See the blog name

I'm just back from a jog round the lake -- carrying a small backpack. Not really small but really light, a couple of kg, just enough to make me notice the extra weight.

I'm in training for a multi-day walk in the Stirling Ranges.

I'm thinking, why do we keep... enjoying ourselves? Why not relax, accept the inevitable, do nothing, give up.

It's a bit gloomy but I'm thinking of dead people.

Years ago there was a man let's call him the Grand Old Man of orienteering. Known and respected in WA, in Australia, possibly in the world. He had a stroke and was dying.

About that time OWA was organising a National carnival. I was going to produce a newsletter on each day of the carnival. I thought that orienteers would like to read the words of the GOM. I also thought it would take the GOM's mind off dying. So I asked him if he would write a few short articles. His answer was to the effect of, "No, go away, I'm too busy dying."

At the time I thought it was a rather poor attitude.

I still think that the GOM had the wrong attitude. While there's life there's -- not hope, not in his case, not in mine -- but there are things to do. If it was worth doing things in the first seventy years -- Why stop now. See the blog name.

So... we're booked on a walking holiday :-)

Then there's another dead man. He had bypasses, stents, whatever. He had always enjoyed running. So he continued to run. Annoyed at himself because he was so much slower. Though the annoying bugger still beat me at every event.

I'm glad that my heart seems to be sound. I don't have the fear (or excuse) that exercise may suddenly kill me. That man had a bad heart -- but he kept running. And died... 

... died in his sleep. while resting.

When I die, I die. Nothing I can do to prevent it. All the treatment is just a delaying tactic. But...

Meanwhile, I'm still alive. So I may as well do the things that a live person does. Slower, perhaps. But there's no reason to stop. Not until I must.

So we're booked for a trail walking holiday. Yes, I'm the weak link :-) But I think I'll enjoy it. Slowly.

And Deb will enjoy it. And that makes it worth doing :-)

I hope to live life as though it's going to last forever -- just the same as everyone else :-)

Gloomy thoughts but... I'm not gloomy. Just analytical. Trying to understand my life. It's what I've always done. No need to stop now, when life is really rather interesting :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

If you're not a part of the solution, then you're part of the vast majority. (Alfred E. Neuman)

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

echocardiogram

Once is enough to type that word. Today I have... let's call it a heart scan. Needed by the GP, to sign that I am fit to walk in NZ. Well, fit in the health sense. Fit enough to walk the distance, that's questionable :-)

The scan tech attaches wires to sticky patches put on my chest. Then does clever things to get -- I guess -- a photo of my heart.

He asks why I'm being scanned, accepts the walk answer. Hints that a lot of people have mysterious pains and fear a heart attack. No, I have no symptoms.

I mention the silent heart killer as mentioned on the ABC news. Yes, that one is currently in fashion, he says.

He disconnects me from his wires. Points to paper towels to wipe his conductive grease off my chest. I find another contact, remove it, bin it.

And that's it. The photo will be analysed by an expert. In a week or two the analysis goes to my GP. Eventually I will go to the GP to get the results.

Home again... I find another of his contacts, remove it. At least I know what they are... after one stint in hospital I found several of the things, had no idea what they were.

So I'm scanned. And have a healthy heart, until told otherwise :-)

Now need to get my *legs* hill-ready...

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===
"Scientists say that we only use 10% of our brains. Imagine how great the world would be if we used the other 60%." ... Internet meme 

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

cold fun

I spend today nursing my cold. With my new knowledge of snot and phlegm -- I'm amazed at the rate of production!

Saturday night: We mind the grandchildren.

Minding the younger one is easy. She's asleep when we arrive, she stays that way till after we leave.

The boy is almost ready for bed. Deb tucks him in, then reads him a story. Then it's my turn...

I tell him a story. It begins with "Once upon a time". After that, the story wanders where it will. With the boy's occasional help.

We have a warning from Deb, "They're on their way home!" Close your eyes...I say. lie down... I say. Ne effect.

The parents are home. The boy is wide awake.

Our child-minding is done.

What an absolutely enjoyable evening :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===
"Scientists say that we only use 10% of our brains. Imagine how great the world would be if we used the other 60%." ... Internet meme 

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

it's a cold :-(

i have a cold. actually I'm just coming out of it. wearing a mask while we are shopping, i only have to remove it a couple of times to blow my nose. I'm generous with my cold. Deb is just a couple of days behind me.

The cold hits me on Saturday. Sunday I'm well enough to go with Deb on a trail run, i wear a mask in the crowd scenes. nothing slows me down on a trail run... I'm always last anyway :-)

btw: new tablet. a real pain. I've managed to install a swype keyboard. it's subject to the usual fits of Random word guess, but still worth having. i think.

i tried a Dvorak keyboard but not for long... in theory swype plus Dvorak should be good but i spend a lot of time hunting for keys. Anyway.

while continuously blowing my nose i searched -- as one does -- where does snot come from. i would have guessed, some sort of snot gland at the back of the nose. wrong! now, thanks to james may and the bbc i know the truth. i also know what i could do if i were younger than 16 :-) But i'm not telling.

with a cold, coughing sometimes keeps me awake. and Deb. i think I'm past that stage. i hope.

One nasty part of a cold is muzzy head and twinges of headache. especially nasty when wary of any strange symptoms which may indicate return of a tumour. no worries. that also passes. phew:-)

.

--

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper ... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved === "I have seen the TRUTH -- and my chains have been broken" … Thrall === Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)