Thursday, September 10, 2015

Dad is back from his travels

Well he's back ... not even a strike by Lufthansa could stop him ! Folk from his party were scattered around various airports in the UK but Dad flew back to Manchester and even managed to get back earlier than his original flight!

He's had a good couple of weeks ... apparently the first week was too hot the second week too cold ... there ain't pleasing some folks !


Monday, September 7, 2015

Austria trip

Well Dad sounds to be having a great time in Austria. Sound like he had better weather the first week. He got himself a bus/lift pass and has been making the most of it! He hops on a bus to the ski lift and then takes  the lift up the mountains and then has a walk back down and hops back on the bus back to the hotel. If he times it right he gets to have lunch at the top of the mountain ! That sounds my sort of "walking" :)

He usually manages to get back to the hotel in time to catch the end of the days cycling in the Tour of Spain ! I did tell him that the Tour of Britain has started but that's not being shown on  Eurosport so I have to text him the results.

He's now moved onto Saalbach and sounds like he's had a couple of wet days. He was going to hire another e-bike but the weather was a bit wet/cold so he gave it a miss. Again he's been using the buses/ski lifts to get up the mountains. Today he's been to Zell am See and on a steam train to visit a waterfall ! I was well jealous of the steam train until he told me it broke down ! 

He's been out and about in the evening too. He went to a music and dancing pub one night (I bet he moaned it was "too loud") and tonight he is going bowling - that I would love to see !

Just one full day left tomorrow as he's back home on Wednesday !


Friday, August 28, 2015

Walking up a George - you got to love Dad's text messages

Yesterday his text read

"Hh.gret.wether.train.bus.an walkwent up a george,,.. the" 

followed swiftly by another text message that said

"Had a gd day wethgret not dun wel on texing lv dadx"

I'm a bit out of practice deciphering Dad's Speak but I get the gist ... Great weather, been on a train, bus and walked up a gorge, had a good day. Had to laugh at the ... not done well on texting and using George instead of gorge :)

Today's message he'd sorted out where the blank space was so instead of using the full stop and coming out looking like a web address it read quite well.
"Hi gd day on the bike got bak for 4" and he went on to tell me he'd watched the end of the Vuelta and a break away won.

I've told him practice makes perfect and hopefully by the end of his holiday he'll be up to speed in texting but Dad has his own text language which only a daughter can decipher. 




Wednesday, August 26, 2015

He's off on his travel this time to Austria

Yes Dad is off on his travels. After a slight hiccup with his EHIC card which expired in 2011 (did you know they have an expiry date!) we managed to sort (when I say "we", I mean me) and it arrived with several days to spare !

He set off early this morning - 3.00 am and I kindly declined his "should I ring you when I get to the airport" instead opting for a text message instead.

He's text to say he's now in Kitzbuhel ... he's sorted out a walk for tomorrow and Friday he's out on an e-bike with a free guide ... not sure if that's a person or a map! Either way I hope he doesn't run out of charge!

Had a quick Google, as you do, and he's staying at the Q! Resort Health & Spa .... that sounds VERY posh to me! The only link I could find in English was on TripAdvisor here and a link on Booking.com here definitely a step-up from the YHA !

He was just off for his evening meal, I do hope it comes on warm or even a hot plate.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Cycling the coast

Just ordered Dad a copy of Anna Hughes Eat, Sleep, Cycle - A Bike Ride Around the Coast of Britain. A bit of holiday reading for him and it should bring back many memories for Dad of his own trip around the coast !

Anyone interested the blurb reads ...
For Anna, a cycling enthusiast, the decision to ride 4,000 miles solo around the coast of the UK wasn’t that hard. Following the river from London until it became the sea, then following the sea until it reached the mouth of the Thames again was a beautifully simple idea. But after epic highs, incredible lows, unforgettable scenery and unpronounceable place names – as well as a hearty battle with some good old British weather – her simple idea turns into a compelling journey of self-discovery, and an eye-opening insight into what makes the island where she lives so special.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Crowning the President

A ceremony did take place to officially "crown" Dad as the President of the Staffordshire LDWA.




A weekend away

Well Dad has enjoyed his first weekend away since his op. He's been staying at the Woodlands Centre at Glasbury-on-Wye. He's had a great weekend, even though it was a bit nippy! I did ask if he was taking his hot water bottle with him and he said no ... as he didn't want everyone to know he used a hot water bottle !

Dad did his own walks and on the Saturday he had a wander along the river. Sunday he had a walk up one the hills ! Took it at his own pace but on both days he was out walking for a couple of hours. This is yet another milestone ticked off !
 
He's back to see the surgeon this week, so it will be good that he can report that he's been doing a few miles walking!

He's done three weeks at the gym now so he should at least be getting the hang of what he needs to do on the equipment !


The President of the Staffordshire LDWA !

Well Dad may not be able to knock off the miles like he used to but he's just been made President of the Staffordshire LDWA (that's the Long Distance Walkers Association).  I don't think it's quite as grand a role as Barack Obama has and I don't think his duties will be as involved but even so he's got the title of The President ! I think that means I can now say that I'm the President's daughter. Doesn't that sound grand.


Friday, January 16, 2015

The Gym

Dad has been for his first visit to a gym! It's all part of the rehab programme but it's definitely a first for him! He'd got his own personal trainer, which was useful as I'm not sure he'd be able to suss the computerised technology!  They had him walking on the treadmill, riding a bike, on one of those "arm thingies" (that's what he called it!) and then back on the treadmill.  He said he enjoyed the session and he's looking forward to his next session. It's a good job as he's got seven more of these sessions !

Saturday, January 10, 2015

The Bike

Well they've given out gale warnings and yellow "be aware" warnings and the weather folk have been gearing up to it for a few days .... so today is the day Dad decides to get his bike out for the first time since his op and tootles off to get his paper. His words were "I didn't realise it was so windy until I started pedalling !" 


  
Yeah Dad not the best of days to pick for your post-op maiden bike ride !



Tuesday, January 6, 2015

A quick update

A quick update as it will be coming up to six weeks post op this week ! Dad is doing good and he's hoping to get back behind the wheel and get out and about in his car. I think that will make a huge difference in his recovery and regaining his independence.

On Saturday night we headed up to the velodrome in Manchester to watch Revolution track racing. We'd booked the tickets a few months ago. We had a great night and after explaining to the staff at velodrome that Dad had not long had a operation and wasn't up to walking far they sent me a parking voucher to park on site which was brilliant.




Today he went AWOL ... well I couldn't get hold on him. I spoke to him first thing and then tried at lunch and got no answer. I left a message and then tried a few more times over the next few hours but still no reply. I even tried his mobile which was kind of pointless as he never has it switched on ! However he checked in a couple of hours later. He'd been out for lunch and then a walk around Westport Lake (which is a mile around - I know this as it's one of my walks) and then also popped in and had a walk around the Dingle.  That'll probably be the furthest he's walked so that it great progress.

Tomorrow and Thursday he has a couple of appointments at the hospital which will be the first time he has seen anyone since getting discharged.

Will keep you posted on his progress..