Showy

Yay, I heard the Chinooks this morning in time to go to the window and watch! Three of them flying low along the coastline...what a thrill! I missed the President's Ospreys later as I was in the wrong part of the city but, having seen photos of them this evening, I realised I saw a couple flying in close formation a month or two ago when I was on the top deck of a bus. I was like 'What on earth?' and looked around to see if any of the other scattered passengers were gawping in wonder. Nope, just me! Despite having no idea what I'd witnessed I felt very blessed to have done so...

I give thanks though I got too chilled again to have a nap during treatment, I fell fast asleep as soon as I wrapped myself in blankets at home. I was grateful to my system for shivering away trying valiantly to raise my temperature but it was a losing battle as a light breeze chilled my blood as it wandered round in tubes outside my body, and simply wore me out. Being underweight doesn't help but eating is still a challenge, so I give thanks I've resolved to take a hat and a quilt on Wednesday, and have asked if the dietician can offer me any of the build up drinks and desserts I've seen other patients offered when they're not eating well.

I give thanks for waking up to some excellent tennis match replays from the day at Roland Garros. 

Auditory

I take pride in 'listening to my body' so why I decided to override its very clear instructions last night, I'm not quite sure. Maybe because I know that bodies can murmur some unhelpful lies about the wisdom of more chocolate or chips or gin? So I chivvied it to ingest some food it really didn't want to...and was very grateful when I had a bowl to hand not long afterwards when it sent it back!

I give thanks today I've managed to eat a few mouthfuls here and there of items it's given grudging approval to.

I give thanks for hearing the Red Arrows fly over and the steam train whistling as it passed. Though I was way too settled on the sofa to see either the sounds sparked memories of the feeling when I have. For Fargo and the French Open to watch instead...and for managing to make occasional small inroads into some of the chaos and chores in between these and the relief of naps. 

I give thanks for the sun coming out later in the day for those enjoying the tall end of their half term. For enjoying fresh air and birdsong through my open window...and someone having a shouty sweary rant which amused me more than it probably should have. For Jo posting a photo on Facebook reminding me of a fab week we had in beautiful astonishingly unspoilt parts of Menorca. There were eagles soaring over us as we quested for archaeological sites...and farmhouse cheese from a farm! 

Simplistic

I give thanks for making it through another day - well three quarters of it any way!

For the times when I managed to be upright and mobile and making attempts at beating back the encroaching chaos.

For the times when I accepted this was simply impossible.

For the times when I wasn't in pain...or the pain didn't require all my attention.

For when I was able to eat a morsel or two... 

For something like a 27 point plan to make a pan of stew. Think I've completed round about 23...

Landed

I give thanks for finally waking up, warming up and, somewhat later still, actually getting up off the sofa to grab my phone and some water. I've always had a dodgy body thermostat so I give thanks for discovering in my fifties that this is a common symptom of fibromyalgia, not (just) me being a wimp! For resolving to remember I'm extra wimpy at the moment having lost some personal insulation which makes me extra vulnerable to chills from the extra fresh air circulating to keep the busy nursing staff cool. For thawing out after I got home so no one said 'Ooh, you're hot!' and started a panic! For cold flushes, no matter how uncomfortable probably being easier to deal with than hot ones as I don't need to suddenly, and maybe inappropriately, strip off! 

I give thanks for managing to strip off my bed at high speed this morning as, due to being behind with the washing up, I used a larger mug than usual and failed to bring it into land successfully on the bedside table - so hot tea spilled over the furniture, wall, mattress, carpet, rug and and bedding (except, mercifully, the duvet). I give thanks for moving my phone from the puddle extra quick and it suffering no obvious ill effects, but I couldn't work out how to sort out the chaos AND make fresh tea to help give me the energy to do so. For somehow managing, getting a load of laundry done, and wiping down what I could before I left, but remaking the bed will have to be a puzzle to solve when I'm too tired to stay up any longer. I'd sleep on the spare room but it's full of kitchen unit and racks of laundry! I give thanks it's good drying weather.. 

I give thanks my taxi driver was full of cheer today, having booked his first official four seater flying lesson for tomorrow. He gained some experience in various craft as a cadet quite a long time ago, and had his own microlight in younger adulthood, but being considerably less light himself these days and having teenage daughters he decided to go for something more practical. Like many of us he's had many struggles and challenges in recent times and it was lovely to see him so enthusiastic and excited. 

Planted

Often it's the little things isn't it? I give thanks for waking up this morning fancying a cup of tea and a biscuit, that's not happened for a while... I've been grateful too for generally having slightly more inclination to eat and drink throughout the day, though I could belly ache about the griping stomach pains, or gripe about the belly ache I guess... 

I give thanks a friend is home in better health from hospital, and another who should have been operated on today shouldn't have too much of a postponement. At least she was told about the postponement yesterday not starved and gowned and ready to go.

I wasn't grateful the very helpful about the home Michelle is poorly this week and unable to come - both for her sake and mine - but it did mean I had to rethink my allocation of chores, and get off my proverbial to stumble off to the Co-op for a few supplies. I wouldn't have thought I was capable if I hadn't had to try! For the lush growth in the new wildflower beds in the park. I suspect the change of planting scheme here and there was as much about cost cutting as conservation of entomological habitat but it's still pleasing to see.

Apart from essential tasks I've been mostly planted on the sofa today. I give thanks for the excellent scheduling of the French Open, and for Bored Panda when I got bored with that! I give thanks I live alone and can more or less designate and schedule what I consider essential...by 'eck it would be good if someone could bring me the occasional light refreshment though! 

Wayward

I was grateful to Sasha Zverev for fitting his match today so neatly between when I arrived on the sofa and when I had to leave for the hospital! 

For feeling rather better this afternoon, and remembering feeling better still last week. It's been a murky afternoon and the staff had plenty of ventilation going so in the end, dressed for a summer afternoon on the unit, I had to huddle under a pile of blankets. Then when matron came to take me off the machine I was running a temperature so have had to do an extra Covid swab, and promise to bring in a urine sample too. My first thought when feeling rough was that it was the cancer, and Rob at first sign of a fever understandably thought it was coronavirus but, of course, there are other illnesses beyond what out current personal obsessions might come up with. 

I give thanks my shoulder/upper arm has been a lot less sore following a lot less manual activity lately. I've even been able to sleep on that side which has been very welcome. I give thanks I feel up to chopping a few veg tonight instead of just buttering crackers, heating fish fingers or scrambling egg. For sparing a thought for several other folk I know having their own difficult days in various ways. 

Rank

I give thanks for the Great British Photography Challenge - saves me wondering how to get somewhere for an exhibition! Love that the expert and head judge Rankin isn't interested in sending someone home each week, instead all contestants progress and compile a portfolio to be rated at the end of the series. 

Hmm, what else? I've been feeling rough for a lot of the day so giving thanks has not been very evident. I've been grateful for the usual comfort zones of bath and bed and sofa. For the warm weather which tends to improve my general regular malaise so the current specific one can have most of my attention. For setting myself the challenge of getting dressed and going outside, and for managing to pootle very slowly around the immediate area by means of half a dozen vacant seats. For the pleasure of sun's rays warming my skin. 

My appetite is hardly there, let alone any inclination to prepare food or clear up after, so I've been grateful when I've thought of easily obtained and ingested morsels. Ice cream is easily obtained around here, and on two of the seats I pondered whether it was worth a try, and on the third waited watching for the queue to diminish. I'm grateful the treat slipped down a treat!