I Have Made a Couple of Big Decisions

First let me deal with the aftermath of my fall from my bicycle three weeks ago.  Two days later, on Thursday the 10th of May, I had to visit my GP for a six monthly check up on my Type 2 Diabetes.  I had had the full blood tests the week before.  I was still very sore from my fall and my GP had me remove my shirt while he examined my back.  I had areas of sharp pain on both the front and back of my lower left ribs.  I had no problems with breathing but could have cracked a rib on my lower back.  It was decided that I would live and should carry on as normal except for avoiding activities which caused pain in that area.   As I normally sleep on my left side it has caused some restless nights but the pain has now eased and I am sleeping normally again.

The good thing is that the rest of my check up revealed that my diabetes is still under control with exercise and diet.  My GP's advice was to continue on as normal , continue riding my bike but don't fall off!

I have also had my annual eye tests which last year showed some signs  of a cataract forming on my left eye.  More good news as it has not spread and the full eye examination revealed no other abnormalities I'll probably be all right for a few more years.  With my spectacles I was given 20 20 plus.

I was able to do my Meals on Wheels  deliveries on the 11th but getting in and out of the car and twisting to put on my seat belt did hurt quite a lot. Since then I have done my normal rounds and a couple extra and things are back to normal.

On Saturday the 12th I went on my normal 30Km bike ride with my cycling club.  I had no problems while riding but starting and stopping caused some discomfort.  Since then I have had two more club rides without any problems and I have been shopping on my other bike several times.

As this post's tile says I have also made a couple of decisions about my future.

First I have decided to stay in my house a long as possible and this means that I am about to start "doing it up".  The first thing is a kitchen renovation.  When Margaret and I had our house in Tewantin built in 1998 we were persuaded to have the kitchen cupboards faced with a shrunk on vinyl finish as this allowed for a moulded pattern on their fronts.  What we didn't know that with normal kitchen heat the vinyl would shrink and eventually tear and fall off.

 The front of the pot and pans drawer affected by heat from the oven.

Knives and forks drawers in original condition.

I have arranged for all the drawer fronts and the bench tops to be replaced.  The cupboards will be finished with a flat white melamine surface and the bench tops with a reconstituted granite finish.  It will cost several thousand dollars but it will be worth it.  Next it will be hall and bedroom carpets.

The next decision concerns my cycling.  After my stroke scare last year I worked very hard to go on my bicycle tour of South Australia.  As you may remember I had problems on the first couple of hard days and later took a couple of short cuts.  This year I have decided not to go on the next SA tour.  It is just as long and it has not real loops for me to take short cuts.  After discussions with my GP I now realise that my medication for atrial fibrillation is still limiting my heart  rate and thus on a period of time I begin to suffer fatigue.  I appear to be OK up to four or five hours of riding at my sedate rate which gives me between 50 and 70Km depending on hills.  In future I shall be limiting my rides.

This does not mean that I am giving up riding.  Quite the coronary i have decided to do a series of short five day tours around Queensland.  These will be every month or so on the last week of the month when I have no scheduled MOW rounds.   Louis will have a brief holiday in kennels.

To this end I have bought new pannier bags and racks for my Bike Friday and here it is in it full touring configuration.

I hope to ride the Mary Valley, where Helen and I took the Rattler earlier this year, at the end of June and stay overnight in hotels, motels or cabins.  If I feel fit enough I will start camping as we get into spring.

Finally for Helen some local wild life.

This little Gecko livse behind a picture frame in my kitchen and earns his keep by catching bugs.  The cockroach has come in from the garage.