Day 102 (54) to Day 108 (61)

21-Feb

Blowy and gusty again today but as with yesterday only scheduled to last a few hours. A busy week coming up with Jim and Dave doing the bathroom all week, Physio on Monday, Derek's funeral in Westbury on Tuesday, a blood test, a CRT meeting (in the museum) and further NHS Physio on Wednesday - relaxation on Thursday I hope and I'll maybe get to use my new shower by then.

Still a bit stiff this morning but almost no pain in the hip and 'quad' muscles - all very odd and unpredictable! Walking so well (a relative term!) today - very strange it all is.

20-Feb

The new bathroom cabinets
There will be mirrors in the doors

I have undertaken a little more research on Trendelenburg's this morning and found this. It seems quite common and a likely by-product of a hip repair.  I shall keep doing the exercises the Registrar suggested and check with 'my' Physio, Liz, when I see her on Monday. However quite stiff and sore today - I wonder why that is - most days are good with the odd one here and there a bit of a step backwards.

The bathroom cupboards - the curved
one is for the main bathroom

I popped over to Weedon this morning to see Jim (who is doing my bathroom and the little ensuite in the top bedroom) to see what the furniture looked like.  The larger 'cupboards' will have frosted glass basins let into the tops. There are more images of Jim's work here.

19-Feb

I did a day for CRT in Milton Keynes today and got struck in to what CRT think are winding holes and what independent map makers think are winding holes - there's quite a bit of difference!

A letter from the NHS when I got home reporting on my visit to the Fracture Clinic last Thursday - I was surprised to read I have a 'Slightly Positive Trendelenburg' stance which suggests an instability in my pelvis and something to do with either my muscles and/or nerves on the side my hip was broken.  The comment says I will not show this stance in three months - I hope that's correct.

18-Feb

A fairly quiet day - looking in my wardrobe for something decent to wear to Derek's funeral next week. I think I have found something at fits the occasion and adds a bit of colour to to the event in celebration of Derek's life.

My friend Mike delivered an excellent presentation (no PowerPoint thank goodness) last night at the monthly Friends of The Canal Museum meeting.  All about his 20, or so, years in Stoke Bruerne which was finished off by a bit of excellent mucking about on his trumpet - I wonder what Village at War will bring. I had a lovely evening meal with my friend David Daines in the Navigation prior to the FoCM meeting.  

17-Feb

Jim (the bathroom man) called me today to say he would start on Monday next (22-Feb) which is good news.  I shall be away for one day attending the funeral of my friend Derek in Westbury, Wilts.  My friend Mike has banned me from driving and will take me which is very kind of him.

16-Feb

Nothing like so stiff this morning although I did keep up on the exercises the consultant prescribed. A sharp frost overnight, but no more cold than I remember in the early 1980s - I get exasperated by the media who do go on and on and on about how cold it was last night. It is a typical winter's day today - bright, clear and frosty - just what a winter should be - my only change in lifestyle will be that I shall be a bit more careful when outside in case I slip - because I know only too well the consequences of slipping! I have a real fear of falling over - no more gin then!

15-Feb

Last night I started the exercises which my consultant had suggested would help. The longer term answer is that they do work, of that there is no doubt BUT I was so stiff this morning I could hardly move!  It took a walk to the tunnel portal and back to get things moving again but I do think the longer term result is good.  Maybe after a few 'consultant' exercises I won't be quite so stiff in the mornings!

Still bitterly cold with a biting NE wind.

Day 97 (49) to Day 101 (53)

A photo taken from the top floor of the museum by my friend Steph.  Left to right are the historic boats
  Sculptor, Southern Cross, Moon and William

14-Feb

The day has dawn clear but with a naggingly cold east wind - as I write this at 10:30 there are lots of people around.

We had a great day but it remained bitterly cold all day.

13-Feb

A really raw and cold day with constant drizzle. Despite the weather there were a good number of visitors here being shown around the lock.  William, Phobos and Southern Cross were here to compliment Sculptor as the photo at the top shows.  In the evening we had a lovely time in the Spice of Bruerne.

Jim the builder came round to do some last minute checks, yes I have had the quote, fallen over and picked myself up off the floor and accepted Jim's quote.  It looks as if he may start on 22-Feb!

12-Feb

A quiet Friday doing what I could to help CRT get ready for the Lock Open Days at the top Lock. It was bitterly cold and promises to be much the same for the weekend.

