As is so often the case these days my blog posts are not exactly frequent: I'm not a YP, a Cro or a Rachel. I've actually had a strange month so far. When it started I had a single day in Glasgow booked at The Beatson and a few days arranged down with Anna to enjoy some Glasgow life. I had three blog posts on what I consider interesting topics to be worked upon. Then everything altered. I've damaged my shoulder and that resulted in doc, physio and x-rays appointments. Then there came calls arranging for me to have my uretic stent replaced in Ayr. So I am now in Glasgow and, having had my pre-op, I am isolating until I go in for my op tomorrow.
Today it has rained constantly: mostly very heavy drizzle that soaks you through without you noticing. Yesterday we walked 3 miles along the local canal. It was a very boring stretch in indifferent weather. Today we decided to walk round Hogganfield Loch. It's in a splendid 48 hectare park in the North-East of Glasgow. It was raining that fine drenching rain that soaks you before you've realised it. We were well prepared.
 |
| Mute and Whooper Swans |
 |
| The rain eased off at the end |
That looks damp, but so long as it's not too windy I wouldn't mind.
ReplyDeleteTasker, there wasn't a breath of air and it wasn't particularly cold either. We enjoyed it.
DeleteSorry to hear that you have had a few medical issues but hope that you can get everything sorted quickly.
ReplyDeleteThat drenching rain looks all too familiar.
Thanks, JayCee. The medical issues are pretty routine now although the shoulder was a bit limiting. Yes, you'll be well used to our Atlantic Island type of rain.
DeleteBeautiful walk. Rain has a way of stirring the soul in a refreshing way.Your blog posts are appreciated any time they appear.
ReplyDeletePrayers for your health
Thanks, Maywyn. There were times in my youth when I really enjoyed walking in the rain and yesterday it was good too. We took coffee and sat in the car with our warm mugs afterwards.
DeleteI like to walk in the rain if I'm properly prepared.
ReplyDeleteRed, being properly prepared is the key.
DeleteI appreciate any weather that tempts you to bring out your camera. Easy for me, I'm not the one getting wet. But your photos are wonderful, as always, Graham. Your walk looks dismal but beautiful with all those autumn colours. I hope all the parts of you requiring attention are soon completely restored. Keep smiling!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pauline. I'm definitely still smiling and in a few hours I'll be chatting to familiar faces at the hospital.
DeleteYour photos are just lovely. Despite the rain I can see real beauty in your captures.
ReplyDeleteBad luck about the shoulder, they can really restrict a person. I hope it's soon better.
Thank you, Kylie, for your kind photo comments. The shoulder is, I think, well on the way back to normal.
DeleteI hope your shoulder is better; all the gardening and so on won‘t be possible with a damaged shoulder. Of course, I also hope your stent replacing op will go well.
ReplyDeleteA walk in the rain can be special - provided you have a nice, warm, dry place to return to, which I am sure you did.
Thanks, Meike. The shoulder is progressing well. The Autumn work in the garden is less urgent but involves a lot of heavy clearing and so on and I think my rest from it will mean that I'll be fit when I return at the start of next Month.
DeleteGood to see you back or away. Good luck and I hope you get a good service and pass your MOT.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adrian. One of the advantages of our old bodies is that, like old cars, we can still get replacement parts.
DeleteSome really pretty seasonal colours there Graham. I've got my garden just starting to bloom in the Spring sun. It almost feels like countries around the world are periodically isolating, we are coming out of our current lockdown tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy. Mine is a personal isolation imposed by the hospital because I've had a test and am now going in for my operation today. I was isolating with a friend. Otherwise only people who have had a positive test or who have been in contact with such a person need isolate. I think! It's got to the stage after 18 months where hardly anyone knows what the rules that remain are. Except that, in Scotland, fac masks are still mandatory indoors in public spaces such as shops.
DeleteI love Autumnal colours, Amy. Our summer went so quickly. It'll soon be Christmas.
DeleteThe autumn colours are wonderful. We have had so much rain this year that most of the trees around here are still wearing their green leaves. It appears that October, my favourite month, has been delayed in north Georgia until November.
ReplyDeleteI am using UK spelling in your honor. Did you notice?
How do you tell the Mutes from the Whoopers? They all look the same to me.
Finally, how interesting that your uretic stent will be replaced in Ayr. Silly me, I thought it would be replaced in your ureter.
Love the photos of your walk in the rain.
That's for the smiles, Bob. I generally use UK spelling so it was quite normal to me although I'm fairly sure that I spell 'honor' 'honour'. Mutes and Whoopers are similar but their bills (red or yellow) and legs are different. My uretic stent will, as you say, be replaced in my body. I don't actually have a functioning right ureter - it's been replaced to all intents and purposes by a stainless steel and plastic tube (as I understand it). The grammatical point has been inwardly digested.
DeleteI sent you an email yesterday. I can't get at your blog properly. I can see and read it but it is covered by a dark veil and I can't comment.
Good to see you here Graham and the photos are splendid. You lead a busy life for one reason or another.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel. I do and, most of the time, it keeps me happy.
DeleteOkay folks. I'm off to theatre. I will have my phone until I'm discharged and I'm hoping I can comment using it.
