Despite waking in the small hours for a second time in a row, with bedclothes and duvet drenched in sweat, with almost no pain, pulse and temperature normal, I had a fair night's sleep and felt better. Clare went out early and secured a necessary GP appointment, as promised to the doctors of the 'out of hours' service yesterday. The appointment was in good time for me attend the appointment booked at Riverside Health Surgery clinic. After examining the wound, my GP acknowledged my reasons for resisting a long wait in UHW A and E at the busiest time of year, and was happy for me to continue with the antibiotics, monitoring any change of condition, calling for an ambulance in the event of any further deterioration. She is resolved to write again to the surgeon and express concern over my condition, and ask if reassignment to another team or NHS hospital is possible. Hope against hope, maybe, but such a relief to know our local medics and nurses are on the case!
At the Riverside wound clinic I then met another of the District Nurse team, who treated me with the same expert confidence and good humour as the others. She observed that the swellings seemed to be draining well the new type of wound dressing as hope for. The GP practice nurse had observed that I was walking better too. Those with a trained eye notice things. I too think I've been walking a little easier since both the recent mini crises - but for how long?. A modest gain with all that pain, I suppose is something to be grateful for.
Clare and Owain were playing Monopoly with Jaz when I got back, and just after we'd had a big dish of soup for lunch made from carrot, swede, parsnip and beetroot, which I helped prepare with a lot of veg dicing, Jaz' step-brother Pete arrived with his wife Jodie and two year old Sam, to collect her and take her to Newbury where she'll stay over New Year until her dad and step-mother arrive back from Venice to take her back too Arizona. People visiting from the States get to see lots of people and experience lots of parties and treats, it's such an intense time, so exhausting. Hopefully a few twelve hour nights of sleep chez nous will stand her in good stead for the days to come.
The rest of the day was spent reorganising ourselves to resume life as a two person household. Being quite tired, we gave up on the idea of seeing the New Year in and went to bed early. Later that's been a change in pattern for both of us, driven by just about coping until operation day.
Apart from the horror of British political incompetence and the continued rise of far right wing politics in a world which seems to have failed to learn the bitter lessons of 20th century history, there were lots of good things about 2018. Time well spent in Malaga and Montreux in the first half of the year. Seeing Owain get a permanent job again and find a place of his own to rent and move into, days from now. Seeing Kath flourish with the continued success of Wriggledance Theatre. Having Rachel perform live in our own locality, for the first time in over a decade. Seeing our lovely grandchildren gently crossing the threshold from girlhood to womanhood. In the second half of the year, things my illness has overshadowed everything and narrowed our world, but introduced us to a world of wonderful caring people whose daily job is getting others well again.
NHS workers I salute you! Not quite so sure about the managing classes and medical elites, however. And in three months, the curse of brexit falls due. Or not if the whim of Parliament or even the electorate think otherwise. I hope and pray for a change of heart, mind and will on all sides.
Clare and Owain were playing Monopoly with Jaz when I got back, and just after we'd had a big dish of soup for lunch made from carrot, swede, parsnip and beetroot, which I helped prepare with a lot of veg dicing, Jaz' step-brother Pete arrived with his wife Jodie and two year old Sam, to collect her and take her to Newbury where she'll stay over New Year until her dad and step-mother arrive back from Venice to take her back too Arizona. People visiting from the States get to see lots of people and experience lots of parties and treats, it's such an intense time, so exhausting. Hopefully a few twelve hour nights of sleep chez nous will stand her in good stead for the days to come.
The rest of the day was spent reorganising ourselves to resume life as a two person household. Being quite tired, we gave up on the idea of seeing the New Year in and went to bed early. Later that's been a change in pattern for both of us, driven by just about coping until operation day.
Apart from the horror of British political incompetence and the continued rise of far right wing politics in a world which seems to have failed to learn the bitter lessons of 20th century history, there were lots of good things about 2018. Time well spent in Malaga and Montreux in the first half of the year. Seeing Owain get a permanent job again and find a place of his own to rent and move into, days from now. Seeing Kath flourish with the continued success of Wriggledance Theatre. Having Rachel perform live in our own locality, for the first time in over a decade. Seeing our lovely grandchildren gently crossing the threshold from girlhood to womanhood. In the second half of the year, things my illness has overshadowed everything and narrowed our world, but introduced us to a world of wonderful caring people whose daily job is getting others well again.
NHS workers I salute you! Not quite so sure about the managing classes and medical elites, however. And in three months, the curse of brexit falls due. Or not if the whim of Parliament or even the electorate think otherwise. I hope and pray for a change of heart, mind and will on all sides.
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