Saturday 30th November
Current News: The first news that hit us was the horrendous one of a terrorist that had stabbed and killed two young people on London Bridge. Why these two humans, as part of a prison release programme in the UK, had to lose their lives was beyond me. The attacker, Usman Kahn, was in prison and killed the two people who had campaigned to have people like him released. Matt Meritt and Saskia Jones were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Totally heartbreaking – you can read in following link: HERE
The second piece of news was really inspiring. I read about Lieutenant Commander Pete Reed, a three time Olympic UK rowing champion. The very statuesque man had a stroke of the spine in September, that left him paralysed from the chest down. I never heard of a stroke of the spine before. I read an article about him, which was really moving. Throughout his ordeal and struggles to recover, his attitude was “of a balance of being positive and realistic”. What a motivating man, I felt complete admiration for him. You can read details in following link: HERE or follow his progress on twitter on link: HERE
Sunday 1st December
Christmas Festival in Estepona: It was lovely with the start of the Christmas festivities. Colin took the opportunity to pass out our magazine at the main entrance, while I had the freedom to hobble around the various exhibits alone. There was plenty to see and carol singing while I mixed with some friends in the crowd. I met up with Anisa and other girlfriends at one clothing stand. We naughtily shared some wine through plastic cups. Then Anisa, a friend and I explored the other stalls. The three of us came to one that made costume jewellery. Since I had been invited to a girls’ “Secret Santa Lunch” in a few weeks time, I bought Anisa, Lynne and myself a pair of Santa earrings to wear on that day. There was a very kind man at the main entrance door. We had a lovely chat as we discussed his volunteer work for ADANA (Dog Adoption Society) and the adoption of our dog, Oscar. The gentleman had paw prints on his white welcome balloons, which I offered to buy for the oncoming Christmas Fancy Dress Golf competition this month. When I explained about my fancy dress outfit, he kindly gave me four balloons to be inflated on the day. Such a nice and generous man.
Monday 3rd December
Christmas Decorations Time: I usually put up my decorations on 1st December. Many years ago I decided that, as it took so long to decorate the house, I kept them up until the 12th night after Christmas Day. That became a tradition in our house since, especially as Colin always loved to have the festive decorations up each year. However, this year was another challenge, which I hadn’t looked forward to, but I decided that I couldn’t delay putting up the decorations. I was too proud to discuss with Colin, so when Johanna came round to clean she helped me a great deal. While Colin was out, she kindly hauled the boxes from our upstairs storage and climbed the step ladder to put the ornaments up where I couldn’t place them. When it was time for Johanna to leave, I assured her that I would be alright to decorate the Christmas tree alone. Boy! I regretted that decision, as it took me an hour or so longer than usual. My bad leg and back hurt because I had stood for too long. Never thought that limping around the tree would cause such agony! However, it was worth it when Colin was surprised by the house transformation when he got home.
Thursday 5th December
Girlie Lunch: It was lovely to meet up with Jayne and Michelle for an Indian lunch at Masala Restaurant in Benavista. Michelle drove us there to meet up with Jayne. It was a wonderful relaxing afternoon, as we giggled over old memories. All three of us had lost track of time. We met at 1.00 pm and laughed when we realized it had started to get dark outside when we left.
Friday 6th December
Naughty Night: Our friend David, Vice Captain of El Paraiso golf club, organized a group of us to go for a musical dinner night to the Miel Restaurant, in Sabanillas. This place was owned by Kaat, the energetic Belgium wife of our friend, Paul. We knew that night was guaranteed to be vibrant with excellent food and good company. As there were 12 of us, David and Tracey had organized a mini bus to transport us there and collected us later. The “Lola Boys”, a naughty West End cabaret act provided a blend of music, comedy and camp mischief that hadn’t disappointed the entertainment side. The place was packed and it was terrific to also see Ian and Michelle with their guests. Such a fun night.
Saturday 7th December
Telephone Mishap: I’d been without my mobile phone for over a week and Colin brought it back from repairs. The previous week I went to the downstairs toilet with my mobile, as I became irritated by the number of times that I had missed calls from my office whenever I decided to go to wander to the W.C. I thought I was clever, as my grip had improved, to hold my phone with my bad hand. Nooooooo. My hand wasn’t strong enough to maintain the grip for long, so down the phone fell into the toilet! In the past, I would have been really crazy if I didn’t have my phone for just a day. I wasn’t even sure if it could even be repairable. During the week of waiting, I was surprisingly calm and patient as I waited for any update news of repair. I admit that I was very happy when I eventually got it back. Most of my data had been saved but I unluckily lost all photos and videos from January onwards. Fortunately, I had backed up most of it on my office computer, so I hadn’t lost as much data as I’d thought. What a lesson learned in the art of patience.
