10th April

 Had a better day yesterday. My official day off - I dont work Fridays unless something major is up. I have a super flexible work arrangement anyway and come and go pretty much as I please. This ironically means I typically dont take vacation days. It's rare if I take a week off in a year.

So it being my day off... I decided to work and make some progress on the charity app. No rest for the wicked.

Hazel had a pretty gruelling doctors appointment late afternoon, so I thought I'd check the car was running... and whilst I was there, would go out and go for some garden supplies, mainly to get the car to stretch its legs. I realised this would probably get me a shouting at from Hazel for "not taking it easy". Leaning into it, I picked up 2 x 20kg bags of potting soil, a bunch of plants and yada. It did cross my mind that I was again taking the piss, and, also lifting hefty loads around, something I had vowed to stop doing given the wear and tear on my lower back was "more than we usually see at your age" and is at a state where it will give me backpain ( although touch wood this is something I rarely get, and just about never to a bad degree ). I am going to pay for this I thought. Oh well. Soldier on. Because idiocy knows no boundaries.

But I did my bit of pottering and hefting... and didn't immediately collapse into a ball of fatigue.

As it turns out I am apparently strongly opposed to sitting on my ass doing nothing and resting. It's a challenge to keep myself nailed down and not... "doing". I think the brain is often willing, but the body... is far less capable of carrying it out.

By the time Hazel's appointment rolled around and I drove her to the docs, I was flagging a bit. A bit of weak trembly legs.

You're flagging aren't you she said.

Yeah. That single sigh was enough for you to realise huh ?

She seems pretty adept at noticing when I start to go down.

You see, you did too much.

Yeah.

But it was pretty minor. And I took a - not exactly easy or well feeling - nap in the car whilst Hazel did her doc thing. And I was ok.

I also tried eating something spicy in the evening - well more spicy than anything I've had in months. Jalapenos.

Zero effect on the gastro.

Then I eat something like an oaty biscuit, and... trigger.

Mmmmm k. But overall the gastro stuff has faded to 90% robust, 10% weird effects. So, that's good.

The tingles are oh so very very slowing fading in intensity. Very. Slowly. But, the face is crawling less. I am beginning to see a 24 hour period where they are either minor, or just about clear. Before having a worse day the following day. Or something triggering them.

Still. Positive progress.

I'd still love to know just what the hell my body went through in the last 4 months / year etc. It is frustrating that finding answers seems to be either a subject of disinterest or ignorance. And of course. As always. It *still* could be something like MS that flares up, then quietens down. The proof of the pudding will be if bad symptoms stage a major comeback. But I did get a warning from Harley Street to watch for them. We shall see.

I'm enjoying Hazel still kicking around the house. It's nice. Of course she's keeping an eye on me, and when I was really bad, this was essential. We've fallen into a semi regular routine akin to housemates. We cross paths in the kitchen. Spend a couple of hours a day chilling and chatting. I make a point of ensuring I spend some quality company time with her every day. But I am up early and spend half the day on my own. She's up way late talking to her American boyfriend and spends most of the evenings "on her own". In fact somedays she's often going to bed as I'm nearly about to get up. It seems to work out alright. Somethings she struggles with I can help out with, somethings I struggle with at the moment she can help out. I'm very fortunate really to have someone willing to effectively house sit me for months. I like to think its not a horrible task for her - she has the run of the house and purchasing and stuff. She can do as she pleases. I think it works well. She also seems a whole lot less stressed now that I am not actively dying on my ass. Not easy to deal with I'm sure.