20 weeks post #HipReplacement

Time to share again what I’ve learnt or experienced over this last week. Well I’ve learnt even with a walking stick I simply can’t stand, it hurts my back, my thigh, ankles and even the ball of my feet swelled up!!

So a day out is still equalling a few days rest, so not where I’d like to be in terms of daily living.

But I did manage to paint my toes for the first time since my op. And finally my big toe nails have grown back, for some reason I lose my big toe nails after surgery?

Ankles are often swollen now, especially after days out, so I need to see the GP again. As even my ball of my foot is swelling up. God knows why.

Scar is looking pretty decent, and I only remember it when it stings, aches after a long day. It’s still so numb around 3inches side to side all down the length of it. But it’s early days yet, it may come back.

In between days of doing things out and about, and rest days, I try to squeeze in at least 2 sessions of physio at home, using my step and ankle weights.

And in doing both legs in my physio, my left leg (non replaced hip) is painfree but so much weaker than the replaced hip. Hoping by regularly doing both legs now it will catch up at bit.

#Soapbox Derby May 2019

It’s an exciting weekend, this bank holiday for me, first I had Shaggy and Sting concert Friday 24th May, then on the Sunday 26th May we have this gem to go too.

Soapbox Derby Shrewsbury Quarry

Come and join thousands of spectators from across the West Midlands to cheer on our weird, wonderful and wacky soapbox downhill racers at Shrewsbury Wacky Races 2019, the first event of it’s kind to be held in the town.
Watch as our racers hurtle down our custom track in their carefully crafted carts at the Shrewsbury Quarry, tackling our 300m track and it’s chicanes and, hopefully, avoiding the icy waters of the River Severn at the end!

Our competitors will work their way through a knockout style competition with only the fastest 10 cars making it through to the final, where they will battle to take home the winners trophy!

The event will be free to attend, with pop up street food, bars and loads of fun activities for all the family.

• Race starts at 10am
• Second race 1pm
• Final race 4pm top 10 cars
• Trophy time, winners 5pm

• We have often watched on Dave Chanel the madness of soapbox races, and I was thrilled to see it over here in this country and not far for us either!!
• Its been too long since I’ve been to Shrewsbury.

We arrived at 10.20am easy parking for us, quite close as we used street parking. First pit stop to the loo, bit of a queue and already out of loo roll, perfect!!

We headed off to the starting line, managed to watch the last few of this race set off.

Rain was a dampener I will admit. So after watching a few cars, we headed to the Dingle to eat some of our packed sarnies.

Spotted some cars on display too, lots of stalls of food too. But I came prepared. As I always do, so no queuing for me.

Walked around the town to see the old building, haven’t been to Shrewsbury in such a long long time. I love the Tudor buildings

Back to the Quarry ready for the second race. Thinking we were smart we headed to watch at 12.20pm knowing race started at 1pm, only just got a spot!!

There was a screen, but we wanted to be closer to the action.

We saw so many cars and this is a small snippet of them really. We were very lucky to get a spot, though how when a lot of people really hogged areas by spreading out with lots of chairs, blankets and cushions. I struggled to stay in my spot, it really hurt my hip, and back.

So once the second race ended, I had to call time on the day even though we had other races to watch. I was gutted to go, but really relieved as well. As I couldn’t of stayed how much I wanted too.

Had a giggle, I wished the course had obstacles and more haybales to dodge for the cars, but it was a first event so you never know next time… I’d definitely go again.

#BlogBook Tour The Tea Time Mystery Faith Martin

I absolutely adore this series, and I sorely wish I could watch it on TV, as I feel the characters would translate well on a daytime afternoon series. Think #FatherBrown #ShakespeareAndHathaway kind of vibe.

#AD Gifted, as I’m part of a blog book tour I am given the book to read, in exchange for my opinions and reviews, but all thoughts are my own.

THE TEATIME MYSTERY by Faith Martin
Discover a new series of whodunits by million-selling author Faith Martin. These charming mysteries will have you scratching your head to work out who the murderer is.

