Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Appointment for Physiotherapy and expansion of exercise effort

We walked to the physiotherapy appointment (my first time outside without the walker) as it seemed safer with all that sleet/snow that came our way. I have now been walking 30 minutes continuously around the house so will not use the walker after the weekend as the mall will be considerably less busy when we go for our walks there.

I am up to biking 15 minutes and will expand that to 30 minutes by my next visit to physio. Still at level 1 but the endurance is good.

A new exercise and working on my hands now with a stress circle that I bought at Sportchek. Can do up to 15 times with the entire hand but he showed me the way to just exercise two fingers at a time and will head for that eventually. My fingers have become progressively weaker and did need to work on that. I thought that lifting weights would help but actually you need to use a tool that focuses on the fingers I have discovered.

Also added the plank back into my calisthenics which I had missed doing and managed 1 minutes 20 seconds yesterday. He suggests heading towards three minutes so will gradually expand to that. Still no running, no jumping jacks and no plies. Must increase the walking in the day to offset the running I used to do.

As 2019 ends and we move to 2020, I am now 74 years, three months and seven days old. I can remember my grandmother at this age. She was still a very busy woman gardening, doing her own cleaning, cooking, sewing her own clothes, knitting for charity, walking up to the shopping district about half of a mile from her house and carrying her shopping back with her (it wasn't a lot but still it is an effort). She tried to continue with that vigorous lifestyle too long perhaps as I can remember that by 80 she was getting quite thin and her attention span was weakening. I think she worked too hard which is what I always say to my husband and he is 76 years, 8 months and 13 days. In every hour we should take ten minutes just for a rest and then gradually increase the rest break as we age.

Of course so many other things are life controlling but rest is very very important as you age.

Sunday, December 29, 2019

New Post Challenge with the Guild of one-name Studies

We are having a 10 post challenge at the Guild of one-name studies. I will do Blake and I want to look once again at all the data I collected on the Cornwall Blake families. I never did publish any of the information and I feel I should make what I have found available in a genealogical sense. I will begin by the end of this week. I may try for publication dates of Thursday each week. The Challenge will run from the beginning of January to the end of March (that is 12 weeks but gives a little leeway especially for first namers that are still working!).

I will commence with a blog on the 1330-1550 Immigrants Database and the Blake entries found therein and what I have learned about some of these entries. I will then focus on Cornwall although I may change that to another area but at the moment I am thinking Cornwall would be most interesting. I found it quite fascinating.

My Blake line is from the Andover, Hampshire, England area with my father being born at Eastleigh and his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather all being born at Upper Clatford. The place of birth then switches to Andover where generation six to ten are baptized (one may have been born at Penton Mewsey), and then Knights Enham where generation eleven to fourteen were born.

The yDNA of my Blake line has been tested by two brothers and it is an ancient line to the British Isles (most commonly found in the central western counties of Ireland) found in several particular areas including Hampshire through to Devon. It was the Immigrants Database that alerted me to the passage from Ireland to Salisbury, England in 1425 of a Richard Blake immigrating to that area which is not that far from Andover in actual fact having traveled the roads now. The father of my 13x great grandfather was Robert Blake who died (left his will) in 1521 (and one of his sons was Richard interestingly enough). Robert Blake was elderly at the time of his death and no idea on the name of his father yet although the Manor Books for Andover are extant and they were at Knights Enham. I have noted the forename John thus far in the Latin in the 1300s and do need to read them. However, those particular records do go back earlier so it is a mystery for me and I hope one day to resolve it. It would be quite fascinating to discover that my Blake line was also found in the western part of Ireland but it does not match the known descendants of the Galway line there which is descendant of Richard Cadell. Passage of people between the Isles of the British Isles does appear to be quite fluid even in these ancient times. For instance, I noted that a number of Blake entries showed Blake members traveling from England to Ireland in this early time period and was it these men or descendants who came back to England. No ideas on that actually.

