Well my knees have always been a problem and old age does not change that.
A while ago I made a misstep and twisted my left knee (not the one with the replacement and then started a most amazing and beautiful story:
A while ago I met some very nice local people at the marina, both physicians (Drs. Kevin and Joanna Yip Lin) with three children, two of whom are also in or heading for medical school!
Anyway, since Kevin is an orthopedic surgeon he offered me his medical care... but not just that also a very nice temporary home, very close to the marina and my boat. I thought you might enjoy how I now live in paradise and therefore prepared the slideshow. Just hope the knee will heal soon so that I wont overstay my welcome!
On April 20th I had the operation which reattached my tendon to the patella and then I was put into a lightweight modern cast which is supposed to keep my leg stretched for 6-8 weeks and then comes the full rehab. Since then I have been recovering in my paradise and in spite of the stretched leg in a cast, I am starting to be more mobile again! All this is training an old horse new tricks: Accepting dependence! and patience gracefully!
After all that I hope to be able to return to my boat and make the next big decision about the future.
All this time I have found out how many very good friends I have acquired during my stay here. It is almost unbelievable! It will certainly make it difficult to leave when the time comes.
During my forced physical passivity I have done lots of reading, keeping up with the news, watercolor painting, exerising and again trying to study Mandarin.
While checking the news I found an interesting and pertinent article. For your amusement I am giving you the internet address of it. The movie was taken during the time when I had my accident and they had a big, fancy boat show at the marina which forced me to move the boat.
What am I doing in this fancy environment?????? But I must say during ordinary times it does not feel quite like this.
Al Jazeera English edition: The world's richest city.
Web site:
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2013/04/2013430122726453458.html
5/23/2013
How silly can one get: to charge students 61/2 % interest while banks get loans from the same federal agency for 1/2%.
It seems to me we are wrecking our future with an intensity that will not quit.
So I did my duty and signed a petition:
Subject: Tell Congress: Pass Elizabeth Warren's student loan bill!
I just signed Working Families' petition letting Congress know it should pass Senator Elizabeth Warren's student loan bill. Add your name now.
Though I am no longer sailing regularly I continue using this blog since I continue to live on my boat at One15Marina, Sentosa Cove, Singapore.
This allows me to keep in touch with my friends and sailing friends without too many disruptions.
As for my background:
I was born in Switzerland [...]
where I grew up, went to school, then travelled through Europe, returned and attended school of social work. In 1954 I emigrated to the San Francisco, California. Here I learned to sail and love it and made the decision to retire on a boat.
I then worked as a social worker and administrator for programs for immigrants, families and finally the frail elderly.
I retired at 65 in 1993, moved onto my boat Dessert First and started cruising. First down the coast through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean where I stayed for seven years. Then onward and back through the Canal to the Pacific and finally to Singapore.
Information about SV Dessert First:
Type of boat: Corbin 39
Built by: Corbin Les Bateaux, Quebec, Canada
Year launched: 1981
Designer: Dufour
Construction: Fiberglass with Airex core
Length: 39 ft.
Width: 12 ft.
Draft: 5.5 ft.
Type of rig: Cutter
Furling systems:
Jib: Harkin
Main: Reef Rite, New Zealand
Auto Pilot: Alpha 3000
Watermaker: Spectra
Solar panels and Wind Generator
Auxiliar Engine: Yanmar 58
Life raft: Viking and dinghy