But, then a problem

I found that the John Deere tractor was unable to cut waist-height grass. I had to then buy this Pubert machine which specialises in clearing tall grass. Though it is motor driven, it is still hard work walking behind it, and steering round objects. However, it functioned perfectly, and, so long as I keep up regular mowing with the John Deere, I shouldn't need to use it until next year.

A new addition to the stable

Having missed the beginning of the grass growing season, I returned from Spain to find the grass at waist-height. Coupled with that, I found that the existing Westwood mower tractor's starter motor had packed up. As the Westwood was probably 20 years old, and beginning to be unreliable, we decided to get a replacement. We settled on the John Deere, which can Mulch, Eject or Bag. It was bought locally from a dealer we have done business with before. Unfortunately, it seems to be twice the price it would have been in the USA.

Back at Lavausseau

I returned to Lavausseau on the 19th after a 6 hour journey from my friends (David & Catherine Marks) at Puymaurin, near Toulouse. I had stayed with them for a couple of days. They live in Nairobi from November to April each year, and the summer in France. They had only been back at Puymaurin for a few days when I arrived, but the beautiful house looked like it had been lived in without a break.

On the way from Moraira, I stopped in Barcelona for a night to break the long journey. The weather during the week in Moraira had been atrocious - cold, raining and very cloudy. The day I left, and ever since, has been glorious.

I called in at Valencia on the 16th, as it was the first day of the America's Cup elimination rounds. Unfortunately, I missed the entrance to the harbour and decided to move straight onto Barcelona.

I managed to stay at a superb hotel for the second time - the Hesperia del Port, which was designed by Richard Rogers, though a 3 star hotel.

Today we reopened the pool, and took greater care than last year in peeling off the plastic cover. The secret is to make sure all the water is emptied from the surface of the sheet before trying to remove it. Last year a lot of the dirty water escaped into the pool.

Regarding my diet, I'm down to 93.5kg today. I had to stop the diet for the last two weeks, in view of my hosts providing such lavish meals. Now that I have returned I have recommenced the diet to achieve my target of 87kgs as swiftly as possible. Already I am down to "M" size shirts from "XXL" versions that I had to wear only 2 months ago. So I'm very pleased with the progress, which is a weight off my mind, if not my stomach!

Climax at La Clinique

I've been told that I must have auxiliary oxygen for sleeping, and for exercise. So I will have to have a big cylinder in the garage, and a small one to wear on my back when cycling or walking (not pottering around the garden or mowing on the tractor). But I must resolve to walk or cycle strenuously at least 3 times each week.

Tomorrow, the 7th April, I drive down to Moraira in Spain. It is 600 kilometres, mostly on the motorway, thank goodness. I'll probably arrive at my Aunt's house at about 7pm, where I'll stay for at least a week.

Unfortunately, I won't have an internet connection in Moraira. As the journey back is so lengthy, I'll probably stay a night in Barcelona - where I should be back online.

Puygcerda

 

I had an afternoon off today, and went exploring the nearest town, which is only a couple of miles away. Here is a scene from the main shopping thoroughfare, which is for pedestrians only. It is high up on one of the mountains, and dates back many hundreds of years.

Yesterday I had a particularly tough walk. We went for a couple of miles, which included a climb up a path that was so steep that it had a rope fixed on the side for people to hold onto while they pulled themselves up.

I'm leaving here on Saturday the 7th, and I have to confess that it will be a welcome departure.

Second homes in Osseja

 

This is a typical home that a Spaniard from Barcelona would buy at a cost of, maybe, 800,000 Euros. There are so many of these here, and the fact that all the windows are covered indicates that it is a second home. In fact, most of the new houses in Osseja, and there are hundreds of them, are shuttered like this one.

Last week coming up

I won't be sorry to reach the end of the period here at La Clinique. The routine has become very repetitive. However, the process is obviously working as I feel much fitter, and feel committed to continuing a form of exercise in the future. And the diet continues apace, as I am now down to 96kgs. I need to lose another 9kgs to get to the absolutely ideal weight, with a BMI of 25. Thankfully, the food here will continue to be revolting so I can happily discard it each mealtime. It is the main courses that are bad, but the salads are first class.

This afternoon is free, so I'll take a spin in the local area to see the small villages.

Troubles at La Clinique

This morning we all awoke to find the water was cold. This happened a week ago too. And, as with the last time, the heating came back on by the afternoon. Also, the swimming pool has been closed this week, and is scheduled to reopen next Monday.

