For the Love of Textiles

Today is 'KoningsDag', or in English: 'King'sDay'. There are free flea markets all over the Netherlands. Amsterdam has several. Everybody is selling the stuff they don't want to have anymore. Items bought will travel from North to South and from East to West. A few markets are round the house were we live. This morning I decided to try to walk instead of cycling. My hernia isn't gone, but it goes better. Next to physiotherapy twice a week, I get acupuncture at a Chinese Medical Centre here in Amsterdam. I felt the need to do something extra for my body and mind. There is a difference appearing. This Saturday I will get Chinese Massage, because too much acupuncture isn't good for my body. Next to my hernia I have a chronical problems in my arm, shoulder and neck. The Chinese doctor told me that it will be fine at the end, but it needs time and treatments. I trust him, which is very important. But back to this morning. I to...

                                Yes, there is little progress.  It is not that I feel a big difference in my body, but some of my movements at the physiotherapist go better. Walking and standing for a few minutes is still hard to do. My right arm often hurts when I do too much, so this writing is done with my left hand. My neck and shoulders are also 'not very moveable', so they get a treatment too. Crack! I still take those heavy painkillers. But I am pleased with the progress. It feels that a big part of my body is 'letting me down' right now. STOP it says. Stop and listen, and do what I direct you. For me that is not an easy thing to do. But if I want to get better I need to listen. So I try to be a 'listener'. The last week that I worked I took the bicycle to get to the railwaystation. Cycling -strangly enough- didn't cause pain. But the walk from the bicycle park...

I type this post with my left hand. Last week my excellent physiotherapist discovered that my right elbow is suffering with the name: 'tennis-elbow'. His advice was to keep my arm calm. Therefor: No knitting! (Bye bye scarf, yarns and needles) Beware of using your mobile and tablet too much. (my contact to the world) Write as little as possible with pen or pencil. (that very little movement gives a big reaction in your elbow). My hernia is situated between L4 and L5 and below that there is something probably not well either. My whole left leg is very painful when I walk.  It will be alright said my physiotherapist, who, by the way is a very handsome man and that makes a difference when he is doing very painful movement with my body (breathe in, breathe out is my mantra at such moments!). But it needs time and treatment. And many taxi's to get to the hernia centre at Westerdok (€20,- one way!) And painkillers. I don't have a probl...