Disability

Recently, my second in command has been experimenting with transport.

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She was quite impressed with the stop button on buses, which emits a siren-like noise. Today, we visited our local hospital, where my second in command’s foot was scanned. We only need to wait 10-14 days for the results.

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We’re hoping that’s some form of expectation management and that we’ll soon have an outcome. After our disappointment, we went, by wheelchair to our local.

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Where people made a special romantic table for us.

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And then there was a £1.60 cab home (with a massive tip).

Pies

Yesterday, my second in command had her first real excursion following her injury. We took a bus to the Central, where we seemed to be the only customers.

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After a couple of beers and something to eat, we returned home to make pies. Mushroom and beer (Innes & Gunn original).
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Now that she’s getting the hang of crutches, we’re considering venturing out again today.

Angel

I quite like the angel on top of the Go-Northeast Christmas tree.

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Might have to purchase (or make) one for next year.

Christmas aches

I ache a lot. Mostly my calf muscles and the top of my arms/shoulders. Pushing my second in command around in a wheelchair has been a tiring experience.

I’m not actually complaining; she’d do the same for me if I were to be similarly damaged.

Still, she looks kind of cute in crutches.

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Fixed … and broken

I finally got around to replacing the broken bathroom light fitting, so our bathroom now has light again.

Unfortunately, it appears that, when something is fixed, something else must break. My second in command’s foot, for example.

She has a brand new cast on her foot and crutches.

Bus conversation

While on the bus home from work this evening, waking from my slumber not far from my stop, a man sitting opposite engaged me in conversation.

Slurring heavily, he asked if I was on my way to work. I replied in the negative, stating that i’d finished for the day. He said that I was fortunate, finishing so early. Noticing my confusion, he said, you’re not a doorman?

Again, I said not. He was quite apologetic, but commented that I had a nice coat.

My temporary companion appeared not to recall our very similar bus conversation of an evening around last Christmas. Perhaps we shall meet again next year.

Sofa

I may have pain. I mean real pain. I may have a broken leg. And fingers. And head.

After a rather pleasant evening, ending for the second night in our local, I sat, once home, on the back of the Sofa in the kitchen. Then, for some reason, leaned back.

My second in command was amused to see my legs fly over my head on my way down to the floor. Regrettably, our cast iron table wasn’t the best of cushions.

Fortunately, I have a bottle of Sam Smith’s oatmeal stout to ease my pain.

Slush

Yes, slush, not snow. Yesterday, I was forced to delay my planned Christmas shopping and, instead, spend time in a pub.

And all because modern buses are unable to cope with slush on our hill. My journey from Washington to Newcastle was not possible after a couple of hours of snow. My bus had to turn back when attempting to reach our street; other buses were already stuck on the hill and my double decker was sliding from side to side.

My bus ride ended at Gateshead Interchange, where I realised that a return from Newcastle by public transport wouldn’t happen in the near future. So, I had a couple of bottles of Tucher in ‘Spoons while waiting in vain for bus services to our hill to resume. Eventually, I gave up when a bus to Low Fell arrived, walking from there to my local.

I may attempt some shopping today.

Bombay potato

While in a rush to Kings Cross, I stopped off at a Christmas market outside the station. Upon noticing lots of dead stuff on sale, I didn’t bother walking around and cut straight through instead.

In doing so, I found a stall selling veggie food. Best of all, a lot of it was vegan. I opted for a (huge) Bombay potato wrap, which I’ve just consumed on the train. I only mention it because it was gorgeous.

Also gorgeous was the pint of stout in the Chandos en route to the station.