10/11/2024 - 'Viruses, volunteering and vinyl' by David

How was your week? Unless you've had the high of winning the lottery, or the low of losing somebody dear to you, you have probably had the same kind of week as me and the majority of us all - a series of highs and lows that equal themselves out, but hopefully, if there is a winner, it's the former rather than the latter.

Alice is still struggling to get over pneumonia so was not well enough to work and she spent most of the week either in bed, or on the sofa coughing and spluttering, poor thing.

As such, this week was very quiet and restful. From Monday to Thursday, we didn't leave the house and the most interesting thing that happened was the delivery of a new dinner set and towels that we've bought with the voucher I was given on my retirement, which is nearly a year ago now! It was nice to have someone around the house during the day though. Teddy is great company, but he can't even meow let alone speak. 

I wanted to try and look after Alice, as she does for me, and bring her coffee and breakfast in bed but despite being able to still prepare the food and drinks, I can barely get myself up the stairs these days, let alone carry anything, so a poorly Alice still had to come down to get her grub and carry mine up too! 

After being holed up all week, we finally ventured out on Friday to take our running buggy to the manufacturer, Delichon in the new forest. Once you get off the motorway, it's a lovely drive through this amazing landscape, especially at this time of year with all the red, orange, and brown leaves falling onto, and carpeting the forest floor. We saw, horses, deer, pigs, and donkeys on our drive, all roaming free and it was lovely to see. 

Martin, the owner, who has been very kind to us since we got the buggy was unfortunately ill on the day so we were looked after by his son Julian, who made a few adjustments required and gave it the once over. We had a go with a few other buggies in their range, but we decided that ours was still our favourite. We hope to meet Martin soon for a parkrun as he said that he wants to push me round. 

Because I'm always in the passenger seat these days, I see much more around me on a drive out somewhere and as we drove, I said to Alice that I felt exactly like my mum, and everyone else that can't get out as much as they used to, when she says that she looks forward to a car journey, to be out of the house, and to enjoy all the beauty outside. It was an absolute joy. 

Because of Alice's ongoing illness we decided not to run at parkrun, so we volunteered out on the course instead. We saw a lady in an MNDA vest and a guy in an MNDA hat and they both gave us a shout out which was nice. I also got to use our new piece of buggy bling. A fleece lined, waterproof cover, which encloses me in like a caterpillar in a cocoon, which meant that I was nice and toasty. I feel the cold more these days so that will come in handy at cold or wet meet ups in the coming winter months. 

With the darker evenings, come our winter rituals of soup, ginger wine, and jigsaws. We were both a bit worried that my hands wouldn't allow me to do a jigsaw this year, but despite a few fumbles, it was okay which is pleasing as we love to do a jigsaw together. We put some music on and sing along, (sometimes in harmony), and we chat and laugh while sipping a liquer, and before you know it, its bedtime. We have until the end of November to finish the Quentin Blake jigsaw, before we start our traditional Christmas jigsaw (with accompanying Christmas vinyl), on the 1st of December.

Teddy came to help and was very interested in the pieces.  First he sniffed them and then proceeded to lick them.  We were suspicious he even tried to eat one so if we get to the end and we're a piece short, we know who to blame!

I've been a bit out of sorts this week mentally, after the deterioration in my mobility and dexterity last week. It seemed to happen over night as opposed to the usual slow deterioration that I've experienced so far. I think my mood has matched the weather we've been having here in the south of the UK. Every day for the last week has been very sameish, dark and dull - no wind, mild temperatures, no rain, and all under total cloud cover. We had to wait until remembrance Sunday for the sun to shine and it was very much appreciated. May the sun always shine on those who gave their lives for our freedom. 

My spirits were again lifted later, when I met up with my old school mates for another afternoon of raucous banter, and stories of old. We look forward to these get togethers and we left with our jaws aching from all the laughter. The venue was Overdraft in Southampton where I regularly DJ, so my friend Darren and I played vinyl all afternoon and the place was busy with friends of mine from school, music, football, our families, work, and our running club.  I have to sit down to DJ these days but I'm lucky to have so many friends and I really appreciate and love spending time with everyone of them.

Do you remember I mentioned Andy and his dog Cassie had raised over £300 walking 75 miles in October for the MND? Well now their total is over £500 and Cassie is now proudly wearing an MND pendant on her collar!

Rachel and Max's legs are starting to ache a week into their challenge of doing 5,000 squats in November but they are both past a thousand already. 

A quick tot up of donations on our just giving page plus the money raised in my name shows an amazing figure of nearly £30,000! All of this money will go towards helping families through, and finding a cure for, this horrible disease that takes so much from us all.