Hypermobility

I went to see a physiotherapist recently with a pain in my hip/knee/foot that occurs when I have been walking around for a while. And I found out that I have 'hypermobility' is when some or all of your joints have an unusually large range of movement. It occurs because connective tissue in the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are more loose and stretchy than in most people. This means the joints are move flexible and can extend further. Because of this flexibilty, it means that the joint can get out of alignment and put pressure on the joint in the wrong way.

Apparently lots of people go through life with 'hypermobility' and do not even know that they have it. It is only if something changes e.g. loss of muscle strength, that you notice it (because the muscles help hold the joint in place). In fact, there are some advantages of having hypermobility: alot of athletes, or muscians have found advantages of having joints that can flex that bit further. A tennis player has an extended reach, or a violinist/guitarist can flex their wrist to reach further. So, if I can get this back in check it is actually not a bad thing

However, the fact that I have put on 15kg since arriving in the UK (!) and that my muscle tone has probably deteriorated somewhat are both contributing to why I am now experiencing some discomfort with it.

So from Friday, I have exercises to do every second day which are about building core stability, and I need to take up swimming again (a good exercise because it does not put pressure on my joints). He has also recommended pilates classes.

My body seems to rebel against me being bad: I have to clean the house regularly because I get an allergic reaction to housedust and hayfever. I have had to give up smoking as it was affecting my circulation. In order to give up smoking I have had to practically give up alcohol as if I get tipsy then I would need a ciggie. And now, I have to get fit or otherwise I am going to be in pain/have trouble walking!

So I'll let you know how I get on. I have a big job ahead of me.. 15 kg to lose and also seriously improved core stability. Here we go!

Koi Carp

Yesterday we were looking at tiles for the kitchen and found an aquarium next door. While in there, we found a huge tank full of Koi carp. A big white one was right at the surface, with its snout poking out. P and I were leaning over to look at it when it suddenly turned and with one big swish of its tail, splashed a wall of water right over P!! It was more than just a little splash, P was drenched. It was so funny :)

This Hikari white one was quite old and very 'friendly' and cost £500. The other less friendly and younger ones were £250. Apparently it take 20 years to grow to this size. The babies were being sold for £4-50 so a bargain!

When we were in Tokyo we saw hundreds of Koi in the moat of the Emperor's palace. They were so friendly (or at least thought that they were going to be fed) as we had hundreds converge towards us once they realised we were there.

How to spake proper (Norn Iron)

P sent me this...