This morning there was a tough route march up the mountain. The only good thing about it was that the return journey was easy. I have been prescribed a new medecine to inhale twice a day, to be taken in addition to the existing one. I will be, literally, waiting with baited breath to see if it improves my breathing.

Uphill changes to slight incline

I do believe that I have cracked the effect of the altitude. A combination of the daily exercise regimen here, plus acclimatisation of a week and a half, have made the stay here very bearable. When I first came I felt dizzy and breathless after walking a few steps. Thank goodness they didn't get me to go on 2 hour walks straightaway. Now I feel in good health, without being breathless all the time. My weight is steadily diminishing - I'm down to 97kg from the 110kg in mid February.

The only other patient here who speaks English is leaving tomorrow. So I'll have to mumble some words in French pretty soon.

More walks in prospect

Tomorrow our group of 10 people will embark on a walk on the mountainside for a couple of hours. Though I carry an oxygen bottle in my backpack, with a tube feeding my nose, it is still very exhausting. We have to walk nonstop, whether up or downhill. If this doesn't make me fit, I don't know what else will do it better. After a week and a half of this, I am beginning to feel fitter. But the feeling really comes gradually. I have now lost 12kgs since I began my diet a few weeks ago, so I have started bringing out the old clothes from the drawer that I had previously outgrown.

The main bar in Osseja

This is where I drink my Chocolat Chaud after my weekend jaunts. There are always people playing cards in there.

Villefranche

As today is a Sunday I had the time to go for a drive. I went to the medieval town of Villefranche, which is on the way to Perpignan from Osseja. The journey was winding along the mountainsides, as you would expect in the Pyranees. I was amazed at how many drivers are prepared to risk killing themselves by overtaking at the most inopportune moments. I never saw any accidents, or even the aftermath, but there must be many of them.

A view of La Clinique from a distance

If you enlarge this photo you will see the complete Clinique in the middle of the hillside.

A rather different view of La Clinique

The Clinique was extended last year to provide better exercise rooms and more bedrooms to accommodate greater numbers of patients. Unfortunately, though the interior is completely finished and operational, the exterior cladding has yet to be started. They will be cladding all the surfaces in wooden planks, when they get round to it. Meantime, the outside view is rather depressing.

Another exhausting day

Today we walked up a mountain for 2 hours. It had snowed heavily the day before, but today the mountain was bathed in sunshine. There was a biting cold wind however. Seeing that we started from the Clinic at 1,900 metres, it was absolutely necessary for me to walk with supplemental oxygen in my backpack. It was so exhausting, but the programme is quite intense, so it was followed after lunch with gymnastic exercises in the swimming pool. After all that I needed to recover with a sleep for a couple of hours. I've done one week so far, out of four, so the next three will be more of the same.

A gruelling start

I have had a battery of tests, and the most interesting result is that my breathing is 40% below the normal level. My diet, which is halfway through with another 10kgs to go, will help enormously. A good Body Mass Index of 25, combined with daily exercise of walking and/or cycling will be able to improve the breathing by 20 - 25%, so I am told. So the odds are good, and I am determined to succeed. The food at La Clinique is just right for a diet - I just can't eat some of the food, as I find it repulsive, so the diet is well on course. The people here are mostly aged and very overweight, so I feel quite chipper being around them. None of them seem to be on a diet, as they take massive servings of everything.

Today the weather changed from full sunshine to heavy snow, which has blanketed everywhere. You can see pictures of what the place and the environs look like at this website.

Life at the Clinique

 

 

Here are a couple of photos I took of my room, and the view out through the window. The exercises are very tough, and the altitude of 1,900 metres does not help.

La Clinique Du Souffle

On the 13th March I am going to this clinic at Osseja, in the Pyranees, for one month. My Consultant has recommended I go to take exercise, diet and lose weight. The clinic specialises in treating people with breathing difficulties, hence its name. Fortunately, my health and state insurance will pay for everything, including travel expenses. Once it finishes on the 11th April I will be travelling to stay for a week with my Aunt who lives in Moraira, near Alicante. Amanda is taking the opportunity to visit Seb, Ann and Leo in England for a couple of weeks too.

La Boivre is still rising

 

We have never seen the river higher than it is today. I hope the bridge doesn't get washed away.

Yet another day of rain

 

The level has risen another 6 inches today, turning parts of grassland into a lake.