cabin fever
I’ve been stuck in the shed for days now with only the birds and the radio for company. I’m going through a period of daily arrhythmias again - nothing serious but enough to keep me at home for much of the time. The shed has become a rendezvous for elevenses or afternoon tea with Anniemay when she gets back from gym/yoga/bike rides or shopping.
Much as I look forward to these highlights of my day - because at the moment that’s what they are - I am getting bored stiff with doing nothing. So today I break out and head for the gym.
I’m extremely nervous about this. I haven’t been for weeks. Will I manage? Will it make things worse?
There’s a big welcome from friends and staff as I walk through the door. I immediately have a 15’ de-brief with one of the nurses. Blood pressure and heart rate are measured before I go through to the equipment room. “Take it easy today - we’ll design a programme that replicates the sorts of activities you do at home”. Lying on the sofa watching day-time TV while Anniemay feeds me tea and cake? “Don’t push it”. I think she means my effort rather than my flippancy.
I do 20’ on the bike, 20’ on the treadmill (speed indicator shows a tortoise) and 5’ on the stepper. And that’s it, I’m stuffed. A gentle cool down then tea and biscuits and a chat with friends. This part - the socialising afterwards - is as important as the exercise. We’re all stuffed one way or another - dodgy hearts or dodgy lungs; no ‘body-shaming’ at this gym.
When I get home Anniemay is in full Domestic Goddess mode - home-made soup on the stove and freshly-baked cake from the oven. I should get out more often.
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