Day 181 - Wednesday 26th October

Very full day today.

We had 45 minutes after I had arrived to get the bath done before physio. We did it in 35 minutes, but kp kept getting annoyed at me looking at my watch, when she was trying to "have a soak".

Physio today was very funny. It started off with the main man standing in front of kp with kp's head on the main man's belly as he tried to loosen her shoulder girdle (whatever that is).

He then tried to see how much movement kp has in her right leg/hip (this is not the stroke side, but the side that has been bolted together with nuts/bolts and string).

He improved the range that kp could get out of it during the session, but commented that it was still not as good as the left leg (in terms of range of movement).

Then came the fun part. The main man got kp standing and stood behind her with his hands on her hips. kp's instructions were to go with his movements. At first, kp took different steps forward in different directions as the main man did his stuff. kp and I looked at each other as if to say "what's he doing ?". kp didn't know where she was going from one step to the next. But after the main man was confident that she knew what he wanted of her, he took her into a kind of breakdance routine. He had her stepping front left, front right, back left, back right, back left, back right, back left, back right, front harsh right etc etc................

It was so funny. kp hadn't a clue where she was going, but we learned later that this was the point. Apparently, if you know you are going to walk in a certain direction, you can prepare for it, but he can get a better idea of how she is doing, if he throws some randomness into the walking.

We found it very funny.

Physio over, Adele arrived for our trip to the Metro Centre. It's Karen's birthday on Friday, she is 21 again and we wanted to take her shopping to get some goodies for herself.

M&S first, followed by BHS. It sounds so easy when you say it like that, but I was knackered after M&S. kp was very frustrated with the whole experience. I kept pushing the wheelchair past things she wanted to look at. She expected me to know that the 4th blouse on the rack on the left we had just passed was the one she wanted me to model for her.

I got a picture of kp before the frustration set in. (Adele on the left). In this photo, kp was shoplifting the pair of jeans, trying to shove them up her coat.



She got a bit sick of M&S, although still managed to spend a fortune, so we went to BHS. Halfway on the way to BHS, I let go of the wheelchair.....

dp:- You take over Adele, I am just going in here

"Here" was a shop of my interest (DVD shop). It was nice to just have a shufty at things I like, after 30 minutes of looking for size XX short leg trousers and sports bras that give her "the support she needs".

Back in BHS, we wandered round for ages looking for various bits and bobs. kp was getting p+ssed off with the fact she couldn't go where she wanted to go without having to say something. So after spending another fortune, we went for a cup of tea in BHS Cafe. kp showed Adele her finger-tapping routine from yesterday. Out of sight of kp, a woman and her family were staring at kp, trying to work out what was wrong with her I expect. kp was unaware of this. I don't mind it because I suppose it's human nature to be interested in things that are different.

Shopping over (shame !!!!) we went back to the hospital. We left the hospital at 12pm and I had said we would be back at 3pm. It was 5pm !!!

We had a cracking day overall, jam-packed in fact.

Tomorrow should be a quiet day. Friday we have a big party in Middlesbrough for Karen's 21st Birthday, we are all really looking forward to that. Saturday, we have Jane and Ronnie staying over, and Sunday, my folks and my sister and her family are coming up, so some interesting days ahead.