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Monday 21 December 2015

Cyclops.......

Dunno what sins I committed to deserve such retribution but currently I'm battling a gang of little demons conspiring to stop me running and cut me down to size. "Let's give him a good dose of flu for starters, that'll zap him" the little blighters had said back in October. And it worked, possibly because I missed having a flu jab this year. It sent me to bed for a wee while, feeling weak as a kitten. As it does.
It's not quite this bad, but bordering on it......
Then they said "Let's make sure he's totally zapped. How about activating his diverticulitis. Oh, and let's stir up his IBS for good measure. That ought to drain the goodness from his system and stop him doing all that silly running he seems to enjoy". And they were right, it did stop me. I was reduced to walking streets of my home town like a zombie while becoming quite knowledgeable of all the best loos and refusing to venture into unknown territory.
Who wants to run in weather like this anyway? A November view from my study
Then the crafty sods must have noticed I'd started working out in the gym, pumping iron and using a treadmill in an attempt to get fit again. It wasn't long before they came up with their Coup de grĂ¢ce. "There's only one way to stop him, let's blind the b-gger, he can't run if he can't see".  And they very nearly succeeded. In spite of having one of the best eye surgeons in the world (Mr Fayyaz Musa) to perform a cataract operation, the demons somehow sneaked into the theatre to make jolly sure things didn't quite go according to plan. I left the theatre with only one functioning eye, my left, the weakest of the two, and strict instructions to neither bend down, lift anything heavy, go swimming or get soap in my eyes. A disaster.
 "So far, so good eh, one down and one to go" I can imagine my nasty little demons bragging in a cackle of ecstatic glee.
Drops that govern my comings and goings......possibly for months ahead
So life is currently confined to 4 hour slots between 4 sets of drops - with a 5 minute rest between each drop. Patience is not one of my virtues, and my memory isn't too good either. I've bought a timer and set it to ping every 4½ hours throughout the day. Not that I always hear it over the loud music, radio or occasional TV. And it's the farthest thing from my mind when I'm sat in my friend Abdul's chippy down town, or dreaming of warm faraway places over a cappuccino in Caffe Venezia. I've to be careful. Buses past my home in the sticks run only every two hours.
Victoria Tower beckoned me upwards on Sunday - glad my camera can still see clearly!
It was a beautiful day yesterday, though bitterly cold, and Castle Hill was beckoning through my kitchen window. I donned my running shoes, just to enjoy the feel of them again, and set off with a camera to enjoy the day as best I could.  It's a strange sensation walking with only one eye. Unless I cover my right eye its blurriness affects the clarity of my left eye which is a bit disorienting. I'm a little nervous crossing roads in traffic and frightened of bumping into people walking the pavement. Of course, I'd always blame them!
Gorse flowering on the slopes......
I'd no such problems walking through open fields and strolling gently uphill to a favourite viewpoint. The sun shone bountifully. Little brown birdies (couldn't see what they were) chirruped among the flowering gorse, possibly sheltering from the icy wind that stung my face. It was a delicious wind that prompted a feeling bordering on ecstasy as I wandered around the perimeter of the hill I've circuited on scores of occasions during morning runs. Even as I walked plans began to form in my mind. Half of me was endeavouring to bring panoramas and misty horizons into focus. My running half was taking measurements, working out sensible distances in suitable open places for strides or repetitions.
While walking home I stopped to take a photograph of a herd of sheep. A friend caught up and predictably asked the stock question. "Why aren't you running?"
 I had to laugh...
'But those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint' (Isaiah 40, v31)    Photo from the Internet.
Words of inspiration and power at times like these.  They roll around in my head while putting drops in my eyes, before going to sleep, or while 'lifting my eyes to the hills'.

