Running:
Injured! Not too serious. I spent much of Friday removing a fire surround, hearth and an old gas fire from our sitting room. The fire had been disconnected from the gas mains as the heating engineer had found it unsafe. The surround and hearth were both a piece of cake. But the gas fire: clearly, this was designed never to be removed once fixed. It will give you some idea of the task when I list the tools I had to use: screwdrivers, pliers, spanners, lump hammer and vary large crowbar, and, finally, a hacksaw. Part of the process involved working whilst lying on my back and hefting the heavy hammer and the hacksaw. The obstinate device finally capitulated to my onslaught. But, in the process, I did something to my back. This meant it was too painful to engage in my run on Friday. Wednesday’s 10 minutes of easy running had been…well…easy. Sunday arrived, after I’d spent Saturday, my 67th birthday, on a very slow walk in the serenity of the forest. But I wasn’t fit to run on Sunday. However, as I write this, I’m feeling more or less back to normal.
So, this week’s runs should be fine. Fingers crossed!
Writing:
The book has been to my beta readers and returned with their sage and perceptive suggestions. I’ve applied those I agreed with, which were, to tell the truth, most of them. I’m in the process of redesigning the cover, following several observations from those who have seen the original idea. I hope to have that completed by the end of the day. Now I’m just awaiting a response from Action For M.E. for their permission to include several text passages from their website. I want to include the text for those readers who don’t have access to the internet. Otherwise, I’ll have to put that information into my own words, which will take a little time. So, it’s a wait and see situation at present.
Watch this space.
Stuart Aken 
Stuart,
It sounds as if you’re mending quickly. Backs can be precarious things to maintain. My husband is 6’7″ and 280. When he suffers occasional back pain it’s worrisome, because if anything ever really went wrong – as strong as I like to believe I am – he’d be quite difficult to straighten 🙂
Be well. And best of luck with your latest writing project.
annmarie:)
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Now I’m concerned about your back, AnnMarie! To lift a man that size, you’ll need a winch. You take care. And thanks for the good luck wishes. I’m still struggling over the cover. But I’ll sort it.
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Hi Stuart.
Luckily, my son is fast catching up to his dad – Max is tipping the scale at 220 and hitting 6 feet – he’s 14 with growing left to do. And, he still likes his mom and dad 🙂 So, perhaps if ever needed, Max can do the heavy lifting 🙂
I do hope today finds you better than yesterday. Good luck with your book’s final touches – you’re almost there.
annmarie:)
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Sorry to hear about your back – take care of it! Maybe if you’re tempted to try such an ambitious project again, you might want to try one of those back support belts that the guys in the home and yard stores wear. I’m glad to hear you’ve weathered the storm. And Happy Birthday! Remember you are still young!
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As young as you believe, Noelle. Actually, I’ve never really thought about my age. We look out onto the world through eyes that see it through the filter of experience rather than time, I think. I’ve always been someone who sees a job and does it. My wife tries to protect me from myself but sometimes she just shakes her head and throws up her hands in despair. But she rubs in the Voltaren Emulgen so well!
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Stuart, I was shocked to learn your age. You look fabulous! Feel better soon.
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I’m okay now, Sue. I do this fairly regularly: at my age, you’d think I’d know better! Thanks for the compliment; the picture is relatively up to date: my daughter, a gifted photographer, took it a couple of years ago.
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Ouch! Sounds painful my friend. Get well soon. 😉
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It’s okay now. I have a slight weakness in the lower back and sometimes I forget and then go at a job hammer and nails and end up in pain for a couple of days. You’d think I’d learn, but, no. My wife says it’s stubbornness, but, of course, it’s persistence. 🙂
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You’ve just learned a fundamental truth, while you still think you are young and fit, at sixty-seven, you are not. 😉
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