Flash Duck 2008: December 2006

Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep

8 comments Published Saturday, December 30, 2006 by Carolyne.

I am so incredibly tired.

Wake, do household chores for maybe an hour, sleep, wake when Bob rings at 1pm on his way back from a cycle; make lunch, sleep. Groggily arise from bed (because I should, not because I particularly feel like it) at 5pm.

Good night.

A Kitten is not just for Christmas

3 comments Published Thursday, December 28, 2006 by Carolyne.

Rudi
Originally uploaded by FlashDuck.

But that won't be a problem with our newest member of the household!

The rather eccentric breeder thought he (desexed male) was a Cream Burmese, however the Vet thought he was a "Red".

Thus he is fitting into the household extremely well, hiding under every bed that can be found! Being Christmas, and (allegedly) red, as I sang Christmas carols and songs, Rudolph and then Rudi got stuck on my mind and now it has stuck as his name.

Rudi (a.k.a. Rude Boy; FartyPuss and Buddy) is a great athlete, and has fitted into the house perfectly. He out eats Bob, out sleeps Carolyne and leaps tall buildings with a single bound.

Welcome to the Nut House Bud!

A wonderful feast!

0 comments Published Wednesday, December 20, 2006 by Carolyne.

It was our [insert number of years here] Wedding anniversary, and given my still restricted diet, I decided that Japanese would be ideal.

Unlike last year, I could not jump on my bike, and having arranged to pick up No.1 Great Nephew Sam from school, we made an early booking at "Iori" in East Row in Civic. I hadn't tried it before, however had read good things, so was keen to give it a go.

We arrived on time for a 6:00pm booking, the room quite bare, with two funky shaped televisions suspended from the walls and simple pine boxy tables with paper napkins and paper wrapped serviettes. It was well isolated from this somewhat less salubrious part of town in the midst of the Bus Interchange and had a good, if very casual feel. Despite being there at the time of opening, we were not the first ones there.

While Bob investigated the menu from the back pages ("The best things are always there"), I worked through methodically from the front, where a couple of set menu combinations were listed. The month's specials looked good, but we ended up going with the "Miyabi" Set Menu ($55 per person).

I am writing this a week later, however the delicacy, texture and taste of the meal still resonates with me . . . exquisite!

After hot towels, a large platter of three fish sashimi, a sushi roll, some lightly seared Wagyu beef and some miso soused eggplant were presented. I took my time to savour each mouthful and we both were in heaven.

A main course lacquered box arrived with miso soup, rice, and a selection of tempura prawns and vegetables [I nobly gave Bob all my vegetables (fibre) and took his prawn (death)]; a simmered dish of scallops with carrots and other vegetables in a delicate sauce; a chinese spoon with the special Japanese flavouring salts and pepper divided on its bowl; and a grilled dish of eel for Bob, and a large portion of grilled marinated salmon for me.

It was even better than it sounds, and still makes my mouth water!

Dessert of the Day consisted, not of fresh fruit, but of a thin slice of a Green Tea and Coconut Ice Cream log, with a scoop of the wonderful, elusive taste of Black Satsuma Ice. I carefully scooped aside the lashing of (canned) whipped cream from each (neither of us do cream well and suffer). It didn't need it, and I was truly surprised to hear Bob say how he had overeaten and was stuffed. He was a mountainous appetite! It is rare however for him to eat so slowly and with such measure.

A great night, and a restaurant I am keen to revisit. Unfortunately, it is one of the few places in Canberra which is fully licensed without the option to BYO; Bob enjoyed a bottle of local Cool climate Riesling - a style that is often excellent, however he is not used to paying fully licensed markups! My water was excellent!

Iori Japanese Restaurant
41 East Row
Sydney Building
Canberra City
(02) 6257 2334

Lunch Mon-Fri 12:00-2:00pm
Dinner Mon-Sat 6:00pm--

http://www.iori.com.au

Things are going well . . . .

6 comments Published Sunday, December 17, 2006 by Carolyne.

Just like the Ashes!

I am getting quite tired though, and crashing after moderate (Christmas Shopping type) activity for upwards of 13 hours sleep at a stretch, though that's not too bad.

I haven't started my structured yada yada walking programme yet purely due to time constraints (which is a lousy reason) and the need to sleep. It is a crazy time of the year!

