Life is a Rollercoaster

It's been way too long since my last ride on one, but I love a good rollercoaster. The anticipation, the acceleration and weightless moments, the absolute thrill. And all with minimal risk to life and limb. I have become much more risk averse in my middle age, which is illogical as I have far less life to lose these days. But then, limited commodities generally have a higher value, basic supply and demand principles, so I suppose it makes sense.

Many of you have been surprised to see me at yoga during the last week. I was surprised to be there! Seems my platelet count, a matter that has been the subject of many tests over the last 9 months, came as a complete shock to the anaesthetists when I arrived in hospital for my planned surgery last week. They weren't happy with the risk of me bleeding to death, so home I came. Unmended. Frustrated, as I have already waited well over a year for the surgery. Hence I embarked on a, not so enjoyable, emotional rollercoaster. Quite exhausting! The upshot is that I've put myself on a quick fix regime. After making all the phone calls available to me to try to facilitate a visit to haematology and a new date for surgery (both currently pending) I set about reading everything I could about low platelets and have my plan. I am changing my diet and eating habits. No more intermittent fasting for a while. Food now takes much longer to prepare as it needs to include many food groups that I'd neglected  to include. I had been living on bread and butter predominantly (in my defence,  I've not been having the easiest of years....) so it can only improve matters, regardless of platelets. Exercise, also, must change. The yoga is all fine, but my cycling needs to be less strenuous. I've read a lot on exercise, most of it quite ambiguous and really, really long winded, but it seems that strenuous effort will reduce platelets. I don't want that. In fact, a lot of the things I routinely do as I thought they were good for my health, actually reduce platelets. Who knew?? So now I follow my plan and wait. And very likely wait and wait. It's one rollercoaster I wish I hadn't climbed aboard, and as a result all future travel plans are now unplanned.

We've started to sort Dad's house. Luckily, when he moved into it about 10 years ago, it was from a larger one so a lot of things were rehomed then. And quite a few things were still in the labelled boxes in his garage, largely ornaments, so they've been taken straight to the charity shop. It's been alarming to discover how little value some things have as they're not in fashion. Really well constructed furniture, made of actual wood, has no value. You can't even give it away, meaning it will probably end up on my brother-in-law's fire. Such a shame. I thought there were many people in need; seems I was wrong. When we got our first house at 19, we had no furniture apart from a bed. Everything else we had came from family and friends and we were so grateful. Over the years (decades) we gradually replaced it with things that we had chosen, just as we gradually redecorated and improved our home. It all took time, and gave such a great sense of achievement. I embrace many of the changes that I've seen in my (long, long) lifetime, but not that one. Instant gratification is something that people in our 'developed' society have come to expect. For something to have real value it should require some effort; if you've had to work hard, or save hard, for something it means so much more. Rant, rant, rant.... So, if you need any unfashionable bedroom furniture I may be able to help in the near future. And for crystal glasses, brass ornaments and figurines, St Michael's charity shop is likely overflowing with them.

Off to seek some thrills, with minimal exertion, on my bike now. See you at yoga.