turps

It was a day of two halves yesterday.

The morning was spent at an advice centre getting James' PIP forms filled in. They're a disability benefit he has to change to, going from DLA to PIP, even though not a few months ago he got a letter saying he'd be on DLA for life. PIP is the benefit mam lost so much money, and her car, on, which is why we decided to go for professional help getting the forms filled in from the start.

It was a pretty sober meeting, having to go through in detail everything he can and can't do, which seems a lot when it's all written down. I'm confident he'll get enough points to get the care side of the award, but worry about the mobility as if he loses the car it would be a disaster, especially now he's in his wheelchair every time that he's out.

We're waiting for a letter from his consultant at the hospital to arrive, and then it's just a case of sending them in and hoping for the best, I guess.

But, then on the night we went to see The Full Monty at the Empire theatre and it was fantastic! It was the first stage show I'd been to, and before we went I wasn't sure about the view as we were sitting towards the back of the dress circle, but we could see everything and I really enjoyed myself. It was a little strange at first not to see close up expressions, but I soon forgot that and got caught in the action. I really liked how they used the same set throughout, just changing a few props to show different places, and of course the dancing was funny and really great to see. The last scene was a riot in the theatre, especially when skin and backsides were revealed, ending in that finally full monty. Gary Lucy really seemed to enjoy showing off his arse, including flashing the audience at the end when they'd come on in dressing gowns for the final bows. Not that the audience, which was at least 80% women, were complaining.

We were such noobs at the theatre, we got there far too early, even a few minutes before doors opened, because we weren't sure about parking availability. But that meant we got to go in early, get a good table in the bar and have a nice chat with one of the staff who discussed shows, and times to arrive etc. Plus, we found out if you get there an hour before the show you could buy your drinks for half price, including the ones you could pre order for the interval. So we got drinks for then, and got ones for the interval which were left on ledges on a number, just because we could. I don't think we'd do that again, mainly because there was no issue in taking your own drinks and snacks in from outside, but for the first time it added to the experience.

The only negatives were the people who came to sit behind us in the second half and just wouldn't stop talking. It was about the show, but even so was annoying. They got told to shut up, first by an audience member, then someone from the staff who had to come over and tell them to be quiet and put away their phone.

The guy we were talking to said he was sure he'd see us again, and he will. Both because we've tickets for Hairspray for later in the year, but also because there's a show next week we fancy seeing. We're going to check ticket availability later, and if there's some left, we'll be there.

I was going to wear my red dress last night, but couldn't as the top was far too big. James messed with the straps a bit to pull up the bodice, but when that was done I was left with gaping material at the front and back. I loved that dress, too. I'm going to check out prices to get it altered, but again have the issues at to when. It's pointless doing it when I'm still dropping sizes, especially as I don't know how much it'll cost. I'm going to be god mother to my youngest niece and nephew in July, maybe I'll alter it for then. Until then, the red dress will remain in my wardrobe :(

Mam got out of hospital two days ago. It's been a busy two weeks, on top of the daily visits they wouldn't let her out until a care package was put in place. Which meant a lot of things to organise, and spending time at hers waiting for more equipment was delivered.

She's much better now, and her having carers two times a day is reassuring. Now I just wish she'd ask them for things. She said the first carer of the day was bossy, making her something to eat despite protests -- which is exactly what she needs. While the second was lovely, coming up to see her in bed, but despite mam wanting a glass for her water, she never asked for one.

James had a meeting with his immediate boss and occupational health, and again, I'm so relived they're so understanding about his needs. It'll be a while before he's back, but his job is safe, and they're making every effort that he'll be comfortable when he does go back.

My brother put the new oven in and as it has a light that actually works it remains a novelty to see inside it as the food cooks. Now I just have to arrange to get the old one taken away, as it's sitting in the garden wrapped in cling film at the moment.

We went to see Beauty and the Beast yesterday and I enjoyed it so much. We only went to the 2d screening, but nearly every seat was full, from little girls dressed in Belle's yellow dress to much older people. Some of the cinema staff were dressed up too, my favourite being the man in the full Beast get up. But yeah, the film was so great, and I welled up often, especially during the ballroom scenes.

Writing wise, my word count is at zero, but hopefully that will change soon.

I'll be attempting to catch up on online stuff and my in-box soon -- apologies to those who post often and will be flooded by comments. But not yet as I've an Asda click and collect to pick up just after 12.

