I know for someone who’s had a broken back I’ve been very lucky but in August, 2004, having not worked out for at least a couple of years and packing on several additional kilos of flab, my continued neglect finally caught up with a vengeance. My back gave out. Three months bed rest and a further six months forced to work on my stomach gave a lesson not to be forgotten. Even then months more therapy, yoga, and light exercise (and two further relapses) were necessary before I reached the point where I could start regular physical workouts. By January, 2006 I was ready for light weights, a couple of kilometers jog trussed up like a turkey, more yoga and, of course, a weekly session of swimming. Now, as the result of my local pool closing for five weeks, I’ve joined a masters swimming club. While I first only sought to learn proper butterfly and to master the new backstroke turn it’s developed into a six year challenge to see just how far I can go in today’s world of competitive swimming (well…the not-so-very-competitive world of masters swimming). If you’re interested follow along.
A few words of explanation to those readers who may have noted my posts seem to be held back a few days before being published. You’re absolutely right, they are indeed delayed. My problem is I’m not a particularly good writer. What I really am is a voracious reader, and after decades of reading I can recognize good writing when I see it. So to me the solution is obvious – I read and reread my writing making changes as I go until it ‘reads’ as at least adequate prose. Editing one’s own work, however, is difficult and time consuming. I hope you’ll understand.