The word barrel is dry today so a picture will say some for me.
George (SIL) was carer for me on Thursday while Elly went to Dublin for a night off and to cast her vote for Lisbon on Friday. She returned in time to allow George home in the afternoon in time to cast his vote.
While the cat Elly was away we mice went for a walk. Since George is a Toyboy, I walked further than any other day. That day I had set myself a goal of bringing the camera and arriving home with a photo. It was in fact George who took the photo above to prove to Elly how far we walked. When she arrived back I had the photo on the desktop. I won’t repeat her exclamation, but she was impressed.
On Saturday it was very windy so the walk outdoors was short. We concentrated on increasing my speed. To date she walked along matching my slow pace, so I was now matching her increased steps. No way am I ready for her full stride yet but it will come. I find the walking easier with someone walking step for step with me. When we returned to the house we walked around to the back garden and I tried the steps from the patio down to the garden using one crutch and back up again. The three steps at the back door are steeper and I also managed them. Once indoor I continued with only one crutch and that is how I have continued since.
A new form of independence since I can make my own coffee and carry it into the living room. Progress!
It was still very windy when I went for my second walk of the day and Elly carried the other crutch just incase I needed it for the return journey uphill. I didn’t and Elly, having checked me from all angles says I am well balanced with just the one! There is no slacking with Nurse Hitler… You just have to do things properly! 😆
PS The yes vote won!
Perhaps it had something to do with the voters hoping for divine intervention, two miraculous medals were wrapped inside ballot papers marked Yes in Co Laois.
That looks like steady progress to me, thanks to the strictness of your Personal Trainer!
Funny how the first referendum is now being swept under the carpet as if it never happened. First referendum – what first referendum? You must be mistaken….
Grannymar, I am very happy for you – though green with envy. Not becoming to my complexion.
Next time I’ll swap my two broken wrists for your hip replacement. You are barely out of hospital and already functioning. I was in two rigid casts for six weeks (and limping) with no Elly to do the fetching for me, only being able to observe mournful metamorphosis from my usual sunny me into a cranky irritable shadow of my former self. Still, as one idiot said to me: “It could be worse.” What sort of crappy comment is that? It’s all relative – and I’d rather call a spade a spade.
Make sure that wind won’t catch you off balance! And don’t run before you can walk without your crutch.
U
Ursula, not to worry, when a strong wind comes along, Grannymar will simply change tack!
Great progress Grannymar. Yes, a Hitler around to take charge of the recovery process has been very beneficial. Before you know it, you will discard the other crutch too.
All the best.
A Hitler?
great progress…just think years ago it would heave been months.
Ursula….I feel for you…it can be galling when someone gets it “easy” 😉
How are the wrists any way?
As for that referendum…what can I say? We did not get our promised one….. all hope was laid on the Irish to keep their nerve… I’m sure I heard someone saying “One each. We need a tie breaker.”
You are doing so well. Those crutches are the pits to use aren’t they?. Every day in every way you are getting better and better. 😀
Isn’t it grand you have Elly and a toy boy to bully you.
Ursula – You are so right. It is a real pain when people say things like ‘It could be worse’ or ‘ weren’t you lucky?’
Maybe we could just fill them in and get rid of the aggression. LOL
Grannymar, I’m so pleased that I got to visit you and see how well you’re doing – and very impressed with how positive you are. You may have to change your name from Grannymar to Supergran! 😉
You and Elly have been great friends to me. I will be keeping an eye on your speedy progress all the way from Korea! xx
Nick – First time round the information was not available in an easy readable format. That was rectified this time and despite the ‘NO’ campaign having support from UKIP and Libertase, the pole was high and a clear ‘YES’ vote won.
Ursula – I feel your pain. I broke my right (major) wrist a few years ago when I blacked out in the garden. I was totally alone and had to do everything for myself. I used a bin liner and masking tape to cover the plaster in order to shower. I must have looked comical with my plastic covered arm held way above my head. It taught me never to take my right arm for granted. I hope you are healing well. I used a sponge ball the size of a tennis ball to keep my fingers exercised and moving. I still use it from time to time.
Ramana – I have to make progress – Elly cannot stay forever she has her own life to lead. Later today I will visit a friend to practice walking up and down their stairs.
Magpie – The Hitler bit is a new nickname, Elly is a wonderful help and gives the gentle nudges to move to the next stage.
Rhyleysgranny – I think the practice before surgery made all the difference to me. In hospital the Physios were amazed at how straight I was even on my first walk. I also wore shoes instead of slippers and they gave me more support.
Hails – it was wonderful to share time with you. I will travel in spirit with you to Korea and look forward to regular bulletins. Travel safely. Big HUGS.
You look great in the photos – I love the red shoes!! I applaud your efforts to increase your distance and hope it continues to improve.
