30/11/12

Crisp morning.

29/11/12

Fancy dress!

28/11/12

2012 cycling: 239.93 miles. Another very short test run. Arm is still very anti-bike and my lungs have decided they don't like the cold!

OK, I didn't take this picture but I'm going to count it!

27/11/12

26/11/12

25/11/12

24/11/12

23/11/12

(2012 Cycling total: 238.13 miles - I had a very short test ride!)

22/11/12

21/11/12

20/11/12

New bike lights (in case the garage gets dark...)

19/11/12

18/11/12

My photographic inspiration is dwindling!

17/11/12

16/11/12

Almost a week since I did my update post, figured I should probably do an update update now.

The observant amongst you will have noticed that as promised I did hear back from Cambridge this week...and I was rejected. Warwick have since sent out e-mails promising to let applicants know whether or not they are being invited for interview by the end of next month, so once again - we wait!

My consultant confirmed my worries when I saw him earlier in the week, he said if I haven't noticed improvement by now there's a good chance that I won't, but he has referred me for physio and he'll see me again in January to see if there's any change... Don't know if it was my general shyness, but I failed miserably as I had come up with a list of things I needed/wanted to ask him but didn't and instead limited my responses to not much more than yes or no.

I have managed my 2 requisite turbo training sessions this week. Whilst I still couldn't get past the half an hour mark I do feel like I'm getting fitter so I will try and keep it up, although I fear my motivation may soon abandon me!

Next week brings a trip to Nottingham for the joys of a dentist appointment (and seeing some uni friends too), the probable beginnings for me on 2 audit projects at the hospital and taking the dogs for their pre-christmas holiday bath and hair cut (assuming poor Barnaby can stand up, he's been struggling with his front leg today, poor thing.)

I needed cheering up so I figured it was an excuse for another Lego man!

15/11/12

It's been a while since I've had any new Lego...

14/11/12

13/11/12

Hospital visit...

12/11/12

Nothing like some good news to get the week of to a cheery start...

Here's hoping tomorrow brings more positivity!

11/11/12

Yummy dinner!

10/11/12

I think I've been suitably quiet for a while, and seen as I like today's date it's probably about time there was a proper update!  My last posts were centred around waiting and being patient, and to be honest not much has changed there!

Arm: Things are definitely improving, it's been 6 and a half weeks and I finally get to see the surgeon in a few days to see what he thinks. Whilst I was told to do "gentle elbow exercises as pain allows" I know I have been working hard (hopefully not too hard) to get strength and motion back. So far it still seems to be giving me more grief than pre-surgery so I'm still not sure whether I'm going to end up any better for it but all I can do is continue with the being patient, and doing what I'm told to maximise the recovery. I am now getting more than mildly irritated with the fact my other arm is now becoming sore, presumably due to over-compensating.

Medicine: Haven't heard anything yet. Cambridge are interviewing in just over 2 weeks so I am hoping to know relatively soon if I've got that far or not, this may act as a guide as to what others might do too. Again, just need to be patient. Cue self-doubt and lots of "do I *really* want to do this?" ponderings though.

Bike: I have now managed 2 turbo sessions a week for the last 3 weeks. Only half an hour each, but with The Sufferfest videos it is at least an intense 30 minutes! This is approaching the most "training" I've ever done which is odd given that I don't really know what I'm training for. I'd like to race next year (I can't help being competitive!) but how much and what remains to be determined. Watch this space I get...

Generally I've been a bit up and down recently (which probably explains my lack of blogging!), too much time to think is probably to blame. Hopefully the next week or so will bring some progress on several fronts which ought to sort me out a bit!

9/11/12

So I had a bit of a clear out today, just getting rid of old paperwork and stuff (inspired by having to get rid of empty gerbil cage etc... :-( ). I also decided it was about time I got rid of the "bionic arm"!

Don't know why I still had it really, not like it'll be any use to me!

I'll always be glad they I got back the function in my hand (even if no one really knows why), just hope I can get past this part of the problem as successfully. *clings on to ever shrinking pool of optimism*

8/11/12

Bath time!

7/11/12

Nutritious meal... (service station dinner!)

6/11/12

*sigh*

5/11/12

4/11/12

(sorry, rubbish photo!)

3/11/12

2/11/12

Still seems quite apt!

1/11/12

I don't see a lot of light at the end of this tunnel...