Talking of hills I've been reminiscing (again) about Munro-bagging experiences with Stuart Scott while pondering over his excellent photographs. Here's another of them.
A winter jog over Bidein a'Choire Sheasgaich and Lurg Mhor (Photo courtesy Stuart Scott)
To shorten the distance to those remote Munros we'd spent a wild sub zero night in Bhearnais bothy after being wind-blasted off our feet during the approach over the bealach from Gerry's Hostel at Craig. I remember waking to find a starving mouse picking crumbs, or something, from my beard. I flicked it away and it went skidding across the floor to collide with Stuart! Then, while washing up after breakfast, Stuart's plate got caught by the wind, blown into the swollen river and washed away at great speed never to be seen again. I remember it as if it were yesterday - yet often have difficulty recalling what I was doing a couple of days ago!
Oh dear, Heston Blumenthal is pinging to say it's time for more drops, so enough of my ramblings until the next installment.
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to the time when I can Run, run, run...
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone....Cheers!

16 comments:

  1. WOW! When you said you had a few things bugging you I had no idea!! I'm surprised you still have your awesome sense of humour. Hopefully everything will sort itself out VERY soon and you'll be back to running your beautiful hills.
    Have a fabulous Christmas ... I'll be thinking of you:)

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    1. Old age and decrepitude Barbara. It doesn't have a reverse gear! Happy Christmas to you and yours....

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  2. All the best for a speedy recovery, Gordon - I can just imagine how frustrated you must be. Have a very blessed Christmas!

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    1. Thanks Karien. I'd love some of your warm African sunshine just now. Send some of it north.... Happy Christmas.

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  3. Hi, drop by to say hello and wish you speedy recovery. Get well soon. Your got great sense of humour. :))

    Merry Christmas to you and family.
    Warmest regards,
    Amelia

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    1. Nice to hear from you again Amelia. In my enforced vegetarian state I should pay more attention to some of the mouthwatering recipes on your exotic website. I've bookmarked you....
      Have a lovely Christmas.

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  4. What a disastrous time you're having - and yet you are clearly smiling.....although through clenched teeth perhaps.
    Keep smiling and stay positive, I feel your frustration.
    Best wishes from Timperley!

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    1. Thanks for your 'postcard' JJ, and encouraging words. You're right, it's VERY frustrating. I've reached a stage when I'm wary of going for a run for fear of what might happen next! But I'll be out sometime over the festive season - with my wonderful partner keeping a close eye on me!
      Very best wishes to you too.

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  5. I am glad you have enough sight to put this post together. It has been a while and I was missing catching up on my fix of life in the Yorkshire Dales.

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    1. I'm missing many of my fixes in the Dales too Gordon, far too much time spent in doctors surgeries, hospital waiting rooms and operating theatres.....but I'll be back. Cheers!

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  6. Oh Gordon, you are going through it you poor thing. Fight through it and get back out there as you are an inspiration to me! I am so jealous of your running territory and I'll think of you when I'm running my next marathon in a couple of weeks. Hurry up and get better please and I hope your eyesight settles down soon. Much love, Susie x ps your lovely partner looking absolutely fabulous and much younger than her years!

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    1. Thanks ever so much for your kind words Susie. Rest assured, I'll be fighting all the way and have every intention of getting back running. Good luck in your next marathon. You're an inspiration too. As I've said before, eight marathons was enough for me. Don't know how people run so many and as regularly as you. You're all amazing. Best wishes.......

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  7. So sorry to learn that things have not been going too well.
    I don't know if the recent rains have affected you at all, it has looked very bad on the news reports.

    I did enjoy reading through your post and your photo's, thank you.

    I send get well soon wishes and also wish you a good 2016.

    All the best Jan

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    1. We've been lucky with the floods Jan, both of us living fairly high in the Pennines, though Hebden village was cut off for a short time on Boxing Day. Many were not so lucky.
      I'm getting used to seeing through just one eye but looking forward to getting my Rt one back. Thank you for your good wishes. Cheers!

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  8. OH DEAR, just when you think it couldn't get any worse. JEESH! Stay positive. It is tragic but your legs still work,you might not be able to see to use them, but you will be back up and running those lil demons down! And I look forward to reading about it!

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    1. Thanks Anita, I'll try to do as you say.....and run those demons down, but they'll have to slow down a fair bit! Hope you had a lovely Christmas, and don't forget to run a mile or two for me. Cheers!

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