Remedy for recovery

The fish pie I had for supper last night went down well and digested properly but left me getting up and down all night to empty my bladder, irritated by potato starch and a full bowel not ready to discharge. The old adage about eating like a pauper before sleep rings true for me. I still get caught out however. The cocktail of medications no doubt, also plays its part. I found it tiring just eating breakfast when I got up eventually. My stomach was labouring a little while I ate which quickened my pulse, but calmed down once a few spoonfuls of kefir yoghourt came into effect. Interesting! I recovered by dozing in my armchair through the morning. Meanwhile, Clare went out for her physio session. 

Good people around me tell me to relax and take it easy, perhaps my desire (or is it anxiety?) to sustain order in the present chaos of my life is obvious to them. It's more a matter of coping with overwhelming stimuli  keeping an orderly head and not giving in to panic when things seem to be running out of control. Restoring inner order is an essential condition for relaxation as far as I'm concerned. Not letting myself get over tired or stressed out is part of this. I can't / won't push myself through this. Calmness and sleep when I need them are part of the remedy for recovery.

The Israeli government has approved the first stage of the Trump team brokered deal and a cease-fire has come into effect. Gazans driven south by the IDF offensive are returning to where they belong. Exchange of hostages and prisoners is now being prepared and emergency aid is being poured into the Gaza Strip. It's such a relief to know that compassionate action is beginning to flow. Trump's style of confrontatory populist politics has reminded me of a loud mouthed street bully in the past. Together with his diplomatic team, this time it has led to pressure on the Netanyahu government to close a cease fire deal with Hamas, with Arab and Western leaders around them. Will it be a genuine breakthrough this time? I hope and pray it will be.

We had fish, sweet potato and kale for lunch. A huge beetroot defeated me. Maybe later on with mayo. I shaved three weeks  beard growth off my cheeks after lunch, and look more like I prefer to be seen now. Good for the morale! 

After a siesta, I walked for an hour around Llandaff Fields. The sun shone, trees are turning colour. It's cool, without wind, a lovely autumn evening. I returned in time to take my tea-time pills, a diminishing number now the post op medication phase has been completed without incident. My head isn't as foggy now, my vision is OK-ish but not as sharp as I'm used to in the left eye. The right has the cataract to contend with. Earlier I called Llandough eye surgery hub to check that the message about my op being cancelled had been received and acted on when it was sent by from the emergency stroke unit. The eye surgery appointment letter was still in my folder. I wanted to be sure so someone else could benefit in ten days time.

Kath arrived for the weekend in time for supper. So good to have her with us again. Anto is touring sites of historical interest with his sister Viv in Zafra, Badajoz Province in Spain at the moment. A quiet evening together for the three of us here in Cardiff. Thankfully my head is clearer, slowly becoming more resilient to loud noises. We spent the evening chatting quietly. Clare and Kath shared a glass of Californian Malbec but I chose to abstain. I don't want to make my head feel any cloudier.