Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Intrusions
When I was shooting pictures in Soho on Sunday, I twice had bicyclists ride into my frame at the moment I snapped the shutter. It's OK -- it's not their fault, after all, just an accident of timing. I guess it gives an accurate impression of how busy the streets were.
I got a flu shot yesterday -- woo hoo! I got it through work, and I wish they offered a Covid booster too but alas they do not. I haven't suffered any ill-effects.
I had a doctor's appointment in the late afternoon, to get a referral letter to see a gastroenterologist again. I am doing my best to get to the bottom of my gut discomfort (and fatigue and related issues). Many of you have given me hints about probiotics and that kind of thing, and I appreciate all the feedback. But I still feel like I need answers about the cause of my elevated levels of inflammation, you know? We shall see.
Then, in the evening, I had a zoom call with a lawyer in the states in my continuing effort to create some kind of will or trust so if I drop dead tomorrow, all my vast wealth (ha!) doesn't get tied up in probate. This is also an ongoing process that I've been working on for months. Dreary, but necessary.
Olga is doing well and went out with her dog-walker yesterday for the first time since her "episode" a week ago. The dog-walker texted me afterwards: "She did pretty well, slow and steady, bless her! No sign of discomfort." She ate well last night, and this morning she's bright-eyed and chipper. So I guess we're back to our routines.
"...get to the bottom of my gut discomfort" - that is such a good pun Steve! "Bottom" - geddit? Seriously though, I hope you get a clear explanation soon. Bloody cyclists!
ReplyDeleteI can always hear the cyclists coming and I'm all tense, trying to get a clear shot before they arrive!
DeleteYes. Of course you want to find the source of your discomfort. Good for you for persisting and I'm glad that Olga is back to being her old self.
ReplyDeleteI just think it's weird to have such a consistently abnormal test.
DeleteOlga's on the upswing, now it's your turn!
ReplyDeleteYes! That's my plan!
DeleteI probably shot the anti-Brexit protest I saw in Westminster a dozen times because of bicycles or other distractions! It happens! (And then the light changed and the traffic came . . . ) So glad Olga is going well, and I agree -- the cause of all this is essential. Keep at it. Rick and I did the trust thing about 10 years ago and it's time to review it, now that the kids are older and more responsible!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's shooting in London, for sure. I'm always trying to work around traffic and catch pedestrians in just the right pose or position.
DeleteI'm glad Olga is well again, tough old puppy. And I agree, find out the cause before applying remedies, which might mask symptoms instead of addressing them. Even if the gastro suggests you research non alcoholic martinis..
ReplyDeleteLord, no! Seriously, my martini intake is so infrequent that I don't see how that could be part of the problem, but I plan to ask about alcohol.
DeleteI forgot to say that top photo is five star, a keeper, composition, color, movement, the lot.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Sometimes the intrusive bicyclist adds an element of interest!
DeleteAll is right with the world now that Olga is back to her old self!
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteI got my flu and covid shot a few weeks ago, the day before my daughter came up sick with the flu. I did end up with a mild case of the flu five days later that made me feel achy for a day but I consider myself lucky. My daughter missed four days of school and had ALL the symptoms of flu.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, I'd say you definitely got lucky. It's a rare flu that only lasts a day!
DeleteI love that second photo. Is it a functioning phone box (!) or just one repurposed into artwork? So glad Olga is back to normal. Hope you will be soon, too.
ReplyDeleteA lot of phone boxes in London are empty, usually the old red ones that are maintained for historical purposes. This is a newer one so maybe it has an actual phone in it -- I didn't look!
DeleteSo glad to hear that Olga is feeling better. One worry done!
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteGood news about Olga. I'm so glad she's feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI bet those St. James residences are on the pricey side.
Yeah, I can't even imagine how much an apartment in Soho would cost. I bet they're tiny.
Deleteyay for Olga. we have wills we did maybe 6 years ago. they are simple, whoever doesn't go first gets it all, when the survivor goes the two kids get it all. I've been thinking about updating mine with specific bequests but haven't done it yet. mostly in case Marc predeceases me.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much how ours will work, with a few specific exceptions.
DeleteOlga out with the dog walker is the news I need today. Thanks Steve!
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
Normalcy is a beautiful thing, right?
DeleteOlga is remarkable, long may it last.
ReplyDeleteShe really is. She's a survivor.
DeleteMy other comment didn't appear, cue eerie music...
ReplyDeleteI found it in spam, of course!
DeleteNagging health issues that continue are worrisome. I hope they find out if anything is amiss.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed! Hopefully NOTHING is too much amiss, but if there is something wrong I want them to notice it sooner rather than later.
DeleteI hope you find out what's "behind" your discomfort. I'm having problems, too, and have gotten more than one answer. I don't know who's right. Good to know that Olga is better.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
It's always frustrating dealing with doctors because everyone has their own opinion!
DeleteSweet Olga getting back to herself is great to hear.
ReplyDeleteWills and trusts are important documents. If you own a property and want it to pass on to someone without going through probate, a "life estate" works well too.
I also believe it is good to get to the bottom of any health concern. The cause of inflammation is difficult to pinpoint. Testing for c-reactive protein can be revealing.
Fortunately we don't own real estate, so that makes things simpler, but even liquid assets require a lot of planning.
DeleteI avoid zoom calls as I don't like seeing my face on a screen. Do you feel it gives you a sense of a better connection with the person you are talking to?
ReplyDeleteThe phone box looks rather manic.
I think it helps to see the person, especially when it's a business relationship being conducted transatlantically!
DeleteI have done our own wills and trusts and such for years. If you go to a lawyer, you're just looking at a big bill for something you can do yourself. Guess what? You can find books that will lead you through it in . . . . A LIBRARY!
ReplyDeleteI feel like something professionally executed is less likely to be challenged, but maybe I'm wrong.
DeleteGood job Olga! We priced a trust, and decided that there was no way we were paying that much money. JIm's Mom had one, and it did make the passing of the estate easy. We talked to an elder lawyer, who I think was a con man, and decided that we would not be doing that.
ReplyDeleteHa! I'm dealing with an elder lawyer too. It's not cheap but at least it's pretty much a one-time thing (unless circumstances dictate changes in the future).
DeleteYay for Olga! I would want to get to the bottom of the health stuff too. I would hate not knowing the reasons for my symptoms. I had a lawyer draw up my will, just to make sure it was done correctly. It's not something that happens frequently so the peace of mind was worth the price.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's how I feel -- I can pay a pro to do it once time and know that it's been done right.
DeleteI'm so glad to hear Olga is feeling better and going for walks again.
ReplyDeleteShe is back to her old self!
DeleteI hope you can get some answers regarding your gut. Not a fan of the phone box art. Is it really still a phone box?
ReplyDeleteI didn't look to see if a phone was in it, but usually if there's no phone and it's a box of that vintage it will be removed.
Delete