Cripple is creaking
About 3 years ago I had a double hip replacement, during which the sciatic nerve in my right leg was damaged, resulting in a condition known as drop foot.
For a long time this was my comfort:
My former support
The drama is that the pain the the left hip has returned and I can hardly walk without pain. This has been getting worse over the last year but now has reached a severe phase. Waddling sideways out of the milonga hanging onto every ledge is an inelegant way to leave and sitting outside smoking and drinking wasn’t quite what I had in mind.
I can deal with the shonky foot but the crappy hip makes me frustrated.
I guess, however that listening to people talk about Christchurch and their hip injuries from being thrown across the room and now the people in Japan does create a kind of perspective. Well I’ll survive, but I do feel short changed about all this.
Sigh.
A few bits and pieces
to round off the week.
This morning I was looking in the cupboard for something and found a lot of shoes…some of them very nice and some of them bought to wear after the operation. So I think the next plan is to wear those shoes.
And the plan after that is to walk properly so that when I am in England, Italy and Greece I’ll be able to climb hills, walk into theatres and around museums. Although the back-up plan is to go to one place and stay there, taking train and bus trips around. Which sounds pretty good to me. I guess a report on being a semi-cripple in Italy will be forthcoming. I hope they sort the strife in Thailand before my plane lands there. And Mumbai. How awful but Fisky would see the connections with what the West is doing and the troubles in Afghanistan and the latest events in India. When people feel desperate they do desperate things.
Meanwhile the garden is flourishing and the native walkway taking shape – at least there has been some clearance of old rubbish! The raised garden is a great success as I am able to wander out to cut my spinach/salad plants and sit on the seat weeding while supping the wine. Very satisfactory.
And the sun just keeps on shining! Wellington has been superb: soft evenings at Lyall Bay, calm clear waters of Pauatahanui in the morning or the harbour on other days. The hills opposite my window are brown and dry and the sunsets…superb. It’s been sunny, hot, still – fabulous. As they say “Ya can’t beat Welly on a Good Day” 
You are best to read these images as they are: I did not crop them so enlarged they are not so great. Sorry. I see some people have been browsing.
OK, I know it’s not all about me
but here’s the latest. This is my former support (except when I need it for drama).
Yes walking stick is history.
former support-2
BTW Mo says if I am really bored I can read his software info so here it is if you too are bored.
Got an email about Movember so I guess it’s gonna be time to support the number one nephew soon. I’ll be letting you know about the breast cancer photos we had done at the gym and the calendar for 2009 too….
So where is real cripple Pati? Poster boy for safety week seems not to want participate in this. Ah well, he tells me he is too busy organising social events.
Note: Turning the image is too hard right now so you’ll have to turn your heads.
Note 2: Very satisfying talking to city councillors about tiles, urban design and related subjects. I think community groups go with the ‘good things’ category.
