Focusing on a consistent format, health updates first. This past week started very much differently to the preceding one (where I had to curtail my plans). Sandra convinced me, eventually, to take some pain meds, late last Sunday, one that has an anti-inflammatory aspect and that seemed to help a lot. I woke up on Monday morning, with a lot less pain, so much so that I decided to undertake a long walk. The timing achieved was 13:27, which was 20 seconds slower than previously, but to be expected. That was repeated yesterday (Sunday - so the 2nd Long walk in the past 7-days), but with an astounding 12:58! My first sub-13:00 timing, which was not expected, but welcomed and great to be back on track; two short walks were done in between those.
Alongside that, I undertook two (and a half) bike rides. Normal distance and Sunday’s ride was done into a 19 mph wind, the strongest yet, that I have cycled in and I could feel it! I say 2.5 rides, as on Tuesday, Alanna and the grandkids joined me for the first ride. They had just obtained new bikes and we aimed for a combined ride along the promenade. However, that proved challenging, as there were too many distractions from passing traffic, combined with getting used to new and bigger bikes. We therefore shifted location to a nearby park and carried on there, with much better results for them. Cycling on grass, no nearby traffic and two much happier grandkids.
You may have picked up that the sub-13:00 minute walk and also one of the main 4.6 mile bike rides, were done on the same day (I also took Sandra’s car to the nearby jet wash, so a very ‘active’ Sunday indeed!. Jump back one week, and I had to postpone most activity, due to the back twinge.
Not my health, but Sandra’s this time, which is connected. She had made the decision to go ahead and be placed on the waiting list for her second hip replacement ops, with a timeframe of between 2 and 7 months from now. This is a big decision for her and us, as a couple. I hope to be fit enough to help her through her recuperation and we both agree that it is sensible to get this done (hopefully) before my situation begins to decline to a point where I cannot help her.
For the non-health aspects, we had a spot of babysitting to do later in the week and decided to take the grandkids out for a bite to eat, at a nearby eating establishment. We are both finding that takeaway food is agreeing with us less and less, so we are being much more selective than before. The nearby location was chosen for convenience and also knowing that they did a kids menu. Our granddaughter got very excited at what she termed ‘a fancy dinner’ and picked out a dress and shoes, plus ensured her dolls were dressed nicely too. The eating location was not a fancy one at all, but we loved the sentiment and played along with it accordingly, even asking the waiter to ‘upgrade’ us to a larger table, due to the addition of four carefully chosen guests (toys) brought by both grandkids. A nice couple of hours that was light hearted and fun for all of us, plus gave Alanna and Dan a chance to have a night out.
Sandra had some time off at the end of the week, so we went out and about on Friday, then changed our Saturday routine by attending a toy fair about an hour away (joined there by Alanna, Dan and the grandkids). Some key purchases were undertaken and a change of scenery for all of us.
On the book front, 3 more (complex) biographies were done for Volume 7, but the main focus was the ‘veteran’s’ book, with more key sections being completed and some key information uncovered, which deepens the insight that this project will provide.
Overall, a much better week than the previous one, with key exercising activities undertaken and surprising results there; the reduction in the pain levels ensured that this could all be done.
The continued endorsement you give to these blogs is appreciated and welcomed.