Best news was that Aki obtained a 6 month contract for teaching next year - a great christmas gift for us all. Yesterday (Saturday 16th), Bob and I spent a very pleasant few hours at the Christmas/Birthday bash of our dear friend Harold's in Griffith. Only the cooling weather could have been improved, and being the first to arrive we were all-but the last to leave, keen to get home to plonk ourselves in front of the TV for the final hour of the Cricket. What a cracking match!

I am so delighted with the result of the surgery, I wonder why I didn't have this done years ago. sure, it will take a bit of time to recover and get used to, but it has proved to be a boon.

0 comments Published Friday, December 15, 2006 by Carolyne.

OK. So it's going to take me a little longer to get back 'to normal, or walking much at least, than I had previously anticipated or hoped for.

I think that a largish proportion of this is due to the UTI, rather than the direct effects of the surgery, however I may be a little optimistic here! I still think my GP Dr John must have topped his year in Anatomy, as he has an uncanny ability to say "does it hurt here" and pinpoint the exact point (usually my facial sinus cavities, but on this occaision my right kidney) where it is agony to touch, leaving me sore and tender for hours.

I seem to be OK for a while and then flake. Last night I crashed out as soon as the Test finished, and then didn't wake for 13 hours or more. Very dizzy and spinning when I got up, this hasn't abated much during the day. I'd quite like to go back to bed, but there is so much to do (so little time, yada yada),

The Third Test

0 comments Published Thursday, December 14, 2006 by Carolyne.

Yay, the cricket is back on.

After being in NZ for the First Test (hardly any coverage); and in transit and racing around sans media for the exciting Second (how could I have missed that?); I am delighted that it starts again.

I won't be around a radio/TV all day today, but I will try to keep in touch! Realised during the night that I have a UTI (which is not surprising really), so will try to get into my very difficult to contact GP or someone in his practice (this is a basic consult, so I feel that getting treatment today is more important that his wise (runners) knowledge of this difficult "problem child" is the essence. Ouch.

Good weather again today.

I'm Home, finally

5 comments Published Monday, December 11, 2006 by Carolyne.

Don't you just love the Coolrunning community?

With phone calls and twice daily visits, the time went (relatively) quickly, however I am delighted to be home - with an Internet connection!

The main delay was in seeing a dietitian, whom gave me rather mixed news. Although I no longer need to restrict myself to a diet of fluids long term (or suffer the consequences), my return to normal food, especially the best food of fruit and vegetables, is going to take far longer than I would have dreamt. Bland, mushy and low fibre (that excludes fruit and many vegetables and salads specifically). Dash it!

The abdominal pain is settling down, mainly just a relic of the pretty impressive bruising I guess, but there are moments which are still crippling and cause me to cry out involuntarily, feeling like a goose! The air that was pumped into my chest is still causing problems, especially if I'm not vertical.

Having said that, I'll start walking tomorrow - little and often - warned that if I go 200 metres, remember that I have to go "all that way" back. Bending down seems to be the particular problem, and any lifting or carrying is a no-no, which asserts itself as soon as I pick up something 'heavy' like a tub of yoghurt. I didn't realise how much this limits me turning on lights (in the loft), selecting a saucepan to steam Rice, putting a spoon in the dishwasher, etc, etc, etc. Thankfully the stairs in the house don't seem to be a problem at all.

So - the first day of the yada yada yada starts tomorrow - OK?

Impatient Inpatient, Moi?

3 comments Published Sunday, December 10, 2006 by Carolyne.

A solid nights sleep, meant that I had a heavy night sweat, but was able to sleep on my side for the first time (no doubt a great relief to Bob, as I allegedly snore like an earthquake when on my back.

I showered and changed early, and now it’s just for the waiting. I feel great, and must admit to thinking more about running than is probably healthy. It’s moved from being merely possible to likely that I shall be allowed home today, the only likely restrictions being the approval of some ancillary medico’s and the need to see a dietician who only works Monday to Friday.

I’m feeling pretty upbeat, despite having to cancel the photo shoot for my annual appearance in the Pirelli calendar this year, but, hell, thems the breaks.

