Thursday 14th August -

 It's amazing what one can do when one follows some instructions;

I did these using a Kindle scribe book. I'm quite taken by surprise at what I achieved. 

Today's main event was a routine hospital cardiology appointment in the morning. The result; no change, everything's fine (all things considered!). For some reason my blood pressure was Sky High... but the consultants didn't seem worried. I didn't walk as far as last time - 247m as opposed to 270m in 6 minutes- but I took it Very Gently. I'm sure I could have got the extra 23m but I was a bit spooked by the BP.

'Just take it at the same time each day at home for a week or so, and then we'll see' they said. 

I did take it this afternoon; 117/68. Nothing wrong with that. So I'm not going to worry. 

Today's non-event was that my blood test this afternoon was cancelled. Some kind of 'incident' the text said. Unfortunately I need to get the test done this week, so I'll have to go to the next town tomorrow morning as there aren't any local appointments until Monday, which would be too late for Wednesday's infusion of Zolendronic Acid. 

I LOVE the name of that drug! It's an annual infusion for osteoporosis. I always feel that I should glow in the dark for at least a week afterwards. 

Music

Respighi again, 'The Magic Toyshop'. He writes such engaging music!

Here are some excerpts from Wikipedia;

Sections of complete ballet

Overture (Tempo di Marcia) – Allegretto – Meno mosso – Mème mouvement – Vivo

Tarantella (Allegro con brio) 'La Danza' – Vivo

Mazurka – Vivo – Lento – Moderato – Più vivo – Poco meno – Vivacissimo

Danse Cosaque (Allegretto marcato) – Animando un poco – Vivo – Allegretto brillante (Valse) – Vivace

Can–Can (Allegretto grottesco) 'Petite Caprice Style Offenbach' – Vivacissimo – Poco meno vivo – Andantino mosso

Valse lente (Andantino moderato) – Un poco più mosso – Con brio – Tempo I° – Più animato – Tempo I° – Pizzicato, Allegretto moderato – Allegretto moderato

Nocturne (Andantino) – Allegretto

Galop (Vivacissimo) – Fuga, Allegro brillante – Prestissimo – Tempo I°

La Boutique fantasque, also known as The Magic Toyshop or The Fantastic Toyshop, is a ballet in one act conceived by Léonide Massine, who devised the choreography for a libretto written with the artist André Derain, a pioneer of Fauvism. Derain also designed the décor and costumes for the ballet. Ottorino Respighi wrote the music based on piano pieces by Gioachino Rossini. Its world premiere was at the Alhambra Theatre in London on 5 June 1919, performed by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.

Massine's scenario centers on the love story between two can-can dancer dolls in a toyshop, incorporating elements of comedy, national folk dance and mime, as well as classical choreography.