Slept well last night and seemed to be feeling a little better first thing. But once up I was still feeling out of sorts, cant quite put my finger on it but feel tired very quickly doing the smallest of things and the difference in sensation from my left and right perhaps seems more pronounced. Another early night called for, after beating Lottie at Scrabble ;-)

Still feeling tired and out of sorts this morning so another day taking it easy. All very frustrating and at times worrying. Pep talk from Karin and another early night.

Not too sure how Heavy workshop was going to pan out today as still feeling tired and fragile this morning. Anyway I took it easy and didn't push it hard and although I didn't manage to complete my programme I managed to last the hour and didn't feel too bad afterwards despite the heat. Another early night called for after catching up on some of the BBC's Glastonbury coverage. It looks like The Flaming lips provided an interesting show !
Next year if we can sort some tickets :-)

Felt tired and a little out of sorts last night, too much sun? A slow start before heading back to Derby then over to Kade and Linda's to watch the footy, enough said. Early night after catching up on Dr Who.

Afternoon spent paddling in Padley Gorge with Simon, Gabe and Thea escaping the heat, before heading over to Bradwell for Goose and Jenny's Birthday BBQ

Heavy workshop this morning with the upgraded programme. Hard work fitting everything in. The pictures are to illustrate the Octopus and Doughnuts. Still didn't manage to get the time for the BTE. Had a chat about progress and told once again that I'm making good progress even if it feels as if the improvements are very small.

Here is one for everyone to try at home to measure your balance. The standing stork and the blind stork. I'm only managing a maximum of 18sec and 6sec in these at the moment but that feels a big improvement on my balance a month or two ago.

Woke at around 2.30am in a right sweat. Poor nights sleep, bad dreams and running a temperature not a good sign and very frustrating as I was feeling OK yesterday, will have to mention it to my GP. Slow start but once I was up, I nipped into work for a meeting about City centre cycling.

Dan dug up his spuds for Tea tonight, which were very yummy.

Found this John Shuttleworth page on the internet. Two Margarines will definitely feature on my next CD for the car.

Another lovely sunny day, spent mostly sitting in the garden reading or watching the football. No ill effects from yesterdays activity looks as if the early night helped. Kayaking was Orienteering for some reason tonight, so Peggy and I ended up joining in with Dan. Results should be on here soon.

This morning was spent at a meeting about cycle infrastructure, which involved a short cycle ride and a presentation by Cycle England all finished off with a bit of lunch. A good try out to see how I'll cope going back to work. Spent the afternoon taking it easy, before being sent to bed early. No hiding the fact I'm tired from Karin!

Discussion at Heavy Workshop this morning about upgrading my programme:
- Dropping the nuts and bolts, trampete and hand exerciser
- 2 minutes on exercise bike and 2 minutes on the air bike to warm up shoulders as well as legs
- 10 minutes on the treadmill
- octopus and doughnuts with the putty (I'll try and get some photos on Friday)
- 5 minutes on the cross trainer
- no.6 on the balance master
and will be upgrading on the BTE next session.

Home for a few games of scrabble and some brain training which worryingly suggests I should have retired a few years ago!

Fathers Day, breakfast in bed, chocolates, plus scrabble and brain training for Lottie and Dan's DS. Lottie had maths revision this afternoon and Karin pottered in the garden whilst Dan and I took Peggy to 3 Shires Head for a much needed wash.

Found this tune again on spotify, If you remember little fluffy clouds . . .
The Orb – Grey Clouds

Karin and Lottie were off for a day being pampered in Spondon courtesy of the Carers Association so Dan and I went to Alter Rock and I held Dan's ropes. First visit since January and they've added an easy traverse wall, not that I tried anything out.






Afternoon spent browsing music on Spotify before watching Dr Who.
Hopefully this playlist will work if you have Spotify if not, why not? (there is now, a free non-invite option)

June Selector




or you can select individual tracks from the list below. Some new, some old.







Oh No – Adventure
Bush Chemists – East Of Jaro
The Roots – The Seed (2.0)
Oh No – The Pain
The Herbaliser – The Blend
Baba Salah – Fady Yeïna
Poirier – Let Them Hate - Mungo's Hifi Remix
Thievery Corporation – 2001 A Spliff Odyssey
Death In Vegas – Scorpio Rising
The Chemical Brothers – Swoon
Archie Bronson Outfit – Cherry Lips
Ivor Cutler – Jam
Richard Hawley – Open Up Your Door
The Black Keys – Tighten Up
Flight Of The Conchords – Think About It
The Carolina Chocolate Drops – Hit 'Em Up Style
Half Man Half Biscuit – Blue Badge Abuser
The Sweet Talks – Mampam Sukuruwe
Bunker Hill – The Girl Can't Dance
Roky Erickson – Goodbye Sweet Dreams
Richard James – When You See Me (In The Pouring Rain)
Serafina Steer – GSOH
The Mynabirds – Numbers Don't Lie
Ivor Cutler – Squeeze Bees
Little Axe – Hear Me Cry
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes, I Do
Maxine Nightingale – Right Back Where We Started From
Oh No – Funeral Parlor

Heavy workshop this morning. Despite a little stomach discomfort to start with, the session went surprisingly well. Managed 1250m on the rowing machine today. Next week I'll try and get my programme adjusted.
Caught up on Tom Ravenscroft's new 6 music show this afternoon. A nice eclectic mix from Napalm Death and a little bit of grindcore to 50's Rhythm and Blues with Joe Thomas and his Orchestra and lots in between.