11-Feb

A good session with Liz my Physio this morning followed this afternoon by an appointment with the registrar.  All looking good and he doesn't wish to see me again until May.  This image alongside is of the 'repair' taken on 14-December-15.  I am surprised about the extra screw but I was told that it is the one that locks everything in place!

10-Feb

A bit stiff this morning but I have worked it off and now (10:00) am doing well. A phone call to the doctor this morning to check on the results of last week's blood test to find that I am 'borderline' on Creatinine so of course they would like some more blood - it must be posh blood!

A phone call yesterday from my very good (and long-standing) family friend Trevor to say his father had died overnight.  Trevor's Mum Georgie was so good to me when I had a difficult period in my life 35 years or so ago.  Derek was in a nursing home for some time and succumbed to dementia. I honestly think everyone is sorry he has gone but thankful he is no longer suffering.

Today was 'Adoption Day' in Stoke Bruerne - still not fit enough to take part but it was good to go and have a cup of tea with the team at lunchtime.

09-Feb

A much better day from the point-of-view of the weather. First thing Stuart came to clean my oven - I just couldn't do it with the hip the way it is and he has done a 'sparkling' job. Then John Dodwell (a Trustee for Canal and River Trust) and Peter Gray for morning tea followed by a FRED (Fish Rescue Education Day) following the draining of the pound below the lock. John and I then went to see David Blagrove and his wife Jean - David and John go back 60 years!

John and I had a lovely lunch in the Navigation before he went off with Ian (Knocky) Final to look at issues on the Grand Union South.

I was delighted to receive an e-mail fro a friend of mine in South Africa who had sent a photo of an old 2CV of mine which is now in a museum in the Netherlands. I remember driving RFF192 back from Dublin and then to Slovenia and back in 1995 - oh to be that young again and have the carefree attitude that I did in those days - who else would drive a 1955 12hp 2CV all the way to Slovenia and back for fun? It is lovely to see that it is being cared for and in a museum where it will last for so much longer.

I clearly walked too far today (will I ever learn) and I find my right thigh is really quite sore this evening.  I have done a lot today so I'll need to monitor how my recovery goes but based on previous issues like this I am sure it will be fine after a night's rest.

08-Feb

A horrible day weather wise today - huge winds (90mph on the south coast) and bitterly cold. My friend Sue was crossing from Dublin to Holyhead - bit of a roller coaster journey I should think. The CRT boys have started work on the top lock so that will give me an interest for a few weeks.

Day 91 (43) to Day 96 (48)

07-Feb

Another quiet day today. Just doing the 'normal' things such as the ironing and housework - the housework is good Physio for me and I am happy to take life quietly at the moment. A busy week in prospect with the top lock outside due to be taken apart starting on Monday morning, a FRED (Fish Rescue Education Day) on Tuesday, Adoption Day on Wednesday (won't be doing too much manual labour though), Physio and the Fracture Clinic on Thursday and then the Lock Open weekend on the Saturday and Sunday.  I'll have Friday off for good behaviour!

06-Feb

Waitangi Day today; a day that most Kiwis do not forget (mainly because it is a public holiday in NZ!).

My friend Richard came over this morning whist I scanned in his drawings of the cloths for Sculptor - they cover the cargo hold when the weather is inclement or when carrying a cargo that is susceptible to water. The drawings will be sent on to a company under Spaghetti Junction (Gravely Hill Interchange in proper speak!) which is the intersection of the M5 and M6.

I have enjoyed a quiet day today (I had the pleasure of entertaining by friend Emma for 45 mins or so) as it is the first round of 6 Nations rugby this weekend.

05-Feb

Much more flexible this morning - I know I have to push the exercise but obtaining the right balance is quite a challenge.  Friday was fine and I felt as if my mobility was as good as it has been since breaking my hip.  I had an appointment today to have my eyes tested - the good news is that I don't need new glasses and that my eyes have neither deteriorated or improved in the last two years.

04-Feb

An appointment today with the Phlebotomist (what a title!) at my GP surgery today.  She needed a bit of blood from me.  I asked about my Vitamin D levels which she said were normal but that the hospital were concerned about my kidney function and my creatinine levels - http://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm - I am of the opinion that my leg muscles waisted a bit during the long periods of doing nothing and now I am up and down the stairs, going out for walks and doing as much Physio as I can so I am not surprised that my creatinine levels are on the high side.  Anyway I can't change much at the moment so I'll need to wait and see.