Afeard - scared
Ah - I or me, ie Ah don't feel well
Aminal -common mispronounciation of Animal
Amptinat? -I most definitely am
Ar$ehole -calling someone a rectum
Aye -meaning "yes"Balleex -"b0ll0cks"
Thats balleex - Used in context when disagreeing with someone
Bake -someones face
Baltic - quite cold
Banjaxed - drunk
Bate -beat, I bate her up so ah did
Bate The Wife - bottle of cider
Beef -male sexual organ ie "Ah slipped her the beef lawst nite"
Beezer - Very good, Thats Beezer
Beg -wafer thin plastic vessel, good for carrying shopping :also oul' beg" when referring to an elderly female
Blurt -Slang for female genetalia
Boggen - dirty, unclean
Boulin' -messing about
Bout Ye -"Hello"
Brave - largeBrew - weekly benefit
Buggered -brokenCameracorder -grannies use of the word "camcorder"
Cheeser -like Beezer, meaning "very good" or "exellent"Chicken -child slang for "afraid"
Chinks -popular Chinese food Take Aways
Childer -children
Cracker -not something you put cheese on, means beezer
Creamed -tired
Dander -a walk, ie I'm goin fer a dander
Dawg -canine, dog
Digikil -common mis-prounciation of "Digital"Drawers -underwear
Dour -a door
Duncher -CapEarlee-er -before the present
Eejit -derived from "Idiot", means "Idiot"
Eff Aaf - F*ck Off
FaakAaf - Excuse me my good man, kindly vacate the premises
Faaler -father
Fally - follow
Fillum -a movie or film
Fingy -someone whose name you can't remember
Frig -polite word for "F*ck", also used: FlipFlour - a floorFut - footGat -slang, You're a wee gat or getGeg -fun, "Ats a geg"Getawaydaf*ck -go away nowGivuz -give meGlass -Half-PintGoes -replaces the word "Said" ie And I goes: What? Are you slabberin'?" And then she goes,Yip."
Gutties -training shoes
Happy Days - that's good
Hardly -meaning "Thats not true" ie Hardly now. Hardly.
Hectic - See MadHeel -not to be confused with the back of your foot, means end of a loafHeerzme - "And then I said..."
Hippy - someone who likes Bon Jovi
Houl On -please waitJob -activity usually carried out under the cover of night
Joken -joking
Kudn't -couldn't ie Ah kudn't do that...Lairdindeyit -please do start eating (or drinking) see also"wiredintillit"
Leenantarsapees -Famous Italian landmark
Lifted - arrested
Lingo -language
Mad - See Hectic
Mairshen -Emersion Heater
Magic -not tricks, but another word meaning great or good
Majassif - large
Mawn -a man, male
Meat Wagon -RUC Landrovers
Melt -no actual meaning, used as: "I'll knock your melt in"
Messages - weekly shopping
Milly -name given to teenage females. See also: SteekMoufycunt - rather outspoken person
Mucker -a friend or mate
Muller -Mother or "Ma"
Nek it - drink that drink in one
Nice One -that was good
Norman -bullying term for someone with no friends
Norwegain - Another Gin please
Now Yer Sucken Deezel -that's a good way of going about that
Offees -alchohol retailer
Oi -a yelp for someones attention ie Oi! You! C'mere!"
Oxters -Armpits
Pat - container in which food is boiled
Prably -maybe, its likely
Passion -heavy rain in Ballymena
Parfil - strongPeeler -a police officer
Piece-sandwich
Pot - short for Patrick
Pssskety -common misprounciation of "Spaghetti"
Pump - to urinate
Purdie -countryside slang for Potato
Quim -slang for female genetalia
Ragin' -angry, Ahm bloody ragin' so ah am.
Ration -you'd be doing this if you were trying to get to somewherein a hurry, in Ballymena
Rare -not to be confused with "scarce", means crap
Samitch -mispronunciation of "Sandwhich"
Scundered - embarrassed
Sebm -seven [7]
Shap -shop
Shar -a shower
Sicken' Ye - would annoy you
Skinned Ye! - Haha my good friend, I do believe I won that particular game by a significant margin
Slabber -someone who makes bad comments about you behind your back or to your face
Spoofen - lyingSpide - see SteekSpoon -someone with a low IQSteek -male with bad dress and hair sense
Stroked - stolen / ripped off
Ta -Thank You
Tarl - a towel
Theee -the number three
Till -replaces the word "to" ie Goin till the shap"
Tube -see: Spoon
Undurstawnd -understand ie Do ye undurstawnd me?
Vaka -VodkaWeaker -yet another word for "brilliant"
Wee -put in front of words such as "drink", "dander", and basically anything
Wick -not exactly brilliant
Willik - nose
Wiredintillit -"Got wiredintillit earlee-er"
Windie -a windowWindielickurs -horrid term for the mentally disadvantage
Windie Still -a window sill
Wheelie bin - a bin
Wooden One -not a clever person
X-Acktlee-exactly
Yermaa -an insult said when nothing else can be thought of
Yeegittin? -Are you being served?
Yip -yes
Yousens - When addressing more than one person

Whelan the Wrecker

My Nanna has always called me Whelan the Wrecker, after the demolition company in Melbourne. This is a reference to my abilty to break things, often in an absent minded way.
P has recently made a mention to this on his blog after a recent episode driving his new porche... anyway, he found an original Whelan the Wrecker sign so I was intrigued, and dug around a little and found out the following info about history.

For over a hundred years in Melbourne, Whelan the Wrecker were agents of change. They cleared the way for skyscrapers, wine bars, motorcars and modernity. During the wreckers’ halcyon days of the 50s and 60s, their sign could be seen on every city block, and it remains etched in the memory of Melburnians today: WHELAN THE WRECKER IS HERE.But paradoxically the Whelan family were lovers of history. They passed on the stories of the buildings they wrecked, one generation to the next. And they made sure the best bits of the doomed buildings were recycled through the weird wonderland of their legendary salvage yard. Even today, fragments of long-gone Melbourne landmarks live on in unlikely places.

Update on my new job

For the past fortnight I have been quite busy working on my first project. I am working for one of the big banks out at Canary Wharf. Canary Wharf is the major financial district of London, and is one of the only places where you get skyscrapers in London. Before, when I worked in central London, most of the buildings are only 2 or three storeys high, as they like the city to be designed in a way to allow for an unimpeded view of St Paul's Cathedral. Canary Wharf was built on the old docklands area in the east of London, and is about 20 mins from central London on a light rail. It was really different to be out in one of the high-rise buildings and see the view of London from there.

This is a view from the building I am working in, looking out to the east. You can see the 'Millenium Dome' in the foreground. The city airport is also in this frame.

The project I am working on is quite interesting, and is around helping the bank improve its customer service. It is quite a large project and we are a small team from the consultancy and are working with alot of internal people to get the project done. At the moment I am starting at 8-30am and going through until about 6-30pm. On Friday I was at work until 7-15pm. My Manager is doing even longer hours than this... On a positive note, there is a good canteen and with lovely salads, so I am hoping I can get healthy by eating lots of lovely food. Although I am finding it hard to get the energy to go the gym when I get home, but will have to do it really. Anyway, so far so good. The project seems interesting, and I am working with a good team of people. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

This photo shows how the glass comes right down to the floor. You can get quite giddy if you stand to close to the edge.

