With a little help from my friends...

 ...with apologies to The Beatles. And here I learned something today. I always thought that Joe Cocker was the original artist. 

Mmmm

We live and learn.

Good morning to my Blogger friends. Back to my injury before my holiday.  

The day I fell and was taken to the doctor, had X-rays and back to the doctor who arranged surgery in the city later that day, the Easter weekend was looming. And with me, long weekends (in fact, any weekend) I have holiday guests. In fact, I regulary have weekly guests too.

This was the case at the time of my fall. I had guests leaving on Thursday morning and the next guests checking in at 14h00 that same day. While waiting in the back of John and Ron's car to be taken to the hospital, I contacted my friend, Shelley. She and her husband own a large hotel. She also owns private holiday accommodation on the same estate where Grant and I lived before his death.  Even as I asked her if she could absorb my guests, I knew what the answer would be. It was the Easter long weekend, the middle of school holidays. Of course, there was no accommodation available in the Valley. 

While chatting, Shelley suddenly suggested that she could go and clean The Bunker and prepare it for the incoming guests. Can you BELIEVE that I have friends like this? Thanking her, I asked Ron to collect my holiday bags which I use to carry clean linen, toiletries etc.  On the way out, we first stopped at the hotel, Shelley took the bag and told me to worry no more about my guests. I was to focus on getting my knee surgery done and rest afterwards. 

Phew, the mind boggles at the community I live in.

After surgery and resting well over the long weekend (I mentioned in a previous post how Ron and Janine looked after me), it was Tuesday. Every Tuesday I run Weigh-Less groups in town. A member from the Valley Group had offered to transport me so Patrys drove me to my meeting, my Group Assistant and her DIL and granddaughter set up the tables and posters and I on crutches, weighed each member privately in the anteroom. I always do a motivational talk which I did this day as well. 

Wednesdays I run four online groups. This I do from home.

On Thursday it was time for my Valley Weigh-Less group. Ronnie took me to the venue, and while I rested knee on another chair, my Group Assistant weighed the members and did the talk afterwards. Sharyn, my Valley GA is very engaged with our members.

This was the pattern for the month of April. My Weigh-Less Groups continued with my friends helping.

Meanwhile, members continued to lose weight. Members continued to reach goal weight.

A couple reached their respective goal weight at the same time. 

I was able to award their Goal Weight certificates. 

Ron continued to drive me and Thandi to our accommodation to clean and prepare.  My Winterton Group Assistant's DIL, Helen told Ron that she would also help. The next week Helen and Chloe collected me and Thandi and took us to The Bunker. 

Chloe and Thandi fold the fleece throw while Helen changes pillow cases

Once a week Ronnie drove me to the physio in town. The first week on the therapist's bed, I was able to bend knee 11° . A week later we were at 33°. Two weeks after the surgery, Ron took me to the doctor who removed the 12 clamps and bandaged my knee. He told me to continue using the brace and crutches to move around. He gave me a reprieve:  I could sleep without the brace if I promised not to toss and turn. 

By the fourth week at the physio, I was able to bend knee 90°! The therapist said she had never seen such determination! 

I used the brace and crutches religiously 

Using the Thera band along with several other home exercises from the therapist, I improved mobility dramatically

All along I motivated my members to continue on their Weigh-Less program. I emphasized that even without my normal daily workout, I was still able to keep healthy and NOT gain weight.  

And using my accident, I reminded them that losing weight could ONLY be good for your joints: hips, knees and ankles. 

Motivational posters which I shared online with my members while I was recovering

I rest my case...

I'm back!

 Dear Blogger friends. Once again, the monthend tasks in the farm office, with my Weigh-Less groups and admin,  and delivering, Avon,  has encroached on my writing time. At the same time, my Bunker occupancy has been solid and ongoing. 

Ron, my neighbor, landlady, employer, friend, Weigh-Less member and Avon client, has been at the Kruger Park. I have been in her office and mine every morning this week. 

On Wednesday, I had four online Weigh-Less groups, with members clocking in from all over the world, from 3am to facilitate our differing time zones. By 13h00 I did my talks online to motivate the members and encourage those who needed it. 

At 14h00,  the Chairman and founder of Weigh-Less, Mary Holroyd,  linked me on an hour's  video WhatsApp call with other the Group Leaders. It was good to touch base with the others and hear what our boss had to impart for the month of June. 

On Thursday Thandi and I cleaned The Bunker after Irish guests had spent two nights there. As we drove off, I said to Thandi in Zulu, there are no guests booked on the sites (I use the word computer so that she could understand) to arrive this weekend. She replied, never mind: they will phone you. 

Lo and behold, no sooner had I dropped Thandi at her taxi rank that a lady phoned me from the nearby town of Ladysmith. She said they were parents of a learner at the school in the Valley and could she book The Bunker. When Thandi arrived for work on Friday, I told her there were guests coming; she said I told you so! 

On Friday, before Thandi arrived for work though, I looked up from my desk and saw her daughter, Thombi in the doorway. She said her mother was caught up at the clinic, and she had sent her to help me.