Finally, thank you so much dine for the awesome postcard. It really made me smile when it arrived and was a highlight of these last weeks. ♥

Sunday morning I was Googling wheelchair friendly walks, and ended up link surfing to a disabled cycling club that brings all kinds of adapted bikes to a local sports centre. To make it even better, their monthly meeting was that day. So we went and it was fantastic.

They had all kinds of bikes, different styles of recumbent ones, ones you could put a wheel chair on the front, double bikes, hand bikes, so many kinds, it was amazing. James went on a double recumbent which suited him perfectly for the seat and peddling, but as he couldn't reach the handles to steer he had to go on the double, and he enjoyed himself a lot. Plus, it was fantastic exercise. They did say I could ride too, but I was worried I'd flatten the frames. Which I know is unlikely to happen, but I need time to ease myself into these things. Maybe the meeting next month, which we'll be going to as we've joined the club.

It's BBB time and I joined up. I've had a streak of completing two challenges so hopefully I'll complete this one, too. It's been nice to see some BBB chatter on my flists and I'm looking forward to the resulting stories. Also, the mods are as awesome as always dealing with me being awkward only a day after signings opened. &them;

We went to the Washington Wetlands yesterday. They hire out electric scooters so James had one of those while I walked. It was great to stretch my legs and get a bit sunshine. All seven of the otters were out and it was brilliant to see them running around and having fun in the water.

Plus, this happened. I'd gone to explore the kids playpark, no one was there, and I ended up at the top of the slide and couldn't resist. Kayleigh thinks I'm having a mid life crisis, but I enjoyed it.

Then when we were leaving the wetlands I got a phone call to say mam was being admitted to hospital. The doctor had been out to see her and was really worried, so I ended up going in the ambulance with her, and then sitting for hours while she was waiting to be seen before being taken to a ward. She'll be fine, just they need to get more rehab people involved to get her strength up, but I could have done without more daily hospital visits at the moment.

Yesterday was filled with medical stuff.

James had three different appointments. First his counselling phone appointment to see what help he could be given. Apparently that went well, and he said it was good to talk things out.

After that was down to the doctors, where he's been given a note that means he's off work for another month. He's also been given new meds that hopefully will get a handle on his pain issues.

Then on the afternoon he saw his hand consultant, the one that just keeps him on the books in case of any issues and therefore sees him every six months. His hand is fine, but when James told him about the problems with his back he went to find out what back specialist had the shortest waiting list, and ensured James was added to it.

It's why I'm always pleased when James sees someone who knows him and his condition. Like the consultant said, it just takes one thing to go wrong, and then everything could go badly wrong, so while James is in a mild AMC flair at the moment, it could easily get much worse, so it's better to try and get a handle on issues asap.

So that's something that will happen in the future. James has said he won't ever consider another op, but seeing a specialist could result in other options.

Apart from that. In the break between doctors and hospital we called in at one of my favourite eating places. It looks like nothing from outside, but serves the most delicious food. We both got something, went to drive to the beach to eat it, and then going around a roundabout, the bag tipped over and my food was spilled all over the foot-well. No way could it be eaten, so I ended with a salad from Subway.

Today it was mam's PIP tribunal. I really hoped I'd be able to come back and post that everything had gone well and she'd been given her money back. Sadly, after sitting for a long while the panel decided it needed more evidence, so it's been adjourned and she'll get another date in one/two months. She was a nervous wreck going in, not helped by seeing someone also there for their tribunal come out sobbing when we first arrived. But, what can you do? All we can do is wait yet again.

I got my bingo card, and will happily talk about it tomorrow. Tonight though, a long bath and catching up on 'This Is Us' is in my future. I love that show so much, it's very much my favourite atm, which considering how much I loved Thirtysomething and Brothers and Sisters is no surprise.

Thank you to dine and romantical for the cards that arrived this morning, and for the messages inside ♥

We've been to see The Space Between Us today. It was okay, nothing that outstanding but entertaining enough.

Two days ago we went to see The Great Wall, which again was entertaining, visually stunning in parts, but nothing I'd class as one of my top films.

Tomorrow we've tickets to see Moonlight, and depending on how James feels may go to an earlier showing of either John Wick or Patriot's Day. Obviously we've been to the cinema a lot, but it's suits us right now when James is still feeling so off. It's easy to park there and push him in, and of course having a limitless ticket means the cost is kept down. Well, if you discount my skinny, sugar free caramel latte over ice habit.

