Clare's op day

Up at five twenty, driving in early light to the Hospital at Hensol in the Vale by ten to six. I missed the turn for the hospital off the Pendoylan Road. The key signpost was hard to read as it was unlit and half covered by vegetation. To turn on a narrow country road, I had to drive a mile into Pendoylan village and back, but we arrived on time. Clare had a panic about forgetting her spec's, and I thought I would need to return and fetch them. As I was setting out for home, she phoned to say she'd found them in a side pocket attached to her case. I went straight to bed and dozed for a couple of hours to recover.

Just after half past ten Clare put a message on the family WhatsApp group to say she was already back in her room, out of surgery. An epidural anaesthetic was used, so it'll be a while before she can feel her legs and the initial pain. Apparently she was first on the morning's surgical list, and is now looking forward to breakfast! Lots of messages exchanged with family and friends. Wonderful news, so far all good.

I did the Monday housework, and then cooked a pasta lunch for myself using the last of the fresh tomatoes from last week's veggie bag. Another snooze in the chair after lunch, and a heavy grocery shopping trip, to maintain the domestic routine. I bought chicken and plums, then cooked both slowly at the same time in casserole dishes in the oven, while I went out for a walk in the park. I enjoyed a dish of the stewed plums for supper. Clare avoids certain soft fruit as part of her anti-arthritis diet so I can indulge my taste for them when I'm on my own. Now the anaesthetic has worn off she's in a lot of pain that the strongest analgesics cannot relieve totally, so we haven't spoken tonight, just exchanged a few messages. 

I watched another episode of 'Beck', following the establishment of grandson Vilhelm as a member of the homicide detective team despite setbacks and difficulties he has with his boss. Two different investigations however, one that follows through from a previous case in the series about a night time voyeur, the other about the following of an influencer promoting the development of a positive non-toxic masculinity - a bit difficult to follow, given that one of his disciples is a psychotic killer who happens to work as a security guard at police HQ. A bit far fetched, if you ask me.  Then a breath of night time fresh air and a walk around the block before bed. As I opened the door to go out a heavy downpour of rain started. I reached for my brolly and went out anyway, knowing at my trouser legs would get soaked. As I was going to undress on return, it didn't matter for once.