Sunshine and Clouds

Yes! More photos of Bournemouth but it was such a lovely day I couldn't resist.

Beautiful Sea


Beautiful Clouds

Beautiful Bournemouth

Tuesday 30th October
P.T day with Guru of Fitness,Will
It was a beautiful day, so frustrating not being able to skip along the prom, but I am getting used to the idea now. Bussed it to the pier and then sat outside a cafe by the beach. Felt like holiday day. Grilled Will about various anatomy subjects. He is so patient and willing to listen to my waffel. Not going to be training really for a month so taking time out to study anatomy. It's not a chore and it's something I really love studying. Absolutely fascinated by it. Maybe I should have become a Brain Surgeon...maybe not!!Sat by the sea for ages afterwards, bliss, so relaxing.
Mood is much better and more positive.Going back to work on Thursday, bit worried what faces me there and how the knee will cope, but it is all important to look after it so going to take it easy.

Day 12 in the Big Arthro House

Sunday 28th October

Seemed to have turned the proverbial 'corner' today.
Last night I woke up with a sudden intake of breath. I was sweating and shaky and had a panic about the future. You know everything is exaggerated in the early hours of the morning. Not sure what the shakes and sweats were about, (could have been the different chemicals, in the painkillers etc waving goodbye). After a physical and emotional quake something seemed to lift my mood and well being.
Swelling has gone right down.
I woke up feeling like I had, had the best night's sleep and excited about the future
Walked to town (a shortish walk) Knee felt OK, a bit sensitive but I was able to move quite quickly. Stairs is a bit of a challenge going up is easier than coming down. Nice to see the high street again after 12 days away.
Watched 4 episodes of Diet Doctors this afternoon. Very interesting
Need to watch eating. Not using up many calories. Don't want to put too much weight on.
Going to start a type of detox to try and clear out toxins which feel like they are settling because of lack of exercise.
Off to see the Guru of Fitness Tuesday

Saturday 27th October

Knee is still quite swollen I have asked it politely to behave it's self but it looks like for once in my life I'm going to have to follow instructions!!
Rested decided to have a day off from looking at books and made Christmas cards and did some sketching which ironically has improved because of studying anatomy. Rembrandt used to be a frequent visitor to morgues but I don't think I'll go that far.

Found these diagrams of what the knee op was all about.
I had a medial and lateral miniscus trim. (torn cartilage snipped off and tidied) and a floating piece of bone fragment removed.

DIARY OF ARTHUR OSCAR PEE

Friday 26th October
First time in the real world. Caught a train to Bournemouth to visit Will. On the train my head was fuzzy and felt like it was suspended in cotton wool. But it was good to see the world had continued on without me. The guard on the train was checking tickets and I handed him my debit card instead of the train ticket, he looked at me as if to say "you can't buy a ticket, I have a lovely fine for you" but luckily I realised and quickly exchanged it for the right ticket. I half heartidly laughed and apologised and said I'd had a knee operation. I don't think he realised the connection!!
Met Will at train station with Little O and we did some walking around a park and a bit of chatting and catch up. Attempted to show my vast knowledge of anatomy but brain's little man that goes through all the filing systems for knowledge had gone out for lunch.
Forgetting that this operation is actually for my good and I will be able things with this knee I haven't been able to do for a long time.
I got caught in a crowd of people going down stairs at my home station and went a bit faster than I should have done. Knee was quite swollen by evening.
No sleep again. My brain won't switch off. Funny thing - I can't sllep so I get out all the books and read up about insomnia and what to do about it. Looked at nutrition and exercises. Then was really awake. One good thing I read was to seperate bed and sleep time away from study and things with screens.
So I rearranged bedroom, took out all study books, pens, notebooks etc and put them in the living room so bedroom will come an oasis of rest and calm.
Will start doing meditation and EP and listening to soothing music and reading light books, and wafting off on a haze aromoatherapy oils and soft lighting


