Come On Eileen

Yes, its that time of year again. Burns Night. Which means that the traditional Scottish spectacle of me and Denise dancing to Dexy's Midnight Runners takes place. Yes, its hard work, but someone has to do it. The crowds expect it and we're hardly the people to disappoint an audience. It was Maggie's Cancer Research benefit Burn's Night supper last night. Yes, Jenny from next door was there and she was auctioning off Coronation Street memorabilia but it was really me and Denise that the people came to see. We did not disappoint (although who exactly requested that they play Come On Eileen is still a mystery).

Before that it was a retirement do lunch time at the new Lime cocktail bar - Sub Lime, I know - which is actually very nice and there were loads of old faces to catch up with.

Had a fabulous night at the cancer do actually even though it was in Flixton. Bryn & Michelle were there of course as was Jo and Cal who are just the nicest people. And Jenny and Chris were sat on our table so I got to chat to them too which was nice. They're very pleasant people.

And then me and DD stopped off at our new favourite best bar on the way home (Barborollis - sp?) where the lovely Tom served us and flirted with us like mad. Clearly after a tip... and again we did not disappoint. Feel like shit today though obviously. But DD's off for a weekend in Guildford so it will be a nice quiet couple of days for me so I can get over the festivities.

Apart from that work is fine, the wound appears to be healing OK and the sun is actually shining. That's all. J x

So Its Been A While

Apologies for that. I'm doing OK (health-wise) although still getting my dressings changed every other day. It cocks up your working day (particularly if it takes place in the middle of the day) but it can't be helped. It does seem to be getting slowly better which is encouraging. Am seeing the experienced nurse again on Monday so will hopefully get an update (I can rely on) then.

The last week was good (only 2 long days) and capped off with drinks in The Midland with the gang. Went to the cinema this afternoon with Gill to see Avatar. Had to queue for ages to get a ticket - its been on for ages so must be making a pretty penny if its still this popular now. Was nice to look at and I didn't hate it but it won't ever be in my top ten films.

Have just purchased 3 separate versions of The Lion Sleeps Tonight on ITunes tonight. What a fantastic song it is (check me out on Facebook for a video of a hippo singing the song - there's also a dancing dog!). But none of them were by Tight Fit. This latter doesn't appear to be available anywhere which is a crying shame.

Mrs T has acquired a rescue dog called Milly. Have been sent a photo but no reports on how she is settling in. I'm guessing she's eaten most things in the house by now...

Long Time No See

After my recent rash of posts I appear to have reverted to type and resumed my weekly schedule. This is probably just a sign that I'm getting better so we should look on it as a positive development. So what have I been up to? Well I've done 5 days in work albeit 2 of them were in the Manchester office and they were all short days.

Dressing changes worked OK although the nurse I was supposed to see (the one who has actual experience of changing dressings) has gone sick and I had to see the inexperienced one. Luckily I have enough experience in these matters for both of us and I was able to talk her through what needed to be done.

Had a cup of coffee and a catch up with Gill on Friday which was good as I haven't seen her for ages. She is well you'll all be pleased to know. Friday was also a trip to the Royal Exchange for Blithe Spirit with Lesley & Mike. Fantastic play (better on stage than on film I think) but we had rubbish seats. Luckily this didn't matter too much as Annette Badlands (a very different Madame Arcarti) and Suranne Jones were superb. Met DDD for drinks afterwards naturally...

Saturday was a dinner party at DDD's with various chums. She had worked her socks off as usual and the result was magnificent. We all had a really good time (ta chuck).

Busy cleaning and changing beds and stuff today and also trying to get my new phone to sync with my computer (now sorted). And that's all the news I think... J x

Same Old Same Old

So I had to access NHS services again on Sunday and once again they failed miserably. I went to the new NHS walk-in-centre in Boots on Cross Street in order to get my wound dressing changed only to be told that they had no nurses working because the one nurse who was due to be on was sick. What sort of service is that? Bloody awful service is the answer. They did have 2 receptionists working though which considering that there was no-one in the place seemed somewhat excessive. So we (DDD was with me of course) had to trek to the MRI where they have a properly staffed walk-in-centre and wait for an hour to be seen.

Better news this morning though as my GP's practice has agreed to take responsibility for my wound dressings and I only have to have them changed every other day which is handy (and, presumably, a sign that things are getting better).

