Post 467: I’m apologetic to my watch, but it doesn’t help.
There are a few things bothering me right now, but I think I’m just being over-sensitive, as per bloomin’ usual.
When you wake up before you really ought to, there’s a choice to make.
Try to get back to sleep…
…or ride the wave of wakefulness.
The trouble is that last week I switched on the sleep tracking on my phone and watch. Ever since, they’ve been keeping an eye on my sleeping habits and, every morning at 7 o’clock, they politely tell me off with another disappointing report.
Apparently, I’m not sleeping very well.
Exactly what I expected.
I’d never bothered using this feature before because I didn’t really want to know how badly I slept.
Now it’s official.
I’m a poor sleeper.
I thought I’d mention it because, apart from that, I’m actually feeling really well.
Who cares if I’m only getting five or six hours’ sleep when I’m in the best shape I’ve been all year?
My Darling and I were off to the pub again today, just as you knew we would be, and the first question, as always, was,
“How are you?”
Well, that was an easy one to answer.
The wooden benches in the pub garden proved the point perfectly.
I’m really well, thanks.
Six months ago I looked at wooden pub seats with absolute disdain because my spine was so fragile that I simply couldn’t get comfortable. Sitting there meant more pain the following day and usually another helping of Oramorph.
Not anymore.
It’s brilliant.
Even my shower this morning made me smile.
The scales settled at 11 stone 7 pounds, and the scratches Mr Vicious kindly left on my leg the other night have healed beautifully.
Not only did discovering that before work make me happy, it also gave me confidence when people asked how I was.
It’s a little thing, but it changes the mood for everyone around me.
My Darling could relax knowing I was having a good day, and my workmates simply treated me like one of the team instead of someone they needed to worry about.
What I noticed most was that hardly any of the conversations centred around my health.
It was wonderful.
I didn’t need to explain tablets, pain, side effects or medical uncertainties.
For once, I was just… me.
The pub garden was slowly cooling after another thirty-degree day, and those who love this weather are certainly having a wonderful summer.
As the drinks disappeared, the conversation wandered naturally towards babies and grandchildren.
Our youngest’s fiancée had another baby scan today, which sparked stories about our friends’ growing family—from a crawling one-year-old right through to a lively ten-year-old.
Listening to everyone reminded me just how excited I am about becoming a grandad in only four months’ time.
Every time the baby is mentioned I can’t stop smiling.
My Darling even pointed it out.
That made me swell with happiness because the journey she’s been on alongside me has been every bit as hard as my own in so many ways.
It’s lovely to see her mind occupied by something joyful for a change…
…instead of worrying about me.
Our friends have known us for years.
We all started out with first homes, new marriages and young children, so there was plenty of reminiscing.
At one point I told them how my eldest lad had kindly alphabetised my record collection.
Very thoughtful…
…except I now struggle to find anything!
That somehow led us onto the first singles we’d ever bought.
Mine was “Oh What a Circus” by David Essex and the Cast of Evita.
Then came the confession that had us all laughing.
Our friend’s first single was…
“Long Haired Lover from Liverpool” by Little Jimmy Osmond.
Oh dear…
There was no recovering from that one!
You can’t change the past…
…but you can certainly enjoy remembering it.
And that’s exactly what we’ve done this week.
By the time we’d finished another lovely meal—yes, another blue cheese Ploughman’s for me—the wooden bench was becoming a little unforgiving and our jaws were aching from laughing.
Another wonderful evening.
Tomorrow Ryder is taking us out to another pub with our new friends from the North.
Where would we be without friends?
What a lovely week this is turning into.
As for me…
I think I’m going to switch off that sleep app.
It only tells part of the story.
I may be a little tired…
…but I’m happy.
And next week, perhaps, I’ll catch up on the sleep.
Good night.
Take care.