I walked up to the tunnel portal and back at lunchtime and paid for it later in the evening - no trouble walking but that, coupled with a bit more walking around in the afternoon, kind of seized me up by the time I went to bed (much better the following morning).

03-Feb

A quiet day spent watching the England/South Africa cricket match. Managed to put the rubbish out today which is another 'first'.  Tomorrow I am off to the vampires at my local GP Surgery as they want more blood from me - probably because my Vitamin D levels are still low - I'll try and find out why if I can. It might seem like a small thing but I can now balance on my right leg 'on demand' and I can put on my Jimmys (not a pleasant sight!) without the need to sit down or use an external means of supporting myself. I've not been able to do that for three months.

02-Feb

Another 'good' day - much more flexibility and mobility. This morning John Chambers came and fitted grab handles to two out of the three flights of stairs I have - on the top flight it just doesn't seem possible (or necessary) to fit grab handles. I did expect the NHS to look at doing that but I can't have looked pathetic enough at the time. They will, I expect, become useful in the coming years! There are two on the flight of stairs from the sitting room to the kitchen and two on the flight of stairs from the sitting room to the bathroom/spare bedroom.

Day 90 (42)

On Saturday I made mention as follows of a new appointment 'A letter from the Fracture Clinic this morning saying I had an appointment for 11-February but I also have one for 5-February which doesn't seem to have been cancelled - I'll need to check with them on Monday.' 

I rang the Fracture Clinic this morning and after 10 minutes waiting I was advised that, although the letter I had received on Saturday did not advise of a change in appointment, it was, in fact, a change of appointment; they don't, apparently, have the right template to say it is a change of appointment. The date on the letter is the same date I had received a phone call from an external agency asking me to confirm I was going to the 5-February appointment.  So I now have an appointment for 11-February (some two months after the first one despite the advice that I needed to see the Fracture Clinic monthly!).

Why was I not surprised to receive a phone this evening at 18:20 asking me to confirm I would be attending the 11-February appointment - less than eight hours after agreeing I was going to the 11-February appointment.

Is it any wonder that the NHS is in such disarray?

Day 82 (34) to Day 89 (41)

31-Jan

Still walking well this morning although a bit 'sore' overnight. I was going to watch the Murray v Djokovic match this morning but I see Murray is already 0-4 down as I write this so may be not at the moment. Went out for a walk today but was rather unpleasant weather-wise with a cold wind and constant very fine drizzle.

The lady who is kindly helping me keep the house in order, Jo, (there's a number of things I still find difficult) had me clearing out cupboards and the like; I have done another four this week so there's only my wardrobe left to do!

30-Jan

I woke up this morning and after about 10 mins found I could walk without any 'pain' at all - I haven't had very much pain during this whole 'episode' but today is was quite amazing that there was nothing uncomfortable at all - I just wonder if there is a nerve trapped somewhere that is slowly releasing itself - I'll need to keep up with the massage I think.  Apart from that a quiet day but there's a few ideas running around in my mind about making storage of 'things' in my house better - I'll need to discuss that with Jim Birch from Oakcraft Narrowboats I expect! 

I enjoyed the tennis from Melbourne this morning and the fact that a new person has won.  I wonder what will happen tomorrow when the 'old' protagonists Murray and Djokovic do battle.

A letter from the Fracture Clinic this morning saying I had an appointment for 11-February but I also have one for 5-February which doesn't seem to have been cancelled - I'll need to check with them on Monday.

29-Jan

A day when I felt very mobile - no problems coming down the stairs, no problems parking the car some 300m away from the Doctor's surgery when I needed to go and pick up some more Adcal-D3 (Vitamin D supplement) - it must be working because I haven't broken a fingernail for 3 months! I am sure all the stiffness and perceived lack of mobility is entirely muscular but I also suppose my visit to the Fracture Clinic on Friday next week will tell. A busy week next week as regards the hip - Physio on Monday, Blood test on Thursday and Fracture Clinic on Friday.

28-Jan

I spent today with Cand & River Trust in Milton Keynes working on their project about winding holes - I now have a list of  'official' winding holes in the South East (Stockers Lock to Kilby Lock Bridge, to Radford Semele and down to Oxford) and any issues that have been raised about them. The plan is to address any notified issues and, if at all possible, list the maximum length of boat that can be winded if not 72'. 

27-Jan

I went over to see Jim at Oakcraft Narrowboats in Weedon today - his workmanship is a sight to behold - beautiful - if we can do a deal on my bathroom it will look lovely. This was my first 'major' outing on my own and I managed to get in (and off) a couple of Narrowboats successfully.