Went back to work today (albeit in Manchester as things are still slippery in Warrington). There appears to have been a bit of a thaw today though so will attempt Warrington tomorrow. Will be doing short days for a while though.

Best news of all though is that I now have a new mobile. If anyone reading this hasn't received my new number yet then leave a message here and I'l text it to you. That's all for now. J x

Hello Manchester!

I'm back. Yoo hoo. Journey was completely uneventful. Train even arrived early into Manchester where I was met by the delectable DDD who carried my bags for me. She's also cooking for me and the gang tonight. Fabbo.

Arrived home to 2 nice surprises. The first was a gift from Fig (he is just so nice and knows me so well, thank you honey) and the other was a phonecall from Orange to say there was no problem with my credit and of course I can have a phone. Duh. So why not just sell me one in the first place? Bloody madness.

Anyway, tomorrow will be busy - to Boots NHS walk-in for a dressing change, thence to Heals with DDD to look at some furniture she's spotted in the sale, to Orange for a fancy schmancy new phone and no doubt to a bar to celebrate all the above. I can barely wait!. That's all. J x

P.S. Bloody cold up here though. Roll on summer (its already getting lighter every night)...

Tickets Booked!

At 1055 tomorrow I will embark on my journey to the land of no cricket. Also the the land of no "New Tricks" (which we watched last night) and no "The Hustle" (which is being watched as I type). Hurrah. I must confess I shall rather miss the marathon antique-watching-fest that comprises Dickinson's Real Deals, Cash In The Attic, Bargain Hunt and Flog It. We don't watch it all of course as most of it is too tedious for words (who wants to hear about the participants' dreary lives?). No, we pre-record it all and then just fast-forward to the exciting auction stuff.

Arriva Trains Wales assure me that they have no journey disruptions while poor old First Great Western have a tree on the line between here and Bristol. So its the middle-of-Wales, stop everywhere, two carriage, boxes of chickens train for me. Hurrah. Not. They just better have some heating on that train...

And that's all for now. But have just spoken to DDD and she's made soup so its straight round to hers for soup and champagne tomorrow.... J x

Fig Works Magic

Following Fig's comment on my last post my GP's nurse has now agreed to see me on Monday and to discuss a plan for going forward (she seems to think I'm the responsibility of the District Nurse). But hey, its progress of sorts. I like to think that Gordon Brown read Fig's comment and took time out from urging his cabinet colleagues to support him to get in touch with the Health Secretary (whoever that is - I should really find out so I can use his/her name as a threat) to contact my GP. Thank you Fig, you're a dear.

Other news: we drew the cricket. That's good apparently. But f you ask me it just shows what a parlous state this country is in when we celebrate a draw. Are we no longer a country of winners?

Forecast looking OK for Saturday train ride but you try finding out details of cancelled trains - impossible! Will have to leave it until Saturday morning and phone just before I go. I suspect any problems are likely to be at the Manchester end rather than the Welsh one. Apparently it was minus 18 degrees in Greater Manchester last night. That's cold. We'll see. Matters aren't helped by having no mobile phone as I won't be able to contact anyone whilst I'm on the train. I should probably get hold of a pay as you go one tomorrow. But can you imagine? Suppose someone sees me using a cheap phone? The horror!

That's all for now. Still enjoying Nurse Jackie whatever DDD says. J x

Bloody Shambles

It seems that no-one wants to take responsibility for me in Manchester. My GP says that they don't have the supplies (dressings) to attend to my wounds and directed me to a walk-in-centre in Ancoats. They said that the system changed six weeks ago and directed me back to my GP who then promptly referred me to the walk-in-centre in Boots in town who said they only had enough dressings for one visit and I should try A&E! Are they out of their minds? I'd have to start queuing again as soon as I'd been seen in order to make sure of being seen again within 24 hours. I'd end up living there like Tom Hanks in that film (obviously without falling in love with a woman). Although I am rather loving Nurse Jackie...

And don't even get me started on the information available on train services...

More news as I get it.... J x

Snow on Snow

Yes, it snowed again last night. Its quite deep now - 3 inches maybe? Luckily the roads have now been gritted so I was able to make it to the nurse this morning to get my dressings changed. Things looking pretty much the same so I think we're in this for the long haul. Hopefully won't stop me from going back to work though. I just dread to think how many e-mails I must have by now!