Lately I've been trying to do new things. Included in this has been buying and wearing jeans, a few weeks ago I got my eyebrows threaded for the first time, and then the day we went to see the Great Wall, I had my lashes and brows tinted. Now, I've always had light eyebrows and lashes, so in theory it would be a good thing. The actual process was fine, though a little unnerving to sit in a reclining chair at the back of Superdrug with my eyes closed and having stuff done around them. Then came the reveal.

I really liked my eye lashes, but my brows. Well, all I can say is I looked a little Angry Birdish. Seriously, I had ferocious dark brows, even though the lady said they were medium brown. So, I thank her, toodle off and I'm sure people back away when I strolled by with my dark scowl. Then what was worse, we went to the cinema and one of the people who works there and who we like and talk to was working the desk. We hadn't seen him for a while so stopped for a chat, but as James was in his wheelchair the man had to direct his attention to both of us on different levels, so his attention was solely on me when he looked up, and I'm sure he was thinking, wtf?!

Thankfully a bath as soon as I got home and much washing with some head and shoulders has toned down the shade and I think they look okay now. I suspect that a combo of never having dark defined brows before and some of the dye being left behind on my skin led to the angry bird look. But even so, first and last time I think!

That same cinema visit we'd gone to the gallery. I pushed James to a table and left him there to go get some pop and popcorn out of the cooler/heater, and noticed that the gallery staff person on duty was hovering close by and only stepped close when I got back, and then asked if we wanted nachos. Sadly the 'do they take sugar' mindset is still there it seems.

It's been interesting seeing the stats due to posting three different stories at once. Musketeers has taken the lead hugely in terms of hits and has okay kudos, though proportionally against hits not that good. Popslash has a terrible hit rate, but of those who have read, nearly half have left kudos or comments. While bandom is set in the middle, with the least comments. Though themoononastick's prediction that every comment I'd get would be a demand for a sequel seems to be coming true.

Conclusions to that? I've no idea, but I did enjoy writing them all, and think I'll attempt to actually finish my Musketeers space story I've been poking at for months.

Today my day started with having my mind blown by themoononastick

She's one of the ones that prompted me to watch Killjoys, and then I'd mentioned to her I'd been watching Conviction and the actor who played Johnny was also in it. And then this morning she told me they're not actually the same person but identical twin brothers.

Mind. Blown.

I'm sure this is something loads of people already know, but at the moment I'm still at the stage of looking at photos of them together and thinking, wow.

I also have picfor1000 edits back, and depending on how fast I get them done and the word count down to exactly 1000 words I should be able to post later. Or it may have to be tomorrow as I'm going out this afternoon.

Now I'm off to look at more photos of the Ashmore twins.

We went to see Cirque Du Soleil Varekai on Wednesday night, and it was so good!

I enjoyed every moment. The costumes and acts were amazing, and the skill those men and women showed was just, wow! You could use cameras, but only phone/small ones without a flash, so low lighting combined with them all moving so fast, means our pictures were little much than blurs of colour. But, I've some professional photos taken of the show to show what we saw. ( behind here )

Also, another thing crossed off my fear list, I sat in the middle of the row and my fat arse and thighs didn't spread to the next seat annoying a stranger. We had brilliant seats too. We were in the easy assess row for people with mobility issues, and it was directly behind the wheelchair spots. Because the wheelchair users and their carers get more room, I had a big gap in front of me which gave me an uninterrupted view of the stage, so win.

We parked at the arena beforehand, and then as we were early decided to walk up to Newcastle to get some food. The nearest place was about a ten minute walk, all uphill, and poor James had the stuffing knocked out of him. He actually slept well over 12 hours solid that night. Next time we go we'll just get food actually in the arena. I mean, it wasn't exactly premier stuff, but wasn't that much more expensive. And yes, we are planning to go back, but first, we're getting tickets to go see Hairspray at the theatre first. The show isn't on until later in the year, but I think it'll be fun.

This week we also went for the first walk of the year at Herrington Country park. Well, I walked, James was pushed. It felt good to get out into the sunshine, though I did get horribly muddy. The ground is saturated there and some of the paths had crumbled a little over winter, so sometimes pushing wasn't as easy as it could have been, but I managed it, and felt strong all the way around. The only issue was I had to stop and have a diy fixing job done on my trousers as they kept falling down. James had to cut off a piece of his bootlace and I put two holes in the waistband of my trousers and pulled it tighter with the lace. And really, I need to stop buying dresses and get some new trousers already.

