If I had been a car manufactured in a factory, I think I would be called a Monday or Friday car.
I believe that a number of cars manufactured on either of these two days ends up being a bit of a problem. Whether it is the fact that the workers are keen to go home for the weekend and don’t work properly – or if on the Monday they are too hung over, the result is the same.
Why classify myself under these conditions, you might ask?
Well, my body is certainly robust and healthy, but oh my word, I have the most problematic feet of anyone I know. When I was still working, I remember phoning my mom one evening and asking her how old she was when she started to hobble when going to the bathroom on waking. She was late into her 80’s at that time and she didn’t know what I meant.
She had developed an unsightly hammer toe in her latter years, but according to her, she was never ever aware of pain in her feet and she made a point of taking her dog for a walk every day. She had played hockey, tennis and golf throughout her life and had none of the side effects I was experiencing.
Not to bore you with the details of what I have been through with the four foot operations and the backward sprained second toe which I damaged in the swimming pool three weeks ago, and which is still purple, I have found that during the past week, the pain in the front section of my ankle is becoming so sore again that I made an appointment to revisit the surgeon on Wednesday.
My trip to Umhlanga and the Busamed Hospital was uneventful and it was almost comical confronting the surgeon who had performed the last of the operations. I think he was even more disappointed to see me again, as I was to see him.
However, after undergoing another set of X Rays, he has diagnosed that the pain is caused by first surgeon who did the 2nd and 3rd operations, where a plate was fitted over my cuboid joint and in effect, fused it. This is now causing the problem – and it is one that cannot be changed.
His suggestion is that I go to an Orthotist in Hillcrest who he says is one of the best, who will make me a set of inners for my shoes to support my high ballerina arches.
Over the years I have at least 8 sets of these orthotics made by various ‘foot men’ and they have been absolutely useless! I will be going tomorrow to see if this might just be the time that they actually work.
I have to try as the pain is getting to the point that I will be needing to take regular pain killers, which is something I am dead against.
Tenpin this week was fun and exciting as normal.
We have one new player who is such a treat to watch. As the ball leaves her hand she starts leaning in the direction she wants it to travel and when it doesn’t, she does a little dance hoping to change its projectile.
We really are a funny lot of players. Phil also brought a friend with him this week, so there were 2 men in the teams. I think it certainly improved his day because the women seldom talk to him about his interests and he must feel out of things. But he always returns and it is lovely to see him each week.
Today I was invited to go to the beach as it was a lovely day, but instead I declined because I had a previous invite to go to cake and tea at Coffee Theatre.
Four of us met there and I enjoyed it very much. My beautiful earrings that Alex had bought me on a visit he had to Australia, broke. The little wire that goes through the ear snapped. I was so sad as they are by far my nicest silver ones I have. But after our coffee get together I popped into the jeweller in the centre and within 15 minutes he had replaced the damaged section on both earrings and they now look as good as new.
From there I needed to change something at Salujees and my friend wanted to see the improvements being made to the CBD central courtyard which I mentioned in my previous Blog. Whilst there we met with the manager of Stevens Stationers who mentioned that a little coffee shop was already operating within the complex. She had bought a number of meals from it, and suggested we go to look at it.
The shop is called Mug and Dine.
It is very tiny but does have seating available outside in the newly restored area. We were introduced to Bella who was so friendly and happy to see new faces.
They do not have a vast menu, in fact today they only had chicken stir fry visible in the Bain Marie. But by looking through the transparent dome it looked so inviting that we both ordered a helping for dinner tonight.
Made with freshly cut peppers and a variety of vegetables, sprinkled with sesame seeds and garnished with coriander, it was truly amazing. But what was more exciting was that the large helping, which will certainly do me for 2 big meals, was only R30.
Apparently the centre is having its official opening this weekend and Mug and Dine will be having two sheep on the spit roasting all day. They are going to sell Braai Rolls with roast mutton to anyone attending between 12 noon and 18:00, and the cost will be R30.
However, there will be a full serving, by the plateful, accompanied by corn on the cob and salad for R65. If you enjoy live music and want to experience the vibe at the opening, please remember to visit this eatery.
They also have a cappuccino machine – I think she said that the cost is R15 per cup. The stock of coffee on the shelf looked interesting and I will be going there to try it out soon. Bella is planning to make muffins and croissants as well.
We arrived at the courtyard around lunch time and it was nice to see a steady stream of people being served food out of a large pot in the middle of the grass.
I recognised one of the helpers and she said that it was a church affiliated group and that they were just doing a charity drive. There are so many wonderfully caring people in our community who are helping those less fortunate than themselves. Thank you.
