The Challenges Of Finding Solitary Refinement ..

dreaming

Hey AC - well done on the weight loss and all the efforts you put into keeping it off. It's not easy, I know!.
I have been thinking about you over the last couple of days as after some worrying health issues it is now suspected that I may have myasthenia and I am currently awaiting referral to neurologist etc. The only knowledge I had of this illness is what I had read on your diaries so I have been reading up on the NHS and the MYaware websites. Although it is obviously not what I wanted I am hoping that once a diagnosis is confirmed treatment can be started and I can learn to live with it. I was initially admitted to hospital with a suspected stroke as I had double vision, droopy eyelids and felt very weak and wobbly. After undergong 2 CT scans and an MRI there was no sign of stroke so I was refered to an opthalmologist who thought within about 10 minutes that it was myasthenia. He said he couldn't fully diagnose it but he would be prepared to bet on it so has referred me to neurologist, and have to get blood test in the meantime. Apparently the bloods they took during my hospital stay would not have looked for the specific markers for myasthenia. Looking for the silver lining in my current cloud, the various scans and opthalmolgy tests have shown that I have unrelated problems with bone erosion in the ear structure, and also a problem with the macular layer in the right eye, so I am also referred to ENT and Retinology as well. Apart from having had 2 children, and a minor operation a few years ago I have not had too many dealings with NHS services but it seems I am going to make up for it now. So at the moment all I am doing (can do) is waiting for the various appointments and doing what I can when I can. In the morning I can normally do my bit of housework etc. and the online crossword and Wordle (although I have had to increase magnification) but afternoons are a bit of a write-off as my vision seems really bad then. Reading anything is very difficult although I can see the TV well enough but unfortunately there's not usually a lot I want to watch. Oh well, at least I have my 2 cats Felix and Smiffy to cuddle - when they are in the mood and not off catching mice and birds (and bringing them back alive to the house!). Anyway, it's thanks to reading your diaries that I at least had heard of myasthenia and wasn't completely in the dark about it and although it's not the best news I have had lately, it's also not the worst so hopefully I will have some answers in a few weeks. All the best.

another_casualty

Sorry to hear @dreaming. Pm coming your way ..🐈‍⬛

another_casualty

Thursday's session with mr trainer 🏋️‍♂️Was back to the way it should be 🥵
It has been stop/ start for sometime . 

Friday myself and local friend walked 🐾to Poole and back via cider 🍺
Bright and breeezy , but much needed.
My body of course paid for it next day . One of my legs has bone issues now and it has calmed down now . 

Today stiff back etc ,but will do gentle session later on today 🏋️‍♂️

I received my mobile/ broadband bill, which was the same as always 🤔. I phoned to discuss , and there will be a + £80 in April. Thankfully not the 1st. This is due to loss of broadband during recent storm . 

This morning I have been going through all of the correspondence regading this national careers action plan and the digital course I'm supposed to be taking tomorrow .
I have a few concerns ,and have listed those for my follow up appointment with job coach n June . I can complain to national careers ( written ) but decided not to.
I did take the survey about the appointment I had with th careers adviser 2 weeks ago and was surprised that all of my feedback was allowed. He knows it's from me , but hopefully he won't make things worse . I am due to take digital course tomorrow , but no confirmation has been made after I took those tests . I'll send an email to the office administrator or the woman who booked  the test . I'm not sure how I'll feel at 10.am -4pm 
The goals are supposed to be completed by 29th of this month . 

For someone on LCW and told by the job coach that she can't force me to work , they are making it difficult probably on purpose and trying to stop my payments which I am entitled to . 

This time next week , clocks go forward ⏰

I'll leave it there ...🌝

another_casualty

After spending an anxious weekend going through all the correspondence regarding my new action plan incase I missed something , I receive an email advising me the course has been postponed until April , and that they'll let me know once they get new dates.
Shambolic !🤬 
This was at 09.15 this morning after I emailed the college voicing my concerns about not receiving enrolment email which I cannot do course without ! 

I also questioned that Apple Mac 🖥is not mentioned as I'm supposed to have a computer with a camera . I told them I only have an iPad .
Anyway I have a bit of breathing space it seems until the action plan guy gets in touch which should be 29th of this month, but I'm prepared for any crap thrown at me.
I was looking at the "ignite" programme that he put me forward for and tbh that doesn't seem right for me as I'm not ex offender etc 

one bit of positive news yesterday , was I did another workout 🥵🏋️‍♂️And should be having another session with mr trainer tomorrow .

I'll leave it there..🌩

doingitanyway

Glad the workout are, well, working out 

jwil

How annoying about the course!

another_casualty

A few things going on of late to update ..

