Normal Life Resumed

Well, almost. I have not yet been to the gym (but I really mean to, very soon - hopefully next week), and I am not yet allowed to go swimming or use a sauna, but both of these are not at the top of my activity list anyway.

My eye is still getting better, sometimes I notice it, sometimes I don't. It depends very much on how tired I am and how much I have already been reading and writing (i. e. working) that day.

This week was my first proper week back at work. Never in my life have I missed work for such a long time for health reasons! My customers all told me how happy they were to see me back, which was nice (and I think they really mean it). Of course the workload has not eased over those four weeks, quite the contrary. But I am determined not to let things get on top of me, and still take my occasional breaks when my eye(s) feel tired.

I have been running three times since I've been allowed sports again; every time went better. My fitness level (which for me is crucial to my wellbeing) is still far from what I'd like it to be, but I am optimistic about slowly but surely getting there.

It feels good having my normal life back, even though the last 1 1/2 weeks of my enforced break were really good, after I was allowed doing again most of what I like. The regular check ups with my eye doctor are at larger intervals now, and I only need drops twice a day instead of every couple of hours.

Weather has been a very mixed bag for us this past week. We have had some much needed rain, and the mornings and evenings were really chilly. This weekend is a "long" one in Germany, with Monday being a public holiday (Pentecost) and schools closed next week. A lot of people have gone away for weekend trips or more, and many of those staying at home are planning hikes or garden parties, barbeques and the like. The forecast is not ideal for any of this, but hopefully, the weather will hold out for this afternoon's and evening's family gathering at the allotment of O.K.'s parents - yes, a BBQ after coffee & cake!

I am leaving to catch my train in about 15 minutes and just wanted to give you this brief update with a few pictures I took during my time off. 

Left: Mum's home-made quiche with green asparagus and a glass of rosé,  for lunch at my parents' one day. Right: walnut cream cake and coffee at a café on Ludwigsburg's market square; this was one of my first outings after the OP.

Palace grounds, 11th of May. My type of garden, the less formal one.

Train schedules have changed; the connections that were most convenient for me have been abandoned. I now have to change trains twice instead of only once, and the trip is longer by about 20-30 minutes. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it all works out, and O.K. can meet me as planned at the train station just before 2:00 pm!