One of the best matches to my brothers lives in Ireland but I have not been able to contact him in the 12 years since I first tested my brother. It is only 12 markers but interestingly enough those 12 markers are significant for this Blake line in that there are no other perfect matches with the closest being 10 on 12. Needless to say there are no matches at 25, 37, 67 or 111!

Third session of physiotherapy

The third session of physiotherapy focused on massage of the knee and I can now bend it quite well. I am still using the walker mostly because the stores are very crowded and I do not want to be accidentally knocked down in the melee. At home I am walking for 15 minutes continuously although still somewhat of a strain but improving rapidly. My next session of therapy, the fourth, will be in a week.

Before going to the fourth session of physio I am reflecting on how far I have come in one week. I can now walk 30 minutes continuously around the house although still somewhat of a strain it is quite doable and improving since the first 30 minute session on Friday last. I am biking at 1 now for two 10 minute sessions a day and will see about going to level 2 and continuing with two 10 minute sessions and perhaps increasing that to 3 as the week passes.

I also bought a hand device to work on my hand arthritis which I shall get his view on as he recommended doing that at the last session. Ideally, as I mentioned to the physiotherapist, I would like to move to every two weeks and then every month and continue with that every month for the future. I think I am an active enough person that I could use a consult regarding the exercises that I do and the duration as I age. The cost, once I have completed the process for this knee accident, I would pay but it would be well worth it to have a knowledgeable consult monthly to keep me on track and avoid any future accidental overdo which is basically what I did this time. I had the fall and just kept on with my usual exercise but I needed some recovery time before that.

Not running yet but maybe in another month. I want to give the knee plenty of time to heal. Using the walker, I am not dependent on it at all. It is just there, I am just pushing it around and could do without it but will keep on with it until after Christmas break as the mall where we walk is quite busy. I will be glad to be free of it actually and I can see that that is within the next few weeks at the very most and perhaps as soon as one week.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Physiotherapy again for the second session

Physiotherapy today worked very well. I was overdoing it for one of my exercises so got that corrected and two more sets of exercises to do. Plus I also was on the bike. I have been nervous to try that but did so there so will now progress with that at home as well 5 to 7 minutes just to start.

The knee is actually feeling pretty good. I still finding walking any distance a strain so still use my walker whenever I am away from home and walking more than 20 feet or so. Plus it is nice and stable to use the walker now that we have snow I do not want to have to save myself from an off-balance event and turn my knee in a strange way. We do not generally walk outside anymore as my arthritis does not like the cold weather. It was minus 20 celsius here the other day and mostly quite cold but not quite as bad the rest of the days lately.

That will not be a problem for me as I am not a particularly dependent person; quite willing to give up any crutches that I might need when I feel really comfortable about that. 

I will spend the winter working my way back up to my normal exercises plus I  have a few new ones that I will incorporate into my calisthenics as they are really good stretches and will likely help my arthritis I am thinking.

I would like to eventually go once a month to review my exercises; check on my knee and keep an eye on my arthritis and how to best work around it. With both my parents and grandparents having arthritis I was unlikely to escape arthritis!

Life is getting pretty busy with my four sets of exercises for physio a day and all the things to do for Christmas. It will likely be a while before I produce more wills (likely after Christmas).

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Will of Ralph Blake, Ship Carpenter, Chatham, Kent - The National Archives, PROB 11/262/575, probated 16 Mar 1657

Ralph Blake, the testator, was buried 6 Jan 1657 at St Mary Chatham, Kent.

No further information located at this time.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Dec 2019
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/262/575
Testator: Ralph Blake, Ship Carpenter
Place: Chatham, Kent
Type of Record:    Memorandum
Date of document: 3 Jan 1656/57, probated 16 Mar 1657

