Turn left at the dwarf red star!

The ‘Song Remains the Same’ and the ‘Rain Song’ combination could even be my favourite Led Zeppelin songs. One is fast and energetic, the other is. a ballad. The The Song Remains the Same faultlessly glides into the beautiful ‘Rain Song.’’ They have both Plant’s ‘honey drip’ vocals and Jimmy Page’s intricute guitar.

After the three strokes, including the catastrophic Haemorrhagic one, my brain, the very essence of me took a severe hammering. I was to quote a Scots/Irish word ‘banjaxed’. Nothing would ever be the same for me.

Now, with the severe chronic 24/7 pain I endeavor to distract this. It is the only way I can function. On a less than good day, as this is normally weather affected, my brain cannot cope. The pain is sometimes ‘horrible,’ and it is very hard to endure. At times like these, my brain only thoughts are of suicide as an option. End it, after over six years - who can blame me.

This is where Zeppelin, my ever, musical distraction come in. The one thing that has remained constant is music, and in particular my love affair with Led Zeppelin. Music, especially ‘live’ music has been an ever present in my attenpted recovery in Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation in stroke is a con, true rehabilitation, it never happens.

The two further stroke events provided a further set back, of that I no doubt, rather stupidly, I played down the impact of the two ischemic events. I am permanently left hand side compromised after the first unexpected ‘high pressure’ burst : this bleed to the brain. Seven years later I am often to be found wearing bone-ear headphones. The the music and vibration offers distraction to a faltering gait. On a good day I have a quarter speed setting, I am passed by one and all as I expend at least four times the ‘normal’ energy.

I was found on the 27th December 2018: I had a stroke at 2.00 pm: 4 hours after the ‘golden hour in a Bangkok Aparthotel room, Room 405, after having a catastrophic hemorrhagic stroke. I spent 10 days in ITU; each day was to be the next day. “It will be tomorrow.”

This is just a typical story of an acquired brain injury, an (ABI) and to be honest I still feel humbled. Many others fare much worse.

This is a post from a couple of years ago, when my current medications had not taken hold. I am on 24 tablets a day, 18 to counter the neuralgic pains. This video gives you the gist of how I was feeling at the time., and how I feel on those ‘pain’ days. With stroke, there is no ‘getting better.’ On this ‘pain’ day, you can tell by my voice!

A Life in the Shadow.

A life in the shadows - strokes leave a feeling of guilt. What did I do wrong!

This is quintessential Led Zeppelin, in the early days, I have been lucky enough to see them at Knebworth and Earls Court, live as I much prefer the music: I like the flaws and all, the improvisation.

Hoewever one fine day, still stroke compromised I turned left at the dwarf red star.