Thursday 25th October
Back to the hospital to see the physio therapist. Nigel, heroic brother-in-law,drove me and Paul, who also had his appointment half hour after mine. Getting to be real family outings going to hospital. He seemed please with my progress but was slightly surprised that he was telling me to get into doing all sorts of exercises. I had envisioned being horizontal for 2 weeks and I was happy that it didn't work out like that but I had tried to run before I could walk ( almost literally!!.) but he seemed to think it was ok to go ahead. So I took the advice with caution.
In the evening another part of my back up medic team, David my nephew, another extremely good nurse in the family, came to look at my steri strip dressings. He has a Mary Poppins type bag, that if you routed around in it I am sure you would find an operating table and a full ITC unit. Like white rabbits out of a magicians hat he produced a complete dressing change and I got to see my wounds for the first time. It wasn't that I wanted to see gaping wounds but all that was there were two tiny little wounds that looked like i'd been bitten by a vampire rather than surgery.
Wounds not quite healed so David out some steristrips on and Opsite plaster and I was ready for action, or sticking my leg up on the chair!!!
Not much sleep, sleep patterns are all over the place. Not getting any real quality sleep, so I spend the early hours of the morning reading anatomy books...is that wierd!!

Wednesday 24th October
LET ME OUT!! I WANT TO RUN TO THE SEA. Some of my favourite times recently, except family meals and Wagamamas, have been training with Will on Bournemouth beach. Doing my version of jogging whilst watching the waves and breathing in sea air or just being by the sea. So want to be back there.
I know all will be well soon and I will be back there able to do more but patience is not one of my giftings!!

Tuesday 23rd October
Another exciting day . Beginning to follow episodes on daytime TV and that Jeremy Kyle...so aggressive. Started to do some upper body exercises. Just to remind all working systems that we are still alive. 3k lateral arm raises...I am sure my 3k weights have doubles in weight. Bicep curls and heart has woken up. It is a bit scared now cos I know where it is and the names of all it's bits.


Monday 22nd October
Decided to behave and put knee up with a side dressing of frozen petti pois. But it's so boring having to stay still......... Some muscle anatomy info went in today.

Sunday
Got up early to watch IronMan Uk on TV. Ahhhhhhhh I am missing triathlons they are so inspiring. Behaved myself most of the day and then off to my sister's for Post Op party and a comparing of recovery tales with fellow knee buddy, Paul
Before we went Liz, my sister took off my big bandage. it was a bit like a scene from The Mummy. There was yards of the stuff revealing a gorey end but a little plaster. It's so good cos I have a lot of family in the medical profession and they are very good too. We had a nice dinner together and Little H was there too. We had quite a chat he is very cute

Saturday 21st October
after a lot of concerned remarks though I'd better behave myself. Need to knee to get better and properly. Only a few months to the Olympics.
TV is rubbish on Saturdays so I decided to do some anatomy homework. Someone has stolen my brain. It is scrambled and lying in a pool of oil. I try desperately to keep information in but it slides out again.
Have knee garnished with frozen petit pois.
These aren't just frozen peas these are little tiny, individually chosen by Saint Michael peas.
Blankly stared at books at the rest of the afternoon while learning how to sell properties abroad on TV
.
Friday 19th October really bored decided I was doing far better than anyone ever expected and as usual believed I was the exception to the rule and took my self off to Tescao on the bus... I know STUPID. But I felt ok but obviously put unwarranted pressure on knee and wound.
Thursday in lala land dropping in out of lovely sleep. Knee ok considering. Able to walk on it a little. Gorgeous Stu came to visit.
Wednesday 17th op as below

At last the day came for the knee op. Got to the hospital courtesy of the Paulmobile. I managed to stop shaking enough to sign myself in and settle in my posh room
Had lots of different people coming in and out doing various tests. Had a general question time with a nurse with a black sense of humour, rubbing her hands together when she realised I was a newbie to hospitals. Another nurse came to do an E.C.G on me and after working out how it works and having to go and find some more paper she eventually told me I was still alive and that my reading was ok.
Then the Anaethetist came (not much of sense of humour) did some tests and more questions.
Then the surgeon came to draw on me. I said it was a work of art and he should sign it, so he did!!
Then a charming physio came to give me a crash course on how to use crutches and exercises to do.
Then a nurse to explain about dressings.
Then another nurse came to take me down to the operating theatre.
I went into a small room which I thought was the operating theatre but it was the anaesthetic room. Didn't get to see the operating theatre. There was a nice man called Steve who said I could chose which dream I wanted by the cocktail of drugs they put in!!! By then I was so tired I just wanted a good sleep anyway so I was quite calm.
I talked to Steve for a little then he put a mask on me.........then I asked a nurse if I had had my op...I could feel them taking my blood pressure...all done
I felt fine. They wheeled me back to the my room

Had a 6 hour wait. My mood went from being really nervous to forgetting why I was there because I got involved in watching television... watching England v Russia on Sky Sport.I went down to the operating theatre just as it was starting and was back in my room just before the sorry end!