[Margin]: Ralph Blake

1    Memorandum that on or about the third day of Januarie one Thousand
2    Sixe hundred fifthie sixe Ralph Blake late of Chatham in the Countie of Kent Shipp
3    Carpenter deceased beinge then of perfect mind and memorie and having all
4    Intention and desire to make and declare his last will and Testament Noncupative
5    Did make and declare the same in the words and in the manner following
6    To the like effect and purpose viz [a vi]t he said that he did give and bequeath unto
7    Dorothie his wife all his goods and Chattells to be imployed and used
8    Towards her subsistence and the education of his two children John and
9    Mary Blake and desired that the said dorothie his wife should not make
10    Sale of the house which he had built but that the same should come and
11    Descend unto his said children and to them he or she after the death as
12    Two said wife which may do or to the like effect he attend and spake
13    With an intent the same should stand for and be his last will and
14    Testament in the presence of Mary Milton Margarett Holborne Mary
15    Milley The marke of Margaret Holborne
16    On the sixteenth day of March in the yeare of our Lord God carseninge to
17    The Computacion of the Church of England one Thousand sixe hundred
18    Fiftie sixe Here issueth forth Letter of Administration to dorothie Blake the Relict
19    And principall ligature named in the last will and Testament Noncupative of
20    Ralph Blake late of Chatham in the Countie of Kent deceased To administer ye
21    Goods Chattells and debts of the said deceased according to the tener and all
22    Effect of his said will For that the said deceased therein named no executor She
23    Beinge first (by Com[missi]on) sworne truely to administer

First Session of Physiotherapy - at last

My First Session of Physiotherapy went well. I discovered that my meniscus was sprained and the hamstring muscle strained. Other than that I am doing very well. My four days of absolutely not stepping on my left leg with any weight worked really well for me. But I did do my calisthenics where no weight bearing was on that leg as well thus keeping myself well exercised in as much as one can be. As it turns out my osteo-arthritis is just there but not the cause of any of this except perhaps the stiff knee which I keep at bay by moving my leg to and fro as I type away.

I have two sets of exercises to do and will do them four times a day as that worked very well for me when I tore the rotator cuff years and years ago now. This was not a tear; I knew that from the beginning because you can tell you tore something from the burning sensation in your muscle. This was strain/sprain complicated by my being 74 years of age although I think my recovery has been really good.

Possibly because I worked in the hospital although must admit that is the last place that I want to be in unless I absolutely need to be there, my first thought when my leg collapsed was not to go to hospital but rather to rest and do nothing with that collapsed leg! It took six therapy sessions to get me on my way with my torn rotator cuff and then five years of doing the ten exercises four times a day to completely heal it. But I am prepared to do that length of time hoping to get back to running but I can start to do some weight bearing as it turns out and I will start using the stationery bike on low once again. I think though, if recommended, that I will do a monthly review just to make sure I am on track to good recovery given my 74 years.

I will continue using the walker because it is a strain walking any distance and do not yet feel comfortable giving up the walker especially as I can sit on it if I feel the need to stop for a bit. Not really into crutches, but I think that one should use the assists that are available and not feel that one should be brave; better to protect our muscles. I do have a little nerve damage in this leg which flared up at first but gradually subsided once again as it did years ago (I think it is more than 30 years since I had twinges of pain in that leg).

Valtoren is the greatest lotion and I used it quite liberally the first few days so that I could sleep as the leg was aching quite a bit. What a way to get acetylsalicylic acid into a wounded area. Great stuff!

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Will of Paul Blake, Victualler, Woolwich, Kent - The National Archives PROB 11/932/368, probated 23 Apr 1740

The testator, Paul Blake, is somewhat of a mystery. I did not particularly find any information on him other than his likely marriage given the names of his step sons and his burial. It is an uncommon forename in the Blake family in my review of the available records. He is said to be born at Woolwich, Kent and I do not particularly know of any Blake lines there in this time frame. There are records for a Paul Blake in the late 1600s in Wiltshire, England.

A Paul Blake married Mary Hussy at London St Dusntan in the West 28 Oct 1731. Paul was said to be born at Woolwich, Kent and the residence of Mary Hussey was St Dunstan in the West.  Paul Blake was buried 26 Apr 1740 at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent, England. There were no other notations than his date of burial and his name.

A Jonas Hussey was apprenticed in 1735 to a Vintner Henry Plowman at Woolwich Kent. His father was named as Thomas.

