Barry's Thoughts and Views

A True Story

2009-02-14T13:58:00.001Z

Wandering Willy.

Hi Barry
Thanks for the pictures of WONDERING WILLY,....can i tell you a funny story about that name...
It is something that happened to me...my sister..and a friend when we were about 13/14

Near where we lived, there was a coffee bar that all the kids used to hang around in after school
Once we had been good and done our home work of course...ha ha
Anyway one evening we 3 girls were just coming home, and it was just getting dark, ...it was safe walking the streets in those days,
Anyway we were just going passed the church yard on the other side of the road, wouldn't dare go on the side of the church yard too creepy, anyway we heard whistling the sort of whistle you would call a dog with, and when we looked over this man was standing with ( yes the flashers mac ) and his trousers down to his knees, and he was rocking backwards and forwards patting his tummy
Well you can imagine, we just ran, in those days there was always a copper when you wanted one, and those little police phone boxes.
As we got round the corner we saw a copper, when i think back now he was only young, he must have been in his 20's,
Anyway we told him what we had seen and he came back round with us to see if he was still there, well of course he wasn't,.....this copper took our names and addresses, and by then he had been joined by another copper, anyway this young copper said to us , ...you know don't you that if we catch him you might have to go to court ( i realise now that he was just having a laugh ) they were safe to do that in those days,...and the judge will ask you what it looked like, ...well you can imagine can't you we were scared and of course worried what our parents would say , my dad was very strict.
Anyway we went on our way and we called him WONDERING WILLY and to this day that name has stuck..... wonder if they ever found him.

Just thought you would like that
Love Lo xx

Sadness and Helping Hands

2009-02-11T14:50:00.001Z

Last night was a sad time for myself and I am sure for many other members of Community sites on the internet, not to mention although I will, those personally involved in the fires in Victoria (Oz).
I received news that a full family and part of another, both internet friends I had, were lost to the flames and those who loved them.
Although people who like myself live on the other side and end of the world to Australia, can feel miles away and unable to do anything, there is one HUGE difference you can make.
Any donation made to the Fire appeal, no matter how small, will make a big difference to those who manage to survive this catastrophe.
There are donation sites on Facebook, and the internet in general but should you be having problems finding one, please allow me to help you.

http://apps.new.facebook.com/causes/?m=ed6ae9f3

this gives you a choice of payplaces depending on where you live.
PLEASE CONSIDER if you can help in any small way.

Love and Wishes to you all and thoughts to those involved
Barry

Out Scootering

2009-02-06T11:21:00.002Z

Just an update on walking, (scootering), the dogs today.
Needed the throttle down a bit on yesterday to prevent skidding wheels on the ice under the new snow as even here in Paston, the council haven't done footpaths or cycleways.
Apart from that, both I and the dogs enjoyed an extended stay out in the lovely white stuff due to my speed being that ... Read Moremuch slower.
The same rules should apply to your road vehicles, so instead of all the complaints, why can't drivers use less energy thinking, before putting their foot to the pedal instead of doing all this complaining.
Barry

Breakfast was lamb chops courtesy of the butcher as he was unable to get any offal for us this week again. We have to eat quickly though, as Wandering Willie checks out our bowls before his own and tries to pinch what we have.
This snow is great fun, although last night I slashed a chunk out of one of my pads, after stepping on broken glass in the snow that someone had smashed during the day.
Barry has putting his magic salve into it and so I am able to get out with everyone else. Just wish had didn't have to wear my doggles in this weather to prevent the headaches as it is much fun, rubbing your face in the snow.
Ta Ta for now
Tessa

Snow, Wonderful Snow

2009-02-05T09:43:00.002Z

Well here at north Peterborough, we seem to have had more of the soft fluffy white stuff than most. The average level height without any wind or rather breeze blown stuff is just over 6 inches.
The dogs think it is great and we went out for our walk just before 8 o'clock.
Keeping the scooter speed off maximum, we were able to cope well, with little or no wheel spinning. The only problem was crossing car and cycle tracks which my little wheels wanted to follow and the pushing through higher snow than I had clearance under the scooter drained the battery much faster, meaning we had to turn round to go back much sooner.
Much sooner actually being the distance we had travelled rather than the time we were out as we were still out about an hour.
Tessa wasn't happy though having to wear her Doggles, as they all wanted to roll and rub in the snow. The pup though had a great time even though most of the snow reached his tummy.
The septicemia is now cleared up, as also the internal infection which was causing my wound to open up and stopping it healing.
The pain is managable and life is going on, but I am still finding it hard to concentrate or sit in a set position for long.
That's it
Take Care Out there
Barry

