Sunny Autumn Day

Thursday 29th November

In the middle of wet and dreary weather there was a beautifully, sunny afternoon in Bournemouth. As I stood by the sea edge and watched the surfers I felt a wave of relaxation go through me.
I had a great session with Wil, really motivational, and we did some walking, press ups and going upstairs with both legs!!! I have been a bit scared of stairs cos of knee but we walked up one of the chines and I did the steps!! It was a bit awkward but it's one of things I need to work on to build up strength. Quite chuffed when I do things I haven't done since the op.
Going to start building up the exercise now. Going swimming this week, see how that goes.

After training I met up with gorgeous Stu. He and I count half the year to Greenbelt and the other half to Advent. So our favourites time of the year starts this weekend.
Visited his new house. It's coming on so well they have worked really hard. Met Bartley and Osca. Bartley decided he was going to move into one of my carrier bags.


Stu and Bartley playing cat and mouse

How about this for a pose. Bartley is growing up fast!! But is still a cuddley gorgeous puss. His elder sister, Osca watches him from above an all her dignity!!

Tomorow I give my notice in to work. Very excited and a bit scared, a radical change of direction of life. From morbidly overweight wall flower to a trainee Personal trainer!!!! What ever next............

Meet the family

L to r PAUL (Harry's Dad), ME,ANDREW, MUM,NIGEL (LIZ'S HUSBAND), JENNY (Harry's mum)
DAVID & HARRY, AUNTY MARY (AUSSIE, MUM'S SISTER),LIZ (MY SISTER), SARAH (DAVID'S WIFE)

Tuesday 20th November
Went to the Orthopaedics surgery today to have the other knee looked at.I waited for 1 hour 25 minutes in the waiting room because they were running so far behind. It was hard not to laugh because it was like the ministry of funny walks. You'll never believe the variations you can get in the Limp.
It was really interesting to see
Time passed quickly and I got to see the Doctor. He pulled my knee in all directions but it doesn't really hurt apart from when he bent back to more than 100 degrees.
So when he told me I had osteo-arthritis and didn't need an operation I could have kissed him. (and he was very good looking with a gorgeous Irish accent!!)

I was worried that after the PT course I would be back to square one having to wait 6 weeks till got better. I may have to have an op one day but if I keep healthy ahould be ok for a while.

Just going back two weeks to Halloween these are two of my fav photos. Look at little Harry he is sooooo cute.
And Osca who is guarding HER pumpkin and dares anyone to come and move it

Friday 15th November
Last night the Christmas lights were turned on in Winchester. I love it they look good because they are quite simple and just white. The High Street looks stunning if you look down from the West Gate

Thursday 14th November
Gorgeous Autumn day in Brockenhurst. Great PT learning session with Will and then I went for a walk around the heathland of the Forest.... until I saw in the distance a large pig. If you read last year's November posts you'll find out why me and pigs don't get on, so i beat a hasty retreat.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Artist impression - actually it's nothing like it but - nice tree

Wenesday 14th November
I have just walked past the biggest Christmas Tree that Winchester as ever had.You have to almost walk side ways to get past it. Christmas lights are up unofficially and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. My chief Advent Advocate is Gorgeous Stu and we have a mutual, virtual friend who sends Santa Claus's though the post, from about September!!! Photos of the collection wll be posted.
Had a brilliant night's sleep. Secret - lavendar oil in the bath - feeling great.
He the knee did a bit of a wobble today

Tuesday 13th November
Knee is doing quite well. It's funny that I have created a character for my knee and the most worrying thing is that it's male!!! I always call him 'He'!!...wierd
Anyway 'He' the Knee is doing well but wobbles a bit.
By the end of the day it feels like someone had tied elastic around it, but that is happening later and later during the day.

Had a great chat with sister Liz yesterday. Very encouraging, she works in the strokes unit as a Staff Nurse (very good one too) and was telling me of the different types of people who may be interested in e training them once I get my diploma. I am very excited if not a little terrified!!!

10th November Saturday

Had a bad night. Brain didn't want to switch off and knee was badly swollen. Made an attempt to go to work but thought it best not to stay as it would mean standing on it all day. Came home and took some anti-inflammatories and the swelling quickly went down and normal service was resumed.


Friday 7th November
PT day - hurray!! Met Will in the 'Brock and Brewin' a little cafe in Brockenhurst that seems to have an unusual amount of Teddy Bears in it. Going through pre-course learning book at the moment while I impatiently await to get back to training. Surely it won't be too long now. It was nice being back in Brockenhurst it seems ages since I've been there and thinking of this time last year when I was making 2 trips there a week.

After a really helpful session with Will I went on to meet Gorgeous Stu in Bournemouth. At Brockenhurst I managed to completely miss-judge one of the steps and fell down the next one. Imamaged to keep my dignity and if I may say so it was quite a graceful fall.
As I sat on the train I could feel stiffening happening in my knee. Had a fun time with Stu and visited his new house,which is under a major make over. He and his team workers are working really hard on it and it's exciting to see walls being knocked down and rooms rearranged. I think he should have his own TV show!!!!

Managed to get home without any other mishaps although getting off the train was interesting as my knee decided to wobble and some nice young gentleman helped me off the train as if I was an old lady.

Tuesday 6th November
Was worried that the knee would complain about yesterday but it felt better than it had ever felt
Strange. WORK WORK WORK WOE!!!!!

Monday November 5th
First really full day at work, did too much spent most of my time standing up and going up and down stairs. Just about made it home. I can't really do much else at work at the moment cos I spend a lot of time there on my own so things have to be done and customers served. There is a lot of drama going on at work at the moment

November 3rd
Watched fireworks from the window as I was abit worried about standing in large crowd of people for about 2 hours. Shame really because I really love the drama of fireworks night. Winchester always has a good display....Next year.

Knee's Out

The knee has been outed. These are the 2 little scars of keyhole surgery. Amazing considering the amount of work that was done behind there.All healing up well. Still a bit achy but definite improvements.


Thursday November 1st
First day back at work. Quite difficult cos things are kicking off and knee was very achy. Went to doctors just to make sure all was as it should be. Saw the nurse and she took the steri strips off and it felt so much better. She said it was all healing up well the medial wound was a little bigger but I guess that was the exit hole for the cartilage and bone.
Felt much better knowing everything was healing up well. Wasn't really sure what to expect in the recovery progress. But I am sticking with the advice of the surgeon, the nurses, Will and the family..... need to build up the strength again in the right way

Been writing a lot about how much I love Bournemouth beach, so I thought it was time to big up the home town, the Ancient Capital. Went to the dentist today and then went for a little walk around the Cathedral. very beautiful especially the autumn tree colours. There is a garden just behind the cathedral it is a bit hidden away but very peaceful. Did a bit of deep breathing and relaxing. It is a beautiful city (mostly),as with most people you don't really appreciate what's on your front door step.
I love Autumn. When the clocks go back an hour I feel back in sync with time.I love Autumn colours,Fireworks, Advent...... ooo and of course you know what on the 25th Dec!!!