It's the Monday Morning after a really crap weekend, most of which I can't remember. The main incident was on Saturday Night and completely eclipsed everything else which might have been good about the weekend. The Noisy Neighbours came round to abuse and threaten me again, this time charging me with taking photos of their children. They simply will not accept that their children and their friends are liars (even though they encourage them to lie, steal and cheat at every opportunity). The father was nearest the door, but still at some distance, and did most of the talking, threatening me with allsorts, including the police, to which I agreed. His wife was at the gate, surrounded by a gang of kids, mostly teenagers, and when he got nowhere, she started hurling the abuse, whereupon I shut the door on them and called the police myself. Within minutes the whole family was dispersed, presumably collecting alibis.
Two Community Support Officers attended within about 10 minutes, and promised to look into the problem. I phoned again yesterday as I had heard nothing back, and spoke to the older officer, who said "As you've sent a report of this to your local councillor, we're just going to treat this as a neighbour disagreement, which is nothing to do with us".
At this I went ballistic. Within an hour two "proper coppers" came to the house, and I filled them in with what had happened, whereupon they said they would speak to the neighbours.
Since then I've had abuse shouted at me by strangers in the street, but nothing physical has happened as yet, though I get the feeling it will.
As a family we are sick of this. We have no privacy, no peace and quiet, no quality of life to speak of. On Saturday, my wife was in the garden with our children, and had to put up with continued abuse shouted across and things thrown at them. Their behaviour is disgusting.
Our Councillor has taken our side in this and has forwarded emails on to the Housing Officer, though I fully expect he will take as much action as usual, i.e. none at all. I'd like us to be moved away completely, but most of the areas to which we could move are probably a lot worse, so it would be a leap from the frying pan.
Monday 28 April 2008
Tuesday 22 April 2008
A QUIET TUESDAY
Things have had a touch of the hectic about them of late. (i.e. I've had stuff to do!), and this week is no exception, but today is a day with no appointments in the diary, nowhere to go, no-one to see. Of course there is the usual stuff that needs to be done, but I'm not yet sure that I can be bothered to do any of it.
Instead of my leather office chair, which seems to give me instant backache, I am sitting on an exercise ball, hoping to improve posture and benefit my core muscles while "doing nothing". Well, it's a start.
It's 9.30am, and I have yet to be startled by the yapping of Yorkshire terriers from next-door-but-one. It usually starts around now, and then I have to drown it out with the radio. Last night as we were putting our children to bed, one of their children was in their garden, attacking his little brother's sit-on tractor with a saw and a hammer. At one point it looked like he might saw himself in half. It serves to illustrate how little his mother cares for his welfare - she must have known what he was up to from the amount of noise he was making, but not once did she come out to check that he was OK. While he was doing this, one of her precious Yorkshire terriers escaped from the front of the house. I watched as she went out and tried to lure the yapping bastard back in, and when she failed to do so after 2 minutes, she went back in and simply left it there, which is the same approach she takes with her children. They are also actively encouraged to lie, cheat and steal. Words fail me. I hate being anywhere near these people.
On Sunday I took Jasmine along to a local Jiu-Jitsu class, on the recommendation of a friend. I was worried that she might find it too intimidating, as she's a bit of a shrinking violet at times, but she got stuck in like a good 'un. Actually, I found the violence a bit overwhelming, but I wasn't there for my benefit. She seemed to enjoy it, and declared an interest in going regularly. I can also take Dylan, as they accept children from the age of 5, so next week I shall take them both, and see how they fare. On one hand, I'm a bit uneasy about exposing them to such violence at such a young age, but I'm also uneasy about exposing them to our neighbours on a daily basis. They have been bullied once, and doing this might ensure they can stand up to any bullying they come up against, which I never could.
9:45, and right on cue, out come the dogs.
To balance things, I went and bought 2 descant recorders yesterday, along with the tutorial the schools use, so I can give Jasmine recorder lessons. The deal is that if she does well at it we can get a saxophone. I think I want one more than she does, but so what? I'd like us all to be able to play music together, and recorders seems to be the way to go, to begin with. Although I had not blown one in anger since schooldays, I was straight back in there, no messing! I now need some "proper" music to play, so I can practice up while Jasmine is at school and stay ahead of the game, as I know what a fast and eager learner she is!
