almost good as new

24 Thursday Oct 2024

Posted by in casa azahar, sevilla, shoes

≈ 1 Comment

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almost like new

I’ve been sort of half-assed looking for new shoes as sandal weather is about to abruptly end. Even though I got a couple pairs of new shoes just before Covid lockdown I keep going back to these trusty old Campers I bought in 2017. To say they were looking the worse for wear would be a serious understatement, but damn they are just so comfortable, so I decided to take them to a shoe repair place down the street from me. What could it hurt?

I expected the guy to tell me the shoes were a lost cause, but he took a long serious look at them, touching the leather, checking the soles and stitching and said that they were worth saving. It would cost 55 euros. At first I balked at this but then he took one shoe, cleaned and polished the toe and said “see? this is how they will look after, only even better because I will condition the leather and give the soles a good cleaning too”. So what the heck. I mean even if they only last another winter or two 55€ is much cheaper than a new pair of shoes (important factor now) and with all the trouble I’m having walking the last thing I want to worry about is also having painful feet.

Yesterday I got a Whatsapp message from him with these two photos saying ” your shoes are ready!” and wow, what a difference. I really should have taken a before pic so you could properly appreciate the magic this guy worked. Seeing them in person they look even better and I am so happy to have my old Campers revived and back home. Looks like I’ll be needing them this weekend.

no news isn’t good news

21 Monday Oct 2024

Posted by in health, hospitals, knee saga, knees

≈ 7 Comments

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no news

I’m already exhausted about writing this post even before starting it. For a few days it seemed like the sudden and excruciating knee pain I first experienced back in May 2023 (left knee), which then extended to the right knee, and then got worse and worse to the extent that I’ve been painfully shuffling around (you can’t call it walking) on crutches since August, was finally about to be taken seriously and treated.

I knew I shouldn’t have got my hopes up.

I arrived at the health centre fully prepared with a typed-out list of the whole saga including every doctor’s visit, every test, every “non-treatment”, thinking it would be helpful for the traumatologist to see it laid out chronologically because, in my experience, most doctors know nothing about you or your case until you walk through the door and then there is the usual them skimming through your files on the computer and half-listening while you try to explain your situation.

Anyhow, my knees were poked and prodded and it was confirmed that I did indeed have mobility issues and PAIN because of the torn meniscus. Then the doctor said she wasn’t going to recommend a knee replacement (wtf?) but would send me to another specialist to see about getting the meniscus repaired. Well okay, better than nothing. I asked how soon I would get this appointment and was told not until AFTER CHRISTMAS. It was like a punch in the gut.

I got the usual ride a bike – go to a pool – lose weight – take painkillers “advice” and when I asked about seeing a physiotherapist the doctor said physio isn’t helpful for a torn meniscus. SO THEN WTF WOULD GOING TO THE POOL OR RIDING A BIKE DO?

I honestly don’t know what I am going to do now. The right knee keeps getting worse and worse and I fear that soon I won’t be able to walk at all, even with the crutches. Meanwhile not working is taking its toll both emotionally (I miss my old life) and financially (so scared about this). And to think that everything is just on pause, yet again, until January… right now I can’t bear to even think about that because it’s just too much. Fuck.