This could be a bit of an epic post!
First things first, the Indietracks gig went pretty well! Long-time visitors will know that the reason for the blogs title is the fact that I used to play in loads of bands. When my MS symptoms first came up, the tingling in my hands put a stop to most of that.
So when my good friend asked me if I'd like to play with his band Frankie Machine at Indietracks, we embarked on a series of rehearsals the likes of which I've never encountered!
The festival itself was really nice - very mellow, and laid back, plus i got to see some mates from back in the day.
We were playing in The Church and our set went really well - and it's not just my memory playing tricks, I've got a recording of it and everything!
Shortly after that, we took Evie away for her first holiday. We rented a cottage near Robin Hoods Bay for a week over our wedding anniversary.
It was great being away as a family but, to be honest, Whitby wasn't the most accessible place in the world - not with a pram and a disabled dad with a walking stick.
For a start, Robin Hoods Bay is basically one road which has something like a 1 in 25 gradient (or something). And Whitby itself is very cobbly - gawd knows how people can get around there with wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters, but there are a number of disabled parking spaces there so I guess people do!
The really shit stuff started TWO HOURS after we got home...
(To be continued... believe it or not!)
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Friday, 29 July 2011
headlines
slack blogging... parenthood...blah
I'll tell you what really is a shit business? Breast Feeding - yeah I know it wouldn't be a massively filling meal for Evie if I did it...
But there's SO MUCH pressure on women (especially in the UK) that 'breast is best', that if for some reason it doesn't work out, a lot of the young mums we know drive themselves to distraction trying to force the issue.
My tuppen'orth: Just because something is NATURAL, it don't necessarily follow that it comes NATURALLY.
(see also: CHILDBIRTH)
So what else has happened?
Well as mentioned before, it's crazy how good you can feel even with disrupted sleep. I'm pleased that I feel I'm doing some good in the parenting stakes.
The best thing? This may sound weird from a blogger who mostly analyses his health, but...
It's really great not to be the most important thing in the world.
Seriously. Because this little person needs constant observation and entertainment, I don't have so much time to think, "oh what's that little twinge? Is it a relapse? Or a new symptom?"
Basically, I have to get over myself. And it's great.
Also in dispatches:
I'll tell you what really is a shit business? Breast Feeding - yeah I know it wouldn't be a massively filling meal for Evie if I did it...
But there's SO MUCH pressure on women (especially in the UK) that 'breast is best', that if for some reason it doesn't work out, a lot of the young mums we know drive themselves to distraction trying to force the issue.
My tuppen'orth: Just because something is NATURAL, it don't necessarily follow that it comes NATURALLY.
(see also: CHILDBIRTH)
So what else has happened?
Well as mentioned before, it's crazy how good you can feel even with disrupted sleep. I'm pleased that I feel I'm doing some good in the parenting stakes.
The best thing? This may sound weird from a blogger who mostly analyses his health, but...
It's really great not to be the most important thing in the world.
Seriously. Because this little person needs constant observation and entertainment, I don't have so much time to think, "oh what's that little twinge? Is it a relapse? Or a new symptom?"
Basically, I have to get over myself. And it's great.
Also in dispatches:
- I'm playing guitar and keyboards for my mate Frankie Machine at Indietracks on Sunday - we've been rehearsing like mad for the last few weeks, I'm really looking forward to it. Just glad to be able to play really!
- I went for an eye test the other week and they offered me the opportunity to have a really detailed photo taken of my retina. As I know that many people with MS can have issues with their eyesight, I thought I'd get it done. I should apologise up front for that fact that I didn't get a copy of the images!
Basically, it's mildly uncomfortable - like the air-puffer-glaucoma test thingy - because you have to really widen your eye. One of them was absolutely fine, the other one had a dark shadow on it.
The optician didn't really think it was anything to massively stress about (mostly because I don't have any other symptoms) but I'm trying to sort out an Opthamology appointment at the hospital to get it checked out properly.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
update
Evie Rose Woodward was born at 5.30am on Tuesday 12 April, weighing 8lb 5oz.
Since then, life has become a dizzying carousel of nappies, cooing, and snatches of sleep grabbed when we can.
Our families have been fantastic, helping out loads. My health has been ok - it's amazing what you can do with a good couple of hours of solid sleep!
Fingers crossed that continues.
Since then, life has become a dizzying carousel of nappies, cooing, and snatches of sleep grabbed when we can.
Our families have been fantastic, helping out loads. My health has been ok - it's amazing what you can do with a good couple of hours of solid sleep!
Fingers crossed that continues.