Back On The Bike

Posted on April 16, 2012 by

Its been a month since my last post and for those of you more interested in bike things rather than medical things this is good news. I’ll just stick to bike news. Even I am fed up with medical stuff. Yesterday was my third outing on my old bike. It was cold and windy but with Mrs G to my rear and Fi Packham up front I felt protected – can one have wing women? There are inevitable aches and pains but I can genuinely say I am chuffed to be back on the bike. I was worried I would react negatively to throwing my leg over the old steed for the first time or pull up when faced with my first real hill but no, it felt, well, right. I was and still am a little cautious going down hill but that’s no bad thing and I am more aware of the road surface and obstacles, pot-holes and anything that will make the bike slide. I’m actually finding it hard to take it easy!

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Posted in Uncategorized, Training, clipless pedals, Bicycle crash, Bicycle injury, Convalescence | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Back To Normal?

Posted on March 11, 2012 by

After the conference and my week of pain killer cold turkey the intention was to ease my self back into the work routine. It didn’t happen. Well, the easing bit didn’t. I have found that when you are back you are back. The diary fills up with meetings that should have happened months ago. Work have been great but the work still needs to be done, oh and the Olympics is less than six months away. I started coming in on the train, a little later to avoid the rush hour and get a seat, and getting cabs in London. Within a week I was back travelling in rush hour and was using the tubes. I started off with two crutches but to be  honest it was more difficult getting around. For example, getting tickets out to get through the gates at railway and tube stations was a real chore and in rush hour folks are less than chuffed when I have to stop and lean both crutches on the gate whilst I reach for my ticket, put in the slot then shuffle through. Which is why using one crutch is easier and people still know to give me a bit of space.

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Posted in Uncategorized, Ride Across Britain, Deloitte Ride Across Britain, London 2012, Bicycle crash, Hospital, Bicycle injury, Convalescence | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

#Kony2012

Posted on March 9, 2012 by

Bit of a break (no pun intended) from the recovery marathon and on to something more immediate. Or is it? I am talking about the global viral phenomenon that is  the Kony 2012 video. In a matter of days this video has been viewed by over 50 million people and is rising exponentially as I write this. It has been driven by the power of social media and the video is posted every minute on Facebook  and Twitter – or so it appears on my feeds. Kids are coming home from school  having been encouraged to take notice. So this is great, right? An evil man is getting the unwanted attention he deserves and, we trust, will be brought to justice. This, like the Arab Spring, demonstrates the power of social media to energise people and bring down the evil and corrupt surely? Well, yes and no.

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Olympic Torch Shuffle

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

I’m going to be an Olympic Torchbearer! Yes, that’s right, I’m going to be one of the lucky 8,000 people who will help carry the Olympic torch on a small part of its journey from Lands End all around the country arriving at the Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony on the evening of 27th July. How amazing is that? I am chuffed, excited, honoured, humbled and, to be honest, shocked – obviously in a good way. I certainly never saw this coming. So how on earth did I end up with this once in a lifetime honour?

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Posted in Bicycle crash, Bicycle injury, Convalescence, Deloitte Ride Across Britain, London 2012, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Conference

Posted on February 19, 2012 by

Adecco’s annual conference is a big glitzy (and boozy) affair. Following the accident, my boss had been really encouraging and had said it would be great if I could not only make the conference but present as well. This is, after all, the last time the whole company gets together before the Olympics and I really wanted the chance to set out what we have achieved over the last three years and what we have lined up for this, Olympic year. So it was with a mixture of excitement and trepidation that I got in the cab with my wheelchair to head up to the Novotel, Hammersmith for three days and nights.

