I came home yesterday evening to find a small crowd in our little living room. YK's friends came over again to watch movies and simply chill out before school starts next month. Half a dozen gangly teenagers in a small apartment can make one feel rather claustrophobic, so it gave me a good excuse to go out for a run, my first run after a 2-month hiatus! I marked my running calendar gleefully when I got home.
With that, I hope to kickstart my training again. My neighbour has promised to show me the running route to the reservoir this Saturday morning. The only trouble is, my knees have started hurting from yesterday's short run. It's a niggling problem that I have to live with as long as I'm running.
I'm meeting an old friend for coffee today. For some reason, I receive more phone calls from long lost friends and acquaintances in the month of January. I suspect "I resolve to keep in touch with old friends" is on everyone's list.
Don't get me wrong. I'm always happy to hear from old friends but sometimes getting unwanted attention can be so annoying. Remember the Chinese contractor who did our wooden floor months ago? I treated him with kindness and respect when he was working in our apartment. Well, all I did was buy him a packet of food for dinner and send him home since I was meeting CH in the vicinity that evening. He was touched and wanted to treat me to dinner one day. Out of courtesy, I said "Thanks. We'll see."
Then the phone calls kept coming. It's hard to understand his thick accent, so I'm mostly saying "Huh? Sorry I can't understand you. Can you say it again?"
Yet, he doesn't give up. He calls me to ask when I can go for 'hotpot' dinner with him. I don't mind being friendly but he sounds too smitten. I've turned down his invitations many times, citing I'm busy with the kids and family. He called while I was driving home yesterday and I told a white lie. "I really can't go. My husband will be upset. Hope you understand."
It's not in my nature to be mean to anyone. He's a nice person and probably he just wants to repay my kindness but still, I must know when to draw the line.
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12 comments:
Haha ... so the contractor got smitten huh :-). The wonders of one pack of rice and a free ride indeed.
January should offically have a Old Friendship public holiday for old friends to catchup indeed. My Sec4 classmates are calling for a gathering end of the month. My old colleagues are also doing the same.
Your knee cap is hurting again? Then maybe you should not increase the distance too soon. The good feeling after a good run is not worth sacrificing your health for.
Have a Great Week ahead!
Water - Sigh. I guess he's just lonely. I hope he finds someone else to talk to. He has a wife back home you know!
People start thinking about friends during the festive season. Too free :-)
Yah, I ran slowly for 35 minutes only and the knees are hurting again. Maybe old liao.
Nonsense lah. You are still far from being old. Recently I took up Yoga again to stretch my muscles in between my runs. My Yoga instructor is a strong advocate for usage of core muscle and other muscles that we do not normally use.
For exampe, do you know that you might not be really utilizing your toes when you are running? And also your abs. If you press the toes down with every step that you run, it helps you in balancing and saves energy on our part. Usage of core muscles will also give us better balance and lesser impact on our ankles and joints.
I did not know that Yoga could introduce me to be more aware during running :-)
Yes, i can understand your courtesy but unfortunately sometimes people may abuse your good faith. You urge yourself not to treat bad the opposing, but they never understand and never know their line they have to stop!
Better safe than sorry as they say. You have sound judgement!
Drawing the line is the right thing to do, Blur! Especially since he has a wife back home.
Btw, about the knees...have you taken some Glucosamine MSM Chondroitin supplements? It's mostly to oil the joints and also reduce joint pains.
Hope your knees are feeling better?
I think you done and said the right thing!
Water - I think the ache was due to lack of practice. After running for several days, the pain has lessened!
Burcu - I agree. Sometimes we have to be cruel to avoid unnecessary problems later.
JY - It was becoming such a pain, I had to do something about it.
Amel - I heard Glucosamine is good for the joints but when it comes to eating supplements, I really lack the discipline.
World - They are better now. Thanks. Just a lack of practice actually.
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