Miracles

I'm just back from a physio appointment following the knee op I had last Tuesday and it would appear that some kind of minor miracle is taking place. In short they are pretty amazed at the speed of recovery/progress being made. Ok, so it wasn't a major op (I'm saving that one for January) but it was still an op - similar to one I had on the other knee in May so I thought I knew what to expect.
BUT - there's barely any swelling or bruising - I've full range of movement (flexion & extension) and apart from a bit of stiffness, no pain at all. It's really only when I twist that it actually reminds me it's there and that's possibly because it pulls the stitches.
It almost feels fraudish (is there such a word!!??) to do what they advise and 'take it easy' because it feels so good - especially as the sharp knife-like pain that has been a constant for so long has gone!
Now realistically there are other, underlying problems BUT this is all just brilliant.
God is good. ALL THE TIME.

Bring it on!!!!!!!!

Christmas that is!!! Here we are, about a month to go, and I'm pretty well ready for it. Amazing. Incredible in fact.
The reality is that, because of the operation I had this week and the possibilities of what the afterwards of that could look like, I was advised to get as ready for Christmas as I could. So I shopped, shopped and shopped some more. I'm loving Amazon even more than before - in fact internet shopping in general has been a bit of a lifesaver.
And now, here I am with a bit of a sore leg - but I will be up and about pretty soon - and ready for the festivities. Got some major surgery to look forward to in January - but in the meantime, bring on the mulled wine and Quality Street! yummy.....

He never lets go.....

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast...."

Dodgy knees!

Well the saga of my dodgy knees continues to rumble on......The good news is that the right knee - with the partial kneecap replacement - is making great progress and at 3 months post-op is just about where the consultant and physio would expect it to be at around 4 months (in accordance with the Steadman programme of rehab). However, the left knee, which looked to be worse on the MRI scans, is really struggling and not coping with the pressure at all.
So I'll be back under the surgeon's knife again on Tuesday so he can have a look at what's going on. Basically there are 3 things that could happen:-
1. He can clear out the debris, smooth off the back of the cap and maybe do a 'lateral release' where the cartilege is cut to allow the kneecap to move over...
2. All of the above, minus the lateral release, but if there is a hole in the kneecap that's over a certain size then I'll go back early in the new year to have a repair similar to the right knee.......or
3. All of the above, minus the lateral release, and if there is a hole under a certain size then he will perform a proceedure called microfracture - which is horrible and will mean being non-weight bearing and in a brace (again) for 6-8 weeks.

Oh the joy of it all.

I am sure there is much to be learnt from this period of my life - not least to encourage my kids to look after their knees - but stuff about pain (I have a high pain threshold and shouldn't have let it go this far before asking for help), recovery and, most importantly, patience.

And I pray God gives me grace and peace to not be a miserable old moo through it all!!!!!!!

Gok

I officially LOVE Gok Wan! His TV shows (currently 'How to look good naked') are so brilliant at making high fashion and style accessible to everybody no matter what shape, size or financial status. I want him to be my best friend!!!!!!!!!
I also love that he's from Leicester. Get in there...................

Despite it all - it is well....

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Wii Fit

So today I got back on the WiiFit after an absence of around 6 months. My fitness is really suffering following the 2 knee operations this year - and particularly the last one in August which was, in effect, a partial kneecap replacement - and can I tell you the MOST painful thing I have ever experienced in my life (including childbirth!!!!!).

The exercise I can do is pretty limited - and will be so from now on due to very damaged knees and after a little chat with my WiiFit trainer today the reality of what that means is clear!!!!!!!

The bit I don't quite understand though is that, despite being told that, well, I've put on rather a few too many pounds, my WiiFit age is 34. Hmmmmmm.....work that one out if you can!

Teenage wit...

Just had to share this - some of it is not terribly 'pc', but funny nonetheless....
The following questions were set in last year's GCSE examination in Swindon , Wiltshire. These are genuine answers (from 16 year olds)

1. Q. Name the four seasons
A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar

2. Q. Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink
A. Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists

3. Q. How is dew formed
A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire

4. Q.. What causes the tides in the oceans
A.. The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins the fight

5. Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on
A. If you are buying a house they will insist that you are well endowed

6 Q. In a democratic society, how important are elections
A. Very important. Sex can only happen when a male gets an election

7. Q.. What are steroids
A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs

8. Q. What happens to your body as you age
A. When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental

9. Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty
A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery

10. Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes
A. Premature death

11. Q. What is artificial insemination
A. When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow

12. Q. How can you delay milk turning sour
A.. Keep it in the cow

13. Q. How are the main parts of the body categorised (eg the abdomen)
A. The body is consisted into 3 parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels: A,E,I,O and U

14. Q. What is the fibula
A. A small lie

15. Q. What does 'varicose' mean
A. Nearby

16. Q. What is the most common form of birth control
A. Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium

17. Q. Give the meaning of the term 'Caesarean section'
A. The caesarean section is a district in Rome

18. Q. What is a seizure
A. A Roman Emperor

19. Q. What is a terminal illness
A. When you are sick at the airport

20. Q. Give an example of a fungus. What is a characteristic feature
A. Mushrooms. They always grow in damp places and they look like umbrellas

21. Q. Use the word 'judicious' in a sentence to show you understand its meaning
A. Hands that judicious can be soft as your face

22. Q. What does the word 'benign' mean
A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight

23 Q. What is a turbine
A. Something an Arab or Shreik wears on his head

Glimmer

I just love it when, just as you think everything is dark and gloomy, God just shines a light to show you the way........

Speak to me!!!!!!!!

In the silence of the stars,
In the quiet of the hills,
In the heaving of the sea,
Speak, Lord.

In the stillness of this room,
In the calming of my mind,
In the longing of my heart,
Speak, Lord.

In the voice of a friend,
In the chatter of a child,
In the words of a stranger,
Speak, Lord.

In the opening of a book,
In the looking of a film,
In the listening to music,
Speak, Lord.

For your servant listens.

by David Adam

Dreams

I have a question buzzing around the empty space that is my head - is it a display of strength to give up on your dreams and accept that 'that time' has passed - or is it weakness to give up on your dreams and just accept it? Does that actually make sense??????
I completely accept that there are seasons in life and sometimes situations come along for 'such a time as that' but how do you know when that time has truly passed?
Ho hum............