Meet Jenny Starling: travelling cook and reluctant amateur detective.
Please note this book was first published as “JUST NOT CRICKET” under Faith Martin’s pen name JOYCE CATO.
Jenny Starling is doing the catering for the village cricket match. But she’s not expecting one of the players to turn up dead.
Everyone from the village has turned out to watch the match, and with this being the club’s centenary, Jenny Starling has been hired specially to provide her stunning food for the event.
Then the next man up to bat, Tristan Jones, is nowhere to be found. He is discovered behind the pavilion, murdered by a blow to the back of the head with an old cricket bat.
The handsome twenty-something had a reputation as a Lothario, with an appetite for married women. Did a scorned woman or a cuckolded husband kill him?
However, he’d annoyed other people too. He was a stockbroker who took big risks with other people’s money and lost their lifesavings.
Soon another body turns up and Jenny Starling is going to need all her cunning to crack this complex case.
This is the sixth in a series of enjoyable murder mysteries with a great cast of characters and baffling crimes which will keep you in suspense to the final page.
Perfect for fans of classic whodunits by authors like Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, TE Kinsey, and J.R. Ellis.
JENNY STARLING
In her late twenties, Jenny Starling is an impressive woman. Physically, she stands at 6ft 1inch, and has shoulder-length black hair and blue eyes. Curvaceous and sexy, she’s a modern single woman, living the lifestyle that suits her – that of a travelling cook. Her famous (and now very rich) father, is a ‘celebrity’ cook, divorced from Jenny’s mother. Jenny drives a disreputable cherry-red van, and is happy travelling the country catering events and cooking great food. She is on a one-woman crusade to bring back ‘real’ food. And definitely doesn’t like having to divert her attention from achieving the perfect Dundee cake or creating a new sauce recipe by having to solve a murder. She finds crime very distracting, especially when there is chocolate to temper or pike to poach. Nevertheless, she is very good at reading people, and with a quick and agile brain, becomes very good at unmasking killers. And her always-undaunted sense of humour goes a long way in keeping her sane when all around her people are dropping like flies.
THE AUTHOR
FAITH MARTIN is the best-selling author of the DETECTIVE HILLARY GREENE mysteries, which have sold over 1 million copies globally in just over a year.
JENNY STARLING MYSTERIES
Book 1: THE BIRTHDAY MYSTERY
Book 2: THE WINTER MYSTERY
Book 3: THE RIVERBOAT MYSTERY
Book 4: THE CASTLE MYSTERY
Book 5: THE OXFORD MYSTERY
Book 6: THE TEATIME MYSTERY

FAITH MARTIN

Faith Martin was born in Oxford, and has spent all her life within twenty miles of the university city, even working at Somerville College for five years before turning to writing full-time. The author of the popular DI Hillary Greene novels, she also writes more classic-style ‘whodunits’ under the pen name Joyce Cato, but began her writing career as Maxine Barry, winning an award for penning romance novels! A popular writer for over 25 years, she has had nearly 50 novels published so far. Her hobbies include walking her now ageing dog, wildlife-watching, reading and (reluctantly) gardening.

My Review

As I said above I adore this series, it’s just light hearted enough to be enjoyed thoroughly on holiday, while not been too graphic and gruesome, although the mysteries keep you well entertained.

Jenny’s reluctantly to divert her focus off catering to solve murders always makes me giggle, as she’s so good at it. She is a book version of Murder she wrote, trouble always seems to follow her.

Always entertaining and I love the characters, they are so English to me. Another one loved wholeheartedly x

Sting and Shaggy 44/876 Tour

The album’s title refers to the country calling code for the United Kingdom (+44) and the North American area code for Jamaica (876), Sting’s and Shaggy’s respective home countries.

Following their win at the 2019 Grammys for Best Reggae Album, Sting & Shaggy have announced their return to the UK with The 44/876 tour.

A series of intimate and exclusive shows will begin at London’s Camden Roundhouse on 19 May with additional dates in Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester.

2018 saw Sting & Shaggy bring The 44/876 tour to North America, South America and Eastern Europe. Hailed as one of the most anticipated concerts of the year and a “reggae rock dance party that never lets up,” the show sees the pair collaborating on each other’s most celebrated hits such as Every Breath You Take, Englishman In New York, Message In A Bottle, It Wasn’t Me, Mr. Boombastic and Angel as well as new hits from 44/876

In spring 2018, Sting & Shaggy made UK headlines with a memorable performance of Don’t Make Me Wait at the Queen’s 92nd birthday celebration at the Royal Albert Hall. The pair also performed the track live on BBC’s The One Show, and in the latest series of Mrs. Browns Boys. 2018 also saw the release of Skank Up (Oh Lawd), a further collaboration from Sting & Shaggy that featured dancehall music sensation Ding Dong. 2019 will also soon see the release of the pair’s next single, Just One Lifetime.

