalamus (and as I learned on
the Zoom course and talked about above, the hypothalamus controls our
biological body clock).</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span class="3oh-"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Mouth breathing</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Exhaling through the
mouth expels more air than the nose. Breathing out softly, as with a sigh,
releases the tension in the shoulders, the jaw and the muscles that hold our
heads up, leading to a reduction in tension and potentially a quieting of the
mind.</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Inhaling through the
mouth isn’t such good news – the air dries the naturally moist tissues of the mouth,
which can lead to dehydration, which can lead to bad breath, and an increase in
acidity with tooth decay and gum problems. It increases the likelihood of
snoring and sleep apnoea and also alters the natural head posture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So, one SIMPLE CHANGE we can do, is to
breathe more through our nose, when we are awake (which eventually will become
a habit we do during sleep too). Not doing any fancy exercises like holding one
nostril closed or trying to use the diaphragm more, just keeping our mouths
shut, and using our noses to breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously it’s going to be harder than mouthbreathing, we’ll be using
different muscles and that’s hard for us. So take it easy, eat the elephant a
bite at a time. Maybe start just breathing once through the nose, a couple of
times a day. Build up slowly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">USING BREATHING TO QUIET THE MIND</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I find my mind is like a hamster on a
treadmill sometimes, going round and round and round, and eventually I’ve
imagined so many ‘what ifs’ that there’s dinosaurs roaming around outside the
windows (not really, but my what ifs have taken me so far from reality there
might as well be).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to run or swim
or cycle to get away from my problems (or sleep), then I used to read, now I
can’t do any of those things, how to give my mind a break? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">By concentrating on breathing. It’s very
simple. You just exist. Your body does the breathing for you (apologies to
anyone who needs mechanical help to breathe, your experience will be a bit
different). Instead of letting your mind squirrel around, you just watch and
listen to your breathing. If your mind drifts off to a worry or thought, just
bring it back to your breathing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
gives your brain a break – the brain is an enormous muscle that works really
hard, by concentrating on just one’s breathing which is regular and peaceful,
the brain has a chance to relax. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">It’s simple but very difficult. I’ve been
doing this for 2 years now and at first I could only do 30 seconds. Now I’m up
to a couple of minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not remotely
disciplined, I do it when I remember or when I’m fed up of my brain being
squirrelly. I also do it to help me fall asleep, it’s taken a while but it is
now a very good cue for my brain that it’s time to fall asleep. Unfortunately
this makes it pretty useless as a ‘recuperative rest whilst awake’ technique
unless I set an alarm first, because it can turn into an overlong siesta by
accident…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">USING BREATHING TO QUIET THE BODY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Once you’ve nailed breathing through your
nose, you can expand your technique to breathe in through your nose and out
through your mouth. This uses the muscles in the throat all the way down to the
diaphragm. So it’s quite a workout in itself, so go cautiously and gently! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">The effect of this diaphragmatic breathing
is that it gives both the mind and the body recuperative rest. The body’s
tension begins to ease and muscles relax (which can be painful if they’ve been
tense for a long time) and the brain also gets a break. It provides a pause
from the agonies of daily life that at first I found painful and difficult, but
as it’s got easier to do, I welcome it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Get someone to search for Mindful Breathing
or Box Breathing techniques online when you get to this stage because the
eventual technique is that (shock horror and outright rejection) whilst you are
breathing diaphramatically you let your mind notice your pain. Yes. Really. I don’t
think so! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">The idea behind it is that by looking at an
area that is hurting, and telling your brain that everything is ok, your brain
stops ramping up the emergency signals that there’s a problem, and the extreme
sensitisation to pain that can build up may begin to reduce (more on this
below). Have I tried this? Only when fully painkillered up because I’m scared
of pain getting worse and not stopping. I’m working on my courage for this
technique, so yeah, I’m not really doing this, but I know it exists and if I
have a day when nothing much hurts, I have a very cautious attempt…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">ZERO GRAVITY/ TILT IN SPACE LYING POSITIONS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Speaking of how painful it is to have
tension in the muscles and body, and also how painful it is for those to relax,
the first time I experienced pain whilst relaxing was years ago at an Iyengar
Yoga relaxation class. How hard can it be I thought? It’s just lying down… One
of the exercises was to lie with eyes closed and relax the muscles around the
jaw and face then the eyes – relax the eyes to make them ‘soft’. I honestly
yelped with unexpected pain! With severe ME/CFS, I get pain whenever there’s
tension or relaxing or a change between the two. And I don’t enjoy it, I resent
it, and I’d like it to stop.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Back in 2013 when I first went Severely
affected, I discovered Emily Collingridge’s Severe ME book. The back page
(being a page of diagrams showing supported sitting and lying positions) was a
revelation! The relief for my limbs and muscles by putting pillows under my
arms and legs was enormous. Mind you, the effort of moving those pillows so I
could turn over or reach the commode or toilet was even more enormous, several
times I got myself trapped and had to wriggle at a slothlike pace to free
myself, so whilst they are tremendously useful, they’re a lot easier if you
have someone around to put them in place for you! I have no idea how these
compare to a hospital type bed that provides similar support via a remote
control, but if you are alone, that would be safer than finding you are being
laid siege to by an accidental pillow fort!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">For the last couple of years, this house
has been undergoing disabled adaptations (more accurately it’s been waiting a
long time between the adaptation stages being done). And I have no sofa or
comfortable chairs, so fed up with trying to sit up in (a bog standard non
moving) bed, I had a look at riser/recliner chairs, tilt in space chairs and
that led me to Zero Gravity seating. There’s some very expensive options out
there, but there’s also garden chairs that give you a tilt in space
approximation (if you have the strength to tilt yourself in the first place)
for about thirty pounds sterling. The idea is you put your feet on the bar at
the front, push (or you get a carer to push on the back of the chair for you) and
the chair reclines to an almost zero gravity position – your feet are higher
than your heart and it gives an immediate feeling of lightness and relief. In a
‘zero gravity’ or tilt in space position your muscles are no longer having to
hold your body together against the effects of gravity. Years ago when I was
moderately affected I asked a friend who is a GP why I had more trouble
standing still than walking – I expected her to say it was all in my mind and I
was being ridiculous – but she just smiled as though it was common knowledge
(maybe it is, but as already established the detail of science isn’t a strong
point for me), and said my muscles had to work harder to keep me still than
keep me moving. I have mild hypermobility (my joints don’t hold tight onto
themselves) and my muscles have to work harder to do what the bone/cartilage is
failing to do, so my muscles are working far harder and get more tense than
they need to, and with my lying down so much, they don’t get much movement, so
they aren’t staying strong with resistance as they did when I could move around
back when I was moderately affected. It’s all just so needlessly painful!<br />
<br />
I’m currently saving up for a hospital type bed and a riser/recliner (though
Wheelchair Services have provided me with a tilt in space power chair for which
I’m enormously grateful) and in the meantime, I use my pillows for the
positions in Emily Collingridge’s book, and when I’m up to it, my zero gravity
garden chair to provide relief for my muscles.<br />
<br />
When I combine nose breathing or diaphragmatic breathing with the pillows or
the garden chair, or my power chair, the relief is much longer lasting, and the
change in muscle position and the act of relaxation of those muscles hurts far
less. I also have an enormous collection of strangely shaped pillows and
cushions I’ve bought over the years in a fruitless attempt to replicate proper
supportive adaptive furniture. They do work, but not as well. But my best is
good enough! And so is yours!!!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I also have a pillow each side of my body
in bed whilst I sleep, which I position between my thighs and knees, as I’m a
side sleeper, and restless with it, and it reduces the pain in my hips and legs
whilst asleep and also the following day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">**********************************************************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">All About Rest article parts</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Background HERE</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Part 1 Sleep HERE</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Part 3 Vagal Nerve and Mental Anxiety HERE <br /></span></p>
Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-68104638556434462822022-04-10T05:09:00.000-07:002022-04-10T05:09:02.200-07:00All About Rest - Part 1 - SLEEP (Article written for The 25% ME Group in 2020)<p class="MsoNormal"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span class="3oh-">This year [2020] I hit 52 years old and learned
how to rest. Seriously. Half a century of life and three decades of unexplained
tiredness, that's how long it's taken for someone official in the NHS to find a
viable way that fits in with my capabilities to teach me how my body ought to
be functioning and how it ought to repair itself, and what I can do to help
that process – much of which was not only revelatory, but quite shocking to get
my head around (particularly as whilst I believe in science, I’m not that keen
on knowing the details). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">This summer, because of Covid, my local
ME/CFS NHS Service moved their in-person 10 week (2 hours a week) group
sessions course (usually held at the other end of the County) online. The
Unit’s Clinical Lead Lynsey Woodman (an Occupational Therapist) who has been
visiting me at home for about 2 years, suggested I have a go at joining in. So,
ever up for a challenge, I did.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">What was the major takeaway from this (frankly
increasingly exhausting ) 10 week Zoom commitment for me? Rest (which I find
somewhat ironic given how unbelievably knackered I felt as it went on). More
specifically, recuperative rest. I learned how to rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on the way, much of what I assumed about
healthy bodies work turned out to be, well, less than accurate. As Lynsey told
us, humans are born into these complicated organisms, and there’s no manual, we
have to work it out as we go along. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">You may already know all about recuperative
rest, or may not find it useful, but just in case – let’s talk about rest and
my wholly smashed preconceptions about what makes for useful rest – given we’re
all spending much of our time lying down (and I spend much of my time sleeping),
let’s start with sleep and rest, then we’ll go onto rest whilst awake:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">SLEEP ISN'T RESTFUL </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">This year I learned: that sleep may or may
not be recuperative, but it certainly isn't restful - at least for one's brain,
and potentially for one's body if you have restless legs or muscles that tense
during sleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s broadly two types
of people with sleep troubles – there’s the ‘tired but wired who can’t sleep’,
and there’s the ‘exhausted and can’t stay awake’, and sometimes that flips from
one to the other.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I’m one of the ‘can’t stay awake’-ers - For
decades I’ve been using sleep as a refuge from the woes and boredoms of my life
in the belief that it’s helpful, or, at the very least not harmful. Turns out,
I’ve been wrong for a very long time, not only that, but I've found that my
anti-depressant SSRI (taken because mood and pain feed off each other so it
helps the painkillers work better apparently) makes my sleep even less restful
due to the hallucinatorily vivid dreams I get, which spill over into my waking
hours. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">It turns out that the human body is rather
more structured in its habits than I’d previously imagined. Our bodies and
minds need sleep to function, it's built in downtime (tied to the rhythm of the
day and the night, the sun and the moon) for various chemical reactions to
spark to repair the wear and tear on our bodies of the day and for the brain to
process memories and ideas. When we sleep, how long we sleep for (and arguably how
we think about sleep) can all change those chemical reactions and processes. On
the bright side though, because our bodies have inbuilt flexibility and the
capacity to continue to learn throughout our entire lifetimes, if we find we
are mistaken in our habits, we can change, we can deliberately influence our
bodies (for the better or worse) by the habits we choose (or are forced into). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">All of which sounds great! Our bodies self
heal, I change my habits, I can fix myself? Sounds legit! Not. Because quite
frankly it feels like I’m being told if I tried a bit harder I wouldn’t be ill,
which makes me cross and leads me to be thinking ‘hmmm has she just essentially
told me I’m a feeble hypochondriac who can think myself well?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that’s the question I asked –
politely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope, Lynsey wasn’t telling me
I had made myself unwell, was keeping myself unwell nor that I can fix myself
and hard work and suggesting that gungho British Bulldog fighting Blitz spirit
would get me through. She was telling me that even as debilitated as I am, I
can exercise the little control I do have, to help my body and mind edge closer
to where it would be operating if I didn’t have ME/CFS, a tiny manageable bit
at a time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Forgive me for digressing – but this idea
that I could take control and nudge myself towards health in ways that didn’t
involve meds and side effects was quite beguiling. It also made me think of the
principle of Marginal Gains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>British
Cycling has won loads of medals at the Olympics <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and various Grand Tours by concentrating on
marginal gains – making tiny changes one at a time that eventually (and we’re
talking years here), gave them the edge over their competitors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are at rock bottom, even a tiny
amount of progress, that normal healthy people wouldn’t even notice, that took
blood sweat and tears for months, can be a life changer. And, if they’re tiny
changes that I make one at a time, in my own time, that don’t risk a relapse?
Yeah, I’m up for having a go.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Speaking personally, I’ve always slept a
lot, even before I was unwell, and I have always taken refuge in sleep – if
life is going badly, say I’m in pain, emotionally or physically, or it’s cold
and miserable outside or I feel sad, I sleep so I don’t have to deal with
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also pretty lackadaisical about
when I ‘go to bed’ and when I ‘get up’ (partly because I don’t get to do things
I want to do, never mind things I ought to be doing), so it feels like a
harmless rebellion to choose my own waking hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also find I have cravings for sugar if I’ve
overdone it, and feel sick and leaden, and a nice long siesta sorts that out
for me, which then of course means I feel I need more of a ‘day’ later on and suddenly
I’m asleep in the day and awake at night and it becomes tricky to live what
life I do have because it’s the opposite to carers/family and so on. So, I
think it’s fair to say that whilst I’ve learned about sleep hygiene in the past
(initially on the CBT arm of the PACE Trial back in 2008 when I was moderately
unwell) and understand I ought to do it, I never really understood how much
poor choices about sleep affect the body (healthy or unwell).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also have always associated sleep with
rest, so it was a bit of a shock this summer to find that the body and mind are
hives of activity and that actual recuperative rest is needed on top of sleep
if I want to stabilise my health and possibly even improve a bit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So, with a sense of foreboding and
incompetence (on my side and if you’ve ever met me, on yours as well), let’s
talk about the science of sleep, because this underpins the ideas Lynsey
suggested on the course to try to improve the quality of sleep (and therefore
the quality of being awake also). As I said before, I believe in science, I’m
just not that interested in the details, so forgive me, every single mistake in
this bit is my own…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">WHAT IS SLEEP FOR?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Well, as already mentioned above, it’s not
really for resting! Some of the functions of sleep are:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Energy preservation and
replenishment</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Toxin clearance</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Rebuilding metabolic
pathways</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Memory consolidation</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Tissue repair</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Protection of the body
and mind</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Processing information.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">See! Not remotely restful AT ALL!!!! That
short list (there’s more but those seemed most important to me) makes me tired
just reading it. Years ago on the PACE Trial (2008) I remember them talking
about unrefreshing sleep being a symptom of CFS (they refused to use ME as a
label) and I never quite understood what they meant. Because for me, sleep
doesn’t stop me being unwell, but with enough sleep that heavy carapace of
fluffy leaden clouds feeling that I’m going to pass out if I don’t get some
sleep, that goes. For a time. So in that sense it’s refreshing, I need it, it
helps me want to continue, but in the context of the above list? Yeah, not
refreshing at all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">CLOCKWORK RHYTHM OF LIFE </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Our bodies, in an analogy that’s a bit of a
reach, work like clockwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
biological rhythms throughout the 24 hours that spark chemicals that course
through our bodies to switch various systems on and off. The biological clock
that controls sleep is the Hypothalmus. It regulates the 24 hour circadian
rhythm, which controls, amongst other things:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">When we sleep and wake</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Feelings of tiredness
and alertness</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Intellectual performance</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Memory</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Appetite</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Body temperature</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Activation of the immune
system</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Hormone production and
control.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">So, what I think that tells me is, if I can
improve my quality of sleep I may not have quite so much trouble with my
daytime existence - I may be able to reduce the hot flushes or freezing
jitters, not have sugar cravings, stop looking at my carer like they are aliens
for asking me the simple question ‘would you like a cup of tea?’ and find being
regularly awake in the day and asleep at night easier to sustain. Hmmm, I
wonder if that’s true? And if it is true - how much effort and energy is it
going to take, and for how long, and will I ever be able to feel I can rely on
it (one of the worst things for me about ME/CFS is having learned I can’t rely
on my own body and mind)?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">DISRUPTED DAILY RHYTHMS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Anyway, back to the clock – the clock also
resets the daily cues and signals for the body’s operation, and if those are
lost or disrupted, then the daily rhythms slip and the cues reverse (I think
this is what happens when I sleep in the day then am awake all night, it takes
months to get back to awake in the day and asleep at night, but literally one
or two siestas for it to snap back the wrong way around). And when the cues
reverse? One ends up with:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="3oh-">Poor quality sleep</span>
</li></ul></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">More daily fatigue</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Poor concentration</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Low mood</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Feeling unwell</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Headaches</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Muscle aches</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Reduced appetite </span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="3oh-"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="3oh-">Irregular bowel movement</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">In addition, apparently some studies have
shown that disruptive sleep patterns lead to the body failing to truly relax
muscles and to a higher pain response, to poor vagal nerve tone, over arousal
responses to stress, pain on waking up and low blood pressure. Not only that,
but worrying/anxiety impacts on sleep, as does the menopause – our homeostatic
balance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(progesterone calms and
oestrogen stimulates, and adrenalin balances them) is disrupted which leads,
for example, to nightsweats, amongst other equally charming effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We worry that we sleep too much or not
enough, we tell ourselves stories about sleep, we have unrealistic
expectations, exaggerations, catastrophising, fortune telling, fatalism and
hopelessness, and all that worrying? Takes a lot more energy than being
realistic about what is happening. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">NOW FOR THE HARD BIT…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">All that science above, great! Finding
viable ways to help my body move towards more healthy sleep, well that’s quite
hard. As it turns out, I already knew a bit about healthy sleep, I think we all
do - yeah, sorry, I’ve avoided it so far, but now I’m going to write the
dreaded words – Sleep Hygiene. I’ve heard of it, they taught me about it on the
PACE Trial, Dr Worthley of The ME Trust told me about it, Lynsey has been
telling me about it for nearly 2 years. But it’s only after hearing Lynsey talk
about how my body and mind works that the suggestions of Sleep Hygiene began to
make a bit more sense. You can lead a horse to water and all that…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">IF YOU SLEEP TOO MUCH</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Apparently, your body gets used to it, you
feel an increased need for it, it leads to a loss of the ability to
concentrate, reduces enjoyment and does lead to a deconditioning of one’s
muscles and nervous system. Yes. I know. I hate writing that, it makes me
cross, because, my mind wails, I can’t help it, my body just won’t stay awake!
But science is a thing. So…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">How to change that, how to slowly get to a
place where sleep is mostly at night and one is awake all day? The first steps
are to set up a routine, to set up habits to prepare the mind for sleep and
wakefulness at regular times, to work towards that incrementally. Specifically
for oversleepers – see if you can tolerate daylight, have more light at night,
limit siestas to half an hour (longer than that and we go into a different
level of sleep. From personal experience, waking up half an hour into a siesta
is horribly painful, but persevering is worth it), try and have specific
rest/relaxation times throughout the day instead of siestas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">IF YOU SLEEP TOO LITTLE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Apparently, your body also gets used to it,
there’s no need to panic, there’s other ways to replenish energy and the body
does catch up on deep sleep. It also leads to a loss of the ability to
concentrate, reduces enjoyment and leads to a deconditioning of muscles and the
nervous system. And yes, I hate writing that too, because those of us who
suffer from it, our minds are wailing - but I can’t help it, my body just won’t
go to sleep. Again I say, but science is a thing. So…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">How to change that, how to slowly get to a
place where sleep is mostly at night and one is awake all day not all night?
The first steps are, yeah you guessed it, to set up a routine, to set up habits
to get a consistent block of sleep in one go, to prepare the mind for sleep at
regular times, to work towards that incrementally. Specifically for
undersleepers, set the alarm to wake you at a regular hour and ‘get up’ at that
regular hour, see if you can tolerate daylight, reduce lie-ins, and the same
advice for siestas as with oversleepers and see if amber tinted glasses at
night help.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-"><br />
I’ve tried to distinguish between the over and under sleepers in terms of ideas
on how to regulate sleep, but actually whilst the problem is different, the
solutions are pretty similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve
never been taught about sleep hygiene, then the basics are – your ultimate aim
is to sleep around 8-9 hours a night, falling asleep and waking up at more or
less the same time every day, have routines that prepare/signal your mind and body
for sleep and for your sleeping area to be peaceful and not too hot or too
cold. The NHS (England) website has some standard sleep hygiene advice that you
can adapt to your own circumstances, hopefully you can get someone to find out
about it for you if you can’t do that for yourself. It’s easy to say, oh that’s
what you are aiming for - it’s getting there that’s the hard bit. It takes a
step at a time, a great deal of perseverance and in my experience, a lot of one
step forwards, two steps back!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">EAT YOUR ELEPHANT A BITE AT A TIME!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">I think it’s appropriate at this point to
say that it’s important to PICK ONE TINY THING TO CHANGE. And change ONLY that
thing, nothing else, and take it slowly. After all, if we’re bedbound and
beyond exhausted, one thing we do have in abundance is time. Just change one
thing, keep at it for at least a month, keep going and eventually, it’ll stick.
It takes weeks if not months to see any changes and possibly years for a change
to stick. This is a marathon not a sprint!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">********************************************************************************** <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">All Parts of Article:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Background HERE</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Part 2 HERE</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="3oh-">Part 3 HERE<br /></span></p>
Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-89685045508292961102022-04-10T04:54:00.004-07:002022-06-01T04:58:20.079-07:00All about REST - article in 3 parts written for the 25% ME Group - Background<p> Well, it's been a while since I posted! I got all excited during the first Covid lockdown, when all my healthy friends were bemoaning all the extra time they had to fill, and I deluded myself that my life would also have lots of newly spare time. Yeah right! What I took a week to realise was that Covid Lockdown No 1 in the UK, whilst unbearably restrictive for normal people, was actually at least double, if not triple or quadruple what I am capable of doing. Pfft! Turns out even a now moderately severe ME/CFS person is significantly more restricted by their illness than what the whole of the UK, in a sweeping generalisation, saw as restrictions they never want to be under again, but for me, represented unimaginable freedoms. Who knew! Yeah, turns out self awareness of my own abilities is significantly weaker then I thought, this may explain why I strand myself so often amongst half done stuff. Anyway, it turned out I didn't have any extra spare time, so my intentions of daily posting hit the buffers before they got underway.</p><p>Nevertheless, I was asked to write something for The 25% Group charity newsletter, and as during that initial first Covid lockdown period I was given the opportunity to join a group 10 week course run by the local ME/CFS Unit, that I'd never ordinarily have been able to attend in person, thanks to the Lockdown, it was on Zoom, and magically my world opened out in unimaginable ways, being able to do stuff I couldn't usually, that's what I wrote about - under the umbrella of REST.</p><p>The course itself was run by the head of the ME/CFS unit in Lincolnshire, Lynsey Woodman. She'd been making home visits to me, initially I think every month or other month or quarterly (can't remember) to help me try and stabilise after the move, and then via Zoom. And then she talked about the 10 week (10 module) course, and I nearly bit her hand off accepting a place on it. </p><p>It covered a wide range of topics, and since the course, I've been taking one Module at a time, the first was Sleep, trying to put it into practice properly before moving onto the next. I'm currently on the second Module - Energy. Yeah what can I say, a year per Module? Why not, it's not like I've got anything better to do...</p><p>Anyway the Article - ALL ABOUT REST - was written shortly after the course and drew together the strands from the whole course that fed into resting. </p><p>Why did I write about this? Because it's something that's frowned on in our society, most of us have no idea how to do it, and it's a key skill for managing fatigue and our bodies are built to need it.</p><p>Part 1 - <a href="https://copingbadly.blogspot.com/2022/04/all-about-rest-part-1-sleep-article.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p>Part 2 - <a href="https://copingbadly.blogspot.com/2022/04/all-about-rest-part-2-breathing-and.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p>Part 3 - <a href="https://copingbadly.blogspot.com/2022/04/all-about-rest-part-3-vagal-nerve-tone.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p>If I was brighter, I'd know how to format them to be easy to print. I'm not. Apologies, one day I will work it out. But not this day.</p><p><b>THE 25% ME GROUP <a href="https://25megroup.org/" target="_blank">https://25megroup.org/</a></b></p><p><b>From their About Us page: </b></p><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-d418854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-element_type="widget" data-id="d418854" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
<div class="elementor-widget-container">
<div class="elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix">
<p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">About the 25% M.E. Group</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">There
are approximately 200,000 people in the UK who suffer from M.E. Some do
recover. However, approximately 25% of sufferers remain long term ill
and severely disabled by the disease. Many are left isolated, housebound
or even bedbound by the effects of the illness. It affects people from
all walks of life, all age groups and can strike when you are least
expecting it.</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The
25% M.E. Group exists to support all who have the severe form of M.E.
and those who care for them. This includes people who are housebound,
bedbound and wheelchair users.</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">At present there is no other organisation concerned specifically with the needs of the severely affected.</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">This website is devoted to providing support to this group.</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The
25% M.E. Group is a unique nationwide community based voluntary group.
