Early on Monday morning my dad had a stroke. We got news that he was in hosptial at 8am, it wasn't until mid-afternoon that we found out he'd had a stroke. We thought it was going to be a heart attack, or something like that. You don't expect a 53 year old to have a stroke. While it's bad news things aren't bleak, it hasn't affected his speech, personality or comprehension. His left side is affected, but the MRI scan has shown that it shouldn't be permanent - he can re-learn what he's forgotten, because it's the area of the brain concerned with co-ordination which was affected. Yesterday he managed to walk, with a frame, which is great. He's improving a lot everyday.
It's strange, after 4 days it's sort of become normal, and I'm telling everyone it's ok. There are lots of things which have to be sorted out, and so I'm telling new people the news several times a day, and everyone takes it so badly. I have to remind myself that it is *big* news. My reaction right from the start has just been, "ok, this has happened...where do we go now. What do I need to do." I cried a couple of times, a day or two after it happened, but I'm trying to keep my head firmly pointed forward - there's no point doing anything else.
We are on the look out for ridiculous pyjamas (for my dad). We were sorely disappointed when the male pyjama range proved highly sensible. We did manage to find a flamingo to tie to the end of his bed, it's called Fandango. We want a mini-Fandango to tie to the walking frame...I'm not sure my dad's as enthusiastic about the plan.
Until yesterday I was locked in a war with 'Patientline', the awful company that manages bed side entertainment in hosptials. You pay them an extortionate amount of money for TV, Internet, Radio and the telephone. My dad's bedside unit didn't work, and each day I was fobbed off with excuses. It was so annoying, because it meant my dad was sat there with nothing to do, just thinking about what's happened. We took him in a radio, but it had to be taken away for an electrical test. When I got to the ward yesterday his unit was fixed - this was unsurprising, I'd threatened 'Patientline' with our local MP and the media. Also, of course, my dad got all his electrical equipment back at the same time! I'm glad he's got lots to do now, but annoyed it took such drastic measures for something to be done.
Amidst all this I am searching for Universities to do my PhD at. The RS department at Lancaster has failed to secure funding for a PhD student, so everything's up in the air. My tutors are being excellent, though - they're actually emailing people they know trying to find out where there might be money for me!
Friday, 20 February 2009
Friday, 6 February 2009
Friday Week 4
I like the middle of term, and I like Lent term, so this is a good time of year for me.
The nights are drawing out, and since I follow similar patterns through the weeks I can watch spring encroach. Most of the country's had snow; in fact, judging by the news, it seems that Lancaster and the Fylde are their own impenetrable microcosm, meteorologically opposed to everywhere else in the UK. Everywhere else is under a thick blanket of snow. It's meant we've had some beautiful days, though, crisp and clear. I'm in the Reading Room, which has a massive window (two storey, length of the library) looking out across the edge of campus, and a few miles to Morecambe Bay... it's a pretty stunning view today.
Friday means the library is quiet, only people who really want to be here are. It gives the place a good vibe. Half of us are probably blogging, but there's something positive about it all. It's really calm. In general I like the start of term around campus, in the learning areas, because people aren't frantic - there aren't deadlines. The student body is segregated, into natural groupings, those no uneasiness - the library isn't filled with the noisy, who want quick fix answers so they can go off and party; it's left to those who really love the place, and what it represents - learning, knowledge. It's strange, I look around and I know most of the people here (we're the people who are around on a Friday afternoon, at this time in the term) even though I've never spoken to them.
This week I think I've been more popular than I've ever been in my life - literally. I wrote '25 random things...' about myself, in reply to a Facebook thread, and I seem to have impressed a lot of people - even people I've never met. I didn't put a lot of thought into it, it was just a means to procrastinate at the start of the week. It's strange... it's really nice, but strange all the same. As a result, tonight we're going out - someone got in touch and invited us out in Blackpool, someone who we've not spoken to in ages. It's quite funny - we thought it was an invite from someone else (because we didn't have either of these people's numbers stored on our phone). We accepted the invite, but the way the reply to this message was written made me think it wasn't quite right. A little investigation confirmed it was from someone *completely* different. I'm very glad we realised before we went out - it would have been very anticlimactic to find out on arrival.
I'd been so excited about going out with the original person I ended biting the bullet and asking them out... Raine and I fell out with him about a year ago, he screwed us over, but a few weeks ago he sent a complete apology. It was a complete surprise - we never expected an apology, because things had ended pretty nastily and conclusively. It meant a lot. He'd been our best friend for a while. So tonight we ride - the three of us again! I think it's going to be pretty wild.