Never been to the 02 academy before, and it was a very small intimate venue, easy to get to bar, and toilets, nice staff as well.

The music kicked off at 8.10pm while I was on the loo!! Weird as it said last entry at 8.30pm so I thought I had plenty of time.

Anyways straight into stings classics, with the crowd joining in. I needed a San Miguel, so headed to the bar, which was super efficient, well staffed and I was served pretty quickly.

Had a few tall tall people in front of us, but the odd one made an effort all night to duck and weave so us small ones could see. He was well into it!!

I think the crowd was predominantly for Sting, but behind me and including us (me and Mr moon) we were there for Shaggy, wooping and whistling when his songs came on.

Though admittedly we bopped and sang along to both sets of classic songs, as well as their collective new songs on the album. Some songs were slow at times and I personally would of loved the same reggae energy all he way through, but I had an absolute blast!! What a way to kick start the bank holiday weekend.

19 weeks post #hipreplacement

The weeks are flying by, and with the warmer weather we as a family are getting busier, which is lovely. But boy oh boy I’m still paying a high price for any activities.

Which I wholeheartedly admit is gutting. I truly wanted, wished and hoped that by now this magic bullet surgery would be the answer and I’d be skipping into the sunset.

And while this surgery has been amazing, it’s clearly not the sole issue I thought it was. I’m struggling with my hands alot, but not just them though my ankles, knees and shoulders too and I feel cheated. All I’ve ever wanted is my life back, who I was at 32 and I’ve chased this dream headlong ever since.

I had no concept that I was literally fixing the hips to then swap the goal post and need intervention on other joints.

So I’m not going to compare to others healing times anymore, it is what it is. I’m not sure if it’s the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Hip Dysplasia or Arthritis that is ruling my life, but something is, more than I care to admit too.

It sucks that I have some issues, I have to remember not to focus on them, I need to remember the positive thoughts and drive my energies into them.

No physio appointment booked this week, so physio at home is foundation basics to keep movement going and no stress out other joints. Using ankle weights for resistance.

• Hip abduction x 15 reps
• Hip extension x 15 reps
• Hip extension (backwards) x 15 reps
• Hip flexion x 15 reps
• Single leg lunge on areobic step x 15 reps
• Monster walk x 30 steps

Going to work on these while I await the next physio appointment.

Found these exercises on Pinterest and I will try to add some of these are well, later on in the week.

Day 129 post #hipreplacement Pedal Fest 2019

So here it is, never heard of it before, but hubby got tickets so why not. We planned on the Saturday at first, but weather was going to be better for Sunday, so that’s the day we planned.

Which honestly helped, as the hip needed some recovery days between this and that physio session. Man that ached my abducters and glutes so much!!

But if you lived closer you could easily do both days. As it’s Free!! Crazy right, especially when you see what’s on offer too….

It’s meant to be a family fun weekend and located in Sherwood Pines Forest. There they have live music, bike demo, bike stunt shows to name but a few things on offer.

They also offer things especially for little ones, games and activities with competitions and even freebies.

And of course if you fancy trying out some bikes, such as Raleigh, Haibike and Lapierre then all that’s needed is your photo id, get a wristband and demo bikes away.

I’d like to ride a bike again, but I’m not convinced I’m entirely ready yet. A simple level 3 resistance on a stationary bike is hard enough, for 5 mins, so I’m unsure. But I believe hubby is going to demo some bikes if we are early enough to do so. Maybe he could try out some electric bikes for me.

Hubby signed up to try some demo bikes.

We got some bunny holding in. Saw chickens, tarantula, snails, and tortoise too.

We watched #Fumbledore kids entertainer while Mr Moon rode the electric bike. I found Fumbledore was hilarious.

Ted Robbins comedian doing Man Vs Food which was good sports! Loved it .