Confusion

2009-01-26T10:33:00.002Z

Well I am not sure exactly what is going on inside me.
I am doing everything the doctors and nurses advise and more, yet my recovery, which was going so well after having the kidneys and renal artery removed, seems to have gone from doing so well until a downhill position I find myself in now.
The scaring on my chest and legs is almost impossible to see as it healed so well.
The scaring around my stomach muscles stretching around to my back, which was also healing well, started to leak from the marks where the staple (Stitch) holes were. At first it was a safe pinky colour but then decided to take on the dreaded yellowy oozy stuff.
Yes it had turned septic!
Antiseptic dressings didn't seem to help and so a prescription of antibiotics was started on Friday. As yet there is no change. Possibly a good sign as it hasn't got worse, but it hasn't got any better up to writing this.
The antibiotics however are having the adverse affect of upsetting my stomach and bowel. Due to being unable to take tablets, still being on the PEG Feed as well as managing mushy food by mouth, the choice of what can be prescribed is limited and so I have to make the best out of a bad lot.
As the stomach muscles which were cut to get into the kidneys heal, they seemingly cause more pain than when cut, but that I have found bearable. The worst discomfort comes from trying to get comfortable. Just as I find a nice position it seems to become uncomfortable, whether laying or sitting.
Coughing of which I do little thankfully and sneezing, are my other worst torments, causing sharp pain and pressure on the scar were the leaking seems to be worst.
I will get there, but as of this moment it just seems to be another kick and I am finding it harder these days to pick myself up and look forward.
Sorry for the winge. Just needed to let something out and even this has taken since 04.00 this morning to get done. 7 hours.
Take Care everyone out there.
Love and Wishes
Barry

Willie and Us

2009-01-25T23:19:00.001Z

Well sorry I am unable to get on much, but although things are improving slowly, Barry is still finding it impossible to sit at the computer for more than a couple of minutes at a time.
Willie is definitely here but hopefully not to stay. He just will not settle and is always wanting to play. he goes out for what should be for him, impossibly long walks, which he runs around on, from we leave home until we get back, driving Dollar and myself to distraction.Barry keeps threatening him with a one way ticket to the Chinese restaurant.
The vet came out to see him on Wednesday, as Barry can't get as far as the vets now, and is happy how is is doing again. We have got rid of the nasty worms he came back with and he has put on over a stone (18 lb) since he came back.
His testicles have dropped and so he is well and truly advanced for his tender young age of only 12 weeks today.
I am doing ok and Dollar is having the occasional game now with Willie, although it is just occasional.
He is learning to keep out of my food bowl, although Dollar still lets him eat out of hers.
His toilet training is coming on, and is again asking to go out, (well mostly), but he is still having the occasional accident which really takes a lot out of Barry. It is just a pity that his last owner hadn't been as good as we believed he was going to be before Barry got him back.
This has taken all day for me to write and I am closing now to go to bed. We have all had our last walk with Uncle Geoff and so lights out is calling.
Take Care all of you out there.
Love and Wishes
Tessa, Dollar, Willie and Barry, Oh and Dinky.

