For a number of years, up until 12 months ago, I could NOT start the day (that is function and concentrate) without two cups of double-strength espresso. Caffeine ruled my life.
I had also been addicted to over-the-counter pain killers for 13 years, as a result of developing 24-hour round-the-clock headaches.
And then late last year something very peculiar happened. My body went into auto-fast mode, and refused anything except liquids and one can of stewed fruit per day.
This lasted about three weeks I think, and when my appetite came back I found that my addictions had disappeared entirely. For the past 12 months the word "coffee" has never entered my head, unless it comes up in conversation.
Shortly after this auto-fast I was admitted to hospital suffering heart failure (water on the lung caused by leaking mitral valve). I think my body must have been cleansing itself in preparation for this.
Anyhow, I was put on diuretics to drain the excess fluid and my health improved enormously.
Recently my neighbour started to occasionally offer me a glass of Coke. Well now I feel like a Diet Coke each day, and will do my darnedest to keep it at that, if not get off it altogether.
My New Year resolutions are:
Try and find some way of losing weight;
Try and restrict my intake of fluids. Because of my heart condition I am supposed to drink only 1.2 litres per day. I have never observed this, no doubt to the detriment of my health.
The good news is that 12 months after being admitted to hospital in a critically ill condition, I now feel fine.
Other resolutions:
To finally tidy up my apartment. During the period that I was ill last year, stuff just got piled up everywhere. I am about 90 per cent of the way to having a tidy home again.
Things I would LIKE to do, but may not find the time:
Get back to practising and composing music: yesterday I had the rare delight of a visit from my nephew, Alexander, a gifted pianist, primarily for the purpose of giving my "new" piano a test-drive.
Do some work in my OWN garden.