Football how painful is that to watch !

Crap nights sleep suspect it had something to do with me telling the Speech Therapist I wasn't having any problems getting to sleep as long as I was on my left side!
So it was a slow start and I spent the rest of the day in the garden snoozing, reading and finishing the construction of an 'Allotment Ladder'

Lovely sunny day started with a late breakfast in garden. In the afternoon I had a visit from the Community Speech Therapist. Once again i was reminded that I am making good progress and there is no real need to see me again at the moment. Its really the fatigue I need to work on as this is what has the biggest effect on my swallowing at the moment. I've been given some tongue base strengthening exercises but with the warning not to overdo it. I can have another video to confirm things are OK further down the line but for the time being its carry on with the slow but steady progress.

Surprise visit from Paul on his way back from looking at a job down south, before taking Dan to Canoeing.

This afternoon was spent at Dan's school looking at the Trade Fair they've been working on for the past few weeks. Dan's free elephant with every £15 spent seemed to be going down well.

The evening was spent down Dovedale with Dave and Si. I was on camera duty again whilst they did Arch Enemies and JC's new route Sworn Enemy. It was a gorgeous evening and a lovely spot. I will definitely have to return when I'm able to get on the rock, so I've included some beta here for the red point crux.

Vote for Pedro

Heavy Workshop went well this morning. Feeling positive and no stomach discomfort first thing. 1222m in 5 mins on the rowing machine, and my recovery heart rate is improving. Just need to get the OT's to allow me to do more than 5 mins at a time.
Evening spent watching Napoleon Dynamite for the umpteenth time :-)

A slow start followed by some planting in the raised bed by Karin and Lottie before the rain arrived. Then up to Wirksworth to visit Ian and Karen. Another easy day hopefully it will pay off.

Tidying up around the raised bed this morning. Trip out to Kniveton in the afternoon with Dan and Peggy for a walk and some geocaches. Someone has been busy looking after the birds in Parwich with feeders in unusual locations. Back in time for Dr Who then the Football, followed by Meet the Fockers.

Heavy workshop this morning went well no BTE again but I managed everything else. Balance still a little iffy, but no stomach discomfort today. Two tonnes of topsoil arrive at lunchtime and the rather nice delivery man helps Karin ferry it all to the back garden whilst I make Tea. Think I've slightly over estimated the amount of soil we need! Wonder if the lack of stomach discomfort today is related to the fact I didn't get any lunch?

Don't be late and skip a little every day

Headed to Starkholmes this morning. After looking through some paperwork and old diaries from the late 40's with some interesting entries and new years resolutions, we took some Royal Crown Derby to the auctioneers for valuing for probate. Called in at Ible on the way home for a cup of tea and some cake. I was meant to be meeting Tom this evening but feeling tired so heeding the advise everyone has been giving me of late, home for a quiet evening.

Following a tip off from Charlotte this morning I started listening to a history of the world in 100 objects all previous 48 episodes available for download so that should keep me busy for a while. A few emails and ordered 2 tonnes of topsoil for Friday. A visit to the Dentist this afternoon went better than expected I was worried that difficulties with swallowing would cause me some problems but all ok and no fillings.

Slow morning then into work for a meeting just after midday to catch up on the latest with the reorganisation. I'm only in work for about 3 hours all together but it does remind me that even sitting in meetings can make me feel exhausted at the moment. Back home in time to have a rest before Lottie and Dan get back from School. Yesterdays hope that stopping the Lansoprazole was helping improve the stomach discomfort goes out of the window as its back again this evening.

Feeling less tired this morning, and Heavy Workshop seems to go quite well. Back home with plans to do a little tidying up in the garden are halted by a heavy down pour forcing me to take it easy, probably for the best.
Another talk about taking it steady, this time from the Community Speech Therapist.
Evening visit from Julian, Keren and family - bringers of a mighty fine curry :-)
Got shown some video of one of Joe's school mates and his coach Quite like this idea choose Damien or Tim!

Easy morning then a trip out to The Big One at Chadd Park in the afternoon with Lottie and Dan. An odd collection of fair ground rides, a dog show, marching bands and stalls selling jumble, politics and doughnuts!

Karin mixes and Dan lays bricks whilst I do a bit of levelling and get to lay the odd brick. We finish just as the thunder and lightening arrives and in time to watch Doctor Who. Thanks to Lottie for making lunch and Tea. Although I've not actually done much physical work I'm feeling wiped out.

Heavy workshop went better than I felt it would, but no upgrade on the exercises yet and I didn't manage to use the BTE. I then wandered into town to meet Paul and Rachel in the Dolphin to catch up on the situation at work. I had a few minutes to spare on the way down so had a look through the scopes on Cathedral Green at the Peregrines and their young. Things sound interesting at work what with the reorganisation and new political make up. It sounds as if I'm away from it all at the right time ??

Karin and Dan start building the wall and once again frustratingly I can only really watch.

Visit to the GP this morning. He suggests I stop taking the Lansoprazole and see what happens with the stomach pain, fingers crossed then. Still feeling very tired so after another pep talk from the GP I spent the rest of the day taking it easy.

A morning in bed with the intention of taking it easy the whole day. However a last minute call and I'm heading out to Swarkestone to go sailing with the Stroke group. Not much wind today but it was very nice and relaxing being out on the water.

Feeling knackered again today. Karin, Lottie and Dan finish off mixing the last of the concrete and complete the foundation for the wall. Brick laying planned for Thursday.
All very frustrating this inability to do relatively easy exercise without needing days to recover. Another early night.