I took it fairly easy over the weekend, but then went for short cycles on Monday and Tuesday. The first was in Aberdeen - my car was booked in for its MoT at 8 am and I also had my annual visit to see my cardiologist at 11:30 am, so I decided I would spend the time in between on my bike. I cycled from Altens down along the river a bit, then in to Duthie Park and then out to the Torry Battery, where I took this photo looking back over Aberdeen Harbour and bay:
It was all fairly leisurely, but it was good to be back in the saddle again.
My car initially failed its MoT, but it just needed one tyre replaced and then it was OK. I guess I kind of failed my own MoT as well. Blood pressure (110/60) and ECG etc were all OK, but the cardiologist noted that my heart rate was 91. He wondered whether it was due to the cycle over to the hospital? Hardly - I was early and had to wait over half an hour, so what little exercise I had done was long out of my system and wouldn't affect the reading. It was only 71 the year before, so he decided it might be best if I went for a heart scan - it had been 3 years since my last one and perhaps it was time anyway. He told me not to be alarmed and there was no rush to do the scan as my risk factor is still apparently very low, but he did explain about the heart expanding and getting weaker with age and he wanted to have a proper look to see which stage I was at.
Still on medical matters, I received two letters from Aboyne hospital when we were away, with X-ray appointments for my knee. I'd explained to our doctor that I would be on holiday until mid-August and to arrange it for after we returned, but obviously something was lost in translation. I phoned the hospital and they told me they would have to go back to my doctor due to the two "no-shows", so I left them to do just that. Blow me, this morning I've received another letter with an appointment for next Monday - when we're in Edinburgh! Grrrr.
It's been a bit dreich overnight as rain swept over Scotland. I thought there was no way we were going to be able to play golf this afternoon, but, as I sit here it's calm and dry outside. Oh well, I've got a bit of a bad back anyway, so the rest won't do me any harm. I'll substitute golf with a pint later on. After 6 weeks in USA with, I think, only one "dry" day, I've just had 3 days of clean living, so I reckon it's time to top up again.
Due partly to the respiratory bug we both picked up on holiday - and the excessive heat - we were pretty inactive all the time we were in Oregon, but I've picked up the steps again since I got back. This snapshot from my phone was taken on Saturday morning:
That was the steps taken over the last month - note how it increased as soon as I got back and started playing golf again. A daily average of just over 6,000 steps isn't at all good and my year to date average has now dropped down below the "standard" of 10,000 steps:
Jo's off to her swimming again this afternoon - she didn't do any on holiday, but she much prefers going to Westhill with her buddies anyway. She's writing stories of her childhood - I've seen the one she wrote about her father - so look out, she'll be sending these out soon.
Good to see Scott's on the mend - hopefully back to work next month. Allowed to drive again now and the movement and strength in his weaker arm is still improving.
Dawn is going back to work too at the start of the month. She and Jordon seem to have settled in to her new flat OK. Helen and Barry were round for a meal when I phoned on Sunday night.
I'll finish with a slightly prettier picture. Our golf course has developed a new wild flower area, well away from normal play:
