It continues to be rather mild for December here - and wet, grey and gloomy. The photo above (from the cemetery) shows some azalea leaf buds in the foreground looking almost worringly green for the time of year. I hope they're not getting deceived to believe that there's spring in the air already!
On Friday afternoon I managed a walk combining recycling with a visit to the one of our two small neighbourhood shops that also serves as "post office" (with limited service); to pick up a parcel (something I had ordered that was a little too big to fit in my own postbox), and to get my bunch of Swedish Christmas cards posted.
Saturday and Sunday were so thoroughly wet, dark and dismal that I didn't set foot outside. I kind of went into half-hibernation, and can't recall that I "did" much indoors either...
Monday today, and the sky still a very dense grey - but the rain stopped (at least for a while), allowing me a walk to the major post office down by the railway, to post a couple of large "parcel envelopes" (which I didn't want to entrust to the single postbox at the convenience store). The walk from here to there took me about 15 minutes, which is probably fairly normal (for me). On the way back, I took a detour into/around the cemetery, which prolonged the whole walk to 45 minutes all in all.
It's been over two months now since I and fell and hurt my knee. It keeps getting better, and less swollen; but still not enough for me to dare try to walk all the way into town and back (which is what I'm really longing to be able to get back to). I don't go out without wearing a compression knee bandage, and using at least one walking pole for support (today I used both). I also wear a somewhat softer knee bandage (bamboo) all night.
A 'favourite' old house I passed on my walk back from the post office. (If you feel that you've probably seen it before - then you probably have!)
Knees do take a long time to heal, because we always have to use them. But I'm glad yours is heading in the right direction. Thank you for the card, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI suppose you're right about that, Ginny! Not least when living alone and no one else around to do what needs to be done. (On the other hand I suppose that also forces one not to become "too" inactive, which would probably not be good either...)
DeleteThumbs up for your walks getting longer and - weather permitting - more frequent.
ReplyDeleteAs for the weather you're having, I almost feel guilty in telling you what a beautiful sunny day we've had yesterday (Monday)! I didn't have time for a walk between work and meeting my book-swapping friend at the Christmas market, but it was nice nonetheless. On recent walks in the neighbourhood, I have noticed magnolia trees showing big buds, and like you I hope they won't open prematurely or all die off when the temperature plunges.
Our weather forecast keeps more or less along the same lines; no snow in sight. The local weather man said that the last time we had a white Christmas in Baden-Wuerttemberg was in 2005, so every kid of 15 or younger has never experienced a white Christmas here.
Meike, here it's still almost a feeling of living underground and forgetting what a clear blue sky looks like... ;) (C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair comes to mind!) White Christmases have become rather rare in the southern parts of Sweden as well and are not to be counted on around here. But we've really had unusually few hours of sunshine all over Sweden this December, so far.
DeleteInjuries take longer than you think. Six weeks is a minimum, but even then it depends on what muscles and tendons were injured too. Listen to your body and, if it doesn't feel right, don't force things until you are ready.
ReplyDeleteThanks Addy - and I agree. It's sometimes quite a complicated balance, though. Not least when living alone. I do try to spread out the things I need to do, though, and rest in between.
DeleteRecovery from any injury, even surgery, takes a long time, and you're approaching it sensibly. I don't blame you staying indoors on a gloomy, wet day. That's what we're doing today. It seems to be getting darker by the minute!
ReplyDeleteJanice, I do know from past experiences that healing takes time. Just never had *this* kind of injury before... and combined with my body now being 70 years old... So it's an ongoing learning process! ;)
DeleteYour weather sounds similar to ours. Some days it barely seems to get light but it's mild and damp. I saw some big buds appearing too, maybe a camellia. I often feel like telling things to stop growing, as so often they bloom and then get frosted.
ReplyDeleteJenny, I'll try giving those bushes a lecture next time I pass by there... ;)
DeleteGreat to hear of your latest excursion! You’re moving along wisely! Loved that you will be talking to those wayward plants!
ReplyDeleteBarbara, if nothing else I'm getting a lot of practice making "much ado about nothing"! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're getting out and walking. I'm in a similar position with my back, finally walking the dog occasionally.
ReplyDeleteI like the balcony on that old white house and the windows on the ground floor, or is that the basement? You are doing a good job of exercising and getting that knee in good shape again.
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