Grannymar,
Good progress indeed!
btw Tell George… I love the dog turd in the photo. I hope you didn’t put your left crutch in it after the photo was taken. Nurse Hitler would not have been pleased! 😆
Go Grannymar, go!
Judy – the shoes are very soft with velcro fastening, making it easy for me to open and close myself.
Steph – A little progress everyday is my aim.
You’re going great! And you’re looking great.
I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I am with your progress. Nurse Hitler is doing a bang-up job of getting you to do your exercises and walk. At the stage you are at now I couldn’t even get shoes on; the swelling of my feet and ankles was so bad. And a walk down the hall with a walker was a real exhausting event.
Your determination is so admirable, Grannymar. I think that’s half the battle. I was in the hospital and rehab for nearly a month and to step off the curb was a challenge, much less going up stairs.
After nearly eleven months I still have discomfort and pain if I am on my feet too long. Keep on getting better and I will let you push me around in my wheel chair when we dance.
Gaelikaa – To be pain free after so many months of agony means I am smiling without realising it.
Darlene – My leg was swollen from hip to toes and all the colours of the rainbow. Most of the bruising has now gone and the swelling is from knees to my toes. The first couple of steps after a long sit or rest on the bed are difficult, but once I move I am fine.
I do get tired, but am well used to draining energy (part of my heart complaint), I learned a long time ago to listen to my body and rest when necessary.
Don’t worry, we will find a way to get the dancing troupe off the ground…. even if we need toy boys to lift us! 🙄
Good for you!
My wife was the same “hitler” with her father with his hip replacement. The docter said that ir worked!
Keep up the “hirler” attitude Elly. Your mother will appreciate it a year from now!
I can’t add much to the above. I think you’re doing a wonderful job. Very disceplined. It will pay off in the long term I’m sure.
Jean – Thank you.
Maynard – Elly tells me that she is only doing what I taught her! 🙄
Baino – It is paying off already. I am human and do get tired, if I wake drained then the exercise is gentle. I also play music with a good strong beat to get me moving about the house.
Grannymar, I really do have to stop whingeing. Though have informed my parents – who are fighting fit – that I have realised that I am totally unsuitable for the fallout of my future old age and its limitations; comforting myself that I come from good stock; “genes” being the key word.
Yes, “future”. Makes you linger over that word and its connotation. I always thought it something to look forward to; now I’ve decided to look backward. Luckily I have never been fool enough not to savour the moment.
Isn’t it interesting how happy one can be when only being back to Square One (in your case being able to walk/in mine to take my life back into my own hands)? It’s a sort of “Snake and Ladders” – If ever there was a game to teach you about life (other than Monopoly).
U
Well done Grannymar, progress indeed! Delighted you are regaining your independence.
Congratulations on your wonderful progress! Keep it up! My hubby is going in for hip resurfacing in a few months – hopefully he’s has as sunny a disposition as you after surgery 🙂
Great to see you up and about Grannymar. The way you have written about your recent experiences has been inspirational, thank you.
Ursula – My father had a very negative outlook on life and it didn’t make for a happy household. Our next door neighbour cried every day for 37 years when her husband died, it was so bad people crossed the road when they saw her coming.
I swore back then, my pain or grief in life was for me to work through and not inflict on everyone around me. My granny taught me to find a funny situation in all I do and now I constantly laugh at myself.
Lily – I am actually surprised at how well I am doing. It is wonderful to be pain free. I do have soreness from the swelling in my leg… but that will go in time.
Maureen – I hope your hubby recovers quickly. My advice is to prepare as much as possible in advance.
Daniel – There will be one final post in a couple of weeks time to cover the whole experience and let people know what I found helpful and useful.
Grannymar, how very wise of you to turn the ship around and laugh into the face of misfortune.
I do the same, though not through wisdom like you: By the lucky fluke of how I was born, my personality, I have ability, as my grandmother used to say of me, to see the sun even when hidden by clouds. There are people in the margins of my life who actually hold it against me that I haved managed to turn my personal Titanic a number of times – just before hitting the iceberg. I will not be sunk any time soon other than if the proverbial brick falls from the roof. My son would be so annoyed with me; therefore I have to tread carefully.
As to people crossing the road when faced with someone grieving: It is shameful. My god, Grannymar, if you think about it: How many times do people stand at a freshly dug grave, a funeral, listening to those wonderful words spoken by the priest/vicar: “In the midst of life we are in death.” Are they too stupid to actually take in the meaning of that sentence?
Luckily I am of a generation who had the privilege of seeing death happening first hand. One of my worst memories, only a few years ago, when I took my son to his English grandfather’s funeral and the sanctimonious mother of Grandad’s step grand children told me off by saying “I wouldn’t do that to my children” [take her twin daughters to the funeral]. Come again? You deny your child to say good bye to someone they cherrished – to spare them what exactly? The sooner the young learn that death is indeed an integral part of life the better.
U