We have two paid members of staff and a number of volunteers – most of
whom have M.E. We provide a range of services to people affected by
severe M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis).</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Because
of the intensity of the symptoms and disabilities experienced by severe
M.E. sufferers we seek to alleviate the isolation which having this
illness can cause. The 25% ME Group encourages: communication between
members; participation in the Group at a number of levels; assistance
with articles and information for the newsletter etc. These are just
some of the initiatives employed by the group.</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Services We Offer</b></span></p><ul><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Twice Yearly Newsletter</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Group Library</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Practical and Emotional Support</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Advocacy</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Welfare Advice and Assistance</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Listening Ear Helpline</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Various Fund Raising Initiatives</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Special Interest Groups organised by members themselves</span></p></li></ul> </div>
</div>
</div><p><b> </b></p><p><br /></p>Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-47209472980658774362020-03-21T14:48:00.002-07:002020-03-21T14:50:05.965-07:00Staying Home for Coronavirus 4 - Feed your mind for free - download someone else's words into your brain and take a break from this realityI think we're all well aware by now that panic buying has stripped the shelves of food globally, and the supply chains are struggling to catch up. In the immortal words of the CEO of the retail food association at today's press conference at No 10 Downing Street - and here I paraphrase - it's time to start eating your hoard. She was talking about food, I'm talking about books! And not just your own hoard of books you've read so often they're falling apart, you've always intended to read or were seduced into buying or borrowing because someone else said how brilliant they were. Trollope's Barchester Chronicles anyone? (I keep starting it but never finish).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFnUB5_VdA7qCKaIvHqsxppCm2rSj0pf_c1eWb7EWeBigE1cV_mEPfXtx826YbF1duXsmW6aomxFQ5kGH5ccEVl369gZbtthDJRKS22FS34QJHQcec4Crbk3WsCzDlxLepvdos1f2K6M/s1600/pileofbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="835" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFnUB5_VdA7qCKaIvHqsxppCm2rSj0pf_c1eWb7EWeBigE1cV_mEPfXtx826YbF1duXsmW6aomxFQ5kGH5ccEVl369gZbtthDJRKS22FS34QJHQcec4Crbk3WsCzDlxLepvdos1f2K6M/s320/pileofbooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hoard of books - loved to tatters? always intended to read?</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>When I got seriously unwell in 2013 it was crunchtime. For years before I got even mildly or moderately unwell, I used to use exercise to relieve stress, then as my health declined and I couldn't do that anymore, I used books. Then one horrific day in spring 2013 I realised that I could either hold the pages open or read, but I couldn't do both. Shortly after that I realised I couldn't actually concentrate on a new story, I could only follow one I already knew and found even the simplest audiobooks beyond me. Fortunately over the years, my brain has returned (mostly) and I can now read ebooks and also listen to audiobooks. However, the intervening years being sustained by the welfare state has meant I've had to ferret out free (and legal cos I'm law abiding at heart) ways to read (when I say read, I mean actual words on a page or screen and words that are spoken - basically someone else's words being downloaded into my head by ears or eyes isn't any different really).<br />
<br />
So. I thought I'd share some of those resources. Why? Well because when your whole world is turned upside down and you feel like someone has thrown you into a cement mixer and won't let you out - immersing yourself in someone else's words to the extent that reality recedes for a while is a very very healthy safety valve for one's mind and emotions. And also, after you've finished the book, it's in your head so you can think about bits of it for a while instead of facing yet more horrible reality without needing to download a new one into your brain.<br />
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<b>Your Local Public Library</b><br />
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I adore libraries! I have happy memories of school libraries, college libraries, members libraries, and friends book collections that I have used and borrowed over the years - but above all I have an abiding love of the public library.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Our library here in Gainsborough is a Carnegie Library - there are so many throughout the world. Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish American businessman turned philanthropist (the Bill Gates/Warren Buffet of his day I suppose) in the early 20th century who funded the construction of libraries on condition that the local authorities committed to funding their continued use. He was ruthless in business, started from nothing and ended up a steel magnate, with a heart for providing others with access to knowledge that if they cared to use it, could help them progress in life. As buildings they are light and airy in that Victorian/Edwardian way of public buildings with a distinct wish for natural daylight (horrible to heat and maintain I understand) but functional. Each one had a toilet. Everyone could use it when it was open, and people who could prove their address (for chasing up unreturned books) could borrow books for free (as opposed to the earlier tradition of subscription libraries and institutes restricted to particular trades or occupation). And many still in use globally even now. A decent article on Carnegie Libraries is here <a href="https://www.npr.org/2013/08/01/207272849/how-andrew-carnegie-turned-his-fortune-into-a-library-legacy">https://www.npr.org/2013/08/01/207272849/how-andrew-carnegie-turned-his-fortune-into-a-library-legacy</a> a quick google provides other interesting ones covering different aspects too.<br />
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These days Libraries aren't just fiction, non fiction, reference and local newspapers and periodicals - although they still offer those services - for the moment in the UK Public Libraries remain open, and you can borrow up to 20 books at a time from some of them. You can also use the catalogue (available online from your home) to order books in stock from other libraries in your county/area for free to pick up from your closest library. They also have DVDs and Audiobooks and Music/CDs.<br />
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Crucially they are ALSO increasingly offering services online for members in their homes - such as ebooks, audiobooks and magazines. The offerings have gone from mere 10s of titles to now hundreds, mostly relatively new titles.<br />
<br />
Our local library for example offers (as part of Lincolnshire Libraries) all accessible from my laptop, tablet or phone:<br />
<ul>
<li>2 different sites for borrowing ebooks. One allows you 10 books for up to 21 days, the other I think 3 books.</li>
<li>audiobooks</li>
<li>freegal - which apparently contains 15million songs (not that I've ever tried it) and last but not least</li>
<li>magazines - nearly 100 different ones ranging from men's health to women's gossip to crafts to photography to current affairs to interior design.</li>
</ul>
And what is required to access this largesse for free? A library card and a PIN number issued by the library in return for showing them some photo ID and evidence of your address in their catchment area.<br />
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Given this Coronavirus is going to be going on for months and months in waves, frankly, I suggest nipping down to the local library as soon as you can to sign up for whatever your county offers. They may not be geared up to issue library cards remotely in the event of the closure of libraries.<br />
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<b>Project Gutenberg - out of copyright ebooks</b><br />
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For the law abiding, be aware that these books are out of copyright in the USA, which doesn't mean they are in your country so it's up to you to check you aren't breaking the law.<br />
<br />
Project Gutenberg has over 60,000 ebooks covering an astonishing range of subjects, mostly in english but also in other languages. They are available for download in a variety of formats including epub and kindle for download as well as being readable in your browser. <br />
<br />
Find it here - <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/">https://www.gutenberg.org/</a><br />
<br />
What is Project Gutenberg? It was founded in 1971 - and is the oldest digital library - by the writer Michael S Hart, public domain books are digitised by volunteers to a high standard (often with fewer annoying typos and errors than ebooks you pay for on Amazon I've noticed). Many libraries and collections all over the world are actively working with Project Gutenberg to digitise their collections of the written word.<br />
<b><br /></b>
If you are interested in the idea of getting involved in proofreading as a volunteer activity, Distributed Proofreaders who provide most of the books to Project Gutenberg would love to have you. There's no commitment - you register and do a page at a time at your convenience. I do it, it's really fulfilling and there's a great community in the forums. You can also Smooth Read the books that have been created by volunteers before they are released to Project Gutenberg if proofreading isn't your thing. Find it here - <a href="https://www.pgdp.net/">https://www.pgdp.net</a><br />
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<b>Librivox - out of copyright audiobooks</b><br />
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I've never actually used this site, but it's a separate but complimentary site to Project Gutenberg, being volunteer read public domain audiobooks downloadable for free.<br />
<br />
<b>Archive.org - millions of books, films, music, software websites</b><br />
<br />
Not everything on archive.org is public domain, so be careful if you are law abiding.<br />
<br />
That said, many libraries who are providing public domain books for digitisation to Project Gutenberg/ Distributed Proofreaders have scanned/photographed copies of their book collections on here, as well as user provided titles. An astonishingly wide range of material.<br />
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<b>You Tube</b> - <b>audiobooks</b><br />
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Yes there's audiobooks on you tube, full books and exerpts. Some of variable quality, nevertheless they are free and exist.<br />
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<b>Audible and Kindle</b> - <b>free ebooks/audiobooks and sample chapters/novellas</b><br />
<br />
I've been surprised by the range of free material on Audible and Kindle. Sometimes merely for a week or so, sometimes for longer.<br />
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Finally, various publishers do offer free ebooks/audiobooks as part of their marketing campaigns. Twitter and Facebook and Reddit (either ads or other promotions or just word of mouth) are good places to find out about what's on offer.<br />
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I hope that's given you something to get your teeth into. Personally I find losing myself in a book is one very very good way to pass what sometimes seem like endless hours of the day, in an unrelieved stream of days that quickly become indistinguisable from each other without the routine of work or going outside to punctuate it.<br />
<br />
Happy Reading!<br />
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<br />Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-58503629180137880242020-03-21T01:57:00.001-07:002020-03-21T01:57:38.856-07:00Staying Home For Coronavirus 3 - Part One - The Great Toilet Paper Shortage and How to Make DoOk so, first, an apology. I had errands to do yesterday before I and my parents 'shield' ourselves in our respective houses, and as I have the underlying health condition that eats my energy, blogging had to fall by the wayside. So it may be that I won't be very regular with posts, my best will have to be good enough, but still I apologise for being flaky. I can't do anything about it, so we all have to live with it.<br />
<br />
Now onto today's post - the Great Loo Paper Shortage and what to do about it. Sigh. Frankly we shouldn't even be having one. If everyone just bought the NORMAL amount of goods they usually buy, the supply chain can cope. Now people have panic bought and continue to do so, the shops are going to have to squeeze on the rationing of what can be bought so the supply chain can catch up, but that's a whole other blog post!<br />
<br />
So onto personal hygiene. Today I managed to find a picture to erm, brighten up the post. It's a sex worker using a bidet after a client. It's also a print so it's in black and white. It is however a picture. So, no complaining!...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb3X3g0YPnWBjyH70_1AiA0jsN_KO4FyuUwlEyEN9KEL6dpByioyjaIZB5_aDEFqqvXjql_mTioWcMvDEfRagF7THZjHdDWp6UHCOjMNDix8NuKnT23jXO4OWm9ZTmBs-RMVO6hXIqcY/s1600/degasbidet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="884" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb3X3g0YPnWBjyH70_1AiA0jsN_KO4FyuUwlEyEN9KEL6dpByioyjaIZB5_aDEFqqvXjql_mTioWcMvDEfRagF7THZjHdDWp6UHCOjMNDix8NuKnT23jXO4OWm9ZTmBs-RMVO6hXIqcY/s320/degasbidet.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edgar Degas - Le Bidet - from Mimes de Courtesanes de Lucien book in the <a href="https://artsearch.nga.gov.au/detail.cfm?irn=255477" target="_blank">National Gallery of Australia</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ok. So. Let's talk Sewers and safe waste disposal and safe water supplies (I know that many places in the world don't have these even in the developed world, Flint for example in the USA has very unsafe drinking water but I'm in the UK and we do).<br />
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<b>A brief History of Sewers</b> - the earliest known sewers seem to have been around 2,500BC (that's 4,500 years ago) in what is now Iraq at Eshunna. Many of those 'fertile crescent' countries were far more advanced that the West was even a hundred years ago in terms of public health and hygiene provision (of course many also won't have been). The Minoans (current Crete), Persians (Iran), Athenians, Macedonians, and Greeks (Greece & Turkey area), and the Indus Valley (Pakistan) also had some form of closed sewer that were significantly more sophisticated than what followed with future civillisations/empires for thousands of years. The Romans had the Cloaca Maxima, an open sewer system that also eventually had cesspools.<br /><br />Then the Western Roman empire fell (Romans marched out and abandoned the UK in around 400AD ish) whilst the Eastern Empire carried on, morphing into the Ottoman Empire which existed virtually in living memory, and, for some reason which escapes me, Christian Europe during the Dark Ages that followed, decided that filthy was the way forwards. (I doubt it was a concious decision, I suspect everyone was struggling to survive and people died so often that new ideas didn't have a chance to be passed on, in modern African countries plagued by HIV and AIDs for example, if the population can't read, knowledge is lost and hand to mouth living does not allow for the luxury of time spent thinking and fiddling with innovation).<br />
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<b>A brief History of waterborne diseases</b> - and what happened during the period of poor sanitation? Death and disease. Cholera, dysentry and typhoid epidemics amongst others as well as the Black Death (fleas on rats feasting on readily available waste). And very very smelly and unhealthy towns! The Crusaders (11th & 12th centuries) rampaging around the Near East (Israel, Baltic states, Jordan, Palestine etc) rediscovered the joys of sanitation and cleanliness, and slowly the West began to adopt primitive plumbing. <br /><br />Then came the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment - cities began to fill up and sprawl, disease and poverty was rife, and then in the 1850s action finally began to be taken in London.<br /><br />Being cynical I'd say that humans tend to not worry about consequences to other people, only consequences that affect themselves (a prime example of this is why I'm writing this post in the first place - panic buying of toilet paper/loo roll. Seriously guys? sheesh!) This is not new.<br />
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London 1850s, the ancient Palace of Westminster burned down and the great and the good decided they needed to spend public money on an overly complicated and expensive new seat of power - Pugin's Houses of Parliament. Which they placed right next to the Thames. Seriously, it's so close you could fall in if you unwarily leaned out of the window!<br /><br />And at the time the Thames wasn't so much a river as an increasingly slow moving open sewer. And in the summer of 1858 two weeks of exceptionally hot weather and suddenly the whole city was suffering from the Great Stink. In particular, the politicians in Westminster were specifically suffering the conditions the working classes/poor people had been living in for years. And cholera took hold as the sheer volume of cesspits and flushable loos was infecting the water table with effluent and poisoning the drinking water from shallow wells and the river. Action had to be taken!<br /><br />So Joseph Bazalgette was commissioned to create sewers to remove the Great Stink and reduce the typhoid and cholera risk in London, which eventually happened.<br /><br />If you're interested in this sort of history, here's 2 articles that are an entertaining read<br />
Open University <a href="https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/engineering-technology/how-london-got-its-victorian-sewers#">https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/engineering-technology/how-london-got-its-victorian-sewers#</a><br />
Grey Water Action <a href="https://greywateraction.org/history-sewers/" target="_blank">https://greywateraction.org/history-sewers/ </a><br />
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<br />
All well and good - but why are we digressing into history like this? Well, at times when what we usually use isn't available, humans can be a bit well, careless with what they do next.<br />
<br />
The point is that the sewers are OLD. They are NOT set up to deal with the plastics and strong materials we commonly use in modern life.<br />
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<b>Let's talk Fatbergs!</b><br />
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What are Fatbergs? Well they're a mass made up of anything and everything that people put down the toilet or into the system (say down the kitchen sink if your pipes lead into the sewers rather than surface water drainage (an external drainpipe into a soakaway).<br /><br />The Museum of London who have a fascinating article about Fatbergs which is they actually have as an exhibit say they're made of this -<br />
<br />
"cooking fat, condoms, needles, wet wipes, and of course human waste.
"<br />
<br />
Museum of London Fatberg Article <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-51980820" target="_blank">https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/exhibiting-fatberg-monster-whitechapel </a><br />
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And the relevance now? Well, if people can't use Loo Roll, they're going to start using kitchen towel, newspaper, wet wipes etc and most of us feel a bit weird about what to do with these supposedly disposable items covered in human waste, and it feels right to put them down the loo. But it's not. It's not right at all.<br /><br /><b>What's my biggest fear in this Pandemic?</b><br />
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It's not the coronavirus. It's that people will clog up the sewers and break them, leading to additional work for Water Companies who may run out of people to fix them - that sewage is backed up into houses, an inability to use our toilets and an enormous public health hazard of both increased coronavirus (as way more is shed into faeces that with normal flu - can't find the back up for that right now, but will locate it and add it) but also an enormous variety of transmissible diseases not seen in the UK in any great number since we got our public health system of sewers and clean water.<br /><br />What's worse is, that often blockages happen on your own property, overflowing not into the street or soaking into the surrounding soil, but backing up into YOUR house. Frankly that's not an experience I'd fancy myself!<br /><br />Today there's articles on it - so I started this 3 days ago thinking I was ahead of the curve, but no, the curve beat me to it! The BBC here <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-51980820">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-51980820</a><br /><br />So today's message is STOP! THINK! Don't put anything other than wee, poo and actual toilet paper down the loo. Be responsible for everyone's sake and don't break our sewers! If you aren't sure what can be put down and what can't, google is your friend! Search for information about what can be put into a septic tank - because they're fragile creatures and need more care than our main sewer system, so if you want to be super safe, treat your loo as though it runs into a septic tank. If you are feeling a bit more sanguine, just stick to ONLY wee, poo and loo roll.<br /><br />The next post in my series on the Great Toilet Paper shortage (probably Monday) is about suggestions of alternatives to loo roll, and how to handle those safely so there's no risk (or smell) in your house.<br /><br />In the meantime, the short version is - Put your disposable poo or wee stained alternatives into a plastic rubbish bag lined bin like they do in many other countries (you may have come across this on holiday), and tie it up, keep it in the house for 72 hours to allow any viruses to die, then put it in the household kerbside bin. Why 72 hours? because that's what is advised for carers who use non flushable items with incontinent disabled people as a matter of course.<br /><br />Please be careful! Please follow the advice of your Government. I know we all feel a bit silly self isolating or social distancing when noone is obviously unwell - and that is the issue, people can spread Coronavirus before they are showing symptoms - it's not silly, it's literally a matter of life and death if not for us individually, but for those a few degrees of separation away.<br />
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<br />Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-23045799161697855952020-03-18T08:32:00.000-07:002020-03-18T08:32:38.753-07:00Staying Home for Coronavirus Day 2 - The World Outside by WebcamI've been having a think, I don't really want to have the heading as Coronavirus, cos I'm hoping it'll pass me by - so now this series will be called Staying Home. for Coronavirus.<br />
<br />
Also news moves so fast that there's all sorts of things I want to find out and talk about. But I have limited energy - after all, I'm merely carrying on the life I have had for the last 6 years, housebound is my normal - so I need to have a plan... And my plan is, on Odd Days (ie Day 1, 3, 5 etc) the post will be practical about things to do to make life safer and more bearable, and Even Days (ie Day 2, 4, 6 etc) the post will be about finding the good things in life, relaxing, taking time to live in the present and be content with the 'right now' moment in time.<br />
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And today - it's Day 2 - so it's an even day. It's something that's a bit fun, relaxing and takes your mind off one's worries.<br />
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<b>Day 2 - The World Outside by Webcam</b><br />
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Back when I first got severely unwell, I lost the ability to climb stairs, walk, hold my own body and head up and also, crucially, to read or watch TV etc. I just couldn't concentrate. That's improved since, but I do find that I frequently do need to just chill out and relax but at the same time, have something simple to occupy my mind.<br />
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Back in 2013 at my worst, and my sister had to take my cat because I wasn't well enough to look after him, and the flat felt like a sealed tomb with not even dust moving around, (seriously sometimes it's so quiet you can hear your own heartbeat, and if nothing is moving, including yourself, an open window and a breeze through the curtains and faint noises from outside really do help), someone suggested I watched kittens grow up online.<br />
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Pfft said I no-one's going to do something like that and anyway, I can't do moving pictures any more. But I tried it and fell in love! Turns out that actually people DO this, 24/7. And that's how I discovered the world of webcams!<br />
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Here are my top three webcams that I watch quite a lot. You probably have your own, share them in the comments so we can all have a look, and as ever, google is your friend!<br />
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1. <b>The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee USA</b><br />
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They have 4 webcams, set up high and you just watch the elephants wandering around being elephants. It's a very calm and gentle set of webcams, as not much happens!<br />
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<b>Find them here: <a href="https://www.elephants.com/elecam">https://www.elephants.com/elecam</a> </b><br />
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The Sanctuary was formed on 110 (now 2.7k) acres in 1995 and is essentially a retirement home for performing elephants from circuses, and also elephants from zoos. Their website is really informative and you really get a feel for each individual animal.<br />
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2. <b>African Waterholes</b><br />
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My favourite is the one at Mpala in Kenya - mostly because there's hippo - and hippo don't do much except feed and argue with each other. At the moment there's young ones flexing their muscles at each other which is entertaining.<br />
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<b>Find them here: <a href="https://www.mpalalive.org/live_cam/wateringhole">https://www.mpalalive.org/live_cam/wateringhole</a></b><br />
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I also have this 2017 article bookmarked - with wildlife webcams that are worth checking out. Most are still in existence. I particularly like the live safari streams by rangers.<br />
<b>More wildlife cams article: <a href="https://blog.rhinoafrica.com/2017/08/22/5-best-live-cams-african-wild/">https://blog.rhinoafrica.com/2017/08/22/5-best-live-cams-african-wild/</a></b><br />
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<b>3. Kitten cams</b><br />
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And last but not least, Kitten cams (puppy cams and other bird etc cams are available, I just like kittens!) There's lots of different cams available, just google and see what you find! Many of them have Facebook Pages too.<br />
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One of the things I like about these is there's a chat community alongside the webcam, regulars watch and make sure if anything happens that the cam owner can come and deal with it. Of course, as these Queens and their litters are rescue cats, sometimes the kittens don't survive, or they're unwell etc.<br />
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Obviously there's not always litters of kittens available but The Critter Room is currently running a very long video of highlights of previous litters.<br />
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<b>Critter Room on YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEmawBJsPLgttggzm4Z45Mw">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEmawBJsPLgttggzm4Z45Mw</a></b><br />
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<b> </b>I know I said three, but I'd like to give an honourable mention to:<br />
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<b>The Donkey Sanctuary</b> as I particularly like watching the Barn cam when I can't sleep, they're so calm! <a href="https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/webcam1">https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/webcam1</a><br />
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<b>The International Space Station</b> internal views when the staff are on duty, external views when they aren't, it helps put my troubles in context! <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/iss_ustream.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/iss_ustream.html </a><br />
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Yeah I know it would be a more exciting blogpost with pictures, but I'm quite tired today. This is a marathon not a sprint, so, click the links, LOADS of pictures there, moving ones too!<br />
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Tomorrow - Day 3, odd day so a practical topic - I shall be exploring viable alternatives to loo roll (given the global difficulties of getting hold of it due to supply chain deficiencies in the face of panic buying).<br />
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<b> </b> Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-35367834585732693982020-03-17T07:37:00.001-07:002020-03-17T07:37:23.083-07:00Coronavirus - Daily Posts Planned - Day 1 Sunshine and Fresh AirHi, I know it's been a very long time since I last posted. I've been wombling around in life doing other things, like having a tooth abcess and extraction and cat bite induced blood poisoning and recovering; builders in taking walls down and putting in a ramp courtesty of the welfare state (thankyou the local council and all who pay their council tax, this has made an enormous difference to me being able to stabilise my energy levels and obtaining some quality of life); getting a bit stronger through taking betablockers (originally for anxiety for the dentist, who knew they'd help my symptoms!); just living my life... <br />
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Anyway, the point is, it was all going swimmingly, then Coronavirus Covid-19 loomed and Boris Johnson said ok now is the time for Oldies, the Pregnant, and People with Underlying Conditions to STAY HOME all the time, and for everyone else to stay home unless they absolutely have to leave it, for work or food shopping etc and for ALL of us to stay a reasonable distance from each other.<br />
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Which, for people like me, for whom staying home has been an unwelcome but eventually sustainable way of life for years, is an ideal opportunity for us to help everyone else, for whom it will be a far less sustainable shock, to volunteer to help them a bit. Cos let's face it, we can't actually help people in a physical way by doing shopping or whatever.<br />
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So. Every day, I'm going to come up with something to do or think about or change in one's life to help make it all a bit more bearable for those unused to such tedium and restriction.<br />
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Note - Words in underlined <u>CAPITALS</u> in the text are links to interesting articles on the internet that explain more about that idea. Keeping your mind busy when you're stuck at home keeps boredom away! Also it means you can check for yourself whether or not you think what I'm saying is sensible.<br />
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<b>Day 1 - Using Nature as a Disinfectant - Sunshine and Fresh Air - Let them into your house!</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4Bm4S6Ea0JNyB0tIEE-mIkevrmVFpVVtmQoAJCLB4WZl2-un-GT-5s6zBCwIo9gSDJnvvHoUpebx0UqZAqNsznpvoiO3oCVi3Qv3M4q3fX7DYmUYwerHB1pLvno64jgxtINE5I2K5rA/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4Bm4S6Ea0JNyB0tIEE-mIkevrmVFpVVtmQoAJCLB4WZl2-un-GT-5s6zBCwIo9gSDJnvvHoUpebx0UqZAqNsznpvoiO3oCVi3Qv3M4q3fX7DYmUYwerHB1pLvno64jgxtINE5I2K5rA/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Sister's Dogs - Bill and Ben on Alnmouth Beach, Northumberland</td></tr>
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Back in the days before antibiotics, in the days of <a href="https://remedianetwork.net/2014/11/07/locating-convalescence-in-victorian-england/" target="_blank">CONVALESCENT HOMES</a>, medics had to use what was available to try and help patients recover. And thanks to the legacy of the <a href="https://www.bl.uk/restoration-18th-century-literature/articles/the-enlightenment" target="_blank">ENLIGHTENMENT</a>, they studied the effects of what they tried, and recorded the results.<br />
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They realised that sunshine, fresh air, and a good diet of nutritional food really helped people get better from illnesses and injuries. Crucially though, they also found that these things also reduced the likelihood of people being ill in the first place. George Godwin (the editor of the Builder Magazine) and Florence Nightingale were instrumental in the redesign of <a href="https://kingscollections.org/exhibitions/specialcollections/nightingale-and-hospital-design/florence-nightingale-and-hospital-design" target="_blank">HOSPITALS</a> in the 19th century in this respect.<br />
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As a result, Hospitals and Convalescent Homes and Schools were built with high ceilings and windows, to allow a good flow of fresh air, and natural light, patients were carried out into the fresh air daily onto balconies or terraces (regardless of the weather) and encouraged to amble around in parklike gardens to strengthen/maintain their stamina.<br />
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Then, there were the horrors of the First World War. Hundreds of thousands of men were wounded, maimed and disfigured, too many for the hospitals, and needed long recuperation times. Hotels and large houses were pressed into service as places for recovery and treatment, but at times there were too many wounded and tent hospitals were used not only behind the lines for treatment but also for recovery and it was found that recovery was quicker for those who had access to outside (as in, their beds were taken outside in all weathers regardless - seems a bit mean these days, but those doctors and nurses weren't into giving people choices, they decided what was good for you and that was that.) <br />
