One Armed Bandit

Slingity sling.  Oh what soulmates we have become...

As I enter my sixth, and hopefully final, week in a sling I reflect on how useful having two arms is.  There are many things that being one arm down makes hard or nigh on impossible.  Fortunately I can use the fingers on my left hand although must not carry any weight.

Things I simply cannot do (in random order)...

• Drive
• Use a tin opener
• Touch type
• Kayak
• Vacu-pump wine
• Open jars (although knees help)
• Change a duvet cover
• 'Control-alt-delete'
• Use a knife and fork
• Put a shower hat on
• Sew
• Cycle
• Use scissors
• Put a tshirt/jumper on: I have worn the same 3 blouses for 6 weeks. (I have washed them)
• Open champagne (!)

Things which are very hard to do but with left hand fingers, patience and perseverance I manage.

• Wash-up
• Strike a match
• Chop things (visitors have often left me a pile of sliced cheese, tomato, cucumber...)
• Do up zips
• Use chopsticks (for some reason this was important to achieve)
• Open envelopes
• Write
• Wash/brush hair
• Wrap presents
• Shuffle and deal cards
• Apply makeup
• Fold up towels/duvet cover
• Tie laces
• Plug a charger into phone (you have to back the phone into a corner)
• Spread things on bread
• Tuck shirt into jeans
• Put socks on
• Turn a page on a book without it closing on me
• Iron (not that I've bothered)
• Pack shopping into bags
• Peel fruit (banana, satsuma...)

So this last 6 weeks has been a journey.  Of discovering the art of the possible, of creatively looking after myself and of allowing others to help.  I've had to lean on friends and family more than usual which ruffles my independent streak but it's no bad thing.

And I got my sling wet a few times.  Worse crimes have been committed.