It is nearly a month since my last blog and I really hadn't noticed that Christmas was on us until last week when I sent out a few Christmas Cards.
Helen went home at the end of November after staying nearly a month. Normally she has caught the Airport Shuttle Bus but with the early morning flight to Adelaide she has had a few near misses so we drove to Brisbane in my car instead. Helen drove there and after leaving her at the terminal I drove home. I was able to take Louis on his morning morning walk at 7.00am after a quick 280Km round trip.
First a little update on my health. Earlier this month my GP arranged for me to have a series of blood tests as the ones taken back in July were not as good as he would have like. Well the results came back last week and they were very good. My cholesterol is 3.6 with the "bad" and "good" levels being equal. My liver function is now in the good range for a normal person and very good for a type two diabetic. He also checked my blood pressure (120/70) and heart rate (60). Unfortunately I still have AF but with my blood thinners (Pradaxa} and heart control medication am have the normal chance of a stroke the same as any healthy seventy five year old. The only slightly negative thing is the progressive increase in my blood sugar levels but I am still coping without medication at the present time. All in all not too bad for an old fellow.
I have been busy at Meals on Wheels as we have had a shortage of volunteers. I have made two deliveries each week in December. The good thing is that I am coping well. Before my stroke I found it satisfying but stressful. For some reason I am just enjoying myself and really enjoying meeting my clients. Last Thursday was supposed to be my last delivery before Christmas so I wished everybody a Happy Christmas and told them that I would see them in the New Year. Yesterday, Monday, I was asked to fill in and did the same round which caused some interest and a few comments from the clients. My next round is the first Friday in January.
I have been riding with my bicycle club on our Saturday morning 30Km social ride except for the week before last which was rained out. I have been having a great time as my fitness is more that adequate for these rides. After the stoke I really struggled to keep up but now just enjoy the ride, the company and the morning coffee stop. Last Saturday I was riding with a lady who joined the club when I just got back on my bike after the stroke. We both had a hard time that day as the leader, another old fart in his seventies, suggested that we should be on an easier ride. She has just bought herself a new and much better bike. During the ride we both felt so good after the coffee break that we rode away from the group including the afore mentioned old fart who grumbled about waiting for the slower members.
Finally a word about my feelings. After my bicycle tour in October and as we remembered the first anniversary of Margaret's death I again suffered a period of depression. This was never bad enough to require outside assistance but rest assured that if it had I would have sought it. My GP sees me every month and always checks me out. Today I have found time for the first time in three months to go on a solo bike ride. It was over the hill to Eumundi for morning coffee and back again. A total of 34Km and a couple of hours riding which has left me felling great.
The route:
http://www.bikemap.net/route/1361619?132434216385175#lat=-26.44445&lng=152.97741&zoom=12&type=0
Happy Christmas
