Up The Farway Tree

Chilled

I've been feeling much more relaxed since I got the all clear as I can now stop worrying every time I feel tired or every time I cough. I think as a result of this I have been able to do more physically because I am not as afraid of pushing myself too far. I have taken Seb on quite a few longish walks and I feel my fitness is slowly starting to improve. My legs still ache and its tiring, but its getting easier and Andrew thinks I am also walking much faster which I hadn't realised.

It is also great being able to drive again! The first day after I got back I was able to go to the supermarket myself - boring I know but very liberating when you have needed to rely on someone else all the time! It was perhaps a stretch too far though as I had quite a lot of bone pain the next day. I don't think it was so much the driving as the lifting heavy shopping bags and pushing the trolley. I was only going for 'a few wee things' but you know how these things tend to snowball and before you know it you have enough food to feed an army.

I also was able to drive to the country park myself and take Seb for a nice walk instead of our usual jaunt around the nearby streets. Much more interesting for us both. I did have an unfortunate incident with another dog though when I inadvertently hit it on the head with my water bottle. I say my water bottle, its actually Seb's - he is unable to walk for more than 20minutes without needing a drink. He isn't really built for hiking or any remotely strenous exercise. Anyway I stopped to talk to some people and their dog was eyeing up the water bottle, so I tried to offer it a drink (it was panting and looked very thirsty!) As I fumbled with Seb's lead and tried to open the bottle at the same time I accidentally swung it towards the dog and unfortunately dunted it square on the head. I'm not sure if the owners noticed but funnily enough the dog didn't want a drink of water after that.

Andrew has been making good progress in the garden and has now finished the vegetable beds. We only have carrots, which we started growing in the greenhouse, and some random chinese cabbage (thats all the garden centre had left!) Hopefully next year we will have lots of interesting things growing. Seb has decided the raised beds are his new look out and has spent much of the day climbing in and out of them. He likes the height advantage it gives him when he is barking. He was also sleeping in one of them earlier - I'm not sure what that was all about but I am just hoping he doesn't dig up the vegetables.

Today we also went a wee trip to Loch Lomond since the weather was fantastic. We took a picnic of sorts - sandwiches and crisps, nothing very exciting - but it was nice to spend a few hours outside and enjoy the fact I can actually walk about. I have been to Lomond shores several times in the past but usually don't make it much beyond the car park so I wasn't actually sure if there was much else to see! We found a few walks to take Seb on so he was quite happy, but I think there will be much nicer routes further north and beyond Lomond shores, which is more a tourist attraction than anything. It was fantastic enjoying the good weather though and I hope we get a bit more of it before the summer is out.

Oh, and I have some interesting news about a possible Daily Record article. But I'll keep it secret for now ;-)