Instead of my leather office chair, which seems to give me instant backache, I am sitting on an exercise ball, hoping to improve posture and benefit my core muscles while "doing nothing". Well, it's a start.
It's 9.30am, and I have yet to be startled by the yapping of Yorkshire terriers from next-door-but-one. It usually starts around now, and then I have to drown it out with the radio. Last night as we were putting our children to bed, one of their children was in their garden, attacking his little brother's sit-on tractor with a saw and a hammer. At one point it looked like he might saw himself in half. It serves to illustrate how little his mother cares for his welfare - she must have known what he was up to from the amount of noise he was making, but not once did she come out to check that he was OK. While he was doing this, one of her precious Yorkshire terriers escaped from the front of the house. I watched as she went out and tried to lure the yapping bastard back in, and when she failed to do so after 2 minutes, she went back in and simply left it there, which is the same approach she takes with her children. They are also actively encouraged to lie, cheat and steal. Words fail me. I hate being anywhere near these people.
On Sunday I took Jasmine along to a local Jiu-Jitsu class, on the recommendation of a friend. I was worried that she might find it too intimidating, as she's a bit of a shrinking violet at times, but she got stuck in like a good 'un. Actually, I found the violence a bit overwhelming, but I wasn't there for my benefit. She seemed to enjoy it, and declared an interest in going regularly. I can also take Dylan, as they accept children from the age of 5, so next week I shall take them both, and see how they fare. On one hand, I'm a bit uneasy about exposing them to such violence at such a young age, but I'm also uneasy about exposing them to our neighbours on a daily basis. They have been bullied once, and doing this might ensure they can stand up to any bullying they come up against, which I never could.
9:45, and right on cue, out come the dogs.
To balance things, I went and bought 2 descant recorders yesterday, along with the tutorial the schools use, so I can give Jasmine recorder lessons. The deal is that if she does well at it we can get a saxophone. I think I want one more than she does, but so what? I'd like us all to be able to play music together, and recorders seems to be the way to go, to begin with. Although I had not blown one in anger since schooldays, I was straight back in there, no messing! I now need some "proper" music to play, so I can practice up while Jasmine is at school and stay ahead of the game, as I know what a fast and eager learner she is!
Monday 14 April 2008
ENTHUSIASM
In my capacity as Sustrans Liaison Ranger, I have just had a meeting with one of the head teachers at the local school regarding the children doing regular litterpicks along a section of the National Cycle Network.
It was an excellent meeting, very positive, and everything came together instantly. Why can't everything be this way? And why can't I get paid for doing this wonderful job?
It was an excellent meeting, very positive, and everything came together instantly. Why can't everything be this way? And why can't I get paid for doing this wonderful job?
INJURIES
At times, I can forget my hernia operation as though it had never happened. Then it kicks me in the nads again. Walking on Saturday was quite problematic - after four miles I was all but seized up with random stabbing pain in my whole groin area. Mildly worrying, but it did pass, so I'll put that down to recent inactivity and general stiffness.
My shoulder, having been firmly dealt with by a proper physiotherapist, is better than it was, in that it is no longer waking me up at 5am in agony, but it's still not right. I can produce pins and needles down my arm simply by tilting my head back, and get rid of them by nodding forwards.
My left wrist aches far more than it used to. (This is the one I broke clean across when I was 17). I suspect the two things are connected.
My shoulder, having been firmly dealt with by a proper physiotherapist, is better than it was, in that it is no longer waking me up at 5am in agony, but it's still not right. I can produce pins and needles down my arm simply by tilting my head back, and get rid of them by nodding forwards.
My left wrist aches far more than it used to. (This is the one I broke clean across when I was 17). I suspect the two things are connected.
Monday 7 April 2008
A F HARROLD IN CARDIGAN
Last Thursday I made my way over to Cardigan to see A F Harrold at the Word Up! Poetry Night, (first Thursday of every month, at the Castle Cafe, Cardigan) and to spend some time with my friends Sue and Dai. It was the first time I'd been there since standing down as Chairman, and it was nice to have no pressure to do anything. Simone has well and truly taken over and is rapidly making the night a part of her "Empire" - she's booking poets to perform, putting them up at her place (some massive country pile by all accounts) then getting them to give a writer's workshop the following day (I presume she also gets mucho funding for this...) and I'm glad to be out of it.
