Still Steppin'

 

A Bouquet.

So, we are halfway through November already. This year has truly flown in a whirlwind of getting back to some sort of post-covid normal, whatever that is.

 

On the world stage, I was heartened by the results of the US midterm elections because I believe in democracy and personal freedom. Not so buoyed by the announcement by the former POTUS to run again in 2024, but hopefully he will be gently manoeuvred out of the way over the next couple of years or even better convicted and incarcerated.

 

Ukraine’s continued success—though the war is horrendous and never should have been—also bolsters my mood. I hope with every fibre in my being that somehow it will end soon with a cease to the onslaught by Russian missiles against people and infrastructure in Ukraine. I was deeply saddened to hear of the missile dropped on Poland today. 

(Disclaimer: Yes, I know there are other wars, disputes, protests and human rights abuses in the world, not to mention global warming and animal cruelty—but right now I am focussed on these things.)

 

On a personal note, I have been losing weight, albeit at an incredibly slow rate. And getting fitter.

 

I still have days when I wake up with pains throughout my whole body and every joint creaks or crackles when I move, but I doggedly keep practising my primal squat which has proven most useful when I have to pick up dog poop in the park. I can get down and more importantly, get up again without getting stuck. The primal squat is different from the multiple squats that seemed to cause me more harm than good earlier in the year - it is more about flexibility and balance.

 

A couple of days ago as I strolled back from the park, with the girls sniffing and snuffling on their leads, I met my neighbours, Laura and Pepe—a husband and wife team—on their way to the Lidl supermarket. Laura commented that she thought I had lost weight, which really made my day. I have been working hard at it, eating well, no sweets and cutting back slowly on my drinking. I decided it was better to cut back rather than try to give it up completely, so I just pour smaller drinks every week and it is working. I realised that my drinking is more psychological than physical, but I need rewards. So, I’ve decided to keep the alcohol and stay off the sweets.

 

I have also stepped up my activity. I try to get out for a walk every day on my own. The old lady shuffle with the girlies really doesn’t count. It is purely for them. They get to stop and sniff, relieve themselves and meet other dogs and people. For me it can be tortuous, but I use the time to look at the trees and meet other people and dogs.

 

My best walks incorporate a task—I like to have a purpose. Sometimes I walk into town to make some specific purchase or to see an exhibition. Sometimes it is to find a particular landmark or place. I am still getting to know my own city. One of my first forays was to buy some decent walking shoes. When I don these, the girls look depressed as they know I am going out, without them.

 

Two days ago, inspired by my meeting with Laura and Pepe, I walked to the Lidl supermarket. In all my years here, I did not even know that it existed. On this outing, I bought nothing but have put it on my radar for certain items in the future. For example, I spotted packs of lebkuchen. I was immediately transported back in time: My mother used to send me lebkuchen from Germany when I first moved to Ireland. She was wonderful. She used to pack the biscuits in boxes with the Aran jumpers that she knitted for me and my baby, Brendan. More often than not the parcel also included one of those enormous Toblerone bars - the huge ones. In those days I could eat chocolate and cake every day and still remain skinny.

 

Yesterday I decided to don my walking shoes (the girls were disgusted) and walk over to the Rosaleda shopping centre. I had only ever spied it from the bus and was simply curious as to what was there, besides it is a good walk, and there were a couple of new streets to be explored. I thought I knew where it was in relation to the enormous Rosaleda football stadium, but I ended up walking the whole way to the wrong end of the stadium before checking Google Maps, only to find that I should have turned off at the other end. It seemed a long way back.

 

I found it eventually and discovered a large Decathlon store which will be invaluable for when I need some new leggings and shorts—I spied some rather nice lightweight t-shirts there but was not in the mood for trying them on. That can wait until another day. The most important thing was to find the centre and also to check out the toilets. (These did not disappoint, Josephine Gregoriy). Although they were well used, and the tiles were slightly dated, they were spotlessly clean and when I walked in the lights and vents came on. The circulated air smelled fresh—not that horrible frumpy woman smell. I would give those toilets nine and half out of ten—they lost half a point because the sanitary waste receptacle touched my bum when I sat down.

 

All in all, it has been a good year for change - though not without strife - and for getting back into shape. In addition, I finally succeeded in buying myself three new bras and saying goodbye to my tight, elasticated vests. I wrote a whole blog about this over three months ago, but it never came to fruition—only the drawing I did for it remains. A lyrical image of me and my bosom and my new bra.