Let me start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Thank you, all of you, who are still reading my monthly blogs
New Year is traditionally a time to look back over the preceding year and, for the first time ever, we can all do so with 2020 vision! The slow physical deterioration caused by MND means that, month on month, there isn’t always much to report, but looking back a whole year paints a different picture. This time last year I was still walking, albeit with a stick. My hands were weakening, but functional, so I was still driving and able to hold a hand of cards. It was, though, in January last year, disaster of disasters, I found I couldn’t operate the valve on a new red wine box; the warning signs were already appearing!
Since late March, we have lived full-time in Nottingham, seeing much more of our family, and also of several very good friends from university days who live not too far away. We also see a bit more of our friends from our many years living in the North East. We are still 160 miles south of Newcastle but much more accessible than when we were in Sussex.
What has been particularly gratifying though is the continued contact with friends from Sussex, by email, and in person. Some have come and stayed over, or called in when passing through. The prize for determination, though, must go to David Port and Tony Jones who made a day trip by train, just to see us, a week before Christmas. They couldn’t stay long, but were here long enough for me to introduce them to the food and ales at my local pub, The Bread & Bitter. For those who know David, you won’t be surprised to hear that he ordered fish & chips!
Sadly, in 2019, we said our last farewell to one of our Sussex friends, Kathy Hammond, a good friend for over 40 years.
Christmas was really enjoyable. My disability prevents me getting into my daughter’s and my sister’s houses but all the family make a huge effort to come to us so I don’t lose out. We hosted Christmas lunch for the immediate family, and a Boxing Day party for the extended family but, as ever, everyone was tremendously helpful and supportive, with contributions of food and organisation of party games. I really couldn’t ask for more.
MND received some welcome publicity last month with the screening of “One More Try”, the BBC documentary about Doddie Weir. Doddie played rugby for Scotland and the British Lions. He was diagnosed with MND three years ago, aged just 46, and has used his fame to raise money to find a cure for MND. The documentary follows his progress over the last two years, charting his physical deterioration and his energetic fund-raising activities. “One More Try” is available on BBC iPlayer. You can also read about it at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-50561575 .
Some of you might be surprised to learn I’ve taken up circuit training. My left foot, 8 months after falling and breaking it, is still quite swollen, and prone to ‘pins and needles’. I continue to take periodic short walks around the house, supported by my walking frame, as recommended by the physio, but perhaps I needed to do more? Consequently, I have extended my customary walk by adding 2-3 ‘circuits’ of the dining table. It might not be as strenuous as the circuits I used to do for rugby training, but I’m just as exhausted when I collapse back into the wheelchair!