Author: disabilitydiyblog

During an early morning quite time, alone just you and your thoughts. There are a substantial number of thoughts floating through my mind. But on this morning, I happen to choose just one.

Life’s journey. I find it facinating, how just one small, different direction taken by me along my journey’s road, could have ended with my finding myself in a totally different place and situation in life.

This could have been for the better or possibily worse. That is the interesting bit. Would I have done anything differently?

After some thought the conclusion is, NO!

Get on with your life as it is, and spend what little energy that I have on possible improvements, in both physical and friendships with those whose love I cherish.

There is always area’s that can be improved upon so as to maintain a person’s feeling of comfort and friendships.

At our home with my wife is my comfort zone. My friends and health team are my security.

Having built a workshop and an interesting garden, combined, these provide a very enjoyable enviroment in which to live.

No… I wouldn’t wish to change the direction travelled.

Just continue with improving and maintaining all that makes my life satisifying.

Until next week.

Best regards, 

Ken.

At last, the outside temperature is beginning to cool and gardening proper is slowly taking place. Hopefully the task of just keeping plants alive and watered is at an end for this year.

Considering my slow start to the summer gardening year, there were a couple of successes. Tomatoes, cucumbers and beans, all were acceptable.

This is one of the young tomatoe plants that proved to be a very sucessful producer, in spite of there being fewer bees this year for flower pollenating.

Now is time to choose our vegetable plantings for winter. Also flower plants, companion plants, are all in the mix. I find the changing of seasons with new plants, quite enjoyable.

New garden bed last created winter.

This gives an account of where I am at, as far as gardening is concerned. However, there are other projects that need attention. DIY and my workshop, both of these depend upon the workshop being put back into a tidy condition.

As most project and maintenance jobs are carried out in the workshop, getting it back into a tidy workable space, has to be my primary task.

Staying actively engaged, thoughly slowly.

Best regards,

Ken.

Although rainwater harvesting is a subject which is always on my mind, there is only a very small amount of water that I am able to capture.

Due to my very limited mobility, the volume captured is very limited in comparison to the rainwater that isn’t. This is a continual annoyance.

This being said, there has been a degree of success. Some roof water has been captured in underground sumps for plant roots to scavenge, rather it being allowed to flow into street drains.

XUIt is interesting to note that, for every square mitre of roof surface you have available to you, it is possible to capture a litre of water from each mililitre of precipation that falls (and it is free). Reflect for a moment; upon the volume of water that runs away from our ever increasing area of car parks and highways.

From the small amount of rainwater that I have stored, the garden benefits, usually by way of a watering can.

Just give a little thought to the opportunities available in your area!

Hoping that this personal story, encourages you to consider possibilities.

Best regards,

Ken.

Thank you! A big thank you indeed to person who invented the air conditioner. Without this cooling, I would now be a useless mess.

Being one of those multiple sclerosis suffers, who is badly affected by the heat, these current heatwaves could quite easily be the end of yours truely. Airconditioning to the rescue….. Phew.

Compounding these heatwaves is humidity. Interestingly in recent past years, 30° centigrade was my seek cooling point. Now that point appears to 26°, this is most probably due to my advancing years.

Either way, thank our lucky stars for airconditioning. My parents would have loved it!

Until next week.

Best regards,

Ken.

When that refers to one’s state of mobility, it is not very helpful in planning, or comforting.

My bout of UTI appears to have had a detrimental effect on my walking ability, or, perhaps recovery has forgottern about the legs.

Whatever the reason, medical appointments have to be kept and social contact needs to be maintained. In order to obtain these objectives, disability cabs are being used.

This appears to be my method of down town transport into the future. A combination of powerchair and taxi that suits.

This new transportation method has a number of advantages. Firstly: it relieves my wife (Marilyn) from having to lift and manoeuvre my rolator. Secondly: it allows me to have the freedom to move within the building, upon arrival. Previously, I would be slightly exhausted at my appointment.

All in all, this should allow me more energy for gardening and workshop hobbies.

Until next week my friends.

Best wishes,

Ken.

This saying is ringing in my ears at the moment.

Because of various unexpected situations, all occurring at the same time. I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

Keeping all proposed projects continuing and those all ready achieved, maintained means that all adverse things must be allowed for.

