Today we had to be at the grandkids’ school early for the Annual Sports Day for the Junior Primary Component. Young R continued with schoolwork as usual while younger J sat outside on a stand and yelled, or did a spot of running. Actually, she was entered in three races, of which two were individual. The first happened quite soon after the start, as part of the 40metre dash for all pupils in Grade 1, split into 8 events, with 55 entrants in all. J came first in her batch of 8, with a nail-biting finish and almost by a toenail! Her mother has a picture to prove this, but I can’t access it due to nonsense from my Android.
Her next race provided her with a second, but this was far more prestigious for her. She had been chosen as one of the two-per-house to compete in the 100m Medium Distance Race. In other words, the result put her second out of a potential 55 runners!
(Update) Her teacher confirmed on Friday 25th that the result makes her second-fastest of all Grade Ones. I added a few more slides in celebration. Both kids also came home with Academic Merit Badges for the week. This is the first time they have got them for the same weeks. We are super-pleased.
Her final race was a relay, but her team did not fare well in spit of a sterling effort she put in.
After her return home with us, she complained of a headache and again developed a slight fever. Thus, it has now become clear that the symptoms are probably exertion-related rather than anything to do with water. Fortunately, she was due for a return visit to her specialist this afternoon.
The result of that visit is that she will now have to receive a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (or MRI) non-invasive radiology scan to try and determine what is going on to cause the abnormality already detected. One thing that is going off at a great rate is the cash balance — all these tests and consultations are costing a fortune! Can’t be helped though; and I really hope they come up with a definite diagnosis for which there is a definite treatment.
Colonialist's Blog 
Haven’t you got a Medicare health System like ours? All the scans and operations I’ve had for cancers and stroke cost me nothing; in the USA probably would have sent Bill Gates broke
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We pay into health schemes and then meet whatever is above their scheduled benefits. The alternative is our National Health, and one really doesn’t want to know about that.
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All digits crossed for her.
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I was so pleased to be reading about the good academic reports and fun with the races, but then to hear that your little one is under a specialist’s care right now is a turn I wasn’t expecting! With children there are always so many variables and probably nothing of great concern, but then, we humans, parents and grandparents, how can we not worry! We just do…or at least I should say that I sure do. Do let us know when you know all is well. That’s what I’m expecting!
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With kids there are always ups and downs, and sometimes the slopes can be quite severe. One just has to take it as it comes — but that is often much easier said than done!
Holding thumbs your optimism is justified!
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Just popped in – I don’t get out much. Fun to see the races – and interesting that they’re running barefoot; oh – and I’ve just seen some other comments about that, so will read them. As for the worrying stuff – as Derrick said! Probably a simple explanation.
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Fingers crossed
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Indeed; and thank you.
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Well done to J for all her exertions, with hopes that further scans will help establish a simple solution for her condition.
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We didn’t realise how speedy she is; and we certainly hope so! Thank you.
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We’ve got a grandson who doesn’t like to wear any clothes let alone footwear. He’s four and his favourite response to me is (after the inevitable, “Don’t you need some clothes, Warren?”) “I like nakey, Nannie!” He’s a little redhead and even has red eyelashes; we refer to him as the little spark plug.
It’s wonderful to be so involved with your grandchildren’s sports events! 🙂
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I love that nickname! Nakey is another good NICKname if he likes being in the nick!
We are lucky to be able to be there in place of working mother and late father. (Mind you, working mother paid a flying visit giving her just enough time to see the first win!)
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Best wishes again for a swift return for good health to you and your family!
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Thanks! Once again we are into the waiting game.
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Running barefoot . . . I cringe when I see that. I hated it when I was a kid and that continued to this day. Perhaps I have overly-sensitive feet as I see adults walking around here without shoes (not just the homeless but tourists as well).
Anyway, hope they can resolve the reason and have a solution for the physical reaction. It would be a shame to curtail what she enjoys so much.
And, of course, congratulations to her for her finish and her overall efforts.
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Here, with the climate and all, most adults as well as children develop fairly tough soles. In fact, for the races for moms and dads most of them also ran barefoot. I also go barefoot a lot in summer, but not in the streets or shops. Some do that, as well.
I do hope she doesn’t have to limit her competitive swimming and running, but if must be, must be.
Thank you!
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Perhaps you have not quite found a way to bare your soles (or souls), Emilio.
Happy August to you, Leslie and Emilio!
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Thanks, indeed!
There is a lesson in feet. If you stomp around on thorns the pain will eventually go away and you will be able to walk over almost any surface far more quickly and easily than any shoe-wearer can. Chaka Zulu taught this to his warriors. It was a good incentive to walk on thorns when the alternative was an assegai (spear) in your belly.
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Ah! . . . that explains it, then. Being soulless, I have nothing to toughen.
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A profound thought, there. Does it mean that everyone who wears a shoe has soled their sole?
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No . . . They’re trying to make up for being soulless.
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🙂 We will now have a break for a cats’ chorus giving a rendition of ‘O Sole Miaow’ in the hopes of being fed Italian fish.
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They would have to listen to “Marina” . . . That’s where the fish are.
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I cannot walk around my house barefoot, or for that matter with shoes. House slippers are a mustI just have to keep my feet clean!
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Mine are used to being in contact with all kinds of unmentionable things, but they seem to survive well on it. As for the kids, it is hard to get them to wear flops, even, unless the area is extraordinarily thorny.
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