It has been an odd two weeks.
You may not have noticed anything different from just reading the blog and my Facebook fan page. I haven’t given much away.
Well dear reader, I have not been very mobile as I have injured my left knee. My GP seems to think it is a small tear in the Medial menisci which is causing incredible pain. It was caused by twisting it while preparing food in the kitchen. Not a very good story, but the truth.
I have had to rest and keep my leg immobile for the entire time, take anti-inflammatory meds, strong pain-relief, and if I do move around, I have been using a walking stick to ease the pain. Today I am visiting an orthopaedic specialist to see what my options are, and the possibility of knee surgery to fix it. I am so excited about that 🙁
Keeping still is difficult when attempting to live a more sustainable lifestyle. How does one tend the garden, or clean out the chooks, or even bottle beer?
Well, you ask for help. That’s what community and family is all about. To help when you are down and out for a little while until you literally get back on your feet again.
So, as the title suggests, it has been a fortnight of firsts.
It has been the first time that Ben and Kim have cleaned out Cluckingham Palace without me. I had to sit down, and direct the entire activity with my leg rested. Couldn’t lift a finger to help, even if I wanted to, which I did. I had to learn to curb my frustration of not being able to do anything. They felt good for helping me, and the girls got a clean house.
Ben made the most recent YouTube video, because I couldn’t get around. He did a sterling job at filming the garden, and I am very proud of his efforts. All that, and I managed to weave it into his school work as media studies.
Same goes for the weekend just past. Kim and I had a candle making workshop. That requires setting up, washing up, and packing away heavy kit. We called in the cavalry, and Jake (Megan’s partner) helped us set up for the workshop while I sat and watched. Then during the workshop, Ben and Kim did almost everything. I managed to play shopkeeper at the end, but that was about it. After the workshop, Amy and her boyfriend Lawrence helped to pack up the car.
When we got home, they helped back everything away.
I also had a fermenter full of beer that I could not bottle, so luckily I had taught Amy how to brew beer earlier on in the year, so with a little direction Amy and Lawrence bottled the entire batch of Canadian Blonde beer.
Amy and Lawrence bottling beer
Their payment was a mixed dozen bottles of Aztec Gold Cerveza and Sweet Matilda brown ale which I think they appreciated, but had not expected.
Not much else is getting done in the garden. I managed to feed the chooks in the morning, but have to rest afterwards as the pain is excruciating. It is not a pleasant start to the morning, but I do still manage to have a chat with the girls, and having a laugh at their antics. The weeds continue to build up, but I am not too worried about that. Most of the weeds are other vegetables growing out of the compost, so it is a bit of a bonus really.
Other firsts have been little things. Like getting used to a walking stick, being waited on 24/7, and just resting. All things I do not normally do.
Anyway, I am back at work tomorrow (from home), so that should help bring things back into balance a little. Too much time resting the mind (and leg) is boring.
Slowing down is not necessary a bad thing. It allows time to heal, to gather perspective, and really assess what is important, and what is not. Sure, tasks will be delayed, but with help, we are getting things done slowly but surely.
I appreciate my family and friends. Thanks for all the help so far. Hopefully there will be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel after my visit to the specialist today.
Chat soon,
Gav x
Addendum; I am booked in for a Left Knee Arthroscopic Meniscectomy on Wednesday 18th June, with a couple of weeks recovery thereafter. So much fun to be had around here in the next two weeks! At least it is being fixed quickly.
gosh i hope you get better soon Gavin. Thank heavens for your supporting cast.
Hoping your knee heals quick. My husband is actually having knee replacement surgery next week. He will be home 4 to 6 weeks. For a guy always on the go that prospect is not thrilling!
Best wishes, so glad to hear you have lots of help – take it easy.
Oh i hear you Gav, I’ve been injured (right elbow) since last Sat night and it totally put the kibosh on my holiday of manual labour. I have all the materials sitting here and i cant lift the kettle. Arghhhh.
Yes, you are a lucky man (though obviously not lucky enough) to have your team around you and you know what they say – what goes around, comes around. Aren’t you glad you are who you are? You are going to have to come up with a much better reason for your injury though, cooking is pretty boring. How about wrestling a snack in the chicken coop – your OS readers would believe you – all wildlife in Oz can kill you, cant they?
Tomorrow I’m back at work (on site) and it will make it easier as i wont have to look at what i am not doing.
Rest up my friend and lets hope that it doesn’t require surgery though this is often a quicker solution.
Wrestling a snake – arghhhh i hate typing on a tablet.
Get well soon Mate
It is sooo frustrating isn’t it, to be laid up when the garden beckons. I have one of those backs that goes out regularly, so I’m all sympathy with you. Get well soon.
Sorry to hear about the knee Gav. Didn’t realise you were so banged up.
Next time give us a yell, we’re just down the road 🙂
Although the next three week will be difficult as I’m East Timor at the mo’ 😀
Cheers
MOC
Oh no that is no good at all I hope you get better very soon , I have had a couple of knee injurys and have done them exactly how you did and boy it’s hard to stay of it when there is work to be done you are very lucky with all your helpers. One day I’m going to get to a candle making workshop . Wishing you a speedy recovery
Oh no Gavin, not good news about your knee :/ Hope you get the problem sorted soon. In the meantime rest up…
I hope your recovery is swift and the pain subsides. Good luck with the doctors.
Good to see a strong community around you though. Its something we all forget is there! But times like this prove how much we can rely on others to help us out when we need them.
Ouch, my son had similar surgery after a rugby playing injury and he healed up fine, but you DO have to rest. Thank goodness you have folk around to help you. Take care. xx
Hi Gavin,
That sounds so incredibly painful. I hope your surgery is quick and simple and your recovery equally quick and painless. Great you have such a wonderful support system – and some great sounding beer to take away some of the pain. 🙂 Good luck with it all.
You have my number. Call if there is anything I can do to help you out or back up Kim.
On the bright side, working from home means you missed the commute in this morning with the cut cables and train replacement coaches.
Hi Gavin,
sorry to hear your news, may your recovery be speedy 🙂
Some good news, in case you hadn’t already heard it, is that Bhutan is in the process of becoming the world’s first 100% organically farmed country!
Madeleine
So sorry to hear about your knee Gavin. Hope you have a speedy recovery. I think we all fall apart after the big 50! Am hoping you still get to the climate leadership training. Dj
Hi everyone. Thanks so much for your wonderful comments and well wishes. I am having surgery tomorrow, so will be recovering over the next two weeks. I dare say I will have so much time on my hands that I will be blogging and podcasting a fair bit.
Cheers,
Gav x
Ohhhhhhh noooo. Just catching up on reading your posts Gav. Hope you heel quickly. Sorry to read of your pain – just where would we be without our family and friends.
Oh no, poor thing. Hope the operation went well today. As it happens, my sister tripped over her own feet on flat ground when walking during PE at school a few years ago, and tore her leg muscle so badly that she had to be taken away by ambulance and put on morphine! The activities of everyday can be dangerous!
Heal up soon.