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Then came the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918 - it ripped through global populations both at war and civillians at home, the extent and rapidity of the spread was hidden by the War as news was carefully controlled as part of the offense. Spain wasn't at war so didn't hide the effects, and naturally people assumed that's where it came from, because that's where the news they had about it came from.<br />
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The USA CDC has an interesting article about the Spanish Flu epidemic and it notes this -<br />
"With no vaccine to protect against influenza infection and no
antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections that can be
associated with influenza infections, control efforts worldwide were
limited to <a href="https://wcms-wp.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/index.html">non-pharmaceutical interventions</a> such
as isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants,
and limitations of public gatherings, which were applied unevenly." <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html" target="_blank">ARTICLE HERE</a><br />
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Is that ringing any bells? It is for me... But I digress, back to sunshine and fresh air:<br />
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Science marches on, and a few years ago a couple of studies were done on the effect on sunshine on the built environment aka our houses and germs.<br />
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This article from <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/10/18/658335490/grandma-was-right-sunshine-helps-kill-germs-indoors?t=1584450090643" target="_blank">NPR</a> explains in easy terms what the research did and found - The University of Oregan set up a series of doll house sized rooms, made them dusty from dust collected from actual houses, used domestic glass and used natural sunlight, UV light and total darkness. Then, after 90 days, they tested the dust. Rooms exposed to daylight had fewer germs. The UV light rooms had only slightly fewer germs than the sunlight ones. The ones kept in the dark? they had nearly twice as many germs as the daylight rooms. The lesson from that? open the curtains and let the daylight in!<br />
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In addition, and this is pretty important in the context of the current Coronavirus pandemic, "Some of the human-associated bacteria species that didn't survive in the
lighted rooms are from a family of bacteria known to cause <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4894335/">respiratory disease</a>." And what do I keep hearing about the need for ICU in the severely affected by Covid-19? that it is a respiratory disease. I'm no scientist, but it seems sensible for those most at risk of being severely affected by the Coronavirus to minimise their risk of respiratory problems.<br />
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Here's the link to the actual Research on dusty rooms in <a href="https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-018-0559-4" target="_blank">MICROBIOME JOURNAL </a> <br />
And to another study on <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4894335/" target="_blank">LUNGS AND RESPIRATORY DISEASE</a> that was in the CDC article above <br />
And another study about the effect of sunshine on <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25167689" target="_blank">USED SOCKS</a> (which I think was a link in the CDC article as well but so many tabs were open, who knows, but the used socks aspect made me smile and a bit of light relief is needed these days).<br />
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The other benefit of sunshine is that it's how our bodies get Vitamin D - we synthesise it from sunshine. One of the major dangers to housebound people (ie those of us now shielding ourselves or self isolating) is lack of Vitamin D. As a bare minimum one needs to have an uncovered head outside for 10mins a day to maintain healthy levels of Vitamin D. If you are long term housebound, I'd imagine you already have a prescription for Vitamin D. A year ago the lead doctor in the UK recommended everyone takes a Vitamin D supplement, but I don't want to encourage panic buying - so, Vitamin D is free, and easy and doesn't take much time - just 10mins of sunshine on your head every day (not through glass but sticking your head out of an open window has the same effect). Here's the <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/the-new-guidelines-on-vitamin-d-what-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank">NHS ARTICLE </a>on how much Vitamin D is required by people regularly out and about.<br />
And here is <a href="https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/healthy-eating/vitamins-for-older-people/" target="_blank">AGE UK</a>'s take on Vitamins for the elderly (most of whom aren't regularly out and about) to give you an idea of how much Vitamin D is needed (and what dose to stay under).<br />
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And why fresh air? Ah well, here I fail you. I read a couple of articles last week about why free flow of fresh air is healthy and keeps illness at a minimum, but then my computer slowed, I cleared my history and cookies and can't find them. I'll keep looking and eventually will talk about it... sorry!<br />
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<b>Sensible measures</b> (not necessarily easy measures) t<b>o minimise risk of putting one's lungs under strain</b> occur to me (not an exhaustive list, please comment and add your own):<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Check your prescription meds </b>- how long since you last read the leaflet that comes in every pack? Are you actually taking them at the right time of day? In the right way? Avoiding certain foods or alcohol (for example) that stops them working? Are you using your preventative Asthma inhaler for example?<br /></li>
<li> <b>Stop smoking</b> - there's loads, and I mean tonnes, of information on the web about how one's lungs take time to recover from smoking. There's increasing evidence that Vaping also hurts one's lungs. This Covid-19 is killing people with respiratory issues, people with lung deficiencies, for some people, the damage to their lungs can be reversed, without medical intervention - by changing habits and stopping smoking. <br /></li>
<li><b>Lose or Gain Weight</b> <b>to achieve a healthy BMI </b>- Speaking as an obese person myself (and this is the one I'm concentrating on myself,) the further away you are from a healthy weight (yes I know BMI can be inaccurate but it's a reasonable ballpark to aim for), the more likely it is that your body is going to struggle when illness strikes. Our bodies are already under strain, again we can reverse that without medical intervention - by changing habits and stopping eating so much/so little (as appropriate) to start getting closer to a healthy weight. (This isn't fat shaming or thin shaming, this is science, there's higher health risks for people who aren't approaching a healthy BMI - if you are able to make changes, start making them).<br /></li>
<li><b>Wash your hands properly and don't touch your face</b> - the virus can't infect you if it doesn't make it into your body. Basic steps for hygiene are the best protection we all have. Soap contains lipids (fats), they destroy the outer layer of the virus making it unable to do it's job. It really is that simple for those of us who aren't actually in the front line dealing with people who are infected.<br /></li>
<li><b>Let sunlight and fresh air into your home -</b> fewer bacteria and fresh air sanitises the environment and helps keep us healthy. As above.<br /></li>
<li><b>Eat a properly balanced diet </b>- again there's loads, tonnes, of reliable information on the internet - the NHS in the UK for example - we need protein (meat or vegetables), carbohydrates, fats, fibre and vitamins. We don't need sugar.<br /></li>
<li><b>Beware False Advice</b> - use reliable sources for information - government websites, national health agencies, international health agencies - rely on the science. Now I'm no scientist, but I promise to do the best I can to give you links to the actual science I'm basing my posts on, so you can decide for yourselves.</li>
</ol>
I hope you've enjoyed reading this, please feel free to comment. BE AWARE I will NOT tolerate people being rude, dismissive, argumentative or nasty. Nor demonstrably 'fake news'. I will not enter into any discussion, I'll just delete them. I will edit/amend where I messed up and made mistakes.<br />
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<b> </b>Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-60715757727600880622019-04-26T05:11:00.000-07:002019-04-26T05:12:34.265-07:00Development History - 1930s Semis by RosesI was talking (through the fence) to my attached neighbour Alan last week whilst he was tidying up his garden ready for selling his house and he reminded me of a few things I'd forgotten he'd told me before and also told me some new things about the houses we live in. I find the history of housing fascinating, so assuming you do too...<br />
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The first thing is, there's LOADS of these 1930s semi detached houses in the area surrounding the college - vaguely indicated in red on this Google Map. I say vaguely because I've no real idea of the west side of the college and playing field, I've not ventured that far very often on my mobility scooter. The Z icon indicates a particular house that's not been changed in it's lifetime structurally (nor redecorated since the 1980s by the look of it) in Alfred Street that shows how these houses originally looked. My house is down by the (UK) bit of the Gainsborough College label.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6GNKvrkB_JhdCOwygS8S3CmMEv1fNMPLoB-fd3NHJgFKdJ7cCeikd4ZvGug4kLUIT0OLeTOjmYGwUXzm6A5VuiTSpThEtqSOWrQqZWFFhBcbQDIGBd4Aob-miaEP5jdOlaI1290KbVM/s1600/Roses+semis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6GNKvrkB_JhdCOwygS8S3CmMEv1fNMPLoB-fd3NHJgFKdJ7cCeikd4ZvGug4kLUIT0OLeTOjmYGwUXzm6A5VuiTSpThEtqSOWrQqZWFFhBcbQDIGBd4Aob-miaEP5jdOlaI1290KbVM/s320/Roses+semis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1930s semis - little boxes all the same</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>They are as the song goes, little boxes, all the same<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYxzABkX4WQUkaP9HZ-C8aLyYfJ86brQmGISD44w-vqNq7thjgWtehwI4cpWg2AWhYXubJ5gbPTfVUv2KY29iSiZowT3P5BMp6_LqtCghfP-D4HqDmKDEI54xBkuhgrjoLAzQYJuPTGQ/s1600/littleboxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1600" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYxzABkX4WQUkaP9HZ-C8aLyYfJ86brQmGISD44w-vqNq7thjgWtehwI4cpWg2AWhYXubJ5gbPTfVUv2KY29iSiZowT3P5BMp6_LqtCghfP-D4HqDmKDEI54xBkuhgrjoLAzQYJuPTGQ/s320/littleboxes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1930s on the right, Victorian 1870s? on the left - two streets worth</td></tr>
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Some have been extended at the back, but only to the extent of the same footprint as the original leanto element, albeit with square off roofs. They all have exactly the same original layout, finishes and gardens - originally with a washing line post at the far end and a concrete path down the middle.<br />
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Second thing is that Alan says the College and DogWalk/ playing field north of it used to belong to Roses. Roses? the chocolates? I hear fellow Brits say - for non Brits, Cadbury's Roses are a selection of wrapped chocolates with a variety of centres, fruit, toffee, nuts etc. Once mostly seen as a treat at Christmas or for special occasions they're now available and eaten, well, like candy!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmFn8sAaZLys4500rA84HAwtrKPcYQVcx5bY8VJKdml204K-m1ZhM7fx_MmJUHISXL7ZFhdjRfM0gDASuTuAG27QzXr4yomMOjmGdkxruyTiv4wVPWi1oWRGGOIM-OkHd_1NqSrQagB4/s1600/roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="618" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmFn8sAaZLys4500rA84HAwtrKPcYQVcx5bY8VJKdml204K-m1ZhM7fx_MmJUHISXL7ZFhdjRfM0gDASuTuAG27QzXr4yomMOjmGdkxruyTiv4wVPWi1oWRGGOIM-OkHd_1NqSrQagB4/s320/roses.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Roses Chocolates</td></tr>
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But Cadbury's have nothing to do with Gainsborough! They're based further West in England, in Birmingham. (Also before Cadbury's bought them out, they were Mackintosh, then Rowntree Mackintosh Roses who were based in York. And the Rowntree's were a Quaker family who had very strong views on worker welfare, you still hear in the news today of the Rowntree Foundation's reports on poverty etc which has lived on long past the family's involvement in chocolate).<br />
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Well yes they are, however, Roses got their name from the manufacturer of the wrappings, and it's that company Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Ltd who owned the whole area and had the houses built in the inter war years to be rented out. I don't know that much about it yet, but once I find out, I'll tell you more.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3ic3CQEhRl5D2enytUIFxZI4jXqHezjCoyo49O_oeO5w1gUKaypusL8SmJ9xl_3M4K3QQqZ1XMMGidtR5YhPvFsEnwaj4jISEnCychDKrtAGmXgI762vdSYifQUjeLl2dJ1mMCZpcGw/s1600/earlydaysrosesfactory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3ic3CQEhRl5D2enytUIFxZI4jXqHezjCoyo49O_oeO5w1gUKaypusL8SmJ9xl_3M4K3QQqZ1XMMGidtR5YhPvFsEnwaj4jISEnCychDKrtAGmXgI762vdSYifQUjeLl2dJ1mMCZpcGw/s320/earlydaysrosesfactory.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roses Factory - early days - presumably tobacco packaging not sweets at that stage!</td></tr>
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So quick digression into sweetie wrappers - here's the link if you want to know the full glorious history of William Rose who worked in a barber shop and decided there needed to be a way to wrap tobacco mechanically and who ended up the king of packaging in the Victorian era, so much so, that the chocolates were named after the manufacturer of the packaging they were wrapped in. <a href="http://www.bphs.net/GroupFacilities/R/RoseBrothersGainsborough/index.htm" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Anyway, moving on, Roses got big, very big and owned a lot of land in the area, there's still their Playing Field on the other side of town and various factories have been shut down and are being sold by the current owners of Roses, to be honest I'm not quite sure what happened to the packaging factories, still new to the area and getting to grips with what used to be here and what still is. I suspect locals still give directions by virtue of businesses that have long gone but as I've not gone anywhere and got lost and needed to ask, I'm still to verify this. <br />
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I do find the link with Rowntree interesting, the family was huge in philanthropy and, along with many other 'great and the good' in the Victorian era, laid the foundations that the State later took on as responsibilities regarding housing, health, welfare and recreation facilities etc. There's a local history centre and I'm thinking of getting my carer to push me down there one Friday to see what we can see and also find out more about these houses.<br />
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Back to my little corner of Gainsborough though. Apparently, according to Alan, where the College is now and the Playing field you can see on the map above, there was a Roses factory and also a fair ground. Fairs were a big thing in the UK in the past, originating as places to sell seasonal produce and hire the workers to harvest it. There's an archive <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/2.15796/1.454426" target="_blank">HERE</a>, one day I'll see if there's anything about Gainsborough<br />
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And the fairground was covered in cinder (not a great surprise, the whole of Gainsborough must be covered in cinders given it was a hub of industry for so long). And our houses were built on cinder. Which is why the fence building people a year or so ago were quite grumpy at giving an underquote for the fence to the previous owners, the cinder apparently is REALLY tough to dig through. My neighbour on the other side is also aware of this and when we jointly get that fence sorted out, it's something we need to bear in mind for proper concrete post footings. But I digress, again, a lot!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.454525!/image/NottinghamGooseFair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="600" height="238" src="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.454525!/image/NottinghamGooseFair.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fair - doubt Gainsborough's was this grand!</td></tr>
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So, back to these houses, Alan said Roses built them, to rent them out. He said his father (his mother died I think in mid 2017 in her 90s) rented then bought the house from Roses and originally worked for them. Irene on the other side has told me that her house was occupied by the solicitor who dealt with the sales (no mention of renting from her stories) and his was the only house that was finished, others had missing architraves and tiling. So the complaints the occupants of new builds have these days are obviously nothing new! You'd think after nearly a hundred years, developers would have found ways to remember to finish their designs, like, ooo I don't know, a checklist? Obviously not...<br />
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So this house in Alfred Street, gives a fascinating glimpse into what they would have looked like when they were built. I'm not joking, I honestly believe the woodwork finish in these pictures is that same varnish we've been heatgunning and gel stripping from mine - a dark base with an oak coloured lighter varnish with darker decoration to look like wood grain - which from a distance looks distinctly orange with time and must have been quite hard to decorate with. I suspect most people just ignored it giggle, but it does show how long it lasted! The irony is that the wood underneath has it's own beautiful grain, but it's not the close grain of oak, the flooring guy I had here this month said he thought it's 'pirhana pine' at least that's what I thought he said, but I've not googled it yet, so feel free to pour scorn on me or enlighten me in the comments.<br />
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Here we go, an unchanged original version of these Roses houses. It's the opposite side to mine so everything is mirrored.<br />
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<b>The frontage </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVjEQeCL83PZ-tVZXM3RVZJHVqjQ9FlQycQHOIyAgycTyQArGTYTXgxeuzG3-5ziQceDzjcLWfFGIYYNGoJvXsZBggytviPzaQ8D131bH7KTlqsomRbG19-AK875pb62GGfPznlr55ac/s1600/3bdba444c920416672476e94ad68ae95322e6181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVjEQeCL83PZ-tVZXM3RVZJHVqjQ9FlQycQHOIyAgycTyQArGTYTXgxeuzG3-5ziQceDzjcLWfFGIYYNGoJvXsZBggytviPzaQ8D131bH7KTlqsomRbG19-AK875pb62GGfPznlr55ac/s320/3bdba444c920416672476e94ad68ae95322e6181.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frontage of Alfred St house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's had new upvc windows and outer door at some stage, but still looks like it has it's original front door inset into an open porch. Painted with the oak style varnish? When we stripped my original front door, it had a few layers of green and a sort of peacock dark teal (rather lovely) but no varnish we could see, maybe I'm wrong about the varnish...<br />
<br />
What's notable is every single house has NOTHING built into the little front garden privacy strip and quite low fencing. Why? Because it's in the Deeds that you can't build downwards for a cellar, you can't build outwards towards the road and you have to have your fence lower than a certain height (can't remember exactly). This is the same of all the other identical houses on the other side of the park/college.<br />
<br />
<b>Living Room</b><br />
<br />
No picture of the hall or stairs, but I've been in Irene's house next
door and she has the same squared off newel posts, so I'm assuming it's
the same as mine.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecmPMT5zrOLZ9FlARN9vKWilyjye0Ojy5VUBzde8LbVyMXDIqweWVHPClUyydwJ5dkT_Q8lPPxtBRtgxvgxnslrrLoo7snkxoJpHazv6DAA_4AUa4xj_yQjx8wywDs-Gupvqvul38yZo/s1600/9757ac0df420670e686200a509f8d2c6e3665c1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecmPMT5zrOLZ9FlARN9vKWilyjye0Ojy5VUBzde8LbVyMXDIqweWVHPClUyydwJ5dkT_Q8lPPxtBRtgxvgxnslrrLoo7snkxoJpHazv6DAA_4AUa4xj_yQjx8wywDs-Gupvqvul38yZo/s320/9757ac0df420670e686200a509f8d2c6e3665c1c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At this stage I have to admit I am super glad I don't have a revolting brown 1930s tiled fireplace in my living room! I've seen other pictures since I moved in of other unrenovated or partially renovated Roses' semis and some still have and some don't. Some still have the open fires, others have gas fires, some actually have central heating.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I find it interesting that they have a picture rail. Up in the front bedroom where we stripped the wallpaper (aka it fell off in our hands) the walls are two tone, light at the top and darker below, which I assume shows where the picture rail was. I do like picture rails, if you have them strong enough there's no need to hammer holes in the wall, you just have long wires and hooks and it's easy to hang your pictures, albeit in a vertical line. I also note no covings (the rounded piece between the top of the wall and the ceiling). There's the same very deep skirtings and yeah that original varnish!<br />
<br />
I can imagine this is how they looked originally, not Art Deco with the opulent curves and finishes, but totally alien to the Victorian and Edwardian era of heavy features with lots of curves. Quite austere, as befits a country climbing out of the Great Depression at the end of the 1920s.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Dining Room</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXhUG6QjncrRxTQ7oSi914MRk9ylhwZMakbmOShJKHl6Uy48HVZKUpts4bqpbhJ_mJA3ha6NF4dGxzFL25cFRzofOWNU3-axxjmkYyykyH04Vbe0ryCf1KvzncWSTyfxGRs9K4YPPATs/s1600/8473c775c07b3ae897187a99c4f0d117b3542cb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXhUG6QjncrRxTQ7oSi914MRk9ylhwZMakbmOShJKHl6Uy48HVZKUpts4bqpbhJ_mJA3ha6NF4dGxzFL25cFRzofOWNU3-axxjmkYyykyH04Vbe0ryCf1KvzncWSTyfxGRs9K4YPPATs/s320/8473c775c07b3ae897187a99c4f0d117b3542cb1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here the skirtings (baseboards for Americans) have been painted, so has the picture rail, and the fireplace seems later, maybe 1950s? I'm regretting not keeping pictures of the other Roses' semis that have come up for sale since I moved here now, I can't remember what the others showed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In my house, the Living and Dining rooms have been knocked through, then a wall reinstated half way across that first alcove in the Dining Room stealing space for the living room (which is to the left of this Dining Room picture) and the Dining room wall opposite the fireplace has been knocked through stealing the original kitchen. In Irene's house (same orientation as this one) next door, the two rooms have been knocked through completely to make one long thin living/dining with french doors where the window is in this unrenovated house.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Kitchen</b><br />
<br />
<br />
For me this is the most fascinating picture of the whole house<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54J1PuScyJuNERr9xi3t2P3tCKfznJkwTkjizPiuIF6OhBN5exLrEeAVJ9qyoHvIiw2-6DQMay7JX9gHtAJ6Z5N_Uzg38eAyk-v6_WYYvrC2NxaQ4W3NTGCrqEEcprZFxOsBb71nKOCk/s1600/1689261cb291f11bb003ede25d50aa107e43a930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54J1PuScyJuNERr9xi3t2P3tCKfznJkwTkjizPiuIF6OhBN5exLrEeAVJ9qyoHvIiw2-6DQMay7JX9gHtAJ6Z5N_Uzg38eAyk-v6_WYYvrC2NxaQ4W3NTGCrqEEcprZFxOsBb71nKOCk/s320/1689261cb291f11bb003ede25d50aa107e43a930.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This room is effectively the width of the stairs and hallway and runs alongside, the same length, as the dining room (contrary to what the floorplan below shows, I think they got it wrong on the listing).<br />
<br />
Here you can see the door near the window that goes under the stairs, mine has shelves in it as a pantry and it has a small window. Next to it is the door through to the hall. And between the two you can see what is probably an original paint finish - a brown paint to dado level, then cream above. All the Rose's semis do have this ginormous kitchen window that is quite high, and it makes sense that it's to give space for sink and taps.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
For comparison this is what this area looked like when I moved into my house and had been incorporated into the dining room to make an enormous kitchen - this is from the opposite direction showing the door to the Utility. The Pantry and Hall doors are on the left here.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zSRa-91Kd6D_Ram7AUZ7IsGniFjxzziA8GrzjwNUfOCL8WYw17IBQo-BU7Xb715DjUgE1SylNQFaWHyPCP1j4hoVh3Be8CN2IrANbJZQ3Sr5VnIPl1ekOcQKoL6Lugk3Zt0DJbYN4Yw/s1600/OriginalKitchentoPantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zSRa-91Kd6D_Ram7AUZ7IsGniFjxzziA8GrzjwNUfOCL8WYw17IBQo-BU7Xb715DjUgE1SylNQFaWHyPCP1j4hoVh3Be8CN2IrANbJZQ3Sr5VnIPl1ekOcQKoL6Lugk3Zt0DJbYN4Yw/s320/OriginalKitchentoPantry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My house with knocked through kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And this is what it looks like now with the flooring up, you can see the concrete flooring is the original size of the kitchen like that one above - basically a galleyway from hall to utility<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8LyXZjyumwNIm28acWZxZvMXegBw9rsUq58anWEiaKnYQJIQGalATbgDMtx1WHRbvrzQFslhWAdXHouFok9cD55TuJ2ON3ieAtty6Vl4Kx_OREkQZRN-eWfplFz6MUSxwJMffNQeIPc/s1600/After2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8LyXZjyumwNIm28acWZxZvMXegBw9rsUq58anWEiaKnYQJIQGalATbgDMtx1WHRbvrzQFslhWAdXHouFok9cD55TuJ2ON3ieAtty6Vl4Kx_OREkQZRN-eWfplFz6MUSxwJMffNQeIPc/s320/After2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original kitchen footprint in my expanded kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Interestingly Irene next door has kept her kitchen in the same place, but at some stage, the Pantry under stairs door has been moved 90 degrees into the hall so she doesn't have the 'dead space' this property has in it's kitchen.<br />
<br />
<br />
There's no pictures of the Utility sadly, but it seems to hold the cooker. So it looks like the previous owners essentially had sink and storage in the kitchen, and cooking in the utility which feels weird to me. There was also obviously NO chimney in the kitchen, it was built to a modern (at the time) standard that had no open fire/range in the room, it was small, functional, and cold, a large window but with very little direct sunlight (perfect conditions given there was no refridgeration).<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Main Bedroom</b><br />
This is at the back of the house adjoining the bathroom. Again with the revolting 1930s mottled brown tiles with a noticeably smaller fireplace. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JvOKOf7o2CQKu9ZNLInPxqUDRMcXzytSocVsxNHTiz4AonMygwBw6bZWM5zyfAk30UZTrBN8WxrehTH_bnQttwg_AO-wZp-HTKBbrhchsozoVl0UdxDBU-M-pVNRkxz1Rm1jo_SIQSM/s1600/65d986df35d27c61062b3a258590e9aea0e7c5a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JvOKOf7o2CQKu9ZNLInPxqUDRMcXzytSocVsxNHTiz4AonMygwBw6bZWM5zyfAk30UZTrBN8WxrehTH_bnQttwg_AO-wZp-HTKBbrhchsozoVl0UdxDBU-M-pVNRkxz1Rm1jo_SIQSM/s320/65d986df35d27c61062b3a258590e9aea0e7c5a6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main bedroom at back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> Second Bedroom</b><br />
This one faces the street. Again with the brown varnish and picture rail. Also as was common in the 1930s, the bedrooms had lino on the floor, with a loose carpet square on top. It was easier to keep clean and warmer than bare floorboards. This time the revolting 1930s fireplace is mottled green. I also imagine the chimneys are open, given there's a board with a handle blocking them. This begs the question, did they have heat upstairs at all in the last 50 years in this house? There's no sign of hearths, nor gasfires! Maybe they were the super old sort I last saw when renting run down student housing, decades older than the rather more modern 1970s one in the Living Room in this house.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_dbUD1I2MZFA1wz35iYKQS1exPMM6oOAltdMjQUtHh_pruMJAP7wCgOGHzAoVtCuTX_ZYIWLj-YY-D6_lx6MTLKfIpzK6T8WQ2dTBnAVkf9Tjgc9rN4As6fMStJND8grxpIkrFA2Q7o/s1600/62c9083b74a5b8d1902f46699ff05cf70888ebfd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_dbUD1I2MZFA1wz35iYKQS1exPMM6oOAltdMjQUtHh_pruMJAP7wCgOGHzAoVtCuTX_ZYIWLj-YY-D6_lx6MTLKfIpzK6T8WQ2dTBnAVkf9Tjgc9rN4As6fMStJND8grxpIkrFA2Q7o/s320/62c9083b74a5b8d1902f46699ff05cf70888ebfd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second bedroom at front</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> Bathroom</b><br />
I also find the bathroom really interesting, the bathroom itself has the bath and the sink, but the WC is separate and there's a wooden cupboard in the bathroom<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvyRo2i5_EdWo5jwc36Uc4eHEAJiQdbwFuthhJ2eX7HSLN3PpCki3rHVqssOJZYgm5HNy2O43l2Yv5yPFxeSCIfkXylJseQkogONbnS-7w3K7qb71G-v9nsWHLGJncsijvh-xJUYCdPs/s1600/4f63d8739e4dc1829194e391ad9509aa90f35369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvyRo2i5_EdWo5jwc36Uc4eHEAJiQdbwFuthhJ2eX7HSLN3PpCki3rHVqssOJZYgm5HNy2O43l2Yv5yPFxeSCIfkXylJseQkogONbnS-7w3K7qb71G-v9nsWHLGJncsijvh-xJUYCdPs/s320/4f63d8739e4dc1829194e391ad9509aa90f35369.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom at back upstairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>Again quite austere. I do wonder if the tiling is original? It certainly seems very mid-century to me. During the 1990s my parents lived in a 1930s house occupied by the original builder, they had floor to ceiling blue glass tiles (probably venetian) that were original to the house and had the most glorious depth to them as they were clear with the blue suspended in them. An earlier house my parents had in the 1970s/1980s (Edwardian 1900s) had the same bath with similar taps and a black side to it and a separate WC. It's all coming back!!! But those two houses of my parents' were on a different scale, they also had 'housemaid's cupboards' - one with a sink and one without (possibly removed over time) - these Roses' semis are built for families with no servants at all, except maybe a 'daily'.<br />
<br />
<br />
I also like the integral towel rails on the sink! This, like pockets in dresses, is something that should happen more often!<br />
<br />
In Edwardian houses that I've seen, the bedrooms each had a sink in the corner, for morning ablutions and a separate loo to the bathroom (with sink in bathroom not with the loo, not necessarily next door to each other). I do wonder if the bedrooms originally had sinks in them, or if that was a 'step up' and something for the middle class rather than working/lower middle class these houses were aimed at. I must remember to ask Irene and Alan!<br />
<br />
I have a friend who has a 1930s semi up near Manchester which has one
bedroom with a sink, but I think that room was a later extension, I
don't know if it originally had them in all the bedrooms and her house whilst built to a similar layout is significantly larger and more gracious in terms of space (wider hall for a start!)<br />
<br />
<b>Third Bedroom</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EQiBfx3P39b-QBqw4zTyfDIGmoV8aCdv_diCaWoXT4ZT-TCcua0ECw7DAERrQfg454rIhEVu-1P6pSW94vgV7KtCIqs3ROgUI36G2Ui0x9EFYm_d3AVLhq5ibBsP_UPbd4Fdx-sJ3ik/s1600/08158787e9888d24146f089d50436f6c76fb969d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EQiBfx3P39b-QBqw4zTyfDIGmoV8aCdv_diCaWoXT4ZT-TCcua0ECw7DAERrQfg454rIhEVu-1P6pSW94vgV7KtCIqs3ROgUI36G2Ui0x9EFYm_d3AVLhq5ibBsP_UPbd4Fdx-sJ3ik/s320/08158787e9888d24146f089d50436f6c76fb969d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third Bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>Again with the lino in the bedroom, I do wonder how old it is, it doesn't look super knackered but it also doesn't look like vinyl. Again the skirting and picture rails have been painted.<br />
<br />
Interestingly the window seems more offset in this room than in my house, perhaps to allow better for a headboard for a single bed?<br />
<br />
<b>Outside</b><br />
This isn't the original garden layout, originally they all had concrete paths up the middle (or so Irene and Alan tell me) The previous owners of my house had it taken out about a decade ago for mine. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nyVgPaF2mg-KOOXAYbS03dEZPTAKbAt_6aYthMMDfABeKvzg-GREiJM6No_KQW0VsFPHdDMYjx3AahKq7RbyRnLdOr971zV5SaBOMOdlCchFMjhGPMW8uehuY2Qj5CJ-_nnsIIiK_oE/s1600/30248c57498c8e4a06102a7371ab8ef9e51b61de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nyVgPaF2mg-KOOXAYbS03dEZPTAKbAt_6aYthMMDfABeKvzg-GREiJM6No_KQW0VsFPHdDMYjx3AahKq7RbyRnLdOr971zV5SaBOMOdlCchFMjhGPMW8uehuY2Qj5CJ-_nnsIIiK_oE/s320/30248c57498c8e4a06102a7371ab8ef9e51b61de.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of the house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>As you can see, the leanto is the same shape as mine, but they've not got french windows and a posh patio, their's is still the basic utility with WC and coal shed, though there's a window in the coal shed so that has been incorporated. According to the listing there's a downstairs loo, which I think all the Roses' semis had - which I find fascinating as a generation earlier, there was only one loo, and that was probably outside, by this stage, the 1930s, there wasn't just one inside loo, but two, one on each floor. It's the primary reason I bought my house, because much of the housing stock is earlier and has only an upstairs or downstairs bathroom or later and has only an upstairs bathroom. It's my perception that only in recent decades that a downstairs loo in addition to an upstairs bathroom has been consistently provided by developers in 'family' houses, and isn't that common in smaller ones. So in actual fact these Roses' semis were quite 'luxurious' for their time in terms of facilities.<br />
<br />
<b>View over the Playing Fields to the OTHER row of Roses' semis</b><br />
