A hint of blue

Bean and I had a short walk at Enfield on the way into town for my physio appointment and were fortunate to see this sliver of blue sky over the rugby grounds: the first for a few days. By the time we left Oamaru 90 minutes later it covered half the sky and sunnies were required.

Nicola the physiotherapist listened to the latest about my back, examined me and was immediately reassuring. 

No I hadn't irrevocably damaged anything. No I hadn't done any new damage. 

Yes I was extraordinarily unlucky to have bent and twisted in a particular way to exacerbate things. Yes it will mend. But yes it will take a bit longer.

At which point - rather unexpectedly - I began leaking tears of relief.

She showed me a few very gentle exercises designed to help me get my confidence back. We discussed dos and don'ts. And we made an appointment for next Tuesday.

Walks are back on the agenda, which will please Bean enormously. She has been a bit short-changed lately. 

And a little less lying down each day is also recommended. Although not for Bean. Obviously.

I am making a lentil and parsnip shepherds' cottage for supper to celebrate. Is it a shepherds' pie, or a cottage pie? Nope, it's a shepherds' cottage :-)

Onwards and upwards :-)