At the moment, this isn’t being done. These setbacks can include health recovery and weather events. In my case, urinary tract infection and a heatwave.

Now, anyone who has a garden will know that maintaining is continuous.

As for other projects in mind. They will need to be placed on the backburner for the moment. Projects such as woodworking, solar equipment, rain water capture, and surveillance cameras. I forgot, my weather station needs to be placed in position.

That, dear readers, is the situation at this point. A rest and a rethink are required.

So until next week.

Best regards,

Ken.

Exercise and creativity, what an excellent combination!

Construction of the garden began fifty years ago. Way back then, it consisted mostly of mown grass, referred to as lawn. if you can’t mow it, don’t grow it was my mantra at that point.

At that time, the lives of my wife and I were totally consumed by our occupations. Although a garden was desired, time didn’t allow it.

Once retirement was upon us, gardening moved forward. Gradually, after some searching, suitable rainfall and temperature plants were added so as to establish a protective garden area.

Not all plantings were successful. Trial and error is an interesting and learning part of gardening, especially when you’re planting annuals. Being conscious of microclimates within your yard is also essential.

Considering all plantings, I believe the large tree (acer saccharum) at the front of our home is my best choice. Even though there are developing problems with its roots.

One of the most enjoyable things about gardening is that you get to create your own immediate surroundings, and that it can be changed.

This is just the basis of the garden. One thing to keep in mind is that it was mostly created by a person from a powerchair.

This is just one of the hobbies possible, while living with a disability.

Until next week.

Best wishes,

Ken.

Emerging technologies

After the often frustrating times in setting up. WiFi is the most important part of my assisting technology, with the exception of powerchairs, my full-time means of locomotion. While on the subject of powerchairs, these have developed considerably over the past years.

Wi-Fi used in conjunction with a smartphone, installed with various apps, allow me to operate a number of devices that would otherwise be out of reach for someone who has disabilities, similar to mine.

There are many other aids available to assist, depending upon one’s needs, and of course, their financial situation.

However, at this time, I find myself completely satisfied with the technology being used. As time passes, there could be some new requirements that need to be catered for.

Without those aids, existence would be very bleak indeed.

Until next week.

Regards,

Ken.

Adventure Gardening

Adventure and gardening, there appears to be some confusion in combining those two words.

Not so, when you are a person who gardens from a powerchair. Especially if you have a tendency towards calculated risk.

There have been quite a number of times where I have fallen from my transport because of over-reaching. This has mostly occurred when exhausted, overheated, or both.

Results have varied. Most times, this just involves climbing back into the chair (with some difficulty), a solo exercise. Other times have required me to firstly get the attention of my wife, and if she was unable to help, enlist the help of a neighbor.

There have been a few times where the situation resulted in my being, on the lawn or concrete, and on one occasion, a garden bed. These times needed the ambulance. When that happened, because of my being overheated, a stay in hospital resulted.

Be assured gardening will continue, along with some calculated risk taking.

Until next week.

Very best wishes.

KEN.

This recovery from a UTI has taken much longer than I expected. It is becoming increasingly clear that the infection has a greater impact on ones body than previously realized.

Apart from my loss of strength and lethargy, there was a throat infection.

Next week, there are to be further tests done to see if this recurring infection can be prevented. Apparently a large reason for what has been happening, is due to my bladder not completely emptying. There is a 33 percent retention (so I’m told).

An interesting part of the tests being done, is to confirm that retention. This involves me drinking 1 liter of water an hour prior to the scan. Given that the average bladder has a capacity of 600-800 ml., l supposedly retain 33%. There is an amount here not being considered, by anyone except myself.

These results will be relayed next week.

Cheers,

Ken.

Would you believe that all of those concerns were unnecessary!

The whole process went smoothly, like clockwork. From the beginning until all tests were completed.

Hospital staff were most helpful, without exception.

My wife Marilyn had planned the whole series of tests so that they would be completed in that one visit. Her part in the event can’t be understated.

So now I find myself back home in my comfort zone, completing recovery. Almost back to my pre-UTI self.

Another event completed.

Until next week.

Ken.

As Christmas is just around the corner, I will take this opportunity to wish my readers and your family a wonderful festive season.