Thoughts from the frontline - 8

Must get fit for my operation next month. A month? Nope it's only 21 days today and by this time on that day I will probably be down in theatre as it's a long op. Pre-op appointment at the hospital is just next Wednesday - this is all going very quick! But anyway, I need to get fit so that my recovery time can be as short as possible and Tuesday this week was my first venture into swimming as part of "the great plan". Walking one day and then swimming the next. A simple plan for each morning then doing work stuff in the afternoons. So off I went to the local leisure centre. "That will be £4" the smiley lady says. "Have you seen the new timetable?" another smiley lady enquires, well actually a girl who couldn't have been more than 18. But she had said it in that "Of course you don't know the new timetable, you're old" sort of way but at least it was with a smile. So I paid my money and went off into the "changing village". Now, I design buildings for a living including leisure centres and I still worry about this all in one room changing idea. Great to have the family change rooms but all I see is people being very nervous about the trips between the changing cubicles, the toilets, showers and lockers. In all the surveys we have done the public think they are ok but would rather have the old type back. However, village change is still flavour of the month with our clients who think that they need to "keep up with modern trends". Thoughts on a postcard :-) Anyway, back to me and swimming. Just as I was about to get in the pool a friendly attendant explained "We wont add any floatables and fun things unless we have lots of children arrive" Why not I thought? Do us adults not like fun? Now isn't that ageist? I want an inflated rubber ring to play with and a toy dolphin to splash with!!! But looking into the pool I soon realised that this swimming thing was serious business. Up and down the pool. Up and down the pool. No speaking. No smiling (Tried to smile at some other swimmers but got a really funny look!) And do you know what the saddest thing about it all was? Being overtaken by my granny. Well not my granny but you know what I mean. And I was soon knackered. Pretended to read the notice about what you are not allowed to do in the swimming pool when I had really just stopped for a rest. All the 60+ boys and girls just kept on swimming. Think I need a heavy dose of training at this swimming up and down lark! Went straight home and fell asleep on the sofa to dream of having a personal trainer who would actually do the training for me whilst bringing me cups of green tea. At least my dreams were partly healthy! And so my waiting time to my op continues. Tuesday turned into Wednesday and I decide to spend the morning walking round the shops doing 5 circuits before stopping for a decaf coffee and a read whilst people watching. It always surprises me how many people there are shopping during the week. And everyone is carrying at least two bags with their latest bargain buy. Just think how crowded it would be if we didn't have a recession!! Update on my mum from sister, she's had another minor stroke in hospital but at least now she's on the specialist stroke ward for evaluation. Only two short one hour visiting slots at the moment so no other visitors at the moment. I think the thought of the four children and four step children plus other halves plus grandchildren would panic the medical team if we all turned up at the same time! Fingers crossed that they will find out the cause soon and she can get home. But Wednesday evening was great for me in that I was going to the cinema with my son Phil. Now I thought of "having words" with him after seeing that he'd written an article for an online magazine site called "Mass Movement Magazine" titled "It Ruined My Life…" where he talks about hearing his parents having sex when he was young. If you want to read it please go to www.massmovement.co.uk/wordpress/?p=1650#more-1650 If you want to know which one in the picture is my beloved son, he is the one on the far right with the dreadlocks. Now Phil reads this blog so I hope he's now slightly gone red! ;-) We had a great time last night. Food, chats, film and generally just chilling out together. Cheers Phil. And so it's Thursday already and I'm shortly off to go swimming again. It's going to be a change of venue today with the hope that I can find some normal OAP's who swim at a proper speed like I do... Love you all A xxx