Our very dear son has died

Matthew was courageous both in life and death.

He was his usual bright and intelligent self until summer 2016 - but he no longer wrote on his blog as his tiredness was increasing

His final journey began at the beginning of July 2016. He spent 4 months in hospital and then came home to die at the end of October. He was on APD dialysis and was completely bed ridden; had lost his sight and most of his hearing. He was kind and loving and never complained.

He died on November 5th 2016 with us beside him. We are devastated but glad he is now at peace.

We will love you for ever Matthew xxx

I wish it was summer again

This is me and dad on Erith riverfront last summer.

Saturdays

On saturdays I enjoy listening to Radio Kent which is my favourite radio station.

For the last few weeks James Whale's programme has had some live groups, all of which have been very good.

This saturday they had another really good group of singers who were two sisters and a brother. I know singing live is hard but they sounded perfect. Their name is Orfila and they have a website

HERE

I downloaded their CD from itunes. I really like the one called I'm a train. I can't find them singing that on youtube videos but you can always listen to a sample on itunes.

I love music

Our cats

I took these photos last night. They aren't brothers, Georgie came a year before henry. Sometimes they fight but most of the time they play together and cuddle. Henry who is the lighter colour was illtreated by his previous owner and he has a twisted spine.

I did used to have hair, seems ages ago now

you never know where life is going to take you. glad i didn't know really

My summer house

We don't have chickens at the bottom of the garden anymore, but in the summer dad built me a summer house where I could rest and take my mind off things and remember what it used to be like to be able to walk better and when i could use both arms.

 It was also when I was feeling really worried about going in hospital to have surgery to make a fistula for dialysis. I'm not on dialysis yet.

I had my surgery in September and still went down there until October but then one day when dad was guiding me back holding my arm I passed out and we both ended up on the garden. we weren't hurt but we fell between a pile of bricks and the bird bath. the bird bath fell over and broke.

This scared me but doctors thought it was my blood pressure pills and took me off them. By then it was too cold to go down there but i hope i will get down there soon

Worship the WiFi

I really like this ad on the television. We have Sky TV but not their broadband. the good thing about the sky TV is that you can download an app on your Ipad and watch programmes on there too. The Sky box is in our front room but I can still watch it if I'm in my bedroom

My Post Box

I have been reminded that I haven't written on here for ages. The photo shows the real old postbox I got   last year. the thing on the top of it isn't mine, it's my mum's beefeater  ice bucket. I think both things being in red they don't look too bad together though.

My new cat Henry

I am so happy to have another cat. I missed our Siamese Merlin so much when he died just over a year ago. We got another one, who I do love, but he isn't keen on sitting on laps. Henry loves sitting on my lap and having a cuddle and he also retrieves like Georgie.

My new Neurosurgeon

I don't see my new neurosurgeon at the Wellington (which is for private patients). I see him at Bart's as a NHS patient, but this is a video he did for the private hospital he works at. He explains things well and he made me feel I had some options when I saw him on Friday.

Video Link

Autumn tree

We went to Bluewater this afternoon. I took my camera but although we drove through the road where our local woods are either side and then through part of Dartford heath I forgot to take any photos.

The trees in the car-park at Bluewater were very colourful though, so I took a couple of photos there. The sky was lovely and blue but it was cold - even though you are sheltered in what used to be a massive chalk pit.

This camera has GPS on it so it can show where the photos are taken and also if there are any points of interest nearby.

Windows 8 - my opinion

Showing part of the apps screen

Home screen

I pre-ordered my Windows 8 from QVC so I received it on it's launch day.

At first it seemed quite interesting but I didn't enjoy using it. I use Windows 7 premium and a Samsung Galaxy tablet and a smartphone so I understand about technology, but this just seemed a mix of everything but without a touch screen.

It won't import pop3 e-mail accounts unless you install something like Incredimail yourself. And unless you can afford Word you have to download a simple word processor. many of the apps that were preinstalled tell you to create an account and sign in - even if they are free. You have to make up loads of usernames and passwords doing that.

It does have a refresh function though as well as system restore, but if you refresh it takes the computer back to the state you got it and so you lose any programmes you might have put in yourself. we installed Webroot cloud as it is faster than the trial version of Mcafee - but refreshing the computer removed it and other things. We tried all this just to see how well things worked.

