Hello and welcome to, I'm going to call it the second round for podcast episode 52.
It's a bit of a strange one, I will tell the story don't you panic.
On today's show I'm going to be talking about my day that I had in the garden or my afternoon
I had in the garden planting some new plants.
Discussing the after effects of that.
And I'm also going to talk about anyone that's joining me on YouTube will be able to see
this.
There is some acoustic work that's been done in the studio slash shed man cave, whatever
we want to call it right now.
But yeah, it's a bit of acoustic work that's been done to try and improve the sound quality.
Fingers crossed that that comes across.
I'm also going to talk very briefly about my upcoming treatment and how I'm how I'm
feeling about that.
And yeah, I'll be honest this is not going to be a long podcast it's not gonna be a long
episode this one.
And I'm going to start off by telling a little story.
So I thought I'd try and do something a bit clever.
I thought I would try and stream a live episode of the podcast, try and get some audience
participation and whatever else answering some questions all that sort of stuff.
Well I sat here and I've literally probably only about 15 minutes ago finished that episode.
Yeah.
And I will say from my point of view at this point, positive there was no audience participation.
The negative part 30 minutes 30 minutes I was sat recording an episode of the podcast.
At least I thought I was recording.
I actually didn't push the record button.
So I sat for half an hour and I was live streaming it was actually a live stream I was live streaming
an episode but I didn't hit record.
Yeah, it wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done.
Let's be totally honest.
I got a laugh about it.
Don't laugh I'm going to cry honestly.
Oh yeah so sat there chatting away and it was brilliant.
You know I'm getting a little bit used to this whole live stuff now on certain social
medias I go live now and then have conversations with people all that sort of stuff.
But what I didn't do like I say is I didn't hit that record button.
Oh dear.
And for anyone watching me on YouTube don't panic about what you've just seen.
I've just flipped the screen so it's the correct way around.
That's all nothing to worry about.
Nothing to worry about here at all.
But anyway that's where we are and now my light keeps going off which doesn't really
help.
I'm going to be honest makes things a little bit dark in here.
Oh we're back.
Don't know how long for but the lights back.
Anyway I mean this ain't going too well today.
I'm going to be fair this isn't going too well at all.
Oh no it's gone again.
Never mind.
So we're going to kind of do a little bit of this.
Not necessarily in the dark but it's not overly light either.
We'll carry on we'll plod along.
But yeah I mean let's go to what I was going to start with which is discussing my afternoon
outside planting the nice two plants.
And as I've said on this podcast previously I absolutely do love gardening.
I really do enjoy it.
It's something that makes me feel good.
It's something that takes my mind off of off the things a little bit because I stick some
music on in me ears.
And just kind of zone out to all the negative effects that MS causes.
And that is a good thing.
It's genuinely a good thing.
It's something that I enjoy greatly.
I really really do.
And you know not only does it give me that physical fight mentally it helps too.
And I know I've mentioned on on podcasts previously that I have reached out to the medical profession
for assistance with my mental health.
Nothing major.
Just sometimes you know in yourself you could do with a little bit of support from time
to time.
But yeah so that's kind of where that is.
Now while I was out here I had a lot of things to do.
I'd done most of the digging work previously when we bought the plants probably about four
roughly five days ago give or take.
So I'd done the digging out work but I needed some decent soil to put these plants in to
give them a real good chance.
Because in all fairness one of them that we've got is a Hydrangea.
We've had previously and I couldn't I failed I failed them miserably.
So I've given this one a real good chance giving it every opportunity to enjoy its life
in our garden.
Got both plants in the boulder where I'm hoping they will grow nicely.
But in all fairness again it comes down to one of those is something that I enjoy.
Something I do like to do.
I did put up a video on the social media of me actually out in the garden doing doing
this little bit of work.
Just to show people that again I'll use the term I've got MS, MS hasn't got me.
And that's the way I like to see that I really do.
So yeah I got out there I was on my hands and knees.
