Operation - or not

About sixteen years ago, I was 'threatened' with the possibility of a hysterectomy, but in the event, I only got a right salpingo-oophorectomy (Look it up!). However, there have been a few times in the intervening years when I have wished that the decision had been different, usually ever five or six years when I get uterine polyps. (Male readers should probably stop reading at this point!)

This year has presented me with the same symptoms again, necessitating an ultrasound which indicated the need for further investigation in the form of a hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic.

When the nice lady from the hospital rang to arrange the appointment, I asked if it could be after Easter, to which she replied, "Well, you're down as a priority" which did, I don't mind admitting, fill me with a degree of alarm. So last week I went for my pre-op assessment and today, I should have been arriving at the hospital at 11.30 for the afternoon list.

On Monday, I had received another call, from the same nice lady, informing me that, instead of Mr xxxx, Mrs xxxxxxx would be doing the operation. Did I need a follow up letter? Not really, given the short time scale and the fact that we have had no post since last Thursday. I would be there as planned.

This morning, as I came in from climbing round the field with Paddy in the still-deep snow, I was greeted at the door by Keith with the phone in his hand, on the other end of which was another lady wondering why I was not at the hospital. 

It appears that Monday's caller had omitted to tell me that the change of surgeon also meant a change of list, from the afternoon to the morning!

As I had been told I could have a light breakfast before 7.30am, I had, so now I am told that I have a new appointment for next Wednesday - morning list.

In the grand scheme of things, it's not a huge deal but I had to work hard to get even a grudging apology at the end of the phone call and that's a big part of my feeling of frustration this morning.  Quite apart from the fact that someone messed up, why oh why is it so difficult these days to get an apology from organisations, whoever they are? It costs nothing and would do much to soothe ruffled feelings in most cases.

Meanwhile, I shall get back to normal life for another week...

And still it snows

Terrestrial TV gave up the ghost yesterday evening too, so Keith was even less happy, but this morning, a 'lump' of snow has fallen off the aerial and now he can at least watch Freeview and he has Sky Go too so is, at present, watching F1on his phone - fortunately via bluetooth, so I don't even have to hear it!

As you can see, the snow is still with us and increasing and multiplying as I write. This morning, I had to dig my way out through the conservatory door and then dig a pathway into the garden for the dogs to get out. What fun!

Even the washing line has come down with the weight of snow.

But Keith has his Formula 1 so all is well...

Mae'n bwrw eira - again!

And here we are again. The calendar says 'Spring', the weather says, 'Oh no it isn't! It's still snow time!'

As the snow is about 10 inches deep, there is no chance of Jake going out for a walk, as his little legs wouldn't touch terra firm. Paddy shows a distinct disinclination to go anywhere except a quick trip into the back garden to do what's necessary. 

Keith is equally lacking in motivation, justified in his case, as his ankle is very painful today, but he is also bemoaning the fact that the Sky signal is off, so he can't watch Formula One trials.

So, not all bad then!

Yes, I know, horrible, aren't I?

A Mother's Story: The three amigos

A Mother's Story: The three amigos

A portrait from the past

Yesterday was a day with Paul, his brother Nathan and Elder and Younger Daughter and today being Mother's Day, Younger Daughter had had a portrait of me enlarged onto canvas for my present.

There is a story behind this picture.

When I first went to college in Hull, back in 1967, I met up in the first few days with the friends that I would go through college with and one of these was a girl who was a little older than the rest of us, although to us 18 and 19 year olds, at 24 she seemed the height of maturity and sophistication. Her name was Ilona, known to everyone as Noni and she had worked at the Council of Europe before deciding to turn her sights to teaching.

Noni's mother lived in a cottage somewhere near Wellingborough, as I recall, her father having disappeared to the depths of Africa many years previously, allegedly to shoot big game, leaving Noni and her brother and sister to be brought up by their mother. 

The other unusual thing about Noni was that, in a time when no students had cars, she did; it was an ancient Austin 10 but to us, it was a valuable means of travel. Admittedly, it frequently ground to a halt but Noni had a fail-safe solution to that, which was to get tools out of the boot, spread them on the road behind the car and then stand there looking helpless in the hope that a knight of the road would pull up and solve the problem. As I say, it never failed.

However, back to the picture. On one of the first weekends at college, a couple of us were invited to go home with Noni and we did. The main thing I remember was the the cottage, even in October, was bone-bitingly, chillingly cold, but Noni's mother made us very welcome and, as she was an amateur painter, she offered to do our portraits. I think I was the only one who took her up on her offer (vain even in those days!) and the result you can see above.

Looking at it now - I haven't even thought about it for years - I am reminded of a group of friends on the brink of a new career, broadening horizons (for those days, anyway) and the promise of a life ahead of us which would meet all our hopes and expectations.

I doubt if any of us considered that we might, at times, have to take the scenic route!

Moonwalking to Fleetwood Mac

How about this for one clever pony!

Having a great evening

Every few weeks, Keith and I get together with friends, usually in their house, because Howard enjoys cooking and entertaining and because Keith and I never seem to be organised enough to remember when it's getting time to get together again.

Tonight was one of those times.

Over the past few months, Howard has had a few health problems, notably heart related but he is doing well at present. Howard is a great believer in herbal remedies too, as attested by his large box of packets of pills for various aliments, more than you could shake a stick at.( Some time ago, he recommended one such remedy to Keith for his leg problems and Keith duly ordered and took them, resulting in a couple of fountain-like bleeds from his veins, in turn, necessitating new stair and bedroom carpets, but that's another story.)

Tonight was blood pressure night, instigated by Keith's mention of feeling constantly tired and sleepy, which the rest of us thought could be a side effect of his current medication. 

The general consensus was that he should high-tail it back to the GP to discuss other options - which is what I have been telling him to do for the past fortnight, to no avail, of course.

This gave rise to Howard bringing out his blood pressure monitor and a general comparison of BP readings...

A great time was had by all but eventually, I had to wake Keith up, prise him off the sofa and lead him to the car for the homeward journey - a bit worrying really, as he was driving us home.

Seriously, we had a very pleasant evening.

Sixty IS the new forty, you know!