The Lighter Side: Ohhh, this B****y Heat! But maybe there are some Positives? ;-)

[markbenjamin57]

Greetings All

Just a quick-ish report from the new South Wing at Benjamin Mansions on the WSM (UK) coast.

First: Ohhh, this Heat! Even my N&D (who aren't plagued by PMR or GCA) are wilting, so maybe some of Us Lot have an especially valid excuse for taking things easy?

On another blisteringly hot 25-30 degree day, I've been watching all manner of things Marine and Leisure including fishermen (er, 'fisherpeople' to be politically correct?), Speed boats, Water ski-ers, Jet-ski-ers, Canoo-ers (or in one case Canoodlers - Bless!), Sailors, enthusiastic swimming Doggies (always a delight - especially when they return to the shore), the local RNLI (for those of you outside of the UK - Royal National Lifeboat Institution) practising their emergency manoeuvres, Paddlers, and not forgetting Mature and supposedly intelligent Adults gleefully picking-up tiny pebbles and chucking them far into the fast-advancing sea (don't they realise - this is a TOTALLY FUTILE way to try to tidy-up the coastline?!).

And, of course, the inscrutable Tedski is out there on the beach with his children's bucket-and-spade (stolen, of course) constructing what is starting to resemble a full-scale replica of a famous Eastern European landmark. (Clue: rhymes with 'Gremlin'). Oh well, I just hope he has local authority Planning Permission...

While I'm on a roll (and if you're not groaning already), I spotted this sign in my local Electrical Appliance shop today..

"FREEZERS FOR SALE:

One person - 5 cubic litres capacity

Small Family - 20 cubic litres capacity

Large Family - 50 cubic litres capacity".

I'm all for Cryogenic Research, but is this taking things a bit too far? And.. what if you / your family are a bit on the 'Plus Size' side?

In the meantime, anyone up for a Rain Dance? ;-D

Try to keep smiling and keep Cooool (in more ways than one if you've had a tough meeting with your GP / Specialist). And... also remember how quite a few of Us Lot in the UK were complaining about the Big Freeze here only a few months ago.

All I can say is: 'This, too, will pass...'

Best wishes on your PMR / GCA Journey

'Uncle' MB

[pmrkitty]

Thank you for the smile. 😃

[markbenjamin57 in reply to pmrkitty]

All part of the service klaroche

[Hidden]

Looking Well Uncle MB 😎

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mrs N. Confession: as Pete noticed, the photo was taken in 2011 - but people say I haven't changed a bit since then: still ugly and wearing a fiendish grin...

[morrison]

Well uncle MB. I put my 1 year old grandson in the fridge today. GOD I HOPE HIS MUM LET HIM OUT WHEN I LEFT. .....Oops. x

[Sandradsn]

Hello Mark.....WSM sounds fun😎never a dull moment there!This heat is getting a bit much now😁I do love the summer but can we just have some rain 😎Our garden is straw like and the plants are giving up.I called at my daughters home earlier,two granddaughters were in the paddling pool dressed as mermaids obviously and the very large lurcher puppy was lying in there too🙈I almost got in but stopped myself just in time😂.

Pmr been ok this week thankfully😁phew!

[kay7954]

I'm in So California and the heat and humidity has been horrible. I feel like a wilting flower, my husband put in a window air condition into our bedroom so I could at least try and sleep. I can't wait until fall.

[SheffieldJane]

We New Yorkers have torrential rain, having been promised an apocalyptic storm. I hope you were nice to the potus, his friend sends greetings to Tedski.

You paint a lovely picture of down your way and you look in fine fettle.Very funny as ever!

[markbenjamin57 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks Jane - although I must confess that the photo is from a few years ago - and in Ukraine of all places! Ukraine has changed a lot since then - but I haven't

[trish29]

Hello mb. It's been quite a while since l have replied to you but you are looking good. I have been reading your posts when my muddled head allows .This heat is not helping my PMR or my legs making me more disabled to get around the house and more housebound..l am pleased your move to your new wing at Benjamin Mansions went well. We shouldn't complain about the sunny weather but wow it is just too hot. Take care and keep the humour coming . trish29

[markbenjamin57 in reply to trish29]

Thanks Trish

[Hidden]

Fridge full of BBQ stuff, cloudy and miserable in the north west, put the heating on last night. I'm the one who likes the hot, we have a hosepipe ban which doesn't effect us as rain is forecast for the next few days. People moaning about the heat, swap houses?

