Lots of walking

I have always had the view that once the surgeons have done their bit responsibility passes to me to ensure their work and expertise was worthwhile. To that end I have undertaken a lot of walking, much the same route here in Stoke Bruerne - up the towpath to the tunnel portal, a quick chat with Bob the Blacksmith, up the Boathorse Road to the intersection with the Woodland Walk, down the Woodland Walk, pausing for a sit down on one of the seats and then back down the towpath to home.  Occasionally I go south and walk down the line of the canal, with all its locks and then back again.

I have been averaging about 3k a day which I hope will meet with the consultant's approval when I see him on Tuesday.  I think I may have overdone it yesterday (4.5k) as I feel a little stiff this morning. I'll sort that out today with a shorter walk or perhaps ask my physio Liz to give my leg muscles a good massage when I see her on Monday.

A date for the fracture clinic

A phone call today whilst sheltering from the wonderful heat - 31c at 15:00 - to say I have a fracture clinic appointment for 14:00 on Tuesday. Another trip to the delights of Northampton and its hospital. I'll be interested to see the X-Rays and know what's been put in my hip!

Not too much walking yesterday as it was so hot but I still managed about 2.5km.

Wednesday is my friend Trevor's funeral - I have decided not to go as my doctor says driving that distance is currently 'crazy' and Trevor's mum agrees so it will be off to a local pub to raise a glass in his memory.

The heat is dissipating a bit now - it was stifling especially as there was virtually no wind to move any air.

Getting better still

Although I still get tired very quickly (my physio Liz says that's quite usual) I really do feel so much better every day.  The internal swelling seems to be going down which allows more movement in my hip.

My doc won't allow me to drive to Bristol (well halfway between Bristol and Bath) tomorrow for my friend Trevor's funeral and I can't find anyone who can 'reasonably' take me.  Hopefully my friend Steph and I will pop down to the pub at lunchtime and raise a glass in his memory.

A lovely warm Saturday

When did we last have a lovely warm summer's day I wonder. Well we had one today and the next few days looks very promising.

I have walked quite some distance today - 5,565 steps according to my iPhone and I know that's at least two return trips to the tunnel portal. Total steps by the time I went to bed was 6,219 or about 4.35km - feeling it a bit stiff this morning so I expect it was too much so I'll take things a little less enthusiastically for the next few days!

My friends Mick & Suzanne and Chris & Terry are here so we all went to the Boat Inn last night. Today I saw a lovely front door 'bell' in the blacksmiths so after measuring up (it needed that) Bob the Blacksmith is going to come and install it next week.  Adam and Adrian popped in this afternoon and persuaded me to have an ice cream (against my better judgement of course!) so I have enjoyed a very busy day.

Tomorrow Rodney & Valerie, Mick & Suzanne and Chris & Terry and I are going to Woodward's restaurant and tonight my friend Tim Carter has William in the long pound so we are going to the Spice of Bruerne.  Too much enjoyment really!

Continuing Good Progress

My progress continues well - I can almost sleep on my right hand side but not quite.  It is four weeks today that my hip was replaced and just three weeks yesterday that I came home. I spoke to a lady on a boat going through Top Lock today and she thought I was weeks ahead of where she had been some three and a half years ago; long may that continue.

I saw my GP last night but he didn't seem too interested in the lack of post operative support I have (not) received so my decision to make a formal complaint direct to NGH seems to have been the right choice.

I went for a walk today with Pete Gray from Canal & River Trust to look at places a memorial bench could be sited - that really is getting back to normality. Today is also 'adoption day' in Stoke Bruerne when we try and maintain the land around the canal - I am not quite up to that yet but hopefully will be soon; I have been out to see 'the boys' and check on the work being done!

My iPhone says I have covered 2,243 steps today - not the most since my hip was replaced but it is only lunchtime! I haven't put many steps on this afternoon mainly because I fell asleep in front of the television - probably my mind was numbed by the media fawning over the change of Prime Minister.

Better and better

It seems I am getting better and better day-by-day - trying to take less in the way of medicines - still have to inject myself in the tummy with anti-DVT stuff every evening (it's looking very bruised) but there's only eight more days to go.

Still nothing from the NHS (I have copied in my MP - Andrea Leadsom - but I do think she probably has enough on her plate at the moment)! I am seeing my GP tomorrow evening for a 'post discharge follow up' but just remember that I was discharged on 21-June; the NHS really has to get its post operative care in a much better state than it is at the moment.  My friend Sam who lives just around the corner has had wonderful support from NGH (he sadly had a stroke) but my support is but nothing so perhaps it is not the NHS (or NGH) but it depends on what ailments one has.  Whatever the case I am not best impressed with the 'post discharge' support I have seen.

A quiet day

Can you sew as well this?

We had a quiet day at home yesterday and a very naughty breakfast at the Navigation!

Lots going on a round here at the moment because it is British Grand Prix weekend just up the road at Silverstone so my neighbour James is very busy as he is a photographer and very involved in F1.  There are cars everywhere but as it is James' big weekend of the year whatever happens just happens!

Sue and I watched the semi-finals of the gentlemen's tennis; we are now set for a Murray v Raonic final on Sunday! Neither of us are that keen on women's tennis so today will be quiet.

I was 'doorstepped' by a man called Michael Crick who once lived in Stoke Bruerne who was seeking my views on Andrea Leadsom (my local MP) as a prime ministerial candidate for Channel 4 news.  I think she would be very good but I'd be slightly concerned that her duties may mean restricted access to her as my MP.

Hip doing well - the steri-strips are coming off now but the scar does look good and 'healthy' - assuming a scar can look healthy.

Just back from a walk - have covered just over 2.5km - about the length of Blisworth Tunnel (give or take).  Feeling my age at the moment but I really feel I do need to push at the boundaries a bit.  I was most fortunate in that my very good friend, Sue, who lives in Cardiff, is staying and could accompany me on the walk.