Me and My Mate MS plus the Jubilee Weekend

Yesterday I went to my local hospital for a Neuro Rehabilitation appointment and saw Mr Paul Bolaji. I wasn’t quite sure how he could actually help me due to my lack of mobility as all the physio I now have has to be passive although my standing using the tilt table at the Chilterns MS Centre once a month makes a huge difference as my body actually gets to do what it is designed to do.

Hubby came with me to the appointment, and actually it made a really positive impact on my mental health, why? Well we spent just over an hour talking and laughing. I explained to him that although my limbs were not much help to me these days I was still able to talk and talk and smile and laugh. He loved my positive mental attitude, he told me he could learn so much from me about how to deal with the well-being side of MS! Mr Paul Bolaji wanted to know more about the MS group we started down on Hayling Island especially the additional activity of singing. It turns out he is in the process of developing an app for all his Neuro work around singing as he believes music is such an integral part of maintaining well-being. Now that he knows the Hayling Island MSers sing once a month he would like us to trial the app before it goes live. 

He loved hearing about what hubby and I and some of the members of our group had got up to over the weekend of the Jubilee, which got me thinking perhaps I should write a blog about the weekend.

For hubby and I it all started on the Thursday, by watching the Trooping the Colour on TV. After lunch we left home and went up to London and picked up SMD, the main purpose of going was to soak up the atmosphere and boy did we do that.

We went past Horse Guards Parade, 

down the Mall 

and into St James’s Park.

 We enjoyed a meal out and afterwards we spotted two of the Corgi’s that were in the Corgi trail.

 Sadly we couldn’t hunt for anymore as my batteries on my wheelchair were practically flat, not because I hadn’t charged the batteries but because I am waiting for Wheelchair Services to fit new batteries rather than mr trying to cope with one’s that are five years old. On the way back to the car we spotted the mini Big Ben.

We dropped off SMD after a big hug and all agreed we had a fab day. 

It wasn’t just me from our MS group that wanted to celebrate one of my friends MF from the Hayling Island MSers group also celebrated the Jubilee each day by wearing a different outfit. The outfit for Thursday was:

MF attended events that were held on Hayling and by the evening Portsmouth News featured MF with other people in the Evening News.

Over the years I have learnt I need to pace myself as my fatigue levels are getting worse. Friday we decided to have a lazy day and once again we parked ourselves in front of the TV and I enjoyed the Thanksgiving service followed by a  wee Nana nap.

MF’s outfit of the day was:

After a good nights sleep, I was feeling refreshed and was ready for the next activity. In the afternoon we went to the Hayling Lions Donkey Derby. A great community event and lots of fun. We went with one of my sisters and BIL (brother in law). 

MF’s outfit of the day was:

Saturday was finished off by watching the concert at Buckingham Palace on TV. The highlight for me had to be the sketch the Queen did with Paddington Bear.

On Sunday we went to the care home on Hayling where my sister who has MS lives, with my Dad, my other sister and BIL. It’s a small care home with nine residents two of which have MS and are members of Hayling Island MSers. They had an entertainer which the activities coordinator organised and she also bought along her Mum. It was a fun morning of singing old tunes followed by a buffet lunch. With a celebration cake as the centre piece which was made by the Care Manager’s 12 year old son.

After the sing song we went inside for a buffet, the centre piece was the cake made by the Care Manager’s 12 year old son Albie. It tasted amazing watch out Bake-off! 

MF’s final outfit for the weekend was:

Afterwards we left and continued at my Sisters house with the rest of the family.

All in all it was a memorable weekend but a little busy. 

Going back to the beginning of my blog and my conversation with the Neuro Registrar I do live a busy and fulfilled life and he is right my MS does not stop me enjoying myself with the support of the Dean Team and my wider family I am lucky as things are working out just great.