👋 July Social Check-in! ❤️☀️

[Luke_BHF]

Welcome to the July Social Check-in!

It’s great to see everyone here. Whether you’re a long-time supporter of heart health or just starting your journey, your presence makes this community special.

With the end of the Euros and England’s valiant efforts, there’s much to reflect on. And as the summer holidays begin for UK schools, it’s a perfect time to enjoy the beautiful weather and perhaps indulge in some outdoor activities. Feel free to share your plans, hobbies, or any little thing that sparks joy in your life. This space is for you to be you!

Summer Recipes: Looking for some delicious and heart-healthy recipes to try this summer? Check out our collection of healthy summer recipes here. From refreshing salads to tasty grills, there’s something for everyone to enjoy bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

Remember, kindness and compassion make our community thrive. Let’s keep the conversation going!

Wishing you a heart-healthy and wonderful month!

Luke from the BHF 😊

[Ageingfast]

wow it’s hot here on the east coast. I got some mowing done by 9.30 but then came indoors sticky wet. Runner beans have popped up so first five for supper tonight. Together with home grown spuds, that are excellent this year.

I have just about caught up with the gardenning, after the absentee for six months rehab. My valve is doing so very well. Marvellous, wonderful surgeons have mt admiration and thanks

Sooty

Aka aging fast.

[LaceyLady in reply to Ageingfast]

save your self the effort, it’s better not mowing the grass as the sun will dry it up, we leave our grass longer in summer alway have a green lawn till it gets hotter and hotter

[Ageingfast in reply to LaceyLady]

I have dedicated some areas of old lawn and made them meadows. But that still leaves a lot of grass. Takes me two days to mow. My garden is long and narrow, not ideal, but very nice to split in to orchard, allotment and more traditional garden. Sooty has plenty to choose from and he even allows next doors cat in to the orchard bit. Plus he allows access across his land, in one specific spot. He makes sure there is no loitering. But cancer or not, he defends the bulk of his garden strongly. He is a big cat.

[LaceyLady in reply to Ageingfast]

We had a Sooty years ago 💗

[Ageingfast in reply to LaceyLady]

My cat was Oscar but his first vet visit the vet said what a magnificent boy he is. Plus Sooty is appropriate for a black cat. So his tag shows him as Sooty OscartheMagnificent. He arrived whilst I was recovering from a stroke, what a delight he was and is. Then he was there for AVR. Now he will see me through Parkinson’s. I adore my cat.

[Turnipgirl in reply to LaceyLady]

My sister in law and her children had a very spoilt black rabbit called Sooty!

There's lots of pets around called Sooty isn't there?

[LaceyLady in reply to Turnipgirl]

Our first cat was Tigger 🤣

[Turnipgirl in reply to LaceyLady]

There was a colleague at an old job who had a ginger tabby called Tiggy who died when he was 18!

[Smitty1956 in reply to Ageingfast]

Hi, Ageingfast,

Your beans and potatoes sound lovely to me! I hope to make it to the farmers’ market this coming Tuesday. 😊

I know what you mean about the heat. I live in the US East, and we have been having high heat and humidity for weeks.

I am very happy that your valve is doing well! My gardening consists of carrying pots of water daily to my baskets of flowers—trying to keep them alive during the heat and drought. Take care and keep on gardening. ❤️

This was an earlier spring photo of my petunias. I have recently cut them back.

[Ageingfast]

I changed my title from Blackcatsooty because he was at deaths door and I couldn’t deal with the grief. Well he is alive and well. Getting cancer treatment at Queen's in Cambridge. Oh me of little faith.

Sooty

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Ageingfast]

What great news to hear your cat is doing so well.

[Heartfairy in reply to Ageingfast]

Aww I’m so pleased to hear that your little cat is responding to treatment. Long may it continue and you both enjoy lots more happy years together. Pets help us get through tough times and never fail to make us smile but it is tough when they are poorly but sounds like he’s as tough as you. Keep each other going. Lots of love ❤️🧚🏼‍♀️ xx 🐈‍⬛

[LaceyLady in reply to Ageingfast]

I had a Boris who was near 20 , he went on and on till I HAD to let him go 💗🙏🏼

[RufusScamp in reply to LaceyLady]

It would not be good for me to say what I think about some Borises.

[Turnipgirl in reply to LaceyLady]

Baby our ginger tabby was 20 in April!