Monday 9th December
Christmas Fancy Dress Competition: The day had finally arrived for our gang to get together in our various costumes at El Paraiso Golf Club. After all the secret meetings and messages, our team revealed ourselves as “Panto Villains”. Even though I wasn’t able to play, I had created the character “Cruella de Vil”. I was joined by the Queen of Hearts (Marie), Captain Hook (Agnete), Evil Queen in Snow White (Doreen – our Lady Captain & organiser) and the Sheriff of Nottingham( Fay, my replacement player). We even decorated our golf buggy as “Cruella’s” car with “De Vil” number plates, balloons and parts of the bodywork with paw marks. It was a great day with the golf girlfriends, inventive costumes, good food, Carol Singers, musical entertainment and the generous time & photos by our fellow club member, David, who posted them on his web page in this link Here)
Thursday 12th December
Election Day in UK: After all the campaigning for “Get Brexit Done”, we found out the following morning that they had won the election with a landslide as Boris Johnson became Prime Minister of the UK. Now the fighting had begun as the government will need to deliver on their main election policy. What an interesting next four years.
Sunday 15th December
Estepona Port Sunday Market: Colin and I went around the Sunday market in Estepona Port. We always enjoyed the port and the eclectic mix of handicraft stalls. It was a nice warm and sunny day. It was even nicer to limp around the stalls for the first time since before my attack. I felt quite proud of myself that I’d actually managed to walk all around the market, so Colin bought me some new stud star shaped earrings to celebrate.
First Time in Heels: We were going to join Gill and Brian at the golf club for Sunday lunch. This was going to be my first time to test if I could cope with small heels. When I attempted to walk in them, it wasn’t too bad. At least I hadn’t fallen over, but grabbed onto Colin for more support, just in case. Unfortunately, the club restaurant had suspended the special sunday lunch until some time in January so we opted to meet at the “Playa Bella” restaurant. Colin and I had our wedding lunch there after the Gibraltar registration ceremony in 1988. With the warm ambience and friendly staff, over the years, this place was always a favourite with the locals and expat community. The four of us had a lovely time as we caught up with news and excellent food. I was relieved I’d survived my higher heels trial. It had been such a lovely and happy day.
Relaxing with Oscar: After our lovely lunch, Colin and I chilled out with our dog, Oscar, the rest of the day. He had grown so much during the past months and become a little more docile.
Tuesday 17th December
Secret Santa Girls’ Lunch: My first time for a “Secret Santa” lunch with the girls was booked at “La Sala Banus” Restaurant. John patiently drove Anisa and me there to meet up with the rest of the girls. After a fun afternoon of good food and giggles, I enjoyed the concept of each girl receiving a present from a “Secret Santa”. Weeks before, we’d picked a name out of a hat and then had to buy that person a present. We never knew who bought the gift. It was fun as I watched everyone open their Christmas presents. Later I felt that I had to say a few words to thank Anisa and gang for their support, friendship and for including me in my very first “Secret Santa” lunch.
My Condition:
My Leg and Arm: I must have overdone my exercises, social activities and walking in those heeled boots over the past few days. I experienced pain and spasms in my bad leg, bad arm and down my back again at night. Over the past week or so, I tried to lift my bad leg and arm higher at least 20 times a night. My leg would be stiff and tremble each time I went a little higher or tried to bend it. My ankle still would’t bend unless I moved it with my good hand. My arm had improved a little. Before I struggled to raise it out stretched and slowly up, but eventually I managed to move it further back a little at a time to touch the bed head board above and past my head. Each time it was painful along my arm, across my shoulder and down my back. However, I gradually managed to move it a little further back every night. I wished the pain would disappear.
Fingers: The fingers on my left hand remained robotic. I still had difficulty gripping anything properly. I still had to type with my right hand only, but kept trying to involve my left hand, which was a disaster. To open and shut my left hand was still slow and annoying. I practiced opening and closing my left hand gently, then slowly squeezed a foam ball to strengthen my fingers. Some days I felt I had made progress, then other days it felt like I hadn’t improved at all. I still couldn’t chop ingredients properly when I tried to cook and had to resort to my electric chopper again. So glad for that machine or my cooking would have taken me hours to prepare – or not at all.
The Stairs: Afraid that I still had difficulty bending my bad leg high enough to tackle each step. I still had to kick my leg out to the left and slide onto the next step up. It aggravated me that it was taking me so long to improve.
My Head: Equally infuriating was that my head hadn’t improved much. It still felt tight with constant pressure.
My Speech: The inside of my mouth still felt swollen and tongue too big. I still had the exasperating lisp. I knew what I wanted to say, but my speech was no where near what I heard myself saying in my head. I felt that perhaps I had been a bit lazy, so decided to try to concentrate on enunciating better in future.
