My memory is not all that! & Other things

Fair to say, since the stroke, I have some difficulty remembering certain things & my decision making ability is all to cock! Where I'm supposed to be (Diary) is one of those things, numbers & sequences is another! But them together, and it's a recipe for disaster. I do ok though, don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining. I've made a few boo, boo's. Nothing catastrophic. Going out as the sun was setting on a 30 mile ride, was not my best decision. Especially as I got my first puncture, coming down a gravelly hill at > 30MPH in the dark. That was scarey, I can tell you. Clearly, cycle lights are for others to see you, not for you to see the road (note to self - invest in a better set of lights)! Cycling in the dark is pants! Can't see diddly! All car drivers try to blind you deliberately so that you will fall off into a ditch! Can't see potholes/nocturnal animals etc - it's a lottery!

So how is the cycling going? Well I'm out regularly (not as regularly as I would like, but I have others to consider)! I've entered a few events this year - New Forest Spring Sportive, London Bridges ride, L2B, culminating in the Etape Hibernia in August; 82 miles round the West coast of Ireland on closed roads, should be fantastic. I have enterd this with my erstwhile cycling pardner brother Chris. This will include a long weekend in Ireland close to our roots (Ennis, Co Claire). I might do the Wild Edric (Shropshire) as well - no Chris as he will be on Holiday with his daughter (21), if he can stop spending his money?

Well, at last I've been informed that I will be offered closure of my PFO. Hopefully, this will be the end eventually of the drugs (reduced risk of further strokes). No more beta blockers which might improve my climbing ability (no not rock climbing - cycling)? No more Anti-coagulants (eventually), which will mean reduced bruises from things that go bump in the night? Maybe no more headaches (migraines)?? There is a link to PFO closure and reduced frequency/intensity of migraines?? Bring it on. There's nothing worse than having hangover symptoms when you haven't had a drink!! The other benifit, is increased energy. To all of you who thought I was a lazy twat! No. It's the PFO, it makes you soooooo weary & TATT (Tired all the time). all that deoxygenated blood pumping into the brain and other places. = No bloody energy. I'll have a new lease of life (hopefully)!!

Well this should all happen in the next 2 months - crazy times but can't wait. I'll fill you in!