Catching up on the week

Sorry I haven't written earlier this week but I've been selfishly taking some time to rest in the evenings. I thought, before I left for the weekend, I would catch you up on the last week.

Weekend move a success
Everything in my old house was packed up by the movers on Friday and stored over the weekend until it was delivered in the afternoon on Monday, after I received the keys to my new place.

The new apartment was a bit dusty and the kitchen and bathroom needed cleaning. Nico's parents were kind enough to come back and do the work again after having helped clean up my old house on Saturday.

Nico's mom, Ellen, repeatedly commented on the nice view I now have of our tree-filled park and the unique church steeple just across the street. As the apartment faces southwest, I will enjoy watching the sun changing seasonal positions in the sky and the trees change their color in spring and fall. The windows which run all along the front of the apartment will afford this spectacle. And, ever since I lived on the fourth floor of an apartment building in Utrecht, I've wanted a place that afforded me a view of the sunset every evening. In so many ways, this new home has granted me innumerable wishes.

Fixing things up
Next, comes painting four rooms and picking out a couch for the livingroom.

My old hideaway couch (now set out to pasture) was a hand-me-down from my parents. I think it was the first piece of furniture that they used as bedding for my brother's room after he moved out... 20 years ago. So, I decided it was time to break the bank to get a new couch of my own flavor. At the moment, I am looking at a Kramfors hoekbank in geel (yellow).

This weekend, Nico said we'll be prepping the walls and sanding the window sills which have a much too dark varnish at the moment. I have never done so much for an apartment as I will do for this one but, by golly, I'm determined to have a place that brings me joy by being beautiful in the eyes of the primary beholder. And until I (someday) finally have a place of my own, paint and a new couch will have to do.

The therapy continues
Today, my feet were measured and my right lower leg and foot were plaster casted for the fitting of a personal brace and shoes. Should be a month or more before I see some prototype. Merry Christmas to me, right?

The most exciting news of the week is that I walked on the treadmill again and could move a lot faster than when I first hit it in early November. Plus, I walked completely on my own, lifting my own right foot! That was really exciting. I walked for 15 minutes at a pace of 2km/hr and even up to 2.5 (for a few seconds)! This is more than double what I was able to do a month ago without the brace. Community walking speed is 3km/hr and average is 5km/hr. Now the trick is to repeat on the ground what I do on the treadmill.

Uphill, downhill
I also worked on walking up and down small hills outside and walking up and down inclines on the treadmill. It definitely got easier as it went on. I wonder how much better it will be when I get my shoes?

Currently reading...
...a another good book which has dog in it. I say another because I just read "Marly and me" this summer. This one is by Jacqueline Sheehan titled Lost and Found. The sad part is that I can't remember which kind friend gave the book to me. So, if it was you, let me know!

All's going well elsewhere
I'm currently still enjoying fitness, swimming and ergotherapy.

In ergo, I am building a bird feeder for Nico as a small Christmas present. It is designed to hold an apple in the middle. I will probably then work on a birdfeeder for me but I'm not sure yet. Using saws was really taxing in the beginning but it's getting easier. Building it has been great for my shoulder and back muscles!

In swimming, I've picked up a few more exercises - putting weights on my wrists and pushing foam weights under water to build arm muscles. I'm still swimming only on my back. I never learned how to properly swim on my front so I'm not going there. Otherwise, I'm sure I could do it.

And fitness rocks! Believe it or not, I always did enjoy working with weight machines in a gym. There's something Zen-like about sitting alone with a weight machine and quietly working with it to insist your muscles grow, grow, grow. I went was in the fitness room for 1.5 hours one day and I probably could have gone on longer. I look forward to trying the stair master tomorrow.

Comments
Thanks to all who sent Thanksgiving wishes. Happy Sinta Klaus today to my Dutch friends. I got a nice gift tonight and a little joke about my trouble with piano benches. He he!