After yesterday’s day of de-activation, I’ve almost managed to stay awake today; I even managed a twenty minute brief brisk walk this afternoon. At lunchtime I prepared a salmon pasta for my beloved and myself and, towards the end of the afternoon (whilst listening to ‘Jazz Record Requests’) prepared tomorrows Chicken casserole – a kind of hybrid Anglo/ Spanish/ Mexican concoction – and par-boiled the potatoes in my special spiced & herby infusion, ready for roasting.
My traditional weariness (sore throat, burning eyes and inadequately synchronised lower limbs), was satisfactorily re-united with a cramp-like pain between the shoulder blades as I slaved over the hot stove. Apart from that it has been a reasonably good day. Ma Belle Helene prepared me a delicious bacon and black pudding sandwich as fair recompense for all my endeavours; it’s truly good to know that my culinary endeavours are so well appreciated!
- living and frequently struggling with moderate M.E. -
where (bad) health, faith, politics and the joys and troubles of daily life collide.
ME
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Emergency Measures
A temporary mild spell of weather is now with us, an opportunity to check up on the pond once more and, remove the netting which has covered it since autumn. This morning’s visit proved timely indeed, as the first frogs had found their way to the pond. An emergency rescue was called for, as a copulating couple (of frogs I hasten to add) had managed, in their frenzy, to become entangled in the net’s edge. After a few minutes of careful manoeuvring, I was able to release the inseparable pair from this unintended snare.
Whilst up at the pond, I decided to do a bit of trimming back of the pond weed and, removed a little of the detritus that had somehow evaded our precautionary net. For the first time this season, I was able to watch a couple of the larger goldfish as they made a brief visit towards the pond’s surface; obviously the water temperature has risen a little from its recent rest within, and beneath, its hard ice shell. No sign of the baby goldfish today but, it’s still exciting to observe the signs of changing seasons.
By my standards, it turned out to be a rather busy morning but, I’m still alert enough to tell the tale. Much to my surprise, I’d even managed to take a shower without needing a rest before I applied myself to the task of getting dressed! Things are certainly starting to look up but, I still carefully listen out for my body’s request for rest.
Whilst up at the pond, I decided to do a bit of trimming back of the pond weed and, removed a little of the detritus that had somehow evaded our precautionary net. For the first time this season, I was able to watch a couple of the larger goldfish as they made a brief visit towards the pond’s surface; obviously the water temperature has risen a little from its recent rest within, and beneath, its hard ice shell. No sign of the baby goldfish today but, it’s still exciting to observe the signs of changing seasons.
By my standards, it turned out to be a rather busy morning but, I’m still alert enough to tell the tale. Much to my surprise, I’d even managed to take a shower without needing a rest before I applied myself to the task of getting dressed! Things are certainly starting to look up but, I still carefully listen out for my body’s request for rest.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Fish Tales
Having freshly (perhaps irritably drowsy would be a more honest expression) emerged from twelve hours in the land of nod, sluggishness seems to be the keynote of this pre-noon hour. The sore throat and quietly nagging headache are quite familiar companions and, a swift application of wrist and elbow supports to my left arm are easing the aches in that quarter, so I boldly face a brand new (though miserably grey) day.
First point of call is to check up on the aquarium; after yesterdays cleaning up and plant replenishment exercise, the two freshly acquired White Cloud Mountain Minnows are certainly very active but, they seem so tiny alongside their fellow residents. NO2 and pH levels are fine, so it’s all in the hands of Mother Nature. It seems that no matter how carefully one filters and monitors an aquarium, one can never guarantee the survival of its occupants but, at least I attempt to give them a relatively pampered existence.
Overall, I still feel that health wise I am on a gentle upward curve; the spirit is certainly willing.
***************************
PS. Heterocon has filled in the gaps regarding my activity/inactivity of recent days here.
First point of call is to check up on the aquarium; after yesterdays cleaning up and plant replenishment exercise, the two freshly acquired White Cloud Mountain Minnows are certainly very active but, they seem so tiny alongside their fellow residents. NO2 and pH levels are fine, so it’s all in the hands of Mother Nature. It seems that no matter how carefully one filters and monitors an aquarium, one can never guarantee the survival of its occupants but, at least I attempt to give them a relatively pampered existence.
Overall, I still feel that health wise I am on a gentle upward curve; the spirit is certainly willing.
***************************
PS. Heterocon has filled in the gaps regarding my activity/inactivity of recent days here.
Monday, March 06, 2006
New Beginnings
Not quite so brilliant a day (see Fighting Fit on Heterocon’s blog) but, I am really beginning to feel that, health-wise, I’m on an upward curve. My early morning bruised and shattered feeling has, already, eased itself into a simple sluggishness.
Around lunchtime, I ventured up to the garden pond, to see if the ice is thawing or whether it needs a little assistance; perhaps 60% of the surface is still iced over but, today’s routine check also provided a bonus for me. At first I thought I’d seen a tadpole but, as we’ve not yet had any spawn in our still netted pond, that didn’t seem like a possibility. Eventually, I spotted two baby goldfish swimming near the ice sheets edge. None of the adult fish have yet seen fit to surface but, nor would I if it meant being so directly exposed to prevailing wintry conditions.
Helen has gone out for her first afternoon of paid employment, since having to take early retirement from teaching (on health grounds) in 2003; it is indeed a day of new beginnings!
Around lunchtime, I ventured up to the garden pond, to see if the ice is thawing or whether it needs a little assistance; perhaps 60% of the surface is still iced over but, today’s routine check also provided a bonus for me. At first I thought I’d seen a tadpole but, as we’ve not yet had any spawn in our still netted pond, that didn’t seem like a possibility. Eventually, I spotted two baby goldfish swimming near the ice sheets edge. None of the adult fish have yet seen fit to surface but, nor would I if it meant being so directly exposed to prevailing wintry conditions.
