Thursday 29 August 2013

Just wonderful.

I have many half-written blog posts which need deleting or editing so they are coherent enough to post.  Until I have done that, let me share this wonderful video I came across a few times on facebook and other blogs.  It does not need any explanation.


Monday 19 August 2013

Bucket list revisited.

My bucket list from 2008. It is long and I have added comments.


Teach myself to Quilt.   I have taken up sewing again instead.  I have sewn a few garments, some bags and have lots of projects in mind that I intend to get to.  I am finding I see a pattern I like and try to adapt my patterns to fit the dress rather than buying new patterns all the time.

Visit a Amish Community to see their Quilting.

Get over my fear of flying.   I still need to do this.

Fly in a helicopter with my husband around our county.   Did I really write this?

Visit Canada, American, Italy.

Do some mission work in Eastern Europe.

Study for and pass a degree.

Learn to surf. I did a summer of body-boarding and am in the process of finding out if I am allowed in the sea again. Paddling is my limit at the moment.  However, I can still enjoy the beach environment.

Learn to drive. Yeah, I passed my test. Working on the driving confidence after my heart surgery.

Own a VW Beetle Car.  If this ever happens, I reckon it will be after the children have flown the nest.

I would love to go skiing again. The last time I tried I wasn't very good at it but it was such great fun.  I would be going on my own but this may not be the best idea with a 'fixed' sternum.

Get to a point in my life where I am happy being me. And not care what others think. Heart surgery puts your life in perspective.

Ride a Harley Davidson.

Climb Ben Nevis. When I get my old ticker back to full strength ....

Be able to play the piano proficiently. I play the piano on a regular basis now.

Teach my girls the basics of reading music.

Train my girls in the way of the Lord. 

Watch my girls become normal functioning adults who contribute to the world.

Meet up with on-line friends.

See my church become a beacon in our town.

Read some CS Lewis.

Write a poem or two.

To become a godly woman.

Spend some time in a really expensive hotel.  Stayed in a lovely place for our 20th wedding anniversary.

Develop a really fun relationship with my siblings.  Still working on this.  I am coming to the conclusion that I have different levels of relationship with each sibling.

Learn to pray in a Christ-like way. Work in progress.

I would love to go on a top-quality Cookery Course with my girls, in fact my husband could come along as well if he liked.

If I had my way (and the money!) I would make a spa/pamper day an annual feature of my life. And when my girls are old enough bring them along as well. I am not allowed to do the Sauna part but the other stuff is fine.

Friday 9 August 2013

Water, Water everywhere, ....

I have lived in this area for 5 years.  Sad to say I haven't made the most of the environment around me.  Recently, I have had cause to visit the sea a number of times.  It is beautiful.  I paddled.  I got excited because I saw someone with the same scars as me in the water.  I went up to a complete stranger and asked about her experience and whether she had been given the all-clear to go in the sea.  I asked the Nurse at my practice, who has some experience in Cardio Nursing, her advice in my case.  She seems to think that because it was my valve replaced then going in the sea is off limits.  I am allowed to paddle.  I am going to ask my Cardio Nurse but it seems my body-boarding days are over.  I now regret the times I did not go in the sea but I can still go to the beach.  And I must make the most of that.  I really experience the power of God when I am watching the sea. 




I found another place where water is very important.  Well, sweat actually.  I have to do a lot of exercise to get my heart back to the condition it was in before the diagnosis of a dodgy heart valve.  It was recommended to me that I bought a heart monitor so I can exercise in my zone!  And I have been trying for a few months now.  I had one exercise session where I got a good reading; the rest of them I have had heart beats per minute all over the place.  I know something was not right when my bpm was 101 and then immediately 164.  (My zone is 110-122 taking into account my age and medication.)  I did a few searches on the web and found out what was going wrong.  I checked with my Cardio Nurse and she confirmed my findings.  The sensors on the chest strap need water (sweat) to work probably.  I jiggled with the chest strap and make sure that they are moistened at the start of the exercise session.  I am now getting much better readings and the crazy bpm jumps have stopped.  So for this lady the old maxim: "Ladies don't sweat, they glow." is not going to work.   I have even managed a few minutes jogging without being freaked out by my heart monitor.  Roll on 5k.