Limpy and Gimpy

It's a good thing we live in a building full of OAPs (Old Age Pensioners) because we're going to be right there with'em before too long (at least physically). K and I are both nursing semi-debilitating leg injuries. Her right ankle and my left knee. Don't be alarmed. It's nothing serious.

Yesterday morning, when K was having her morning run on the beach, she clambered up a couple of boulders and stepped slightly wrong on one of them. No injury occurred at that time because she was able to keep running, but it must have slightly weakened the ankle (this will come into play later in the day). Now, mid-day, K is out going to a couple of the Westbourne shops, while I'm at home doing a bit of work in our "office" (filing some bills, checking our finances, etc.). Going from the filing cabinet to the desk and sitting down, I slam my left knee quite hard into the leg of the desk. This knee was already a bit dodgey from a strange injury a few years ago. Anyway, it hurt and it kept on hurting. It's OK when I'm moving around, but it just gets a bit stiff and painful if I have been sitting for a while. I'm sure it's just a contusion or something. It's better today.

So, we've finished lunch and now it's time to do some painting out on the patio. K would paint another dining chair and I would paint my wardrobe. While the items were drying, the plan was to go see Superman Returns (tickets pre-booked since Thursday). We carry the wardrobe out to the patio and in the process, K twists her right ankle again. This time it hurt, but she didn't say anything. I only find out about it 10 or 15 minutes later when she tells me her ankle hurts. She tells me about the boulder-clambering incident and then about carrying the wardrobe. We continue painting. By the time we're done, K's ankle has swollen quite a bit and is very painful. She goes inside to sit down with the leg raised and to ice the ankle. But there's no ice in the freezer, the cubes are still a bit liquidy. I put them in a zip-lock bag anyway and then scrape all of the freezer frost into the bag as well. This is somewhat soothing for her ankle, but it's still very painful for her to walk. What about the movie? It's starting in an hour. We try to figure out a way for her to go anyway, but ultimately decide against it. She makes me go by myself, though I really felt like I should stay with her. I reluctantly leave.

Without my navigator, it takes me a very long time to find the movie theatre and I end up driving a lot further than necessary. I make it just in time (good thing I have a seat booked already) and I even get a cash refund for the unused ticket despite the notice on the booking confirmation that says "no refunds or exchanges". I watch the film. I am entertained. I decide that we need to go to the movie theatre more often, rather than saying, "Oh, we'll wait for that one on DVD." The cinema industry is hurting, people aren't going to the movies as much. I feel like we need to help support it. We're going to budget for two movie theatre movies per month (at least).

I hobble back out to the car to try driving home. This is also takes me longer than it should. Before heading home, I go to our "24-hour" Tesco to do the grocery shopping. In the over-the-counter meds section I take a packet of Ibuprofen, open it, and dry-swallow two caplets (I also purchase the packet, don't worry). There's also something called Ibuprofen Gel, so I get some of that, too. Couldn't hurt. Actually, the stuff is great! Rub it on the affected area and away goes the pain and some of the swelling!

This morning, we wake up and assess our injuries. K is able to walk with only a slight limp and so can I. Instead of our Sunday yoga session, we go to the beach for some "hydro-therapy" (i.e.- go for a swim in the cold sea). The temperature was goose-pimple-making at first, but you get used to it after the first plunge. Then it's kind of nice, especially on the ol' knee and ankle. The sea was smooth as glass, very calm. The temperature today is absolutely perfect. Heavenly. We feel fit enough to do some more painting and a bit of house-cleaning. Something tells me we won't be hobbling around for too much longer.

Which brings me around to Limpy and Gimpy. There are a few different animal residents in the garden around our flat. Mostly squirrels, magpies, and a few wood pigeons. I throw bread to the birds and whole peanuts to the squirrels. One of the squirrels has recently injured it's front right paw. He/she runs on three legs with the injured paw held up in the air. He/she is now referred to as Limpy. I wish I could catch it so I can take a look at the injury, but that's probably not a good idea. Anyway, there's also a magpie that looks a little worse for wear. It's really scraggly and thin. Almost looks like another type of bird masquerading in magpie colors. It must have been the runt of the litter. I've been trying to target-feed these two misfits in an attempt to make their lives just a little easier. That poor magpie is so pathetic looking! It probably doesn't have any friends. He/she is now known as Gimpy.

Well, tonight we're going to have an English Sunday Roast for dinner. Roast leg of pork with roast parsnips, mushy peas, gravy, and Yorkshire puddings. OK, the mushy peas aren't a traditional component of a Sunday Roast. I'm sure our English friends reading this are scoffing heartily at this concept. Hey, we had a can of them here and just felt like having them. Who knows, might be pretty good!

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PS - When I was at Tesco last night, I asked the manager about this faux-24-hour thing. They said it is 24-hour... from Monday morning to Saturday night when they close at 10pm to abide by national employment law. So, it looks like I just misunderstood the sign. It says "Monday 8am - Saturday 10pm". They're in the clear, I guess. Though it is a little misleading to have a big 24-Hours logo on the sign when it's only open around the clock five days per week.