26-Jan
I spent the morning helping clean exhibits in the Museum next door. I enjoyed my time doing that. In the afternoon Jo came to help keep the house in order and we spent a wonderful time cleaning out the cupboard under the stairs and getting rid of things I really don't need.  Very cathartic in my view.

25-Jan

A quietish day but also a visit to my (private) Physio; Liz says she is very pleased with my progress and that my upper leg muscles on my right leg are getting very much stronger. It is really very surprising how weak they become over a relatively short period. Some friends have said that it must be costly seeing Liz, it is, but I see it as an investment in my future.  The NHS Physio doesn't wish to see me again until 24-February; I think it is important to keep the pressure up to get back to full fitness as soon as I possibly can so I continue to see Liz.

Day 74 (26) to Day 81 (33)

24-Jan (32)

Able to come down the stairs this morning one foot after the other rather than always leading with one foot (leg); that's yet another little milestone. Physio tomorrow with my friend Liz at Working Bodies. I am surprised that the NHS have said I don't need to go back to them for 4 weeks but Liz thinks I need weekly work. I know I am paying for Liz and that the NHS is free (at the point of delivery) but still feel that seeing Liz is an investment in my future rather than a cost. I haven't used any form of walking aid since Friday; I am quite pleased about that.

I went for a walk this afternoon with my friend Mike; all the way to the tunnel portal and back - about as far as I would wish to walk at the moment but nonetheless a little milestone in my recovery I think. I did take my walking stick I am afraid.

23-Jan (31)

Saddened to read in the NZ papers today that Alec Whishart who had formed a band in the 1970s called Hogsnort Rupert had died.  They had two very memorable songs, Pretty Girl and Aunty Alice brought us this - typical Kiwi stuff but I do remember so well going to hear them in Oamaru in the very early 1970s; their songs still bring a smile to my face and oodles of memories. What made them more endearing to me was that my beloved parents didn't like them! But then I don't think they, like many parents, liked their offspring's choice of music in their teens!

Making slow but sure progress with the walking.  Friends who visit say they notice great improvement but of course I see it continuously and don't see the shifts in improvement. It's the 'quad' muscle that seems to have its nose out of joint.

My friends Ken and Sue (and their lovely Boarder Collie Holly) sent me a lovely jigsaw during the week but, although I knew something was coming I didn't know what so I completely forgot to say thank you until prompted by Sue when she asked if it had arrived - I am very embarrassed by my lack of manners.

22-Jan (30)
The improvement in my mobility seems to continue - no pain in the left leg overnight  so I can only assume that there has been some kind of inflammation in my upper right leg which is now under control - great!

A meeting this morning with CRT's Director of Marketing at the museum and a trip into the tunnel and back again.

Took myself into Milton Keynes in the afternoon and walked to a meeting (albeit with a walking stick) so that's another little milestone.

21-Jan (29)

Well I got up this morning and zoomed around the bedroom as usual.  However the odd thing is that I have continued to be able to 'zoom around' all morning. I took some anti-inflamatory drugs yesterday and again this morning; I can't think of anything else that may be the cause of me being able to walk so well. They weren't anything smart - just Lloyds Pharmacy own brand ones.

20-Jan (28)

Jim Birch from Oak Craft Narrowboats came to see me today. Mainly about a shower with a larger enclosure as I have always found the current one a little small. I think we'll do a little more than that so I await Jim's quotation with interest.

NHS Physio today - all went well and Joyti doesn't wish to see me for a month as she thinks I am making excellent progress which is good news - she said I must understand that the work to fix my hip was a big operation.

19-Jan (27)

All day with CRT in Milton Keynes - even got to write a little HTML - that takes me back to BA days! I was very surprised how tired I was last night - dragged myself upstairs but I did sleep very soundly!

A bitterly cold day but a wonderful frost and a sparklingly clear day - driving in to Milton Keynes with Lee King (Lee is charge of the maintenance engineers from Stockers Lock to Leicester, across to Hawkesbury Junction where the North Oxford and Coventry canals join, down to the Blue Lias on the Grand Union in the Stockton area, and then south to Oxford) was just a great experience as I had time to look over the wonderful countryside.

18-Jan (26)

A quiet day with a visit to my physio (Liz) in Towcester at midday. I enjoy going to see Liz as she pushes me to do thing I hadn't considered or do do things in a different way all of which help. I find, following Liz's advice that swinging my arms (however odd it may look) helps hugely with my walking!