Helen has gone out for her first afternoon of paid employment, since having to take early retirement from teaching (on health grounds) in 2003; it is indeed a day of new beginnings!
Sunday, March 05, 2006
more things in heaven and earth ...
“God put me on earth to entertain people”, so said Suzi Quatro on The Heaven & Earth Show (BBC1). I’m not questioning the sincerity of the remark but, I just thought how easy it is to say that when one has spent most of their life in showbusiness. “God put me on earth to be a shelf-stacker, an accountant, a clerical assistant, a till operator”, somehow for me can never carry the same conviction.
What if the breaks hadn’t come for SQ, as is the case with so many talented would be entertainers, and she had to put her showbiz career on the backburner, would she still so confidently express that “God put me on earth to entertain people”? It’s all far too glib a statement to make ex eventu. Or perhaps there’s an underlying fatalistic acceptance of a caste system; is everything pre-ordained and, our life choices simply an illusion?
A further point, raised on the Heaven & Earth Show; did Tony Blair simply say God would be the judge on the Iraq war, or was there also an implication earlier in the interview (as suggested by Peter Tatchell) that the war was God’s judgement? As I didn't see the Parkinson programme, I'm not sure what delusional tendencies I've missed!
What if the breaks hadn’t come for SQ, as is the case with so many talented would be entertainers, and she had to put her showbiz career on the backburner, would she still so confidently express that “God put me on earth to entertain people”? It’s all far too glib a statement to make ex eventu. Or perhaps there’s an underlying fatalistic acceptance of a caste system; is everything pre-ordained and, our life choices simply an illusion?
A further point, raised on the Heaven & Earth Show; did Tony Blair simply say God would be the judge on the Iraq war, or was there also an implication earlier in the interview (as suggested by Peter Tatchell) that the war was God’s judgement? As I didn't see the Parkinson programme, I'm not sure what delusional tendencies I've missed!
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Delightful Dilemmas
Why is it that a derelict building in a cityscape becomes an eyesore, whereas the tumbledown remnants of a building in the heart of the countryside strike one as ‘romantic’? What prompts this enquiry is the return journey from visiting some friends in Leeds.
Once I overcame an initial panic attack, this was after all the furthest afield I had travelled during the past eighteen months; I enjoyed observing the man-made rural landscape, the patterned hedgerows sometimes complimenting, at others sharply contrasted with, the gently undulating countryside. Nothing jarred; the occasional agricultural dumping ground or, even the odd quarry site, whilst a scar to some, for me had that sense of belonging and, as we passed a decrepit old stone building, rafters akimbo, with vacant gaps where once was a window frame, it seemed worthy of a place in a C19 painting.
For several minutes, I delighted in the variegated green patchwork of fields but then, as we followed the road’s gentle curvature, the fields were still blanketed in pristine snow; somehow these areas had fallen outside of the sun’s catchment area.
It is wonderful to enjoy these simple adventures, in realms not much more than a giant’s stone throw from one’s own doorstep.
Once I overcame an initial panic attack, this was after all the furthest afield I had travelled during the past eighteen months; I enjoyed observing the man-made rural landscape, the patterned hedgerows sometimes complimenting, at others sharply contrasted with, the gently undulating countryside. Nothing jarred; the occasional agricultural dumping ground or, even the odd quarry site, whilst a scar to some, for me had that sense of belonging and, as we passed a decrepit old stone building, rafters akimbo, with vacant gaps where once was a window frame, it seemed worthy of a place in a C19 painting.
For several minutes, I delighted in the variegated green patchwork of fields but then, as we followed the road’s gentle curvature, the fields were still blanketed in pristine snow; somehow these areas had fallen outside of the sun’s catchment area.
It is wonderful to enjoy these simple adventures, in realms not much more than a giant’s stone throw from one’s own doorstep.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Taking It Calmly
For each step forward, on the health front, I’m currently experiencing only half a step back; that for me is real progress. Apart from a stiff and tender neck and, the persistent numb throb and ache in my left wrist and hand, the only obvious ailments have been yesterday’s throbbing ache around the eyes accompanied by a generalized muzzy headache. On Wednesday, I gratefully received another acupuncture treatment which certainly seems to help. Thursday was the first day, for some considerable time, that the ache and discomfort in the wrist and hand was not in evidence.
Even my somewhat antisocial irritability/anger response is somewhat in abeyance; yesterday the doorbell rang as some cold callers (canvassers or market researchers) turned up, standing adjacent to our cold callers notice*. Rather than my usual aggressive knee-jerk response, I calmly pointed out to them that “owing to an incapacitating illness, I am unable to spend time talking to unsolicited callers, hence the notice”. The callers were actually quite apologetic and, I now recognize that (health permitting) a calm response is perhaps more effective than an aggressive one.
* “For Health Reasons COLD CALLERS are NOT WELCOME. Please Respect Our Wishes”
Even my somewhat antisocial irritability/anger response is somewhat in abeyance; yesterday the doorbell rang as some cold callers (canvassers or market researchers) turned up, standing adjacent to our cold callers notice*. Rather than my usual aggressive knee-jerk response, I calmly pointed out to them that “owing to an incapacitating illness, I am unable to spend time talking to unsolicited callers, hence the notice”. The callers were actually quite apologetic and, I now recognize that (health permitting) a calm response is perhaps more effective than an aggressive one.
* “For Health Reasons COLD CALLERS are NOT WELCOME. Please Respect Our Wishes”
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