Walk to Lesson

Early up and off for my walk down to town through the Estate to catch the train for my recorder lesson.  Something appears to have 'clicked' after all this time and I am sounding better and managing my breathing better.  The Handel Sonata arrangement is very enjoyable to play and gives me lots of variety.

More train issues on my return home meant a diversion to the bus stop and I hopped off one almost straight on to another, and was back in time for a cuppa.  

I processed the very last tomatoes into soup with a sweet potato and then it was time to pack our bag and head here, south of Manchester, where we are now comfortably ensconced in a Premier Inn ahead of our Biobank appointments in the early morning.  We decided to come over a day early to avoid rush hour M62 and the risk of arriving late.

We have been signed up with Biobank for many years now and nine years ago I came to the centre for an Imaging day.  Tomorrow, Tony will go through the same and mine will be a repeat session.  I would love to see the comparison with my results from the first time, sadly we are not privy to those as our data is recorded anonymously.  We will be having several scans:  MRI of brain, heart and body; Neck artery ultrasound scan; Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan(!) which measures bone density for signs of osteoporosis and arthritis and eye auto refraction and OCT tests so several hours of in and out of rooms and up and down off tables!  We will also have to complete a health lifestyle and diet; memory and family history questionnaire and have various measurements taken (which we will receive the results of).  It will be an interesting day.  The data is used by  researchers to understand disease development.