11.06.2026 Rumours of my demise...

 ~?~

  Thursday 11th 52F/11C [7.10] Sunny periods with possible showers. 65F/18C in the room. 51F/11C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 6.30 after a fair night. I was cosy in my thick jumper and felt more comfortable than usual. Despite glancing repeatedly at the clock. I found no valid reason to get up at unearthly hours. Slight dizziness and fuzziness this morning on rising. 

 I shall respond later to the good wishes for  my recovery from yesterday's foolishness. I don't want to disturb you with notifications so early in the day.   

A picture I took yesterday. Seconds before my foolish attempts to fly backwards. An area of newly established grass, with a natural pond. Sited between two neighbours houses on what I call the back fields. This area, by sheer coincidence, lies centrally in my newly opened view. Between my garden trees on the northern border.  

 I seem to have become more deaf in my [much better] right ear. I noticed this yesterday. With popping sounds at intervals. The start-up jingle is much quieter than usual. I was really struggling to hear voices at the hospital despite my hearing aids. In the ambulance I was absolutely certain that the paramedic was sitting and talking behind me. Yet, when I could finally open my eyes again he was sitting at my front left. 

 The coughing fits seemed to be over today. Until I had two more this morning out of the blue. Not quite so short of breath today. I have to drive to the pharmacy to collect my new prescription. With the inevitable fear of a recurrence of the vertigo. The terrifying spinning had arrived without the least warning. It was just like throwing a switch. What if I was driving or cycling? What then? Ambulances have no tow hooks nor e-bike racks for vehicle recovery. Even assuming I could have stopped safely in an instant. 

 Any loss of mobility would be catastrophic in my isolated rural situation. It was sheer luck a kindly neighbour saw me fall. Safely onto grass while walking. Had it been anywhere else I dread to think what might happen. Must my rural cycling jaunts on unbeaten tracks and lanes be curtailed? I can hardly crawl home on my hands and knees with my eyes closed! That would be difficult enough in the garden.

 Why did I not respond to the deliberate head manipulations by the doctor? He was turning my head and making me lean this way and that. All textbook tests for initiating vertigo. I know this because I have done the homework after previous, milder bouts. Without ever trying the exercises voluntarily. In case it triggered the awful dizziness. Yet, yesterday, immediately after so debilitating an occurrence. Nothing he did caused the slightest dizziness response. 

 13.40  Back from the village and feeling more confident. Warm sunshine and breezy. Collected my prescription for penicillin for my persistent cough. Two, well stuffed carrier bags of essentials from the supermarket.  

 ~?~