A Thomas Hussey, Clothworker of Reading Berkshire married Mary Burgess 1 May 1723, at Fleet (Clandestine Marriage).

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Dec 2019
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/932/368
Testator: Paul Blake, Victualler
Place: Woolwich, Kent
Type of Record:    Will
Date of document: 3 Oct 1737, probated 23 Apr 1740

[Margin]: Paul Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Paul Blake of the parish of Woolwich in the County of Kent
3    Victualler being in bodily health and of sound mind memory and
4    understanding praised be God for the same Calling to mind the
5    certainty of death and considering the uncertainty of the time thereof
6    and for preventing disputes and controversies after my decease do
7    make publish and declare this to be and contain my last Will and
8    Testament in manner following that is to say First and principally
9    I command my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator
10    hoping through the Meritts death and passion of his Son my
11    Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain full and free pardon and forgiveness of
12    all my Sins and to Inherit Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven my
13    body I commit to the Earth to be decently Interred at the discretion of
14    my Executor and Executrix herein after named and as for and and
15    concerning such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless
16    Me I give devise and bequeath the same in manner and form following
17    that is to say First my Will and mind is that all and every my Just
18    Debts and Funeral Expences be paid satisfied and discharged Item I
19    give and bequeath and devise all those my Freeholds Messuages or
20    Tenements Lands and hereditaments thereunto belonging as the same
21    are Situate lying and being in the town and parish of Woolwich
22    aforesaid and in the several tenures or occupations of Robert Cavell
23    and John Rickes their undertenants or assigns unto my Loving Sons
24    in Law William Hussey and Thomas Hussey their heirs and assigns
25    for ever to be equally divided between them share and share alike or to
26    the Survivor of them his heirs and assigns for ever In case either of
27    them shall decease before he attain the age of one and twenty years and
28    my will and mind is that my Loving Wife hereafter named shall receive
29    the rents Issues and Profitts of my said Messuages or Tenements Lands
30    snd hereditaments until my said Sons shall attain their respective
31    age or ages of one and twenty years and apply the same from time to
32    time for and towards the Educating Maintaining and training up of
33    my Sons aforesaid until such that that they shall attain their respective
34    age or ages of one and twenty years Item the overplus rest residue
35    and remainder of all and Singular my Goods household goods title
36    ready money securitys for money and all other my Estate whatsoever
37    and wheresoever and of what Nature find or Quality soever I give
38    and bequeath the same unto my dear and Loving wife Mary Blake
39    for and during the term of her Natural Life and do direct that
40    immediately after my decease an Inventory of all and every my personal
41    Estate may be had and made that the same may be applied to the
42    purpose of this my Will that is to say That from and after the
43    decease of my said wife I give and bequeath the rest and residue of
44    m personal estate whatsoever (at the time of my decease) unto my
45    Sons in law Jonas Hussey William Hussey and Thomas Hussey to
46    be equally divided between them Share and Share alike and I do
47    hereby nominate and appoint my said dear and Loving Wife
48    Mary Blake and my Loving Brother in Law William Reynolds
49    Citizen and Vintner or London joynt Executor and Executrix of this
50    my last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke disannull
51    and make void all former and other Wills and Testaments by me
52    at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to stand and
53    be for and as my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof to
54    this my said last Will and Testament I have sett my hand and
55    Seal this third day of October in the eleventh Year of the Reign of
56    our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of
57    Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the Faith
58    and so forth and in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven
59    hundred and thirty Seven Paul Blake Signed sealed published
60    and declared in the presence of us who have subscribed our
61    names as Witnesses hereto in the presence of the Testator Mary
62    Barnard Jno Barnard his Clerk K Barnard Attorney at Woolwich
63    This Will was proved at London the twenty third
64    day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
65    and Forty Before the Worshipfull Robert Chapman doctor of
66    Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful John Bettesworth doctor
67    of Laws Master keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court
68    of Canterbury lawfully constituted By the Oaths of Mary Blake
69    Widow the Relict and William Reynolds the Executors in the said
70    Will named to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular
71    the Goods Chattells and Creditts of the said deceased being Sworn
72    duly to Administer

Friday, December 13, 2019

Session 1 Physio therapy and Osteo-arthritis

Physio cancelled today, the therapist was out sick.

