Moving, by train!
Marguerita collected me last week and drove me to Peterborough. It took quite a while to leave the hotel. I had been there for 4 1/2 weeks and so I had got to know the staff very well. There were hugs from many of them, and good wishes from all. I had left large boxes of Ferroro Rocher for them as a thank you.
I managed to walk out to Marguerita's car with my pack securely strapped on my back - slowly, and carefully. The first time it had been properly worn for 6 weeks!
I was impressed with Peterborough, though I was restricted with how much I could see. My hotel was about 500 metres from the city centre, and a little further to the Cathedral. Each day I walked into town, had a rest (cafes are great for that), then walked back, a different way, and put my foot up for the afternoon.
On my first day we walked into the Cathedral. I was really ignorant of the history of this magnificent building, but Marguerita was more knowledgeable than me. She promptly set off looking for the old graffiti, which seemed to be everywhere - much with dates in the 16 and 1700's.
What I didn't know was that this was where Katherine of Aragon was buried. Apparently she had wished to be buried in Westminster, but that was politically incorrect at the time and so Peterborough Cathedral was chosen as the most appropriate place to bury a former queen. I learnt, on a subsequent visit that there are often gifts of pomegranates, her symbol, left at her tomb.
The Cathedral has an extraordinary roof, or I should say, ceiling. It is very ornate with intricate paintings included in different panels. Some years ago an unworked tapestry panel of the roof had been donated. Volunteers began stitching the intricate panel just over 5 years ago, interrupted by Covid, and 8 feet have been completed, with about 4 feet to go! The first time we saw it being worked there was only one man stitching, but several days later there was a team of 4 busy stitching. One of the team is going to Adelaide for a holiday in April, and then emigrating there a year later. A small world!
On the Sunday I decided that I would go to church. I found a Methodist church nearby and headed there. It was a very small, older congregation, and when I saw that no-one was sitting at the piano I put my hand up. I was very pleased - six weeks after breaking my wrist I was able to play, AND I could use my foot on the pedal too!
The surgeon told me that I could wean myself off the walking frame (we had polite words on that one - I suggested my walking poles were as effective as the frame!). He also told me to wean myself off the moon boot and arm splint. It didn't take long to stop using the boot, as I felt safer with shoes than the unevenness of the boot and shoe, and I am just continuing using the arm splint as a protection when I am using my poles.
I have left Peterborough, and made my way to Leicester, a delightful town. But more on that next post.
Things are going well.
Great to see you up and about Janet👍 and things are returning to normal -
ReplyDeletewith playing the piano no less.
I’m sure the congregation would have been very happy and pleased to hear you play in their church service as much as you were, to experience your strength and skills in your wrist again😉
What do those doctors know!
They only have to hear a snippet of your life story to wonder at your ability to push yourself and know your own capabilities.
Keep on keeping on and have a coffee for me at your next stop.😘
Nice work! Back to freedom to go places....ahhh.....watch out!! 👍🙏
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