Hello Ireland

First topic message reminder :

Trying again. My first post went spinning off the tracks like a runaway train. Bad Karma? hope not, but maybe two first posts will show up.

I'm John from Ontario. I am going to try a daily greeting thread with this board and see how it goes. Very low key, but sincere, no groundbreaking PD news, just heartfelt encouragement.

My Wife and I drove to Ottawa on the weekend. (250 kms there) Strange city, driving, and restaraunts bring out tremors. We had a great time: visited, had dinners, walked, did museums with my son and wife who live there. Saturday nite we went to an "Irish Pub" and I had a yummy shepherds pie and a bottle of Killkenny. Your beer makes our beer taste like soda pop.

I hope everybody has a good and safe day. Be strong, John

It is a beautiful frosty (-5C) morning here today. I will wait a few minutes before I go to work. Then, in the meantime if any of you show up at my house for a coffee, work will be cancelled.

Waitinggggg?..........Nuts, I had pancake batter ready to go too. Its cold out there but here I go.

Be strong Ireland, Sean

Good morning Lucy and all. Happy November, the grayest month of the year.

So glad that I didn't type Boo in Capitals Lucy, that would of really scared you. Good luck raiding your children's goody sack.

Hope the whole nation of Ireland has a fine day.

Chins up and be strong, Sean.

Sean if I wasent shaking in my shoes already I would most definately be shaking in them now with your boo. Ems enjoy your dinner. I am just waiting on the children home from trick and treating and I am going to feast on rubbish. Healthy eating can take a running jump for one night. Ps what is healthy eating anyway.

YES, Happy Halloween Ireland! Hope everyone gets their fill of little chocolate bars and candy. If any of you knock at my door, we might have a beer together.

And after today, it is November with Christmas just over the horizon. Time is flying by the pagefull off of the calendar.

Well we are off to Kingston to visit our daughter's family this morning so I best get going. Don't be shy about posting, if you want to. Have a good day Em and Lucy and everyone else.

Boo! Sean

Good morning all and Happy tricker-treating or what do people say lucy?? anyway we've been invited to dinner this evening so that will be nice..
Seán/jb, Ann, Lucy,porter,Clem, Mike and everybody have a good day..
Em

After yesterday, I will be bright and happy. Anybody watch the news last nite to see if a distraught parky in Canada went bezerk with his hammer. It wasn't me.!!

Today, I got a big job list. Winter is coming and I need to clean out the garden, put away lawnchairs, get more firewood in, dig the rest of the potatoes, and the list goes on.

Couple of points:

1, I'm glad that I can still do these things
2, I hope the Wifes family drops in to visit so I don't have to do these things today. Procrastination is a Parky symptom, isn't it?

Be strong and be kind Ireland today, chins up, Sean

I attempt to be positive and upbeat when I post on this page. It isn't always easy. Some probably gag at my small talk as I attempt to encourage. Trust me when I say that I am not all sunshine (Ask dear wifey!!), there are days I could smash things with my hammer and scream out my frustrations at my encroaching problems. I do appreciate my many blessings, but some days I want to feel better and I am pissed that I never understood better the carefree health, freedom of movement and general well being of my younger years. I want the rest of the ones that got pulled out from under me by Mr. Bad Ass PD. I'm ok, I'm not going to smash anything today, may scream though, and I hope that 2011 will be a better year for me.

There, a little rant is good for the soul now and then. Now if only I could gather up my Maple leaf Gold coin collection and take it to the hot chocolate party at Ems to show them instead of going to work. Ah, But I am glad that I am able to go to work.

Sincerely, Sunshiney Sean,

PS I'm ok now, have good days, meet you at the pub at 5 cause it is TGIF.

Hey guys,must be a special one lucy at that kind of money.. same here can't go outside the door today it's raining cats and dogs and windy..aah well think a hot choc may go down well now. best wishes to everyone....

It is much the same here john. Just after seeing on our local buy and sell site a canaidian 1984 solid gold mapel leaf coin offers from 1000euro up. Must be a special one

It is a windy and wild day here today. Maybe it will blow all the nonsense out of my head. Be strong and do your best today. Sean

I used to be more like a bull, no not that way. What I mean is that I used to be quick to do things right or wrong that later proved wrong. Now because movements are more difficult and I don't want to go up that ladder any more times than I have to, or go out to my toolbox, or down into that basement again etc. Now I think and plan ahead more, take tools with me to do more things rather than scramble back to my truck or cut something too short or miss a better way to do something. Parkinsons has made me take time to be a better thinker. I also like to do watercolour painting and my hand used to get way ahead of my mind, now mind beats my parky paw and that is good. Knowing when to quit a watercolour is important and my mind gets there faster than the Paw. That is a good thing about having a Bratty right hand.

Gotta get going, late today! Be strong today Ireland and kick your Parky Dragon in the butt today. Sean

Good Morning Ireland, hope your pills all go down the hatch well today.

Patience is the big thing, you are right Em. How many times have I tried to rush things just to find myself shaking more from the stress of hurrying. Then you have to take a big breath, step back, get calm and continue. When I am at work, I don't like people watching me do stuff either. Self concious that they see my awkwardness I think.