I have just spent the last three hours going through my Outlook Mail Boxes and ensuring that the rules data base is up to date and deleting a few thousand old emails that have no use for archiving. It is still incomplete, but while I twiddle my touch typing fingers on the keyboard, my legs have gone to sleep and I shall have to get up and move around the ward to get the blood flowing once again. Of course, as soon as I move, the nurse will come in for some major servicing.

Is it Saturday already?

0 comments Published Saturday, December 09, 2006 by Carolyne.

Thank heavens Bob and I spent a week or two travelling around Northland after his World Champs (did I mention to anyone that he did really well and came 2nd? Woo Hoo!), as it didn’t give me time to contemplate the impending operation (or should it be passed off as a mere ‘procedure’?) at all. Rather crook when I returned, that left me with a day or two running around like a headless goose, not getting nearly enough done, but not having much time to think either.

Now, Saturday morning the pain of the immediate post-op period seems a long way away. I am eschewing pain relief, whereas my morphine drip and tablets were my greatest friends for a few days there. Still on fluids, for the first time I actually felt like breakfast this morning, even if it was a too-sweet vanilla yoghurt and colic -nducing peppermint tea.

The PRB stopped in for a pleasantly extended visit in the morning, leaving his just-delivered copy of Runners World for me to study. Bob came in with his delicious looking lunch of home baked grainy bread rolls, with the tapenade I made on Monday, a garden of fresh salad and grilled tofu. Later in the afternoon, Rad arrived looking resplendent in his nifty blue cycling gear (not looking a day over 59& 3/4’s), with the PRB generously bringing over Aki from the ‘other side of town’ for an irreverent visit.

A good day, followed by an even better sleep. I must be a celebrity ~ so get me out of here!

The Last Post (for a day or three)

5 comments Published Tuesday, December 05, 2006 by Carolyne.

It has been a hectic little period, made the more pleasant by catching up with Aki briefly on Sunday and assisted with my tiskets and taskets by the PRB on Monday and Tuesday.

I managed to turn up to the Mt Ainslie run-up today, not fully cogniscent that it was an annual handicap run. It was a good format for a change, although I thought that the 3:00 start time was rather optimistic!

I have the run tough, but satisfying . . . I took some Ventolin during the run which made it easier to breathe.

In the evening I had the most satisfying ACT Cross Country run today, maybe not at a blistering pace (31:40ish for 5k), but it was a glorious Canberra summer evening around the shores of lake Burley Griffin, the sun was still shining, the ducks, pelicans and swans with their cygnets were out in force and the town looked a picture.

My long awaited surjour in hospital will commence tomorrow, although I hope to be out on Friday (OK, maybe the weekend). Blogging might be a tad difficult until then, although I'll try. The wonders of modern technology! I'm looking forward to the third Test, I'm a bit annoyed that I was away from the radio and tv so much during the day and only caught up with the final exciting overs. No more gloating. Much.

Aaahhh ~ the warmth of Canberra . . . bliss!

3 comments Published Saturday, December 02, 2006 by Carolyne.

How Green Was New Zealand?

Green, green, green, green . . . everywhere you looked it was green.

But the grass grows because of rain (note: Bob thinks that the cows are pleased that it rains because of it helps the grass, I argue that they aren't sentient enough to corelate the two), and the ever present cloud covering any warmth from the sun and frequent showers and winds.

The last few days in NZ I came down with another case of developed world belly (always happens in the wilds of Sydney and Auckland), necessitating the emregency supply of Fasigyn to be delved into. Travelling back the short hop across the pond on Saturday was tiring, with endless, unnecessary queuing, not made easier by vertigo, nausea and vomitting.

Darling Rad was waiting for us at Canberra Airport on our slightly late return, selflishly giving up the opportuntity to run for the first time on the newly opened Stromlo Forest Park Criterium track.

I crawled into bed when I got home and slept until the early evening, missing out on the opportunity to have a meal with LuckyLegs and her crew.

About me

I'm Carolyne
From Canberra, Australia
I love to run! Staying in Weymouth, Dorset on the South West Coast of England until October. I'm 46, live in Canberra with Bob and have been running since 1990. This has been interrupted by long periods of illness, however I am extremely stubborn! I'll never be a fast runner, however I give it everything, and am slowly learning to read my body better and adjust my training and expectations accordingly. Or rather I would, if running were possible at the moment - I will retuyrn soon.
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