My stroke recovery continues. After an "up and down" week things are looking up: food is going down fine as are drinks and people tell me my voice is sounding stronger. All positive signs.
I still feel very wobbly when walking or exercising and this currently is my biggest issue. People tell me my recovery could take a long while yet so I have to remain very patient. Also, people say I must expect bad days as well as good. Fatigue after doing almost anything is an issue.
After a poor start this week, when I felt I was slipping backwards, I feel full recovery should be possible given time.
See http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stroke/Pages/treatment.aspx .
Friday 21 March 2014
Burwell Windmill
See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk.btck.co.uk/StevensMill for more details of the mill and museum which has some amazing exhibits.
Wednesday 19 March 2014
Budget - Spring 2014
Although I have not had chance to study it in detail, the 3 year 4% pensioners bond for up to £10000 each looks good. It means my wife and I can get 4% return with low risk on £20000 of joint savings. This is above inflation and a much better rate than competitors. It runs from 2015. Also promising is the new NISA allowing up to £30000 (joint income) to be sheltered from tax each year starting in July 2014.
Ely
Every week for the next 8 weeks I am attending physio (for my stroke) at the Prince of Wales hospital in the city of Ely. This was once an RAF hospital.
Ely is a delightful place with a cathedral 1300 years old (LHS). My wife walks into town during my sessions. As a local parishoner she gets free entry too. Down by the river Ouse is lovely too and the market , although small, is delightful.
Years ago, during WW2, my dad (see RHS) had his appendix removed in the old Bishop's Palace in Ely (RHS). He flew Lancaster bombers (see below) in the Pathfinders and was very lucky to survive the war. He crash landed once on the way home. He rarely spoke of his WW2 experiences: I think he did not really like the idea of helping to kill innocent civilians. He was much happier living his simple rural life in Devon after the war years . Wars are so bad for everyone on all sides. It humbles me to realise how young he was in those days: 20-26yrs old only. In the last months of the war he had a young child too. I never realised how brave he was until it was too late to tell him.The Bishop's Palace,which dates back to the 15th century, was a Sue Ryder home, but since 2012 has been the home for the Kings School's 6th form.
 |
| http://www.newsbiscuit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/lancaster-bomber1-300x200.jpg |
Tuesday 18 March 2014
Fake coins
Apparently 3% of pound coins in circulation are fakes i.e. forgeries. Next year (2017) a new 12-sided 1 pound coin is to be introduced to all but eliminate fakes. Not sure if the 2 pound coin is being replaced too?
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-2663286 .
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-2663286 .
 |
| http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73667000/jpg/_73667988_73667987.jpg |
Junk mail
Don't know about you, but I am fed up with junk mail that typically is around 50-80% of the post we get nowadays. I know this is how the Royal Mail bolsters its profits, but what a waste!
In our case it goes straight into the recycling bin and does not even get opened often. If the post was properly nationalised they would not need to deliver this crap. It saddens me to think jobs depend on the delivery of such rubbish. Better these people were employed in something productive actually adding real value to things. This is the sort of work that really adds no value to the lives of decent people. Such worthless work cannot continue for too long into the future. In time all work will add real value.
Although signed up to the Telephone Preference Service it does not seem to stop calls starting in the UK but coming in via foreign numbers. Overall I still think it is a "good idea".
In our case it goes straight into the recycling bin and does not even get opened often. If the post was properly nationalised they would not need to deliver this crap. It saddens me to think jobs depend on the delivery of such rubbish. Better these people were employed in something productive actually adding real value to things. This is the sort of work that really adds no value to the lives of decent people. Such worthless work cannot continue for too long into the future. In time all work will add real value.
Although signed up to the Telephone Preference Service it does not seem to stop calls starting in the UK but coming in via foreign numbers. Overall I still think it is a "good idea".
10m Antenna Effectiveness
One of my hobbies is amateur radio.
Comparing my 10m (28MHz) signals with those of others, I suspect my antenna may be down in effectiveness compared with better optimised systems. My 2W is equivalent to 200mW from the better equipped stations. When fitter (my darn stroke) I may try changing the 10m antenna for something better. A vertical 1/2 wave would be less directional on transmit but might be noisier on receive.
At the present time, my poor state of health is preventing me doing too much outdoors. For example, climbing a ladder is quite out of the question, so I have to live with the antennas I have.
Comparing my 10m (28MHz) signals with those of others, I suspect my antenna may be down in effectiveness compared with better optimised systems. My 2W is equivalent to 200mW from the better equipped stations. When fitter (my darn stroke) I may try changing the 10m antenna for something better. A vertical 1/2 wave would be less directional on transmit but might be noisier on receive.
At the present time, my poor state of health is preventing me doing too much outdoors. For example, climbing a ladder is quite out of the question, so I have to live with the antennas I have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)