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Posted in Uncategorized, London 2012, Bicycle crash, Bicycle injury, Convalescence | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Drugs Part 2 – The Revenge

Posted on February 6, 2012 by

In previous posts I have written about my relationship with drugs during my convalescence. The medical profession, I have discovered, are more keen on them than I had thought. Pain management is what they tell us it’s all about but I can’t help believe that they are also useful in keeping us patients quiet (and keeping the pharmaceutical industry going). I may be doing them a disservice but my experience has had its highs and lows so to speak and I have had contradictory advice as well as no advice at all. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful they have been made available to me but the last week has been a perfect example of where I needed a little more help and guidance.

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Posted in Bicycle crash, Bicycle injury, Convalescence, Hospital, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Back On My Feet

Posted on February 5, 2012 by

After spending what seems an age being bed-ridden, inactive, pushed around (in the nicest possible way) and generally feeling the world was passing me by at a snails pace, recently things have really changed. And yesterday, after getting a cab back from the three day Adecco annual conference in Hammersmith, I got out of the cab, stood up, ignored the wheelchair the cab driver had got from the boot and walked to my front door, knocked and to the amazement of my Mum and Dad (who are staying whilst Karen is also way at a conference) walked through the door. It’s hard to explain without sounding like a sentimental old fool, how emotional that moment was.

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Posted in Uncategorized, London 2012, Bicycle crash, Hospital, Bicycle injury, Convalescence | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ride Across Britain Photos – Best of the Rest

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

The Adecco team proudly sporting the Parlaympics GB jerseys we were presented with by Tim Reddish (Chairman Paralympics GB) and Danny Crates (Paralympian and Gold Medal winner) centre.

Chris! I just realised.  You’re wearing tights!

I have had a request for more photos of RAB - I know, for most of you it’s a bit like inviting someone around to look at their holiday photos – but at least you have the option of ignoring this rather than sat politely around the dining table drinking the Moldovan wine your friends brought back from their dream holiday and pretend to be captivated by the 14th shot of their delightful children in matching swimwear. And it beats pictures of X-rays! Of course, there is another more personal or selfish reason for indulging in nostalgia – I am reminded of happier days fitness wise so it’s also an incentive to get back to being bike fit because, despite the discomfort and pain, I loved it and would do it again at the drop of a hat.

Anyway, hopefully the following will give you a flavour of the event and perhaps even the inspiration to take part next year – it’s going the proper way (Lands End to John O’Groats) and accommodation will be a mix of student digs with a little bit of camping! Oh, and it takes place in September so guaranteed good weather!! You can sign up  at www.rideacrossbritain.com

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Posted in Uncategorized, Organised Rides, Ride Across Britain, Deloitte Ride Across Britain, Convalescence | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recovery Phase 3

Posted on January 18, 2012 by

It genuinely feels like I have entered a new phase in my recovery. If the hospital stay was phase 1, return home phase 2 the last few days have seen a number of step-changes and improvements. Within the last week I have seen the friendly Mr Ricketts, my shoulder surgeon, who now no longer wants to see me for six months, had my first “real” physiotherapy session and made it to work for a day , and it transpired, an evening.

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Posted in Uncategorized, London 2012, Bicycle crash, Hospital, Bicycle injury, Convalescence | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Random Thoughts

Posted on January 5, 2012 by

Olympic Year - it is with excitement, anticipation and frustration the start of 2012 has Welcomed. This year will be the culmination of a huge amount of hard work for everyone involved in London 2012 including me and my colleagues. It is therefore ironic and a little Irksome to start the year an invalid. On the positive side, I really do have an insight into the extraordinary athletes that compete in the Paralympic Games and what they have to go through to achieve world class sporting excellence. I have only recently borrowed a wheelchair with large wheels that I can use to propel myself rather that rely on others to push me around. I have only just learned to get from one room to another. Watching athletes wheel themselves around a track or manoeuvre around a basketball court whilst passing a ball is a revelation. Whilst I was disappointed not to get tickets for my family at the Olympics I am chuffed that we have tickets for a Paralympic athletics session.

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Posted in Bicycle crash, Bicycle injury, Convalescence, Hospital, London 2012, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments