Survival

Wigan 1 - Portsmouth 2
Birmingam 0 - Newcastle 0

Play Up Pompey, Pompey Play Up

On yer bike

Did the ecological thing today and cycled into work. I used to cover 3,000 miles a year on my bike as I always cycled to work because there was no other option, but then we got a 2nd car which just made me lazy.

I could lie and say the ride was good, but my lack of fitness showed as it was hard work on the up parts. Anyway it set me up for the morning. Work was somewhat calmer than yesterday, checked some paperwork, read some e-mails deleted even more. I may even have to go and find something to do next week, but that's next week 3 days off till then :-)

Baptisim of Fire

First day back and what a day, short list of things that happened

• Computer wouldn't work - set IT on the job


• My new laptop has been assigned to someone else - promised new machine early next week instead


• Emergency fix needed for the system.


• Find out one fo the secretaries was rushed from work to hospital with suspected heart problems earlier in the week - She's now been discharged after tests, but won't be back for a couple of weeks


• Another member of staff is off sick possibly for sometime


• Running friend has resigned to go and work for the customer. He was the one that got my laptop - probably thought it wise to leave before I caught him!!!

oh and when my computer finally started working I had 2047 unread e-mails.

On the plus side I was able to smile my way through the day. Even had time for an appointment with the company Doc. He's told me no more than 5 hrs a day until the end of May. After an opening day like to day I'm quite pleased he said that!!!

Meeting some joggers

Good news - My Doc passed me fit to return to work tomorrow {RobW starts turning cartwheels in excitement)

This is actually very good news as I'm getting seriously bored at home. It got so bad I had to resort to delivering freebie newspapers with MrsW - at least that's some form of exercise.

Went to Glasgow at the weekend to see some family. Bumped into a gaggle of Portsmouth Joggers on the plane as they were heading up to Lochaber for the marathon. Knew a few of them from my time at the club. Sort of convinced me that I should go back to the club for some company and to revitalise my running (which is still sadly lacking). Won't try this week though get myself settled back at work first. Oh Yeah I've got a cycle ride round the Isle of Wight to do on Sunday and I haven't been on a bike for a least 6 months could be painful.....

Test Drive

Yes - Survived the Easter Holidays, back to normality or what passes for normality at the moment however it was a bit odd having the house that quiet again. Forced myself out the door for a morning run. Really tough starting showing how out of shape I am but I struggled on and ending up down 5 miles cross country in 45 minutes its a start.

Being thinking of getting a new car recently. Picked up a couple of brochures and even bought a car magazine (I'm not normally a car person). Spotted something I liked the new Nissan Note and went and found the nearest dealers. Salesman offered me a test drive without any prompting. Nice car quite different from the Sharan but hey its to be MY car for work and Rugby. Seriously considering it, then a friend comes and tells us about the engine going on their 18 month old Nissan - maybe I'll stick to the trust old metro....

Oh No we've got a Kevin!!

Finally managed a run on Tuesday, slow but completed without any problems, not done anymore as with it being Easter holidays the family routine is all up the spout. When the kids go back next week it will earlier rises all round and easier to get going.

BigW has turned into a bit of a handful over the past couple of weeks which isn't like him. Then we think that he's nearly 11 and certain changes take place around then - lots of testosterone in circulation. Its like a scene out Harry Enfield, lots of strops and swinging of arms and shouting "You don't like me" he's even got a hoodie and cap. MrsW and I have just got to laugh.

Final certificate

2nd Major fitness test passed, my own GP.

She seemed very pleased but agreed that I should take another couple of weeks off to ensure that everything was nice and settled. She gave me a final certificate which has a return to work date on it - Thursday 27th April. The start day was deliberately chosen as it means I only have to get through 2 work days before a long weekend. Phoned the Boss to tell him the good news and we are going to have a chat about a work up plan.

Happy Smiling Rob - I may even go for a run tomorrow morning!!!!

Oxford

Great time up in Oxford. Met up with the academic that showed us a route that our coin must have come along. It went something like this

Started off life in what is now modern day Afghanistan, then south to India, Across the Indian Ocean towards Suez then into the Med via Rome and across Europe to end up in Hampshire. Not bad considering it made the journey 2000 years ago.

He then gave us a guided tour around Oxford explaining how all the different colleges worked and a peak inside his own college. Finished off with the Uni Photography Department taking some serious photos of the coin. Hopefully we'll see a copy soon. Oxford is an amazing place if slightly blighted by the traffic. I could have spent days just looking at the buildings, absolutely wonderful.

Good Progress

1 important fitness test passed today - The Company Doctor.

He is very pleased with my progress and can certainly see a marked difference in me from 4 weeks ago. I look more relaxed and happier alround. Still not ready to go back as he agrees with my own GP that I should have 3 or 4 weeks sustained improvement. It is however really encouraging that other people are seeing a real difference in me.

Popped into work to have a meeting with the boss, normal touch base sort of stuff. There are lots of things for me to get into when I go back but he'll put me into my old job for a little while to ensure that I'm up to things. He doesn't want to risk putting me in a new environment and going off sick again - bad for me and bad for the company as someone else will have to catch any balls I had in the air at the time. Tried to bully him into giving me my new laptop, but he said I can only have it when I'm back at work. Not fair wanted my new toy. I did go down to IT and made sure it would be ready when I came back!!

Took the thin controller out for some errands and managed to get the following photo of him. Certainly makes me smile :-)



Better be going. The whole family is off to Oxford tomorrow to meet the academic that is so interested in MrsW's coin.

Upping the dose

Picked up from my low last week. Had a Doc's appointment on Wednesday were I explained that I had been getting some good nights sleep but they seem to have stopped and I was feeling a little low. Doc though that it was the sedative of the Citalapram being negated by the body becoming accustomed to it. The underlying symptoms of Depression weren't responding.

We had a discussion about increasing the dosage but I was a little apprehensive as I felt that was a slippery slope to further and further increases. The Doc reassured me by saying that anti-depressants don't work that way. It is more a case of finding the correct dosage to deal with the level of chemical imbalance I have. So an increase in dosage it is then.

Been on the new dose for just under a week and it does seem to be having an effect. I'm feeling a lot happier in general and I'm beginning to get the occasional full nights sleep. The test will be the coming 2 weeks - School Holidays!!!