Grove Street gave us songs to bop along too, and sing along with. Great atmosphere.

The famous Gold Burner Raleigh!!

Savage Skills entertainment, Alec and Tom riding bikes and jumping, ramps and flips.

Ted Robbins was a brilliant host, although he had no voice at all.

And lastly we heard Christina And Harry singing the last hour out. But I was sadly work out by this point, hip aching beyond belief, so I needed to get home, and a decent seat.

After today I feel that although the hip is improving, it’s still far from normal. I still get pains, and stiffness, and I feel unable to stand for long. I have a long way to go to be fixed.

18 weeks post #hipreplacement

Not even been a whole week since the last physio appointment, but I’m back here again!!

Since the last appointment we had a busy weekend, which admittedly wiped me out proper. Until Tuesday in fact, then boom its Wednesday and time to do physio.

At NO point could I do my at home exercises, as my leg is so achy and swollen in-between appointments.

And this is my hand, my walking stick hand.

Rings removed as it’s so flared up lately. By Tuesday it was improved, but still podgy.

So here we are 18 weeks have zoomed by I will admit. Though earlier weeks I swore they dragged. And I’ve learnt a few things, I still HATE stairs. The leg swells up over 2inches bigger when I overdo it, and I can’t bend well and get up again. I honestly thought I would be more agile than I am. Though is that Arthritis or the Replacement??

And I still can’t lie on that side comfortably, it’s vile. But I can cross my legs, though I try not too, just in case.

This time we did a killer workout, I may not move for a few days!!

• Stairs 12 up 12 down
• Stationary bike level 3 x 5mins
• Hip bridges x 10 reps
• Single leg hip bridges x 10 reps (OMG that was a killer!)
• Front leg raise ankle weighted x 10 reps
• Front leg raise, abduction ankle weighted x 10 reps
• Prone lying heel to butt ankle weighted x 10 reps
• Prone lying Knee raise ankle weighted x 10 reps
• Swiss ball squeezes between knees x 10 reps
• Bosu ball deep lunge x 10 reps
• Side steps green banded x 40 steps

Doing these my leg wants to fall out so much, it’s so hard to keep it centred. I’m terrified it will dislocate the hip if it falls.

This was ridiculously difficult, my glutes burned. Didn’t leave the floor much, but boy it activated something.

Dead Guilty Helen Durrant #BlogBookTour

#AD GIFTED
So it’s another Book Blog Tour, I’m loving these if I’m honest, they break up my recovery/physio periods and remind me to take time away from computers and social media. All opinions are my own, I am given the book to review.

Looking for a brilliant best-selling crime mystery with great detectives?

Detective Calladine and Bayliss hunt for a missing child in a mystery with a shocking ending.

Sophie Alder is the three-year-old daughter of local factory owner, Richard Alder. Richard and his wife Annie are locals from the rough housing estate who’ve made it big.

Plus, there’s a crime wave in Leesworth and the police can’t cope. One thief even dares to break into Calladine’s house.

A number of local men have formed a vigilante group. On one of their patrols they catch the burglar and he ends up dead.

The investigation is complicated and the detectives keep hearing about a shadowy figure called “Street,” the mastermind behind the increase in drugs and theft.

With two more murders and Calladine’s personal life in turmoil, the detectives face against time to find “Street” and the missing child.

In an ending with a huge twist, the detectives find everything they believed is turned upside down.

If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will enjoy this exciting new crime fiction writer.
DEAD GUILTY is book nine of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine.

THE DETECTIVES
Tom Calladine is a detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.

Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.

THE SETTING
The fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.

The Author
Helen sets her books in the area she has lived in for many years. The towns and villages that sit in the shelter of the Pennine hills. This is an area between two counties, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and between the city and the hills. It offers a rich mix of the industrial and the countryside and all the character therein.
Helen always planned to write crime novels. But until she retired from full-time work in a local further education college, it had to go on the back burner. Once she did retire – there was no excuse. She now writes full-time. Retirement proper will have to wait!
Currently there are nine books in the ‘Calladine & Bayliss’ series available – Dead Wrong, Dead Silent, Dead List, Dead Lost, Dead & Buried, Dead Nasty, Dead Jealous, Dead Bad, and the latest – Dead Guilty. There is also a box set of the first three books.
Also available are four books in the ‘DI Greco’ series – Dark Murder, Dark Houses, Dark Trade, and the latest – Dark Angel.
There are two books in the DI Matt Brindle series – His Third Victim and The Other Victim.