P.S.
Willie has stopped jumping on her, although he still thinks it is fun to give her a little chase through the sitting room each time she comes in.
Bye

Quick update

2009-01-16T21:14:00.001Z

Just to let you all know that I am keeping well and having lots of fun playing again.
Dollar is a frustrated old woman and Barry is so so, and is finding it hard to get comfortable in any position long as his stomach and back muscles are starting to mend where he says the Doctor man cut through them to get things out. Sadly, although he had lost all the fat and muscles off his legs arms and bum and all the puppy fat from his tummy, including his love handles, he still had good stomach muscles which means they shall heal very painfully.
We love the scootery thing, as he goes faster on that when he takes us out, than what he used to walk and much faster than Uncle Geoff and Aunty Joan who take it in turns walking us. Joan in the mornings and Geoff at night.
Oh! The playing thing I mentioned. Nothing really important, just that this evening, after being out all day, who should turn up tonight with Barry and Uncle Geoff.
Nah! I know you won't get it so I will tell you. It is Wandering Willy come home again. Something has been going on or not going on or something with his new daddy and Barry. We thought we heard something ablout police getting involved, but when he turned up, he said he hadn't seen any stranger men than Barry.
Catch you again sooner rather than later I hope. Uncle Geoff has been helping me type as Barry can't sit at the computer to help me at the moment and was narrating it, or something to Geoff to help.
Take Care.
Love and Wishes
Tessa, Dollar, Wandering Willie Dinky, (who is hiding somewhere) & Barry

Another Seizure

2009-01-07T10:06:00.001Z

Starting the Count Again

Sorry Friends but as from 8.50 this morning, I am having to start my seizure free count up again.
We went out with Aunty Joan, a neighbour who has been walking us along with Uncle Geoff to help Barry out over the past month or so and while we were playing I seemingly attacked Dollar. When I came round, I had a small cut in an ear and a puncture wound on my muzzle were Dollar had been holding me to stop me getting her. Aunty Joan was shaking and all upset, but had still came in and pulled me away and put me on the lead and then Dollar had let me go, so she was very brave.
She contacted Barry who came out on his scooter and made sure we were both ok before walking us home with her.
She says she will still take us out for him but kept apologising as if it was her fault I had my turn. No-one can be blamed when this happens, although I am sorry it happened at all, never mind happening while out with dear Aunty Joan.
Sorry I never got my blog finished on Monday, but Barry isn't too good as the pain seems to be getting worse as his stomach and back muscles that were cut to allow the doctors to get inside him to get the kidney and artery out are starting to heal. Seemingly though, this pain means things are going well as his nerves are healing as well.
Try and update again soon.
Love and Wishes
Tessa

Old Years Eve

2008-12-30T13:08:00.003Z

As a northerner I was brought up to celebrate Old Years Night aka Hogmanay, aka First Footing, aka New Years Eve.
As the children celebrated the birth of Christ at Christmas, so the adults celebrated the birth of a New Year.
This was not for your home alone, but for that of all your friends and neighbours and 10 to 20 homes would be represented by the group formed and on leaving the pub, club or your home if you had stayed in, you would pass along to each others homes, where refreshments would have been prepared and one from the party would enter first, usually with a chunk of coal, a bottle of whisky and some rum butter and wearing gloves.
The Whisky for Health
Coal for a Comfortable Home
The Rum Butter for Fertility
and the Gloves as a sign of prosperity.
On moving to Peterborough in 1999, I found a place which had on the whole never heard of anything other than Hogmanay or New Years eve and thought it just entailed getting drunk, letting off fireworks anytime after midnight and staying at the pub as long as they would serve drinks, or sit at home getting drunk and often being legless before midnight.
and then we wonder where community spirit has gone.
For more info you could try out
Hogmanay

Enjoy the seeing out of the old and the coming in of the new and may 2009 bring you and yours, Health and Happiness if not the wealth.
Love and Wishes
Barry

Home Again, Home Again. Now For My Bed

2008-12-29T21:48:00.002Z

Well at last I am home. A week early and am I pleased to have walked through my own doors again!
I hadn't realised until today when I came to put on a pair of jeans which have been many sizes too big for me lately, just how much my tummy and waistline is swelled up, having only worn P.J.'s for the last week and a bit.
The first thing I dig after being loved to death by Dinky the cat, was to go and get my P.J.'s on again. What a relief!
The pain as I sit here is quite excruciating, and so I am making this short as I have had my pain killers and am on my way to bed.
Thanks for all the messages both here and On LiveSpaces as well as the personal messages and e-mails I have just managed to get to. My emails I am afraid are too numerous to answer in one go, so please bear with me over the next few days or so while I try to answer a few at a time.
Take care Everyone and again thanks for all your love and wishes.
Barry