My first computer was Sinclair zx, then I worked on through Commodore 16 and 64 and then through all the windows editions. I have had them in desktops, laptops and netbooks.

Windows 8 is much faster, but you have to keep switching between screens and it takes ages to find all the functions. I don't even use most of the apps.

After a week i gave the machine to mum who got to grips with where everything is but she has now decided that she doesn't like it either - so it is going back - one of the advantages of QVC.

I am typing this on my Windows 7 premium, Toshiba, duel core laptop - white and easier for me to see all the functions on.

Wherever You Will Go

Love this song

The paralympics London

I really enjoyed watching the opening of the paralympics on Channel 4 last night. The fireworks, which we could hear, were even louder than what we heard when the main Olympics opened.

From BBC

I was annoyed with Mr  Cameron though, as he said about disabled people concentrating on what they can do and not what they can't. Good, but he means let's take most of them off benefits.

They said all the athletes had physios and trainers, loads of people to help them, lucky them - I don't have a physio.

I am proud of all those athletes who have disabilities like myself but have achieved so much with all their hard work, but perhaps Mr Cameron should think about the disabled and sick, the disabled and old and the disabled and poor. Where is the help for the rest of us?

Going to pay my respects

It was my birthday last week so on the day I decided to pay my respects to my friend. The stonemasons told my friend's wife they will have to wait for 6 months before they can put up a headstone because they need it all to settle.

It was not really a very nice day but when we got to the grave the sun came out and it was hot. The fields are right beside his grave and the view is right down to Reculver. A marsh Harrier flew across the field but I wasn't able to capture it.

Georgie trying to get comfortable

 I took this night, Georgie often lays on his back, he tosses and turns all the time and doesn't stay still for very long. I couldn't get to my new good camera so I had to use the one on the table which doesn't do such clear photos

Some flowers in our garden.

Trying to get more used to my new camera. These are flowers in our garden taken a few days ago.

I bought this CD a few months ago

I like this goup's music and enjoyed watching them on the Olympic closing ceremony

Smile!

Joy can give you hope when you wake up to a brand new day. Your happiness can also rub off onto other people, so if you see someone looking glum then give them a smile.

You never know, it could brighten their day and make them feel more positive about their life.

Don't smile too manically though - otherwise they will think what it says on the graphic above!

Another Jigsaw

Because it is so much harder for me to do things now this jigsaw has taken me ages. I finished it on friday and took this photo today with my new Finepix camera. i got dad to break it up and put it back in the tin afterwards and sometimes I lose the pieces.

A good day

I know it seems childish but every year I have a blancmange rabbit and green jelly grass. Having it brings back good memories of when I was young.

I enjoyed today, we went shopping where I wanted to go and had a very nice dinner. It was tiring out as there were so many people rushing everywhere but I like to go out when I can.

Mum and dad bought me an interesting present which I will show you when it is set up.

Herne Bay for the day

A couple of weeks ago we had a day out at Herne Bay. The weather was lovely and I met some people I knew. The day made me feel really happy and I will remember it for a very long time.

A sunny outing

It was cold today but it was sunny and we went out to Hall Place in the greenhouse. My arm is not much good and I can't see things ok on one side but my leg is a lot better.

Sometimes I use my stick but I have been given a walker which is much better and it has a seat on it. I can also put things in the seat under the lid

I always like seeing the bananas in the greenhouse and today one of the gardeners gave me one. it is a bit green but he said it would ripen in a few days

Matthew

I'm writing this for Matthew (mum) - he has had a stroke caused by a blocked, collapsed carotid artery. The collapse of the artery is thought to have been caused by the radiotherapy all those years ago (which also caused 2 meningiomas and dozens of skin cancers on his face and head).

He is in the Royal London Hospital where his care is minimal and what little care he does get is atrocious. He has had several falls through receiving no help when we haven't been with him.

After note

Matthew was attacked in the night two weeks later by the patient in the next bed who had a nurse 'minder' Beside him. Unfortunately at night it was a young slightly built woman who couldn't stop him. Matthew was very upset and rang us to come and get him. The tunnel was closed overnight though, so we couldn't get there until early next morning.

