War in the Middle East

I woke up to hear news of air attacks on Iran by Israeli and American forces. From the war of words and Trumpian theatrical gunboat diplomacy to full conflict overnight, Retaliatory air strikes on neighbouring Arab states in the Gulf and on Israel followed soon after, as the Iranian regime threatened would happen. Iran has been weakened by economic crisis and mass protests at home murderously suppressed in recent weeks, but its armed forces are capable of inflicting damage on its neighbours, and on the global economy by closing the Straits of Hormuz, an essential oil trade route. Russia and China will be taking an interest in the way this war is waged, learning from its successes and failures.

Another broken night's sleep, my intestines irritated by the effect of the clot dispersing meds. I didn't take the statin, following advice given by the medic who called on Tuesday, to reduce their frequency by half. My head was fairly clear when I woke up in bright sunshine. After taking my usual blood pressure reducing pill at eight thirty, I began to feel light headed, but this morning, the most striking difference was the absence of the toxic fog sensation in my head. The drug is still in my system, its concentration fading, but any fallout from interacting with other medications is minimal. I'm tired, yes, but not sleepy and my concentration is sharp. What a relief!

I walked for an hour in Thompson's Park after our Saturday pancake breakfast and a half hour top-up snooze. The west facing slopes are carpeted with daffodils. Bushes and other vegetation surrounding the pond have been harshly cut back. There are fewer mallards in occupation at the moment, and no sign of the resident moorhens. They are shy birds that spend more time hiding in the muddy undergrowth foraging for food than they do in open water. They make nests in a reed bed on a raft of twigs and other material including scraps of plastic sheet if they find any. I wonder where the birds are hiding at the moment? 

Baked potatoes and fish for lunch, then another hour's walk, this time in Llandaff Fields with a stop at the Co-op on the way back to buy walnuts. I enjoyed the stimulus of cold fresh air and sunshine, with my head much clearer than usual, and I felt less stressed from the effort of coping with toxins in my head  My legs were tired and stiff, but not in the same way as they are after taking a statin. I didn't push myself too hard, and relaxed when I got home watching this week's episode of 'Astrid - Murder in Paris' until it was time for supper. After we'd eaten, I recorded Morning Prayer audio for the week after next, and started getting ready for bed and taking the day's dreaded statin, wondering about its impact on me tomorrow.