Home Alone.
Rhiann Marie - Round the World
Stewart Graham
Tue 8 Mar 2011 14:43
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Phuket Tuesday 8th March 2105 Local 1405
UTC
As I previously told you, before my accident we had
agreed that Trish would go home from Thailand and join Rhiann Marie again
somewhere west.
That was then. Before I had my wee spill. Now
everything has changed and our plans are still not certain so, on Sunday
night I got Trish to head home to catch up with family and friends while my
recuperation continues. She had difficulty coming to terms with leaving me while
my recuperation is still going on. However I insisted and I know she
will be the better of the time at home. I can also get stuck into the
physical rebuilding, partying every night, climbing the mast and motocrossing of
an afternoon. Just kidding.
I set myself the goals of being able to swim under
the keel and climb the mast before I could continue the
circumnavigation. In addition I would also be checking with the surgeon
here about how my back was doing and the Doc who did the operation in Penang.
The surgeon here said one year to completely heal but it should be
very good after six months. However he did not disagree that after two months I
could be fine for sailing again.
The surgeon in Penang who did the operation viewed
the attached image taken against the blinds of the boat. He said I would have to
pull myself together before continuing ...........
No honestly, what I think he said was "it doesn't
really matter what I say you will do what you want anyway" which roughly
translated means "you should be fine after two months". So it is still down to
me to get the strength up for an April departure. The weather here worryingly
already seems to be changing with heavy rain and thunderstorms every evening and
light winds between times so I sincerely hope it is not signalling an early end
to the North East monsoon. I have been monitoring the weather in the
eastern Indian Ocean every day and so far there is still a steady if light North
Easterly blowing. I would like to see it a bit more consistent for the next
month though. Let's hope.
Back to the back ( pretty soon you will be writing
to me to start banging on again about the waste of public money in the UK). Yes,
back to the back. I gave it lalldy yesterday in the gym and as expected I felt
the effects today.
You see I have to sleep flat on my back or
flat on my front. This morning as I stirred I was sleeping on my front. However
as my quads were contracting, my abs were trying to pull my pelvis to my
nipples and my pecs were starting their long journey back to manliness from
moobliness I think only my knees, shoulders and chin were touching the
mattress.
Not one to be deterred by such things though, to
stretch myself out, I hung myself from the handhold at the
companionway taking care not to take my feet off the floor in case the back
screws gave way and my arse would fall off. It didn't.
So off up the hill again today, resolved to do
better than yesterday. Over the years when climbing a hill, or running, or
in the gym or driving or whatever, I have always tried to set myself challenging
targets then as I got close to them move them further away if I could keep
going. For instance if going up a hill or mountain you might say " right I am
not going to stop till I reach that ridge up there" then when you get close
to it you might say "Ok I can keep going just another half hour to the next
ridge" that sort of thing. You know? Well that's the way it is in the gym
at the moment set it high and push it harder. Not of course exposing my
steelwork to any bending or compression.
So far so good and I really feel that I am making
progress. (Two days. Deluded?) And yes I am carefull too and I did not
vomit today either. Let's see however what shape I am contorted into tomorrow
morning when I wake up
.
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