Mermaids

 

The Monday Mermaids were well down on numbers this week.  One is floating around on a canal somewhere, and one (Holly's mum) has gone to Turkey.  Just three of us.  So one got her phone out and two of us posed.  And we sent this picture to both of them labelled, "Wish you were here."  Neither of them seemed to regret being wherever they were so we had a chatty time without them.  

We are among the most regular users of the pool and have been going for quite a long time now.  Holly's Mum has mentioned to the owner that I have trouble getting into the building and he has now offered to improve access.  How kind is that!

So tired!

 

I went swimming yesterday. I haven't been for five weeks because of health issues or having other appointments but I was determined to go.

I really enjoy my swim but there are steep steps to get into the pool we hire, so, if my legs are unhappy, I can't swim.  It's a really low cost pool which we hire and quite nice once we get in.  (The other four Monday Mermaids are all fitter than me!)

But yesterday I got there and I swam for about half an hour.  I enjoyed it and felt really good when I got out.  I came home and then the fatigue set in.  I paid for that half hour swimming by three hours in bed, most of it asleep.  

But for all that, I'm so glad I went.  

Just for the record

I've just come back from my swimming session.  

Way back in March I could manage only 25 metres.  

Today I swam 200 metres.  

Whoo Hoo!

This is me

Back in 1974 I had a serious motor cycle accident whilst I was working in Nigeria and as a result one kneecap was smashed to smithereens and had to be removed.  Parts of the other leg became gangrenous and had to be sloughed away.  Skin grafts were needed and my legs have a very peculiar shape.

In 2013 I had a double mastectomy,

Over the years I have "comfort eaten" during periods of depression and as a result am very overweight,

Today I found the courage to go swimming with a friend.  It is the first time for at least fifteen years that I have swum and to be honest I struggled.  I struggled with self-consciousness, with unfitness and with fear.

In no conventional sense is mine the body beautiful but it is mine and it is unique.  And today I feel very proud.