You can see the houses on the other side of the playing fields are yep, little boxes, all the same and yep, they're the same as these ones<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxqo7FiNi2GeI0H2d2L90-ARmIdtQP8QmCrzl5sdWUnuggoQeGUcM_AwFu03acJxkIyvZ8wMMRIaan0rxN_r_zO7wyH3YnAoQgT47pj3k-gKgORTaXJLmGESogzlOL8F_L-mJR_9BvaI/s1600/1b4cfd8d5a9b56cd7af04d7976d2466bfc1441a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxqo7FiNi2GeI0H2d2L90-ARmIdtQP8QmCrzl5sdWUnuggoQeGUcM_AwFu03acJxkIyvZ8wMMRIaan0rxN_r_zO7wyH3YnAoQgT47pj3k-gKgORTaXJLmGESogzlOL8F_L-mJR_9BvaI/s320/1b4cfd8d5a9b56cd7af04d7976d2466bfc1441a3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the same on the other side of the Playing Fields</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>I have to say it's a nice open view, but given I can hear the Sunday football teams at my house some distance away, I doubt it's terribly peaceful!<br />
<br />
<b>Floorplan</b><br />
There is a floorplan for the house, but I think they've got the kitchen wrong, I think the hall is shorter and the kitchen ends on the same level as the dining room, simply because the leanto just isn't big enough for both the kitchen and utility areas - I think the kitchen is split in two incorporating the old kitchen and also the back door area with a door between and it's confused them. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxx7t9VSZgTDUwNrcqbPzkIdEJ7GsP-JY7Y-793zkQq5b_S3v6CuO0QbROhiWFvMxFkWcK5zsDIkogQvrCnH2OtIkzoJiBgAE8DQLj08Z8yubos64kygJtZT70zunx4fquHrWZuq2JIY/s1600/Screenshot_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1266" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxx7t9VSZgTDUwNrcqbPzkIdEJ7GsP-JY7Y-793zkQq5b_S3v6CuO0QbROhiWFvMxFkWcK5zsDIkogQvrCnH2OtIkzoJiBgAE8DQLj08Z8yubos64kygJtZT70zunx4fquHrWZuq2JIY/s320/Screenshot_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b> </b>More like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvjiVyDyWWWc1iaCtma7BC91rpwj-7S_YuhbJQar9fYaei_dUPk_ZnTFf2FfLFUYb5dE6Fk55bgTFQEC-JXOSg8Oqj4VpfVW3B1GvxHjP8aTEBKNw2pKmXpW6k90oHaKZMpOAI-1d7zw/s1600/actual+floorplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvjiVyDyWWWc1iaCtma7BC91rpwj-7S_YuhbJQar9fYaei_dUPk_ZnTFf2FfLFUYb5dE6Fk55bgTFQEC-JXOSg8Oqj4VpfVW3B1GvxHjP8aTEBKNw2pKmXpW6k90oHaKZMpOAI-1d7zw/s320/actual+floorplan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And yes, I know, it would be far better if I could actually GO see it myself, but I'm tired and have other things that are more important. When Alan's house goes on the market, I'll post the pictures here as that's adjoining my house so will be exact replica in reverse, but hasn't been changed at all structurally.<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway that's it, here's the listing of the unrenovated house <a href="https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/51129369?search_identifier=80ae1bda5af82c31d05fd142331deb4a" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
<br />
And here's the listing for a house closer to me the same orientation as the unrenovated one, but whose kitchen has been kept and extended into the leanto so it's super long <a href="https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/50011654?search_identifier=80ae1bda5af82c31d05fd142331deb4a" target="_blank">HERE</a>Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-29959472235857243442019-04-17T11:08:00.000-07:002019-04-26T03:17:48.836-07:00Adding functionality to the Utility AreaAs I mentioned in the first post in this series about making my new house disabled friendly, after I bought the house but before I moved in, the family organised builders to do some work before I moved in. Here's a list of what I remember them doing (there may have been more)<br />
<ul>
<li>take away the 'step' level in the living room, replacing the laminate at the same level (ish) as the rest of the floor</li>
<li>organise plumbing for a dishwasher (taking out a kitchen cupboard to do so) under the draining board, which also meant reorganising the external waste plumbing out to the back of the house near the </li>
<li>redo the external plumbing from the upstairs bathroom as the piping/collection was rather old and cracked</li>
<li>create a Utility sink area and cat flap down near the WC in the utility area.</li>
</ul>
And it's the Utility Area that this post is about.<br />
<br />
What the Utility area looked like BEFORE<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYyAziL6DvbZQvu5tQMVJQ22I4UhNWC5Ryvje1ycofewKfUeyF2sBxko-xrjMXtPsJDjVtk5hveEiECZjpS61AOI6PWm44iq-w1g8yusvHQWGFkxJiiaq14SCM_HqrpKnuLPQzKLnK04/s1600/OriginalUtility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYyAziL6DvbZQvu5tQMVJQ22I4UhNWC5Ryvje1ycofewKfUeyF2sBxko-xrjMXtPsJDjVtk5hveEiECZjpS61AOI6PWm44iq-w1g8yusvHQWGFkxJiiaq14SCM_HqrpKnuLPQzKLnK04/s320/OriginalUtility.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Utility Before - the photographer closed the WC door</td></tr>
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And what it looked like AFTER<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zEBNYEXqAcgIDCY4lO3uUtI25uAfFwJQPUfMOq0n3b97z_dtJtUymFjSbpkUxBbqGvFJcGZ6qbP7hwGTmsmKCflq5jK35b0RnsPez5k5reBmU-4G6ijFfRVYDAQ4xylAwd6UeLRIj5I/s1600/MainUtility2017ShoeCupboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="544" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zEBNYEXqAcgIDCY4lO3uUtI25uAfFwJQPUfMOq0n3b97z_dtJtUymFjSbpkUxBbqGvFJcGZ6qbP7hwGTmsmKCflq5jK35b0RnsPez5k5reBmU-4G6ijFfRVYDAQ4xylAwd6UeLRIj5I/s320/MainUtility2017ShoeCupboard.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Utility After - I left the WC door open</td></tr>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>The Utility area is essentially the old 'services' area for the original house, it's got no heating other than an on/off towel rail, I'm pretty sure the roof is not insulated, and two thirds of it is on the same level as the rest of the house, with one third a step down. The WC toilet and sink takes up part of that lower level space, the rest had plumbing and electrics for a fridge freezer and washing machine and dryer (including vent to outside).<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>So why change it?</b><br />
<br />
Well, the sellers had a fridge/freezer that fitted into the space, and a separate washing machine and tumble dryer. Me? I have a super tall fridge/freezer that wouldn't fit and a washing machine that has a dryer in it already. So the whole area was potentially going to be wasted space because it's down one step so couldn't be used for disability equipment.<br />
<br />
<b>What were my needs?</b><br />
<br />
I don't like sharing the WC sink (where I washed and also cleaned teeth etc when I slept downstairs having no stairlift) nor the kitchen sink with the two cats. If I am well enough I want to do 'wet' crafts like dyeing fabrics or making papier mache etc which again I don't have space for in the WC and aren't food safe so I don't want to do them in the Kitchen.<br />
<br />
In an ideal world, the Utility would be all on one level, but that would involve raising the roof line and need planning permission and significant building work. Also in an ideal world there would be fold away seating for me to use when preparing the cats' food and medications twice a day.<br />
<br />
I also needed a cat flap for Ivorcat, as he's mostly an outside cat, and an area that Tabithacat couldn't get to, as his meds are bad for her and her meds are bad for him. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDDpFTnXLxcPTymtHlj2J_NlX3Zve8xDVwS_D0RdNBNqyLkhXCJ4DcmwDisiXFwez9_zFdhr4wme-9E1lkZkk-JRYOgisdt_gcfx4v_yMXif_Rl36H9UpPWtaIXy9XxoTPbMIG880sMw/s1600/18110125_10155086077995281_1542454453_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDDpFTnXLxcPTymtHlj2J_NlX3Zve8xDVwS_D0RdNBNqyLkhXCJ4DcmwDisiXFwez9_zFdhr4wme-9E1lkZkk-JRYOgisdt_gcfx4v_yMXif_Rl36H9UpPWtaIXy9XxoTPbMIG880sMw/s320/18110125_10155086077995281_1542454453_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ivorcat - prefers being outdoors at will</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tabithacat is also ancient, arthritic with no road sense so I didn't
want her to have access to the cat flap very easily. On the other hand,
Ivorcat is getting old so the remodel needed to be able to be changed in
future for his needs if he gets a bit wibbly from old age.<b> </b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmr8sj4-In6M9L-eKHZ978j14X_Lpxo_zkq_Im7UOlVt8kFe63rfGC-BFgxA2N45vblWdxWAnt2D4hVf4h8wxvM0KiwW7aKL3-rleSG2GYUdFdtXOW6dz823vT7EZvKNTItemV_YQ5-g/s1600/IMG_20180802_104753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmr8sj4-In6M9L-eKHZ978j14X_Lpxo_zkq_Im7UOlVt8kFe63rfGC-BFgxA2N45vblWdxWAnt2D4hVf4h8wxvM0KiwW7aKL3-rleSG2GYUdFdtXOW6dz823vT7EZvKNTItemV_YQ5-g/s320/IMG_20180802_104753.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tabithacat - Ancient and arthritic with no road sense, needs supervising outside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> If money were no object what could I have done with that space?</b><br />
<ol>
<li><b>Knocked it down entirely and rebuilt as an extension</b> either on the same footprint or also including the patio. This could have included a ramped access at the back for wheelchair access and essentially have been a Utility area with Conservatory/Winter Living Room area. </li>
<li><b>Raised the roof level at the far end</b> so that there's no longer a step down to the WC/Laundry area.</li>
<li><b>Put a door in at the bottom from the patio</b> allowing direct access by scooter from the garden level, with one step up to the main house, also allowing my scooter to be housed inside with access to electricity for recharging. That would mean I'd need to move the WC and laundry completely into the two thirds of the Utility that's currently open space.</li>
<li><b>Made the whole of the lower level into a shower room </b>moving the laundry area to the upper level that's currently open space, or reinstated the corridor and make the upper level into a shower room with the lower level as a laundry area (with or without outside access for the Scooter).</li>
</ol>
However, having bought the new house before we sold the old one using a bridging loan from the parents, I was a bit short of cash, so compromises were necessary.<br />
<br />
I decided to<br />
<ul>
<li>Leave the Utility upper and lower levels as they were with the WC layout in situ.</li>
<li>Create a countertop with cupboard for storage and washer/dryer underneath and a sink with drainer on top</li>
<li>Use the dryer vent hole in the wall for the catflap at draining board level (so he has to walk over a towel so his feet are less muddy in bad weather)</li>
<li>Get cat steps made for outside so the cat can access the flap</li>
</ul>
<b>How did we do this?</b><br />
<br />
Firstly in the Kitchen there was a hole where the sellers had an undercounter fridge, and a kitchen cupboard that was in the way, I needed the space these occupied for my disability equipment.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf3d4tdl66q1wCSGAwmm3eAFcb5gmWca0RvnhMI0R5-tIIPiOQY_40blvY_e66Wwr2AK62WPRFo2XKZ1mY5MamQkeGi_5_7B75CRDOYDotah2m1yoEmzDU5MgsC9zqV7H20B13ZOIMrg/s1600/OriginalKitchentoPantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf3d4tdl66q1wCSGAwmm3eAFcb5gmWca0RvnhMI0R5-tIIPiOQY_40blvY_e66Wwr2AK62WPRFo2XKZ1mY5MamQkeGi_5_7B75CRDOYDotah2m1yoEmzDU5MgsC9zqV7H20B13ZOIMrg/s320/OriginalKitchentoPantry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupboard on the left on the back wall was reused in the Utility</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>So we took the cupboard out of the kitchen, and reused it as under sink storage in the Utility area. The builders used some spare tiles the sellers had left to fill in the flooring gaps in the kitchen to make a smooth surface for my wheeled equipment.<br />
<br />
The building firm (Lockwoods of Gainsborough) provided an offcut of laminate kitchen top, to support the sink and we used a black sparkly waterproof shower panel instead of tiling around all 3 sides of the sink area as it's easier to clean, finished with a nice clean stainless steel style edging.<br />
<br />
The builders also installed an outside tap on the other side of the washing machine as I can't use a watering can, they're too heavy but I can drag a hose around for watering pots etc.<br />
<br />
I bought a cat flap that uses the cat's microchip for access, and extension parts for the tunnel to make a seamless easy to clean access point for the cat and the builder carefully positioned this in the interior and exterior walls before then cutting the hole in the right place in the shower panel, using super stinky glue to stick the panel to the wall, before finishing the cat flap installation.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKFF7koUePHuACIm3HaQRvyU_0iz7HDdEWdb4bp5G6U91pQ1UAeqau2dG2rIerAyKJhOZviEdQjMDFcbFna60vdynQv39yTqeUeNKigRyK9VqiHuPv4DFzBkTWNBZOMXJ141xvmseMvE/s1600/22366353_1636218766436510_7422327847882282032_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKFF7koUePHuACIm3HaQRvyU_0iz7HDdEWdb4bp5G6U91pQ1UAeqau2dG2rIerAyKJhOZviEdQjMDFcbFna60vdynQv39yTqeUeNKigRyK9VqiHuPv4DFzBkTWNBZOMXJ141xvmseMvE/s320/22366353_1636218766436510_7422327847882282032_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The builder had to take out one brick above the dryer vent hole and put it into the hole underneath the access tunnel to get the cat flap at the right height off the draining board for Ivorcat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So shortly after I moved in, the Utility looked like it was going to work well, I had a working sink with easy to use lever taps (I don't have much grip), draining board, waterproof splashback area and a working catflap, all finished off with the edging.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKExOC8OVbKs2COR24SXrX3J1_Z2rUZOdc7VeeXnLAUtxOA4u83HtfrWrxrXU_z8Ey89BxTzsLEI_RF9gH5r_B1gbm39Nu9N0ehzmtyx97uFczjNZ9Skq7wEgvYBCMs5N55xPAj3wpkIE/s1600/22406514_1637461779645542_3281067426665021492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKExOC8OVbKs2COR24SXrX3J1_Z2rUZOdc7VeeXnLAUtxOA4u83HtfrWrxrXU_z8Ey89BxTzsLEI_RF9gH5r_B1gbm39Nu9N0ehzmtyx97uFczjNZ9Skq7wEgvYBCMs5N55xPAj3wpkIE/s320/22406514_1637461779645542_3281067426665021492_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the washer/dryer to be installed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then we had a disaster!!! The cupboard and sink had been installed before I moved in, the panel afterwards because the cat flap had to be installed in the right place heightwise for the cat's stomach level. So, I'd not been in the house at the time of installation. I noticed that the ceramic flooring rocked a bit where the washing machine was going to be installed, and asked the workman to just lift it up, make sure the floor was ok, and glue it back down.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaKcBpSOcnK2wWtQjMaxSp4Bd3O6hDF1RUk1rQSXlg4THD08U-t_ttzJqoU-dtMxeUJ8urwlsJZ4a2S8KSxwni6gvTHK3qCrtOT7iMQEuQmSgAHXcjJiSS4vejAHV7uGA9iIaJKkLvp0/s1600/22406164_1636371346421252_567391561170048335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaKcBpSOcnK2wWtQjMaxSp4Bd3O6hDF1RUk1rQSXlg4THD08U-t_ttzJqoU-dtMxeUJ8urwlsJZ4a2S8KSxwni6gvTHK3qCrtOT7iMQEuQmSgAHXcjJiSS4vejAHV7uGA9iIaJKkLvp0/s320/22406164_1636371346421252_567391561170048335_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rotten flooring affecting areas under the newly installed cupboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ack!!! the flooring underneath the ceramic tile (done in the last 5 years by the previous owners) was boarding, with polystyrene blocks underneath, and no membrane as far as we could tell. The house doesn't have foundations as such, it's on bare earth (covered in concrete at a later date for the main house) then a void before you get floorboards. So on the plus side there was the polystyrene for insulation, on the downside, a previous washer leak had been unnoticed and spread.<br />
<br />
A lot of sucking of teeth and cups of tea later, the builders and I decided we would bodge it, it would cost too much to take up the flooring and the cupboard and countertop and shower boarding out, and the workman would instead use slivers of wood to jack up the cupboard by enough millimetres to ease out the tile that was partially under the cupboard. New boarding was laid and chamfered against existing boarding because as it turned out there weren't cross joists (sigh) to attach it to. Then it was glued back down.<br />
<br />
We're hoping this will last 5-10 years, which gives me time to save up to redo the whole floor area if necessary in due course.<br />
<br />
So, once that was fixed, and yup I was rather cross as it was the building firm who didn't think oh there's a loose tile let's lift it up and see what's underneath before fitting the cupboard, so I got a discount on the cost of the remedial works, we had a Utility ready for the washer/dryer to be plumbed in.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqBJsZi6d9AVBonzISOmMkBVwi3cPfet_SW-df8VsoTQdMsnEXdp8_IDFM5alyGTuQOuQwQo8bSA9fKEvfW99QRX_KVLr6_oOYTpbHX3fxkmP3DJNRh66mPIQASZKMCNb0aG85kY0uRo/s1600/UtilityRefurb+pre+appliance+installation+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="544" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqBJsZi6d9AVBonzISOmMkBVwi3cPfet_SW-df8VsoTQdMsnEXdp8_IDFM5alyGTuQOuQwQo8bSA9fKEvfW99QRX_KVLr6_oOYTpbHX3fxkmP3DJNRh66mPIQASZKMCNb0aG85kY0uRo/s320/UtilityRefurb+pre+appliance+installation+finished.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Utility Laundry Area finished and regrouted repaired floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then once the washer/dryer was installed, the rest of the Utility was organised and ta da!!! first bit of refurbishment/renovations were complete!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1393qhTFAs31UUpNVmKCWRCWS3VKdxwddtOJ6R5CMGJN9WhuCNbcHTdrdZKX-9_6uHUofmD_I9VudrRyN9LAEn68Cfv7XLpuYTTYhxp4PEZeuKnvgSVLj76LM98sWsQEVyFoMkQuMC-g/s1600/UtilityRefurbFinished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1440" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1393qhTFAs31UUpNVmKCWRCWS3VKdxwddtOJ6R5CMGJN9WhuCNbcHTdrdZKX-9_6uHUofmD_I9VudrRyN9LAEn68Cfv7XLpuYTTYhxp4PEZeuKnvgSVLj76LM98sWsQEVyFoMkQuMC-g/s320/UtilityRefurbFinished.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished Utility/Laundry area with cat flap over the draining board (the candle is there cos of the stench of the glue used for the shower board offgassing)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However within a few days, the countertop got chaotically untidy<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpuzANtp9HdHIg2xykRoCFksOYVP6ZyBRJmjkUWo8BL4I_4OMBXd_KRfrPAY-CNVM-6nl664Vk0lUrs0VjGkIWYbbCTsAGmd_uTiDvS3t7s1TytXthpOOhvvHYupX4Y9PaUGbELZLr_w/s1600/26168424_1724414734283579_6568990940944449048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpuzANtp9HdHIg2xykRoCFksOYVP6ZyBRJmjkUWo8BL4I_4OMBXd_KRfrPAY-CNVM-6nl664Vk0lUrs0VjGkIWYbbCTsAGmd_uTiDvS3t7s1TytXthpOOhvvHYupX4Y9PaUGbELZLr_w/s320/26168424_1724414734283579_6568990940944449048_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Untidy countertop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
so I had a look on the internet and found some suction wire baskets for the shower panel that would keep the things I used twice a day OFF the countertop but within reach. <br />
<br />
Because there wasn't a space to put seating near the sink, nor for a perching stool as the same space is used by the WC door, I need to use my FlipStick (like an urban shooting stick, a walking stick with a perching seat on it) to feed the cats, which means I can't open the cupboard door without having to move around, so everything that was used twice a day at the sink level, needs to have a home at the sink level.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVhRKp1WjgOHSIM45vFlAi4nTGKjk2CUAkZ1AbmDEBF22cWJvy1CJ8PdNqdLgeKqy9C6rBfX5_J1iqO4Iq0nWv8hr3hU3sFyUGW5sBUNl2EZd0Re5mWEAfnesg65cvHQVOvPfsBA45CE/s1600/UtilityInUse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVhRKp1WjgOHSIM45vFlAi4nTGKjk2CUAkZ1AbmDEBF22cWJvy1CJ8PdNqdLgeKqy9C6rBfX5_J1iqO4Iq0nWv8hr3hU3sFyUGW5sBUNl2EZd0Re5mWEAfnesg65cvHQVOvPfsBA45CE/s320/UtilityInUse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suction cup wire baskets and tidy easy to clean countertop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since then I've added suction hooks on the left hand side for a small towel and for a cleaning cloth.<br />
<br />
<b>What about the rest of the Utility space? the two thirds at kitchen level?</b><br />
<br />
Well, it needs to be an open flexible space with a variety of seating options<br />
<br />
Because the Mobility Scooter needs to be stored indoors in that space in the winter, I put an Ikea Shoe Storage Unit by the back door, which leaves just enough space for the Scooter to slot inbetween that and the WC end wall.<b> </b>In the summer, there's a Georgian rush seated chair that is low enough for me to sit on without too much pain, for supervising the cats' mealtimes or just for having the patio doors open on a sunny day and sitting in the shade. If it's summer but raining I've put my reclining garden chair in there with the doors ajar.<br />
<br />
In the summer the mobility scooter lives on the patio covered by a tarpaulin and having a chair there means it's easier for me to put my shoes on and get organised.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIY-IjVp3bElr4T66EQFG54trzPuoJxh4jA7wOfY5CRV9WOGHOwmkGke76TJMQbjoWKJASURcQR9VG1XQMZqIY1MpGAO5_scNARiv2ggPKc4UZEPKlkA5o9zXjJ5Lmbk1W03JAVYtdY3k/s1600/MainUtility2017ShoeCupboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="544" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIY-IjVp3bElr4T66EQFG54trzPuoJxh4jA7wOfY5CRV9WOGHOwmkGke76TJMQbjoWKJASURcQR9VG1XQMZqIY1MpGAO5_scNARiv2ggPKc4UZEPKlkA5o9zXjJ5Lmbk1W03JAVYtdY3k/s320/MainUtility2017ShoeCupboard.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoe cabinet and flexible space in the upper level of the Utility</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since then, I've also had a couple of hooks put up on the side of the boiler cupboard next to the patio door for the carer's coats and had the bottom louvre door of the boiler cupboard (immediately on the right before the patio doors) shortened so that the cat's litter tray can fit there permanently with the bags of litter on the shelf above. The cat baskets fit into the shelf above that in front of the boiler.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvzw9GehNL3Iv1BH23GKRG9J8wG-hkXs6-gmyluOz183oEK4jH9NS9FL-b9yfCR8-03eolpW3rSAtkauh-7LfnlMFnkySRz4Q5ZGEfZqr7bxm2W_76FjhoSRboYmgZ3ivBlXwiaokyEg/s1600/IMG_20180627_1722510_rewind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvzw9GehNL3Iv1BH23GKRG9J8wG-hkXs6-gmyluOz183oEK4jH9NS9FL-b9yfCR8-03eolpW3rSAtkauh-7LfnlMFnkySRz4Q5ZGEfZqr7bxm2W_76FjhoSRboYmgZ3ivBlXwiaokyEg/s320/IMG_20180627_1722510_rewind.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobble Pegs for carer coats and litter tray in the bottom of the boiler cupboard (louvre door not fitted at this stage)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There's no autostop on these patio doors, so to stop them crashing around when it's windy I use a piece of string looped around the outside handle and one of the bobble pegs, with a shoe wedged in the door so that no cat is inadvertantly squished nor the door ripped off it's hinges! The doors leak a bit so eventually I'll save up and get them replaced. I also need a form of fly screen for the summer as I love leaving the doors open but hate the wildlife that comes in because of the smell of catfood.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14JQMLZYeiq43yGklfTLQNjOdyij9YUCa2oG5glSV7yYXa6u727W2n9GUh_NojR8z9I5SuSjBL8K2O6KHNCMTtwS2_7PUec5nAM216V_PjbmsKLUWFnlVrmaxkRxWefwOa2cgCY9xyUE/s1600/IMG_20180627_1723100_rewind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14JQMLZYeiq43yGklfTLQNjOdyij9YUCa2oG5glSV7yYXa6u727W2n9GUh_NojR8z9I5SuSjBL8K2O6KHNCMTtwS2_7PUec5nAM216V_PjbmsKLUWFnlVrmaxkRxWefwOa2cgCY9xyUE/s320/IMG_20180627_1723100_rewind.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobble Coat Hooks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I found the coat hooks very cheaply at the local shop that does homewares and upcycled furniture Shabby & Chic.<br />
<br />
<b>What does it look like outside? How does the cat get up to and down from the catflap? It's so high!</b><br />
<br />
The builder made me 'cat steps' out of offcuts of garden decking. Ivorcat loves them because he can sit and 'guard' the entrance to the house and also, as they're at different levels, get sunshine throughout the day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNJ9nWFKbXJvmVrvCfBjGS_EGoOiq0Bc38x6scYcsIsJE2fbQULFIjFwnNMkxLO4CZSgnaWYNFXTwH-ceaKovDML0mGMTKsjwUC5mUyk8PHqJGgZHDSXva46jBlNIe7zQdp6MABJ5FbU/s1600/CatFlapOutsideSteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNJ9nWFKbXJvmVrvCfBjGS_EGoOiq0Bc38x6scYcsIsJE2fbQULFIjFwnNMkxLO4CZSgnaWYNFXTwH-ceaKovDML0mGMTKsjwUC5mUyk8PHqJGgZHDSXva46jBlNIe7zQdp6MABJ5FbU/s320/CatFlapOutsideSteps.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ivorcat on his steps for the catflap, washing line closed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b> <br />
We also put a Brabantia Wallfix washing line on that back wall, so I
have a washing line that stays clean and doesn't get in the way. I can't
handle a rotary line, it's too heavy to open and close and cover up. It all folds away into a discreet box when not in use. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGAG-bsr3pjLftCVk9Q853CzGNY8knevndpK_Z3Br6psxB_tMQIRdGSsoha4PF4PnmPpFFyDmFkZopkPOAWePaCnQPbOgnbjFjfK4VOj1FqiqZ3-wCVKfx2hmrrugI1c_g1xozjpmjFQ/s1600/22449589_1639387352786318_5783181370529183165_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGAG-bsr3pjLftCVk9Q853CzGNY8knevndpK_Z3Br6psxB_tMQIRdGSsoha4PF4PnmPpFFyDmFkZopkPOAWePaCnQPbOgnbjFjfK4VOj1FqiqZ3-wCVKfx2hmrrugI1c_g1xozjpmjFQ/s320/22449589_1639387352786318_5783181370529183165_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing line open</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>What about when Ivorcat gets old? Or can't just up to the draining board height?</b><br />
There's just enough space at the side of the washing machine for a 'chicken run' type plank to be fixed from the step to the draining board, and to still be able to use the washing machine. So at the stage at which Ivorcat needs help, he'll be fine. If he's not well enough to negotiate a plank inside and steps outside, I don't want him going out unsupervised anyway.<br />
<br />
<b>WC - sink and toilet area</b><br />
<br />
At the same time the builder put up a frameless (ancient) Ikea mirror, glass shelf and towel rail in the WC<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX5hyFKeVo6eXCGSI6Qpu3_SX5iyHnkQLIlCQcJ3Xg5AzxpxI9aJgUVEnhDNCdhFB7d5gtw9b9-iE7U7DdCOJtKIz7HeH-neu_xTBIdM_keCx0BXaTIOIyHAY3Md6-7CgmAJLL5Nm6b4/s1600/IMG_20180627_1723331_rewind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX5hyFKeVo6eXCGSI6Qpu3_SX5iyHnkQLIlCQcJ3Xg5AzxpxI9aJgUVEnhDNCdhFB7d5gtw9b9-iE7U7DdCOJtKIz7HeH-neu_xTBIdM_keCx0BXaTIOIyHAY3Md6-7CgmAJLL5Nm6b4/s320/IMG_20180627_1723331_rewind.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WC from door - mirror to reflect light and make it seem bigger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and a hook for 'guest' towels near the loo. Given I was living downstairs and using the WC as a bathroom I didn't want guests to accidentally use my 'personal care' towel, so I used my ScanNCut machine to cut out labels for 'Mine' and 'Guest' to avoid any accidents<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsRcSdT9f4Es4qLJR9b24MtHNrSP_pg40k44L43z2zDh1CXkc7BsU8h6zOxO_nYiEEZfompeGcBZ_I_GvXNgDoBDVhK2nvrH3fBl-upnXOFx08pEwMRJHEdhdm-xN7q7SCzcoUFNChm4/s1600/IMG_20180627_1723230_rewind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsRcSdT9f4Es4qLJR9b24MtHNrSP_pg40k44L43z2zDh1CXkc7BsU8h6zOxO_nYiEEZfompeGcBZ_I_GvXNgDoBDVhK2nvrH3fBl-upnXOFx08pEwMRJHEdhdm-xN7q7SCzcoUFNChm4/s320/IMG_20180627_1723230_rewind.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clear indication of Guest towel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, the builders put up my hose reel. Yes in an ideal world I'd have one of those spiral springy hoses, but I already own this, it keeps the hose tidy and makes it easier for me to use the hose and put it away all by myself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_fo9B3Cg_2zzyq8iKgi9H_NKdV7qRWjwz13A4tpiG4CMRQqVOSa7wvOK0KTVZfN9swhDjgszNzP4R_FGy7JXBR_Y6a3eqBpBAo5RC9KfttWrHlmdnAjeI2K7352UdykvMCBkY7KoyBw/s1600/IMG_20180627_1722087_rewind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_fo9B3Cg_2zzyq8iKgi9H_NKdV7qRWjwz13A4tpiG4CMRQqVOSa7wvOK0KTVZfN9swhDjgszNzP4R_FGy7JXBR_Y6a3eqBpBAo5RC9KfttWrHlmdnAjeI2K7352UdykvMCBkY7KoyBw/s320/IMG_20180627_1722087_rewind.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden tap and hose reel on wall. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You can just see the shed at the end of the garden and the new flowerbeds. In the foreground, we used a metal bowl and large ceramic planter with a solar powered fountain to make a small 'bubble' fountain for the base of the bamboo. Ivorcat likes drinking moving water and the insects like it too. I like the gentle sound it makes and it doesn't need much looking after as mum gave me some floating plants to keep the water clear. Overwinter the bowl is emptied, the plant goes back to mum's pond and it's reinstalled in summer. <br />
<b></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Did I make the right decisions? Does it work?</b><br />
<br />
Overall I'd say yes, it works very well. I can use my FlipStick as a perching stool, the cats aren't stealing each other's food (with the wrong meds in), Ivorcat is happy using the flap, and his paws are forced to be cleaner because of the towel on the draining board.<br />
<b> </b><br />
One inconvenience is that the plumbing for the washing machine was already on the right hand side.
If we'd thought it through better, I'd probably have had the washing
machine on the left and the cupboard on the right, but we didn't and it
is what it is. It does mean the washing machine door opens not quite far
enough into the middle of the space and you have to stretch a bit to
get the washing out.<br />
<br />
There's lots of space in the Utility upper level that's flexible for the time of year, and I do enjoy sitting in there watching the clouds (my neighbour doesn't feel overlooked as it's higher than his window level and there's a big redcurrant bush in the way).<br />
<br />
I absolutely loathe the WC door, it's a cut down cheap plastic laminate/hollow core door that's already discolouring and gets in the way of the sink. I've thought of several options for changing it - a bifold door (no space for a sliding door) but that doesn't really help for the sink, or a curtain or a Japanese style half curtain (like they have in doorways in Japan to stop flies) or saloon style doors before the step, but then it's not as discreet as a proper door and having a step at the same place as saloon doors is an accident waiting to happen. So at the moment, I'm leaving it as it is.<br />
<br />
Eventually I'll need a new toilet in there, I had the flush mechanism replaced, but the seat support is broken and the cistern lid is too. In the meantime I plan to use gold paint on the very finely repaired broken cistern lid, as a reference to how the Japanese repair tableware with gold for reuse. But for now, it is what it is.<br />
<br />
I am conscious that area is unheated, I need to change out the electric radiator for one that can be on a timer, or even find a way to put a small radiator linked to the boiler in there. I also suspect the roof isn't insulated and there's sufficient height to do so inside with reboarding the ceiling, but then that means the lighting has to change, so that's all for the future. <br />
<br />
For now it works well and there's other things to spend my money on inside the house that are more urgent.<br />
<br />
<b>Learning curve?</b><br />
<br />
Never assume that the builder is going to investigate something that may turn into more work/ clients cancelling the job. TELL the builder that if they suspect anything, that they have to raise it with you to work out if anything needs to be done.<br />
<br />
If we'd realised the floor was rotten, I'd have got the whole of that floor level pulled up, properly insulated and relaid. However we did a reasonable fudge/bodge that should last sufficient time until I've saved up and also worked out if there's any change needed to the layout of that area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugUX0RaGjLjYiNHAc8mLpG2n_K8g12rr8KgLnCprktUqk5Ul-rE1gWOm3hA4gd9jdWYKYIOk-sLreCORPUwXSxcy2kcQD1jb65CUJBvyWPNPz1Yew_rhG4t_woRAODT8hHN9Xv3Z6v7E/s1600/UtilityRefurbMain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugUX0RaGjLjYiNHAc8mLpG2n_K8g12rr8KgLnCprktUqk5Ul-rE1gWOm3hA4gd9jdWYKYIOk-sLreCORPUwXSxcy2kcQD1jb65CUJBvyWPNPz1Yew_rhG4t_woRAODT8hHN9Xv3Z6v7E/s320/UtilityRefurbMain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through the Patio Doors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Next Post </b>- Stripping the old decor from the front bedroom and new electrics<br />
<b></b><br />Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-41296867153235935342019-04-10T09:07:00.003-07:002019-04-10T09:07:39.030-07:00My New House - When I bought itOk so time for a confession, I've been thinking about writing this post since summer 2017 when we found the house for me to live in on moving from Northumberland to Lincolnshire. And now it's nearly summer 2019 Yikes!!!<br />
<br />
In my defence, it's taken this long to work out how the new house needs to be adapted for my needs, but as I've nearly got my act together on the downstairs, it seems a good time to pull my finger out and get started!<br /><br />So. This new house? What's it like?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73YgA8F0x3J5Q7HFKc4jjCvHEi7OZf1Npf6qWOEm3YxtVeXrDq595mF2wuojfQ5RX-DcBwmRe7F56mWtldQTuzKg_7TqE8Go6_thKzoBpeFal7ZfZWFLeoq7Wt3qOQoqcueNfN5Wok4A/s1600/OriginalFrontElevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1439" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73YgA8F0x3J5Q7HFKc4jjCvHEi7OZf1Npf6qWOEm3YxtVeXrDq595mF2wuojfQ5RX-DcBwmRe7F56mWtldQTuzKg_7TqE8Go6_thKzoBpeFal7ZfZWFLeoq7Wt3qOQoqcueNfN5Wok4A/s320/OriginalFrontElevation.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Front elevation of the house from estate agent particulars 2017</i></td></tr>
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<br /><br />It's a 3 bed 1930s semi detached house about half a mile away from the town centre of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. It's about twice the size of my last house and it does feel overly large sometimes for one person, but the tricky thing about being disabled so that you need wheels is, that wheels need an awful lot of space to be able to move around in!<br />
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It's been knocked about over the years and the downstairs interior has been changed pretty significantly. Originally there was a sitting room at the front right, with a dining room directly behind it, and the kitchen was a tiny room at the back of the house on the left. Behind the kitchen there was a back door with two tiny rooms, one for a WC and one for storage and behind that, a coal hole. That entire space behind the kitchen has been incorporated into the house as a split level utility area with a WC.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8aRIZUxL8yLQ22y9GxFDOLlx0JXgSCHH3YiWKZPBPWGvWXAOpqkbgoOTEaqCbdZ4Gxr1a8vNrGak2irmSKPKqlEufrNc5SUi3rpb7_SOcjqL7VNkb5T8eGXZnwvBkMX4ISUN8MRiOAI/s1600/RemodelDownstairsPlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8aRIZUxL8yLQ22y9GxFDOLlx0JXgSCHH3YiWKZPBPWGvWXAOpqkbgoOTEaqCbdZ4Gxr1a8vNrGak2irmSKPKqlEufrNc5SUi3rpb7_SOcjqL7VNkb5T8eGXZnwvBkMX4ISUN8MRiOAI/s320/RemodelDownstairsPlan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From the left, Original House layout, Current Layout in the middle and Possible Future Layout on the right</i></td></tr>
