10/10/2024
3years post transplant!!
UPDATE 10/10/2024 Last month in September was a 3rd re-birthday celebration and celebrate is exactly what I did. But before we get there, let’s fill a time lapse. Kanon renovation #3 completed. A trip to Oudtshoorn for a weekend of classical musical concerts that makes up the annual Klein Karoo Classique festival. I’ve already posted individual stories on that weekend of events. Then threw myself into planning my 3rd birthday party all the while hammering away at a keyboard in preparation for one of the biggest legislative changes in my industry. My health continues to wind along a curving path. High blood pressure, bouts of skin GVHD breakouts, night nausea, my HB levels constantly fighting to move past 10point something. However Dr Jelly ok with everything and no big meds changes. I have to do a full blood work up during my JHB visit but other than that the BMT is still holding. Now I’ve got skin cancer! On my face!! The effects of the stroke still linger, I haven’t regained proper typing usage of my left hand, so 2 fingers it is, and every day is a deep dig to adapt myself to my cognitive dysfunctions. Funny how you find oddest ways to find a new normal. I use the dictate function for longer paragraphs and emails. It’s wonderful for typing up instructions from voice notes and using AI, ChatGPT for a helping hand! 🤣as per byline from stroke survivor foundation “Adapt, Improvise, Overcome “. With a guest list of extended family, friends and Kanonites, we celebrated in style dripping in rose gold, pink, and a groaning table of food. Pink clad guests sipped drinks from the “Pink Drinks” table and the beautiful view across the front lawn, the backdrop to my homemade Photo Booth. Unfortunately, Richard could not join so I saved the opening of my generous collection of gifts until our evening video chat! Such a spoil! Foodie additions to my pantry, body luxuries and an ice cream maker, ooh some more creativity on its way out of my kitchen. Grilled harissa smoked mussels, beetroot mint dip and chicken liver pate with my homemade bread were hits!
Then month end I took a detox /off grid /off connectivity holiday in the BaviaansKloof. Richard and friends hiked, I was the back up, but each day I committed to walking at least an hour and got through nearly 19km over a few days. Magnificent area with towering cliffs, loud birdsong each morning, giant size leopard tortoises, flower season in full bloom and rocks that looked fused. Truly wonderful.
As we remember my drop to the floor end April 23, a ride in an ambulance bumpety bump along dirt road, bright lights and white coats, amazingly hardly a symptom, of that massive ischemic stroke. no Major physical defects/ effects except I completely lost my gym bunny trail runner mojo. The vibes and feels have dropped off face of my earth. Dead, I mean nada!! I’ve been trying so many different things spiritually, mentally and now physically to kick start me again. I’ve just tried to remain consistent with bio each week and a gym session after then volunteer at parkrun and gym after that. I found a tiny kinda garage gym near bio (it’s basic but it’s created a commitment) And then any walk at Kanon that Oumie is willing to do with me!! Meiringspoort. This is one of those moves! Ridiculous thing is I registered for my fave soul race and I haven’t run a meter in 11 months since I did the race last October.
Cannot believe it’s here already, it’s off to Meiringspoort this weekend and the fees and gees of the Karoo in de Rust! Unfortunately, 2024 has been a very different year for me on the exercise and training front, however I am still doing Meiringspoort on Saturday12th. It may not be what I’d envisioned for myself originally, however, I will still be getting to the start line on Saturday. I call it my Forest Gump walk! The plan is to get to an ostrich truck bright and early, watch the sun rise over the Poort and I will just start when that gun goes off and keep going until either I just physically cannot walk any further, or the sweeper bus picks me up as the 3.5hrs is finished.
Then back home to spending the next 2 weekends make crackers for HaemTeam patients as I have done for past 2 years.
Once again I am painting up a storm, I’ve expanded to doorstops and supplying a local padstal
💚purple
💚mealswith friends around a huge communal table
💚 Views from my painting desk
💚 Beach walks
💚 Morning Coffee & rusks lying on the bottom bunk bed staring up into baboon crags
💚Birdsong, butterflies and spring flowers
💚Cool nights and sunny warm days
💚 Impromptu coffee dates