The before and after photos. Looks a lot tidier. Really wierd being able to see inside

This was the the bit of bone floating inside my knee joint. The surgeon was really proud to give it to me in a little jar. Wasn't sure if I really wanted it, but I was quite surprised at it's colour.

Had a try with crutches and found it easier with out
The surgeon said to take it easy and not go mad because I seemed to be doing really well
I have to say a big thank you to Jenny, my niece and Andrew, my nephew they stayed around for the whole day and stopped me from running away and entertained and reassured me. Bless em

Autumn Day in Bournemouth

Had another great day in Bournemouth. Spent some time with the Guru of fitness. Lovely walk/trot through the park the colours of the trees were beautiful and loads of squirrels ran across our path. Time seems to go so quick.
And then I met Stu in Wagamamas for Lunch.
Now you know when you see someone famous it's really hard not to look nd see if it's really them... Well we saw Billy Connolly having lunch in Wagamamas. I think we behaved quite well, not standing up and saying 'You're Billy Connolly!!'He's at the BIC today and tomorrow
Afterwards we went to my favourite place, Durely Chine. Real blast of fresh air. The waves were fab crashing againsy the shore.Lovely day...

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I love going to the gym and playing on all the machines and meeting friends there but........... I also am beginning to love doing improvisation and using what's around you at the time for various exercises.
When I'm in Bournemouth training with Will we use all sorts of things to do tricep presses, press ups, balance, step etc....
Now I am doing 'home' circuits. All you need is some free weights, a gym ball and a dynoband, if that really.
A run outside using kerbs, benches, gates etc is just as good. Lamp posts comein very handy for markers if,like me, you are doing walk a bit,jog a bit.
If not quite worked out the swimming part yet.... but we have a very nice navigation canal system here, but I may scare walkers if they are admiring the river and then up from the deep comes a weed and gunk covered monster from the deep as I rise to the surface!!
4 days to knee op !! Feeling a lot more relaxed about it now. Tuesday, the day before I am looking forward to cos I have a seesion with Will in Bournemouth and then it's over to Wagamamas for a pre-op treat!!!' with gorgeous Stu

Had a power holiday today, Went to Bournemouth early via train and coach (due to rail-works), As in the post before just needed to get away and be by the sea. Promenade was busy with joggers, cyclists and power walkers. I was on the West Beach and there was a competition for Life Saving of Surfers. Great fun, they had to save a 'volunteer' in the sea with their boats and then race back to the beach in the fastest time.
I went up to Durley Gardens and through to the chime the views were stunning and it was not too busy up there. I came back via the beach and say by the sea and watched waves come in and out for half an hour. I have been looking at quality breathing this week and I had a practice by the sea.
Standing tall breathing deep diaphragmatic breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth To start with I felt quite light headed, but soon felt the effects of breathing well. Its's amazing the difference it makes






I went on the pier on the way back and happened to see rides on a speedboat being advertised. It's something I've always wanted to do. Being heavily over weight I always avoided going on boats because of the obvious jokes and comments that came my way. But this time I was up for it. Soon found my self sitting in the boat with 7 strangers. The driver of the boat told us where the life jackets were and then said 'Enjoy the ride and GOOD LUCK!!!' Then we were off all i could do was to take this very shaky photo the rest of the time I was holding on for dear life. We bounced up and down past the beaches and over our own wake. Turning and weaving at quite big angles. I took in loads of fresh sea air then and we all screamed and held on to each other. Those 8 strangers ended up all walking down the pier laughing and shaking together. A great adrenalin rush. It made me feel like I should start doing 'things I've always wanted to'
Going to have to stay still for a few days in just over a week's time, after the knee op, so going to spend some time before hand doing some unusual things!!!!

It was a happy birthday!!!