I was doing a bit extra digging work and just getting these plants in the ground making
them look nice.
And kind of just having that little bit of time to myself as well with the music on.
Just kind of relaxing.
I know it sounds awkward relaxing.
Honestly no it was it was relaxing it was enjoyable I did enjoy it.
Once I've done that I had quite a bit of soil left over.
So I've added quite a bit more to some of the pots and things we've got laying about
in the garden.
We've got some sort of flower beds that sort of stuff.
And also to the actual border itself I've gone along the border adding a bit more soil.
Just again to try and give all the plants that little bit more of a chance to live happily
and enjoy their life.
Because yeah there is something nice about having a look out looking at the work that's
been done and saying I did that.
That looks nice.
I'm going to enjoy looking at this I'm going to enjoy being around it.
And that to be honest is pretty much all I can say on the actual gardening aspect.
Now we go on to the after effect.
They weren't too pretty.
I could feel at the time I'm going to be honest I could feel at the time that actually it
was going to hurt.
And when I got done I went upstairs jumped in the shower.
I thought I can get myself sorted a little bit.
Kind of just get myself in a position where I'm a bit more a bit more clean.
Because I had my elbows in the dirt and all sorts out there.
So once I'd done that and I was in the shower and I'm thinking to myself this is a bit awkward.
Genuinely a bit awkward.
It was to the point I had to have my shower leaning against the wall.
My legs and my back my left knee above all else was absolute agony.
It really was putting any pressure on my left foot actually was about an eight and a half
out of ten pain scale.
It was absolutely terrible.
And I sort of had a nice careful shower.
Got out of the shower leaning on the wall and the sink.
Just so I got out safely.
I got myself sorted went downstairs.
I was talking to Lisa and one of the kids.
And while we was having this conversation I fell asleep.
I literally just fell asleep.
Didn't even realize.
I had no clue how long I was asleep.
Probably a decent amount of time.
I'm going to be honest with you.
Because in all truth yeah most of the afternoon had gone.
And again I genuinely I wouldn't like to say how long I was out for.
But yeah I was out for quite some time.
But I needed it.
When I woke up my left knee was still absolute agony.
My back was killing me.
My right leg was in pain.
It wasn't very nice.
I got through the day went up to bed.
And actually I'm now going to talk about something a bit positive.
It might sound a bit weirdly positive but it is very much so.
I got in bed and yeah the pain was terrible.
I couldn't get comfortable.
Nothing.
Now normally when I'm like that I kind of get a little bit stroppy.
I know it's hard to believe me stroppy really is difficult to believe.
It does happen.
And I didn't get stroppy this time.
Didn't get angry with myself.
Nothing.
As I previously said I had some advice a while ago from another MS about using Vicks Vapour
Rub on areas that are in pain.
Normally I won't do it.
Purely because I'm being lazy.
I don't want to put long trousers on while I'm in bed because it's hot.
I get overly hot.
Go into the toilet to wash my hands after using the Vapour Rub anyway.
I just normally can't be bothered.
And it ain't wise.
It's genuinely not wise.
But this time I didn't waste time.
I knew it was necessary and I actually used it.
I put the cream on.
I went and washed my hands.
I got back in bed and literally within a few minutes.
Genuinely a few minutes of being back in bed.
I was out like a light.
In fact before I knew it was morning.
My alarm was going off.
And that was it.
It was time for me to start attacking the new day.
Which has happened.
And I'll be honest.
I felt so much better for it.
I really did.
So again that's something actually I find is a real positive.
The fact that I didn't do what I normally do.
I learnt from it.
And I actually I was sensible.
Now I'm going to be honest it's the following day.
I'm still in a bit of pain from the work I did yesterday.
But it was worth it.
I'm going to be honest and again I'm coming with another positive here.
It was worth it because I'm happy with what's been done.
I like looking at what's there and I'm thinking it looks amazing.
It looks genuinely amazing.
I'm proud of it.
