Here is a photo of Auntie Pat with her twin brother, Terence, taken at their 80th birthday party. Someone had bought her a tiara for the occasion! Sadly they both look much frailer now. This was nine years ago.
I slept fitfully throughout the night and found I couldn't get to sleep again after about 3.am. So I was up and out well before 6. Decent walk today. It was chilly but not unpleasantly so. Not without numerous twinges and niggles but I did it and I feel better for it. I never know where one condition starts and another ends! Is it the fibromyalgia, or the stenosis, or the listhesis, or damned old age?!
I've been reading abut the effects of this level of isolation on mental health and it hasn't made for pretty reading. They reckon it is of comparable magnitude to bereavements, divorce, moving house - all the 'biggies'. So I guess that has to be thrown into the mix when I'm feeling under the weather. Stress can have such a profound effect physically that isn't necessarily acknowledged straightaway especially if you have other health conditions to consider.
At some point this afternoon I believe the government are going to make the announcement that the lockdown is to be extended for a further three weeks. I'm going to admit this and it may seem strange but I was scared that they might lift it! Can you believe that? I still don't think the extent of our knowledge of this virus is enough for us to start getting complacent because the figures might have dropped a bit. Even in three weeks I think I'm still going to be scared to go out far. But some people are behaving as if the lockdown is already over. It was like Piccadilly Circus in my street today. Vehicles and people.
I chatted with my next door neighbour this morning. I was watering some of the pots in the front. garden and she was trimming some shrubs. Yes! She is the lady who had the hip replacement. And yes! I did do a double take. It's four weeks since she had the op. She's doing very well. She's been very conscientious about doing her physio exercises. That's where a lot of people go wrong after surgery like this. They don't commit to the exercise regime but if you want to make a full recovery it's a must. I still do my physio twice a day and that will be four years in September since the nerve decompression injections. I've not made a full recovery and I never will but I like to think I'm delaying the time when the nerve will 'go' again.
I had an email from my dear friend in Japan who I learn also reads this blog, bless her! I find it interesting to compare how another country deals with a lockdown situation. I'm quite shocked for I thought Japan would be very strict and unyielding. But it's not. They can still go to restaurants! Shops that wouldn't be deemed essential are open for business. My friend said the roads and parks were packed. Both her daughters have been to visit. It's made me think I've been over critical of the attitude here! However we do have one thing in common. We BOTH baked banana bread yesterday! She did have some very sad news though . Her sister and husband here in the UK lost a dear friend to the virus.
I still feel like I'm wasting the time. I faff and potter. But there's little to show for it. However I spent some time in the garden today. I planted the calla lily bulbs and a dahlia tuber. I'd have done that anyway, lockdown or not, because my gardener doesn't do the pots. But I did do some weeding this afternoon. Until my back tells me not to. Actually my gardener doesn't do weeding either. He just thinks he does!
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