ReplyDeleteI'm now out of hospital and at Anna's and am back in full working order again. I tried to comment using my phone but despite one successful test attempt I could not get Google to recognise my second account on the phone. Indeed I've been having a lot of problems with Google and Facebook over the last few days.
DeleteGood luck with the surgery, Graham. I hope you will be reinvigorated with a brand new warranty! Do we ever get gentle rain any more? It seems to be long dry spells or torrents with little in between. When my daughter was just a little girl, four or five years old, we used to go for walks in misty rain. She had her own umbrella and yellow rubber boots, and a little raincoat with a waterproof hood. These days we'd be better off getting out the canoe! The last word goes to the swans. Great shot. It's always exciting to have two species together. Once in a while here in southern Ontario we can see Tundra, Trumpeter and Mute in the same location. I am always delighted if this happens on one of my waterfowl walks along the north shore of Lake Ontario, as are the people who join me for Waterfowl 101! Again, good luck. May the surgeon have steady hands!
ReplyDeleteThanks, David. the surgeon has worked her usual miracle and I am back in circulation this evening with a new stent.
DeleteI have a wonderful photo which is not dis-similar to the picture you describe of your daughter. On the Island we have had a lot of very misty weather this year but, on the whole, when it rains it RAINS! We have all the swans you mention in the UK but, to the best of my knowledge, I've only seen the two I mentioned.
Those medical problems can pop up when we least expect them! Hope it all goes smoothly and you are rested and recovered soon!
ReplyDeleteI never hike in the rain - I don't think I have the proper gear like you do! I ride my Exercycle bike inside on rainy days.
Fell better!!
Ellen, I used to go to the gym and also had an exercise bike at home but I really find them a chore. I would far rather walk in the woods or cycle around them but last year I disposed of my two bikes so It's just walking now. The rain doesn't bother me - there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.
DeleteOh my Graham, it is hard to keep up with you! I check your blog every morning with my coffee and am always disappointed when there is no new post. Then there is a post and it is so full of activity I have to read twice to take it all in. I am in awe of all you do and hope you have a good result from the surgery today and continue to share yourself with us often.
ReplyDeleteJill, I'm so sorry to be so erratic in my posting. I'd love to be able to give you something interesting to read every morning but it's rather beyond me I'm afraid. The surgery went well and I'm now back at Anna's with a glass of wine and a lovely meal in my tummy. Which is not to decry the hospital's food - it is excellent. Unfortunately there is not coffee constantly available.
DeleteI'm happy to hear your surgery went well and that your shoulder is mending. Just know that when you do post, we read with eagerness.
DeleteA very much belated thank you, Jill.
DeleteIt will go well, you will be just fine!
ReplyDeleteWalking in the rain! I can almost feel the chill and smell the leaves.
Thank you, Susan. It did go well and I am fine. The rain was so heavy last night it was beating against the ward window and was rather comforting. Today I drove back to Anna's in the sun. The autumn colours are beautiful.
DeleteBy now your operation should have taken place, so I am hoping that all went well for you.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I loved walking in the rain, splashing through all the puddles - we never worried about getting wet. Now I am inclined to sit inside and watch it dribble down the window pane :)
Get well quickly, Mxx
Margaret, I'm now back at my friend's home and all went well. Thank you. The rain rarely seems to dribble these days but I don't care so long as I am suitably clad.
DeleteAs usual, my odd work schedule combined with your odd posting schedule, and I missed this post until today... so sorry to hear about your shoulder! I hope you are well again soon. Sending you virtual hugs, which remain safely socially distant and also wreak no havoc with sore shoulders!
ReplyDeleteMarcheline, I'd almost forgotten about my shoulder although the medics seem to be taking it rather seriously. Probably good because it's been troublesome the last few days. Virtual hugs duly accepted and reciprocated.
DeleteSorry to hear about your shoulder. Hope it's on the mend. I do love walks in the rain, though I don't like dealing with all the wet clothes and shoes that come afterward.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen. Many apologies for forgetting the birthday. I shall put that right tomorrow. Wet clothes are okay if you have plenty of room but few of us have these days.
DeleteGraham, Sorry I have missed this, a combination of trying to get stuff done outside before the weather breaks and the ensuing tiredness leaving little brain-power for the computer 🥲
ReplyDeleteI hope everything went well in Ayr, and that you are now home safely and on the mend.
Jayne, I'm finding that there is so much to do which demands attention that only now that I'm home and my visitor has departed am I devoting some time to Blogland. All went well in Ayr thank you.
DeleteI can almost feel the rain soaking in, looking at your photos! By now you will be through your operation as I see you have computer problems, which I hope will soon be sorted. Computers - sometimes it seems we can't live with or without them.
ReplyDeleteJenny, the rain has been soaking in almost constantly since that post. You are absolutely right about not being able to live with or without computers.
DeleteI too am a bit late in catching up on blog reading, Graham, and hope that by now the medical procedures are in the past and that you are healing and feeling better. There's never a concern about not blogging every day or even very often because I too have more ideas than time to post about what we've done or seen. Taking good care of ourselves when necessary is far more important, at least in my opinion. Fellow bloggers will always understand delays.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice, better late than never. I am one of those who benefits from that saying more than most! Thank yo for your kind understannding.
DeleteForgot to add that these rainy day views of the autumn colors were quite lovely, Graham.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beatrice.
Delete