Christmas Gifts

2008-12-27T09:54:00.001Z

Hello and welcome to some good news. Since being admited into hospital, I have got to know some of the porters quite well. A mobility scooter is advertised for the use of patients but I found out it hadn't been used since July 07, so I talked one of the porters into finding it. After a few days if told me he had found it but it didn't work as the key was lost. On Christmas Eve he turned up on the ward with a wheelchair and I was told I had to go with him. We ended up at the main enterance and there was the scooter. I was wished Happy Christmas and told I could take it up to the ward and keep it there until I was discharged. Life has been much easier since then especially to get outside for fresh air and a smoke. Two nights left to in before my early discharge on Monday.

An Angel of Mercy?

2008-12-23T22:25:00.001Z

Does this look yummy or not?

2008-12-23T22:23:00.001Z

Thought you would like to see what I had for dinner today. Would you believe that each item is actually the purified ingredient then sculptured to look like it was previously. I am led to beleive they also smell and taste right as well, although you know I can do neither. I could only fault it in as much as it was a bit stodgy not having any salivary glands to help with the swallowing.. The waitress I hope will be in another picture after this. One of my nursing carers. I am better than anyone hoped for before I came in but will not know for quite a few weeks if it is a complete success. Aunt Jane has told me of all the messages I have and what she as received and I would like to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Barry

Falling apart

2008-12-20T04:13:00.001Z

I am hoping that the picture is better online than on my camera. Those shiny things hanging down are two huge pairs of scissor clamps. I have to have them hanging there for a couple of days incase my lungs flood as an emergency. I have been allowed only two drinks today. Something to do with "Not Flushing My Other Kidney & Bowel"

My kitchen table

2008-12-17T22:29:00.001Z

Well sitting here trying to fill time. Had injection to water my blood down ready for tomorrow. Operating at 2 o'clock.

And Finally

2008-12-17T01:36:00.002Z

While I (Barry) am in hospital, all updates will be done here.
My Vodaphone from carphone warehouse, as a lock on internet access and can only access certain sites. Sadly hotmail and this site are two of those blocked unless I take out a monthly contract. After 1 1/2 hours on an automated system I did eventually speak to someone who said, "if I could pop into one of their shops, 'they MIGHT' unlock it for me!" I couldn't get into Peterborough to do it so, I've been rushing to try and work out what to do on here.
Not a lot here yet but if you leave a comment I will know that you have found it and been able to access it and Auty Jane will pass on your messages when she sees me I am sure.

Again: I will update Tessa's Diary and general news while in hospital, if and when I am able.
This will not be until at least Monday 22nd December, as I am in theater Thursday and will be getting kept sedated until then when they bring me around to check things out. Hopefully I shall be able to think straight enough soon after that, to give you more info.
Sorry for any inconvenience some of you may have had finding this but I have removed the word check thingy so that everyone can leave a message in comments if they wish.
May each and every one of you have a Happy Christmas and a Healthy if not prosperous 2009.
Love and Best Wishes
Barry, Tessa, Dollar & Dinky

Walk with Phoenix

2008-12-15T11:28:00.001Z

Just a fine day for getting on camera

Uncle Geoff and Willie

2008-12-14T20:35:00.004Z

Last Cuddles from Uncle Geoff
I am a bit camera shy though as you know.
Wandering Willie struggling to escape Uncle Geoff and get away from the camera.
This is the last time Willie see's Uncle Geoff as he goes tomorrow at 1.45 pm before he gets home from work.
He is still going to come around though and Take Dollar and I out for a walk.

Tessa's Daily Diary

2008-12-07T22:47:00.000Z

2008-12-07T22:28:00.003Z

Not too sure why I am here today. Possibly as I am now seriously thinking of moving from LiveSpaces and checking that the site was still here.
End of session for now.
Could be back serious blogging come the new year.

24 Days Seizure Free

2008-10-14T19:51:00.003+01:00

and More.

I am a little lazy and the link above takes you to a rescue dogs site who I care for called Tessa.
She is Blind and has Epilepsy

Tessa mobile

2008-10-14T19:19:00.001+01:00