Late on Friday (1st July) afternoon, my Mum picked me up and we went up the coast to Mum and Dad’s place in Paraparaumu. As usual, it was nice to be out of Cavit even for just the weekend, but the trip was different for three reasons.
Mum and Dad have a lot more room out there than in town so most of my stuff is out there. I had a look at my bike for the first time. Its frame was broken in two places and both wheels were buckled. I was quite surprised that I had collided with enough force to brake the frame but, as my sister said, the more energy my bike absorbed the less my head absorbed.
Saturday was quite calm (unusual, given how close Paraparaumu is to Wellington) and clear so my Mum and I went for a walk on the beach. I walked with my Zimmer frame and did my best not to look too old. I was a bit slower than I was before but we did close to a kilometre all up. I got tired with about 100m to go so we had to stop and sit on a log for a few minutes. That just gave us time to pick holes in the posture of other people walking by.
On Saturday we watched the All Blacks’ game with my Great Uncle Jack. For those of you who don’t know my Uncle Jack, he likes supporting the team he thinks will most upset the people there. He also doesn’t like supporting New Zealand. The Lions were an obvious team to support for him but it was good fun as he went quieter and quieter as the game wore on. The game was so enjoyable that I couldn’t leave and managed to last the whole thing without a rest.
Two more things happened before I wrote this that are worth writing about. I biked on an exer-cycle for the first time. The exer-cycle was the suggestion of a friend’s sister who came away with serious injuries in a car vs pedestrian accident a few years ago but is now extremely fit. I only did 10 minutes because I had to save energy to walk back and it was a far cry from my situation before the accident (I’ve lost all the fitness I ever had) but it was the start of the road back to fitness.
After I got back from the gym, I had my first unassisted walk with my physio, Sue, watching. It wasn’t very far but it was an important milestone. As my brother wrote in a text to me afterwards, bring on the next Ironman.
Cheers,
Mike
18 comments:
Horray for walks on the beach, watching the rugga on TV, doing a bit of cycling and walking without a zimmer frame!
You did all the things Kent and I are dreaming about doing when we come back! (maybe minus the zimmer frame!!)
Fab work Mike! Just so wicked! We are so excited about your progress!
We're glad you liked the MD! I hope some of the songs make you smile!! Rock on the Warehouse!!
See ya soon
xxx Amanda and Kent !
Hey Mike,
wow, your progress is just amazing - yay for walking on the beach, glad I wasn't walking past when you were checking out people's posture!
Go the All Blacks, i watched the match early morning at a pub, and followed up the day at the Live 8 concert in London, incredible day!
Anyway, keep up the good work, am sure you'll be walking unaided along that beach in no time!
love lucy
Mike,
I have a very good (but currently unpowered!) exercycle which you are very welcome to use. We could set it up either in Hill street or out here at the beach, when you're ready.
Ciao
David
I Mike
I read your update every couple of day's and have enjoyed hearing your progress (thank you to your family for keeping us in the loop). I am really pleased you are making such wonderfull progress and especailly like your last line re "Ironman". I did the March event under coach Olly and was shocked to hear of your accident, could not have happended to a nicer bloke. I look forward to the continued progress updates. Keep up the good work and will see you on the Iornman start line one year.
Regards
Sue
Ironman Camp 05
Mike, Family,
Tim 'the Toolman' Taylor here - hopefully you remember me from Epuni primary. I'm writing software now (I was always going to be a coputer geek) and work with Brook Powell (another Epuni-ite). We caught up with David Haines earlier today and he mentioned your accident, and that you had a blog.
So here I am 1/2 hour later, having read through your inspirational blog. While I've been reading it I've been thinking about the things I remember about you and your family. The most vivid memory of mine is us attempting to sellotape a gokart together in the vain hope that more tape == stronger mounting. Unfortunately the concept of tensile strength hadn't been introduced to me, and so it didnt last very long, only a few rolls down your driveway. I remember your mums sly smile as I kept asking for yet more tape! Yes, I was one of those obnoxious kids who terrorised the neighborhood looking for fun 'macgyver style' with the aid of paper clips, batteries and duct tape.
I remember that you were a very smart kid (there seems to be a clump of smart kids from Epuni around our age - hopefully I'm in that group - must be something in th waiwhetu stream ;) ), and it looks like you have grown up to be physically tough as well and its undoubtebly helped you in your recoveries.