I am using the walker outside all the time now. My progress is slow but steady. At home I am now walking down the stairs two feet on each step (and up). That is real progress for me as I was pulling myself up the stairs backwards. Fortunately with all my weight lifting that worked out quite well.

I am looking at Revitive Ultrasound for the osteo-arthritis. The reviews are good and this would perhaps help me with my exercise routines. Treatment at the beginning and end of each exercise period might just be what my old joints need! I do not really like to give up my running and other active exercises. The biking is perhaps the gentlest although I haven't done any of these exercises now for a week. I think I am having exercise restriction feelings but the time will come I am sure when I am back running, biking and other leg exercises.

I shall chat with the physiotherapist about using ultrasound as a home care.

My first physio therapy session will be tomorrow. I am progressing not too badly. I am still using the walker but at home I am now managing without a cane. I am still doing the stairs two feet at a time just to keep weight off of my left knee. I can stand for an hour which is great news as I really do like standing and walking about! Still no biking or running but doing calisthenics where there is no weight bearing on the left leg. 

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Will of Martin Blake, Sevenoaks, Kent - The National Archives PROB 11/923/368, probated 16 Oct 1767

The testator, Martin Blake, may be mentioned in 190 records on Find My Past. They are not all the same person. I did find a marriage of Martin Blake to Elizabeth Gatter 16 Feb 1685 at Newington St Mary, Surrey. But this would appear to be too early for this Martin Blake. A burial record for a Martin Blake 15 Oct 1767 may be him. Martin Blake Esquire buried 15 Oct 1767 at St John Southwark, Horsleydown, Surrey.

Martin Thomlinson Blake was perhaps baptized 24 Nov 1753 at St Olave Hart Street, London, England son of Martin and Eliz Blake. A will for a Martin Thomlinson Blake, Gent, Clifton Gloucestershire was probated 22 Apr 1777. He would have been just 24 years of age if this is the correct Martin Blake.

His will has been blogged earlier:

https://kippeeb.blogspot.com/2014/05/will-of-martin-thomlinson-blake-gent.html

I was not able to discover if Martin Blake was descendant of the Somerset Blake family or one of the Irish Blake families. The areas in which this family appears to have lived looking at the few records available tended to be locations where the well to do frequented in this time frame. It may only be coincidence but one of the lawyers mentioned in the will, John French Lynch, does have an Irish surname. I did check out the database that I have for the Galway Blake family but did not particularly find a Martin Blake that might fit in. There are many many Martin Blakes in the Galway Blake family.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 8 Dec 2019
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/932/368
Testator: Martin Blake
Place: Sevenoaks, Kent
Type of Record:    Will
Date of document: 29 Jul 1767, probated 16 Oct 1767

