Alwyn and Nadia from America ( actually Alwyn from Brazil ) and Stu and Mandy from Wales. 

We all, and Dani of course,  went out for dinner in a ‘gastro pub’ near here. 

Stuart’s seen me lots of times, Alwyn a few ( he does live thousands of miles away after all! ) since my accident. 

They have always known me as the crazy  multi sport adventurer who took pleasure from pain and physical challenge. 

Now I struggle to even get my own pullover on. 

They love me so much I can barely write the words. They try to hide the anguish in their heads when they look at me, but I can see it. 

25 years ago we sort of drifted apart, as brothers are, I think, prone to. 

For the last 10 years at least things have been pretty good.

 Since my crash they have been my replacement legs. 

I’m not articulate enough to conjure up  the appropriate words to thank them enough, but I don’t have to, because they know. 

Visit the Spirit of Christmas fair in Olympia, until Sunday. P

Get all your (tasteful) prezzies early. 

My buddy, Emma, has stall number 

Mention my name and she’ll give you % off, she said. 

Actually she just suggested:

‘How about I donate 10 % of the sale to your charity if they buy something from me? Stand A78, love it want it buy it x btw feels weird being here without u taking the piss out of me XX’ 

Ok, so that’s the deal. 🙂

Plus their brilliant company too. 

On Sunday, Alex ( Pia’s bro ) came to spend a couple of hours with me. Given he only had a few days in the UK from S Africa, I was chuffed to bits that he use a chunk of his free time to see me, as well as bringing Dan and Pia’s daughter, Holly    

Also I saw Al and Wendy, Sam and Billy and Roy and Caroline. Great of them all to visit, tho still fresh from my wheelchair crash I think I was pretty bad company!

Still managed to thrash Saskia at Blokus tho 😉

Blokus: wanna buy a great board game that makes you think? It’s the one. 

Lily and Amber are masters at it; be warned if u come round our house! 

Whilst sat on the bog today I talked to Dan, plus had a great chat with Bev earlier. 

I managed a gym session, leg bike, goal planning meeting plus 10 hill rep’s outside in the chair. I’m definitely getting faster thro being stronger. Everyone says my arms now look just like they did before… Not sure about that, but def on the way!

I noticed after the exhaustion of the hill rep’s that I felt really happy. See, that’s what I’m missing, endorphin release!

Before here, I’d start every day either on my paddle machine in the garden or on the river in my boat, or on my bike to work. That’s why I was never unhappy, I had my daily fix early nearly every day. 

There you go folks, my secret happiness formula revealed…. Yours if you want it!

Looking forward to tomorrow’s self induced pain then pleasure dose already. 

Russ