THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

My back has started recovering. I can roll over in bed! I can stand up straight! Weasel has been very kind to me and I’m getting there. God bless TENS machines.

MONDAY
Singing lesson! My teacher, Nicola, is awesome. She is about my age, really bubbly and enthusiastic. We did a few breathing exercises, she said very supportive things like, ‘You’re much further along than I thought you’d be’ and ‘you were on key, just hesitant’. I’m really excited to be working with her. She is also keen for her students to sing the music they want to sing. So for me, I’ve got a karaoke version of Caught a Lite Sneeze [Tori of course] and I’m practising with that. I had no idea you could get karaoke tracks like that. She’s also willing to work with me on our bands stuff. Doodle is going to prepare some tracks with what we hope is appropriate timings and we’ll go from there.

TUESDAY
Swimming! Second time! While I was there, I joined up right and proper. I can go swimming any time I want now! Score. My super special new rucksack arrived and I got to use it for swimming and it worked a treat. I’m so very pleased with a bag I can carry comfortably on my back. Swimming was about 40 minutes again, I feel like I have returned home. I remember the strokes I like, I know where things are and how they work and the water still feels amazing. Now that I’m a member in my own right, I can go by myself but I hope Doodle will continue to join me. I discovered that I was able to do laps comfortably if I did my version of a breaststoke one way and back float the other. I’m not an excellent swimmer, but I’d like to think that I make up with enthusiasm what I lack in skill. Also, practice is the only way to improve.

WEDNESDAY
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People inspection! I think it went well. They got here promptly. We had a long chat about my needs, history and what to expect. We went on a nice walk up to the park and came home again. I should know whether I’ll get to proceed to the next stage or not in the new year. If all goes well, I’ll have my first stay at their facility around Easter. If I am not accepted, I intend to look into buying a dog myself and hiring a trainer. Both of these don’t result in an actual dog for at least two years. Ah well, I’m on my way now at least.

I finally got my dates for my next dilatation – January 21st! I have a pre-op appointment on the 11th. I managed to move my chest clinic appointment again to February 22nd. Tomorrow, I have an exciting doctors appointment, second swine flu vaccination and therapy! Friday I get to go see Horatio. Yay!

In other news, when I met Doodle for swimming on the 8th he casually asked when the Eddie Izzard show was. I thought about it said I couldn’t recall, but maybe the 20th? I got home and looked, Friday 4th. We missed it. I couldn’t have gone because my back was shot, but Weasel and Doodle could have. We all feel very stupid and sad that we missed seeing him again. He is an excellent performer. We’ll try again next time.