It feels like we’re living in an alternate reality here. While the pandemic rages across most of the world, we haven’t had a case of community transmission for ages. There are barely any restrictions left and life has pretty much returned to how it was pre-covid.

Vaccination is another story entirely and is massively behind schedule. Don’s very high blood-pressure actually had some benefit and meant he was able to be vaccinated a few weeks ago, with his second shot scheduled for June. Because of the clotting risk (such as it is), the Govt announced in the last week that the AstraZeneca vaccine will be restricted to over-50s. This means I’ll have the opportunity to be vaccinated from mid-May.

And of course while all sunshine and kittens here, there are still around 40k Australians trapped overseas who can’t get back into the country – including Joan. She’s still in Switzerland and has an extension to end June.

But still, I feel somewhat guilty posting cheerful (or otherwise) updates while most of the world is having a very rough time of it.

♥

Day one of Back to the Office was slightly less stressful than anticipated, but this was likely because it was pretty social and involved a lovely leisurely lunch to farewell a colleague and an excellent and productive external meeting in fancy offices.

Day two was super over-stimulating – back to back video calls with large numbers of participants just don’t work effectively at all in an open-plan office setting. On the plus side I lunched with a colleague I’ve been mentoring for the last several months and had never met before In Real Life.

Day three was much more quiet and peaceful. I really struggled with lunch options and should have planned better. A small tub of Bircher muesli probably isn’t sufficient nourishment. This meant after resisting their siren song all week, I ate two almond biscuits in the afternoon which is probably more sugar than I’ve eaten all year. They were delicious, but I felt quite gross afterward and vowed to make concrete lunch plans for every day next week.

The kitties were not at all thrilled about my absence from ThePalace(OfLove) and have been unsettled.

I’m also very, very tired. So tired.

Going back definitely makes you aware how utterly stupid and time wasting commuting is. I’m fortunate to have I relatively short journey, though it’s a little too far to walk which would be my preference. I really do feel for those who must travel for an hour plus each way every day. Some at the very top of SML have a bit of a “let them eat cake” thing going on in regard to this.

We all expect to be commanded back to return 5 days a week in August. So typical that despite many successes with remote working, we’ve learned nothing organisationally from the past year.

♥

The long and winding journey to discover the cause of my dodgy right leg hit another dead end yesterday after I met with a lymphedema specialist. SuperHappyFunGP referred me after my venous competency scan revealed that while I have varicose veins behind (!?) and around my kneecaps, they’re only minor and wouldn’t be causing my issues.

I’d not heard of lymphedema before, and after a visit to Dr Google was pretty convinced I didn’t have it, but what do I know?

The specialist, who was brilliant and very thorough, explained how my symptoms had some similarities with lymphedema, but it wasn’t at all likely because of X and Y. They could be lipedema, but not at all likely because of A and B. That she’d be concerned if I was experiencing this in my left leg because of D and E, but not so with the right leg. She thinks all signs point to it being musculoskeletal.

I’m very pleased to know I have none of those conditions! So after a somewhat expensive diversion, we’re back on the highway of discovery. I think I’ll pull over for a bit and have a reflect on next steps – all this is pretty mentally fatiguing.

My inclination is to revert to RelentlesslyCheerfulPhysio’s original diagnosis of the weak glute and core and tight ITB – which seems legit – and to embark on a programme of strengthening and foam rolling.

♥

After the appointment I detoured via the shops. TheUniverse rewarded me by delivering a gorgeous Camilla and Marc skirt in the David Jones clearance section for $60 – reduced from $450. The pattern is so pleasing and reminds me of contour maps. The skirt had no price tag and I was madly in love with it and bargaining with myself about my no-go price because I knew it would be hella expensive. When it scanned at $60 the sales staff were astonished and had to confirm several times.

I do feel slightly guilty because I don’t actually need another skirt and have been trying to rationalise my wardrobe – and it broke my “no more skirts without pockets” rule. And I’ve been watching an awful lot of minimalist, conscious consumption, sustainability, zero-waste videos of late. But sometimes the heart wants what it wants and I’m giving myself a break with this one.

Sackcloth and ashes tomorrow.