[Margin]: Martin Blake Esquire

1    I Martin Blake of Seven Oaks
2    in the County of Kent Esquire being of sound Mind Memory
3    and Understanding do make this my last Will and Testament in
4    manner following (that is to say) I give devise and bequeath
5    all my plantation Messuages Lands Tenements Negroe Slaves
6    Hereditaments Cattle and Stock both Quick and dead with
7    their and every of their appurtenances in the parish of
8    Parkham and Willoughby Bay or elsewhere in the Island of
9    Antigua (Subject nevertheless to the several Trusts created by
10    a Term of Five hundred years comprised in a certain
11    Indenture of demise bearing date on or about the Twenty
12    fifth day of October one thousand seven hundred and sixty
13    Three and from and after the said several Trusts shall be
14    fully answered and satisfied) To and to the use of my second
15    son Martin Tomlinson Blake for and during the Term of
16    his natural Life and from and after the determination of that
17    estate Then to the use of John French Lynch of Grays Inn
18    in the County of Middlesex Esquire and John Smith of
19    Princes Street in the City of London Merchant and Mariner
20    and their heirs during the Life of my said son Martin
21    Tomlinson Blake In Trust to preserve the contingent
22    remains as hereinafter limited from being defeated or
23    destroyed but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Martin
24    Tomlinson Blake In Trust to preserve the counting out
25    remainders hereinafter limited from being defeated or
26    destroyed but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Martin
27    Tomlinson Blake to receive the Rents Issues and profits of
28    the said Plantation Lands Tenements and hereditaments for
29    and during his natural Life and from and after the decease
30    of the said Martin Tomlinson Blake To the first and other
31    son and sons of the Body of my said Son Martin Tomlinson
32    Blake lawfully to be begotten successively according to their
33    seniority and the heirs of the respective Bodies of such Son
34    and Sons lawfully Issuing and in default of such Issue Then to and to
35    the use of my daughters Jane Blake and Sarah Town Blake
36    to be equally divided between them share and share alike to
37    take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the
38    several heirs of the Body and Bodies of my said two
39    daughters respectively issuing and if either of my said daughters
40    shall die without Issue then as to the Share of her so dying
41    then to and to The Survivor of them and their heirs of the Body and in default of such Issue
42    to and for the use of my own Right heirs for ever and I
43    do hereby Impower my said Son Martin Tomlinson Blake
44    when and as he shall be in possession of my said plantation
45    and Estates in the said Island of Antigua under and by virtue
46    of the Limitations aforesaid by any deed or deeds writing or`
47    writings under his hand and seal attested by two or more
48    credible Witnesses to Grant settle Limit or Appoint any part or
49    parts of my said Plantation Lands Tenements and
50    Hereditaments not exceeding in the whole the yearly Sum of
51    four hundred pounds Sterling money of Great Britain unto
52    or In Trust for or to the use of any Woman or Women with
53    whom he shall happen to Marry (either before or after such
54    marriage) for the Life or Lives of such Woman or Women for
55    her or their Jointure or Jointures or in part of Jointure and
56    also to charge the said plantation Lands Tenements
57    Hereditaments and Premisses with any sum or sums of money
58    not exceeding in the whole the Sum of four thousand pounds
59    of like lawful money for younger Childrens Fortunes or portions
60    in such Shares and proportions manner and Form as he my said
61    son Martin Tomlinson Blake shall think proper And Subject
62    also to the said Terms of Five hundred years I do hereby subject
63    and charge my said plantation Messuages Lands Tenements
64    Hereditaments and Premisses with the clear yearly sum of
65    two hundred pounds of like lawful money to be paid to my
66    eldest son John Blake or his assigns for and during the
67    term of his natural Life to be paid to him by four Equal
68    Quarterly payments in the year and it is my Will and
69    desire that my Wife shall have all her Negroes and Slaves
70    which were her property before her Marriage and the Issue
71    and Increase of the Females of such Slaves and as to all
72    my plantation Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever
73    I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto
74    my loving wife Elizabeth Blake her Executors Administrators
75    and Assigns and I do hereby make ordain constitute and
76    appoint my said Wife sole Executrix of this my last Will and
77    Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will
78    and Testament set my hand and Seal this Twenty ninth day
79    of July in the seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign
80    Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain
81    France and Ireland King defender of the Faith etc and in
82    the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty
83    seven Martin Blake Signed sealed published and
84    declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and
85    Testament in the presence of us who in the sight and
86    presence and in the presence of each other and at his request
87    have set and subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto
88    Barlow Trecothick Richd Maitland Thurston Blackman
89    this Will was proved at London the sixteenth
90    day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
91    hundred and sixty seven before the Right Worshipfull George
92    Hay doctor of Laws Master keeper or Commissary of the
93    Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the
94    oath of Elizabeth Blake widow the Relict of the deceased
95    and sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Admon
96    was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits
97    of the said deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to ad[min]ster

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Osteo-arthritis

I have been bothered this past week with a knee that doesn't want to work with me. X-rays revealed mild osteo-arthritis. I am relieved to hear the mild that is for sure; at 74 not having medium or severe osteo-arthritis given that I have osteoporosis is good news. Both my parents had arthritis (and my grandparents) so I did not really expect to escape that particular ailment.

