Hooray its Friday, I love Fridays, not just because its the weekend (as regular readers know I'm not working at the moment so everyday is the same) but it means I have a respite of two nights without a beta interferon (Rebif) jab. I do these on Sun/Tues/Thurs so I love Fridays!! ;¬)
Gracious, is it really the last day of July already? It doesn't seem possible that we have been living on the Island for ten months. Mind you we had our first meal sitting in the garden this evening and it was wonderful to see what we had achieved in such a short time. Hubby has worked so hard at the landscaping and choosing the architectural plants that he loves so much. The mild climate here (apart, hopefully from this last winter which took the whole Island by surprise - snow!! of all things) makes the survival of such wonders as
Trachycarpus fortuneii, Cordylline Australis and some varieties of banana plant quite possible, and I was also lucky enough to buy a rare Woolomi Pine from one of the shopping channels, which came with its own certificate of ownership. Although I like the large structural plants and rich colours of tropical varieties such as Canna's, I do like to see traditional English plants which attract bees and butterflies to the garden. I have put in some lavender and a few flowering herbs as well as traditional bedding plants like begonias and impatiens. The summer house now feels like its always been there and the new terraced area (which in a former life housed an aviary) looks made for its new function as the base for the barbeque and bench. The pond fish are growing incredibly quickly, and I'm sure are three times the size they were when we brought them 3 months ago. It was a wonderful evening, and hopefully the first of many we will spend in our new little oasis.
As it was a lovely afternoon and I needed the exercise I did the seafront walk from Shanklin to Sandown again. I didn't even try to park in Shanklin today instead opting for the Lake car park. Of course this meant that after the walk I had to attempt the "Lake Mountain" to get back to the car after my stroll. I was overtaken by an elderly man with a malformed hand, who I am sure must have had a stroke in the past. He was slow, but I was slower! Maybe he does the walk regularly and is subsequently fitter than me. There are 90 main steps, followed by a gradual slope covering over about 100 yards with half a dozen double pace steps, a very welcome bench - or oxygen station as I call it! After this (and hidden around a hairpin bend) is a steeper 100 yard slope which takes you to the top of the cliff. Another hundred yards or so, walking on the flat (thankfully) and its back to the sanctuary of the car. Phew, I'm exhausted by that point and every part of me aches and my hair is soaked with perspiration and sticks to my head. Not a pretty picture I know but you know what they say "No pain, No gain!" Trouble is, I don't want to gain I want to lose .... weight! The annoying thing is, that its common to see families carrying toddlers and pushchairs up the "Mountain" without hardly getting out of breath. How unfair, but then their nervous system isn't under the assault of their own immune system inflicting them with this damn MS which can be another battle altogether!
I'm of the same opinion of a lady that was struggling up the slope to the bench where I sat (trailing behind her running grandchildren!) Upon reaching me she said "I think they should have a bed here, never mind a seat!" How I shared that sentiment.
View from the promenade to see the top of Lake Mountain
Views from the top of Lake Mountain
Safely home, and now in bed, my aches and pains are easing and the ascent of the east face of Lake Mountain is a memory.............. Until next time!
