Early August was marred by the appalling mob violence seen on the streets of some of our towns and cities, sparked by the fatal stabbing of three little girls. The ensuing protests were orchestrated by ultra-right-wing activists, and fuelled by inaccurate information, posted on social media, about the identity of the suspect, which led to mosques, and hostels for asylum-seekers, being mindlessly targeted. The rapid response by police and the Justice system to identify, arrest and charge so many of the worst offenders is to be applauded. I’m not normally part of the “Hang ‘em & flog ‘em” brigade but those found guilty of torching cars, looting shops and, especially, throwing bricks at the police and emergency services, thoroughly deserve the custodial sentences meted out.
On a brighter note, August started, just as July had finished, with me glued to the Paris Olympics. The UK team performed well, winning 65 medals in all. My job, at one time, took me regularly to Paris, so I particularly enjoyed the wonderful views of the city. The end of the event left a deep, but thankfully short, sense of loss as the void was quickly filled by the start of the new football season. It does always seem to start earlier and earlier every year even though I know it doesn’t. The perception is enhanced by the continued presence of test-match cricket and other summer sports on TV, and the absence of domestic Rugby union until late September.
In last month’s blog I mentioned that Wheelchair Services had delivered a new, better chair but it was still uncomfortable after about 2 hours use. We overcame that earlier this month when our daughter, Fiona, suggested that she could help my carer transfer me from easy-chair to wheelchair, just in time for a midweek family lunch at our local pub. All went according to plan so I had my second pub lunch of the year, enjoying the pub’s home-made moussaka and a pint of local bitter. Now, call me an alcoholic if you wish, but I had hoped to repeat the experience at the end of the month, before our grandsons returned to school, but I wasn’t feeling well enough so, instead, Fiona and family came here bringing lunch to us. Son-in-law, Tudor, even went to the pub to buy me some draught bitter in a take-away plastic bottle. Lovely!
We were a little puzzled earlier in the month when Wheelchair Services called to say they’d be coming to fit a tray to my chair. “Strange”, I thought, as I hadn’t requested a tray, but it might be useful for holding my food and drink on my now-frequent pub trips! When the day came for fitting, it turned out that the ‘tray’ fitted on the back of the chair as a safe place for my ventilator while I’m in the chair. Very practical but not exciting!
It was not such a good month for me medically. My breathing deteriorated such that I am having to use the cough-assist machine more frequently. I am also now using the full-face mask habitually during dressing/undressing, sling transfers, and occasionally in the evening if I am particularly tired. The full-face mask has the advantage that it allows mouth-breathing if I need it, something that is becoming more frequent, but it makes talking more difficult and eating even more so. I am still hoping this is a temporary situation but, with MND, such changes usually turn out to be permanent.
I mentioned earlier that I’d been feeling unwell at the end of the month. Concurrent with that, but probably unconnected, was that my elbow became very sore and swollen. I haven’t sought medical advice yet, but could it be tennis elbow, I wondered? Although I’ve played racquet games for most of my life, I have never experienced tennis elbow so I don’t know what it feels like. And, anyway, why now when I haven’t played tennis or golf for almost seven years? Even stranger is that it’s my left elbow but I am right handed. I think it must be something else, don’t you?