[steffiegirl]

Are you talking about the heat in the UK ?.....because if you are I can tell you for CERTAIN there is NO heat up here in Scotland. I'm in bed at the monent (sunday morning) with an electric blanket on...

[Telian in reply to steffiegirl]

OMG

[markbenjamin57 in reply to steffiegirl]

Ohhhh, steffie! I should have said 'the south west UK'....

[Angiejnz in reply to steffiegirl]

Yep electric blanket on high in NZ

[Hidden]

Ha Mark, you must be the guy who advertises shorts on the M&S website year 2011 ?

Hope you are well.

Pete

[Rugger in reply to Hidden]

I noticed the date too, Pete!!

[Hidden in reply to Rugger]

Ha, he must be trying to impress us.🤗😎

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Hidden]

Well spotted Pete :-). Yep, 2011 (in Ukraine) but people say I haven't changed. Well, changed the shorts maybe... All's fairly well - quite busy and active, hovering around 3mgpd Pred, some pain and stiffness but manageable. And you..?

[Hidden in reply to markbenjamin57]

I'm on 3mg and trying a slow taper again.

[Telian]

Greetings back MB - great read and you look REALLY well!

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Telian]

Thanks Telian - I cheated a bit with a 7-year old photo but look / feel the same now - apart from the dreaded PMR..

[Telian in reply to markbenjamin57]

They say you're as young as you feel......that's my philosophy!

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Telian]

Yep - apart from the PMR I feel like a young man (no mis-interpretations please Aunties).

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to markbenjamin57]

Hmmm - he doth protest too much methinks...

[markbenjamin57 in reply to PMRpro]

Nearly said 'I feel like a young woman' - but that would get me into even more trouble here...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to markbenjamin57]

How do you know???????????????????????????

[markbenjamin57 in reply to PMRpro]

Maybe I underestimate You Lot..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to markbenjamin57]

Probably....

[Telian in reply to markbenjamin57]

Got it in one!!

[Hidden]

Hahahahaha, "I'm all for Cryogenic Research, but..."

[Suet3942]

Thanks for the humour, makes my day, 🤪🤪🤪

[jinasc]

🌝🔥⛈☀️🌈😉

[Jackoh]

Good to hear from you. Lots of wilting flowers here in the Midlands. Feel like one myself!!

[Primarose]

Delightful post, I enjoyed that!! Thank you.

[Marcy47]

Hi Mark,

Too much heat for too long was the main reason we moved back to UK from Spain 3 yrs ago. At least out there we had air-conditioning in the casa. If this is going to become a regular occurrence they will have to start building houses with air-con!

[S4ndy]

Wilting in the heat in Essex too. I am envious of you being near the sea. If you see a frazzled blond woman being dragged along the beach at wsm by a large black standard poodle, give her a wave, its my cousin

Always great fun to read your posts. xxx

[TooSore]

I thoroughly enjoy your stories. Keep them coming!

Earlier this month we had our "August heat wave": 90*+ days with high humidity. It's been pleasant lately but the rain that SheffieldJane mentioned has worked it's way to Connecticut and is bringing back the humidity. Oh well, I still like it better than freezing.

I have the luxury of working halftime during the summer so am enjoying some short outings and time to reconnect with fiends. On the downside, last month I struggled though a taper to .5 mg. I don't have the classic early morning PMR symptoms but am dealing with stubborn delayed muscle soreness from exercise that doesn't want to quit. Hard to get up after sitting for any length of time or get out of a car. I'm hanging in because since it doesn't seem classic PMR but an add on and I figure it will be easier to adjust when I'm not working full time. I also switched from sandals back to sneakers to see if that helps as well.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to TooSore]

Just because the textbooks say that morning stiffness is a "classic" symptoms doesn't mean it is always present. The stiffness after sitting or otherwise immobile is just as classical a symptom.

