Hmm ... Nice shirt ...

This is Richard Wright, the new goalkeeper for Ipswich Town. Now I could tell you about how Richard played for Ipswich a few years back, and how it's taken a very long time to get him back. I could tell you about the penalty save in the play-off final. I could tell you about how he has managed to injure himself by falling out of his loft, and tripping over a 'Keep off the grass' sign. I could, but I'm not.

Instead .. What is going on with that shirt!!? I've done some research, and apparently the brightness of the shirt is psychological. An attacking forward will see the shirt in his periphial vision, and his brain automatically aim towards the brightness. If that's the case then how comes more stewards aren't hit by flying footballs during matches?!

Charlotte and I are off to Portman Road this morning to watch the 1st team train. She gets to sit with the rest of the Juinior Blues (Without me) and then meets the sweaty players after they've finished training - as we're going to watch ITFC play tomorrow with 19 of her and Bethany's friends, she'll be asking a few players to come over and say hello (We're sat by the dugouts!) and to totally improve her street cred!

Well that's buggered that up then ...

Just changed the template settings on my blog, so now everything is all over the shop ... Oh well.

I didn't even know we had a kitchen ...

Having been woken up at 4am by Bethany, who is now sleeping in my bed meaning I won't be sleeping anymore tonight, what better time to update my blog!

Sunday, July 13th ... Mia decided my bonus would be better spent on a new kitchen than on the holiday I planned for us to go on in October. So whilst I took Mia and her Mum to Ikea to buy door handles, Mia's Dad and brother ripped out the old kitchen. Then over the course of the week and numerous take-aways, it went from picture left, to picture right ...!

We've got to go back and swap some handles at Ikea, as Mia bought too many of one size and not enough of another, but apart from that it doesn't look too bad. Almost as good as a week away somewhere hot in October, but not quite ...

Other than that ... The Bells Palsy has cleared up quite nicely after nearly 2 weeks off work. I no longer smile like a pirate, but I have lost the ability to raise one eyebrow independently .. Wish I took a photo of when I could do it.

Right ... Shower, and then goto work ...

The Bells ... The Bells ....

Woke up last Thursday morning with a weird taste in my mouth, but thought nothing of it as I've been suffering from hay fever so figured it was that ... Friday morning I realised my right eye wasn't performing too well as I was unable to close it independently, so off I toddled to the toilets at work to examine my face in the mirror. Tried raising my eyebrows, left went up, right made a token effort .. Tried smiling, full works on the left, right stayed solid, and I looked like a pirate in full "Argh, me 'earties" mode.

Mentioned it to a couple of friends and updated my Facebook status, within seconds Facebook Friend Andy sent me a message suggesting I was suffering from Bells Palsy and a helpful link to the Bupa webpage on the afflication.

So ...:

• Lack of mobility in one side of the face? CHECK
• Lack of taste - CHECK
• Hearing distorted on one side - CHECK
• Eye not closing on it's own - CHECK
• Loss of feeling in lips - CHECK

Monday was the earliest I could get to the doctors, and Andy was right - Bells Palsy it is. The Doctor kindly gave me the week off work, due to my right being unable to close and computers being bad for non-closing eyes .. (Yes I know I'm using one now - but I only use it for 20 minutes a day as opposed to 8 hours plus at work).

So this week, I have been mostly winking at people then having to explain that I'm not coming onto them but infact I'm unable to blink, have to request a straw when ordering a drink otherwise it goes everywhere, cut my food into small pieces so I can eat without a bib, and wearing sunglasses pretty much constantly to help my poorly eye. Only another 3 weeks or so to go ...

Want to see what I look like with Bells ...? You may want to ensure small children aren't in the vicinity of the computer screen before scrolling down:


I warned you .... This is a demonstration of 'The Pirate Look'.

On the plus side, I can now raise my left eyebrow by itself, always wanted to do that. (But I did discover today I can no longer whistle!)