Zenrat's Flying Circus

[zenrat]

It's been too cold for prolonged sessions in the shed (top of 12 today).  Not while recovering from open heart surgery anyway.  Today is the two week anniversary of the op.
I do have heaters but there is still the damp.  I ventured down there but only to collect some clear, a head torch (lighting is poor at the dining table), and a new stack of back issues of Scale Auto to go through.

So, indoor modelling continued on the Ginga.  Paint detailing on the cockpit interior and engines.
Canopy is typically Japanese with lots of framing.  There is a mask set in the box.  I'm not sure if it came with it or if I put it there.  Looks like i'll be glad of it.
I can't sit for too long at the table though.  While the incision isn't a problem my ribs, neck, and shoulders let me know when they want me to go back to the recliner and the reading/TV.
It's all a matter of moderation in all things, but with the duration of some of them (walking, standing, playing with the puppy) increasing.

[NARSES2]

It's all a matter of moderation in all things, but with the duration of some of them (walking, standing, playing with the puppy) increasing.

Absolutely mate, the most important thing is your full recovery    followed by playing with the puppy 

[zenrat]

The puppy would have me reverse the order of priority.

Sneezing is to be avoided.  It hurts.  Coughing hurts too but not as much as sneezing.  In fact one of the exercises provided by the physio is to deliberately cough.

One of my 5 to 10 minutes sessions on my feet today was to walk down to my shed and then stand there sticking paper labels I had printed onto the repurposed box into which I had put the bagged flakvierling half track kit I got at expo.  A touch OCD but done now.

As I was awake at 3am (bladder) I took advantage of the time difference with the UK (we are 9 hours ahead) and phoned the family whatsapp group.  One of my sisters answered (the other was in a pub and mum & dad don't pay attention to their phone) and we had a chat for over an hour.  She was sitting in her backyard drinking tea and I could hear birdsong in the background.
First chat since the op.  I'm not sure which end of the stick she got when she answered.   

[NARSES2]

Gentle progress mate 

[Rick Lowe]

It's all a matter of moderation in all things, but with the duration of some of them (walking, standing, playing with the puppy) increasing.

Absolutely mate, the most important thing is your full recovery    followed by playing with the puppy 

Concur 100% 

[zenrat]

I walked all the way round the block today.  With the puppy.
That's about a kilometre.  Doesn't sound much but it's the furthest i've done since the op.  It's possibly the furthest she's done as well.

Other than that I finished detailing the interior of the Ginga (paint, tape seat belts) anf glued the fuse halves together.

[Steel Penguin]

I walked all the way round the block today.  With the puppy.
That's about a kilometre.  Doesn't sound much but it's the furthest i've done since the op.  It's possibly the furthest she's done as well.

    magic to hear Fred,  slow and stedy   

[kerick]

Keep it up!

[zenrat]

So, it's working again then?

Having glued the wings on I placed the Ginga on top of a cupboard in the lounge room for the glue to dry.  I put two clamps on the tail and stood it on that end.
The next morning it had taken a dive off the cupboard.  It didn't fly too far.
Very little damage (if it's going to fly, best time to do it - no delicate bits attached yet).  Just popped the fuselage seam in a few places.
Glued and taped and back on top of the cupboard.
I'm just glad that Evie hasn't followed her predecessors example and developed a taste for styrene.

Also, to keep myself occupied i've begun a 1/48 Hobby boss KV2.

[NARSES2]

I walked all the way round the block today.  With the puppy.
That's about a kilometre.  Doesn't sound much but it's the furthest i've done since the op.  It's possibly the furthest she's done as well.

Well done the pair of you 

[Rick Lowe]

I walked all the way round the block today.  With the puppy.
That's about a kilometre.  Doesn't sound much but it's the furthest i've done since the op.  It's possibly the furthest she's done as well.

Well done the pair of you 

Yes! 

[zenrat]

Thanks guys.
I'm coming at this recovery from good starting position - my heart was working OK before, it just had a faulty part.  It must be so much harder for someone who had a heart attack or coronary heart disease who has to recover from the position of being knackered.

Anyhoo, warmer today and I got to spend time in the shed.  I sat at my bench and tried to remember where I was with each of the many builds I have on the go.
When I remembered I did a little painting.

I then decided to check the stash for the kits for the 1WGB.  I found them but they were in a low cupboard and crouching down didn't agree with my current medical condition so I gave it up and went back into the house.

What is giving me gyp isn't my heart.  That feels good and is ticking over nicely.  No, the issue is what they did to my back, neck, sides, and shoulders when they opened me up.  They are all sore, cartilage has been wrenched and joints were pulled into positions they didn't like and then held there.  If I move too quickly or adopt a position i shouldn't then it hurts.

[kerick]

I hear you! I still get pain in my hip. Sometimes the PT is a little too much or I do crap in the yard then it hurts for a couple days.

[zenrat]

At least I have worked out how to sleep.  I'm a side sleeper but that's not good for my healing sternum or the sore places unless I hug a pillow.  This adds a level of support for everything.
I still have to be very carefull when I turn over in the night.

I have my first cardiac rehab session tomorrow.  Not sure what to expect.  There is 1 hr of exercise followed by 1 hr of presentation.  I don't hold out much hope for the presentation.  I fully expect it to be along the lines of "this is what you should be eating if you have had a heart attack because you clogged your arteries up with saturated fats".  Which obviously is not me.
But maybe i'm wrong.  Maybe it'll be an hour on Mk 31 Lincolns in RAAF service? 

[NARSES2]

Hopefully