A few weeks ago, I was invited to get a Pneumonia vaccine at my doctors’.
Then, earlier this week, I was told that I could make an appointment for my second Shingles jab.
As it worked out, I would be having one on Wednesday and the other the following day.
I made my way to the doctors’ and after some confusion, was called by a nurse for my needle.
“So we’re going to have the Shingle jab?” she asked. “No, it should be the pneumonia today.” I replied, “and the Shingles tomorrow.”
“Oh!”
After some rummaging of her files on the computer, she declared that I could have BOTH today. Fair enough, I thought, no need to come out tomorrow.
With two pricks in my left arm administered, she decided that while she had me, she could check my blood pressure. Sue has been hounding me (she means well) about by BP so I was rather surprised with the results. Apparently, I have the blood pressure of an eighteen year old !
With no ill effects, I returned home and prepared for a walk to The Griffin (being a Wednesday and all).
I left, a little later than planned, at 17:10 giving me just under two hours to arrive by seven.
I would be taking the “usual’ route of Water Orton, Coleshill, Hams Hall and Whitacre.
Once over the motorways (M6 M6/M42 link) I was greeted with a blossom lined walk; a sign of spring ?
This path can get quite mushy but as can be seen, it was fairly dry which bode well for later sections.
I made my way around the first of the HS2 diversions and through the village of Water Orton.
At the other side, I was confronted with a big ROAD CLOSED sign. I knew that this was here but the HS2 website did state that pedestrian access was being preserved.
The actual closed road was the busy A446 which would be in that state for a week whilst sections of the railway were built over. A few days into the project, they had already built two sections over. The site was quiet and I passed through to head towards Coleshill Parkway.
From the railway station, I left the main roads for an old concrete track to Hams Hall distribution park which I skirted to walk alongside the River Tame. It was around this point that the head torch had to be deployed.
I was soon leaving tarmac to cross what can be a very wet field to emerge on the outskirts of Whitacre Heath. With about two miles left and determined not to be too later (estimated five minutes) I kept up what I though was a good pace (I averaged 15:33 overall which is not bad these days) and arrived just after seven.
I made my way inside to meet Paul and Neil (Griffin Cycling Club) and await Sue’s arrival. To rehydrate, my first pint was OJ and lemonade (with ice).
After Sue’s arrival, I returned to the bar for three pints of Abbot Reserve and a coffee. The first few sips went down great (very tasty drop) but as I continued, I started to feel more and more a bit iffy. I developed a head ache and started to feel a little nauseous. I struggled to finish my drink !
I was asked what I wanted to drink but refused (yes – you heard that right!) and asked Sue to take me home.
Once home, and after a couple of Paracetamol, I turned in for a fretful night.
The following day, I managed very little, still nursing a splitting headache, sore arm (from the jabs) and a general malaise.
I did perk up a little in the afternoon and managed a very gentle 1.6km row and a 10km bike ride before returning to bed.
Thankfully, Friday, I felt a lot better so judging by the short time I was ill, I’ll put it down to the Shinagles jab. Apparently, according to Sue (who’s memory is better than my own) I suffered similarly after my first Shingle jab.