Reflections ......

Well - its 1st October which can mean only one thing - I am now one third of the way through this retirement year - that's 4 months or 17 weeks.  So what have I achieved?

• 17 weekly challenges (phew - I thought that I had got behind on these!)
• Discovered Annie Sloan paint
• Redecorated and, I believe, revitalised the conservatory
• Had the outside of the property fixed and smartened
• Refurbished the lounge
• Decorated the hall and kitchen
• Lost nearly a stone
• Walked around 80 extra kilometres
• Completed a ton of sewing projects - with nearly half of the Christmas presents completed

but, more importantly,

• Had lots of fun with old and new friends
• Vastly improved my quality of life, and 
• Reduced my blood pressure from a regular 160+ / 100 to 130/90

I am sure that there are many more things that I have achieved but it is this tangible loss of stress that intrigues me the most.







Of course, along the way, there have been moments of sadness - not least the loss of Tanya, whose funeral we will go to tomorrow.  But I am so pleased that I made the decision that I did - it was right for me and I am loving it!  I don't even feel as if its some form of extended holiday anymore - this is my normality now (as I believe Happymum once said)!





On the headache front - I went and had my eyes tested today - they are healthy (TA can have a catastrophic effect on eyesight) but the eye sight has got worse and I now have to wear glasses for driving!!  My consultant also spoke to me and advised me to increase the steroids - not up to the 40mg that the nurse suggested (thank goodness that I didn't follow that advice) but up to 10mg.  I really hope that this works - last night was a difficult night which ended up with me sleeping on my back on the sofa - I don't know whether I simply need a new mattress or if I was over compensating for my painful head - I guess that time will tell!