It’s already November and I haven’t even written anything for October. Whenever I see the analytics of my website I feel guilty. About a hundred people a day try to access my nonexistent October entry.
October went by uneventfully. I can’t use my PC properly anymore. I can’t play more than one game of FreeCell, check my email or watch a TV series. I answer my emails with a carer’s assistance. I’m having trouble writing my diary. I can’t keep up with it anymore. I’ve downgraded to an older PC so I can use my old word prediction program, which I hope will allow me to type more autonomously again. Especially with Sinterklaas around the corner, I think a bit of autonomy would go a long way. I wouldn’t like to dictate entire Sinterklaas poems to someone.
I sometimes spend whole days doing nothing. I’ll have a morning nap, wake up just in time for my afternoon nap and fall asleep in the evening while I’m watching TV. Thrilling. Even though they’re called ‘power naps’ now, I still feel groggy whenever I have one.
Other than that, we have a new carer. Especially when they’re starting off, I like having someone else around in case something goes wrong. After five mornings I started to become a bit doubtful when she forgot to pull down my trousers for the umpteenth time we were using the bathroom, but things are getting better now.
My neck is becoming more and more achy. Whenever I go for a walk, my head lolls to the side whenever the sidewalk is even slightly tilted to the right. It just so happens that most sidewalks are slightly sloped, so every time we go for a walk, we have to stay to the right side of the street to prevent further lolling. I sometimes wake up with a painful neck too, which sometimes makes its way to my head, making me nauseous and throw up on a few occasions. I had two days of nausea and vomiting this month. On those days, I sat as still as I could, with a big bucket next to me.
I watched two movies in October, Zwartboek and Ober, and I also finished a 750 page book.
Loes
On Friday, November 3rd Loes Claerhoudt’s new book was first unveiled and presented. Hein, Lia, Floor and I were there. We were a bit late so we’d missed a bit of Cees Grimbergen interviewing Loes. A lot of people moved out of the way to let me and my wheelchair past so we could find a spot from which I could see the stage. To my surprise, Loes acknowledged my and my companions when we were seated. The whole audience spun round to look at me. I tried not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. Such a warm welcome. After the interview, Loes signed a lot of books, as did her son, the ghost writer. Loes’s signature was a stamp. We talked for a bit. I especially enjoyed seeing and talking to her sons for once. We left a bit early so we could be home by 7:30. We spent four hours driving, but they were worth it. I want one of those stamps.
Holiday
A friend of mine went to Lisbon during her autumn break. She’ll be going to London with her family over Christmas, followed by a journey through the Czech Republic during spring break. I’m envious. Holidaying like that is not in the cards for me. Lieke suggested we should start booking our own holiday relatively soon. Our biggest option is Germany. I’d like to visit Dresden. Still, I’m having a hard time getting myself to actually start booking and preparing.
Because of the lateness of this entry, I won’t be writing a November entry. I’ll be back early next year. I wish you a good Sinterklaas, merry Christmas and a happy new year!