More News from Home

It’s the unexpected things that make you want to scream, cry, or rejoice!

We had a call from the consultant to say that Joe's kidney has improved sufficiently for a second option to be reconsidered. He now has to see the radiologist with a view to having chemotherapy and THEN surgery. So it could be that the planned surgery on 7 November will not take place. Joe will have a decision to make.

There have been two hospital visits since the last update. Different hospitals, of course! One was for a blood test, the result of which probably led to the change of opinion mentioned above and the other to check Joe’s respiratory condition ... too often referred to as the treadmill or wired for sound!

I took a couple of photos of him wired up and wearing a mask while riding a stationary bike but I promised I wouldn’t send the pics round the world. He had to cycle for about ten minutes while his heartbeats, oxygen levels, and blood flow were all recorded on computer. He did really well; I couldn’t have done half the time and still look as fresh as he did. His only complaint was that his thighs ached... can’t think why, can you? At the end of it all they said everything was fine. At least that's something positive. 

Saturday we went for our flu injections at the local surgery. What with one thing and another I’d been rushed off my feet and could have done without being jabbed with a needle. On arrival we faced a long queue of people being herded to various sections by a dishy young lady. No wonder the men had smiles on their faces! I noticed she had a handful of leaflets but when I overheard her ask someone if they were born before 1940 I panicked. Whatever service she was ‘selling’ I didn’t want to know. I mean, haven’t we got enough health issues to contend with without worrying about more? When the young lady came to me I was ready for her. After learning that people born at a certain time were being given the opportunity of having a pulse check, I declined. ‘No thanks,’ I said. ‘I’ve got enough to cope with without you discovering something wrong with me.’ She laughed!

When it was our turn to face the needle we sailed into the nurses room, coats off and arms bared. That was when I saw HER waiting for me. WHO? None other than that fabulous Asian lady doctor who was so helpful to us before... Dr Begum (the emergency doctor mentioned in a previous post). She wasn’t just helpful in manner but she actually got him to hospital in double quick time. Afterwards she rang our home number a couple of times to find out how he was and to offer her services above the call of duty. I loved that woman then and I love her even more now. As doctors go she’s the tops. I would feel safe in her hands.

Anyway, there she stood in the nurses room, needle at the ready, greeting me like a long lost friend. Perhaps I was! She went across the room to talk to Joe and checked that he was okay and then came back to do her bit with the needle. Except first she grabbed my pulse and did what I’d refused to have done ... a pulse check ... without even asking when I was born! We had a laugh about that and guess what ... my pulse rate was fine. Her parting shot was a request that if we needed to know anything, anything at all, we were to ring her. Did I say I love that woman?

Joe’s Birthday on Sunday was going to be a family affair but with all the to’ing and fro’ing between hospitals he decided a quiet meal for two would be sufficient. The comment ‘hope you got me a cake’ threw me into a panic because I hadn’t even thought of a cake. Since I am not a baking cakes type of person I had no alternative but to race out on Saturday morning to buy a ready-made.

We went to the New Hall, my favourite place, one that’s perfect for celebrations. Here’s a few pictures.

Roast Lamb

Fillet of Pork

The new cleaning lady, Paola, is settling in so well I wonder how I ever managed without her. She has her own agenda ... she tells me what needs to be done. Currently she is cleaning the windows, one a week until they’re all done. I even caught her cleaning the light fitting the other day. Oh I do envy her energy. She’s only here 1.5 hours a week.... it would take me longer than that deciding what to do. Of course, that’s not totally true but it feels like it sometimes.

On line shopping was going great until one delivery came minus one item. It wasn’t a terribly expensive item but it still irks when you have to pay for something not received. How to deal with it was a mystery until I remembered that the store is on Twitter. I typed a message to the effect that although two items were ordered only one had been received and a minute later received a reply asking that I send a direct message with details of item and phone number. That done, I waited all of thirty seconds for a reply. I was given a code number and told to enter it on the next order. It’s what they call an e-voucher. No problem, then, all done and matter resolved. I have to say that with the new style assistance at the cash-out and the way they deal with customers on line this supermarket is top of the list as far as I’m concerned.

Finally, how about this for a bit of crazy driving... speedy version ‘cause I guess you haven’t got four minutes to waste:

How not to leave a car park