en Weekend

I'm currently working out my plans for the weekend.  Not that it really feels like the weekend as I have been on leave since late November 2013.  I need to keep myself busy now that I am beginning to feel a little bit better; it's important to do so so that I don't slip in to down mode and start thinking about the loss of my son, my job, homesickness, money...   This can happen so easily and tends to creep up on me, so I'm trying to stay awake to the signs and symptoms.

Thankfully the 6 Nations rugby is kicking off tomorrow so I shall be ensconced in front of the TV and driving any other would-be TV watchers to use other screens.  There is also a market tomorrow morning in Josselin  which is well worth a visit, however the weather is absolute shite at the moment which doesn't make for market going pleasure.

On Sunday I've decided to check out a local Brocante in search of some bargains for our still being renovated house.  I'm keen to find some interesting plant pots too and anything else for the garden that I can find.  I used to love gardening (it's in my veins) but haven't planted our vegetable garden, or looked after the flower garden, since my son died.  One of the last Father and Son activities that I did with him was plant some chives.  They are still planted in the same spot and will remain there until my dying day hopefully.  Conclusion = 2014 --> House and Garden.

That's it.  We'll see what else comes up.  What are you up to for the weekend?

(Shake, Skake, Shake) Shake your Booty

Today's post is brought to you by the word shake.

shake  (shāk)v. shook (sho͝ok), shak·en (shā′kən), shak·ing, shakesv.tr.

1. To cause to move to and fro with jerky movements.

2. To cause to quiver, tremble, vibrate, or rock.

3. To cause to lose stability or waver: a crisis that shook my deepest beliefs 4. To remove or dislodge by jerky movements: shook the dust from the cushions.

Why?  Well, as part of my treatment for Bipolar, I have been taking Lithium for about 6 weeks now.  I can certainly feel a change in temperament and long may it continue. I'd even appreciate even more of a boost but perhaps that will take time.  It's not just the medicine which will help me feel better and I need to keep that in mind at all times. Exercise, healthy eating and keeping myself busy all play a part. I also hope to start meditating to help me through the difficult moments and to help me sleep; something that I've only been able to do with sleeping pills since our son died.  I stopped the sleeping pills last week and am finding it hard to drift off at night.  Regardless, things are slowly starting to improve but gently does it.

However, one of the side effects of the Lithium, for me anyway, is the fact that I get the shakes, particularly in my hands. It's so bad that I can't write (impossible to address an envelope the other day), eat soup, type or use a tablet, use the magic remote control on our SMART TV or even shave.  In fact shaving involves me taking my life in to my own hands.  I have grown somewhat attached to my nose and lips and hope to keep them for some time yet.

I've checked out the internet and I am certainly not alone in having these rather violent tremors.  I've been searching for a miracle cure.  OK, cutting down on coffee is fairly obvious, but I do like my café in the morning.  However, I did read about several people, who also suffer form the shakes, taking Vitamin B6 in rather high doses and basically eliminating the problem.  So, today I'm off to the local pharmacie to ask them their opinion (having been told by my psychiatrist that there is nothing much she can do about my shakes).  Hopefully, I'll come home with something.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not really complaining.  I'd much rather experience the positives of Lithium than the negatives.  It just make me so aware of how much we rely upon doing such small, everyday jobs with a steady hand

You've got to start somewhere.

Well, here I am.  I'm going to try and start writing my blog again.  This is only a short 'Kia ora' as my post for the day was the About me/Moi page of this blog.  I can't go overboard now can I?

I'm worn out already.  More to follow, live and en direct, from our little Breton village of Indomitable Gauls.

                               Image from Asterix and Obelix by Goscinny and Uderzo.