When having to change by lifestyle I decided to do things I could enjoy:
Took over the gardening changing layout so it was easier to manage, purchased a greenhouse for plants & seedlings. I try to get out into the garden every day, maybe only half an hour, or rest on a garden seat, then do a little bit more. This has really been worth while, giving me pleasure & happy watching the plants grow & no weeds to be seen.
Reading is another hobby if I need to rest or stay in because of the weather.
Cooking different meals and cakes makes me pleased.
Backing my husband’s model engineering club, meeting members, making tea, coffee & cakes. Chatting to members & the public every Sunday.
Meeting ex working colleagues for lunch also a group of girl friends that lunch.
A neighbours group meeting up for lunch, I get to arrange.
Keeping busy keeps me active, as can be, & enjoy life. Enjoy our home & local activities
One of my hobbies is patchwork and quilting. I haven’t done anything for quite a while as I was having great difficulty holding my fabric ruler firmly enough to use my rotary cutter and that was quite depressing. I have Dupuytrens on my left hand and that wrist was quite weak having fractured it. I am very fortunate that I can stand and lean on a solid table to cut.
However, I have recently discovered a substance - it’s a bit like Copydex - that I can apply to my cutting board and to the back of my fabric rulers. It provides enough ‘grip’ so that the ruler doesn’t slide about and I can make a clean cut and now I’m back in action.
It really feels good to be able to do the things that I’ve always done and that pretty much make me the person I am.
So pleased you are able to get back to your patchwork hobby. Hope your wrist improves very soon, it is so frustrating when you are unable to manage the easiest task. But you have found a way to manage and deal with the weakness in your wrist, best wishes. Maryann
I agree totally. After fracturing a vertebrae in my lower back a couple of years ago I was devastated to realise that I would be unable to continue my beloved gardening as I did before. However, I found that it is possible to find other ways to do most things in the garden without causing further harm. I must admit though that I have to pace myself now as still recovering from weakened leg muscles from PMR but that is fine as I just work in small chunks of time like half an hour here and there and really appreciate little rests sitting with a cuppa listening to the birds and looking at the plants. If anything I think I appreciate the garden and the outside world more now.
Well done to you. One of the things I like best for the garden is one of those kneeler stools that has handles on the side to help you get back up. It can double as a stool but I only use it as a kneeler. I bought it for my husband when he had a hip replacement but I’m the one who uses it now.
Yes i also find small comfort in the garden now just watching the birds and doing the odd bit of pruning. I cant get down to weed any more which upsets me, but im having to let it go….if i can manage a few pots elevated up so i can reach them, i get some summer colour. I also enjoy reading as it very much distracts me from most difficult features of my day to day. Any book recommendations gratefully received.
I don’t know if you use Facebook at all but there is a very useful page called Between The Covers Book Club With Cathy and Friends. Plenty of recommendations and friendly chat.