I think I will blog my progress just as a reminder to me.

In September I fell and banged my knee unfortunately breaking the skin and giving me a scar of about 5 centimetre diameter (2 inches). We were pretty busy working away gardening at that time and I can not say that I noticed it bothering me particularly other than the knee being very sore. The surface soreness on the knee disappeared after about two months (fortunately as I need to kneel on it now!). I continued to do my morning and evening exercises plus we were busy gardening or having a longish walk.

Perhaps two weeks ago I started noticing when I was doing my afternoon treadmill exercise (added after gardening was ended) that my knee was uncomfortable behind the knee cap.  Then a few days of Christmas shopping and my usual exercise and my knee did not want to hold me up this one morning (and it was very sore) when we had yet another busy day including a luncheon with friends which we missed unfortunately. I rested the knee solidly for four days not putting any weight on it other than what was necessitated but always using the walker and the cane 100% of the time.

Visited the doctor on Monday and I was sure that I did not break anything and pretty much verified that with the visit and the x-ray. The strain though is still there but not so bad; I can stand without an assist now. However, I am continuing to walk with the cane and walker and will start physio on Friday just in terms of looking at the consult. I am giving it a good rest although it is amazing how many of the calisthenic exercises I can still do that I like!

Next issue of my osteo blog will be my Friday physio. I do a lot of exercise for a 74 year old and perhaps it has become too much when we also go for a walk.

I do miss my exercises though and will be glad to get back to them or a perhaps modified exercise plan. Physio should help with managing my health care and recovery. Last time (2004-5) when I tore the rotator cuff I had physio and carefully practised all those exercises for five years and it completely healed. At least I believe it did I have only ever had one MRI to show the torn rotator cuff!


My Exercise Schedule

Morning Exercise (10:00 a.m.)
15 min walk
20 min biking
15 min run on the spot
1 min jumping jacks
1.5 min plank

Afternoon Exercise (4:00 p.m.)
Treadmill (15 min) and Walk at the Mall
Calisthenics:
Squats 30
Side squats 30
Arm rotation (both at once) forwards 15 backwards 15
Single Arm rotation forwards 15 backwards 15
Partial situps 60 (arms at side)
Leg fling 40
Reclining bicycle 100
Leg raises 40 each
Legs to side folded 40 each
Shoulder stand (2 min, 1 min rotate feet around ankle, left then right)
Halasana (Reclining shoulder stand feet behind) (count of 30)
Halasana (Reclining shoulder stand), knees to ears (count of 30)
Pose of Tranquility (count of 30)
Stand up using only one hand

Evening Exercise (8:00 p.m.)
Lift weights (3 lb) – five sets of six exercises (12 minutes)
Run on spot 45 minutes

Monday, December 9, 2019

Military spending

Just working away on another Blake will (John Blake, Clerk, HMS Britannia, 1847) and was searching out the name of the Commander as it is a mite hard to read  - looks like H W Karsham - and found this neat image.


 


This was HMS Britannia entering Devonport, Devon in the 1840s. John Blake was a Clerk on this ship.

Possibly one of the biggest highlights for me touring in England was the port at Plymouth. We took a boat tour and saw so many ships of the line.We were actually at Plymouth several times overall in our trips to England.

In Canada we could build a lot more ships; we have huge oceans all around us – Atlantic, Pacific and the Arctic. Long before President Trump wanted us to spend 2% I wanted us to spend 4 or 5% of our GDP on the military years ago! Fundamentally, we can not do without an effective military. We live along a river that floods most springs although at 10 metres above the water we are not likely to be swamped but others are swamped. We just need the military (army, navy, and airforce) for so many domestic hurdles. The Arctic is huge and we should have bases up there.