Hello, I’m back! đ
The last time I was sitting on the couch, writing my blog, I had a pair of shorts on, the windows open, and I was enjoying the warm summer breeze. Today, it’s a very different story! Autumn is here, and honestly, I’m quite enjoying it! I love the cosiness of being wrapped up in my oversized fleece, wrapped inside my blanket, and snuggled with my hot water bottle.
I had an incredible trip road-tripping around the Outer Hebrides in Casper, our camper van! The weather, we had it all! Storms, rainbows, heatwaves, cloud inversions, starry nights, and wild seas. There were nights I wasn’t sure if Casper was going to stay upright. There were nights I envied a brick house. But when the sun shined, it became heaven! The beaches looked like somewhere in the Caribbean. The stars shinned so brightly, I saw the Milky Way with my naked eyes. And we had Highland Cattle and deer roaming freely past Casper on the nights.
We met so many lovely, friendly people! Even the locals welcomed us! One morning on the Isle of Vatersay, we were woken up to our van shaking away. I opened the blind to find a cow having a good old scratch on Casper! I guess that’s just their way of saying welcome to us!
My Health
I had a great trip but things with my health are not great! As much as I loved my trip, it was upsetting!
It was ok when the wind was blowing 50mph plus winds, and it was too dangerous to go out hill walking. That I could accept! But when the wind died down, it was the wolf that interfered with my plans, and that was not ok!
We did get out on some walks, but it wasn’t many. I climbed some small hills, but no mountains. I walked low-mileage routes and needed recovery days after. There were many days I sat in Casper, staring up at the mountains. A year ago, I would have climbed them without thinking twice. Now, it’s not possible! Will it become possible again? I honestly do not know!
My last mountain I climbed was Goatfell, the highest mountain on the Isle of Arran, last September. It was a tough climb, and my body needed a day of recovery the following day. It upset me but I was able to climb it!
Last Sunday, on our way home from the Outer Hebrides, we drove through Glencoe. We passed a mountain called, Pap of Glencoe. I climbed it back 2021, on our first trip in Casper. It was another tough climb. However, after this climb, I didn’t need a day’s rest. Instead, I was back out hiking the following day!
Don’t Take Anything for Granted!
Life living with the wolf has taught me to take nothing for granted. To appreciate any good spells I have, as things can change very quickly, too quickly!
The wolf can take everything you love doing away from you, with a flick of a switch!
Here are some photos of the two little hills I climbed on holiday:
The photo with the blue sky, that mountain behind is the highest point on North Uist. This time last year I would have climbed it without thinking twice. This year, it sadly wasn’t an option!
My Body is Weak
My body has become weak! I don’t know if it’s down to how poorly I was at the beginning of this year, my body has become weak and just need strengthening back up? Or is it because my new treatment isn’t working as well as we had hoped for?
I get tired so easily! I need more rest than ever before! I went out on my paddle board once on the whole trip, despite being surrounded by some of the clearest, bluest waters I’ve ever seen! It acted more as a weight to keep Casper upright in the storms. At least it had some purpose on the trip!
The day I did get out on the waters, I rested all day long in the van. Just so I had the strength to get out on my board for an hour late afternoon. Alex had to finish pumping up the board, as I didn’t have the strength to do so. Last year on the Isle of Arran, I was hiking during the day, and paddle boarding in the evenings. Now it’s one or the other, and many days that’s a struggle!
Is there Hope?
Is there hope? Is this it? Is this the best my body is going be on my new treatment? Or is it more time I need to give my body to get stronger again?
I don’t know what the answer is right now. All I know things are not like they used to be. And all I can do, is just appreciate where I am now, compared to how I was at the start of this year. Even if it’s not quite how I dreamed of my life to be on this new treatment.
That’s all from me this week.
Until next time
Goodbye for now
Emma
xox
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My book, How I Tamed the Wolf, Living with Lupus is available on Amazon via this link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09M73X2JQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MWAF58981F0VVMNRV1WN
Want to catch up on my previous blogs, head to: My Weekly Lupus Diary