The nurse in charge said Matthew was a bit upset!!! No apologies...

The Moon?

I have just taken this picture as it looks so much like the moon, but is really a very large bubble which is forming at the the bottom of my lava lamp.

1940's fayre

A few weeks ago I was at a 1940's themed fayre held locally. It was jolly good fun and everyone really joined in the spirit of the event. I had a lovely day.

Terrapins in with fish

We went to Hall Place on Friday and although we go there regularly I was surprised to discover that there are now Terrapins in with the fish in the heated greenhouse! I thought Terrapins ate fish and meat!

There is nothing like Ice cream!

Light and dark

I took these photos in the conservatory.

The butterflies are here!

This isn't the first butterfly we have seen in our garden this year, but The Peacock is always so nice to see. It is warm and sunny today which obviously encouraged it out.

Fleetwood Mac - Monday morning

This is one of my favourite songs and it always reminds me of summer.

Youtube had lots of videos of their 2009 tour but unless you like flashy lights and shaky recording (not saying I could do better!) then it's easier to listen to the one with the best sound.

Pathe News excerpts from youtube for Herne Bay and Reculver

The embedding has been disabled but if you click the links you should get to see them. An interesting look at how the places used to be.

LINK

LINK

LINK

LINK

Foxes and Chickens

Yesterday afternoon dad let the chickens out and stood with them as usual, then from nowhere came a fox, grabbed one and made off with it!

When you keep chickens you start to hate foxes. Over the years, despite all our care, they have even broken in and taken hens and chicks.

They kill plants in the garden and foul everywhere - which stinks!

Stupid neighbours think they are lovely - mange and all - and STILL feed and encourage them. I am against foxhunting but I think foxes are vermin. We have more in the towns than the country now I think.

Freezing cold in Greenwich Park

I think this squirrel was as cold as I was! he was certainly more friendly than the evil one who visits our garden.

Shopping can be tiring!

After a hard afternoon's shopping at Bluewater dad and I had to sit down and have something to eat and drink - before starting again!

Herne Bay Clocktower in the snow

Snow

I took these photos this afternoon. The ones on the left of the photos are of the River Thames near us and on the right our local woods.

There were hundreds of birds on the shoreline of the Thames. The collage does enlarge quite big if you click on it.

Happy 2010 everyone!

Twice before Christmas we had heavy snow, but it has melted again. It is still very cold though and every day the bird baths freeze over. As well as the birds drinking from them they have even been having baths when it has been icy cold

We are putting loads of food out for the birds and yesterday I bought a tub of 55 fat balls.

These are some of the birds which are feeding here - Crows, Starlings, Sparrows, Hedge sparrows, Robins, a Wren, Blue tits, Great tits, Long tailed tits, Blackbirds, Redwings, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Wood pigeons, Collared Doves and yesterday 2 fat Parakeets were trying to hang onto the same fatball. One kept pecking the other ones tail to try and make it go elsewhere.

The squirrel takes a lot of food, but most things we put out are in special containers now. The squirrel is a nuisance but I do enjoy seeing him! - won't tell dad that though!!!!!

Children in need 2009. BBC Newsreaders & Diversity

This is more my mum's sort of music really!!!!! but it is jolly good fun to watch. I stayed tuned in until about 1.00am. Give something if you can, it all helps.

Please Sir

I have always enjoyed this film - and the series. Good fun!

Jigsaws and puzzles

I expect most of you out there are good at jigsaw puzzles. Apart from the simple ones I did as a young child, I've always found them difficult.

Tried a number of times over the years but just gave up! a lot of brain surgery and having to take thirteen pills a day means that sometimes it's hard to concentrate.

A couple of days ago though I bought this puzzle at out local Hobbycraft store - and not only completed it, but enjoyed it too.

Use it or lose it they say and I've always tried to keep the brain cells functioning. Apart from my other hobbies I do word searches and simple sudoku and watch general knowledge quizzes and political programmes. That way I try to improve my general knowledge.

This are all simple pleasures but worthwhile in my opinion. When your life has limitations you need get on with it in the best way as you can.