Purpletigron

The Boofy Flooger has got ill again in the past few days. We're investigating a possible recurrence of the pancreatitis, as the symptoms fit - wanting to eat but struggling to actually do so, apparent abdominal discomfort. Second V-E-T appointment just after noon today to look at test results and plan treatment ... Wong! is rather pent up and needing monkey-play whilst Uncle Boof! is hors de combat.

I did have a good aikido training session last night - Sensei said kind words, and invited me back to the 'advanced' class on Tuesday.

It is raining today, the first significant rain here for over 4 weeks which are usually vital for watering new crops :-)

Going to Pizza Express with Mater and my brother tomorrow, which I hope she can really enjoy. She has new Teva walking sandals, which I'm hoping will support her improving mobility!

Have to go with Mater to the Post Office on Monday to pass the security checks to get her post redirected. She has to give up the lease on her flat, and find a new long-term living arrangement.

So as you can see, my life is a roller-coaster again at the moment, with real highs and lows! May all your lows be short and shallow, and may all your highs be lofty and long! What's going well and what challenges are you facing?

Time to treat myself to nummy weekend breakfast now :-)

I've started taking drop-in classes at the yoga school based near my office reasonably frequently.

The teacher is also a friend,but she is very good at what she does. The style is strong on relaxation exercises, which are already proving very helpful to me. Yes, I did briefly drop off to sleep in the relaxation at the end of class on Saturday!

This is the same teacher who was so good with Mater last month. So when she launches her new timetable later this month, I hope that Mater will be able to start attending regularly with the support of her carers.

For me, well - this style of yoga is much easier to do at your own pace, and in your own time away from the classes, than is the style of aikido I've been following. So this is perfect when I don't have the stamina for aikido (like, the past year ... wail).

There going to be a 12 week course in the new yoga timetable, and I hope that I can take it.

Meanwhile, tonight is the last chance I get to go to an aikido class before October ... if I feel well enough, but I've got the sniffles, a sore throat and slight sore lymph nodes again. This has been going on for ... well, weeks at least, if not months. Every time I start to feel properly well again, and I test my stamina with something like a cycle ride, the cold-like symptoms slink back. Any helpful suggestions for throwing this thing off completely, gratefully received!

Beginners class - with our senior student M's 16 year old daughter V visiting, and D back on the mat for the first time in a long time. Started by practicing irimi-tenkan to avoid and deflect a punch, then added some techniques (kote-gaeshi, juju-nage). After that, the seniors did something else, and the rest of us practiced 'street-smarts'. I think for the benefit of V, we practiced nikkyo, sankyo from 'an unwelcome embrace' (arm around shoulders or waist). Then we practiced two responses to 'two handed front coat grab', by controlling the elbows. That somewhat hammered my knees. D unfortunately split his toe by turning it, so had to sit out the second class, jo basic partner exercises. Little Sensei S got his lip split by a jo tip, too - his uke was mortified. But everyone finished in reasonable spirits and repair.

Sensei's birthday, so just one class followed by curry! Body art - uchi keiten ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo. My stamina is definitely improving, but it was a humid evening. It was noted that, due to health issues, I've never yet graded ... :-)

Solid technical class with Big Sensei - only the second one since August. I was better able to pace myself as I was the odd student (only have to pick yourself off the floor half as much!).

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I trained. It was great! Nothing broke on anyone. Everyone who remembered me seemed genuinely pleased I was back. I was rather tired after an hour, but the 20 min walk home helped. My body remembered more than my mind did :-)

( Technical details, as far as I can remember )

And so to bed for the foolishly grinning Tigron!

This morning, I ache. Although my cycling muscles are whispering, mostly I ache from being thrown around like a rag doll by Smith Sensei during school aikido last evening :-) "Back on the mat" with a thwap :-)

( More aikido )

Just back from a fantastic week doing aikido in Bangor. Mater's week with her cousin was ... no better or worse than she's been recently: some fun, much discomfort. So I need to pitch into preparing for my final teaching practice, whilst she needs to shake loose more help from the medical profession. I got a fair bit of studying done during the afternoon rest period at Summer Camp, but Mater felt none of the promised improvements in her health which were supposed to be developing nicely in response to new medication, by now. So ... we'll both be talking to the doctor on Monday.

Other good things ... the Flooger is delighted to have us home, and is currently purring on my lap (reasonably unusual). My aikido teacher (Sensei, or, 'one who has walked the path ahead') has been promoted to the equivalent of 'full Professor' - his Sensei feels he has nothing more to teach him! We are all set to start aikido training in our new hall. We seem to have made a major breakthrough in selling Mater's old house. D will be home for the weekend, with many tales of Worldcon. I have another Urdu lesson on Sunday.

And it's lunch time :-)