So you may have noticed a huge gulf in time between this post and my last! This is because as far as sport has gone, I have been away! Away for a long time and this is because of injury, the kind that gnaws away at you unrelenting!
Since June 2014 I have had a very opinionated ankle that has refused to sort itself out. Despite a history of ankle rolls in the past, there was not such event during this month. This may have been because I had been trying to get by and refuse that there was a problem, in truth I do not really know but from June onwards, I decided to take a rest from running. Later I dropped cycling as the pain was still persisting and not running was still not helping.
Then my beautiful daughter arrived and I thought, in the new year I will seek out help and get this sorted. However disaster struck in January when my son fell awkwardly and broke is femur. How could I get myself fixed with chaos around me, so I soldiered on. Thankfully by May my son was back on his feet and I got referred to see a specialist. Months of physiotherapy followed but still no improvements were being made and the pain pushed on relentless, not even with pain relief could I get any closure and my mood began to suffer. I'm sorry for that.
In the Summer of 2015, I had a MRI scan and Xray on my ankle and another specialist recognised the problem and advised that surgery would be required. I was shocked. For the first time in over a year I had an answer, and it was not in my head. I tried a steroid injection to get me through to the next term, it worked amazingly but sadly it did not last. Taking time out for surgery and the subsequent recovery took some careful planning to fit in my day job as a school teacher. But we got there, so on 16th November, I went under the knife with a skilled surgeon in Singapore. Which brings me to today. Half way through keeping it elevated not putting any weight through it. It is also the longest time possibly in my life that I have not been in the pool.
Which is why I took an usual step in having a tattoo. A tattoo with a name, the Bungai Terung. This was performed with the traditional hand tapped method. Living on the island of Borneo, I have always been interested and intrigued by the tribal culture of the people who live here. The tattoo I have had is from the Iban tribe of Sarawak, who traditionally have lived around water ways (their transport links) in buildings called Long Houses that home people closely together. They have also been called 'head hunters' due to an ancient tradition however this is no longer practised. The Bungai Terung is the first tattoo that young Iban men get and is there first step in becoming a warrior. After receiving the Bungai Terung, received in pairs across the front of the shoulders (where the straps of a back might go) they were ready to go out on their 'Berjalai' journeys.I was interested to learn the deep meaning behind it. On each shoulder they make you stronger to carry your travelling pack, they give protection and the centre coil, the rope life to symbolise the transformation from tadpole to maturity.
Well after the year my family has had, I would welcome further protection. As for my 'Berjalai' I am working abroad to help improve the lives of my family. I am or was a fit athletic person, a swimmer, and a triathlete. Hence my journey is going to be getting back to fitness and beyond...
Thanks for reading, I might do another blog about the tattoo experience, which with the absence of any sporting adventures, might be what the doctor ordered? As for 2016, bring it on!