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At some stage the living and dining room were knocked into one, then additional changes added a new stud wall between dining and living rooms level with the end of the hall, and knocked through into the kitchen. <br /><br />The floor height between the front and back rooms in the house (originally dining and living rooms) are slightly different so someone had put in a step platform in the part 'stolen' from the dining room for the living room - that part is just about the width of a single bed. Obviously a step taking up a quarter of the living room wasn't going to work for me, so I never saw it, the family organised builders to take it away and re-lay the laminate flooring so it was all one level in the 2 months between me buying it and moving into it, the family also organised the builders to change the radiators for new ones as it's easier to do that when the house is empty than when it's full of my stuff. The final change started before I moved in was putting a utility sink into the Utility area and a cat flap, as well as my washer dryer. <br />
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So here's the pictures from the Estate Agent Particulars when I bought the house in August 2017 so you can see what it looked like before I moved in (with previous owner's furniture etc)<br />
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<b>Living Room</b><br />
The living room is in shades of brown, which when I lived in that room for a year after moving in as I wasn't getting a stairlift any time soon, I soon found enormously oppressive. So, note to self, you don't like living in these really cozy but dark colour schemes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAW4RRDH1GG0oQzOj6VYvylr3R_kSSIHg_ebLLYglENr4-mhZVd_VzHBbkbzxN-yJ763a2kZ8Wn_k-HWG-z1EGIt7djXIi9S0ktDnQN4IND7RF0lDLhKB4o9g_S5-bmGCzaPAjJPm_Hw/s1600/OriginalLivingRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAW4RRDH1GG0oQzOj6VYvylr3R_kSSIHg_ebLLYglENr4-mhZVd_VzHBbkbzxN-yJ763a2kZ8Wn_k-HWG-z1EGIt7djXIi9S0ktDnQN4IND7RF0lDLhKB4o9g_S5-bmGCzaPAjJPm_Hw/s320/OriginalLivingRoom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living Room from Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</td></tr>
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I was also quite excited to be in a house with a fireplace and mantelpiece. And whilst I do love having the mantelpiece, the fireplace was merely a fan heater that I found expensive and uncomfortable to use, also, as my kingsize bed was filling up most of the room I kept jabbing my toes on the hearthstone.</div>
<br />The sellers kindly left the blinds and whilst I adore the shape of roman blinds, living entirely in this room for a year made me realise the downsides as a disabled person using the living room as a bedroom with only a small privacy garden strip to the pavement - that the majority of the light comes from above and is cut off, they're hard for me to pull up and let down, and they didn't give me partial privacy.<br />
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This room gets very little direct sunlight, the sun rises on the right of the window and sets where the window doesn't catch any more light, so it's actually quite a dark room apart from at the bay where it's flooded with light.<br />
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<b>Kitchen</b><br />
This room is long and thin, being 2/3 of the original dining room and all the original kitchen. That suits ablebodied people, but for me the distances between sink, microwave and fridge have been exhausting!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZQdcdRwhlLv4A8SuvJ-MnsUuiK4NUqOsuFFyCD4iXPamETdBm9fdKySFQBYRpE5w2v7j24uiMnHunko89gRW6lprVdbOW_UE9Xublq2qAIoO4MSNlzXw1BGRPNw6Dt9IgAa45HD4O3c/s320/OriginalKitchentoPantry.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kitchen from dining room end, looking into original kitchen area from Estate Agent Particulars August 2017 </i></td></tr>
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One thing I did like about this kitchen was the open nature of the window/sink area with range cooker, however that cooker had way too many knobs for me and the carers to cope with, so I asked the sellers to take it with them. My fridge/freezer was too tall for the Utility area, so ended up in the Range space, and yes, I've lived without a hob or oven (I have a combination microwave) for a year and a half. It's been doable but I'll be pleased to get a proper kitchen again eventually!<br /><br />At the end under the window there's a space for an undercounter fridge and also a cupboard on the left, that was moved to the Utility to make a foundation for my Utility sink/countertop as I needed that space for my disability equipment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAHj-30o9SC5T9N3am0nyHnzQNf8NfK2Q4GUc2c3Bs9Nw7W9CBqO6T2d-RZiC04CFSNJn9wI_yMqWrQJkUi8YpHvaFF3Q_C_NZ44zSRq9R2mjjqRk0aPYm13PSCOuld7f9Vdpnp8heAI/s1600/OriginalKitchentoUnits_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAHj-30o9SC5T9N3am0nyHnzQNf8NfK2Q4GUc2c3Bs9Nw7W9CBqO6T2d-RZiC04CFSNJn9wI_yMqWrQJkUi8YpHvaFF3Q_C_NZ44zSRq9R2mjjqRk0aPYm13PSCOuld7f9Vdpnp8heAI/s320/OriginalKitchentoUnits_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kitchen from original kitchen area looking into dining room end from Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</i></td></tr>
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<b> </b>Much as I love the lime green of the wall, it is fighting with the reddish colour of the countertop and the grey textured unit doors pick up both colours. The room is light filled with direct sunlight from mid afternoon for a few hours even in winter. The window over the sink looks out over the patio and down the garden. The cherry tree flowers first, then the redcurrant next door, then the apple tree then more bushes next door so the view is full of the changing seasons.<br /><br />This room would make an excellent sitting room (that is able to be used for sleeping in also) as it's more private than the front room and has better light. Eventually I hope to turn the window into patio doors and a raised patio with ramp at the end for wheelchair access.<br /><br />One difficulty I had was the ceramic tiles in the Kitchen, they were laid unevenly and also the latex glue wasn't regular so many of the tiles were broken and I kept bruising my toes on them as I moved around the room on my Bambach saddle stool. The units are old and falling apart too, so rather than repair/replace them, we decided to have a think about whether the entire ground floor worked or needed a redesign for my needs.<br />
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<b>Utility Room</b><br />
See that door next to the range cooker above? that takes you through to the Utility room. It has the back door and a patio door, both significant step downwards to ground level, then at the end of the room, a step down to where the sellers kept their fridge/freezer and washing machine and tumble dryer. Then on the left (behind the wall with mirrors) is a very small WC with toiler and basin. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDbmVnCjf3eAqb42pXxi5de7ygQ7rmsdo6Pr477x6eB8LY-qTcI84byUHhTYxDIqNias2whUA7UPATGXfzmplrt7M2sg4akIBTstsfAUFdbZI-RSHAcw56gA931bYLqSxi4SakQ4vmLg/s1600/OriginalUtility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDbmVnCjf3eAqb42pXxi5de7ygQ7rmsdo6Pr477x6eB8LY-qTcI84byUHhTYxDIqNias2whUA7UPATGXfzmplrt7M2sg4akIBTstsfAUFdbZI-RSHAcw56gA931bYLqSxi4SakQ4vmLg/s320/OriginalUtility.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Utility Area & WC from Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</i></td></tr>
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<b>Hallway & Stairs</b></div>
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The Estate Agent didn't take a picture of the hallway and stairs, but I have.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31zsXWS9r5I8J4v9meK6UBVcCDNshxozfncALvv-YMNFvgvVenitjoFlms24RsFSJyC9eemHNQvV2qN4Bk3tTNH4vQXXmXgmozgQxEwws5K_Q-wWuAJWQaBI-KYV10SH3H2tnnpYzaNY/s1600/IMG_20180814_103837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31zsXWS9r5I8J4v9meK6UBVcCDNshxozfncALvv-YMNFvgvVenitjoFlms24RsFSJyC9eemHNQvV2qN4Bk3tTNH4vQXXmXgmozgQxEwws5K_Q-wWuAJWQaBI-KYV10SH3H2tnnpYzaNY/s320/IMG_20180814_103837.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hallway and Stairs in Autumn 2017 partly moved in...</i></td></tr>
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<b> </b>What you can't see very well in the photo is the glorious original 1930s front door that now forms the inner porch door with a uPVC external front door. Originally the house would have had the wooden door inset as an open porch. Again, a step down to the outside ground level.</div>
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<b>Back Garden</b></div>
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There is a lovely brick patio filling in the return at the back of the house, with a concrete path along the back of the house, a border with bushes down the side and a raised area at the back with a shed.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXga38vC5VdZWyZtlK6UvjiMV6-S-l8k-TW_cqAUANGa1T6HdVDXo0iOBZZCgas_0_i2ueP_QkRTD1GexWzhed-nos0-4spbavOmnmFmVHlXLX1EbHhmzL05_NTezbcOS7nG8L7wMRDw/s1600/OriginalPatioDoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXga38vC5VdZWyZtlK6UvjiMV6-S-l8k-TW_cqAUANGa1T6HdVDXo0iOBZZCgas_0_i2ueP_QkRTD1GexWzhed-nos0-4spbavOmnmFmVHlXLX1EbHhmzL05_NTezbcOS7nG8L7wMRDw/s320/OriginalPatioDoors.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Patio in return at back of kitchen Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</i></td></tr>
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This patio gets very little direct sunlight until late afternoon so it makes it a lovely shady place to sit. I particularly like the bamboo on the corner and love the rustling sound it makes in the breeze.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden to the right side Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOndXHwB2hBNqGS9teIvTq60G7_k6_sDsWoFsaSufkGtnGzycePlMwdXJyL2r2gpYDBmCkrQfiqTfGTkSj3A-P_3L8IQTdPco7Rlw8eTj4KuyP4UiRcVX5Ozpg83FQneQMho6l50SR7g/s1600/OriginalGardenfromCherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="934" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOndXHwB2hBNqGS9teIvTq60G7_k6_sDsWoFsaSufkGtnGzycePlMwdXJyL2r2gpYDBmCkrQfiqTfGTkSj3A-P_3L8IQTdPco7Rlw8eTj4KuyP4UiRcVX5Ozpg83FQneQMho6l50SR7g/s320/OriginalGardenfromCherry.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear of the house Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</td></tr>
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The lawn has quite a lot of moss in it, which the sellers raked out before the pictures were taken, it is not the muddy disaster it looks like in the photos! The back gate gives level access via an alley way between the two houses and is very useful for bringing my scooter around to the patio doors. Mum and I retrieved slate chippings from the border areas in the garden and used weed suppressant fabric underneath to make a pathway for the scooter as the concrete path wasn't wide enough. <br /><br />Mum and I also worked out that by pushing a few of the railway sleepers off their double height onto the lawn and shoving small ones along, the raised area at the back of the garden could be made accessible for me with a single rather than double height that also looked better.<br />
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<b>Upstairs </b><br />
The stairs are quite steep with mean treads but, they are straight, so that makes putting a stairlift in a LOT cheaper than one with curves or corners in it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73x3QnAox2DgTdR1qe_JTTy3sO5hQeP5iENTyvB2e-6eeeYKImKRTpRDqnqDtUB8X2qNHTqw2-vGV-t3gTDUcrJLfh8pa2LI68K4tFEIDgv8OJXMiPrjgz9O92_pBZoQH1m8JxeMc2kw/s1600/IMG_20180819_151846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73x3QnAox2DgTdR1qe_JTTy3sO5hQeP5iENTyvB2e-6eeeYKImKRTpRDqnqDtUB8X2qNHTqw2-vGV-t3gTDUcrJLfh8pa2LI68K4tFEIDgv8OJXMiPrjgz9O92_pBZoQH1m8JxeMc2kw/s320/IMG_20180819_151846.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<b>Bathroom</b><br />
At the top of the stairs to the right is the bathroom, toilet behind the door, a bath with electric shower and sink, and a window that threatened to fall out every time you opened it! I changed out the window in summer 2018 and now I have an easy to open one!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLvo3zTub-Mfyo4yxxJz76qaO24JNJ7KbIYgFPMZq090TFWS7fLh-1i21ihFhKlBfQwgYJN77U61KlfiM-CM6UHRq_I39CqkB3A3qEhSCLcw1Ppez4Jbz01UX-n0VSsEPQvX_fJHLPaM/s1600/OriginalBathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLvo3zTub-Mfyo4yxxJz76qaO24JNJ7KbIYgFPMZq090TFWS7fLh-1i21ihFhKlBfQwgYJN77U61KlfiM-CM6UHRq_I39CqkB3A3qEhSCLcw1Ppez4Jbz01UX-n0VSsEPQvX_fJHLPaM/s320/OriginalBathroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstairs Bathroom Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</td></tr>
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The whole room is tiled in not unpleasant marled grey/white tiles with mosaic inserts, with a grey vinyl floor. The toilet is old and doesn't flush properly, the shower head needed to be replaced and the cold tap pretends to be turned off then starts up again so in due course this room will need to be addressed but for now it works just fine!<br />
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<b>Main Bedroom</b><br />
Is at the back of the house above the kitchen (original dining room end). I adore the Laura Ashley wallpaper and specially made roman blinds in here. Eventually the hot water tank cupboard will be taken out now that a combi boiler has been installed (summer 2018) so there's no tank any more. When the combi boiler was put in, I got them to move the radiator from behind the bedhead to underneath the window.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJwRG4-vfXWUjXyJfeHjHAUMmVLHbSthDgAd60W1SCmhsw5WTsNkHDb0PMgz73QGfFPZjE7oNk-KK_3UiyfeQHEp2y7Ly5uxtOBmC6wddM3yExYK1ug1YJQN1QSXZz3NIWi_3I1QazhE/s1600/OriginalBirdRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJwRG4-vfXWUjXyJfeHjHAUMmVLHbSthDgAd60W1SCmhsw5WTsNkHDb0PMgz73QGfFPZjE7oNk-KK_3UiyfeQHEp2y7Ly5uxtOBmC6wddM3yExYK1ug1YJQN1QSXZz3NIWi_3I1QazhE/s320/OriginalBirdRoom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Bedroom at back Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>In due course the carpet will be taken up, ceiling and non papered walls repainted and electrics upgraded, for now it's a storeroom for the entirety of my belongings that ought to be downstairs but aren't due to building work being due. <br /><br />This room gets sunlight from mid morning to mid afternoon and will make a perfect upstairs living room/ craft room with sofa bed for overnight guests eventually.<br />
<br />
<b>Second Bedroom</b><br />
This wasn't photographed for the sale but I did.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-4fyQ3Oz32OCx2nbkhDgASeAtJLC2WUn3gcXt3ehFYrILlEAZgi1FBNFCWtQNxImmEA4f43QjK8nkP7UrN46Ng_VlJIiiAG0l4yGbYRzDVLlRAGAWLpBZb3op7siYg3EguwlF7S_S50/s1600/IMG_20180807_132615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-4fyQ3Oz32OCx2nbkhDgASeAtJLC2WUn3gcXt3ehFYrILlEAZgi1FBNFCWtQNxImmEA4f43QjK8nkP7UrN46Ng_VlJIiiAG0l4yGbYRzDVLlRAGAWLpBZb3op7siYg3EguwlF7S_S50/s320/IMG_20180807_132615.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Bedroom to be my Permanent Bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>As you can see it has a full wall of mirrored sliding doors with fitted wardrobes behind. The layout doesn't quite suit me for hanging/shelf space, but will do until I've saved up to sort it out. There's just enough space between the door and window for a kingsize bed and two small bedside tables, but not much walking space between the end of the bed and the sliding doors.<br /><br />This room gets sun in the mornings, and looks out onto the street so has a large expanse of sky for cloudwatching from bed.<br /><br />This room is going to be my permanent bedroom in due course. I've had electrical work done, and the carpet has been taken up and the wallpaper stripped from the walls, so eventually once all the work has been done downstairs this room can be decorated and will be finished.<br />
<br />
<b>Bedroom 3</b><br />
<br />
Is a small single bed sized room that is currently being used to house my collection of craft materials on Ikea Ivar shelving. It's at the front over the hallway and front door.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExVwyAL6AuaErueoRXPPqzKE-8ysGLfETgo6Btj0somff1k_UDPGHizoAnsWxu1s8l5Js3M0sVBNqqUdl9Rx_ihJ1e8a2zTWkG-tzhaEldm0jkyMvP75NZZb6_QiUwV36aEuMGxt21Wk/s1600/OriginalCraftRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExVwyAL6AuaErueoRXPPqzKE-8ysGLfETgo6Btj0somff1k_UDPGHizoAnsWxu1s8l5Js3M0sVBNqqUdl9Rx_ihJ1e8a2zTWkG-tzhaEldm0jkyMvP75NZZb6_QiUwV36aEuMGxt21Wk/s320/OriginalCraftRoom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third Bedroom Estate Agent Particulars August 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>So there you go, my new (not so new now) house.<br />
<br />
<b>Why did I buy that particular house? and nearly 2 years on, did I make the right decision?</b><br />
<br />
The killer questions!<br />
<br />
For starters, why did the family move from Northumberland? Because we followed my sister who moved back to Lincolnshire for work. <br />
<br />
Mum and dad found their house close to the Library and the mediaeval Old Hall before I found this - they are in their 80s and wanted a house that they could happily live in without needing a car, they're only a few hundred metres from everything they need in the Town Centre.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cRY8EcJwbZ6oqb_N6pAGVKURMFvJ7k3zk9EI2bR1E7Sk5mS7zb_XC597TnTTiCBQogB8jnjfE1xSwZiwICvbloucLDhDakiKxqellTzDbE7p0-69aKWki1j0zGb-ZwSUhvcuDS3WLb4/s1600/IMG_20170713_181312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cRY8EcJwbZ6oqb_N6pAGVKURMFvJ7k3zk9EI2bR1E7Sk5mS7zb_XC597TnTTiCBQogB8jnjfE1xSwZiwICvbloucLDhDakiKxqellTzDbE7p0-69aKWki1j0zGb-ZwSUhvcuDS3WLb4/s320/IMG_20170713_181312.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parentals house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>So, once they decided that was the town they wanted to live in (Gainsborough) and the house, I decided I wanted to live close enough to them that they'd be able to walk to my house and I'd be able to trundle to theirs on my scooter (or other disability equipment) really easily, so I drew a circle on the Right Move house search and only looked in that area.<br /><br />Further towards the town the houses were smaller, with tiny yards - with Ivorcat being pretty much an outside cat, I wanted a decent sized garden and with Tabithacat having no road sense at all and severely arthritic I wanted a secure garden that she couldn't escape from.<br />
<br />
For myself I wanted separate garden access (as that was a nightmare at the last house having to take everything through the house), that would be easy to adapt for my disability - so no more than one step up or down on the ground floor between interior and exterior, enough space inside for using a wheelchair, and a straight staircase for a stairlift. I also needed a house that already had a toilet on both floors. I also knew it would take a year for any Disabled Facility Grant to happen so I needed enough space to be able to live downstairs initially in my pre-existing king size bed.<br /><br />Why didn't I look for a bungalow? Because they are very rarely built close to a town centre, and cost a lot more per square foot than normal houses, and there weren't any near the old town only up the hill which is a long haul!<br />
<br />
Did I make a good choice? I think yes: it's a road that people walk to get into town but not a ratrun, it's not very near any pubs or load noises, it's close enough to the parents' house and town to make it relatively easy for me to go out, it's also close to the river for a different view. The house as it's currently laid out doesn't work for me and my energy levels but the parents are giving me an early inheritence on top of the Council's Disabled Facilities Grant so I can adapt it to my needs. The house backs onto the local College so it's not overlooked much and Ivorcat has a 'green corridor' if he wants to venture further afield.<br />
<br />
Even better, the town centre has been refurbished in the last 20 years or so and has modern pavements and dropped kerbs everywhere I've wanted to go. I've only been stranded twice here, both times where derelict factories haven't been repurposed yet. The vast majority of shops are accessible for wheelchair or scooter - and there's a good range of shops from bargain pound shops and charity shops through to supermarkets through to higher end High Street like Laura Ashley and M&S food. There's buses and trains and reasonable transport links for visitors. The library is fully accessible and there's the English Heritage owned Old Hall virtually on the parents' doorstep (with actual fruit bearing Mulberry trees in season yum yum!)<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWb_9nz3q-THS53WnwD13O7UdatlMZgnU_uBswI8ZxIZOPHwLqLtaH-je_eTwedxrsmbhqWM4OKxL9BJJwmg4Yt-S8MiVOmd-chz7OgcFds7ez_88LEzlLCTJ-dYcfjcAqpZ47xuYhs8/s1600/IMG_20170713_181637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWb_9nz3q-THS53WnwD13O7UdatlMZgnU_uBswI8ZxIZOPHwLqLtaH-je_eTwedxrsmbhqWM4OKxL9BJJwmg4Yt-S8MiVOmd-chz7OgcFds7ez_88LEzlLCTJ-dYcfjcAqpZ47xuYhs8/s320/IMG_20170713_181637.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Hall - has a cafe!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There's also a fully accessible pub, The Trent Port a short walk along the river and over the bridge, which is right next to a paved river walk.<br /><br />So yes, overall the town is great and the house has the potential to, and will be great too!<br />
<br />
<b>Next post</b> - the changes I've made so far...<br />
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<b> </b></div>
Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-90320155642792936422018-03-22T15:34:00.002-07:002018-03-22T15:35:28.613-07:00Reanalysis of Pace DataToday a paper has been published in BMC Psychology. <a href="https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-018-0218-3" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
It has been summarised here by Simon McGrath <a href="https://mecfsresearchreview.me/2018/03/22/the-pace-trials-flaws-are-comprehensively-exposed-by-a-new-study/comment-page-1/#comment-2" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
And this is how I feel about it.<br />
<br />
Having been worsening moderate at the time I was on the PACE Trial in 2007 and then going severe in 2013 (nothing to do with the PACE Trial) - there is a glimmer of light on my horizon, I can stagger around the house, my brain has come back a lot, I've been assessed as needing an electric power wheelchair and I'm hoping to be referred to the local me/cfs unit who do home visits (yay them!) for help and brain picking on my various symptoms. So that's all good. But by my standards of 2007 when I could still work parttime (albeit not do anything else) I know that person I was, wouldn't be considering those to be glimmers of hope so much as signs of how far my health has collapsed.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this is the comment I posted on Simon's analysis.<br />
<br />
Feel free to share it:<br />
<br />
<br />
well those results make more sense to me! I was on the CBT of Pace Trial starting early 2007 at Kings; they said there wasn't a magic bullet but they hoped I'd be able to do more by the end. I worked really hard at it and by the end, the therapist wrote to my gp he was someone bewildered and annoyed (my paraphrase) that this hadn't happened.<br />
<br />
during hte period from winter 2005 (as a result of being told by a gp in 2004 to sleep less and exercise more, which sounded like an excellent plan as I loved exercise I bought a bike and commuted a couple of miles each way to work and back - I increasingly had time off sick with tonsil issues and lost my job as a result of that. I never worked full time again), my moderate me/cfs was getting worse. The CBT, by dint of us getting stuck at the bit of the Manual that was about creating a baseline (it was only during the recession 2010+ when there was no work available for a contractor with variable health that I realised trying to work was above my baseline back in 2007/08), managed to slow down the decline in health with the me/cfs, that and going from a 50 hour week to a 25 hour week at work. So I no longer had the lead carapace of fatigue a minute or so after waking. BUT my walking test, at the end I managed to do half the distance as at the beginning in the same amount of time, and the same with the up down step test. I also gave up skiing, swimming, walking for pleasure, going to church, going out with friends, cooking and working full time.<br />
<br />
So for me, the idea that the fatigue improved but function didn't. Yes, that's totally spot on. And it's always puzzled me how my experience wasn't reflected in the overall results - particularly as the Unit implied that I was one of the few who carried on working and was therefore something of a 'poster girl' in a way. <br />
<br />
Whilst i'm only ONE person out of the hundreds at a variety of different centres. Finally, the results make sense on the original protocols.<br />
<br />
One other thought is that i was told at the beginning that if I didn't improve on the allocated arm, I could choose one of the other arms at the end. I chose pacing. but they didnt' have anyone to deliver it. they tried to get me to do a pacing form of get, but I was too scared. I wonder if that offer at the beginning was (a) actually translated into treatment at the end for many of the participants and (b) whether those who did take it up are a subset that can be analysed? Or maybe they did... I am not at all understanding the ins and outs.<br />
<br />
When I went severe in 2013, living in Northumberland by then, there was no provision by the me/cfs unit to help people who had already been diagnosed and couldn't get there. So for lack of anything else, I picked up the manual. and tried to follow it. the sleep hygiene and boom and bust elements did work to stabilise me again, but again, it was by dint of reducing what I do to well frankly food and water in one end and out of the other for a year, slowly building to being able to hold my head up by myself and sit up in bed in year two, and finally going from crawling to staggering in years 3 & 4. And that was all down to giving stuff up. Which is not what the CBT itself was mostly about I think?<br />
<br />
The one thing that the CBT on Pace gave me was this<br />
'think about how to do things differently'<br />
<br />
it has helped me cope with the grief of losing myself, my sense of self worth, the person I was with my career and interests and friends. It has helped me scrape together a modicum of quality of life. admittedly not one I would have recognised back in 2007 when I was terrified of jsut getting worse bit by bit and ending up in a wheelchair (now I yearn to be well enough to use a wheelchair snort). but from where I am now, there's some quality, compared to before.<br />
<br />
So. for me, I have mixed feelings. Mostly though, I genuinely don't understand why a medical trial that was to find out if these worked, was presented afterwards as a viable cure. When it obviously wasn't. Even with the change in protocol. <br />
<br />
If only they'd presented it as a stopgap way of maybe alleviating the worst symptoms by being consistent in using energy and doing less (which is what I did in my CBT) consistently, or merely as a way to cope mentally with the horror of your life slipping away before your eyes, then maybe, just maybe, they would have been acting as 'best industry practice' researchers. As it is, as a DIRECT result of their misguided/ accidental attempts to appear more successful than they were, a great deal of anguish and harm has been caused globally by the poor implementation of strategies that will never ever produce the vaunted results. And, sadly, they have blood on their hands for that mistake. They also have blood on their hands for not, in the face of overwhelming factual evidence, saying, ok, sorry we misstepped, let's make it right, let's analyse it according to the protocol and see what it really tells us, which is that with CBT people were less fatigued but lost function, and with GET people had more function (and presumably more fatigue). For me, as a long standing (im)patient with this illness, you know what that tells me? to look at the elements of CBT and GET more closely and find out if a balance can be found where people both increase function and decrease fatigue. As a layperson and from personal experience - that lies in doing less, resting more between activities and living within your energy envelope. Oh wait, isn't that what the patient community has said all along? Well yes. Unfortunately, that sort of pacing ISN'T what hte protocols tested. It was some never seen in real life thing called APT.<br />
<br />
I am so sad that the reasearchers, nurses, therapists and statisticians who genuinely undertook this wanting to help us (possibly from the vantage point of high on their hobby horse but nevertheless) have found themselves in a maelstrom of accusation and finger pointing, deservedly as far as protocol changes go as far as I can tell, and also deservedly as far as their attitudes to the patient community and anyone who doesn't hold the same opinion (everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts) but above all, that their work and good intentions have caused so much harm and anguish to those they sought to help. As individuals all those I've ever spoken to or met who were part of PACE were genuinely concerned about my health and whether I was getting help or not. In fact Kings me/cfs unit were the first people to say it's ok, it's real, you are genuinely unwell, you aren't imagining it. And for me it's not just about a fundamentally flawed trial, it's about careers broken and lost (both patients and professionals involved in the strange way the trial results were presented) but above all, lives, patient lives lost. I am so very very fed up of seeing yet another fb post for an me/cfs person who has lost their battle with other conditions, with that illness or from suicide because they just can't go on, they have no hope.<br />
<br />
And above all, that's what the false presentation of the Pace findings did - gave hope that was an unrealistic expectation and then stole it away - that presentation sets up EVERY SINGLE PATIENT who followed the protocol on the trial (acceptable because that was about finding out if it worked or not) and subsequently who takes the treatments as that's all that is available, on the false premise that they will fix us (which is unforgiveable) to FAIL. Setting them up to fail at a time when they are frightened, alone and often with looming financial crises as they can no longer work. Until you've been through it, you have NO idea how terrifying it is to have pain that you are not sure if it's real, to be debilitated by it, to wonder if you are making it up, if you are just being a wuss and if you could just man up you could get over it, but above all, not knowing every time you try and move or even think, whether or not your mind and body will follow instructions. I've still not got over that terror, even though mostly my body is almost reliable these days. And it's that lack of understanding of the fear caused by the illness, by the reaction of friends and family, of the general public, of health professionals that you can't rely on your own body, but you can rely on it getting worse if you try too hard, that is the real root of the rot that the appallingly presented PACE results has as it's legacy.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure that's NOT what the PACE researchers ever intended. But it IS the consequence of their mistaken attempts to gild the lily with the results.Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-7604509599664453542018-03-13T04:56:00.002-07:002018-03-13T05:03:05.451-07:00Recipe - Sausage braised with cabbage and apple - Time 30mins, Skill (Easy), Eating (Medium)Hello! Well I'm a bit surprised I've not blogged for over a year here. I thought I had. I planned to... But life got in the way, firstly I bought myself a machine that cuts and draws, thinking it would get me back into doing a bit of crafting (it has) and I've been blogging about that on my other blog <a href="http://goblinfblog.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">HERE</a>, and also, I was getting ready to, then actually moving house, then recovering from it.<br />
<br />
Anyway lots of new recipes in my head, if only because since I moved here, and my carers who do batch cooking on Tuesday and Friday agreed to it, I now get an organic veg box every other week. So there's LOADS more fresh veg in my diet now. The other change is that I now only have a combination microwave. No hob and no oven (the previous owners of my new palace took it with them, it had more controls than a spaceship so I insisted lol). So for now recipes will be done for people with and oven and a hob but also, for my convenience, have microwave/combination instructions also. So. Follow one or the other not both! or you'll get confused!<br />
<br />
This week I have rather a lot of vegetables, I wasn't feeling well so we didn't cook last tuesday and I'm feeling overrun. So this recipe uses up a whole cabbage.<br />
<br />
[Picture to follow once it's been made. In about an hour or so...] <br />
<br />
<b>What is it?</b> Sausages cooked with onion and apple and cabbage on the hob or in the microwave.<br />
<br />
<b>Time required?</b> around 30minutes<br />
<br />
<b>Cooking skill required?</b> easy to medium. Carer needs to know how to cut up an onion and to quarter, core and finely shred (long strands) a cabbage. <br />
<br />
Some carers are quite slow at chopping vegetables. Remember you can buy onions ready chopped that are frozen so that makes it easier and also you can I think buy ready chopped cabbage. Anyway, it may take an extra 15mins if the carer is slow at prepping veggies. They will get faster, particularly if you either show or explain what to do, OR get them to watch a suitable you tube video. Oh and a sharp knife helps!<br />
<br />
<b>Eating ability required?</b> Medium. Because cabbage does need to be chewed. Obviously the finer it's chopped the less chewing, but still. Also the sausages can be skinned and cut up, or even balls of sausagemeat used instead which makes it easier but even so. I think medium.<br />
<br />
<b>SAUSAGES BRAISED IN CABBAGE WITH APPLE</b><br />
<b>Portion Size</b> 4 (I usually get 5 or 6 but then I use a LOT of cabbage and have one sausage per portion)<br />
<br />
<b>INGREDIENTS</b><br />
<br />
<b>1 tbsp (tablespoon) of olive oil </b>(or vegetable oil)<br />
<br />
<b>450g (1lb) of sausages</b> - skinned and cut into bite size pieces. <br />
<br />
It can take time to skin them, and the carer might not want to handle
raw sausage meat - so either buy skinless or get the carer to cut up the
sausages after they've been cooked if you can cope with the skins. If
you are ok with cutting up your own food, they can be used whole.