The nights are drawing out, and since I follow similar patterns through the weeks I can watch spring encroach. Most of the country's had snow; in fact, judging by the news, it seems that Lancaster and the Fylde are their own impenetrable microcosm, meteorologically opposed to everywhere else in the UK. Everywhere else is under a thick blanket of snow. It's meant we've had some beautiful days, though, crisp and clear. I'm in the Reading Room, which has a massive window (two storey, length of the library) looking out across the edge of campus, and a few miles to Morecambe Bay... it's a pretty stunning view today.
Friday means the library is quiet, only people who really want to be here are. It gives the place a good vibe. Half of us are probably blogging, but there's something positive about it all. It's really calm. In general I like the start of term around campus, in the learning areas, because people aren't frantic - there aren't deadlines. The student body is segregated, into natural groupings, those no uneasiness - the library isn't filled with the noisy, who want quick fix answers so they can go off and party; it's left to those who really love the place, and what it represents - learning, knowledge. It's strange, I look around and I know most of the people here (we're the people who are around on a Friday afternoon, at this time in the term) even though I've never spoken to them.
This week I think I've been more popular than I've ever been in my life - literally. I wrote '25 random things...' about myself, in reply to a Facebook thread, and I seem to have impressed a lot of people - even people I've never met. I didn't put a lot of thought into it, it was just a means to procrastinate at the start of the week. It's strange... it's really nice, but strange all the same. As a result, tonight we're going out - someone got in touch and invited us out in Blackpool, someone who we've not spoken to in ages. It's quite funny - we thought it was an invite from someone else (because we didn't have either of these people's numbers stored on our phone). We accepted the invite, but the way the reply to this message was written made me think it wasn't quite right. A little investigation confirmed it was from someone *completely* different. I'm very glad we realised before we went out - it would have been very anticlimactic to find out on arrival.
I'd been so excited about going out with the original person I ended biting the bullet and asking them out... Raine and I fell out with him about a year ago, he screwed us over, but a few weeks ago he sent a complete apology. It was a complete surprise - we never expected an apology, because things had ended pretty nastily and conclusively. It meant a lot. He'd been our best friend for a while. So tonight we ride - the three of us again! I think it's going to be pretty wild.
Monday, 2 February 2009
January
January went by in a blur, in that way that January has. February makes me hopeful for Spring, but it's not to be just yet - the snow's come down in a big way, all over the UK, today.
This weekend we went to my Aunt's 80th birthday party. As may be a hazard of an 80th party half the guests napped after lunch:
The party was good fun, so long as Raine and I remembered to show no physical affection, and not mention the wedding! To be fair, though, people seem to be more at ease with us these days. My Grandma bent over backwards to ensure we were at the party (we've avoided a few family events, thinking it might be appreciated if we faded away into the background).
I'm in the middle of applying for my PhD, whilst also juggling my MA work. My dissertation is well underway, and my interviews will be starting this month. I'm excited about it. My new course: Religion and Social Theory is really enjoyable. I had fun writing my first Masters essay, on the Mormon reaction to the 'Proposition 8' vote in California.
Raine and I have booked a week away in Newquay at Easter. We cannot wait. There'll be a lot of surfing. Paul will be joining us for a few days. It's going to be epic!
We're saving for the holiday, but we've managed to fit in some low budget fun! We had a voucher for West Coast in Cleveleys. We found a new drink while we were there: Agwa.
It's made from the leaves of Coco plants, and infused with Lime, it gives you an oxygen kick. It's pretty interesting, and came mixed with energy drinks in very funky glasses!
We've seen a few good films. I strongly recommend Revolutionary Road - in terms of writing and direction it's one of the best films I've ever seen! Slumdog Millionaire was also excellent.
This weekend we went to my Aunt's 80th birthday party. As may be a hazard of an 80th party half the guests napped after lunch:
The party was good fun, so long as Raine and I remembered to show no physical affection, and not mention the wedding! To be fair, though, people seem to be more at ease with us these days. My Grandma bent over backwards to ensure we were at the party (we've avoided a few family events, thinking it might be appreciated if we faded away into the background).
I'm in the middle of applying for my PhD, whilst also juggling my MA work. My dissertation is well underway, and my interviews will be starting this month. I'm excited about it. My new course: Religion and Social Theory is really enjoyable. I had fun writing my first Masters essay, on the Mormon reaction to the 'Proposition 8' vote in California.
Raine and I have booked a week away in Newquay at Easter. We cannot wait. There'll be a lot of surfing. Paul will be joining us for a few days. It's going to be epic!
We're saving for the holiday, but we've managed to fit in some low budget fun! We had a voucher for West Coast in Cleveleys. We found a new drink while we were there: Agwa.
It's made from the leaves of Coco plants, and infused with Lime, it gives you an oxygen kick. It's pretty interesting, and came mixed with energy drinks in very funky glasses!
We've seen a few good films. I strongly recommend Revolutionary Road - in terms of writing and direction it's one of the best films I've ever seen! Slumdog Millionaire was also excellent.
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