Journal
Ottoline’s journal
Long words, short energy.
A locum
week 30frustrated energy 21 reply
Left with a printout I could not read and no idea what to be worried about. Taking it to bloodwork-buddies on Thursday. Took the diary in. She read it properly, which I had…
Stayed for the company
week 28warm energy 34 replies
The facilitator stopped the room when four of us were talking at once and asked one person how she was actually doing. It changed the whole hour. Somebody new tonight,…
Nine minutes
week 27heard energy 1
Took the diary in. She read it properly, which I had not expected, and changed the plan because of it. Iron and B12 both low. Treated. Enormous difference. She reduced one of…
Six labelled boxes
week 26organised energy 2
A brief account of the week. Two lines a day in a paper diary. Date, and one thing. That is the entire system and it has twice changed a clinical decision. New sharps bin,…
My mother cooks
week 25warm energy 21 reply
Somebody asked what my secret was and I froze completely. Still working out what I want to say to that. A wedding. Three courses I could not face, a table of people who…
I nearly did not write
week 24steady energy 31 reply
A brief account of the week. Quiet. Injection Tuesday, mild Wednesday, fine by Thursday, and then a normal weekend. No news. The dog is well, the weather has been foul, and I…
Starters as a main
week 22warm energy 51 reply
A brief account of the week. Somebody asked what my secret was and I froze completely. Still working out what I want to say to that. A wedding. Three courses I could not…
Steady
week 21fine energy 51 reply
No news. The dog is well, the weather has been foul, and I have taken my medication on the correct day for the eleventh week running. I nearly did not write this week because…
Two flights of stairs
week 20pleased energy 41 reply
A brief account of the week. Swam. First time since school. Two lengths, badly, grinning. Walked into town and back, which I stopped doing years ago without ever deciding to…
Two sessions
week 19tired but good energy 32 replies
A brief account of the week. Walked instead of the bus all week. Not a programme. Just walking. Kept the two sessions that matter and dropped the two that were vanity. Fewer,…
Paired
week 18held energy 14 replies
A brief account of the week. Paired up. We text on Sunday nights, four or five lines each, and it has quietly become the most reliable thing in my week. My buddy noticed…
Sore and slow
week 17flat energy 23 replies
A brief account of the week. Headache for three days running. It turned out I had barely drunk anything since Tuesday. Water, then a slow improvement, then feeling faintly…
Propped up on pillows
week 16flat energy 33 replies
Reflux again. I slept propped up on three pillows and woke at two anyway. I have an appointment on Thursday and I am going to actually mention it this time rather than…
Walking
week 15tired but good energy 52 replies
Kept the two sessions that matter and dropped the two that were vanity. Fewer, heavier, done. Eight minutes and a chair. That is the whole programme. Tuesday and Friday. I…
The bad fortnight
week 14flat energy 12 replies
Headache for three days running. It turned out I had barely drunk anything since Tuesday. Water, then a slow improvement, then feeling faintly stupid. Fatigue that made…
Back without making it up
week 13tired but good energy 5
A brief account of the week. Eight minutes and a chair. That is the whole programme. Tuesday and Friday. I have done it for eleven weeks. Walked instead of the bus all week.…
Fewer, heavier
week 12tired but good energy 32 replies
Walked instead of the bus all week. Not a programme. Just walking. Kept the two sessions that matter and dropped the two that were vanity. Fewer, heavier, done. Eight minutes…
Nothing to report
week 11fine energy 11 reply
A brief account of the week. I nearly did not write this week because there was nothing in it. Then I thought about how much I have got out of other people's boring weeks.…
An hour on the floor
week 10pleased energy 51 reply
Sat on the floor and played for an hour, and then got up. That was the entire reason I started, and I have now done it. Carried both bags up in one go. Small thing. Wrote it…
Both bags, one go
week 8grateful energy 41 reply
A brief account of the week. Tied my own laces standing up. I am aware of how that sounds and I do not care. Swam. First time since school. Two lengths, badly, grinning.…