Sometimes you can buy raw mini sausages or meatballs made of sausage,
they could be a good alternative.<br />
<br />
If you're a vegetarian, then I think SosMix would work well <a href="http://www.sosmix.com/" target="_blank">here</a><br />
A word about sausages, the better quality you can afford, the nicer the recipe will be. I like them with caramelized onion or with apple. Today's were venison and pork, purely because I buy meat when there's a deal on at the online supermarket and that's what they had. I keep them in the freezer til I want to eat a sausage dish for a week. I just use a pack (usually about 4-6 sausages and ask the carers to chop each sausage into say 4 to 5 pieces and then make sure they understand when plating up that each portion needs 4-5 pieces ie one sausage's worth in it)<br />
<br />
<b>Large handful of chopped onion</b> (as you know from previous recipes, I buy frozen ready chopped onion)<br />
<br />
<b>A large apple</b> - any sort but the crisper the better. Washed, cored and cut to bite size pieces. If you want less to chew, peel it first!<br />
<br />
<b>A cabbage</b> - washed, checked for wildlife, cut into quarters, cored and cut into shreds (long thin slices). Or smaller pieces if it's easier to chew. <br />
<br />
<b>Splash of cider vinegar</b> - this is about two teaspoons I think. Not more than a tablespoon. It brightens the flavour. Don't use normal vinegar! In a pinch you can use a bit of lemon juice, I keep a bottle of it in the fridge for things like this.<br />
<br />
<b>Salt and Pepper</b> - to taste<br />
<br />
<b>Water</b> - better to be hot, the amount depends whether you want a stew or just a moist braised dish. For a stew you are looking at about half a litre/ one pint. For a moist braised dish you are looking at about 100-200ml/ quarter pint.<br />
<br />
<b>Herbs -</b> You could add whatever herbs you liked, caraway or dill are traditionally eastern european, or a mixed italian one, or whatever goes with the sausages you are using. Or none at all. I like a bay leaf in it. I put herbs in at the same stage as the cabbage and water.<br /><br /><b>Garlic</b> - You could also add garlic if you want at the same stage as the onion. I use ready prepped garlic that comes in a tube as a paste.<br />
<br />
<b>PREPARATION</b><br />
<br />
Using a Hob:<br />
<ol>
<li>Heat the oil in a pan big enough to take everything, and gently fry the sausage pieces until cooked through</li>
<li> Add the onions (and garlic if using) on a low heat until they are translucent (see through) you aren't trying to make them crispy! If they start to burn, add a tablespoon of water or so, caramelised is fine, cremated is not!</li>
<li>Add the chopped apple and cook for a couple of minutes</li>
<li>Add the shredded cabbage and season with salt and pepper, the cider vinegar and the amount of water you've chosen to use. Add herbs if using.</li>
<li>Increase heat and cook until the cabbage is softened (it's up to you if it has some bite or melts in your mouth more. Get the carer to bring you a bit on a teaspoon for tasting).</li>
<li>Adjust seasoning and serve.</li>
</ol>
Using a microwave: (mine is an E category)<br />
<ol>
<li>Get a big pyrex dish with a lid or whatever you usually use in your microwave. ALWAYS put the lid on - it keeps the food moist, but also, means you don't have to clean the microwave as often!</li>
<li>Put the oil and sausages in the dish and mix well. Put the lid on, cook for 2-3 minutes on full power, checking half way through and stirring. They don't have to be fully cooked through at this stage because that'll happen when the onions are added.</li>
<li>Add the onions and mix well, put the lid on, cook for 2-3 minutes on full power, again checking and stirring half way. Add a bit of water if it's looking dry.</li>
<li>Add the chopped apple and cook for 2 minutes on full power. Again, mix well and stirring half way. Add a bit of water if it's looking dry. Just to moisten it.</li>
<li>Add the shredded cabbage and season with salt and pepper and the water and mix well. Cook on full power for about 5 minutes but keep checking and stirring.</li>
<li>Add the cider vinegar and give it one more minute (the reason is I find that with microwaving either the flavour disappears for things like this, or gets super strong if you add it earlier).</li>
<li>Check it's cooked to the right bite/softness and adjust seasoning and serve. If it's too chewy cook for a bit longer. <br /> </li>
</ol>
REMEMBER that you're batch cooking this and microwaving to reheat so it needs to be a bit chewier than you want, so that it is the right chewiness after reheating tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<b>Trying to lose weight? </b>Then don't use the oil. Instead, put a couple of tablespoons of water into the pan first, then add the sausage pieces, onion and apple. Let them simmer for 5-10 mins, then add the other ingredients in the order above. The
flavour won't be as rich/ caramelised, so you might need more herbs, or
tomatoes to compensate - or higher quality sausages.<br />
<br />
<b>SERVING SUGGESTIONS</b><br />
<ul>
<li>I eat it just as it is. If you want it a bit richer, then a blob of
creme fraiche or plain live yoghurt (good for the digestion) works.</li>
<li>Nice with a side of green runner beans or soy beans (good for ladies of a certain age) or fresh french bread & butter. Or buttered carrots.</li>
<li>It gets better, the flavours develop the next day. Keeps in the
fridge for 3-4 days as long as it's cooled fairly fast and refridgerated
quickly (you have to be careful with pork) </li>
</ul>
<b>ALTERNATIVES</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b> </b>Don't see why you couldn't use beef or lamb or venison
meatballs if you fancied them instead of sausages. <br /><br /><b> </b></li>
<li>You could also use bite size chunks of any meat instead - diced pork, lamb, chicken, turkey etc.<br /><b><br /></b> </li>
<li>Loads of different sorts of sausages - I think chunks of dried
sausage like chorizo or italian or salami also works well (your carer
might find it easier to deal with skinning & chunking dried
sausage). I think this is originally an Eastern European dish so any of their hard sausages would work really well, or German ones.</li>
<li>Add other vegetables to bulk it out - Basically, if you've any
fresh veg that you've not used up yet and is in danger of going off,
this recipe can probably cope with a random variety! <br /><br />You could leave out the meat altogether and have a medley of root veg instead.</li>
</ul>
<b>Can it be reheated? </b>Yes, it is even better the day after making
and it is happy being microwaved (just add a tablespoon of water to stop
it getting dry on reheating).<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Is it freezeable?</b> I haven't, but I don't see why not. You'd just
have to be careful making sure that the pork is properly defrosted and
heated right through.Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-33117555103101465962017-01-21T18:59:00.001-08:002017-01-21T19:03:17.810-08:00TED talk on ME by Jenn BreaIt's nice and easy to listen to, she has a lovely gentle voice, and no applause (they waved instead) cos she's noise sensitive. It did make me cry when she got to various bits, especially about people not being who they were, but well worth a watch.<br />
<br />
If you aren't up to moving pictures, there's a transcript. There's also annotations, and she has a website with lots of info/ support links on it.<br />
<br />
The TED Talk is <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/jen_brea_what_happens_when_you_have_a_disease_doctors_can_t_diagnose?c=975495" target="_blank">HERE</a>Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-17164942388825129842016-03-09T06:21:00.001-08:002016-03-09T06:21:13.041-08:00Some thoughts on PainNote: This is draft, I'm still working on it. But I've added it cos today I've come across 2 people who might find it helpful. Pictures and spell check and tidying up for making sense will happen eventually<br />****************************************<br /><br />Pain is something I never really thought about before I got ME/CFS. It was something that happened only at specific times, like bashing my elbow or falling off my bike or my pony as a child. It had an identifiable cause and effect (I bang my elbow is the cause, with an effect of pain where I banged it) and was real in that it was related to some specific visible damage to my body, and acute, in that it hurt, then it healed and decreased accordingly. In short, basic over the counter pain killers worked.<br />
<br />
Then from around 2005 onwards I was assailed by different forms of pain. The first being random pains that either had a specific origin say my leg or arm, but no apparent cause (rather like those mystery bruises we all get sometimes, they're there but we don't remember walking into anything.) <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Then, rather more bizarrely, the second being something that wasn't quite pain, but I didn't (and still don't) have the words to describe. A something that, in fact, could only reliably be noticed and described by its absence. A sort of 'miasma' that was more and more frequently present, that had no cause or effect, that I really only noticed when it wasn't there. I would wake up feeling all light and healthy then a few seconds later a carapace of unwellness would descend on my body and weigh me down for the rest of the day. Or someone would comment how much I was smiling and I would realise it was because the mystery unwellness that had no identifiable source wasn't there today.<br />
<br />
It didn't feel like pain in that there wasn't an 'ouch' in a specific or non-specific place. It was more the other things you feel when you have pain - concentrating is more hard, you feel tired, unwell, worn out, slowed down, uncomfortable. In desperation, I took basic pain killers in the mornings, every morning, and it helped. It masked that feeling of being mired in an unseen, unfelt 'miasma' all day. The very odd thing was that I didn't need to take more painkillers throughout the day, the basic morning dose kept me miasma free all day. Which frankly has to be bunkum in scientific terms because painkillers just don't last that long! But, that's my experience, it is what it is. For a long time I did wonder if I was making it up, though I had no idea why I would.<br />
<br />
Later on, as my ME/CFS has worsened and became more severely moderate and fully severe, and basic painkillers just didn't work, again I wondered if the pain was real, or just in my head. Because mostly, as my activities decreased, I was getting the sort of pain one would get after a foolish attempt to get fit fast by taking 3 zumba classes in a week on top of a stonking hangover, without actually having done much at all.<br />
<br />
To be honest, it all got rather bewildering. When I mentioned the disconnect I noticed between what I was doing and the pain I was experiencing in 2007 to a psychologist on the PACE Trial (to be fair he thought I was there as a roundup on the CBT treatment I'd had and I thought I was there for a medical appointment, so we were doomed from the start!) the only advice I was given was to take fewer painkillers - as by this stage I was taking the max dosage of paracetamol daily. Nothing like being abandoned when you need help! Needless to say I was rather frustrated and cross.<br />
<br />
So, in that context, of being in pain that shouldn't exist, is hard to describe and not knowing how to fix it: the subject of pain has been much in my mind of late years! Why it happens, how to cope with the effects it has, and how to make it stop!!!<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>PAIN IS USEFUL</b>Am I kidding? No. I'm not. <br /><br />As you may or may not know, I have a faith, a mix of protestant christian Anglican and Baptist. I would hope it shows in a good way. Apologies if it doesn't, it's a fallen world and whilst my best is good enough for me, I do realise it might not be for others.<br /><br />Part of being perpetually ill is the 'why me? why does it happen to nice people? why does it happen at all?' series of questions one asks the wider cosmos. My faith, in theory, would help me with this, but when one is staring at an abyss, it's hard to see the wood for the trees (to mix a few metaphors). Yes my faith gives me 'jam tomorrow'. On an eternal timescale, this life and its difficulties, is tiny, not even the blink of an eye. My faith gives me the promise of a pain free, happy eternity. I just have to wait this 'blink' out and then all will be fine.<br /><br />But still. Illness? Pain? when there's not any obvious damage? Give me a break God - it's wonky! Fix it please!<br /><br />I have a book by an American christian guy called Philip Yancey called 'Where is God when it hurts?' I don't know that it would be a good read for a committed atheist, you probably wouldn't like it, though the factual details (about how pain works in the human body) he gives to illustrate his thoughts on pain are interesting. For those with a faith, even a failing or past one, it might be helpful. <br /><br />This is what he says about pain being useful... (my emphasis in bold)<br /><br /><i>Pain is not God's great goof. <b>The sensation of pain is the gift that nobody wants</b>. More than anything, pain should be viewed as a communication network. [...] a remarkable network of pain sensors stands guard duty with the singular purpose of keeping me from injury. <br /><br />I do not say that all pain is good. Sometimes it flares up and makes life miserable. For someone with crippling arthritis or terminal cancer, pain dominates so much that any relief, especially in a painless world, would seem like heaven itself. But for the majority of us, the pain network performs a daily protective service. It is effectively designed for surviving life on this sometimes hostile planet.<br /><br />In Dr Brand's words, "The one legitimate complaint you can make about pain is that it cannot be switched off. It can rage out of control, as with a terminal cancer patient, though its warning has been heard and there is no more than can be done to treat the cause of the pain. But as a physician I'm sure that less than one per cent of pain is in a category that we might call out of control. Ninety-nine percent of all the pains that people suffer are short-term pains: correctable situations that call for medication, rest and a change in a person's lifestyle."<br /><br />Admittedly the surprising idea of the "gift of pain" does not answer many of the problems connected with suffering. But it is a beginning point of a realistic perspective on suffering. Too often the emotional trauma of intense pain blinds us to its inherent value.<br /><br />When I break an arm and swallow bottles of aspirin to dull the ache, gratitude for pais is not the first thought that comes to mind. Yet at that very moment, pain is alerting my body to the danger, mobilizing anti-infection defenses around the wound, and forcing me to refrain from activities that may compound the injury. Pain demands the attention that is crucial to my recovery.</i><br /><i>From Part 1 Why is there such a thing as Pain? 2. The Gift Nobody Wants by Philip Yancy 'Where is God when it hurts' published by Zondervan</i><b> <br /><br />Pain is a gift?</b><br />When I first read the initial chapters of 'Where is God when it hurts?' I was truly shocked. This idea that pain is a 'gift', a survival strategy I should be grateful for, was so very very alien to me. It was NOT how I thought of pain at all. I thought of pain as an incredibly unwelcome intruder that got in the way of my life.<br /><br />In the edition I own, he talks of people with leprosy. As leprosy progresses, sufferers lose the sensation of pain, they do not realise when damage is being done to their bodies. And as a result they lose physical parts of themselves: fingers, toes, noses, ears etc. He described how in, I think, India, poverty stricken leprosy sufferers would time and again come to the clinic with damage they had no recollection of causing. Eventually, part of the cause was seen to be nocturnal attacks by rodents, and each sufferer was given a cat, as rodent control, which significantly reduced the problems those sufferers had with damage to their extremities. As it says above - 'a change in a person's lifestyle' - is not always what one would expect! 'doing things differently' in action!<b><br /><br />Pain has an emotional element?</b><br />Also, the idea of pain being an 'emotional trauma' was alien to me. Quite apart from me being something of a lifelong 'emotional cripple', disliking and distrusting strong emotions: I think with current western medicine, particularly in the light of the, at times, hugely acrimonious contention that ME/CFS is a 'mental' issue causing physical symptoms (which formed the base of the PACE Trial), we have a natural desire to divorce mind and body in any case of illness. However, I feel that this is particularly true of ME/CFS sufferers who have to battle to get help and to 'prove' they are ill with symptoms that need addressing physically, not merely with counselling and 'positive thinking'.<br /><br />The NHS is not geared towards holistic medicine, to considering the effects of the physical on the mental and vice versa. Physical and mental medicine are firmly separate disciplines. When one has an illness that doesn't conveniently fit into a conventional diagnosis, and when there is no treatment, then there's problems getting help on the NHS (or even privately). One's predominant symptoms are either categorised as physical or mental and off you are sent down the conveyor belt that is built to work out what's wrong, fix you and send you home. Sometimes you are sent down both the physical and mental conveyor belts, but not at the same time and there's rarely any crossover of medical discipline to deal with the 'whole'.<br /><br />In addition, with a condition like ME/CFS one has to fight so hard to be recognised as ill in the first place, and with the mental discipline conveyor belt being apparently full of professionals hell bent on proving their own pet theories about ME/CFS rather than actually addressing one's actual needs to continue living, it's entirely natural, and to be brutal, life preserving to reject any notion that the illness involves mental issues at all. I myself, whether with gynaecological or ME/CFS issues have had great trouble convincing medics that yes I may be depressed, but the depression is a natural after effect of my physical difficulties and not the other way around.</li>
<li><b>PAIN IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD</b>Again, am I kidding? No. I am not.<br /><br />For starters, let's go back to Philip Yancey and his 'Where is God when it hurts'. He talks about 'referred pain' where say, one eats an icecream too fast. There are no pain receptors in the stomach, there couldn't be, the actions of the stomach would be so strong and debilitate us permanently if there were with so much pain we couldn't move. So instead, the body 'lends' pain receptors from elsewhere, for example, with an icecream headache, to the bridge of the nose.<br /><br />So, my understanding is, that with actual pain, stubbing a toe, or with referred pain, an icecream headache, these are actual real chemicals sparking away, sending messages to the brain that there's an issue. And yet at the same time, the message the brain gets is that there is a problem at a particular place in the body, and it warns our consciousness it's time to stop whatever we're up to because there's a potential for damage. In that sense, the pain is in our heads. <br /><br />I have a friend who is a GP. About 5 years ago I told her about the pain my brain told me I had, which I sort of could locate on my body, for which painkillers worked. But also there was this pain the brain told me I had, but I couldn't locate in a specific place and that there didn't seem to be any damage - it wasn't actual or referred pain. That painkillers often didn't touch. <br /><br />I was worried that either I was making up this pain for some reason not known to me and I'd like to be able to stop, that it was all in my head. I was also worried that this pain was overwhelming me with it's sheer unstoppable grinding existence, constantly there in the background. Why I asked does this happen and what can I do about it?<br /><br />Her response - all pain is in your head, and if your painkillers aren't working, try different ones. Because painkillers do different things.<br /><br />As you may have gathered by now I am not remotely interested in medicine or illness. I want solutions on a plate. I don't want to have to learn about being ill, that's what doctors are for, to fix me without me having to know the detail in the same way I expect a TV to work without me knowing how, or others used to expect me to get their tax bill right without them having to know the whys and wherefores.<br /><br />So, her response came as something of a surprise. Because yes, I suppose all pain is in my head in a physical 'sparking of chemicals' way, because that's the central processing point, and painkillers stop the signals getting there, to my head. And, really? they do different things?<br /><br />It wasn't until a couple of years later for example, that I was told that you can take ibuprofen and paracetamol together. Who knew! And what was more exciting was, together, for a while, that combination kept the 'miasma' under control when one or the other by themselves didn't.<br /><br />So what about pain that I feel that has no source? or can't physically be there? <br /><br />For a year or so when I first became severe, the inside of my bones hurt. Which can't be possible, there's no pain receptors there and it couldn't be referred pain, because the whole point of referred pain is it happens where there are receptors for areas where there aren't. Therefore, if the inside of my bones actually hurt, I'd be feeling it somewhere else. As it turned out, a prescription for Vitamin D appears (though I have no actual proof) to have mostly got rid of that particular symptom, that and stabilising generally. But it is an instance of pain that can't possibly physically be true in the sense of actually happening where my brain is telling me it is.<br /><br />However, it is known that when people lose limbs, amputees, they feel pain in them even though there's no limb left. So where is that pain happening? As an ignorant layman I'd say it's in their heads. Because there's nowhere else it can be happening, the limb no longer is there. That's not to say that such sensations are a mental issue, again, I feel they're physical, to do with 'chemicals sparking' though what sets them off I couldn't say.<br /><br />Just before Christmas 2015 my neck went wonky and I prevailed upon the local osteopath to make housecalls. This 'phantom pain' was something we discussed. Pain that happens in my head, but can't be true in a physical biological sense, because it's not possible.<br /><br />What I understood him to say (which may not be what he actually said), was, that in his experience, people do experience pain where there's no damage (or it can't be happening as above), and it appears to be caused by the pain network sending confused signals, which need to be interruped. This can be by painkillers, antidepressants, etc or physical manipulation or intervention of the body to help the pain network recognise genuine movement and sensation from 'phantom' sensation.<br /><br />This leads me to my third and final thought on pain:</li>
<li><b>PAIN AND MOOD FEED OFF EACH OTHER</b>Again, am I kidding? No. I'm not.<br /><br />This idea was a surprise from a GP at the current practice I'm registered with. For a while in 2013 I had turned up wailing about being exhausted, my PACE Trial CBT techniques weren't working and I was frightened I was getting worse and didn't know how to deal with it.<br /><br />I didn't get very far until I (a) took my dad with me who was able to be articulate about how the way I was was unusual and uncharacteristic (yes I know, not my finest hour in my mid 40s but I was desperate) and (b) I wrote out a chart of things I would normally do that I was now failing at. Basic things like personal care and feeding myself and climbing stairs (on my bum by this stage).<br /><br />The GP listened, looked and energetically swivelled his chair to face us exclaiming 'You can't live like this, staring into an abyss! Your symptoms need to be controlled!' Hurrah a breakthrough! I would get help! Except I was so traumatised by the whole experience, I was too busy crying to notice, fortunately dad was listening.... <br /><br />Anyway. What he said next I was doubtful about - pain and mood feed of each other so I needed painkillers AND antidepressants. He had recently read a paper on the subject so prescribed basic co-codamol and a low dose of Sertraline. And warned me it would take up to 6 weeks to kick in.<br /><br />Two days later, it was working. With some slightly odd side effects - the hyper realistic dreams caused some difficulties with my family, until we worked out that they were dreams and I hadn't actually already eaten my dinner/ asked for shopping to be done and so on. I still find it disconnecting to wake up feeling a very strong negative emotion from a dream, that I'm not actually experiencing now I'm awake. It was a rather fast and startling transformation. The pain wasn't completely under control, but it wasn't so debilitating any more that I couldn't see around it. Over the next few years, the pain has stabilised such that it only really kicks in if I do too much.<br /><br />It was a salutory lesson to me, I was frightened of taking anti-depressants, of my illness being labelled as purely mental. And the idea of taking more meds, of combining them to achieve a greater result than the sum of the parts taking meds for mind and for body together that felt strange. And that my mood (mental) affected the pain (physical), that was alien to me, even though I would readily and had in the past argued that the physical pain affected my mood. Looking back it seems rather illogical that I would argue an effect in one direction, and deny it in the opposite, but I suspect that comes down to the unfortunate experiences I have had dealing with 'mental health' professionals.<br /><br />Again, for me, with hindsight, it comes down to 'doing things differently'. Taking a punt and being willing to try ideas that are outlandish or in some way might undermine a cherished way of thinking (ME/CFS is not a psychological issue therefore no psychological technique can help) even if that way of thinking has been adopted to 'protect' myself from the danger of my illness being exacerbated.<br /><br />Finally though, what has really helped with my pain is being in a position to STOP and live my life differently, in a way that minimises the pain. I've already written about 'giving things up', and in some ways, being suddenly that ill, being forced to give up things, is a lot easier than choosing to do it. <br /><br />I find it interesting that in that excerpt from Philip Yancey's book above, he quotes Dr Brand as saying experiencing pain in 99% of cases is a <i>'call for medication, rest and a change in a person's lifestyle'. </i>We are all very ready to take meds when the pain gets too much, to rest for what we consider a reasonable amount of time (which may not actually be enough), but to change our lifestyles permanently? In our culture, the fallibility of our bodies is something to be denied, worked through, medicated, ignored. Countless adverts claim 'take this and you can carry on regardless'. And yet, with this illness ME/CFS, that cultural norm is fatal to our continued wellbeing, sense of ourselves and possibly even our existence.</li>
</ol>
Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-70541852909703169622016-02-16T05:46:00.003-08:002016-02-16T07:15:39.305-08:00All that 'giving up' and doing things differentlyBack in 2007 when I was diagnosed, I ended up on the PACE Trial, randomised onto the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course of treatment. The therapist was a nice enough chap, except for his habit of asking me a question, me answering and then him keeping asking what was behind my answer. He kept doing it despite us both being flummoxed, as, seriously, I'm just NOT that deep a thinker! There's nothing deeper in my emotions than my first response, I'm really very shallow!<br />
<br />
Anyway, one rather more useful repetition of his was - How can you do things differently?<br />
<br />
To continue having interests in life, but that don't eat so much energy (mental and physical).<br />
<br />
It's a small question. But a very useful one, whether you're mild, moderate or severely affected - because everyone who has this illness, they have to 'give things up'. It can be a 'little' thing like walking instead of taking the bus, going out and socialising less often, or a 'big' thing like being able to wash themselves or go to the loo, have a shower or even eat & drink.<br />
<br />
Often it's a relentless succession of giving up. Within a matter of days, weeks, months or years, one ends up having 'given up' so many things that it feels like there's nothing left.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.broadway.org.uk/images/events/film_belleville_rendez_vous/banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.broadway.org.uk/images/events/film_belleville_rendez_vous/banner.jpg" height="219" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belleville Rendezvous animation - can't cycle? watch cycling instead...<br />
<a name='more'></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back in 2007 when I was moderately affected, I remember being outraged
that they (the professionals) weren't going to fix me by helping me to
do more. I already felt I'd given everything up I could - I'd reduced my
socialising to virtually nothing but was still working not quite full
time, then again I was still cycling, going to church, going shopping,
yada yada yada, and had just been skiing (yeah I know. One run a day and
a friend carried my skis for me!).<br />
<br />
Over the course of the treatment I ended up working half to one third
hours, and everything else, including cooking, pretty much was stopped
dead. I really did feel desolately lost as though me, I, myself, as a
thing, a concrete solid presence, was being chipped away. I couldn't
imagine that there was anything left to give up, it made me sad, fearful
and griefsticken. I used to sit in the living room and stroke my
pushbike, tears leaking from my eyes, so sad that I couldn't just jump
on and go for a short ride, and angry at the 'waste' of money spent on
things I could no longer use. My worst fear was this 'giving up' would
never end, leaving me unable to do anything, stuck in a wheelchair.<br />
<br />
With the therapist's help, I found substitutions - ways to do things
differently - watching pro-cycling like the Tour de France on the TV
instead of actually cycling, listening to sermons online instead of
going to church, doing tapestry cushions with pre made patterns instead
of my self-designed textiles. By the end of the year, I had mostly
successfully cut my coat according to my cloth and was almost stabilised
(that didn't happen until I actually wasn't able to work due to the
recession). A somewhat unhappy state of affairs, which lasted a few
years.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/filling-glass-tap-water-14704142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/filling-glass-tap-water-14704142.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a simple thing. Until you can't do it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then came 2013 when in a matter of weeks I could suddenly no longer walk
even short distances, drive my car, climb stairs and on one awful
morning, stand up long enough to get a glass of water from the tap and
drink it. (Fortunately I wasn't working at the time). Within days I was
facing the stark choice, in energy terms (of what was available to me)
of either eating or drinking or going to the loo. I had a duvet and
cushion on the floor in every room and was crawling and having to lie
down every metre. On one memorable occasion, family came to see me,
switched on the TV and, quite naturally, put the remote back by the TV.
As one does. Except it took me a double bill of daytime TV to crawl to
the TV 2 metres away to retrieve the remote, and back to the sofa.<br />
<br />
I felt, yet again, like there wasn't anything left to give up. I
wasn't even managing to exist by myself, family had to come and sort out
food and water for me to survive - leaving glasses of water in different rooms for me and plated up food in the fridge. My sister took the cat to her house,
and my dad put the microwave on the floor for me because I couldn't use
it even on the counter top. My skin, bones, muscles all were in agony
and I had to have the curtains shut. I didn't want to kill myself, but
there was a sudden realisation that I had left it too late, and wouldn't
be able to if I'd wanted. It was a time of genuine terror, grief and
deep despair.<br />
<br />
That's my worst. And yet, there are
others with this illness even more affected than that, who have periods
of paralysis, are peg fed, have catheters, can't transfer to a commode
by themselves, get no symptom relief no matter the cocktail of drugs,
amongst all sorts of other difficulties.<br />
<br />
In short, as fellow
meeps will know, this illness strips away everything we surround
ourselves with, our lives and our existence, our idea of ourselves. And
it's really bloody tough to cope with.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://normsonline.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://normsonline.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drugs drugs and more drugs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>DISTRACTING ONESELF </b><br />
<br />
One
particularly difficult area is how one distracts oneself from the
horrible reality of always being ill and having no viable expectation of
controlling how ill we are - it fluctuates. <br />
<br />
The only solution I've found that works - that therapist's mantra - to DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.<br />
<br />
The
more restricted you are, the harder it is to do things differently. So
ideas that worked when I was moderate don't work when you're severe,
for example watching the Tour de France? forget it. Takes too long and was too
much excitement for my eyes and brain. But the basic principles still apply, albeit on a more restrictive level.<br />
<br />
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</div>
Historically,
if I was a bit stressed, I'd go swimming or cycling. Then when the
therapist made me give those up in 2007 (he was right but I'm still
grumpy - though to be fair the last time I tried to go swimming, it took
3 hours and I only managed to walk there and lie down on the bench in
the changing room for an hour then get the bus home, so it was a bit of a
relief to be giving up trying to be super-duper-human about it!)<br />
<br />
So
post CBT therapy, I lost myself in books instead. Amazing how you can
be absorbed into the story and forget your own difficulties. Humans
need to be able to switch off and distract themselves.<br />
<br />
When the
landslide of severe symptoms hit me in 2013? oof! I was devastated. I
found I couldn't hold a book, I couldn't have the book on the floor and
hold myself over to read it, and even if I found a way to have the book
steady with me lying down, I couldn't concentrate on the actual
reading. <br />
<br />
So I turned to audiobooks. Except that's quite hard as well. I listened
to the initial chapters over and over again until I recognised the main
characters and the rhythm of the narrator's voice. I found it hard to
follow a storyline. <br />
<br />
So I ended up listening to books I knew
quite well already. Then to young adult fiction, then to juvenile
fiction. Frankly I'd have been grateful if The Hungry Caterpillar had
been an audio book some days!<br />
<br />
On the bad days (as it fluctuates) I couldn't even do that. <br />
<br />
So
in my brain I tried to go for a walk. Somewhere I knew that wasn't very
far, like the postbox round the corner, but I couldn't imagine further
than out of the living room, down the stairs and up the path and along
the road. I couldn't remember what came next.<br />
<br />
So I imagined a
place I'd been lots of times, with a bench. A static place, where I was
just sitting. Like the Lion statue at the British Museum. Or the
woodland near where I grew up. Or the ancient hill fort on top of the
field the ponies lived in. Or the viewpoint at Greenwich Park. Or the
Deer Park at Blackheath. I found pictures of them on the internet to
remind me on days when I knew where I wanted to pretend to be, but
couldn't visualise it.<br />
<br />
Then some days all I could do was be
pleased my body kept breathing without any input from me. I just lay
there and listened to it happen. (I think this is a 'lite' version of
mindfulness. I might be wrong.)<br />
<br />
In that way, each time I had to 'drop
down' in an achievement level, I found an alternative. A different way
to achieve the an approximate feeling of being or doing that I'd had
before I was ill. A way to be distracted and feel human. To feel like I
was myself.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.59160.1273632839!/image/3454005342.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_804/3454005342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.59160.1273632839!/image/3454005342.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_804/3454005342.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite place to pretend to be - the lion at the British Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE NEED TO REST</b><br />
<br />
Doing things differently isn't
just mental, it's physical as well. It's about making it easier to eke
out the limited energy that you hope you have at any particular time.<br />
<br />
At
my worst, it was easier to crawl than stagger around the house, because
I needed to lie down for a rest every metre or so. To make it more
comfortable I relocated some sheepskins from the back of the sofa to the
floor to give me a bit of cushioning at strategic locations - in this
house there's one at the top of the stairs, and one at the bottom of the
stairs. Together with a cushion as a pillow. To an outsider they look
like randomly placed area rugs, to me, they are staging posts on my way
to the loo, kitchen, sofa, bed & bathroom.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.grahamandgreen.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/950x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/h/sheepskins_m1-lr-ls_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.grahamandgreen.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/950x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/h/sheepskins_m1-lr-ls_1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine are a LOT further apart!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However
now I have a bit more stamina, I'm trying to stagger more than crawl.
