Well, that was a rollercoaster of a week.
It ended with me coughing like a fifty a day trooper, diagnosed as a chest infection and told by the GP to take it easy, not something I’m especially good at. The weather has been lovely and the garden is looking lovely again, but I’m giving it a miss. We’ll, I’ve taken a few piccies
Still my woes were nothing to the Vet’s. After covid cancellations and injuries, last Sunday was her debut marathon in London with 40,000 others. She was excited and we were too. We had it planned to crisscross the 26 miles and 385 yards to wave her own several times. There is this app thingy where you can follow her and despite anxiety about her recent knee strain she was rolling out miles at between 7 minutes 50 and 8 minutes. We secured a spot about 300 metres from the finish just near Buckingham Palace and waited to give a final cheer….
…only we didn’t. With 600 metres to go, on the other side of St James Park, she quite literally ran out of fuel. She fainted, her blood sugar beyond low. In one of those unlooked for but serendipitous situations her collapse came right by a St Johns Ambulance station and she immediately received the exact help she needed.
There were some moments of worry, of course. Several. But she was fine. Not fine soon enough that she could stagger to the end, but still, all we want is ‘fine’ really, with or without a finisher’s medal.
She knows she took on board all the recommended glucose and other boosters and fuelled properly before the start but the heat, maybe her speed and possibly an over effective metabolism that processes the glucose too quickly curtailed her day.
So near and yet… Happily she’s well but I don’t think she’s planning on another attempt. Maybe she’ll stick to halfs, maybe park runs.. And she raised nearly £3000 for the vet charity she works for. And her amazing friendship group went on eBay and bought her a winner’s medal…
Ah parenting; it never stops, does it? I think Dog understands the importance of just dogging on…
TanGental 
How very disappointing for the Vet. Give her my love – and give up those fags.
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Yep, I’m on it. I’ll merely smolder from here on. As for the marathon, I think she’ll stick to something shorter…
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The garden looks great, Geoff, and I hope both you and the Vet are back in top form.
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Well never far short. A temporary blip.
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That’s good to hear. 🙂
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The brilliant Peg from Young Sheldon
https://coub.com/view/14jega
Poor Vet and rather upsetting too. Very pleased all was well. I do not think Marathons and all that training etc are a very good idea, though. She probably had a big rush so near the end and it wiped her out. Yes, stick of halfs. x
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I hope she sticks to her plan..
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Get better soon!
I forgot – well done to Vet for raising the dosh, and to her friends for kindly getting her a (well-deserved) medal 🙂
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I think they are so good. Mind you she’s pretty amazing in return (that’s not a parental boast of course…)
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Seeing both you and the Vet in top form!
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Yes we are both vulcanised, so bouncing back is genetic
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Commiserations all round, and hopes for a swift and complete recovery!
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She’s seemingly full functioning and in Chicago eating her way through a week’s holiday. Thanks for the thought
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Ouch. Understandably something to be upset about but alls well and all, and no, parenting never stops. 😳
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Stress is the price of love I guess…
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Glucose levels can be tricky, especially on the longer run. Congratulations to her for doing it! Your garden has completely recovered! Gorgeous!
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Yes, we’re all bouncing back!! She’s in Chicago this week with her hub so can’t be too bad…
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Good to hear. Wish I had a garden like that, but the watering here would be brutal. I did the watering for my husband yesterday – took an hour and gave me a sore back because he likes to water his plants from the bottom!
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And it’s October! He’s a demanding taskmaster!
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The kid worry never stops. Glad she is okay. I hope you are as well. Chest infection? Did the GP prescribe anything to fight it like antibiotics?
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Yep, I’m on something for a week or so and then reviewing it this Friday. Seems to be doing the trick. Thanks John.
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Excellent.
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Hope you and she are OK, it’s horrible when those sort of things happen.
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Yes, much better thanks, and yes as you know only too well, they don’t stop adding grey to what’s left…
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I do hope you are taking it easy in that amazing garden. I would be sitting on a bench, sipping ginger lemon tea and reading a good book (maybe one of yours). I would probably be sick a lot longer than expected! I’m glad the vet is OK. Kids, do worry us don’t they?
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It’s never ending; and do they warn you>? Nope! Yes, taking it easy. I’ve passed it on to Mrs LP so that’s made me popular…
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Great pics. Glad she’s OK, and that is some achievement!.
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Yes, it’s a big relief.
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Poor you, poor Vet, and, it seems, poor Mrs LP. I hope Dog has been offering suitable comfort to you all.
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He loves a patient…
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So many gorgeous flowers! I’m glad your daughters okay. Running is dangerous!
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Clearly best avoided
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The counter stripes on the lawn are striking. Is it used for outdoor chess or draughts? It is a sign of the times that to run in a marathon you have to dress like an advertising hoarding these days. Good running though, a crisp speed.
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When we were watching we saw a tree overtake a rather buff young man. He looked mortified; maybe ashen (sorry!)
The lawn is a bit of a hostage. About ten years ago we obtaiend advice on how to improve the lawn and it’s become an obsession. That advice continues from Nathan who helps me with the twice yearly marathon of aeration, scarifying rolling top dressing spreading and rolling. I’m toying on expanding the wild areas and beds because it does take work and we refuse to water it unless we’ve just seeded it and there’s no rain; current temperatures will drive an alternate arrangement if they continue
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Owning to old age and ecological considerations I have changed my lawn approach from intensive care to creative neglect, no additives, no watering. Mrs T is torn between a hedgehog friendly garden and a neat and tidy one.
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Very wise. Not many hedgehogs here abouts but plenty of foxes and some well loved buggeries.
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Sure glad to hear that everything turned out okay with the vet. Wow! It’s almost cruel that her body petered out with 600 meters left.
Your yard always looks great, but it’s in especially fine form now.
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Thanks Pete; yes, a lucky dodge there. It was hard but she took it well, understanding what it might have been. And yes, odd to have October as top month!
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She made it almost all the way. Some don’t even try. Like me for instance. She should be proud of how far she went and ended up still alive. Garden looks happy again. I know how you feel. My ribs hurt from coughing but it’s from changes in altitude again and air quality. I’m going to go read now. Join me.
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What a good idea; reading it is. What are you into?
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I just finished “The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister. Couldn’t put it down. I’m going in search of her many other books. Have a sample of her book “House Lessons”. With serious ADD, I have a problem finding books that pull me all the way through. Yours did and so did the Scent keeper. We shall see about the next novel.
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How frustrating to be so near. And how lucky to faint where she did. Still, I’m glad she’s fine now.
And I agree. Parenting never stops. If someone had told me I’d still worry about my kids when they had kids of their own, I’m not sure I’d have bothered. (Not true, of course. I wouldn’t be without them.)
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I think there are so many parenting lessons we don’t hear, like the quantity of second hand food I ate when they were small because it had to go somewhere. It’s the same with being a child; no one told me I’d parent my parents when they were old; the first time dad ask my opinion on some financial affair – I was 45 and a partner but none the less I was totally unprepared.
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Good point about parenting parents.
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I was very resistant but it became inevitable!
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Yes, it does, doesn’t it. I hope my kids are patient when it comes to their turn!
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Always love your garden. Hope you’re on the mend.
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slowly…
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🙂
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Hope you are feeling better and your daughter has fully recovered. What a scare! My kids are teens and I’m realizing there’s no “finish line” and maybe I need to make some peace with that. I keep saying “when the kids are older…”
Also, your garden photos always delight me so much. They are simply perfect.
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Thanks Bridgette; no, the worries never stop. One of many things they don’t emphasize enough in sex education lessons…
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