Gradually Giving Up

It’s been five weeks now and illness has changed the way I do things. I have a long handled shoe horn now, which is quite useful now that I have worked out the best way to use it. I have also just taken delivery of a set of braces. (That’s suspenders to you Americans.  I have to add that, because in the UK suspenders are a very different thing to braces.

Braces are what old men use to hold their trousers up (hence the title). Suspenders belong to a completely different demographic and are used to hold stockings up.

There are worse indicators of advancing old age, but these are the thin end of the wedge.

I’m actually wearing the braces at the moment and they are very comfortable. They also feel more secure (a shrinking waistline and a dodgy belt have conspired to make the last few weeks quite challenging). I was going to buy another belt, but after reading that they can, when tightened excessively, cause bad backs and all sorts of digestive damage.

They were a bit tricky to set up (Julia had already gone to work when I made my first attempt) and I did get one strap twisted to begin with but they are generally simple to operate and there was no unexpected pinging.

I’ve practised trouser removal and it seems simple enough. It wasn’t actually the removal that bothered me, but the retrieval of the braces. They seem simple enough in the packet but they take on a life of their own once you put them on.

Meanwhile, the physio rang me at 8.00 as arranged and I have an appointment at 11.40 so they can prod me about and give me some exercises to help me regain mobility. My phone alarm just sounded – time to get ready for the appointment. I will write again later.

15 thoughts on “Gradually Giving Up

  1. The Belmont Rooster

    “Braces” are very comfortable unless you have them too tight. With a belt, you still sometimes have to pull your pants up, but when your braces are to tight you have to pull them down. 🙂 Since I am from the U.S., I had some difficultly not saying suspenders… As long as we are on the page, it doesn’t matter what we call them.

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  2. charliecountryboy

    Interesting about a tight belt 🤔 I used to wear braces when I was DJing I like them but not the clip on ones as they seemed twang when I bent over😂
    I think we lost so much with the disappearance of suspenders, but then I never had to wear them. I remember the old blokes said the top of the stocking was called “the giggle band” if you got that far you were laughing 😂 Glad you’re still improving and making adjustments 😁😁

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    1. quercuscommunity Post author

      🙂 Somehow I just knew that the word “suspenders” would tempt you out . . .

      Already had one clip let go, despite them looking like alligators on steroids. Might start wearing safety glasses.

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