The skins are still there for bad days, but I found I was having trouble
walking the distances between those places. So now my house is also
littered with strategically placed dining and other chairs - near every
doorway so that I can get across a room and know there's somewhere to
sit down.<br />
<br />
It's not very different to a strategy the
therapist and I worked out back when I was moderately affected and still
walked considerable distances - merely on a much smaller scale. Back
then I started walking along bus routes, because there were benches at
each stop. And eventually came across a Flipstick which is like a
shooting stick for urbanites - it is essentially your own personal bench
wherever you go.<br />
<br />
Similarly, when I suddenly became
severe, I realised that my house was set up for someone who could move
around, lift things, had the energy to use things and put them away. So
over the last few years I've been working on making the house easier for
me and the carers to use. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dead-plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dead-plant.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead Plant from the web. My latest disaster was one of those that has orange balls on it. Once curtains were put up, I forgot it was on the windowsill as they were always closed. Oops!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today I've finally managed to sort out one area of my life that's been annoying me hugely. Plants. I love them. But I'm not well enough to keep them alive.<br />
<br />
This christmas I realised I wasn't watering my plants and they were suffering. Then curtains were installed, and stayed closed. Plants were forgotten. There was neglect... and internment in the bin.<br />
<br />
So I got smaller bottles of water, and more of them, which are kept filled up instead of the watering can. The plants were moved to places I could reach more easily without having to stretch or standup to water them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://aldrovanda.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/story_images/fc20140812macau453567-helicon-stack.jpg?itok=FbtiVDUy" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://aldrovanda.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/story_images/fc20140812macau453567-helicon-stack.jpg?itok=FbtiVDUy" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from the web. But one of my successful alive plants is a mix of fern and pitcher plant - it likes living in a pond of water, so just needs topping up and is impossible to overwater. Hurrah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a great deal of thought and consideration, I've just acquired some fake plants for areas that I can't reach easily or
don't remember to water - I saved up and went for high quality so that it didn't
feel like real plants were being taken away, but something lovely was
being added. (from www.Bloom.uk.com)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bloom.uk.com/wcsstore/ExtendedSitesCatalogAssetStore//images/extralarge/1909159-bostonfern-w-co-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bloom.uk.com/wcsstore/ExtendedSitesCatalogAssetStore//images/extralarge/1909159-bostonfern-w-co-f.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly acquired fake fern, for the bathroom, which has no window.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This process of doing things differently takes months and years to do,
and should be at one's own pace. Sometimes the brain just won't think of
alternatives that are low maintenance and help me live my life more
easily. Then inspiration strikes and months later, it happens.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bloom.uk.com/wcsstore/ExtendedSitesCatalogAssetStore//images/extralarge/1879363-camellia-w-sq-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bloom.uk.com/wcsstore/ExtendedSitesCatalogAssetStore//images/extralarge/1879363-camellia-w-sq-f.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new fake plant for the windowsill. Won't matter if the curtains are closed for weeks on end, it won't die!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, fellow sufferers - do you do this? Have you worked out ways to do things differently? or are you still walking around the full length of the sofa to get to the kitchen? mournfully watching your plants die? feeling grumpy that you can't do things you enjoy hugely without finding substitutes - yes you get less enjoyment, but also less grumpiness... I find it helps with the loss of a sense of purpose and value to my life.Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-7551819029004440772016-02-03T13:23:00.003-08:002016-02-03T13:24:06.097-08:00More breathing - abdominallyI have to say that it's come as something as a surprise to me that there's a wrong way and a right way to breathe. It's not like it's something one was taught in school, it's something you pick up on pretty quickly at birth and, well, just keep doing if you want to not have death looming at you like an oncoming steam train!<br />
<br />
I blogged a while ago (years?) about Fiona Agombar's relaxing before getting onto breathing exercises. Then never actually got any further.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebreathingstudio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/breathing-easily-980x360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thebreathingstudio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/breathing-easily-980x360.jpg" height="146" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken from the web cos it was pretty. I know nothing about the site it came from - but they do talk about breathing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Recently I went a bit wonky spinewise (I may have mentioned this several times already) and inveigeled a very nice man called Paul who is an osteopath to come and see me in my house. He's also a naturopath. I'm not sure which bit of his practice the breathing comes from, but as he's somewhat holistic in approach, his practice probably doesn't have bits.<br />
<br />
Anyway. It turns out that if you spent most of your time not moving, like me, your body doesn't work very well. Because the human body was designed to have things like gravity and movement help it to do the things it needs to do to function properly.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
It also turns out that I don't use my abdomen, or rather my diaphragm when I breathe. The diaphragm (I may have misunderstood the following technical bits for which I apologise) bisects one's body and by going up and down when you breathe it squishes down organs like the liver and helps them work to process stuff the body doesn't want out into waste product.<br />
<br />
So there I was, lying on my sofa bed, the man says, take a deep breath. So I do. Up goes my ribcage, my lungs fill and he says. No. <br />
<br />
No? How can this be No? My lungs are burning from such a deep breath that usually doesn't happen!<br />
<br />
No. A deep breath in your abdomen not your chest. Several failures later I kind of got the hang of it. As long as I concentrated very hard.<br />
<br />
When I'd got the hang of it, he gently hooked his fingers under my ribcage and prodded a bit. Whilst I winced because my skin as an organ doesn't really have an off switch so any touch = pain.<br />
<br />
And he told me to practice. As follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>Lie down flat. Comfortably. With knees and arms supported etc.</li>
<li>Try and relax (I've done a post on that before, this can be painful!)</li>
<li>Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth (or just use your nose).</li>
<li>Concentrate on your abdomen rising when you breathe in and falling when you breathe out. That's your diaphragm going up and down. Doing the squishing things it needs to do.</li>
<li>If your mind wanders onto other things, like lunch, or the horrible sound of the cat hacking up a fur ball, gently bring it back to listening to yourself breathe. Ignore the clock that suddenly sounds very loud. Listen to yourself breathe in & out.</li>
<li>Do that a couple of times a day.</li>
</ul>
At some stage I will get around to finding out how Yoga lady Fiona Agombar likes one to breathe and why. Maybe next year..... <br />
<br />Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-40973457694559948412016-02-03T12:48:00.003-08:002016-02-03T12:51:52.040-08:00Creamy Cauliflower Kashmir Curry - time (30mins) eating (easy) skill (easy)They're like buses these posts, none for ages then 3 come along at the same time. Ish.<br />
<br />
Anyway Wednesday is cooking day. This recipe is from an old Weightwatchers book called Spice Up Your Life. I do like their recipes, they work and they taste lovely, even with their low fat and sugar substitutes, though I generally ignore the those and use normal ingredients, like fat and sugar.<br />
<br />
Talking of sugar, the osteopath/ naturopath has been encouraging me to stop eating sugar, and get calories from actual fats (like butter, lard, coconut oil etc) and to only use liquid oils as dressings or at the end of the cooking process so that the fat doesn't go solid when it takes me hours to eat my food - because globs of cold fat aren't too great! Anyway, I staggered onto the scales the other day and appear to have lost 6lbs. Just through not eating sugar. And also not snacking so much, cos let's face it, sugar = moreish snacks. I'm a bit stunned because I've barely been moving inside the house and haven't been a metre beyond the front & back door more than twice since Christmas Day jaunts to the parentals for lunch and then the vet, and I've not changed anything else, though I'm probably eating more fruit and honey than usual. <br />
<br />
So if anyone is in doubt - yes you can lose weight without moving much at all! (unless having 'restless legs' counts. I do wriggle a lot!)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibngD5fzm6LDT88UXqD_lKTRAEMoeN6DzPXFKvv4lSdioJpfDesTiNouTPrhx1m2ZT0xP-BBwdU85XwbmuhoPkqRECI6Z8whXt0sKEdkqg-VYhFTrcZcD9NzgI3PfiSvBybCSCxQXDny4/s1600/IMG_20160203_175828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibngD5fzm6LDT88UXqD_lKTRAEMoeN6DzPXFKvv4lSdioJpfDesTiNouTPrhx1m2ZT0xP-BBwdU85XwbmuhoPkqRECI6Z8whXt0sKEdkqg-VYhFTrcZcD9NzgI3PfiSvBybCSCxQXDny4/s320/IMG_20160203_175828.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the pan, at night, in poor light. It's actually quite yellow and looks nicer in real life!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Creamy Cauliflower Kashmir Curry</b><br />
<br />
<b>What is it? </b>A fruity curry that's mild but creamy.<br />
<br />
<b>Time required?</b> The recipe says prep time 15mins, cooking time 15mins.<br />
<br />
<b>Cooking Skill required?</b> the ability to prepare chopped onions and turn a cauliflower into florets, then do a bit of stirring. So Easy.<br />
<br />
<b>Eating Ability required?</b> Depends on how big the cauliflower chunks and pineapple/ banana chunks are. I'd say easy to medium.<br />
<br />
<b>INGREDIENTS</b><br />
<br />
low fat cooking spray (or normal oil)<br />
<br />
2 medium onions chopped (or 2 handfuls of frozen pre chopped onion)<br />
<br />
2" piece of ginger grated (or a couple of toothbrushes worth of ready grated ginger)<br />
<br />
2 garlic cloves crushed (or a couple of toothbrushes worth of ready crushed garlic)<br />
<br />
1 teaspoon turmeric (adds colour not heat)<br />
<br />
1 tablespoon medium strength curry powder (it really isn't very hot at all because of the coconut and creme fraiche, but half that if you really only want flavour and no heat).<br />
<br />
1 large cauliflower divided into florets (I like to use the stem also cut into chunks)<br />
<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
<br />
100ml (3.5 fl oz) reduced fat creme fraiche (if you don't have any, use plain yoghurt and add it once everything is pretty much already cooked so it doesn't curdle with the fruit)<br />
<br />
425g can of crushed pineapple in juice (or pineapple chunks, just adds more 'chew' to the dish).<br />
<br />
2 medium bananas sliced (optional I never remember to buy them)<br />
<br />
200 ml (7 fl oz) coconut milk (reduced fat if you want)<br />
<br />
salt and pepper<br />
<br />
<b>Preparation</b><br />
<br />
1. Prepare and chop the ingredients.<br />
<br />
2. Heat a pan and add a little bit of oil or cooking spray. Stir fry the onions for 4-5 mins until soft but do not allow to brown.<br />
<br />
3. Add everything else (except yoghurt if you're using that instead of creme fraiche). Gently heat until simmering, then cover with a tight fitting lid and cook for about 12 mins or until the cauliflower is cooked to your taste. (then add the yoghurt if that's what you've got).<br />
<br />
4. Remove the lid and cook uncovered for 2-3mins until the sauce has thickened. Check the seasoning before serving.<br />
<br />
<b>Alternatives </b><br />
<ul>
<li>You can swop out full fat for reduced fat and/or yoghurt for creme fraiche. I couldn't find crushed pineapple so we used the tin of chunks. And I never remember to have bananas available either.</li>
<li>Eat with Plain Rice. Or a salad of uncooked tomato and onion. Or poppadoms. Or chapattis. </li>
<li>It's also nice with just plain boiled green beans as a side (or maybe that's just me? lol)</li>
<li>It really is very mild, but if you don't want any heat, stir in a bit more yoghurt once it's plated up.</li>
<li>If there's not quite enough sauce for your liking, add more yoghurt or plain cow's milk (or whatever you usually use). Water can be used, but will separate and you'll need to stir it back in.</li>
<li>If you want MORE heat. Use strong curry powder or add some chillis. </li>
</ul>
<b>Can it be frozen?</b> Yes don't see why not. BUT the sauce will separate when defrosting. So make sure you don't get rid of the 'whey' clear fluid, stir it back in before reheating, otherwise it'll be a bit dry!Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-26624895978915571732016-01-30T07:17:00.004-08:002016-01-30T07:23:09.732-08:00Independent Living - First Steps in Stopping Your House Eating Your Energy - DecidingThe thing I've found hardest about the 'idea' of getting rid of stuff (ignoring the most obvious not actually having the energy to do it) has been being comfortable with the decision of 'Keep or Get Rid'.<br />
<br />
What if I make a mistake? What if I need it after all? What if I'm effectively throwing money away? What if other people are upset that I don't own this particular thing any more? What if, what if, what if... Such a paralysing mental spiral of doubt.<br />
<br />
It's something that's crept up on me over the years, a slow inexorable tide of indecision that's culminated in stuff coming into the house, and only obvious rubbish and recycling leaving the house. Net result? More coming in than going out.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
That's probably fine if you're William Randolph Hurst the newspaper magnate who just kept buying stuff and eventually built a castle to keep it in - that's the guy that the film Citizen Kane was based on. I digress but actually that film is a great illustration of how a 'hoarder' was created. Or the Rothschilds with Waddesdon, or even the Bowes Lyons with their Bowes Museum. At least because the stuff they 'collected' or 'hoarded' is generally seen to have been expensive or have artistic value, they're seen as 'collectors'.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theredlist.com/media/database/settings/cinema/1940-1950/citizen-kane/030-citizen-kane-theredlist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://theredlist.com/media/database/settings/cinema/1940-1950/citizen-kane/030-citizen-kane-theredlist.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A still from a scene in Citizen Kane showing his 'collection' - hoarding? much?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But for the rest of us mere mortals with not much space - I'm not quite sure at what point my house became 'static' - a 'fixed' aggregation of objects that I liked so much I didn't want to get rid of them, whilst also acquiring others I liked just as much as well as the random accumulation of stuff that I have no great feelings or plans for, but just can't quite decide if they're worth keeping or not. For me, this applies to bed linens, books, ornaments, my craft stash, found objects that are interesting visually or to the touch, the list goes on....<br />
<br />
So, given I'm never going to have a house double or triple the size, short of winning the lottery which is somewhat unlikely as I don't buy tickets - how to stop my house being a 'static' repository of all things my magpie eye has lit upon, and turn it into a house where things flow in slowly and flow out faster?<br />
<br />
Here's 3 ideas to have a mental munch on. Chew it over, have a think. Together with the other first steps, particularly the use of the Outbox, thinking about one's 'things' or possessions in the following ways might help us not be so scared about 'deciding':<br />
<br />
<b>1. HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR HOUSE THAT IS NOT EITHER USEFUL OR THAT YOU KNOW TO BE BEAUTIFUL</b><br />
<br />
The first axiom is from William Morris. He was a nineteenth century wonder of a man who was both an industrialist and hugely concerned with the links between an object and their maker/ craftsperson. He worked with all sorts of people - the dye manufacturer who developed synthetic dyes that didn't run or fade significantly and he also worked with a series of artistic geniuses as well as actual industrialists and mass production techniques.<br />
<br />
Most notably for me, he attended 'industrial exhibitions' of which perhaps the Great Exhibition planned and put on by Prince Albert in 1851 is the best known. Prince Albert was something of the Prince Charles of his day, for Albert it was artefacts, for Charles, it's architecture - both want(ed) it to be of high quality and useful. Prince Albert's concerns led to the formation of the Victoria and Albert Museum as a permanent public collection to encourage good design. He was also keen on marketing Britain's and the Empire's output to the general public both in the UK and globally.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure she was thrilled - who wouldn't want a stuffed elephant and dodo as souvenirs to clutter up their house!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
William Morris went a bit further in that he was offended and horrified by the 'industrialists' overexcitement at new techniques and materials leading them to plop designs, swirls, swishes and furbelows all over an object regardless of whether they actually fitted the purpose of the item itself. Hence, his axiom about only letting stuff into your house that actually works, or you think is beautiful.<br />
<br />
The key here is what YOU think is beautiful. That's down to personal taste. Others may think it's tat or mingingly ugly. Doesn't matter (unless it's a relationship breaker, then really, it's compromise time), it's what you LIKE that matters.<br />
<br />
Considering he said that about 150 years ago, I think it's stood the test of time.<br />
<br />
So, when I'm wondering about making decisions I ask myself - <b>Does it work? Do I like it?</b><br />
<br />
<b>2. DOES THIS ITEM MAKE YOU HAPPY OR SAD?</b><br />
<br />
I came across this idea in an old Channel 4 Hoarders programme recently. It seemed like a very odd question - why on earth would someone have something that made them sad in their house?<br />
<br />
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This Swan Automata from the Bowes Museum makes me happy!</div>
<br />
Then I looked around my possessions (mentally cos I didn't feel like actually moving) and thought - do I have things that make me sad? is that a thing for me? It's something I've never really considered before.<br />
<br />
Yeah, actually, all those expensive work suits - that represent who I was and probably can't be again - and my pushbike that was humungously costly that I justified thinking I could use it well into retirement - and the ski boots that I've had since 1993 but not used since 2007 -yeah, those things. They represent someone I'm not anymore, not through choice but through circumstance.<br />
<br />
The things themselves don't make me sad. But what they represent in terms of who I was when I acquired them and used them? Yeah, that makes me very sad.<br />
<br />
And honestly, say I could work again, those suits are out of fashion, and that bike, if I could ride one, I'd be getting one with an electric motor to help me out. And if I was able to go skiing, you can hire good boots for not much money these days!<br />
<br />
Considering I bought a whole SHED for my garden that fitted my bike in last year, because I couldn't bear the idea that I would never cycle again and was hugely conscious of the expense of that bike? I now feel a bit foolish. But. That was where I was last year. This is where I am now. In terms of accepting the permanence of the severity of this illness, I've come a long way!<br />
<br />
Also, books. I can't read them anymore. Can't hold them up. Can't concentrate. And I've found viable alternatives such as a Kindle e-reader and audiobooks.<br />
<br />
Does it make me sad I can't immerse myself in a book anymore?<br />
<br />
Yes, but in the same way the grief of losing a loved person, or pet is very sharp at first, over time, the edges of that grief dull. So for me, over the last 3 years or so, the grief of losing who I was before has dulled. I've found alternatives, I've found ways to do things differently, to have a reasonable quality of life (though I doubt most healthy people would recognise it as such, that doesn't matter. It's how I FEEL IN MYSELF AND ABOUT MYSELF that matters to me).<br />
<br />
In the programme the hoarder was asked to pick out a couple of things that made them happy and a couple of things that made them sad. I haven't bothered with this, I'm just considering things mentally when I don't have the energy to actually physically do any decluttering.<br />
<br />
<b>3. KEY QUESTIONS TO GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
Finally, we have a list of questions. I can't quite remember which blog I picked them up from. And I've twiddled a bit with it anyway. I will credit them if I remember. <br />
<br />
Anyhow. This list has been blutacked up in my living room for a couple of years. I find it quite comforting - in that I tell myself if I run through the list and still don't have a reason to keep the item under consideration, it's 'safe' to let it go, that I won't be regretting it later.<br />
<br />
Before Christmas my neck went all wibbly and wonky and I prevailed on the local Osteopath who is also a Naturopath to do me a couple of home visits. On one of those, he looked at the list for a while, then commented 'that's a lot of barriers'. <br />
<br />
Which surprised me.What I'd always thought of the list as a 'safe' way of being confident about making decisions about keeping or getting rid, he saw as a series of hurdles that would stop me from making a decision.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Here's the list! <br />
<ol>
<li>Does it work?</li>
<li>Would I replace it if it didn't work?</li>
<li>Is it potentially useful but not actually used?</li>
<li>Am I saving it but not using it?</li>
<li>Do I have a better model of it? (something that works better do to the same thing)</li>
<li>Does it serve it's purpose well? </li>
<li>Is it tidied away but not used?</li>
<li>If it's a memento, does it actually prompt memories?</li>
<li>Have I ever used it?</li>
</ol>
I find the list useful to deal with individual items and with 'collections' of items to help me whittle down how much or many to keep or get rid of. By asking myself those questions I find it easier to be confident that the decision I'm making is the right one here & now based on the information available to me right now. Again, it's what matters for me personally that's important.<br />
<br />
<b>FINANCIAL WORTH & STABILITY</b><br />
<br />
Ultimately though, with hindsight, I do feel that my social security benefits being sorted out and money actually arriving in my bank account regularly so that I wasn't constantly living hand to mouth and worrying about falling deeper into debt than I would ever be able to dig myself out of, has given me a perspective that makes me more relaxed about the 'financial value' of items I own.<br />
<br />
Yes I consider whether an item is:<br />
<ul></ul>
<ul>
<li>for the rubbish bin</li>
<li>for recycling</li>
<li>for the charity shop because I can't easily sell them but they could</li>
<li>for a local freecyle scheme</li>
<li>for selling locally on craigslist or similar cos I can't easily post them</li>
<li>for selling on ebay because they are postable</li>
<li>for giving away to friends or family members</li>
<li>for keeping</li>
</ul>
but I'm not thinking so much of how much they cost in terms of potentially 'wasted' cash that I could have saved to help me through that very very lean and anxious year of 2013/2014, waiting to see if I would be 'accepted' as sufficiently ill to merit state support.<br />
<br />
(For which I'm very grateful to anyone who is a UK taxpayer. Thank you, I would not have been nor will be able to survive without it!)<br />
<a href="http://www.cartoonists.co.uk/nigelsutherland/daily-cartoons/car-boot-sale-junk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.cartoonists.co.uk/nigelsutherland/daily-cartoons/car-boot-sale-junk.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><b> </b><br />
<b>EMOTIONAL WORTH AND STABILITY</b><br />
<br />
Similarly, now that I've come to terms with my 'new' life as a non working housebound cripple with bigger ideas about what I want to do than actual energy to do them with, I'm not feeling so emotional about the items. Suits, bike, books etc, even craft materials. <br />
<br />
With hindsight I see that the suits and the bike were appropriate for that life I had before, but they're not now. I wouldn't even own them if I'd not had that life.<b> </b>That they have a finite useful life, and it is more wasteful to 'hoard' them in my home than to 'release' them for others to use, others who do have a life where those items are appropriate.<br />
<br />
I can also see that much of my craft stash was acquired through desperation whilst trying to cope with my illness very very slowly getting worse and incrementally restricting my ability to 'do' rather than 'be'. Buying things with a 'hope' value, ie with the intention of using them, but no firm actual project.<br />
<br />
Many items in the craft stash are so pretty I haven't wanted to use them, to 'destroy' them and potentially get it wrong and make a mess of it and 'waste' them. However I've recently realised as with the other things from my earlier life, that by not using them, that's the true waste.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limbo: forwards or backwards? arghhh decisions!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This comes back to the 'static' house idea. Everything in my life had somehow become 'static'. From the period when I couldn't look after my cat and he lived at my sister's, when nothing moved in the flat unless I had the window open and a breeze blowing, right through to keeping items because they were the only concrete evidence that I once had a good job, or was sporty or culturally inclined. I'd got stuck between not being the person I was, and somehow wanting to 'prove' I had been that person, and not knowing who I'd become.<br />
<br />
This being stuck in limbo, I think, was exacerbated by the fluctuating nature of the illness, if I could get ill so suddenly, I could get better suddenly. So why get rid of things I might need and not be able to afford again? Or even just 'things I like'?<br />
<br />
But who was I trying to 'prove' my previous existence to? Not my family and friends, they know! to myself?<br />
<br />
Having stabilised and come to terms with life as it is now, I'm finding it easier to 'let go' of my past life. It's as though I've moved to the other side of the world by sea voyage, and everything in England is a past life, I remember but is no longer relevant or immediate. It feels so very far away.<br />
<br />
I have no idea if my ramblings about my struggles to get a grip of my life as it is now, find a quality of life and some sense of purpose has helped you. If nothing else, perhaps you'll think, bah! nothing like me, I shall do x,y,z instead. That's good enough for me!<br />
<br />
<b>BE KIND TO YOURSELF</b><br />
<br />
It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to exist when you're ill. Eat your elephant a bite at a time. Don't push yourself further than you're comfortable with. Just chip away at it and eventually there'll be progress in the same way that if one paces sensibly and long term, one does eventually finally incrementally stabilise energywise! it's painful getting there, and you can't see til it's happened, but it does given enough time.<br />
<b> </b><br />
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<b> </b>Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-78521112625365995722016-01-30T05:51:00.000-08:002016-01-30T07:36:27.794-08:00Carrot and Corn Bake - time (30mins) skill (medium) eating (medium)Ages since I've done a recipe. But to be honest, I've had the carers cycling through old favourites that are already on here or forgotten to take photos. There've also been some hideous disasters - unripe mango with crab salad (with fish sauce) *shudder* and a rather odd 'yoghurt' made out of crushed cashew nuts that I sort of got used to by the end and may try again just out of sheer pigheadedness....<br />
<br />
Anyway. I fancied something different, so I had a look at the 'little used' cookery books I own. I have one by Erica White called Beat Candida Cookbook. Candida is a 'fungus' that EW and others believe 'overgrows' in your body and causes illness. I have no idea if that's scientifically proven, but I do know her recipes (a) work and (b) taste good. The yoghurt, shredded coconut and vanilla essence recipe already on here is one of hers.<br />
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<br />
So, the bake. Quite simple, as my carer said - 'it's making a bechemel sauce with onion then adding the rest' but there's quite a lot of vegetable prep required which takes time. He managed it quite comfortably in the 45mins allotted BUT it needs a long cooking time so you need someone to get it out of the oven for you if you can't do it for yourself! I think it would be nice in little individual pots which are easier to handle for us meeps... But he used a single dish.<br />
<br />
<b>What is it? </b>An oven bake made from onion, carrot, sweetcorn, celery, eggs and a bit of milk, flour and fat.<br />
<br />
<b>Time required?</b> If, like me, your carrots need peeling and hand grating, and onion needs chopping, then allow 45mins, otherwise if you have grated carrot and chopped onion ready done from the supermarket, probably 20-25mins preparation time.<br />
<br />
<b>Cooking Skill required?</b> Need to be able to prepare the vegetables, and make a smooth sauce from the fat and milk. So I'd say medium skill level.<br />
<br />
<b>Eating ability required?</b> Depends on how fine the carrot is grated, but there's lots of sweetcorn so it's a bit chewy. So medium level.<br />
<br />
<b>CARROT AND CORN BAKE</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
55g/ 2oz/ 1/2 cup chopped onion<br />
55g/ 2oz/ 1/2 cup chopped celery<br />
2 tbsp unhydrogenated margerine (or butter)<br />
2tbsp wholemeal flour (or whatever flour you have)<br />
230ml/ 8 fl oz/ 1 cup soya or rice milk (or actual cow's milk)<br />
2 free range eggs, beaten<br />
1 large can of sweetcorn (sugar free) or frozen equivalent<br />
255g/ 9oz/ 1 1/2 cups grated or shredded carrot<br />
<br />
<b>Preparation</b> <br />
<ol>
<li>Preheat oven to 180 degrees C, or 350 degrees F or gas mark 4</li>
<li>Prepare the chopped onion, celery and grated carrot </li>
<li>Saute chopped onion and chopped celery in the margerine/ fat over a low heat until transparent</li>
<li>Sir in the flour and mix well</li>
<li>Add milk slowly, stirring constantly and cook until thick and smooth (the lowish heat makes the flour swell so this takes time and stirring)</li>
<li>Remove from heat. Add beaten eggs</li>
<li>Add sweetcorn and carrot, mixing well.</li>
<li>Pour into a greased oven dish and bake for about 1 hour until a knife in the centre comes out clean.</li>
</ol>
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<b>Alternatives</b> <br />
<ol>
<li>I didn't have any celery. So we were going to add celery seeds, but we couldn't find them. In the end we didn't add any herbs, just salt & pepper. I think it would give a nice balance with the celery. But needs must....</li>
<li>Instead of celery? How about fennel, or mixed peppers or leftover boiled potato chunks? You could put pieces of bacon or ham in there too. Maybe cheese sprinkled on the top? </li>
<li>Eat with a salad, or cold cuts of meat or maybe roast chicken or other braised meat?</li>
<li>I ate mine with tomato and cucumber slices.</li>
<li>Put tomato slices on the top for decoration when you bake it.</li>
</ol>
<b>Can it be frozen? </b>Don't see why not, the Bechemel Sauce element baked into the carrot so it's quite a 'dry' dish. I suppose it may go watery on defrosting but then I'd just add a bit of milk to get it to go back together again. Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-86269918529723087532016-01-24T05:34:00.001-08:002016-01-30T07:18:16.213-08:00Independent Living - First Steps in Stopping Your House Eating Your Energy - Quick Wins<div dir="ltr">
When I look at the mountain of stuff it all seems insurmountable. And confusing. Where to start? Which bit to chip away at first? Will just a little bit make a difference? Then I feel overwhelmed, anxious that I'll just make more mess, anxious that I'll run out of energy. And then I stagger away for a rest and nothing happens.</div>
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Today I decided that the first step is the hardest. I have an outbox see <a href="http://copingbadly.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/independent-living-first-steps-in_18.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>, I have a bin, and by tipping a load of ironing onto the table in the junk room I have a recycling box too.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So what's stopping me? I need a Quick Win - something manageable in one go. And because my carer has gone for the day, something I can handle for myself.</div>
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If you are feeling the same, is there something near at hand like a drawer or a tray or a bag with stuff in? That you could tackle? To get your feet wet? Apartment Therapy's January Cure suggests just picking ONE drawer something that can be dealt with then & there <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-little-lesson-in-keeping-a-home-under-control-for-the-long-haul-one-small-step-at-a-time-227111" target="_blank">HERE</a></div>
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This is how I've got on with my first Quick Win....<br />
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<br />
I picked this. A lid from a box of printer paper full of miscellaneous stuff. Diaries from 2011 and earlier, a receipt from 2012 for iced buns (oops! why was that kept!) and other stuff that I've left so long, it's effectively recyclable paper.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small box of random 'clutter' to be dealt with, just picked up as it was from the Junk Room</td></tr>
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I would put stuff I wanted to
keep on the left. On the right, I put stuff I wasn't sure on first look, and then there was
the bin and recycling box by the bed. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bin and recyling box after the First Run (more was added later)</td></tr>
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First run and I ended up with a small pile of 'keeps' on the left, and a bigger pile of 'not sure' on the right, with a respectable amount in the bin and recycling box.</div>
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Second run was looking at the 'not sure' pile more critically. I realised that the 'not sure' were things I wanted to look at or take to bits. So I got some scissors.<br />
<br />
I
took apart a diary from 2011 that has double sided pictures. I'm on the
25% group's card sending list, and I reckon if I use a hole punch and some pretty
string, I can include them with a card each time. Something that's going
to be easy for me to do in the next few days or when I feel like being
creative.</div>
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</div>
<div dir="ltr">
I took apart a calendar with
puffin photos from 2012. If I get my double sided sticky tape and card blanks I
can make cards, to send to people. Again easily doable soon. And crucially, again I
already have everything I need and a clear idea of what needs to be
done.<br />
<br />
So neither of those 'craft projects' needs to go in my Outbox for further consideration.</div>
So this is the final pile of keeps. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZQHvQLZ6rpL63ka41nA7ME_r2lOhjijP6Aff5Gl1syC7Fxonzkgjy02a86hQ7saAwLZiNAdj3AsSeHvAMTs76-k8NoYcYLU0CqUrNQu-3BTKi5-uGSfzRFta8AYK79JyYiuWxs8KhJg/s1600/IMG_20160124_125756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZQHvQLZ6rpL63ka41nA7ME_r2lOhjijP6Aff5Gl1syC7Fxonzkgjy02a86hQ7saAwLZiNAdj3AsSeHvAMTs76-k8NoYcYLU0CqUrNQu-3BTKi5-uGSfzRFta8AYK79JyYiuWxs8KhJg/s320/IMG_20160124_125756.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eventual 'keeps'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
What's in there? Some blank postcards, (again for
sending), a passport photo (binning the out of time passport), some gift
bags (could have done with these at Christmas! To save doing wrapping!),
a couple of sewing booklets, picture of a godchild, and initially some
back issues of ME Essentials.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
But now I think
about it, I'm going to read the ME Essentials and see if there's
anything I really want to keep, otherwise I'll recycle the magazines. And now I'm thinking about it, I might have that passport photo elsewhere, in which case I'll ditch that too once I find the stash of photos to be sorted.<br />
<br />
Anything still in the 'not sure' pile? Yes, metal
binding and acetate diary covers, printing cartridge packaging and a
security marking kit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_S9bwVaoJGXfUTFu4VG5ca6huVzZG1vWjbXzTCdWVl29xYagDwfb32cqw_F-4nOCQHOp7Br-PmSrNVKWWe_sG8YxuKKaj1tlle9Ryb-r9RxNNnW9HJi0vSDAsGdm1IKxIQAQSswdx6w/s1600/IMG_20160124_125810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_S9bwVaoJGXfUTFu4VG5ca6huVzZG1vWjbXzTCdWVl29xYagDwfb32cqw_F-4nOCQHOp7Br-PmSrNVKWWe_sG8YxuKKaj1tlle9Ryb-r9RxNNnW9HJi0vSDAsGdm1IKxIQAQSswdx6w/s320/IMG_20160124_125810.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fact that these bits needed thinking about just shows how difficult I find it to make decisions about what is 'valuable' and 'useful' and what isn't</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
But really? What am I
going to do with the metal? I like the weight and shape of it. But I have no use for it. I've not used the marking kit in 6 years. I can get printer ink online and there's nothing special about that
brand. BIN! Except the pens in the kit are still good, so that goes in
the charity shop bag.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
I keep one acetate cover cos it'll be useful for card making. The other went in the bin.<br />
<br />
Later on, after a rest, I made these - 13 cards from the calendar pictures. I already had the card blanks and double sided tape, so just lined them up with the pictures, stuck them together then sat on the floor with a craft knife and cutting mat to trim them to the card blank edges.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s7trtTibONs0-eDnjPc5QUm7LpF3lFRdZfM-0z2xcjfZdKjfLvaSJtV22LtW5OL_9elTpdXiXdNUgfitclWHV5PpzrVtHO8jBPxARQpTNb6mdVCev_yHwE1V51m0FH1eZ6qTVRnBJTY/s1600/IMG_20160124_153353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s7trtTibONs0-eDnjPc5QUm7LpF3lFRdZfM-0z2xcjfZdKjfLvaSJtV22LtW5OL_9elTpdXiXdNUgfitclWHV5PpzrVtHO8jBPxARQpTNb6mdVCev_yHwE1V51m0FH1eZ6qTVRnBJTY/s320/IMG_20160124_153353.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 13 made up greetings cards from the calendar pictures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This is doubly marvellous, not only does it use up more of my craft stash, but honestly, it's not easy getting your mitts on greetings cards you like when you're housebound and having to be a bit careful with your money! I'm thrilled with them, they're actually good enough to be birthday or other occasion cards too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Later still when dad came around I got him to get me some pretty string down from the top shelf of my stash, and when I next feel like doing some craft, I'll put strings on the double sided diary pictures (and will add a pic of those in due course, just to prove I have finished both craft projects within a week.<br />
<br />
The nearly empty box lid is back in the 'junk room' aka second bedroom/ craft stash - so that next time someone comes around they can help me put the gift bags in the 'presents box' and the other bits and bobs in their respective homes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhlfkmbgTr6q2EfIXcnLRM45mW5YjRfSMJBV3CEP1gw_AyOXFtQ5K9mgTbtC2jp5YbUBWcb8fAymZc-uOKhwJqSWCj9xoszoXuTef1pXA54t4tnHPCezR1ayqhY_6klHqWwJ4nMO08II/s1600/IMG_20160125_111542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhlfkmbgTr6q2EfIXcnLRM45mW5YjRfSMJBV3CEP1gw_AyOXFtQ5K9mgTbtC2jp5YbUBWcb8fAymZc-uOKhwJqSWCj9xoszoXuTef1pXA54t4tnHPCezR1ayqhY_6klHqWwJ4nMO08II/s320/IMG_20160125_111542.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta Da! All strung up and ready to send!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
How long did that take? Well, several days in the end even though I was having one of my better days when I started it. So not the quickest win ever, but, I do feel very pleased that I tackled the box lid and have some rather nice crafting activities that I've actually completed as a 'reward'. Even better, NOTHING ended up in the Outbox. Just the Outbox existing made me feel more relaxed and less 'connected' to the stuff, and made it easier to make decisions, because they didn't feel so critical and terminal.</div>
Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-11629318503875837192016-01-18T04:31:00.000-08:002016-01-24T12:06:07.332-08:00Independent Living - First Steps in stopping your house eating your energy - Letting GoThe elephant in the room. The big issue. The one that stops most of us actually getting rid of stuff whilst knowing that if we bring more stuff in (which doesn't stop us), eventually we won't be able to get in the house. There won't be space.<br />
<br />
In a word, emotion. Emotions, in various forms stop us getting rid of our stuff. And emotions, in various forms, make us get more stuff.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Over the years I've watched a few 'hoarder' programmes on the TV. And marvelled, with a 'there but for the grace of God go I' shudder, at how it got that bad for those people, how they got where they are now, in a totally overwhelming situation. At first I was somewhat sceptical about the 'psychotherapy' side of the shows. But as I've watched more, and had problems in life myself, yup, it's true (for me at least) - stuff becomes more important and decisions harder to make when life gives you lemons.<br />
<br />
<b>So, how to let go?</b><br />
<br />
Apartment Therapy's January Cure Assignment #4 <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-totally-free-clutter-clearing-worry-busting-home-organizing-secret-weapon-227076" target="_blank">HERE</a> suggests setting up an Outbox.<br />
<br />
This can either be an actual box - cardboard or a plastic crate. Or, alternatively a space in your house that you don't mind being messy and chaotic for a while.<br />
<br />
<b>How to use an Outbox (box or area)?</b> <br />
<br />
An Outbox is NOT a rubbish bin. It's where you put an item or items until 'their fate has been decided' according to Apartment Therapy.<br />
<br />
So if something is definitely rubbish - put it straight into the bin, if something is definitely recyclable - put it into the recycling box, if you know you don't want it - put it in a bag for charity. And if you know you definitely want to keep it - keep it. <br />
<br />
In essence the Outbox is for stuff that you are not sure about - maybe it has memories attached, or it cost a lot of money, or you might use it, or it just needs a bit of repair and so on. Basically the stuff that pretty much stops you getting on with decluttering and sorting your house out.<br />
<br />
<b>OUTBOX RULES <br />
1. Anything can go in the Outbox<br />
2. The Outbox is allowed to get messy<br />
3. Everything must stay in the Outbox for at least one week<br />
4. After that time you have several choices
</b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Take anything back out</b></li>
<li><b>Leave anything you are undecided about for one more week</b></li>
<li><b>Dispose of the rest by moving to the recycling bin or giveaway pile </b></li>
</ul>
<b> </b><i>Apartment Therapy's rules </i><br />
<br />
Apparently, by separating yourself from the item first, it's easier to get rid of it. Only time will tell....<br />
<br />
<b>Anything else?</b><br />
<br />
Yes. Don't just set up the Outbox (box or area). Put ONE ITEM in it. Right now (or pick one mentally and get your carer to do it at their next call).<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>So how's that working out for you personally?</b><br />
<br />
Well, as part of the parentals picking up an Ikea Shoe Cupboard for me whilst they were there, and a friend assembling it in my bedroom a week or so ago, the upstairs corridor got rearranged. The shoes and nasty falling apart shoerack was gone. In the space where the shoes used to be, I put an empty cardboard box. An Outbox. Quite a big one.<br />
<br />
Before Christmas all the stuff that didn't belong in the living room was dumped on the spare room floor. Then on a different day to the 'shoe cupboard' last week, a friend helped (as in did all the work, I sat on the floor pointing and saying 'no, there, no, there, yes!') clearing the floor on the spare room by piling things up at the sides (mostly empty packaging to be used for ebay) so there's enough space for ironing can be done in there.<br />
<br />
As part of that, my cardboard Outbox was filled up with books for ebay or charity shop. These books were chosen about 2 years ago, but nothing's happened since... The intention is to pick a book out and see if it's worth ebaying - if it's not, stick it in the charity bag, if it is, stick it on ebay. One at a time, as convenient.<br />
<br />
Kerching! I have a full Outbox and an entire Spare Room as Outbox.<i> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>No pictures til later. I'm downstairs, the Outboxes are upstairs...</i><br />
<i> </i><b> </b>Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-81182540921924756682016-01-15T06:45:00.000-08:002016-01-15T07:21:08.528-08:00Independent Living - First Steps in stopping your house eating your energy - ChoosingOk so. You have your list. Of one room, several rooms or all rooms. That's up to you. It's probably rather large. Fearsomely large. I look at mine and my heart sinks. I start wanting to give up right now because of the sheer volume of energy doing that list will need.<br />
<br />
Fear not! This is a snail like process. Chopped up into little bits of manageable energy use.<br />
<br />
The first step was THINKING which was the last blog post <a href="http://copingbadly.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/independent-living-first-steps-in.html#more" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
Next, we CHOOSE. We choose 3 to 5 items per room from the entire list (one room, several or all rooms), and concentrate on those.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>How to choose? </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Look at the list.</li>
<li>Think about how the room looks NOW.</li>
<li>Pick out 3 to 5 items from the list that will make the biggest, most immediate impact.</li>
<li>Highlight them or write them on a different piece of paper. </li>
<li>Don't worry that they are too small or too big. </li>
<li>Don't get discouraged that there are too many - you are only picking
3 to 5 items per room. The rest of the items, you keep on the list but
ignore for now.</li>
</ul>
<b>Anything else?</b><br />
<br />
Yes. Look at the 3 to 5 items you have picked. Do you need to do anything before those are started?<br />
<br />
For
example, if DIY needs to be done, do you have the tools/ fixings
already? do you know where they are? will someone provide them? Think
about whether things or people need to be acquired so that when you
choose to tackle an item, everything you need is available. So that you
don't end up with it half done.<br />
<br />
<b>AGAIN REMEMBER RIGHT NOW YOU ARE JUST THINKING AND CHOOSING. YOU AREN'T ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING.</b> <b>You
are just getting used to the idea of what there is that might be done
and choosing what will be done. And having a think about how long it
will take and what will be displaced temporarily whilst these items are
being dealt with.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzAt4APGqIhR7195ZOcrhwQPSH_3hYnMdjrSEGGRT7DDgH3H_vT92trtXNe0uUXKIh8VSQXn2mSPBTBu2yO_IFJIBwcKWyQ0776x9UHW6ihJ8-n8PSTF51DzoU2fMVyL4n1eKljdfuyE/s1600/IMG_20160115_141924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzAt4APGqIhR7195ZOcrhwQPSH_3hYnMdjrSEGGRT7DDgH3H_vT92trtXNe0uUXKIh8VSQXn2mSPBTBu2yO_IFJIBwcKWyQ0776x9UHW6ihJ8-n8PSTF51DzoU2fMVyL4n1eKljdfuyE/s320/IMG_20160115_141924.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One set of curtains are up!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So,
onto my personal progress.<br />
<br />
Remember, I'm ahead of my blogging in that
I'm doing things before I blog
about them. Partly to see if it works and also because I have to have a
rest before I blog about it. For example I did my thinking and choosing
last week. So the pictures of actual activity and blogging actually
happened a day or so ago. Not the same day as the blog.<br />
<br />
I'm
easily discouraged and confused, so I'm sticking to the Living Room.