However, I digress.
A F Harrold is a name I have heard often over the years, and one with a big reputation attached to it, so I took along some high expectations.
He was younger than I'd thought he'd be; the same age as my wife.
He was one of those rare people with whom I could just sit down and start rapping. We talked incessantly until the start of the proceedings. I bought all 3 of his books. At a discount. I now need to send him one of mine.
His very first poem had me in hysterics. I don't think this has ever happened before. He was an awesome performer, one of the best I have ever seen. There were hints of Hegleyism in his delivery at times, but I'm sure they could be slapped out of him given the chance. His material pisses all over Hegley's. (No offence intended John, I think I remember a poem of yours I enjoyed once, or it could have been Simon Armitage.)
The night was pretty much a blur - I hardly ever drink these days, but I had an old-fashioned thirst on, and a few too many pints were drank, judging by the axe-wound to my skull the following morning. I'd also smoked more than enough weed, but I don't think I behaved too badly, considering.
I'm now perusing the books at my leisure. The poems to his father are very moving indeed. I like the mixture of light and dark in his act. Just like mine used to be.
However, I digress.
A F Harrold is a name I have heard often over the years, and one with a big reputation attached to it, so I took along some high expectations.
He was younger than I'd thought he'd be; the same age as my wife.
He was one of those rare people with whom I could just sit down and start rapping. We talked incessantly until the start of the proceedings. I bought all 3 of his books. At a discount. I now need to send him one of mine.
His very first poem had me in hysterics. I don't think this has ever happened before. He was an awesome performer, one of the best I have ever seen. There were hints of Hegleyism in his delivery at times, but I'm sure they could be slapped out of him given the chance. His material pisses all over Hegley's. (No offence intended John, I think I remember a poem of yours I enjoyed once, or it could have been Simon Armitage.)
The night was pretty much a blur - I hardly ever drink these days, but I had an old-fashioned thirst on, and a few too many pints were drank, judging by the axe-wound to my skull the following morning. I'd also smoked more than enough weed, but I don't think I behaved too badly, considering.
I'm now perusing the books at my leisure. The poems to his father are very moving indeed. I like the mixture of light and dark in his act. Just like mine used to be.
KINESIOLOGY
After two sessions of Bowens Technique, my shoulder was as bad as when I started, and I was £60 worse off. I phoned the therapist, who said we might try a session of Kinesiology, which I was happy to go along with, even though it cost a further £20.
The session involved myself and two women, my regular therapist, and her colleague.
We sat in a semi-circle, and one of them held onto me, either my arm, my shoulder, or sometimes the top of my head, while I held various phials in my right hand. The one holding onto me then held out their left arm level with their shoulder, and the other applied pressure to the top of their hand. Depending on whether the arm gave resistance or flopped down, a decision was made. This went on for around 30 minutes, during which time I was requested not to let my mind wander and to "stay in the room". I held onto a variety of phials, sometimes two together, while they mumbled and wrote down various indecipherable notes. At the end of it all it was "revealed" that I was low in zinc, which was hampering my recovery, and I was "prescribed" two tablets of zinc a day (which were conveniently sold in the downstairs health-food shop). It has made absolutely no difference, I have forgotten about taking the zinc, and while I wouldn't go so far as to say the whole thing is a con, I don't have much confidence in it. I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
Fortunately, I had an excellent physiotherapist recommended to me, who seems to have sorted everything out. Phew.
The session involved myself and two women, my regular therapist, and her colleague.
We sat in a semi-circle, and one of them held onto me, either my arm, my shoulder, or sometimes the top of my head, while I held various phials in my right hand. The one holding onto me then held out their left arm level with their shoulder, and the other applied pressure to the top of their hand. Depending on whether the arm gave resistance or flopped down, a decision was made. This went on for around 30 minutes, during which time I was requested not to let my mind wander and to "stay in the room". I held onto a variety of phials, sometimes two together, while they mumbled and wrote down various indecipherable notes. At the end of it all it was "revealed" that I was low in zinc, which was hampering my recovery, and I was "prescribed" two tablets of zinc a day (which were conveniently sold in the downstairs health-food shop). It has made absolutely no difference, I have forgotten about taking the zinc, and while I wouldn't go so far as to say the whole thing is a con, I don't have much confidence in it. I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
Fortunately, I had an excellent physiotherapist recommended to me, who seems to have sorted everything out. Phew.
