Very good to see you here Rowan. I used to bake when I was a boy back in the bronze age. There was not that much on TV then.

Thank you to everyone again for your recent responses. They really are appreciated by me and Machka.

The recovery project seems to be going well, although there is still quite a time left before it is all satisfactory enough for me to return to work. The indoor bicycling is still part of all the process, but even 20 to 30 minutes of that can be somewhat challenging at the moment.

I still have several months left off work, with three emphatic areas being my brain and head recovery (and things are much better now than several months ago, although I still can't smell and taste much), muscular recovery of the upper section of my right arm from the shoulder, and my left leg and foot which may be the result of lower spine details that were recently x-rayed.

One of the fortunate things has been spending a little bit of time downstairs with my day supervisor as well as Machka in cleaning up the mess (that wasn't intentional, but was there just before I suffered the workplace accident). It has involved fiddling with some bicycles and related stuff we own, and I am looking forward to doing much work on them on the coming weeks. It's still the aft-end of winter in the southern hemisphere, so work on the bikes might have them ready for spring return to something I have done for over 20 years.

As usual, Bike Forums are my main computer attractions. There are some really fine people who are long-term members here; even though I didn't get on all that well with some of them in the past, they have shown in my past several months some extraordinarily lovely manner and values. Thanks so much to you, too.

It has been a long recovery. I'm glad things are improving, albeit slowly. And, of course, the support from Machka has been indispensable.

Most of taste is actually smell, and unfortunately with head injuries, when smell is lost it is essentially non-recoverable. With reprogramming (neural plasticity), some of the taste sensation
will return, but don't expect much there. OTOH the muscles in extremities will recover significantly over time if they work a little bit at the start, with continued effort on your
part.

Just wonderful to see you posting and to see you looking at this in such a positive light! And it is great that you get an opportunity to clean things up and get some work done on some bikes. Any time I’ve had an injury that has kept me away from riding the ability to plan and work on my return has been a great way to keep my spirits up.

August 24 - Rowan and Machka's 10th Anniversary
 

August 24 (in Canada) is our 10th Anniversary. There were moments earlier this year when I wondered if we'd make it ... but here we are. :) :love: :love:


Some previous threads describing how we met etc. ... :)

https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...niversary.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...-year-ago.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...-can-lead.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ago-today.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...niversary.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ago-today.html


And our wedding photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka...57607097344648

.

Happy Anniversary!!

Wishing both of you all the best, and many happy years together!

It sounds like you have gone through a tough Fall and Winter.

Make this Anniversary special. :)

Even if you're still riding trainers, go for a virtual ride. Or find a tandem to rent or borrow.

Just goes to show how good Bike Forums can be, because Machka and I actually made some interesting contact about 15 years ago as members. Been here ever since then.

It has been a pretty tough time for me with a near-death work experience -- I will be taking a while longer before going back to work -- and Machka has been the God-send in my life. Bike riding is still one of the most important things in my life, and the riding within home -- with the discussion about finding somewhere safe for me to "break free" with a real ride -- has been instrumental in discussing my recovery processes. I still have a way to go with my left leg strength, and similar with the top of my right arm where it is connected with the shoulder.

Another heart-felt thank you to the people on Bike Forums who have posted their support for me in the threads Machka has started. Her threads really only tell some of the story, which she has elaborated on extensively along with the guy who actually did save my life on the accident scene.

We were supposed to be in Canada riding again about this time, but didn't make it this year. It is something I am looking forward to next year... with the hope of catching up with Happy Feet and other people we know there, including Machka's family.

One of the miracles in my recovery happened yesterday. For the first time in slightly over five months, I was able to smell and taste things.

Nose and mouth abilities can be affected by brain injury as I had incurred. Reactivating the abilities is one of the signs of a restoration. Machka has done some extensive computer research as well as hearing the advance of professional medical people who have looked after me.

Evidently, I was at a time limit on whether I ever would get both sensations back; I am so grateful to do so. They aren't very intense, but I discovered their resurgence yesterday when walking with my daycare person, Kaz, while near the local beach. For some reason I started to try scenting the smells of various native tree flowers next to the path. And then a woman with an arm in sling walked past with her husband, and there was a strong smell of a skin application/treatment. It was wonderful.

Today might provide me with another wonderful achievement. We shall see, and I will write something here if successful.

That's great to hear Rowan. Best of luck going forward! :)

Fantastic news! That’s a miracle indeed - hoping for more coming your way!

That is HUGE!

I was actually on a bike outdoors today. It was a short ride, only 5.1km in just over 24 minutes. It was on my Bike Friday (one of pair we bought new directly from the factory in the US several years ago). Machka rode her one as well.

It was ideally an old roadway that is now closed to traffic for much of the way, on the southern side of the Hobart airport. Time also was a little longer because the rear wheel had a small puncture that was an irritation that needed five or six stops to pump up again. All good practice, and the bike handled my needs well, including for pretty instant ground touch by the right foot coming off the half clipless pedal (half is a flat part like a normal pedal but I rode with shoes complete with clipless status).

Then I had a 500m walk along but much shorter than the same piece of road for Machka;s own training run.

Great news! :thumb:

Wow! Absolutely amazing that you have been able to get back on the bike already!

Thanks so much for sharing during this time. So many of us are cheering you on!

Great news, Rowan! You have no idea how you are inspiring people all over the world.

Great! :thumb:

Happy anniversary, you two! I am loving these updates. :thumb:

go, Go, GO!