My thoughts are with you and your family. I have subscribed to your blog. so keep the updates, PBs and economic theories flowing :D
Epuni Boys!
Tim.
(thetoolman@gmail.com)
Hey Mike it's Gareth here from HIBS. You a real inspiration and it's fantastic to read your updates. So glad to hear that you are doing better and better everyday and knowing you I'm sure you're pushing yourself all the way whilst that big smile is still showing on your face.
All the best mate
Gareth
Gidday Mike
Just a note to say thanks for the great coffee you made me at CAVITT yesterday. It was wonderful to sit and yarn with you about old times. Hope you weren't too tired afterwards - anyone who can endure my rantings for a whole hour deserves a good rest I reckon. I'll bring over those CDs sometime tomorrow, will text you beforehand.
cheers
Dave H
Hello, Mike,
We are all thrilled to hear of your latest excursion. I couldn't think of a better outing, -Paraparam, beach walk (wow!!), family, All Blacks.. We realize that all these good experiences are requiring you to invest vast energy and grit in order to make them happen, we know that must be very hard. But there are many spirits also willing you along from afar. Keep it up!
Very best,
Rodney, Helen, Meta, Elliot, Gregory; from Vancouver.
Mike,
It is amazing to hear about your wonderful progress, would have been great to be at the beach house. Keep up with great work, you are an inspiration to all.
Kim McArthur :)
Hi Mike, Gilda here. Only 10 minutes on the bike, 5 minutes kills me, you put me to shame:-(
Your progress is amazing.
We are in the states and being able to catch up with your progress is great.
Hey Mike
10 minutes on the exercycle! I'm sure I would struggle twith that - you're already fitter than me (again)
Dave
Hey Mike
Mary here in Smaoa - finally managed to access the blog again. Have been trying ever since I got here Saturday.
Way to go - great to read the news and progress - by the time you get my next postcard - if at all - (posted Monday Samoa time) it will be totally out of date.
Must have been great to get up to the beach house and hassle Jack. Some seriously bad planning put me on the plane to Samoa at 7.10pm last Saturday but I did get to see the 2nd test replay here the next day with some very keen Samoan rugby freaks. We watched it at JT's bar - JT being Junior To'onai'i an ex- AB - albiet briefly - who now runs a very successful sportz bar here. Of course with 6 Samoans in the team - yes they count all the NZ born and halfs as well - it was great fun.
Am almost over that damned flu that prevented my visit to you recently. Am not yet swimming though - maybe next week.
Much love to you all
Mary
Brilliant Mike,
It's great to see all your hard work paying off. Congratulations to all involved in helping you on your way.
K & J
great work Mike, awesome progress.Im looking forward to having Amanda and Kent home, only a few more sleeps now. Keep up the great work.
Marg and Gav
Mike,
Amazing to read of your progress, a lot of people both triathletes and non triathletes down here were shocked to hear about the accident. I must admit during ironman I thought a lot about your accident.
Hope to see you at IMNZ 2006
swanny
Beach Boy... I've enjoyed reading your blog. I was searching for work at home mums sites. I have a home based business and I wanted some ideas and tips. I also have a blog, it is www.adminsupervisor.blogspot.com it’s new and it’s getting better all the time. Have a look if you want, but I'm moving house and have not posted in a while. I'll get back to it soon.
My other site is a work at home mums site. I recently decided to build my own income and I thought I searching for tips would help me become a better mentor.
Keep up the great work Michael Wilkinson, I'll be back soon.
Greetings Michael Wilkinson, you have a pretty cool blog here. I was searching for work at home mums. I just started my home business and you can see it at this link - work at home mums. Your post title caught my eye - Beach Boy. I'm just looking for tips on how to be a better mentor. I know that’s not what you’re going on about in this post but I am trying to expand my vocabulary phrases so I can talk to many different personalities. I mean I have to talk to a lot of people and I need to be able to connect with everyone.
Anyways Michael Wilkinson, this helped. Keep it up, I'll be back.
Beach Boy... I've enjoyed reading your blog. I was searching for legitimate home business sites. I have a home based business and I wanted some ideas and tips. I also have a blog, it is www.adminsupervisor.blogspot.com it’s new and it’s getting better all the time. Have a look if you want, but I'm moving house and have not posted in a while. I'll get back to it soon.
My other site is a legitimate home business site. I recently decided to build my own income and I thought I searching for tips would help me become a better mentor.
Keep up the great work Michael Wilkinson, I'll be back soon.
Post a Comment