Musings On The Last Sunday In July

~ beetleypete

This has been a strange week. I have spent much of it contemplating that I am actually quite old. Before you rush to tell me that 70 is not that old these days, I agree with that widely-held theory. However, I hope you will also agree with me that 70 is not remotely young. And my body has been reminding me of that fact.

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Despite a significant drop in temperature from the recent heatwave, we still saw a humid 32C (almost 90F) during the week, with warm uncomfortable nights into the bargain. And despite rain being forecast at least four times, we remained dry in Beetley. Perhaps the driest summer I have known since moving here in 2012.
Then this morning, I woke up to heavy rain.

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By Wednesday, I continued to feel so ill that Julie insisted I take a Lateral-Flow test for Covid-19. That was negative, but it was agreed that I would see a doctor on Thursday. That resulted in blood tests, and having to provide stool samples and a urine sample. They were sent off to the hospital pathology department, and I await the results with interest.

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I received a Colon Cancer test kit in the post on Friday, courtesy of being of a ‘certain age’, and free of charge on the NHS. Generally known as the ‘Poo Sticks’ test, this served as a reminder that I was old enough to be considered at risk from this serious illness. Not a cheerful post to open. And strangely coincidental, given the concerns of my own doctor…

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My energy levels are at a lifetime low, with me considering ‘an early night’ by 9pm. (But holding out until 11pm, so I don’t wake up too early the next morning.) On the plus side, having some worry about what might be wrong with you makes you less concerned about the political circus going on in Britain currently. It is surprisingly comforting to consider that you may not live to see the mess the next Conservative Prime Minister will get us in. Until the next election, when hopefully the public will see sense, and get rid of them.

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On another plus side, Ollie continues to respond well to his numerous medicines. His fur is starting to grow back where it had fallen out, and his appetite has increased to levels that make me feed him a little less. He is still slow on his walks, and barely managed an hour yesterday. Then again, neither did I, having to sit on a bench and stare at the river for a good ten minutes of that hour.

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Wherever you live, and whatever you are doing, I wish you a peaceful Sunday.

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68 thoughts on “Musings On The Last Sunday In July”

  1. It’s good to hear Ollie is perking up, Pete(any news on the driving licence?)…I hope your tests come back clear all I will say is I was fine with the heat in the Uk but coming home I am feeling more tired than normal and having to adjust to the heat here so hopefully for you it is the heat,…Having been away for 2 months I am not going back on all the older posts and will wait for your serial to finish and read it all at once…which I am sure I will enjoy…Take care 🙂 xx

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    1. Thanks, Carol. Still no driving licence, it is now 7 months since I applied, and almost 2 months since I passed the eye test. It’s a good idea not to go try to view all the old posts, it would take you too long.
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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  3. I hope you’re feeling better, Pete. The heat makes everything very hard, and it is difficult to feel energetic. Here they have a programme testing people randomly for bowel cancer, and I’ve been doing it since I came, so, not to worry (I’m a few years younger than you, and I hope everything is negative). Oh, and good to know Ollie is better. Take lots of her and thinking of you.

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    1. No rain since then, Jennie. The ground is very dry, and we are back up to a very humid 90 degrees today.
      The test results are not back yet, they have to come from the hospital Pathology Department.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. Waiting is hard! We got a downpour today that lasted for 10 minutes, but afterwards it was hotter than blazes. Thursday will be our killer day, maybe 100 degrees. What a summer! Hubby has a bad wound on his shin and cannot swim. I won’t be able to swim for a week after Friday. Sigh!

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  6. I hate not feeling well, it’s the worst. I hope your health continues to improve like Ollie’s and the weather cools down! We’re in the middle of a heat wave too and it’s draining. Sending hugs and good wishes your way, C

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  7. Of course, there’s the saying, “you’re as young as you feel. Unfortunately, that can vary from day to day. Sometimes I feel much more youthful than my age, and other days I feel decrepit.

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  8. I was just talking with my wife last night about the absolute irony of getting more wisdom on how to handle and do things as you get older and gain more life experience, but how quickly our bodies start to slide downhill in the other direction while you’re getting smarter. Good news about Ollie! I wish a peaceful Sunday for you, Pete. (Roast pork and red wine sounds like a good combo…!)

