Life is back to going swimmingly

I have decided to attempt swimming twice a week and try to work on improving my stamina and strength. I feel the improvement I have gained since last March has plateaued and am keen to experiment with gaining more ground if I can. This week I bought an Active Card and went swimming Tuesday and swam 16 lengths in 21 minutes and today I went again and did 18 lengths in 25 minutes (and this after a run to the tip with a helpful friend). I have also taken my dog, Oscar, to the park but we both lead down after 15 mins! Well, it's a hot, sunny day afterall! Salted choc again has come in handy today. I think I should consider shares in Montezuma, Lindt and Green and Black's! Time for a quick rest with my book in the sun before a brief spell at work.

Time flies

I can't believe it has been two months since my last post. Several things have happened the most notable of which is the continued plateau of improvement. I am still managing rather well, teaching six classes and working as a therapist a few days a week. I am doing the odd bit of housework and have given a two hour presentation/workshop. I have gone back to swimming and managed 12 lengths in 18 minutes, which I was pleased with and my right leg, which used to give up the will to work after about three lengths, held up until about length 11, so I decided to quit at 12 lengths, plus I was feeling dizzy. Salted choc in the changing rooms perked me up nicely though. I would like to be able to increase the number of lengths and ultimately one day walk to and from the swimming pool as it is just a 15 min walk away, but it is uphill on the way there. So, I will content myself with working on increasing how far I can swim. I am going to go back to swimming once a week and if I can fit a bonus second time in, I will. I continue to be able to walk on flat land for about 10-15 minutes without my stick, but the slightest incline will slay me. I am finding I can manage to converse with people more without it being too draining, and this is very pleasant as it means I can socialise in a low key way such as a cafe with friends without it costing me too much energy. I still apply careful thought to what each day will hold and what I will do with it and log in my diary any major things that need attending to so I can plot my week. Sleep is still a major problem, not helped by the animals disturbing me, but I am sadly back on the Amitriptyline most nights of the week and sometimes have to up it by 5mg. I would like to be off this or get it back down to three nights a week, but for now, the most important thing is to try to regulate my sleep so that my days can me more productive if I want them to be. So I shall stop being stubborn and give into it for now. Finally, I have found comfort in baking! I find I can sit on a chair in my kitchen with the pull down cutting surface and manage quite nicely, and with radio 4 on, listening to a play it all feels rather therapeutic!