[TooSore in reply to PMRpro]

Ugh! Upper body is ok. Hips and upper legs giving me grief. I've been hoping it's exercise induced. During the school year I am always up and down, short walks throughout the day. But working part time, I get that in the morning but in the afternoon go for a walk of 1.5 miles but then am relaxing on the couch. Same amount of steps on the Fitbit but not the same thing in reality. How do you tell which is cause the muscle aches and stiffness? Fatigue has been ok but I had a hard time with the taper. I was thinking I would stick it out and see unless it got worse. What do you think?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to TooSore]

I don't know really - if the aches/stiffness worsens then I think you have to accept maybe this is 1/2mg too far and the taper having been hard might be the conformation of that. It certainly isn't something I'd worry about at that level - but I have always been uncompromising there! I need what I need!

[HeronNS in reply to TooSore]

We are currently living in a sauna. I get my house nice and comfy (thank you heat pump which not only cools the house but also dehumidifies it) then in the morning when I go to air the house it feels like I'm letting in air from a giant clothes dryer. 😓

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Well I went all Portuguese one day when I was in hospital so think yourself lucky! Out now and hopefully returning to normal! whatever that may be 🤦🏻‍♀️ Just glad be out in the fresh air, nice cool breeze. Soon be on the move again.

Just got to get my mail notifications organised.

[suzy1959 in reply to DorsetLady]

I'm glad the op. went OK and that you are recovering. I have been grateful for the hot weather because it has meant I haven't had to get into shoes and I am finding sundresses easier than trousers. Now, however, I have had enough and desperately want cooler weather. Strangely we had a whole day of rain on Friday which was my birthday- maybe it was a gift from the universe! Anyway, keep up the exercises but don't overdo it!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to suzy1959]

💕

[stellafmdm]

It will pass, but I wish it would pass a bit faster!!!!

[Mike1964]

A very fine pair of legs Uncle MB, reminds me of an old piano I once had! How have you got on after your yo-yo taper? hopefully stabilized now. I've actually set up a spreadsheet that logs every English email address that complains about the sun/heat. Rest assured I shall be holding people to account once the rain, grey, cold,snow,sleet,general misery of winter (Or indeed most summers! hits) You have been warned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[markbenjamin57]

Ha ha Mike - Boom boom! It reminds me of when I was ordering dinner in a French restaurant recently and asked the attractive young waitress: "Do you have frog's legs?". I don't remember much after that, but the black eye is healing nicely...

Still hanging around at 3mgpd Pred after briefly joining PCZ (Pred Club Zero) just before the un-anticipated home move (and a few weeks of physical & mental exertion). Now 'sticking' at 3 as a precaution during this Hot spell to keep my energy levels topped-up. So, No-no to Yo-yo at the Mo-mo.

I agree with you about the British weather - but then again complaining about any kind of weather IS one of our national sports!

[Perkey]

Well when I moved toNewcastle last September I was warned take woolies and wellies. Well it has been so hot and I am sporting a good tan and a sun top I think it has taken everyone by surprise. (I dont mean my sun top ) long may it last although I have had a bit of a moan at night as I hate sleeping on top of my covers but duvet is out of the question.

[Lindafrancis]

you seem to be a man of many words and they say women can talk no offense intended

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Lindafrancis]

None taken - I am an author as well as a PMR Survivor...

[Lindafrancis]

😜😃

[Grants148]

Thank you Mark ,l always enjoy your posts and ramblings,pleased to hear that Tedski is enjoying living by the sea,and playing with the bucket and spade will keep him out of mischief for an hour or two ! I like the photo,not a bear in sight.lt is far too hot now,longing for some rain to freshen it up,you are lucky to have the sea air,it is not good here ,made worse by the awful smell from a recycling company that wafts over when the wind is blowing this way. The council does nothing about it although we complain ,but as long as it is not affecting them ,they could,nt care less. I hope that your PMR continues to be under control,l am stuck on 3mgs of Pred.,Kindest regards and keep posting.