It's where I spend most of my time when I'm awake. I do have a list for
the rest of the house, some of which involves getting the developer back
to fix stuff. But it's the wrong sort of weather right now, so that's
parked. And I can move around the rest of the house reasonably well, so
I'm ignoring the other rooms.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFj9mRxTv5GEow-9fsBwDtIYIAscv-jWFX0PRdoKPXs-PNYpxQuZp21K6W-ij8zpdml92c4nJ_6vo7fQEpDJQneckut0MQApgBGYsqRfxOyN60VH_nxYBWLhwthaBdVcZadjbMDg1teZ0/s320/IMG_20160115_141934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="181" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas tree is off the desk and desk is dusted...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yesterday (last blog post) this was the list I ended up with - 11
items. But actually overnight and this morning with fresh eyes I
realised there were MORE issues. So I've added them, and now have 16
items.<br />
<br />
And today I've Underlined and put in Bold the 3 to 5 items I've chosen to tackle first. I've chosen 4 items only.<br />
<ol>
<li><b><u>Get curtain rails and curtains put up - by someone - work out who!</u></b></li>
<li><b><u>Get decorations taken down - need help from mum, and think about where they will live til next christmas</u></b></li>
<li>Think about a home for the coats, instruction booklets etc. cos I know they need to be kept - think about it.</li>
<li><b><u>Sort out papers into stuff to be (a) binned, recycled or shredded,
(b) put in a pile for filing and (c) put in a pile to be dealt with -
can do myself.</u></b></li>
<li>Do christmas cards and send them out, send out stuff promised to
people but not yet sent - can do myself and family can take to post
office.</li>
<li>Tidy up the drawer unit, top and drawers - carer needs to help to hand me drawers.</li>
<li>Sort out bowls of stuff - to sell, bin, recycle or keep and find a home - carer needs to hand to me.</li>
<li><u><b>Sort out top of table and decide what else will live on it as well as the lamp - carer needs to hand to me.</b></u></li>
<li>Surfaces need dusting - carer will do if I get the extra call time</li>
<li>Ceiling needs sweeping - carer will do if I get the extra call time</li>
<li>Windows need cleaning - ask dad.<br /><br />PLUS newly realised with fresh eyes</li>
<li>Sort and declutter DVDs</li>
<li>Sort and declutter Books</li>
<li>Tidy up noticeboard and find it a permanent home</li>
<li>Sort and declutter china cupboard</li>
<li>Sort and declutter the chair in the corner that has stuff on.</li>
</ol>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVg-0KJBUMEIA9MVhYbLUroSSByZaaxyKSWgVJRBuWmMAloEW6SUjcjUmt33p6bm4aHYwfaOdCMwTBY_IGKIS40MkNb1YSEZPb9TQCgow4X1PNzJS3iLDyQrxUE52WNendylkOwpGwfA/s1600/IMG_20160115_141941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVg-0KJBUMEIA9MVhYbLUroSSByZaaxyKSWgVJRBuWmMAloEW6SUjcjUmt33p6bm4aHYwfaOdCMwTBY_IGKIS40MkNb1YSEZPb9TQCgow4X1PNzJS3iLDyQrxUE52WNendylkOwpGwfA/s320/IMG_20160115_141941.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh! Stuff from the desk is on the chair and the steps now have no home. Arghhh!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So this gives me 4 items that will make a BIG and IMMEDIATE impact. <br />
<ul>
<li>Get curtain rails and curtains up.</li>
<li>Get decorations taken down (and stored).</li>
<li>Sort out papers for dealing/ filing/ binning/ recycling/ shredding</li>
<li>Sort out the top of the table. </li>
</ul>
Part of the reason I chose these 4 items is because they are linked.
And a friend is available to put up the curtain rails. Also, most of
the stuff that needs decluttering already has a home. Maybe not the
right home, but it means they can stay there until I decide it's time to
tackle them which means they are not top priority.<br />
<br />
The
curtains are living inside an oak chest. Mum made them for me to the
right size before I moved in a year and a half ago (oops!). I brought
the rails with me. I did a Screwfix order last week for the fixings
needed. Once the curtains are up, the chest will be empty and can
(temporarily) hold the christmas decorations. Once the christmas
decorations are down and stored, a box on the table can be moved onto
the desk where it belongs and then TA DA! the lamp that's stopping me
using my food trolley can go onto the table. Win win!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLHJ5dLfeWKDQPBPUTsRt5fjnSkRLnfpbgHhP_y9AGQxrSfuIcqX74PA5r5Yep4ElbyDvZCErWeH0hZraM86taw92upPWJP0PgayAhfJ6pgZVscaCa-vymUihyrr0eJyq3zAINLWH3x8/s1600/IMG_20160115_141951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLHJ5dLfeWKDQPBPUTsRt5fjnSkRLnfpbgHhP_y9AGQxrSfuIcqX74PA5r5Yep4ElbyDvZCErWeH0hZraM86taw92upPWJP0PgayAhfJ6pgZVscaCa-vymUihyrr0eJyq3zAINLWH3x8/s320/IMG_20160115_141951.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigh! The table leaf is now up and covered in boxes of taken down but not put away decorations and the floor is covered with stuff from the patio doors area. All homeless!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So the pictures for today are the first day of getting those 4 items moving. This has cleared some areas but created a horrible mess elsewhere. But that's fine, because the 4 items are linked, once they're all done, three largeish areas in the living room will be hugely improved. I reckon it will take me a week. Healthy people could do it in a morning....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
BUT when the choice is for a 'big and immediate impact' remember that if you are having to pace yourself, the temporary immediate impact may be more chaos! Might be a good idea to think about how long it will take to do each item and how you will cope whilst it's being done!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR737dRQXBzM6fJgs67sge5EyIiGjUrs6Rmd4Vg2D7F-miSwXuObcJKctKNYZ3Z1arjraiDg5sqmtnkOXBViSyIQic39U86dZrNnvOxYKIb8jktwiBJ8lfw0fODU8h1hiJHHSeku01l3Q/s1600/IMG_20160115_142017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR737dRQXBzM6fJgs67sge5EyIiGjUrs6Rmd4Vg2D7F-miSwXuObcJKctKNYZ3Z1arjraiDg5sqmtnkOXBViSyIQic39U86dZrNnvOxYKIb8jktwiBJ8lfw0fODU8h1hiJHHSeku01l3Q/s320/IMG_20160115_142017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Area near patio doors now done, but lots of displaced items elsewhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Today's efforts are splendid, however, they added another item to the list - no 17. find a permanent home for my clock! The only one downstairs, which I always knew would be displaced by the curtains but forgot to consider it first....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnFIz6eVM_yDiLZEoyBe6CU1kDZtQziFMOuf_DcyUe8YYrz2im0Dt6oLoX6eEBc_yyDuZ4EIIjLhnN6EmKUEB2NOuotgjycHg0DZuh6xuqUWKskLz1KKnfPomBiuh5RMTkh4wRUfutAE/s1600/IMG_20160115_142031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnFIz6eVM_yDiLZEoyBe6CU1kDZtQziFMOuf_DcyUe8YYrz2im0Dt6oLoX6eEBc_yyDuZ4EIIjLhnN6EmKUEB2NOuotgjycHg0DZuh6xuqUWKskLz1KKnfPomBiuh5RMTkh4wRUfutAE/s320/IMG_20160115_142031.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had a look see what's in the bowl. Nope! That's for another day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-55704595900573646132016-01-14T07:06:00.000-08:002016-01-15T07:15:25.900-08:00Independent Living - First Steps in stopping your house eating your energy - ThinkingA house is a big thing. Lots of square feet, lots of things filling the square feet. And depending on who lives in it, it gets used in different ways.<br />
<br />
One of the first things I realised when I got this ill was, that the way a healthy person uses a house and the way an ill person (called Meeps from now on, short for people with ME, as in ME people = meeps) uses a house is completely different.<br />
<br />
Healthy people can use all the space, they can rummage to get something out, use it, and put everything back without even noticing that's what they're doing. Meeps are so knackered by the initial rummage, or even getting to the cupboard, that nothing gets put back or even used. So Meeps end up with an astonishing amount of 'stuff' surrounding them that they use often enough to not want to have to stagger a few meters to a cupboard to locate (they might not even be able to get out of bed) but not so often that it's used all the time. Depending on how knackered energywise the Meep is, this minor chaos spreads outwards like ripples in a pond. Healthy people can say, spend a day tidying up, at the end of it they're tired, but hey, it's done. Meeps can't. So this 'decluttering' I'm doing will eat my elephant a bite at a time - Meeps have to be smart about finding ways to do things differently, cutting a task into chunks that can be tackled bit by bit.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Which is why I'm finding the Appartment Therapy January Cure useful. Cos that's their approach. Albeit for healthy people. This first week, what's been most useful so far was Day 2 - <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/one-hour-to-a-better-home-226961" target="_blank">here</a> all about THINKING about your house. The task was to spend an hour walking around your house looking at all the areas that need fixing, whether for DIY, or decluttering, or they don't work for your lifestyle.<br />
<br />
<i></i> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv7xGttlPwFMNeirO9SkO7ozh_QFQXiTUPlCsdmPHFBe9tDzaUSzlW4EZeMAe9lIAsDpA8Sb9bYuzL-mUAzpWXW0seKC4uaginjLdP7Ze-pMY5s8P_o5TrzIlkenBPe7VzOHZnV9DZ-k/s320/IMG_20160114_144345.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papers littering half the sofa bed. Regularly trampled by cats, and
makes it hard to change the bedding and to find anything. That's a troublesome area to be sure!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>STEP ONE - THINK ABOUT YOUR HOUSE - WHERE ARE THE TROUBLESOME BITS?</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Stay where you are right now. Don't move! DO NOT actually DO anything to deal with what you see.</li>
<li>Look around you just in the ROOM you are in. </li>
<li>Write down (or get carer to, or dictate a note on your phone, whatever works for you) the areas that need dealing with and why. Maybe they are dirty and need cleaning, or something is broken and needs DIY, or something is cluttered, or furniture is in the wrong place.</li>
<li>If you can or want to. Take pictures of the room so you can see 'before' and 'after' progress eventually.</li>
<li>If you are well enough, after a break, travel to another room and do the same thing there. If you aren't well enough, then ask your carer or someone to take photos of the room going slowly from one side to another until they have taken pictures of it all, including floor and ceiling if necessary. Then look at those to make a list for that room.</li>
<li>Aim to eventually have a list of 'troublesome bits' for every room in your house. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen9IAal9iS8sept2opxtR37fcP2zcmN44UdbnmgSBk1nT9wBy9YNeLI_NAMccEXMc7FFt4MKEAtc8sEUEJQcRjAUgNTQawUjqOTJtxFUmxZMi_UlMX9ID2dVvwA9rOz9AGIepqWJs0M4/s1600/IMG_20160114_144354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen9IAal9iS8sept2opxtR37fcP2zcmN44UdbnmgSBk1nT9wBy9YNeLI_NAMccEXMc7FFt4MKEAtc8sEUEJQcRjAUgNTQawUjqOTJtxFUmxZMi_UlMX9ID2dVvwA9rOz9AGIepqWJs0M4/s320/IMG_20160114_144354.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas decorations are still up, and there's a pile at the end of the sofabed that needs dealing with. Another troublesome area!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ol>
<b>STEP TWO - THINK ABOUT WHAT HELP YOU NEED FOR THINGS ON YOUR LIST?</b><br />
<br />
If you can't do things yourself, how are they going to get done? Have a think about what help you need and where you might be able to get it from.<br />
<b> </b><br />
For example:<br />
<br />
<b>DIY jobs</b> - can partner or family or friends help? <br />
<br />
Does your landlord or housing association or council have a responsiblity to fix anything? Look on the Shelter Charity website for information on the new rules about how long a landlord has to fix it before you can ask the council to step in, do the work and bill the landlord.<br />
<br />
For things that are not the landlord's responsiblity, does your local council have a Handyman Service (ask your social worker, often if it is a health & safety issue, for example putting up curtains needs a ladder, you can get this done for free. Other jobs may cost £10 per visit (for 3 jobs in Northumberland). Look under Housing and Repairs type headings on the Council website.<br />
<br />
Do you have friends or family who can recommend a handyman if the Council can't help? Sometimes Age Concern will help on a one off basis if there's no other alternative even if you're under their normal age range.<br />
<br />
<b>Cleaning - </b>Is cleaning included in your Care Plan? The new Care Act includes keeping the environment in a reasonable state, your Social Worker can either authorise regular or one off cleaning calls from their appointed care agency, or incorporate it as part of your regular carer calls (which is what we've done). <br />
<br />
For example, since the new Care Act, 2 tasks - hoovering the living room because I spend so much time on the floor cos of the crawling and, ironing bed clothes and pyjamas cos I spend so much time in bed so it's important to help prevent skin problems - have been added to my Care Plan and the carers now have an hour a day 7 days a week so these have been scheduled into it.<br />
<br />
And because the carers don't manage to do things like dusting, the Social Worker is asking for on additional half hour a week to be added to my Care Plan so that I don't end up with respiratory problems.<br />
<br />
<b>Sorting</b> - Again the Social Worker can authorise one off calls to help with sorting out/ decluttering under their 'enablement' procedures. This doesn't mean you are put onto an 'enablement' path (which presupposes you will be better soon), it's about making your living space habitable and about health & safety for you and your carers. However, budget cuts are biting! So that might not be possible.<br />
<br />
Do you have friends or family who can come and show you items so all you have to do is say 'keep, bin, recyle, sell'? Or can your carers do that with one or two items a call? Are you capable of sorting through, say a small pile of papers, if your carer brings them to you and also sets up a set of 'keep, bin, recyle, and sell' bags or boxes so you can just drop the items into them by the side of your bed?<br />
<br />
You don't have to be a Roman Catholic, but they have an organisation called St Paul de Vincent where someone can come and use their energy helping you declutter. You have to make the decisions, but they can do the handling. They might be able to take items to charity shops for you etc. If you are a member of a church or other community organisation, they might ask their members if anyone is willing to help. <br />
<br />
Your carers should be perfectly capable of taking rubbish and recycling to the main (wheelie) bins for you. Some items can be recyled but not via the bin men. If you don't have anyone who can go to the main tip/ recyling centre for you, either (a) don't fret, do what you can and that's enough. Just put it in the main bin for landfill or (b) phone the council and ask them about big items, they might let you put a few bags of smaller items at the same time if it works out that way for you in with the single collection price.<br />
<br />
Some charities come and collect large items or furniture - British Heart Foundation take electrical items for example. You may get bags put through the door, to fill for charities.<br />
<br />
One thought with this, it's very very embarrassing asking for help, and difficult. For a start you have to actually ask, and then what if they don't understand and try and rush you or criticise you. So part of this 'thinking' stage is about coming to terms with both asking for and using help.<br />
<br />
Another big thing is the anxiety about having so much stuff, not knowing if you'll need it, hoping to use it in the future, it representing who you used to be etc. Don't worry about that now. All this stage does is help us to quantify what needs looking at and dealing with. We're not actually doing anything yet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D7U10E19J9Q-HzAmfwSii5MS2gcWhVJ5URWFpTiez_g5AaLIYIpTMpZghrFvtkGIpVSMAOlZPY5jdf9ltxZfpjrUaAl6_jvKMRl14t7hBaMamSfhXlMVQn-qPFYLNDfrpCkJpOhDMak/s1600/IMG_20160114_144400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D7U10E19J9Q-HzAmfwSii5MS2gcWhVJ5URWFpTiez_g5AaLIYIpTMpZghrFvtkGIpVSMAOlZPY5jdf9ltxZfpjrUaAl6_jvKMRl14t7hBaMamSfhXlMVQn-qPFYLNDfrpCkJpOhDMak/s320/IMG_20160114_144400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parentals got me a shade for the lamp this week, the lamp came downstairs because that's where I want it to live. Except there's no space, so it's living on the food trolley. Which I need to get my dinner from the kitchen to the sofa. The boxes on the bottom are recent purchases for DIY for others to do Oops! Definitely a troublesome area!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>STEP 3 - LOOK CRITICALLY AT YOUR LIST</b><br />
<br />
Decide<br />
<ul>
<li>which things you need help for a whole task</li>
<li>which things you need help with for some of a task</li>
<li>which things you can do yourself.</li>
</ul>
Maybe if you have family or friends or carers, you can go through the list with them and they can look with fresh eyes and see if anything has been missed off that you didn't see. Or if they have any bright ideas on who or how they can be tackled.<br />
<br />
<b>STEP 4 - STOP AND HAVE A REST!</b> <br />
<br />
That's it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t-bERj4Cqi6g_G0zUBsuPB0ucpyV1UDHxK-bJ2JRNs0ahg-7BtTeSg8OTW3zWzSK1YMcyaEFkacev8jaSTMsGZMM9YM-If9vGEfa0UxhRby3we9IaLZeje-0h5rqRM2iEXAX8EIQxS4/s1600/IMG_20160114_144406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t-bERj4Cqi6g_G0zUBsuPB0ucpyV1UDHxK-bJ2JRNs0ahg-7BtTeSg8OTW3zWzSK1YMcyaEFkacev8jaSTMsGZMM9YM-If9vGEfa0UxhRby3we9IaLZeje-0h5rqRM2iEXAX8EIQxS4/s320/IMG_20160114_144406.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The table. Every inch covered with stuff that doesn't belong there. So that the lamp can be put on it. Another troublesome area!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So for me, I'm in the Living Room. This is what I see:<br />
<ul>
<li>I have the right pillows for support and bedding on the sofa bed and the floor is clear (yay!)</li>
<li>Half the bed is taken up with a litter of papers (including christmas cards still not sent)</li>
<li>My christmas decorations are still up</li>
<li>There's a couple of coats on a chair that have no home</li>
<li>There's piles of 'stuff' in bowls that need sorting</li>
<li>The 'instructions' for household items file has no home and sits on the floor making hoovering hard for the carers.</li>
<li> The table is covered in stuff that is currently homeless or needs to be sent to someone.</li>
<li>My wheeled drawer unit is cluttered on top and chaotic in the drawers.</li>
<li>I own curtains and a rail, but they're not up and in a month or so the developers will be in the field building houses so I need them up. The curtains are in a wooden chest that will be empty space afterwards.</li>
<li>There's a lamp on my food trolley that needs a home so I can use the trolley. </li>
<li>Nothing's been dusted since before christmas</li>
<li>There's spider webs all over the ceiling</li>
<li>Patio door windows are covered in cat & dog nose & paw prints inside and out.</li>
</ul>
PS I should say that the Living Room has already been periodically 'attacked' and sorted, so it's my least disasterous room. It's 'nearly' there...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTwHF4QCOtD4ioQrkR3j2bxsKwZw2aiOLBQ5pay0gCNzTvUu_QE32Fccq_A1fctDLOY5SUwfQJI6fIzEA_-EksFn0I-ZyIQlYdKDWt1kwUmk7o7UrP0IG00gtovDE74b3_TWs8MTpozM/s1600/IMG_20160114_144416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTwHF4QCOtD4ioQrkR3j2bxsKwZw2aiOLBQ5pay0gCNzTvUu_QE32Fccq_A1fctDLOY5SUwfQJI6fIzEA_-EksFn0I-ZyIQlYdKDWt1kwUmk7o7UrP0IG00gtovDE74b3_TWs8MTpozM/s320/IMG_20160114_144416.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheeled drawers used as 'bedside cabinet' aka dumping ground by the sofa. Final troublesome area!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So my list of things that need doing is:<br />
<ol>
<li>Get curtain rails and curtains put up - by someone - work out who!</li>
<li>Get decorations taken down - need help from mum, and think about where they will live til next christmas</li>
<li>Think about a home for the coats, instruction booklets etc. cos I know they need to be kept - think about it.</li>
<li>Sort out papers into stuff to be (a) binned, recycled or shredded, (b) put in a pile for filing and (c) put in a pile to be dealt with - can do myself.</li>
<li>Do christmas cards and send them out, send out stuff promised to people but not yet sent - can do myself and family can take to post office.</li>
<li>Tidy up the drawer unit, top and drawers - carer needs to help to hand me drawers.</li>
<li>Sort out bowls of stuff - to sell, bin, recycle or keep and find a home - carer needs to hand to me.</li>
<li>Sort out top of table and decide what else will live on it as well as the lamp - carer needs to hand to me.</li>
<li>Surfaces need dusting - carer will do if I get the extra call time</li>
<li>Ceiling needs sweeping - carer will do if I get the extra call time</li>
<li>Windows need cleaning - ask dad.</li>
</ol>
And finally, I'm not entirely sure that the furniture is in the right place in the room to make it easy to move around and use it. But that's for another day! <br />
<br />Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331784641769926504.post-54185805433495017382016-01-14T05:31:00.000-08:002016-01-15T07:15:05.646-08:00Independent Living - My house eats my energy, time to change!Morning. <br />
<br />
When I got this ill (sofabound/ bedbound depending on whether I'm upstairs or downstairs) I suddenly realised how very very hard it can be to do simple things around the house - the distances between bed and toilet, reaching into the fridge for food, all the stuff that 'healthy' or 'relatively healthy' people take for granted. Still more difficult is moving around and using your stuff if your house isn't, erm, how do I put this politely, tidy? Or, in my case, I'd probably be snapped up as a contestant for a TV 'this is how hoarding starts' show....<br />
<br />
My basic problem is<br />
<ul>
<li>I have too much stuff for the space available (about 45 square metres ish. Can't quite remember, could be 48, anyway, tiny 2 bed house and a small shed), </li>
<li>I can no longer work and rely on state benefits so I'm anxious about getting rid of something I might need later but won't be able to afford to replace, and, anyway, this stuff reminds me of who I used to be which feels important now I can't be that 'doing' person. I feel invisible to myself sometimes never mind other people, and,</li>
<li>No actual spare energy to do anything about it. My daily life of existing takes up my energy, so if I do something extra, something has to give, like getting dressed or washed or cleaning my teeth etc.<a name='more'></a></li>
</ul>
Sound familiar? Yeah. It's not much fun. And just knowing that has put me into a flat spin for a while. The sheer size of the mountain to climb on top of everything else about being 'ill', everything you lose about yourself, dealing with the symptoms and the bureaucracy involved in getting help to survive. But in the end, the difficulty of getting to basic stuff I want to use has pushed me into doing something about it.<br />
<br />
Not very effectively either - I have piles of 'stuff' for ebay. Those piles are 5 years old, and I've only been this ill for 3 years! I have paper plans made of graph paper with paper furniture that I move around but can't decide if I really want the family here doing the actual furniture shifting to make it easier to use the house. I have Notes blu-taked to the wall about things to think about to help with the anxiety of getting rid of stuff. I have odd items scattered around that I have promised to send to people but haven't, despite having loads of packaging available and family willing to go to the post office for me. And my sofabed is half covered with papers that have come through my letterbox that I'm not sure if I even want to look at (catalogues, junk mail etc) as well as papers I need to deal with and papers I have dealt with but haven't got around to putting away. <br />
<br />
At this point I should say I have family nearby who are more than willing to turn up for as short or as long a time as I need for whatever I need to help me tackle it, at my pace. And yet, I've still been sticking my head in the sand, tackling only odd little bits every so often then not doing anything for ages.<br />
<br />
So that's the 'issue'. My house is NOT easy to live in. But I'd like it to be.<br />
<br />
I suspect I'm not the only person who feels like this. So I thought I'd share how I'm going about dealing with it and hopefully it'll help someone else, if only to think 'nope, I'm not doing it like that' and do it differently.<br />
<br />
What's changed for me? That makes me want to make changes?<br />
<br />
Partly I think I'm mentally and emotionally more stable now my symptoms have stabilised a bit. Also, I'm pig sick of living like this. And finally, I was surfing the net and found the Appartment Therapy website the other week. They have a 'January Cure' which I'm sort of following a bit because it's well thought out - http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/collection/january-cure-2016-895Goblinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06260037987448208301noreply@blogger.com0