Very cold overnight with the canal covered in a thin skin of ice this morning! I am sure it will melt very quickly with the forecast for rising temperatures and a some wind and rain on the way.

Day 66 (18) to Day 73 (25)

17-Jan (25)

A view from my front door this morning

Snow overnight as predicted. I haven't been outside as I am not quite sure how I'd explain things to A&E at NGH if I slipped and damaged my hip! It does look beautiful until someone walks along the towpath and it takes the 'virginity' of the snow away.   I am amazed how the snow has clung to the branches of the trees - normally it melts very quickly but I don't think the outside temperature has risen above 0 Celsius so far. A bit of a restless night but making my way around the house very well this morning.  My consultant did say that I would have times when progress seemed to be slow (a plateau he called it) - I think I may be past the most recent episode of that.

A lovely visit today from Steph and Steve Furniss and their one-year-old daughter Eliza - she climbed my kitchen stairs which I understand was a first for her.

I stumbled across this article on Vitamin D - makes interesting reading despite the attached video being just so American.

16-Jan (24)

Today is Sculptor day so am off to a meeting at 10:00 (luckily just next door at the museum) where we'll discuss things such as the programme for the year and the forthcoming Boat Safety Inspection (think MoT but every 4 years).

I have enjoyed such a good day today; I have not (hardly) needed the crutches and hardly needed the walking stick.  Things became a bit sore about 17:00 but I am not really surprised so it looks as if the walking corner may have been turned but I suppose I'll have to see how tomorrow goes.  I managed to take myself to Tesco at Mereway, get the car washed and do my little bit of shopping (a little bit of shopping always seems to cost a lot!) without the need for a wheelchair - one crutch and the Tesco trolley were quite sufficient this time.

15-Jan (23)

A quiet day today; it's still a bit sore to walk unaided - maybe I am expecting too much - I have noticed that I am fine when I first get up in the morning but as soon as I have sat down the soreness comes back.  I think it may be because my leg has lain flat for the night and as soon as I sit down I put pressure on it in a different way.  I am seeing my Physio on Monday so I'll ask Liz what it might be - it just could be I am expecting too much!

14-Jan (22)

A day for helping CRT in Milton Keynes - Sarah picked me up at just after nine and I spent the day in MK busying myself trying to do what I could to help.  I found it most interesting to have the shared e-mail open on one screen looking at issues being raised by the public and the discussion going on on the internet about exactly the same subject!

13-Jan (21)

Today was 'adoption day' in Stoke Bruerne - the day when, once a month we do our best to do all the little bits that need doing between the tunnel portal and the bottom lock. Sadly I can't at the moment join the team doing the physical, outside, stuff so I spent most of the morning with Steph in the museum doing what I could to help - mainly having a chat I think. I made myself a lovely (even if I say so myself) macaroni cheese for my evening meal and managed to freeze four additional portions for later in the week.

I think I may have discovered why, when I get up, the leg feels good but very shortly afterwards doesn't feel quite so good - it doesn't seem to like me sitting down; I'll discuss that with my Physio on Monday.

12-Jan (20)

I spent today volunteering for Canal & River Trust at their Milton Keynes office.  Sarah Brown kindly collected me and brought me home again.  It was so good to get out and have what my dear old dad would have called 'social intercourse'. I hope what I accomplished was useful.  Sarah, Amy and I had a lovely meal in the Navigation (thank you Amy).  I am going back on Thursday so I must have done some good or given someone a good laugh!

11-Jan (19)

Today is the first day of getting back in to 'normality' or whatever passes for that at the moment. We have Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership monthly meeting this morning and then I am off to Towcester to see my 'private' physio - that sounds so American - but I have been seeing Liz Soames at Working Bodies  for some time to help keep my lower back in order. I expect Liz will give the muscles on my upper right leg a good massage to help get them going again.

The visit to Liz was amazing - she seemed to massage almost everything and gave me plenty of good advice.  I was able to treat my friend Helen to lunch in Waitrose as she was kind enough to drive me to the appointment.

When I arrived home there was a letter from my GP advising that I needed another blood test in four weeks time - not sure why but I have made an appointment for 4-February - there must be a Vampire somewhere who likes my blood!

10-Jan (18)
Not such a good day today - very stiff for some reason which I shall put down to the exercises I have been doing that were given me by the physio at the Brook Health Centre.