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  12. (1) “You’re barely out of the crib at seventy!” (Methusaleh…on meth)
    (2) We got rain here in Las Vegas. Even a bit of flooding! In fact, I’m pretty sure I heard Mark Twain shouting as a riverboat passed by my house. “What a pathetic pilot you are, Griswold! I told you to stick to the main channel! This ain’t the Mississippi River no more! Dang if it ain’t the Mojave Desert!”
    (3) I went to the furniture store last week. They showed me a number of stool samples. But what I really wanted to see was some ottoman samples.
    (4) I prefer Pogo Sticks to Poo Sticks. G, I wonder why?
    (5) Elon Musk is going to send you an energy booster. Just one, but it’s reusable.
    (6) The fish in the river had fun with the staring contest yesterday. They actually wanted you to stick around for another twenty minutes. But, in the end, they decided to let you off the hook.
    (7) My Sundae will definitely be full of pieces: cherry slices, chopped nuts, chocolate sprinkles…

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  13. Happy to hear Ollie is improving and trusting you’ll be improving too! I would welcome a good heavy rain here to clear the air. We’ve had temperatures in the nineties all week and the air is so smoggy you can hardly see the mountains in the distance.

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    1. That doesn’t sound very nice at all. Sadly, the rain didn’t improve much here. It just feels humid and oppressive since it stopped, amd the temperature is only 70F at 5:30pm.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. We’re probably getting smoke from distant wildfires as often happens this time of year. Sorry the rain didn’t help out where you are! Fortunately, our temperatures are supposed to finally drop back into the seventies starting tomorrow.

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  15. One’s perception of age changes, inevitably, I guess. My aunty Kay who I adored aged physically but she was always exactly the same and it started me looking differently at “old people”. Now I am in this 74 year old body with a ton of bizarre defects but I am still the same,,,well quite a bit more cynical, I suppose. Over here the medical profession is big business so they test you for everything and mostly it is all negative which is great except that it means there is nothing they can treat. The only time I had to take a symptom seriously was when I was suddenly in pain that made me gasp, Then when I got tick fever I think I fully expected to die and was quite ready! I certainly hope all your tests are good. I daresay all that heat and assorted worries don’t help. Like you, I find myself often being thankful I shall not see what is coming..at least I hope not! Best wishes to you and Ollie.

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    1. Thanks, Carolyn. The American health care system does seem to me to be based on pure ‘income generation’. The referrals to different specialists, tests repeated during the year, and being able to charge for every single item, right down to tissues used by a patient, or the numerous pairs of latex gloves required in one treatment. The Conservative government here is very keen to introduce a similar system, based on private medical insurance. But anyone who owns a pet in Britain is already aware just what a money-pit that will be.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  17. I think those temperatures definitely are to blame for how you are feeling. Heat and humidity certainly sap energy levels, and prevent a good night’s sleep. Just take it easy Pete until it cools down.

    As for your age, I think we are told so often that 60 is the new 40 etc we feel that there must be something wrong if we don’t actually feel that energetic. I’m struggling with the heavy work in the garden that I believe I should be able to do, but then I remember I am not 49 any more.

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    1. Thanks very much, Beth. A damp and humid 70 degrees today. I’m sure it is global, look at the floods in America and wildfires in Europe and Turkey. It’s going wrong faster than they predicted.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  22. I hope you are okay and good to hear Ollie is doing well…..must be something in the air…;.we get forecasts of rain as well and nothing falls…..getting old sucks. be well chuq

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      1. Ah no biggy Cheryl we get screened for everything here when you reach a ‘certain age’ poo sticks in the post for bowel cancer screening, boobograms for breast cancer screening, prostates, cervix, etc. It never ends! And I’m happy for that cos if anything shows up they’ll fix it!

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  25. I’m surprised you’ve only just started doing the poo sticks, Pete: I’ve been doing them for a few years now — it must vary by NHS catchment area. I hope all the tests are negative anyway, and that you feel better soon. Very wet here this morning, as well; I managed to stay mostly dry on my bike ride to the cinema & back yestereve, but I might be walking into town with daughter #1 to watch her rowing at lunchtime, so it’ll be brollies ahoy! Cheers, Jon.

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    1. I have been sent the test kits for some years now, Jon. (Five years, I think) It was just coincidental that it arrived after I had given a similar sample to my GP.
      It has stopped raining here now, so feels uncomfortably humid at 20C.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  26. Used to laugh at old people saying ‘glad I shan’t be around to see it!’ I am happy to ido,those poo sticks, a lot easier than having colonoscopies because you’re anaemic and your grandmother died of bowel cancer – incurable in the fifties. Good luck with your tests Pete. In our age group when you bump into friends and can’t recall their news from last time you chatted, just say ‘how did you get on at the hospital?’

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  27. Tis the end of July
    and all Ollie wants to do is lie
    Pete wants also to go bye bye
    But at 9 not 11 oh sigh
    I know where he put that stick oh my
    The Dr will examine his poo pie
    Hopefully you won’t die
    If you did we’d all cry
    There wouldn’t be an so dry
    As sad as it was, en enjoyable post – and thats no lie!

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    1. Thanks, Sarada. Winnie would be surprised if she/he saw my test kit. 🙂
      (The character was named after a female bear, but referred to as ‘he’ in the books.)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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