Had a fab birthday. Thanks everyone for all the lovely presents, cards, e-mails and texts.
Spent the morning at Bournemouth in gorgeous weather running up and down the beach with Will (well not really running, a kind of jog)and lots of fun fitness stuff.I now have a heart rate monitor and can now tell if I am still alive during training sessions. It's quite interesting to see(for me anyway cos I am weird like that), how my heart changes speed. Although not everyone appreciated my running commentary. OOh it's 131, now it's 175, now 120, now______________!!!
I stayed in Bournemouth for a while and enjoyed the sunshine. By the sea is my favourite place to be. I always seem to feel relaxed and revived by the sea. Perhaps it's because I have so many lovely memories of the sea.I remembered going to the beach with my Dad and he used to put me on his shoulders and I used him as a diving board!! I used to have to be dragged out of the sea. While everyone else was eating their sand filled sandwiches and wrapped in towels I was still bobbing up and down in the waves!
Or perhaps it's because I am a mermaid really and I feel the call!!!!!(Hey Stu this sounds a familiar format - unique!!)




And then I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with my extending family. Had a brilliant time. They are so supportive of what I am doing. Instead of having a birthday cake I had a melon decorated and with candles!!! So funny.
It was good to see those 21 candles burning brightly!!!




This was a present I got from my friend Christine. We think it looks like me. So here she is in the Open Water Swim Event. I think she is now in Bournemouth being trained!!

BEWARE WOMAN FROM THE LOST TRIBE OF FACIOUSMASKUS ON THE LOSE

Just found this on youtube for the Middle Distance Race I went to two weeks ago

We had a fun family get together yesterday with Aunty Mary who's going back to Aussie soon. I love my family abfab group of people. David and Sarah are back from a Safari Honeymoon. No wildlife bites visible!!!! They both start new jobs today down here in the south. So good luck to them.
Went to see Doctor about the other knee today. She was quite impressed by the 'clunk' it made. So by this time next year hopefully I'll have really good knees...
Put in my London Marathon application today. There is a box to enter to say how many hours you think you'll complete the course in. By my calculations I think, probably, 3 or 4 days!!
Unless thet could put little motors in my knees when I have the ops, that could be quite handy.

Latest photos of Harry

Other things that can be done on treadmills.... just don't let the gym manager see!!!!

If you ever wondered how personal training can be done at the
beach ...you have to have a Sherpa of a trainer that carries a multi gym on his back!! Free weights, sparring kit, bungies, mats, drinks all sorts.

Had another great session in Bournemouth although we had to dodge all the paraphernalia that goes with the town hosting the Labour Party Conference. Police everywhere and all drains and post boxes taped up. Amazing police horses they look very impressive.

We trained up on the westcliff, doing a bit of power walking in interval training and some press ups. Will, on bike, recovering from Sunday,( I don't think I would be able to move for a month

after doing that kind of race), me racing on ahead, well.....more like trotting behind, asking him about the inner workings of muscles!! We did a bit of sparring and, a new feature of star jumps in between. Good work out love the feeling of being out of breath and glowy
The rain passed by but the clouds were very heavy all around.

Early one morning just as the day was dawning...

Early dawn on the lake

Had a lovely meal with Stu and friends last night.

This morning I got up at 4.15 am to get to Boscombe pier for 5 am for a lift to the New Forest Middle Distance race with Will. I walked along the cliff edge path and it was beautiful, so silent and the stars were really bright. The Needles lighthouse was on and because the sea was a little misty a long ray of light shone over the Solent.

It was quite strange arriving at Ringwood in the dark.

It felt like a secret society meeting or a rave!! Strange mechanical maneuvers in the dark with torch light as people got their bikes off racks and into the transition area. Great atmosphere.

Gradually the sun rose and everyone was down by the lake waiting for the swim. Water was a little chilly on account of those who stuck their toes in to test. As the first swimmers went off they broke the surface of the water (see photo below) and made quite a dramatic pattern in the sea ( oh eck the art student is coming out in me again!!)

The athletes were sorted into time by the colour of their swiming caps and the yellows went of first. 1.9k swim imto a 56 mile bike ride and then a half marathon. I marshalled the Transition 2 section giving out drinks and energy gells and general encouragement. Got quite wet as they threw the water I gave them all over the place, bless em.... Everyone was so friendly . Time and athletes whizzed by. Before I knew it the runners were coming in to finish.

This is the amazing Richard Iles of Beacon Leisure giving the swimmers a briefing about the course.

