21 Comments

Well done on that rainy walk into town Ronnie! And v sensible to come home by bus.

Just think,after your op,you’ll be heading back to your longer walks again,if its what you want to do.

A friend who could barely walk more than a few steps is now skipping around after his op.

Ive read Fortnight in September and loved it,and in fact youve reminded me that I might read it again. We defo share a liking for similar books..ive read and enjoyed several on your recommendation.

Thinking of you and Sarah and please keep us posted!X

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Thanks Liz. Thinking about books, and encouraged by you and several others I think I might start doing occasional “currently recommended” mentions on here. Not reviews, more like “this is currently walking round with me and being enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something new to read.” What do you reckon?

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Yes! Defo!

I meant to say yesterday,Journey’s End by R C Sheriff is really good,based on Sheriff’s experiences in WW1.

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Thank you for updating us Ronnie, thinking of you. What are reading right now?

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Thank you Martin, two books on the go. The first and perfect for this troublesome week has been a 1931 novel by R.C. Sheriff. A family of five go on holiday to Bognor for a fortnight and hardly anything happens. Except their quiet appreciations of life, each other and the place has kept drawing me back in whatever else was going on. The other book, this year, has always one I read in bits while I’m at the allotment. Currently it’s a book of letters between Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd, about their gardening, but also about life, music, friendship and their differences of opinion. Both good and engrossing books but also easy to read. Which has mattered more than usual this week.

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lovely, I’ll have to check them both out.

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Hi Ronnie,like Mandy said, I always read and enjoy your writings but dont always comment. Had to come by today to say I’m so sorry to hear what happened,must feel scary mentally and emotionally,even though you say you feel good physically. Hope all goes well with scan and follow up. Youre in good hands with heart docs at the Royal. Keep us posted. Love to you and Sarah xx

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Good morning Liz, and thank you. It is scary, and the feeling so otherwise well and capable is part of that new scariness. But, yes, I do have huge confidence in the hands I’m in, at Broadgreen as well as the Royal. And of course the hands of Sarah and Clare.

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Sorry to hear of your health problems Ronnie. Hope you rest and recover well.

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Thanks Ron, the strangest part is that apart from the collapsing I’m feeling extravagantly well. But it is what it is and I’m grateful for being looked after.

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Sending you positive vibes. Its very scary when you have these problems after being quite a fit person, all that walking you have done. My husband had first heart attack in 2006 heart problems ran in his family. He ended up with heart failure, kidney failure, diverticulitis and later a colostomy bag ,diabetes, hypothyroidism and COPD .But you wouldnt have known it really as he soldiered on for another 17 years ontil pneumonia beat him 2023.He got a mobility scooter to get around .

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Thanks Lesley and sorry to hear about all you and your husband went through.

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Dearest Ronnie, I've been reflecting on your last two writings even more than usual. So to read this is a shock. A reminder. The necessity of the preparedness detailed in your latter piece. And in the previous, to question the true value of ones current vectors.

None of this matters, of course. Now. Here.

I look forward to reading much of more your wisdom Ronnie, but, for now, take care.

Martin 🙏

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Thank you Martin. Even I hadn’t thought the preparedness might have been needed so soon. And thank you for calling it wisdom. Whatever it is even I’m hoping I’ll get the time to keep walking and thinking and writing about it.

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Thank you Mandy and lovely to hear from you. I’m getting used to what’s happened and the idea it’s almost certainly surgery on the way now, like the cardiology doctor’s always said it would be, one day. And yes, I’m forever and deeply guilty for our NHS. Who’ve all been brilliant, as expected all the way through this last 18 months.

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Thank you for sharing your experiences, thoughts and feelings so openly as always, Ronnie. Know that many of your readers, like me, don't necessarily comment but love reading your ramblings. This time I am commenting - to send you much love and healing vibes in this new place you find yourself. Thankful for our NHS and hoping it cares for you well. Mandy xx

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What a shock. Hope you recover gently until the surgery. Sending love.

Janet

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Thanks for getting in touch, and yes a shock. So it’s ECG on Tuesday, cardiologist was due anyway in September. But they know what’s happened so I’d guess I might be seen sooner, depending on the scan. And of course physically I feel absolutely fine. But then I did on Monday morning for an hour or two after I got up…

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Thinking of you Ronnie x

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So sorry Ronnie. You really don’t deserve this.

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Thanks Linda, it looks like we get whatever life and random chance gives us. And I’m getting used to what’s happened now. Made more real by sitting down, writing about it on here - and then going to the allotment like I would have anyway.

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