I realise I’ve done a few mardy (Yorkshire slang for grumpy /sad) posts so wanted a good one.

I had a wonderful Wednesday

Set my alarms for 8:30 and was able to get myself out of bed pushing past the current fatigue / apathy in a morning that can sometimes take 2-3 hours to push through. But I had a disabled gym session which I really like and dad was taking me which I like too, we get a bit of 1:1 time in the car and he plays football while I gym so it’s not just people driving and waiting for me.

I got up, showered and ready for gym in time for dad to collect me which is no quick feat but was done. Gym was a great session. Seeing strength improvements on all the leg machines: press, curl, extension, abductor and adductor. I did a 10 min cycle and 10 min moderate walk on the treadmill too, my highlight was walking across the gym to a piece of kit and singing to the music, I passed a fellow stroke survivor who had seen and heard me approaching and joined in singing with me, walking along the gym together, silly but very nice; I love the group there everyone is supportive and nice. I even found I could do a little more with my affected arm (it joins in on a chest press and hand bike too) and I mostly manage to keep it in place.

After that we went to dad’s house for lunch, mum did some hand physio and we almost got a pinching movement between index finger and thumb as in they moved towards each other at the same time. Encouraging if not quite there yet.

After me and mum did a little supermarket shop, I’m good with pushing a trolley now would be better if I could let go of it on demand not just grab it until I drag it off with the good hand.

That night me and rich went to view a local gym / leisure club. My hydrotherapy is due to finish in the next 8 weeks and as I enjoy it and see progress Rich found somewhere with a pool to look at, we were welcomed into the centre. The manager was very pleasant; I was worried they would say I couldn’t join due to my disability. We explained how good hydrotherapy is for me and its finishing, he told us the pool is kept very warm, it’s pretty quiet in there and I could stand up independently in there. Walking it would be fine. He was happy for Rich to do some movements with me too. After that he showed us the actual gym. It had lots of leg strength equipment I could use immediately and possibly progress to upper body in time but could certainly try.

The whole place was clean. Modern and nice. It felt an ideal step up from disabled gym without going too far away to the commercial gyms I used pre stroke. As it’s in a hotel there’s even a bar with food, beer I get a discount too.

We agreed to sign up and he said as we wanted to use it for rehab and was sympathetic to my story he gave us a discount. Lovely chap.

All in all a great day, forced myself up for activities, good gym with fun time. Regular activities and then a plan to keep up hydro and more gym but alongside my lovely husband. Good day was good