Tools to make life easier…

We are now about two weeks into our UK adventure. Most of this time has been spent with family, one way or another. We have caught up with my husband’s sister and her husband, our niece and nephew and their other halves and met a newcomer and got to meet other young ones after an absence of three years. We have even been given a new status in the family! My husband is “Grunkle” – short for Great Uncle, which then makes me “Grauntie” pronounced Grunty!!! Not too sure about that one…

We visited a stately home and an amazing rhododendron garden. We have had some really nice family interactions, making new memories together

Tomorrow, the next phase of our journey begins. We are off for a week in Italy and as neither of us have been before it will be nice to experience Italy as a whole new adventure for both of us. Excited but nervous would probably be an appropriate statement for us both right now.

Yesterday, we went to a stately home and to start with I did not use my poles. I had not used them previously at the gardens we visited, which of course had some lovely hills to trudge up. My favourite! NOT! My husband and sister-in-law got up the hill seemingly easily. I had to stop about three times to get my breath. Having learned my lesson at the gardens, I decided to try walking around the stately home with my sticks. All of us noticed a marked improvement in my walking, lessening of back pain as reported by me and an ability to mobilise much quicker and for longer. I am often reluctant to use any sort of walking support, but it was without a doubt a much easier walk with my sticks than without. I felt I could pretty much keep up with the others, rather than flagging way behind and getting too tired and sore. We all agreed that I need to use my sticks more to enable me to get around more quickly and comfortably.

Before I wrap up and go and get packed for Italy, I have noticed something that has not happened before. I am having difficulty typing and having to go back even almost every second word because I cannot seem to type without errors. Having been a touch typist for years, this is a strange and concerning symptom. Perhaps it is just that I am keyed up and a bit anxious about the next phase of our trip to Italy. I hope so!