Em, Lucy, everyone else, Be strong and do your best for the world and yourself today, John

Hi jb/Seán,Ann if your looking in how are you? lucy and everybody..
First of all yes Seán that was an invitation any time my friend.I understand when you talk about slowness as for me it's same only in my left hand for now, slow progression neuro says at least that's something i guess..as for tying shoe laces it could take up to at least 5 minutes to tie my own never mind anyone elses..anyway best try to think positive or try anyway..
Take care everybody
Em

Hi Em and Lucy: Where will your imaginations take us today? Hi Ann, hope things are going ok. If ever I do get to Ireland, (so many places, so little time, so little money), We will be knocking on your doors if that was an invite.

My Parky symptom that affects me most is the slowness of my right hand and fingers. On Saturday night my Sister and folks were here for supper. I was puddling my way through cleaning up in my usual fashion when Jane took command of the kitchen. (Heidi was at work) Her hands just flew loading the dishwasher, scrubbing pots and putting away stuff. I was agog at how slow I had been compared to this cyclone. I told her that I was amazed at her speed and quickness of hands. She teaches Kindergarten and when she has to tie up shoes on kids for recess she said they are usually impressed at her speed. Could you imagine me tying up shoes for a classroom of kids. Recess would be over. Anyways, Ihave had to learn to live with a slow right hand. I dread the day that PD gets my other hand, maybe it won't. Here is hoping...

Have a good Ireland, be strong and focused. Sean

Hey jb, maybe someday you and Heidi will make it to Ireland and if that happens just know that you would be more than welcome..we would love nothing better...eh lucy?
Em

Ahh, Ladies, that was `a sweet story that warmed my heart. The holiday was over way too fast. Thanks for the memories.

jb

They arrived at ems's house. They were all so tired that they went straight to bed. The next day ems showed them the sights around Kilkenny they had a great day. Just then they heard the whirr of the helicopter it was time to go back to Canada,they said their goodbyes and promised to return.

To which Em replied ' i would say white pudding taste like sausage meat as there is pork in it..however black pudding is slightly less popular as some say the extra ingredient doesn't go down as well but it depends on one's taste of course..as they proceeded on their long journey to kilkenny Seán decided to rent a car as the ladies were both bad bus travellers..Emma asked Seán to stop in Dublin at another café where they met up with Clem and Porter fellow pwp's..Clem was ready with the most delicious pots of raspberry jam and scones and porter served up yummy hot chocolates..they chatted exchanged views etc..and 'one more stop say's Em' Seán continued his journey onto Carlow but this time they didn't stop at a café..they stopped at ems sister's house to collect Seán number 2 and once again continued on their journey 'only 45mins and we're there says em' 'it's nearly dark now says Heidi' finally...

During the ride to Kilkenny, Sean remarked about the wonderful breakfast but asked Emma: what exactly is that black and white pudding?

They awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. They made their way downstairs to Lucys kichen where she had a hearty irish breakfast waiting for them. Bacon eggs sausages black and white pudding and fried bread,there was also pancakes with lashings of maple syrup that sean had brought from canada. After breakfast they went sightseeing and ended up in a pub which was having a ceile dancing comp.All to soon it was time to go so they said their goodbyes to lucy and her family and continued on to kilkenny with ems

( Hello Lucy and Em, I am loving this story, I don't want to interrupt it but:

just so you know I brought a 6- 1 litre bottles of my maple syrup on the helicopter for little hostess gifts.

and if ever we end up at Clem's house for tea, I know he made many pots of raspberry jam.

carry on....)

A feast fit only for a canadian man and his wife was waiting. Sean and Heidi enjoyed the meal that Ems had cooked for them. They loved the Irish Stew followed by apple crumble with lashings of cream all washed down with a lovely ice cold glass of guinness.They sat late into the night telling each other about their country and talking about their journey with parkinsons. Soon sleep took over and they decided to call it a night. The next morning...

suddenly Sean yelled out 'MY MEDS' it's ok dear whispered Heidi into his ear i have them you don't think we'd leave without them..what a relief poor Seán was so overcome by everything..after a long long flight Seán's tummy began to rumble 'what's new thought Heidi dear Seán does love his food, finally they reached Irish soil and were escorted to Em & Lucy's dining corner where...

Ah, Ladies, so much schweeter this is, tell me more about this trip and what we are going to eat, who we visit, what sites we see. Keep it going please!!

Are you serious asked Sean? I have never been more serious in all my life replied the piolet in an unmistakenable irish accent. Just then Seans wife came out to see what all the commotion was about. Can you believe it Dear they have sent a
private helicopter all the way from Ireland to take us there on holiday. Just then Sean found a sharp pain in his arm, Ouch cried Sean to his wife what did you just nip me for, just checking to make sure we were awake she smiled.They both ran in pulled on their clothes and threw a few things into a suitcase, his wife packed two pairs of ear muffs (one for her and one for the piolet) They jumped into the helicopter and up up and away they went. Sean cleared his throat his wife and the piolet exchanged glances and out came the ear muffs A few hours later....