Hot enough for you?
Yes, the U.K. is, as we speak, melting into a small puddle thanks to a semi-seasonal heatwave.
From a personal point of view, this has both its negatives and its positives and, if you’ll bear with me, I’ll run through those with you right now.
The End
Firstly, there’s the mobility factor.
Those of you who have had the questionable fortune to follow my misadventures for any length of time will no doubt understand my difficulties obtaining a fully functional and in any way suitable wheelchair.
If this is news to you then you can find the details of at least some of those troubles here and here, but suffice it to say true, fully independent mobility has been a much sought after goal for much longer than is ideal.
But all that ended on Thursday of last week when I finally got my hands on a new set of wheels.
Sunny D
Since then, and with the warm, dry weather to complement my new ride, I’ve managed at least some exercise every single day. It might have been just a meander to the local shop, or an aimless wander around the estate, but it’s a hell of a lot more than I was managing.
And what’s amazing is the effect a little sunshine and a little exercise has. My mind feels clearer. I feel more energized. Sharper. Motivated. Some of this will, most probably, be thanks to the natural vitamin D, something all us Brits are lacking in, the rest could be endorphins working their magic and the burning off of at least some of the gigantic stores of fat 6 months of forced inactivity had helped me accrue.
But all that ended on Thursday of last week when I finally got my hands on a new set of wheels.
Sunny D
Since then, and with the warm, dry weather to complement my new ride, I’ve managed at least some exercise every single day. It might have been just a meander to the local shop, or an aimless wander around the estate, but it’s a hell of a lot more than I was managing.
And what’s amazing is the effect a little sunshine and a little exercise has. My mind feels clearer. I feel more energized. Sharper. Motivated. Some of this will, most probably, be thanks to the natural vitamin D, something all us Brits are lacking in, the rest could be endorphins working their magic and the burning off of at least some of the gigantic stores of fat 6 months of forced inactivity had helped me accrue.
Red Sky At Night
This is the part of MS that a lot of people are either unaware of or downplay as simple tiredness, but it’s a hell of a lot more.
It’s an almost total, sudden shutdown of energy. A heaviness of the limbs. A dullness of the mind. Everything, and I mean everything, is suddenly an effort, and some of it is too much.
So, if the oven we suddenly find ourselves living in is starting to drag on you, my dear reader, then imagine what it can, if not carefully monitored, do for me. Evenings in particular—the time the sun is going down but the house, for some strange reason, seems to be getting warmer and closer—is a difficulty. Sleep? Well sleep, although possible, is most probably not quite as rewarding as in more temperate times.
Swings and roundabouts.
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling…
So far, it’s all been manageable. The cloying heat has been climbing though, and today promises to be the warmest day of the week (so far). That makes it time to look after ourselves (and I mean all of us). It means hydration. It means shade and if possible breeze. It means bugger the electricity bill and get that fan blowing. And it also means that any exercise needs to be gentle, carefully apportioned, and, importantly, still scheduled.
Because, especially in our little rain-filled island, it’s time to make hay while the sun shines and keep that ball (wheelchair) rolling.
Until next time!
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Hey, there! If you enjoyed reading any of the above, why not take a look at some of my published work? Below you’ll find links to a number of short stories I’m lucky enough to have included in anthologies. I’d love to know what you think. My debut novel, The Heart That Died, is available now as both paperback, E-book, and on Kindle Unlimited, so I’m adding the link to that, too.
Oh, and if you like what you look-see, a nice, positive review would also be most welcome.
The Heart That Died
New Tales Of Old
Death Ship
Pestilence: Drabbles 1
Reaperman: Drabbles 3
The Musketeers Vs Cthulhu
Eldritch Investigations
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