In the centre of the floor is a huge atrium, which is a nice way to bring some light into the office.

New kitchen

Hooray! On Wednesday last week, P finally signed up for a new kitchen to be installed in Wapping pad. We have been here for well over a year now and surviving without a dishwasher, so it is good that we are finally getting around to it:) We are using a firm called Kitchen Direct. We had them out in January when I wasn't working to look at it. It was a good quote, but we didn't really have any other quotes or any other experience with kitchens to compare it to. So after doing our research we have ended up coming back to them afterall. The kitchen takes about 3 -5 days to install. But before that the company delivers the kitchen components to our house and these will be in our living room for about a week. So there will be a bit of disruption in the coming weeks, but it will be fantastic once it is all sorted. We are buying the fridge and washer separately so spent yesterday traipsing around a retail park in outer London looking at models (what fun... not) so will be happy once it is sorted.

Royal Windsor Horse Show

Today we went to the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which P has renamed the 'Royal Windsor Mud Show'. I bought the tickets through a deal at work a few weeks ago when the weather was lovely, so I imagined a nice wholesome day in the sun ... but it absolutely poured with rain and there lightning in the sky and everything.

Given the porsche is still under repair, P had picked up a Dolomite Triumph 1974 from the classic car club and we drove that there instead. The brakes weren't fantastic and we were aquaplaning a few times along the highway which was a bit hairy (!) but got there in the end.

Look at the lovely wooden dash

Little red triumph

Ahh, doesn't P look happy?

Our friends C and S were there a little earlier and were already drenched by the time we arrived, poor things.

It was amazing to see how high the jumps were. You don't really get an appreciation of it when you are watching on TV, but the height of them comes up to the horses' nose

Bournemouth

Last weekend was a long weekend in the UK, and we decided to visit D and S in Bournemouth. We drove down there in the porshe (which is nicknamed 'Black Betty'). The traffic wasn't too bad on the way down there, it took us just over two hours. But we did leave quite late on Friday night so we probably missed the worst of the traffic.

We had a nice slow start on Saturday morning, and by about 2pm we headed off for a 12km walk around Wiltshire, up to see where some of the paragliders were taking off from. D and S recently learnt how to do paragliding when they were back in Australia, and they have just joined the club in Bournemouth. The countryside was really beautiful, and it was a good walk there. On the way there, we walked past a house which looked really lovely. I told P that it was pretty good, but a bit low down in the valley and a shame that it didn't have any views. Then we saw the main house a little further along. It was higher up on the hill and looked beautiful. I told P that I would prefer this house instead. Later on in the day we found out from the local paragliders that the house I had admired actually belonged to Madonna! It is her English country mansion.. Apparently the walking trails used to go through her property but she has closed them to walkers since she bought the place. I had wondered why the acres of lawns were mowed leading up to the driveway - it makes sense now to know it was a celebrity hangout..

Here is a photo of D, S and P in Wiltshire, Dorset.

I got to drive the porsche for the first time, back from Wiltshre into Bournemouth. S was in the front with me and we had a great time. Although I think I was expected to drive it faster because P said that it was the first time he had seen cars backed up behind a porshce. When we got back we discovered that the car had a problem with a loss of power steering fluid. We ended up having to spend most of Monday morning trying to find a porshe parts store open on a bank holiday so we could get it sorted before driving home... the porsche is now nicknamed 'broken Betty'!

The second day we went along the beachfront in Bournemouth and had a look at an area near 'Christchurch'. We saw a beach hut for sale, meters from the beach but absolutely tiny for £120,000! Madness.

Here is S, D and I on our walk near Christchurch.

S told us an interesting story about how Christchurch found its name, and I have found a copy of it here for you:

During the building of the Priory there worked a carpenter who never mixed with his fellow workers, drew no pay and never appeared at communal meals. One day it became necessary to fashion a beam to support the roof. The place where it was to be fitted was measured and the wood cut to the required length. However, when the beam was raised into position it was found to be several inches too short. Disappointed with the work, the carpenters lowered the beam to the ground and, as evening had come, went home expecting to have to cut a new beam in the morning. When they arrived the next day the beam was already in position in the roof and of the right length. The mysterious carpenter was not seen again, and so the people imagined that it must have been Christ the carpenter working on His church. Thereafter the church became known as Christ's Church of Twynham and the name of the town Christchurch-Twynham. Over the years the Twynham has been dropped and the name of this ancient borough changed to Christchurch.

We had a great weekend, staying with D and S. If/when they finally move back to Australia, we will miss them:)