From rooftop physio to a seaside stroll

Tuesdays are my designated day for medical appointments: doctors, specialists, physiotherapy, podiatry etc. Some weeks are full of them, while others are much quieter. Today was one of the latter, with only a single appointment on the calendar: a session with my physiotherapist.

She provides in-home physio, which is incredibly practical. Instead of working on theoretical exercises, we can focus on real-world movements and challenges right where I live. Because it was a bit chilly inside my apartment today, the first thing I asked her was, “Can we go outside?”

We headed up to our building’s rooftop terrace. It’s a fantastic, expansive space that is hardly ever used by other residents. I have a vague memory of it being more popular when we first moved in, but in recent years, you rarely see a soul. The change of scenery was invigorating. In contrast to our last session up there, the surrounding trees were now bare for winter. This offered a unique, unobstructed view into the neighbouring backyards, which was surprisingly interesting. It was a really productive session, and I left with a clear set of exercises to work on for the next couple of weeks.

I was brimming with energy afterwards and decided to make the most of it with a walk. One of my favourite spots for this is Coogee Beach. I can catch the 374 bus from the nearby shopping centre, and it takes me right down there.

I love Coogee for its accessibility. The promenade is wonderfully flat, allowing me to walk along the shore without worrying about too many stairs. There’s also ample disability parking, which is helpful when I travel there with others. But most of all, it’s just a lovely, quiet beach that never feels too crowded.

Energized, I enjoyed a good walk and clocked up some steps. I even attempted to navigate the stairs down to the sand itself, but the fear of falling held me back. While there are access points to the beach, they remain a little too difficult for me at the moment due to recovery from my amputation and hip fracture.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh sea air and the beautiful view.