Saturday 21st December
Emotional Charity Shop Carol Singing: We thought it was a good idea to attend our local charity shop for their carol singing afternoon. The volunteers there were always a kind and friendly group of people, so we wanted to support their special day. We received the usual warm welcome, with generous offerings of wine and snacks. We were about to be entertained by some female singers that Colin and I recognized from the larger mixed “Marbella Gospel Group”, that we had seen years before. We were really thrilled because we both loved their act. Their singing that day was wonderful and very moving. At one point during one song, I felt an incredible emotion build up like a wave over me. I couldn’t help myself but I felt my throat tighten and the tears began to run down my face. Colin noticed and, while he gave my hand a squeeze, asked if I was OK. I could hardly speak, as I tried to blubber out the reason for my emotional moment. It dawned on me that, if I hadn’t survived to battle through my illness, I would have missed this beautiful afternoon. It was amazing how a few simple songs had touched my heart so much.
Tuesday 24th December:
Christmas Eve Celebrations: We arranged to spend the evening with Matt, Andrea and family, also John and Anisa for a meal at “La Sala Banus” with carol singing by the complete group of the “Marbella Gospel Choir”. The outside terrace was turned into a winter scene with full tables of diners and revellers standing. It was a great atmosphere as we also mixed with other friends there. I hadn’t been confident enough to meander in the crowd with Colin to mix with others, so I remained in the safe haven of my seat. However, it was lovely to reunite with friends and familiar faces that I hadn’t seen in a while. John, smiled and laughed each time someone came over to hug me or kiss my hand. I had to jokingly smack him as he labelled me “Doña Corleone”, the female version of the “Godfather”. Cheek! Anyway, it was a fun and a happy evening for me.
Wednesday 25th December
Christmas Day: This year had been very different from our usual Christmas day. We decided on an intimate meal at home together this time, instead of a party or friends around. I used to get up really early to prepare Christmas lunch for 6 or 10 people. It felt really strange that this year Colin got up early and taken on my kitchen duties. I felt quite redundant, but it was a welcome change for me to witness him prepare Christmas Lunch after all our years of marriage.
Earlier that day I went for a walk with Colin and Oscar. My walking (limping) was a little better but I felt a number of twinges of pain from my right hip, as that leg had done most of the work while my bad leg remained straight and ankle still rigid. I wasn’t sure how this could be rectified but would definitely need to be worked on.
Social drinks before Christmas lunch: Colin took me to the “Dog House Bar” for social drinks before lunch. This always was our yearly tradition with other regulars on Christmas day before we all parted to our various places for lunch. This day was fun, as we sat with our Santa hats and waited to win a prize in their yearly raffle draw. There were the usual banter and cheers for winners and the good hearted cries of “fix” for any multiple winners.
Christmas Lunch: Colin had put on a magnificent feast for Christian (his son) and me. Colin and I always opened our presents after our meal or early evening. This year I felt awful because I wasn’t able to do any Christmas shopping or wrap any presents with my customary style of different colour coded wrapping with bows for family and friends. Although Colin and Christian assured me that all was OK, I felt really inept and despondent. The feeling lasted even longer when I read Colin’s Christmas card to me. His beautiful personal message was, “Sharing another year with you is all I want for Christmas”. I was overcome with more emotion and cried …….
Sunday 29th December
“Waiting” Staff Post: Our friend Paul and Kaat advertised for more waiting staff at “Miel Restaurant”, where the gang of us went for the “Lola Boys” night earlier in the month. Kaat described what kind of qualities were need to apply, so I naughtily posted, “I suppose a limping, one handed waitress is out of the question but guaranteed good sympathy tips”. Needless to say, I never got the job – hee, hee …..
Monday 30th December
Buddah Parting Gift for Della: As Della had started on her own projects and finished working on my physio and care at the end of November, Colin and I had gifted a large Buddah for her workshop. She and Jez, her boyfriend, collected it this day. When we said our “goodbyes”, we parted on good terms, but I knew that I would miss her company and friendly bullying ways. Della had to move on with her business and work on her own health, as we all felt that I was able to move under my own steam by then. She jokingly told me that, as I’d been improving, I had become boring. Charming! We promised to stay in touch but it was really sad parting with her. She was a big part of my recovery and I would always be grateful. It felt quite scary to be left without her guidance, but Colin promised to continue to “bully” me and trust that I would continue with my exercises. An equally scary prospect ……
Tuesday 31st December
Welcome 2020: December proved to be a pretty emotional month for me. This New Year celebrations turned out to be the first one out with friends in years. The previous year, Colin and I had to cancel due to illness, so we looked forward to meeting up with the same gang of friends this time to welcome a more promising decade ………
Please view next page 27 at “New Year, Anninersary & Naughty Girls”: https://www.rebootinglinda.com/27-welcome-2020-1st-year-anniversary-of-my-attack-medical-check-up-social-and-naughty-girl-gatherings/ at link:
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Each event commented on shows how much you have improved over the weeks and months. I’m sure your explanation of survival and improvement will help anyone who has had a similar experience to understand there is hope at the end of the dark tunnel! Your photos are a great representation of the various events as they unfolded in the article. It will be interesting to see where you go from here!
Thank you so much. Yes it has been a bit of a battle to get back some movement but it helped with the support of Colin, Della, family and friends. I just wanted to show that you can have a good time too in recovery. Hope it helps someone. Take care LINDA xxx