Listening to the Voices in My Head

My knee has been bothering me almost a week. Regardless, I went for a walk, albeit slightly slower than usual trying to make sure I didn't limp, and kept my steps even. I still lurch a bit, because of the leg bit lazy.

As usual, I brought camera with me to take photos of birds, flowers, things of interest to me.

I had just gotten to the turn to back onto my street, and I hear a voice behind me.

"Can I help you?

I look around, and spot a young man, tradesman by the look of his vehicle, in front of the house that has two beautiful German Shepherds.

"Oh, hello there!"

He repeated "Can I help you?" very polite.

I replied "Oh, I live here. Just taking a walk, getting photos of birds, flowers and other odds and ends, but thank you for asking." and continued on my way.

He waited until I was at the 2nd left turn, or as I call it "into the homestretch" because I can see my house, and followed me. I walked up my driveway, up to front door, inserted key and opened the door. I smiled and waved at him, he smiled and toodled off.

I think he was making sure I was ok, as I was in some obvious discomfort. What a nice young man.

Went for my daily walk today, managed to go over 2k. I know this isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but let me 'splain.

The first time I started walking around the park, I had to stop and sit on a low wall twice on the outbound trip, and twice on the way back due to back pain. Maybe 30 minutes, if that, the first go. Over the past few months, I have had to stop less and less, and walking further. Today,an hour in the park, and another 40 minutes just puttering around.

So, I will stay at the hour, but see about going further. I don't want to walk too fast, because if I do, I will start limping, and that would cause other problems.

I have been back to doing laps, walking as briskly as possible without limping, in the back yard. I do bring a camera outside with me, just in case the locals fly in for a visit. When I'm done (typically 3 to 5 chapters of audio book) I will water plants that need it, and pull some of the grass growing between bricks.

Such a glamorous life. heh

In this heat, what is left in the bird baths evaporate almost overnight. Scrubbed them all out and refilled with with fresh cool water. I could hear the birds in the Jacaranda, gum, bottlebrush and Geraldton Wax trees where it had just been silent a few seconds prior to the fill up.

Went into back yard, give the poor little orange tree a good 'soaker' watering while hanging up the laundry. Then did the same for the potted lime, chilli and catnip plants. Also gave the star jasmine a goodly drink. Really need to get that one into a larger pot.

Got the clippers out, climbed the steps, and trimmed back some 'tendrils' of the boxwood tree. Now the branches are even with the top of the pergola.

With all that done, I decided it was time to re-start doing my laps in the back yard. Got audio book player, and just got into it. Not too long, as it is rather hot out there. Wing said it's 20 meters from pergola post to pergola post. So 40 meters per lap. Will get up to a kilometer, and then start increasing speed without limping, keeping my steps even. As Wing knows, I can move fast but only if I allow myself to have a limp, and GP/Doc has told me to avoid doing that.

Time for some icewater, then go check to see if laundry is dry. In this heat, probably dry by the time I finish typing this out!

And due to the new-ish pergola, I did 25 laps today. I think the next few times, I'll keep it at 25, and then increase it again by another 5.