Hi – We had a frustrating/hilarious episode last night with Chris when he made it clear that he wanted something – after may, many, many guesses (even some from those in neighbouring beds!) we worked out he wanted an electric toothbrush – he has always been quite fastidious about dental hygiene. John then played an interminable game of Snakes & Ladders with Chris – games look like they’ll be firmly on the menu for a while.
Today our friend Mark sorted Chris out with an iPod, which is great cos my attempt with a dilapidated Discman & scuzzy wrap-around headphones yesterday was a disaster. I had the Meat Puppets lined up but the debacle of the equipment removed any possible thrill before we got close. Mark fared much better with The Beach Boys.
Thanks for all the nice comments.
Roy
And thank you for the updates, Roy.
Last Sunday, my “Down The Back Of The Couch” show was a rummage in the Knox back catalogue (including “Meat”). Because automated systems can screw up it didn’t play at the correct time – so we’re having another go this week – Sunday at 2pm.
Programme details here – http://www.kiwifm.co.nz/couch
Much love to Chris and family from all of us at Kiwi FM.
MICHAEL
PS Very keen to know the titles of the hidden tracks on “Beat” one of these days…
Hi all, esp. those who remember me…and
Dear Chris
Still feel sick when I think about what has happened and know it must have been a huge shock to all who love you, but, reading this, thanks, has eased the worry re the future.
Keep your spirits up – there’s a lot of work ahead in rehabilitaion. You are making such great progress already considering the severity of the stroke, surgery too.
I couldn’t come near that w/e as I had a cold, but I did speak to Doug briefly and hope he passed on my message.
Meantime..love to you and well done support crew
Lorna
Golden Bay
Cheers all, keep up updating the updates! We’re all thinking about you and your whanau daily Chris.
Dear Chris and family/friends
Thinking of you all and very pleased to hear about your daily progress Chris. Can’t imagine this set back slowing you down for long. You have far too much to do.
We still have great memories of playing with you and Teeth a few years back(!), and your antics at the Wellington gig.
You have touched so many people’s lives and had such an influence on the musical enlightenment of the masses.
We need to you to continue the good work!
Kia kaha
Sharon & Andrew (the Wart), and Walt & Rosa
Yes, a big thank you for keeping us all informed of his progress. Martin.
hey roy good to hear.
yes the elecky toothrush is a must…i like it to for th cleasn fresh taste.
i keep hearing chris song on m phone you programed in blue tooth …nice segwaaaay..
mm keep it old man styles musicly beach boys yes.
i watched a old james bond film today…would movie stuff via a laptop jiggle his synapses into formation aswell?
was great seeing you there. will call again wen in aukland
love james
I drew this cartoon for Wellington’s arts newspaper Capital Times on Wednesday.
Thanks for the update, Sounds like he is in really good spirits. If he likes being read to, maybe he’ll like librivox, it’s all amateurs reading various literature, they are all out of copyright so there is no contemporary work, but there is a huge collection of classics to download, and it is free apart from the bandwidth:
http://librivox.org/about-librivox/
Hi Roy
Have just found you blog and am stoked to hear he is on the mend even if it is slow progress.
I was lucky enough to meet Chris at the end of the New Artland series at Bethells Beach. His energy & wicked smile on the day was awesome so it was quite a shock when we all heard the news.
Its also funny that you mention the obsession with dental hygiene as it did seem odd the Chris had come prepared with his own toothbrush!!
In fact my wife, Diana, lasting memory of that day after the project was completed & we were back at the surf club for a quick feast of bbq sausages & chips was Chris standing next to the kitchen sink brushing his teeth with a comment of “Don’t worry I’m not going to spit, I’ll swallow it!”
From all of us at Bethells Beach Surf Club & the local community take care & fast recovery my friend. Cheers Dave
Hi, my wife had a stroke on 18th June last year. I was told she may never be more than a vegetable (my term). She tells me now she would have been a turnip (!). Good recovery is possible. If you need inspiration I would recommend two books to read, “Phantoms in the Brain” by VS Ramachandran and “My Stroke of Insight” by Jill Bolte-Taylor. Ramachandrans book isn’t specifically about strokes but gives an insight to the workings of the brain and what recovery may be possible, and is an interesting read. Jill Bolte-Taylors book is at the other end of the spectrum and is a personal account of her recovery and discoveries. You can view their video presentations on http://www.ted.com. This youtube video shows how plastic the brain can be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSu9HGnlMV0.
Hi everybody.
Thanks so much for posting all of this and keeping us all up to date. It is so heartwarming to read about all of the love you are sharing both with Chris and each other. It’s amazing how stuff like this sometimes pushes us to enjoy the people we are most apt to take for granted-at least that’s how it’s frequently seemed to me. I can’t know what you’re all going through, but it’s evident that you’re all pulling together and that’s the best place to start as you all take each step into the great unknown together.
It is seems like it would likely be too early right now, but whenever the time comes, I’d recommend trying to get Chris a Nintendo DS and the Brain Age games. Good, simple tasks to stir the neurons, but not so simple that they get boring. Also has good Sodoku games, from very easy to exceedingly hard. Probably fun to have around for everybody else who’s hanging about as well. Does wonders for the boredom, it’s good for you, and it’s not even vegetables!
Much love,
Patrick and Julia
–Hi Barbara! Hi Alec!
Hi there, I have always admired Chris’s beautiful teeth. Nice to know they’re a priority. Thinking of you all.
Marie S.
>>Mark sorted Chris out with an iPod
I think I just had my own mini-stroke when I saw this. Chris, you are indeed a new man! Welcome to the 21st Century…glenn