Health updates, which are thankfully getting less intense. The walks are one of the main focuses now and trying to do them every other day, to match my existing ‘exercise morning’ days. This week, I managed 4 longer walks with the last one stretching a little further. I am doing that, as I feel I can, currently, plus it is the start of the work to extend the walks to the very top of the steep hill near me. I was engaged in an ongoing conversation with my sister on Wednesday and did not take the time to change my footwear before starting that walk. The combination of talking on the phone for the duration of the walk, plus wearing heavier winter boots, had a knock-on impact on Thursday. My lower leg muscles were sore that whole day, plus I had a much more fuzzy head than normal. Self-induced and I should have known better, but part of the learnings, as I continue to try to lead a normal life, as much as I can. Thursday’s and Sunday’s walks were done with more prep and no issues (with the longer walk on Sunday too). I had my 3-monthly injection that keeps the testosterone at bay and my PSA at its virtually non-existent levels; it was straight forward and uneventful.

I also spent longer playing with the kids on Saturday, during Alanna’s weekly visit, with a view to doing as much normal playtime as possible. It was a bit more vigorous than before and I deliberately pushed myself. I could feel it in my lower back (may be part of the walks ‘issue’), but overall, pretty manageable. There was a second reason for pushing myself, which was due to another emotional conversation mid-week, with my grandson, where he highlighted some issues he is having with my illness and what differences he has seen; a reminder that everyone who is very close to me, sees the changes and those changes impact each person differently. I am a world away from where I was even 1-year ago, but the psychological impact on all of us remains and surfaces at different points; it was his turn this past week. The larger part of my current issues are not directly medical condition related, but to untangle everything in our AD world, is not so easy.

Away from the health, I started the week with a meet up with Howard, which was on Monday morning. Great to catch up with him and it is a reschedule from our postponed pre-Xmas planned meet up with both of us and Matt (he could not join us for this one, due to work commitments). Howard and I are both early retirees now, so our days are much more of our own planning. Jump forward to Thursday early evening and Sandra and I met up with Martin, our first 2025 catch up. These meetups are superb for the soul and nice when we can all find the time to make them happen; they also helped to break up the never-ending, longest month of the year - does January last a whole year?..................

Overall, this week has been a very dis-jointed one, some due to plans made, some due to various commitments that cropped up. Tuesday was when I had to drop the car back to the dealership for a pre-planned second attempt to re-adjust the clutch. Friday was the collection of that and we are no further on. Next steps are for Renault themselves to determine what they may be able to do, to eradicate the noise issue, which does not affect the driving itself.

The Consultancy work was a focus for Tuesday and also Wednesday, as we are playing catch up from pre-Xmas. Lots planned for 2025 and we have begun elements of that, whilst assessing the results for 2024; interesting aspects ahead, for that side of things. Sunday involved a little early morning trip, as I scope out a small side line business venture (with Karl). This particular one did not come to fruition, but further plans related to that for the coming week. Karl, Rachel, Sandra and I had a stop off for breakfast on the way home.

The disjointed nature of the week left very little time or focus on the book front, but plans already laid down are beginning to bear fruit - more details to follow.

One key thing for all of you readers and something that I have covered off twice before. As the current AD impact is minimal, I am conscious that my abilities to provide more interesting insights on that aspect, are not there (although the updates now focus on what life is like in the AD world). The question is, once again, are you still interested in these weekly updates, or would you like me to widen the timeframe of the insights?

Over to you and thanks for the support given by all of you.

Regards

Peter