Will had a very good race coming 7th out of nearly 400. It's a really gruelling but fantastic course, beautiful lake and countryside. The event was very well organised everyone had a good time. Had a lovely time with Wills family half of which were racing too!! And 'Little O' of course who is gorgeous and growing up fast.

Still smiling after swimming , cycling and running

Bournemouth is fast becoming one of my favourite places!

Today Will and I did our training sesion around the beach and Durley Chines. I got to the pier a bit early and had time just to watch waves for 20 minutes. I've always been drawn to water. If I feel down or tired I'll find water to be by or watch. Sometimes I have been a little too close to water in my life and as a child frequently fell into puddles or ponds. A third of my family are Turkish and the word for water in Turkey is Su, so they always call me Aunty Water!!

So I felt really revived by having some time by the sea. Had a fab training session. We did mountain running up the cliffs!! Was nearly over taken by a load of pensioners!!!!

I felt on top of the world afterwards.

Then I went on to see the lovely people at Premier for a sports massage. Anyone who say massage is relaxing is deluded, not the massages I've had anyway. They are fantastic and you feel realy invigorated afterwards and I loved every minute of it but I certainly felt the muscles I'd been trying to memorise. I had a massage from one of the students that is doing the course I'll be doing in January. She was very good inspite of me grilling her a bit. She knew her stuff and talked me through what she was doing. In all a really good day

Oi Vey

This picture kind of sums up how I'm feeling today!!!

Got my operation date, 17th October and getting nervous, especially when they say they have to wire me to an ECG because I have a heart murmur and having a general anaesthetic scares me a bit.

Hopefully my Nephew-in-law is having the same kind of op on the same day in the same place!!!

He's an old hand at this kind of thing.

It'll be good to get it done

Had a day of sorting out finances too. So that's all done.

Last night I had a special treat I went to the Theatre!!! My brother-in-law had brought tickets for By Jeeves at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, a musical by Lloyd Webber and Alan Aykbourn based on the Jeeves and Wooster stories by P G Woodhouse.

My sister being the heroine she is had to work a shift in the hospital so I stood in for her.

I love the Theatre, especially musical comedy. I have worked as stage manager on a few productions and forgot how much I missed it, until last night.

It's a fabulous production and I had such a good time. I kind of lost who was who about half way through the plot but apparently this is not unusual in an Aykbourn production. Robin Armstrong, who played Bertie Wooster had the most amazing legs . He must have been double jointed but they did the charlston very well and seem to have a life of their own!! The stage crew were all part of the play too. They were interacting with the audience before the show started. It was very funny. Recommend it if you want a good night's entertainment

After a rubbish day at work it really cheered me up.

Geoffrey Holland played Jeeves... you may remember him in Hi De Hi as the camp manager and unrequited love of Ruth Maddock's character.

The hills are alive.............

I was going to change blogs as some may have seen on the last post before I edited it, but as someone commented that there is quite a bit on here about the last 14 months I might as well carry on!!

And she's off!!!!

Had a nice relaxing morning then it was off for a 'speedy' walk and the St Catherine's Hill challenge. St Catherine's hill has always been a challenge. When we were children our parents took us up there to let off steam. Later in life the hill became something to be avoided, I found it really hard climbing up the steep slopes and steps. The views from the top are stunning so sometimes it was worth the effort.
There is a bench half way up that was always a godsend and a welcome rest for all types that needed a breather.
Decided to try and measure the time it takes me to get from the entrance gate of the hill to the highest point of the hill.
Managed it in 8.50 mins
PB
There is great walk through to the hill passing th rough the water meadows. So all in all had a good time this afternoon.
Going to set myself a challenge to see if I can swim 1k in one go.


StCatherine's Hill

Snoodles at Wagamamas

Had a lovely day today

Started the day with a great PT session with Will. It's great fun and I feel like I've done a good work out afterwards, and my impression of a tricep dip was 'unique'. Did quite a bit of fast walking and kinda jogging twice round the 'mile' at Littledown. With intervals of sparring and pull ups. Love it love it love it.

After all that I met Gorgeous Stu and we went to Wagamamas. It's fab there you get loads of food which is cooked fast and in a healthy way. Chopsticks were a challenge. I had a go but may have been there till the evening trying to get the food to stay on the chopsticks. So I used the alternative, a fork. Had a lovely time lots of giggles and chat. Worth a visit if there's one near you