My Review

I’ll be honest the book cover stating a huge plot twist is what drew me in firstly. I love a good twist. I hate knowing what’s going to happen way too early on in the book. As then I’m going through the motions and not really left gripping the seat, dying to know what does happen next!!

I have no prior knowledge of this author or their writing style, but what I’ve read makes me want to start from book 1, as this is book 9.

Although it’s already well established with characters well explained and explored by book 9, I felt it was easy to picture the characters and their essence in this stand alone book.

The plot soon pulled me in, and got it’s hooks into pretty quickly, what a page turner! I genuinely had a few Omg moments where I frantically went back on myself to see with hindsight, the clues.

I felt the book was well executed, with the right amount of development, and story unfold in such an exciting way. I never saw the ending, and I’m thrilled at that.

As my first foray into DI Calladine I did enjoy his character, and his work team, even his neighbours too. Brilliant characters to read about.

I highly enjoyed this writing style, the way the characters come to life, and the way things are described really held my imagination.

Now to find the other books….

Day 121 #hipreplacement Second land physio

Finally a second appointment, delays due to Easter holidays, then holiday for my physiotherapist too. And finally we are here, 3 weeks later.

Hopefully we can work on some weaknesses and build up some much needed muscles too. This month has been pants for physio, and Arthritis flare ups, so I really hope things start to settle down.

This time round (following knee discussion)

• 5 mins level 2 stationary bike
• 15 reps 30kg leg press
• 15 reps green band hip extension backwards
• 15 reps green band hip abduction
• 15 reps green band hip extension forwards
• 15 reps green band side leg raise
• 15 reps green band clam raise ( it doesn’t raise at all, yet does when leg is straight?)
• 15 reps front leg raise, abduction, lower and return
• 15 reps Swiss ball squeeze between knees.
• 15 reps bosu ball walkovers
• 40 steps green band straight side steps

I’m absolutely shattered. I walked in reasonably straight and barely needing the walking stick. After this 30 mins, I’m like a waddling Bambi legged idiot. Totally needing the walking stick to keep me upright!!

Week 17 post #HipReplacement

This week I’ve been camping, we went for a few days in Cornwall. Had an event planned for the Saturday, so we decided to make the journey worth while, we set off Friday and would come home Monday.

Arrived at the most fantastic campsite just outside boscastle called Trebyla Farm it’s a simplistic working farm campsite, with electric hook up and caravans too. Idea for those wanting to escape the world for a few days. So no WiFi, no posh toilets with grand baths, or clubs and pools here. It’s back to basics camping, I love it!!

Just toilet blocks and showers available, with hot water and free so what could be better. Also available is a kitchen area with microwave (I couldn’t work it) freezer for your essentials, and dry area to wash up in.

Everything was super clean, well stocked with toilet roll and hand soap too. So I didn’t need my emergency packed ones. As some sites often run out, or don’t re stock often. These were done every morning. All bins checked each day too.

We have a large spacious tent, bought when we had 4 small children we used to camp with. But it’s size means I can stand up, so no bending to get in and out. Which honestly I’m relieved at, as I don’t think the hip would like that.

The hip coped very well with a lot of things I requested it to do. But mainly I do the kitchen stuff, I sit to make a coffee or sandwiches as I don’t like to stand too much.

And banging in pegs is not one of the things I can do, I still struggle to squat down and get up again. I’m not agile and I get stuck, so better for me not to try!

I definitely did need my pain meds, a lot more of them and my walking stick at all times. Also I needed rest stops all the time. But it coped, and I would do it again, I just need a few months to recover lol.

Weather and cold obviously made it feel stiffer to move, and I often felt seized into a position, that would take time to get out of again. But once the joint got moving, it was happier.

But look at the view we had, it’s hard to be grumbling and sad when this view greets you each morning!!

Not many on the site, so the area was super peaceful, and you are left alone to relax and plan days in leisure. Exactly what we needed. My only regret is coming home after 3 nights. I will be returning for sure.