[LaceyLady]

Hope there are some Low Carb recipes to choose from for us low carb T2’s

[Thanksnhs]

The school's finished weeks ago in June and it seems to have rained ever since, gales blew half my plants down and they didn't recover, grass is fine as it is well watered but that's life in Bonnie Scotland and I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else 😄☔. It's now holiday time and tomorrow we are off to Spain for 10 days in Carahuela and I can't wait , sun, sea and sangria will definitely chase the blues away 🌞🏖️🍹Char

[BeKind28- in reply to Thanksnhs]

Hello

I am so pleased you are of on Holiday

I take it everything has gone well as I remember you thinking you might not be able to go with all you were going through

Enjoy yourself as I am sure you will it is a well deserved holiday for you x

[Thanksnhs in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you, I have still not had my follow up appointment, I have left numerous messages with the surgeon's secretary and she has never phoned me back, I asked my GP and he said to phone the secretary 😕 I will try again when I get back, I have to assume it's not urgent or they would have had me in. Char x

[BeKind28- in reply to Thanksnhs]

Hello

Yes I agree if it had been urgent I am sure they would have meanwhile have a lovely holiday x

[Thanksnhs in reply to BeKind28-]

Thanks x

[BeKind28- in reply to Thanksnhs]

x

[LaceyLady]

Well, had lovely day, daughter and I are members of the Thames Valley Orchid Society and had a great meeting and presentation. Had a little walk to the cafe after for lunch. Both her and a friend set a good walking pace, I managed to keep up, just as not used to such a pace after ablation few months ago and I’d had a nasty fall beginning of the month. Finally sat down to watch tv!

[Chinkoflight]

Hi LukeThanks for the sharing invite. I guess the health journeys for many people who use HealthUnlocked are not necessarily bathed in optimism and I've had some dark days that have snook up on me. But you're absolutely right, being outdoors is good for your health. And it's great to read how people get the best out of their situation and work hard to find ways to do things.

For the last two years, after a stroke initially and an SCA this January I have learnt to run after a lifetime of not being able to run to catch a bus! Firstly on my own, out of the spotlight learning with Couch to 5k. Initially this was rehab particularly to strengthen my leg after the stroke. But I enjoyed it not endured it which was a huge surprise as success came from following Jo Whiley as my C25K coach! I needed a challenge and to maintain the motivation because although I 'ran' for 30 minutes I covered 3k so it was Couch to 3 k for me. So I learnt to run longer to achieve the distance, speed still eludes me!

I plucked up courage to join in my local Parkrun knowing it was okay to Parkwalk if you couldn't run the distance.

Today I achieved a Parkrun shout out from the 200 or so participants for my 50th Parkrun. So chuffed. These were the same lovely people who helped me when I had my SCA in January!!!

Happy days.

Parkrun finish

[RufusScamp]

A weasel goes into a shop, but can't reach the higher shelves.

"What can I get you?" asks the assistant.

"Pop", goes the weasel.

Well thought it was funny.

[BeKind28- in reply to RufusScamp]

Goodness I thought a certain person had come back there for a minute x

[Valentina98]

Hey Everyone

Just in case you thought I was done with the announcements this year.

Dan has just shocked even me,

So I was trying to settle Evangeline dancing, rocking and singing "All of Me" by John Legend at the end of the song Dan called "V, turned around" I turned around and there was Dan on one knee holding a beautiful box with the ring my Dad proposed to Mum with 51 years ago and asked that question. Shocking and stunned I said yes. (I actually said okay then yeah)

(Excuse my post pregnancy fat fingers)

V x

Engagement ring

[BeKind28- in reply to Valentina98]

Hello

Congratulations he has proposed to you exactly 30 years to the day when I got married !

So your Mum must have given him the ring to keep it in the family what a lovely gesture from your Mum to part with it like that if I have got it right

You were romantic okay then yea

You could have a Christening and a wedding combined that would be different

Your Mum will be in her element x

[Valentina98 in reply to BeKind28-]

Oh yes Mum's already started planning. I've told her let me recover from having Evangeline first.

I didn't think Mum would ever part with it. It means so much to her. I've always liked the ring.

Christening first wedding later ☺️

Also Happy Anniversary

[BeKind28- in reply to Valentina98]

I am sure your Mum will sort it all out and she is a good one that must have taken some parting with and shows despite her getting on your nerves how much she loves you

Thank You x

[Turnipgirl]

Yes I have really enjoyed some great days out lately especially the Newport Splash festival and the Tafwyl festival as well!

I'm still on the case with job hunting and decided I will do applications nice and early as I did this morning as once they are done I don't have to worry about them again for the rest of the day!

This morning I have been out on a walk and it's been humid outside as they have forecast storms for later on!

Thankfully today there's no job interviews as I had loads last week and they got very stressful.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

It's already mid-August! Time to start a new thread!