Life at No.22, Monthly Updates, The Changing Seasons

What’s been happening? Winter 2023

Suzanne

Life can be strange sometimes, and it’s still throwing us small, catchable curve balls. Funnily enough, I am still fond of balls, and a highlight of my week is to head off and throw one into a hoop and bounce it around a court with a superb bunch of women.

Sometimes, we get to start the day with stunning life-affirming sunrises

The Squires’s second transplant anniversary arrives this September, and the recovery journey slowly continues with the knowledge that it can, at any time, go quickly sideways.

In the last few months, we have realised that we must acknowledge and come to terms with a new normal for the Squire and me, as a cancer diagnosis never involves just one person. This actualisation is similar to a grieving process as his health and ability to do things won’t be the same as pre-cancer. Since the Squire has limited energy, he has foregone our plot in the community garden and is now concentrating on activities that are more sociable, such as croquet and mates who make an effort to visit him.

The lemon tree on our balcony is bursting with buds and two fully-sized lemons. Might indulge in another citrus tree as the aroma is divine on a warm sunny day.

I never felt quite comfortable being down at the Plot by myself due to unsavoury characters hanging around the reserve next to the gardens. We will now head back to the local farmers market on a Saturday morning and grow a few vegetables in pots on our balcony.

Amongst those moments of naval gazing, my eyes and camera have been averted skywards.

Keep pushing those boundaries out

The ability to keep pushing my boundaries is a privilege that I decided not to take for granted. I am still damned lucky, and life in general is pretty good. When we first got together, we decided not to waste the opportunities that we created and to make the most of our lives, and now it is time to keep pursuing my goals while still supporting the Squires and ours as a couple.

Getting out early on chilly mornings to do training. This spoonbill thought it a tad chilly, too.

There are a few things I have in mind. At the moment, the following are a few of what’s been happening.

Met a cat in a cafe – on my journey to the Hawkes Bay

I had a Thelma and Louise moment without Louise, where I pretended to be Thelma (with a lovely husband) as I headed on a long journey to be part of the support crew for a cousin who recently lost her life partner. Tripping about alone is new for me as the Squire has always been with me or has been the driver on long journeys. However, since his bone marrow transplant, poor eyesight due to the drugs and low energy has meant I have taken over driving. I surprised myself by immensely enjoying the freedom of the open road. I was on a roll, not the car, just my enthusiasm.

Learning the basketball game rules, being part of an awesome team, and finding ways of getting that ball to do what I want it to do is where I have gained so much, all of which I am very fortunate to be able to do.

If you’re curious, check out more of my images on Instagram of us on the day.

A goal during my fifties was competing in half marathons; I thought I had finished with that desire until I met another crazy woman over 60 who enjoyed walking to push those pain barriers out even further. Not forgetting that these challenges aren’t solely physical; they include strengthening our mental stamina. So, on the 26 August this year, we completed another and even managed to knock off 3 minutes from last year’s one, finishing it in 3.02.

Who says we don’t need to keep pushing those boundaries? Not me.

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

19 thoughts on “What’s been happening? Winter 2023”

  3. I so admire your resilience and your energy, Suzanne. They’ve been two fragile years, in many ways, but you haven’t let them drag you under, and I’m sure that with his support you’ll go on pushing the boundaries you can no longer push together. While he enjoys friendships and a gentler approach to life. I’m starting to gentle down myself. Off to croquet this morning and I shouldn’t be sitting here typing this. See you soon!

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  5. Great to see you keep pushing those boundaries – inspirational in fact! And the two of you seem to be doing well in adjusting to a new normal. I love the sweet cat you met in the cafe and that beautiful spoonbill photo 🙂

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  6. It’s a shame about the lottie, but they are hard work and life is all about changes. You have both been through a lot and no doubt lots of adjustments have had to be made. Your paths may be diverting, but I have no doubt that you will continue to support each other.

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    1. Yes, it is a shame about the garden. Other issues are that a few long term gardeners are leaving and those left don’t seem motivated to do much. Time to go. Absolutely, we will always be there to support each other. If I didn’t exercise I would drive Les nuts 😉

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    1. Thanks very much, Tracy, we’re doing it the best we can. With shite days in between like most of us.
      I’m sure Martha won’t mind, and it’s extremely hard to come up with every sentence that’s unique and not subconsciously collected along the way.

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