ETA: The post was delivered, included were letters for me and Corey. Mine included a cheque from a refund on my dad's estate. So Corey's will have the same. It's only a small amount, and I know the timing is a total coincidence, but even so, all I can think is, thanks dad.

Yesterday Kayleigh posted she was engaged on FB, and of course it's caused a hit of hassle. Not that she's engaged, Shauna is lovely, or that it happened 3 weeks ago, but that they'd announced on FB without telling either of their families. Really, they should have told their parents first at least.

James got his new wheelchair, you can see him in it here. It's so lovely, which may sound a weird thing to say about a wheelchair, but after pushing his old one for so long this one is like a sports model in comparison. It has wheels that pop off, making it easy to get in the boot of the car, is comfortable with material that doesn't make you sweat on the back if you're sitting in it a long time, and pushes so easily. While there we also arranged for his mam to be contacted about her wheelchair. Because she's a bigger lady they gave her one where the seat is a block of wood, which of course isn't comfortable. The wheelchair tech said they hadn't given those kinds out for 15 years and the new kinds are so much better, so hopefully she'll get something that's actually comfortable asap.

Some of you may remember me posting a while back how one of my goals was to sit in the chairs outside a cafe on the beach-front. I never did as they were too small for me with having metal unmovable arms, but yesterday while at the beach I decided to try, and I did it.

Yesterday I also went for a bra fitting. Which was pretty scary thinking about going in, but was totally fine. The lady was so friendly and matter of fact as she measured and then fitted me, and it turns out I've gone down a size in terms of band and four sizes in cup size, so no wonder my old bras didn't fit well. So I left wearing the new bra, and it's very comfortable while being supportive.

Today I had a hair cut and have had a few inches of hair chopped off. It looks so much better.

In fannish news. I got my picfor1000 assignment which you can see here. I've got a vague idea taking shape. Now I just have to hope that forms into an actual story.

Finally, sperrywink your other parcel came. Thank you! It's now put aside for a while ♥

The plasterer was here to block the door up on the bedroom side this morning. So, as of now all workmen jobs are finished. He was only supposed to block the actual door, but decided to skim the whole wall as he said it would look better, which was fine by me.

Now I just have to wait until later and I can finally put the bedroom back to rights. The drawers have been laying on Corey's bed since last week so I could move the unit easier, and it'll be nice to have the clock back on a bedside table again.

As I can't move anything up there yet I'm going to have an hour or so of reading tabs, because between Snowflake, challenge exchanges and certain friends writing and posting many ficlets I have rather a lot of them at the moment. Then after that I'm going to the doctor's with mam.

Saturday I had a double cinema visit. First xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage which was ridiculous action fun -- with the added extra of a couple sneaking up to the couches and having what looked really close to full sex, before going back to their actual seats, making out there, and coming back up to retrieve their coats.

Then we had an hour to spare, so I nipped in Evans to check out their final sale reductions, and scored a long tunic with a t-shirt under it which was £8 down from £55.

A bit of a mooch later and we went back to the cinema to see Manchester by the Sea, and my goodness, what a film. I won't spoil in case anyone is going to see it, but the acting was amazing, especially by Casey Affleck.

Day 14
Go forth and commit an act of kindness. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it, tell us about it if you’re comfortable doing so.

I wasn't sure what to say about this, then I remembered I'd meant to mention beta readers in an earlier challenge, and totally forgot. So I've just sent an email to themoononastick.

She's been my beta forever, she's battled with my terrible grammar and bad habits, not least my lazy writing when I finished stories far too early. Her comments make me laugh, and she points things out without ever making me feel stupid. Like in my bandom holidays story where she asked how Gerard was heating shampoo up in a sink without any heat source.

A good beta is hard to find, and I'm incredibly lucky to have L. So while it feels a bit strange to call that email a kindness challenge response, as it's something I feel always, that's my response.

I'm having a meet-up with augustuscaesar and her wife tomorrow. They're over from Australia and have been touring the UK for the last few weeks, and now they're in Newcastle. We're going to Mog on the Tyne and I'm going to hug the stuffing out of her because it's been far too long since I've seen her.

Then after a trip to the cinema to see La La Land. It's a movie I'm calling in one of my markers for, as James has no desire to see it at all. I think I've said before but normally we match quite well on film likes, but sometimes we have to compromise, last time for me, seeing James Bond, for him, Magic Mike XXL.

Cats, friends, movies. Sunday should be a good one.