Will need to put dressing changes in place in Manchester for next week including a District Nurse for Sunday. Will phone practice later today.

Cricket grinds on. And on. Looks like South Africa might win this test. As if anyone cares... That's all for now. Except to say that I've started watching Nurse Jackie on BBC2. Its really good. Worth a look I'd say. You can get the first 2 episodes on iPlayer. J x

Snow!

A ton of snow just fell out of the sky onto Swansea. Quite thick everywhere. Local school was closed (lots of kids walking home throwing snowballs at each other). Cancelled nurse appointment as it looked as though roads would quickly become impassable. Has now stopped snowing and whilst it has settled heavily everywhere the road still looks clear-ish. Perhaps its because the temperature isn't below freezing at the moment? Anyway, will see if I can rearrange the appointment for this afternoon now.

Am now thinking that it might be easier to get the train home on Saturday. It would mean leaving some stuff in Swansea and since I'm not allowed to lift stuff I'd have to be put on the train and collected at the other end. Its easier for everyone than driving though. And it only costs £27. But its a nightmare journey - 2 carriages, 4 and a half hours and 16 stops. Hey ho, it doesn't happen every day. That's all for now. Will post again later. J x

Nothing Did

That's all. J x

Exciting Day

Not really. Lots of cricket and tennis. Whoop de doo.

However, did speak to practice nurse this afternoon and she did say it would be alright for me to go back to work next week providing I did half days (which works well with the need to get dressings changed once a day). Hurrah! Manchester here I come... weather permitting of course (more of this as the week progresses).

Also spoke to various people from work this morning so there are arrangements in place to cover all eventualities for this week. Phew.

Phone still not working. Boo. May have to get cheap pay as you go thing to tie me over until O2 contract expires if Orange aren't willing to play ball. Me! With a cheap phone! Oh the indignity of it all...

That's all for now. More later if anything exciting happens on a sporting field anywhere... J x

Bloody Cricket

Its still on. How is this possible? I'm sure we won something the other day. So why are we still playing? It doesn't make any sense. But the bloody game doesn't make any sense anyway. Its soooo boring. Still the Ageds are happy.

Wound seems a little improved. The nurse is only "packing" two out of the three open bits of the scar now which I think is an improvement. Seeing the practice nurse from here on in which is better because I have fixed appointments to see her. With the District Nurse you just have to hang around until he or she turns up (so far anytime from 1030 to 1430).

Actually made it out of the house today. Whoo hoo! Was going to walk to the local shop but the pavements are still a bit dodgy here (we had heavy snow on New Year's Day) and I didn't want to risk falling over with an abdominal wound. So Dad drove me there. Nice to get out even so. Am going to the big shops tomorrow (Tesco) as appointment with nurse is not until 1500.

Plan now is to come back up to Manchester on Saturday. I won't be able to drive myself (I can do it physically but a) I haven't got my car down here and, b) I wouldn't be covered by insurance for driving so soon after an abdominal operation). So the Ageds will drive me to the M50/M5 interchange and DD will pick me up from there to complete my journey into the Northern lands. I may still be needing wound dressing changes but I will get these done in Manchester rather than in Swansea. Hopefully I'll be able to start back in work on the Monday even if it is only part-days. I'll take the decision on Wednesday probably subject to any medical advice. And that's all for now except to say that I spoke to young Figgis today. Which was nice. J x

Twenty Ten

Happy New Year dear readers. Hope yours was as enjoyable as mine. We spent a very merry time in a cottage in Swansea with food and drink and good company and I really enjoyed myself. A big thank you goes out to DD, Bryn & Michelle for making it happen. Of course it didn't get me out of playing New Year's games only this year it was Snakes & Ladders (from a cracker - rubbish), and the post-it-note-game (took me ages to get Humphrey Bogart). Aged Ps were even less successful at their card games - losing 40p each.

The phone is showing some signs of life but no lighting so you have to hold the screen at a particular angle to the light in order to be able to read anything on it. Not very satisfactory but does hold out the prospect of it perhaps being repaired rather than needing to get a new one. However there may be damage that I can't see or hasn't become apparent yet and so a repair may be a waste of time. Need to have a think about that one.

Wound carries on apace with little visible signs of improvement. Fingers crossed that things are improving though because the antibiotics course ends tomorrow. I'll keep you informed. That's all for now because I hear mother calling which means there are chores that need a-doing... J x