Author: RogerMerriman

Above is the Shot Tower in Crane Park, it’s part of my new commute which is also part of a much older commute, Sa and I think oddly that I’m doing better with the longer commute, the fact it’s so far been much, quieter than Holmesdale. Is probably also a factor.

We went to see the new Bladerunner film, which was great, I don’t always do great at going places like cinemas or music festivals even quite small ones. But our local cinema and two near Mum and Dad are small fairly swish ones, that have much less over sugared teens so I don’t overload before we have even got into the screen, we have had to just walk away before now, as I’ve just had information overload, I also have managed to fall on someone etc.

There is quite a interesting video on the guardian site called The party with an impression of an Autistic teens experience of a party, and the information overload due to it.

Quite interesting that though it’s similar it’s also quite different, on the whole loud in of its self I don’t have a problem with, it’s the intensity and of the music/tv/film. I do tend to in the cinema have to look away/close my eyes at points that I feel overwhelming, not many but normally a few places in the film.

In other news one of the chaps from my local Headway group has been in touch so I and Sa add our experiences to his site, Brain Injury TouchPoint which is a great idea, how it can gain traction and information out of the brain injury bubble I’m not sure but you don’t know until you try!

I am due to get some cognitive testing some 4 years down the line? It was supposed to happen a year or so ago, (it did happen originally but I was so convinced that everything was just fine!) but in that time the Wolfson unit moved from St George’s to Queen Mary’s. And I fell though the gap, which had been frustrating they have apologised which was nice of them.

I’m quite excited about it, I hope it will allow me to understand what has changed ie what’s broke what’s bent and what’s fine! I had very good results a few years back in with Physiotherapy from the Neuro Rehabilitation service in Kew, which at the time I wasn’t convinced at all, at one point I’m being asked to stand on one leg while a young woman throws a soft ball at me!

But it improved much to my surprise my balance immensely for which I’m very grateful and I now understand how that system works or not as you where.

So I’m hoping that Wolfson can do that for me now. Give me knowledge and closure as you where. So my life isn’t just about my head!

After just over 4 years, the house I’ve been working at for the past 4 years is closing down it may or may not open in the future.

But the guys and us will be spread to the winds, I’m stressed/nervous since I it is rather short notice plus there is the whole everyone knows me and that I’m mildly odd and have problems with some things, which is worrying.

My commute is a fair bit longer 12 vs 3 miles and much busier!

Since my bump to my head, I get ill quite often and more often it lingers, it’s frankly depressing! I have been to the GP so I have some pills and booked in for a Blood test again!

Oh and my Birthday last Friday I became 42!

This "young" lad went to the vet today, had a blood-urine test, blood sugars where though the roof, so he's Diabetic! Vet did say injections but possibly diet controlled I guess we will have to see!

One of the interesting and equally frustrating things about my brain injury is I have very faint memories of the entire Month of December let alone the first week in hospital, now admittedly I was asleep a lot of the time!

My memory stops just before after that its islands of memory confused with out time, some with out vision.

What's odd is what is missed, no memory of the CT scans or ECG and so on, which must of been of interest! I remember being helped to pee by Sara as I didn't want the nurses to help!

Even now sometimes Sara says something that is new to me, it's frustrating to be able to read and listen as to what happened over a week or more but only snatches of memory and large gaps!

Mencap and others who have been paying folks a flat rate for a sleep in, are now being asked to pay the national wage, and to back date it, 6 years.

Clearly that's rather a big bill! They did rather foolishly Appeal which did rather make them look like the bad guys! Though have managed to get Jon Snow to do some tv Interviews for them. Bit of a mess to be honest!

It is and has been a hard year, relationship wise, with a brain injuries the marriage doesn't survive. The other thing is beyond Sara and my work colleagues, I don't see anyone.

So life is hard at the moment, though has got better recently though My inner toddler has broken though recently, which is not been my finest hour. But things are on the up, my birthday soon!

Went to the Flower Show on Sunday, with Sa and Lee, was fun though too busy really for me! And the others to be honest!

Headway uk has its annual conference the way ahead which Headway South West London have funded for me, so I’m here!
I have gone to many talks and workshops and chatted to people both Brain injured or not!
And my hat for headway is Mr Jingles who is old bird! And does tricks!

It was really interesting and fun, to get the opportunity to hear talks by brain injured folks plus headway staff, about brain injury and Headway, very harrowing though good talk by Tom’s sister.

Plus the social side was a quiz on Friday night my team of west and south west Headway London was 2nd from last! And meals, breaks where good to chat to people, a lovely if tiring weekend again many thanks to Headway SW London for making this happen for me!