The leaves, grass and flowers are not the only organisms flourishing in the springtime. The improvement of the weather from its former frigid detail to a more adaptable expression has collaterally stimulated other indicia of daily living in the country. This morning, for example, not long after I awakened and then savoured a delightful protein and fibrous breakfast (including the lip smacking teaser of palm tree dates) I pushed off around the neighbourhood on my trusty (and, so I was later told, my dusty) tricycle. The object of my journey was twofold: one, an old fogey’s interpretation of athleticism (today – should you care to know – an impressive 4.95 Km and Avg. Speed 6.9 Km/h); and, two, the irrefragable advantage of sunshine and fresh air.

To be clear I hadn’t anticipated extraordinary fulfillment of my modest scheme. But I ended up being surprisingly appreciative of the manner in which things evolved throughout the day.  To begin at the first with the last, allow me to report that as early as five o’clock this morning – whilst yet retreating beneath the down duvet – I contemplated with a measurable hint of anxiety (peculiar to those night-time prevarications) the sequel to my recent drama surrounding a new blood pressure monitor and the results thereof.

Several days ago I had – with some difficulty through the hospital network – arranged to “message” to my new family physician Dr. Kayode Bamigbola MD the 7-day MediLink blood pressure measurements which he had requested upon our initial conference. My foremost anxiety arose from uncertainty regarding the delivery of the message to Dr. Bamigbola. Then I contemplated contacting the hospital once again, first to ensure delivery of the message, next to inquire what if anything arose from the blood pressure readings.

My hysterics proved to be unfounded.  Serendipitously as I sat intransigently in my automobile at Starbucks coffee emporium following the first round of my afternoon drive, a telephone call from the hospital alerted me to a prescription for my over-the-top blood pressure and a requisition for a blood test reading to be taken 2-weeks subsequently. It is fortunate that I was not driving at the time because if it had been I should not have been able to make note of the information which included the arrangement of a follow-up appointment in one month for the physician to review the ensuing information.

This complication (if I may be permitted the privilege to say so) was not however the only feature which attracted the disturbance of my otherwise halcyon quiddity. By chance earlier this morning during my tricycle adventure, I encountered His Lordship Kenneth H who was then in the throes of his daily constitutional; that is, walking his two small dogs. It is characteristic of the country gentleman when walking about to devote time to conversation with those whom he should meet along the way – notwithstanding that the fragment of parley is normally constrained by the limits of one’s health and the weather.

I view it as a mark of the depth of our long-term relationship, that His Lordship and I quickly streamed our conversation from platitude to fact. Familiarity, friendship and acquaintance are in my belief critical elements of a meaningful confab. It takes time for people fully to digest even fact.  But once the gates are opened, the adherence is unmistakable.