And you know what I'm going to start.
I need to start actually getting out in the garden a bit more and just tending to it when
it needs it.
So I'm going to.
Simple as that.
I'm going to.
But yeah that's kind of where we'll give up on that one.
And we will go on to what's gone on in the studio.
And I can't remember if I said it at the start but I'm going to say it again anyway.
I want to give a huge huge thanks to Dad and Lisa for their more than help that they've
given to get this stuff put on the walls to try and improve the audio quality.
Now I know I did a live stream of computer game earlier listening back to it.
I really am impressed with the sound.
I've got to say that I think it has changed things.
I've not done the entire room just a little corner where I am.
And at this point I think it has made a bit of a difference.
So I'm really pleased with that.
Dad and Lisa thank you so much for your help.
Massively appreciated.
I am very very grateful.
But yeah so again it's one of these things where I'm trying to improve everything as
I sort of go forward in this these new ventures that I've got.
You know this podcast now is 52 with this is 52 shows old.
And I am still a massive novice with it all.
I really am.
Let's be totally honest I don't know everything there is to know.
In fact if I know even 1% of what there is to know about podcasting I'd be surprised.
I've got a lot of years worth of learning to go.
But with everything else I'm doing with the social media now with the computer game streaming
and whatever else.
I need to grow with it.
I need to start finding a way of pushing forward and actually start learning this because again
I've said it before I know I have and I'm going to say it again.
Now that I physically can't go out to work this is my job.
Podcasting social media and now computer game streaming it's now my job.
I'm not prepared to sit back and do nothing in my life.
I want to actually do things to keep me ticking over.
This is my job now.
This is what I do for work.
So I need to keep improving.
I need to push it forward and I need to make it so that actually people that are listening
in want to listen in.
There's not really much more I can say on it apart from that to be honest with you.
That's where that is.
This bit of work has been done in the studio.
I am over the moon with it.
I'm so pleased with it.
It's unreal.
So fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed everyone else that's listening in actually also likes it because it's all
well and good me liking it.
I'm pleased everyone else that needs to be the ones that are more interested.
But again finally today just very quickly going on to the topic of my upcoming treatment.
It's on the 4th.
I've got my blood test this week.
All being well with the blood test.
That treatment will go ahead.
I am going to be blogging during the treatment as long as everything is okay.
So that will be on my website.
And again all I can say is I am looking forward to the treatment.
It's that simple.
Am I currently going through the gap that begins with C?
I don't know.
I really don't know.
Do I feel fantastic?
Not a chance.
But am I trying to make the best of it?
Obviously because that's what I do.
There is a chance but who knows.
Speaking to other experienced MSers that are on Ocrevus they are also suggesting that actually
could be that gap.
Time will tell.
It's as simple as that.
Time will tell.
It's impossible to say yes or no.
But yeah that's where we are in terms of the treatment.
It's coming up.
And I am looking forward to it and hoping that after it everything sort of stays the
same for a little while.
It's never going to improve.
We know that.
But hopefully it stays the same for a bit.
That would be very very good.
I am going to leave it at that now for this week.
As I say I have already done a 30 minute podcast online without recording.
Yep.
Embarrassed massively but let's not discuss that.
In fact do you know what?
Let's just roll back and forget I ever even mentioned the fact that that happened.
Because honestly just wow.
Such a such an error.
But there you go.
I am going to leave it at that.
Before I go I am going to mention one more time the MS Society charity walk on the 16th.
If you have got any ability to donate Mike's MSJourney.com there is a section there for
fundraising for MS.
Please if you have got any ability to donate even just a tiny amount I would be incredibly
grateful.
I did set a target to hit.
Have currently surpassed that target which is brilliant.
Now in my head I am putting a slightly bigger target out there that I would like to hit.
Fingers crossed we do so.
Well thank you very much for your time.
I very much look forward to talking to you all again in a weeks time.
You have a good one.
Speak soon.
Bye bye.