Week 34 - 7.5 months since the op

Now 24th September and I have made significant progress having walked around 6 miles yesterday with an old work colleague from many years ago. I set off from my daughter’s house to drive my MX-5 the 54 miles from Dorchester to Exeter. The car is very low and l need the roof down to make it easy to get in and out. Fortunately it was sunny so ideal for open top driving.

Having arrived at 09:45 we sat and caught up over a couple of coffees before we set off from his house in Marlborough Road and walked down to the harbour having stopped to look at where the gate had been in the city wall.

From there we walked down the canal to the double lock pub for lunch. Watching kids swimming and of lots swans & ducks. The pub was busy with lots of external tables and friendly staff. Chris and enjoyed the food and a beer in sunshine and shade from all the trees.

After lunch we walked back a different way finally getting back to his house for a cup of tea and a well earned rest! -

My knee was a little sore with the recurrent pain below the joint and a bit of swelling but after a short rest I was able to continue walking from Chris’s house down to the Spanish restaurant for a tapas dinner before I drove my mx-5 back to Dorchester where I have been helping my daughter, who has not been well. The car is very low and I still have some difficulty in getting in or out with the soft top up so I drive it with the top down unless it is raining. Diving the mx-5 for a long distance is fine with a very comfy driver’s seat. but trying to get out in the tight parking Spaces is difficult unless I can fully open the door!.

The day before I had helped Amber with work in their allotment and according to Fitbit I have exceeded my targets for the last 3 days!

I had been avoiding long drives since the operation but I felt it was appropriate at this point in my recovery to drive the 340 mile journey.

When I saw Steffi this last Wednesday she was impressed with my progress and she spent time releasing the muscles and tendons on the outside of my right leg to give me more mobility in my ankle and less restriction at the knee.

Since my last blog I have been on several long cruises on my yacht so following on from the portrush cruise next joined other yachts form Holyhead m a cruise to the Isle of Man and more recently to Dun Laoghaire and Greystones. Both proved challenging but with improvements in my fitness and balance we overcame all the issues..

Greystones marina entrance

So it seems that I am now well into recovery and with a bit more work things will be as good as the left leg!