Over My Shoulder

Monday 11 February

Well, I’m not, as it happens. Over my frozen shoulder, that is. However, after five months of waiting I get to see a physio who turns out to be absolutely marvellous. So marvellous, in fact, that she picks up another ailment that worries her more than the shoulder. I had assumed that the pins and needles in the little finger of my left hand were a side effect of the shoulder but, no, it seems I have a trapped nerve in my elbow. The physio is concerned because I don’t notice when she jabs her brooch into my finger (nice!). There is a possibility, she suggests, that I could lean on a hot hob and set myself on fire. Not in our house, I think, where Tom does all the cooking, nevertheless I make I mental note to stay away from all ovens.

Friday 15 February

I take life a day at a time and try to get the most of the time I’ve got. I’ve seen enough now to know that the most unexpected things can rise up to bite you and, sometimes, tomorrow doesn’t come. However some forward planning is now required as I’ve just entered the Cardiff half-marathon. Yikes! Actually there’s nothing like the emotion of a race to make you feel alive; the sheer terror just before the race kicks off is only matched by the joy and exhilaration of crossing the finishing line.

Saturday 16 February

Tom has a tutorial in Cardiff for the OU course he is studying. I take the opportunity to catch up with Lily who’s been really ill with a very nasty bug. Lily feels up to a stroll round the city centre. Browsing in two of the bookshops becomes impossible because of the book signings taking place; in one the guy from Torchwood is attracting an eager crowd but the winner of the day is Jordan who has queues all round the block and bouncers galore. Lily and I resist both queues but for some reason I am reminded that I need to buy a new sports bra (Faith, please note!).

Sunday 17 February

There is a problem with my new ‘extra high impact’ sports bra; it’s not a ‘swing round’ job and my frozen shoulder means I can’t reach behind my back. Tom idly wonders if I can’t just pull it over my head until he sees that I will do myself a terrible mischief if I attempt such folly and helps strap me in.

Monday 18 February

And talking of shoulders, I don’t look over mine very often. The past, as they say, is another country and on the whole I don’t need to be reunited with friends because, hey, those people weren’t my friends or I’d still be in touch with them. The other night, however, I stayed up late reading the lovely, and wickedly funny, Judy Astley’s latest book, ‘Laying the Ghost’ which is about what Nell discovers when she decides to trace her old flame, Patrick. I always try to make Judy’s books last but can never quite manage to put them down. If you’ve ever been tempted to Google that ex or The One Who Got Away (and I’m admitting nothing!) this is a thoroughly enjoyable and brilliantly entertaining read. So, does anyone haunt you?

Hwyl fawr!