I'll leave the UC stuff for now, as it's complicated and rather than make this a long and whiny post ..I'll leave that there for now .

I have received my usual service chharge/ gd rent invoice . I have funds , but rather than pay immediately as I normally do I decided to pay next week due to spending elsewhere.
Plus my uc payment for April will be there then to cushion the blow .
I also receive pip daily living , which has been increased by £1.85 a week. Thankfully no reassessment is demanded as yet 🤞

So , I spent " elsewhere " , which isn't as much as it could have been .
I needed something which I have been searching for absolutely ages. In my music room , I needed to declutter the desk plus tidy up the things I always use . Instead of buying a new desk or shelving , I found a great idea by accident and one by a risk / gambie.
The accident was instead of buying expensive stuff mentioned I managed to put my newer synths and effects units ...on mobile phone holders ! 📱I got 5 for £7.99 each. 

The gamble , was getting a laptop stand , where the base goes under my main synth🎹 and the top part holds a synth above it. That was £29 . I kept hesitating , but sometimes you have to just do something rather than procrastinating . Plus , if it was not right I could return it . Still everything is now to hand so to speak , and wires / connections are more accessible . 

Other things I purchased but not yet arrived ..new kitchen bins 🚮🗑. I finally dismantled the awkward wilko one which was not right and I will dismantle the smaller one also within the week. When I moved here , I made a lot of good essential purchases but also a few bad ones . Not many , but I'm finally getting tidy and more organised over the 5 years I've been in this flat. Well, 5 years ago I received the keys 🗝🔑, and had to frantically get everything done by 30 June when my tenancy up the road expired . Fun times..

The gd flr flat opposite me has been put up for sake . It has 3 bedrooms . I expected the listing to be more than it is . The estate agent told me ," well , it's really a 2 bed."
When I first spoke to him my speech was all over the place . 

These Victorian flat conversions although pokey , are very deceptive . I seem to have the better views but have to contend with a communal area etc. The flat opposite has its own entrance and a bit more room ,but not sure which is better .

I'm still back on track with mr trainer 🏋️‍♂️. Last week I thought he was trying to kill me, but I impressed him 🥵. He told me that I look more trim yesterday . 

Most of the time over last 2 weeks, I've been only having one slice of bread a day 🥖with marmalade or butter depending on mood . Maybe that's helping .

Still be seeing local friend . Not this week though due to change of weather.

I extended walk for a few days last week 🐾, but pain and risk of rain meant I went back to my usual this week . 

Today it is very icy and windy 🥶, but glad I went out today .

I'll leave it there ..🥶😼

doingitanyway

Well done on the bread. I know you struggle to keep it low.

I've been looking at Victorian conversions. They vary. some have private entrances and some communal. There was a beautiful one I missed out on. I've decided I don't mind someone above me but not underneath and above.

You do well with your walks. It is something I'm planning to start doing but as we know I don't have your consistency 

I hope you have a good day.

another_casualty

Thanks @doingitanyway 😼. It was unfortunate that I couldn't get an upstairs maissonnette ,but as we all know compromises had to be made .
I prefer maissonnettes providing you have the right neighbours . 

As for Victorian conversions , they tend to be quaint , odd shaped and sometimes pokey as I've been finding out . I'd avoid being sandwiched in the middle as you say, and if you have your own entrance all the better . Things could have been a lot worse, but with Victorian conversions they are often rented out to tenants and the uncertainty as to who will be living above me is a worry . At the moment , the undesirable above is leaving the latch on the door so he doesn't have to go downstairs for a delivery . It doesn't look open , but it is a security risk . I'm waiting till the next AGM meeting to address this with the directors etc . It's best to say nothing to keep the peace . 

With one of the directors ; he has his own front door, but the view from his living room window is not as good as mine . When I first moved here, one of the directors at the time popped into say hello , and she told me she didn't like his flat and preferred mine . 

With myself being on the ground floor , just by being responsible I make sure communal area is tidy . I have to be for insurance purposes , plus if I didn't the place would be a pigsty🐖 . Thank the lord that ever expandng family moved last year .

people ..don't you just love them ! 

You haven't got the time for regular walking at the moment as you are doing a lot . Don't worry too much about that at the moment 🐾

I'll leave it there ..😼

doingitanyway

another_casualty said:

You haven't got the time for regular walking at the moment as you are doing a lot . Don't worry too much about that at the moment 🐾

I'll leave it there ..😼

You are probably right about the walking.
I think ground floor is more sought after than top floor so you did well.