LONG TIME NO SEE
I didn't realise it had been quite so long since my last post, but it has been impossible to keep a daily blog during the easter holidays. There is a lot to catch up on now the children and wife are all back at school. My shoulder has improved dramatically after a visit to a recommended physiotherapist, Gavin McCoy of Haverfordwest, who got straight to the root of the problem, a few misaligned vertebrae in the middle of my back. I'm still not 100%, but there was a marked improvement the day after seeing him, and he has given me a couple of "exercises" (which involve lying down) which should sort the rest out. I also had a session of Kinesiology with my Bowens therapist and her colleague (more about that in a separate blog), but I don't think that had any effect.
I am still employed, but for how much longer I have no idea. There was mention at the last meeting of all the absence I had from last year, so they're obviously counting the days, at last. I look forward to being set free soon. I have lodged an appeal against the disgusting decision of my complaint of harrassment and bullying, and am once more playing the ridiculous waiting game that follows any such action. Thinking about it makes me mad and makes me paranoid, so I won't discuss that any further just yet.
Last week I went back to Cardigan for a Word Up! Poetry night featuring A F Harrold - again, more about that in a separate blog when I get time.
I have taken up the knitting needles again after a long lay-off and am currently learning how to cable. More about that on my knitting blog.
I now have the information I need to get on with some Celtic Knot Design - more about that on a separate blog too.
Medically, things are pretty much as they were - I'm still vastly overweight - currently hovering around the 14.5 stone mark. I was 15 stone a few weeks ago so there is slight improvement, but obviously the shoulder injury has prevented any serious exercise, though I have managed to up the mileage I've been cycling recently. I'm still unhappy about my energy levels.
My medication regime is quite stripped down, I'm currently taking Omeprazole to regulate my stomach acid, still on the antidepressant Cipralex, though I'm not convinced it's actually doing anything, and I have been taking Tramadol for my shoulder, but there is little need for that at the moment. Abdominal pain is still there, but tolerable most of the time. Hernia pain seems to be on the wane, but I don't think it will completely disappear.
I now need to give my Road Bike a complete service after the winter, and get it race ready again. I need a new bottom bracket, and then I'd like to change the gearing, perhaps by putting a compact chainset on, which seems the easiest option. I shall discuss this at the bikeshop sometime this week.
I am still employed, but for how much longer I have no idea. There was mention at the last meeting of all the absence I had from last year, so they're obviously counting the days, at last. I look forward to being set free soon. I have lodged an appeal against the disgusting decision of my complaint of harrassment and bullying, and am once more playing the ridiculous waiting game that follows any such action. Thinking about it makes me mad and makes me paranoid, so I won't discuss that any further just yet.
Last week I went back to Cardigan for a Word Up! Poetry night featuring A F Harrold - again, more about that in a separate blog when I get time.
I have taken up the knitting needles again after a long lay-off and am currently learning how to cable. More about that on my knitting blog.
I now have the information I need to get on with some Celtic Knot Design - more about that on a separate blog too.
Medically, things are pretty much as they were - I'm still vastly overweight - currently hovering around the 14.5 stone mark. I was 15 stone a few weeks ago so there is slight improvement, but obviously the shoulder injury has prevented any serious exercise, though I have managed to up the mileage I've been cycling recently. I'm still unhappy about my energy levels.
My medication regime is quite stripped down, I'm currently taking Omeprazole to regulate my stomach acid, still on the antidepressant Cipralex, though I'm not convinced it's actually doing anything, and I have been taking Tramadol for my shoulder, but there is little need for that at the moment. Abdominal pain is still there, but tolerable most of the time. Hernia pain seems to be on the wane, but I don't think it will completely disappear.
I now need to give my Road Bike a complete service after the winter, and get it race ready again. I need a new bottom bracket, and then I'd like to change the gearing, perhaps by putting a compact chainset on, which seems the easiest option. I shall discuss this at the bikeshop sometime this week.
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