Friday 2 November 2012

Life's Little Dramas Part 27

Once again I have been remiss in keeping my blog up to date so I must apologise to all those that take the time to dip in and out of my musings (no idea why you are interested but I am grateful!).

Firstly, the threat of the return of Melony has abated. The scan showed that there was no new growth so we have reverted to the 12 month check up. Funniest part of that trip was the lady doing the scan looked puzzled and then, hesitantly, mentioned that she could not find one of my wife's ovaries! It's nice to see how joined up the records are at the NHS. It was not even a different hospital...or department! She had the ovary removed about 100ft from where the scan was performed. Ho hum!

Secondly, there have been more dramas (I should write a book!) and, due to a sudden drop in blood pressure, she collapsed a few weeks back. Just to make a good job of things, she managed to smack her face into the bedside table that knocked her unconscious and, as a consequence, she broke her arm. Not for my good lady a simple break though!! She has what is termed a commuted fracture and the bone is in three parts - and not in line. This will result in her arm being slightly shorter when it finally heals - which could well be after Christmas.

I think I should start past life regression so I can find out exactly who it was that I wronged so badly :)

I will endeavour to update more frequently and will have to punt in some of my more lighthearted musings over the next few months - don't want to depress you all!

Keep Loving.

Saturday 25 August 2012

Life's Little Dramas Part 26

Well, just when you think life has chucked everything it can at you, it chucks even more shit at you.
Just as we were settling down to getting over the last 12 months, thoe suspicion is that melony (see earlier posts) may have returned. We have a date for a new scan so we can only wait now. On top of that, father in law has had a heart attack and we are having to temporarily move in with them to look after them. Can there be any more crap? I must have really pissed someone off in a previius life.

Friday 8 June 2012

Life's Little Dramas Part 25

Just when I thought I had seen, heard and read all the stupidest Government Department rulings / decisions, I am yet again stunned, amazed and appalled in equal measures.

Two weeks ago, my wife went to the hospital where she was treated for her broken back to have an assessment on how things were going. The Doctor said he was pleased with how the break was healing and that all was progressing well. Reasonably enough (in my opinion), she asked how long she would have to put up with the pain and how long it would be before she could walk more than the length of our road so she could, once again, take the dog for a walk. The Doctor calmly informed her that this was as good as it was going to get! To say that knocked her for six is an understatement. Basically, she withdrew again and the depression set in - understandable I think.

Two weeks on and she is gathering herself again and taking an interest in the possibility of alternative treatments - acupuncture, reflexology etc. - that might help alleviate the problems. Then, the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) intervened. At this point it is worth pointing out that the Government has already withdrawn her Employment Support Allowance (formally Disability Living Allowance) as she had been claiming for 365 days. This letter requested that she attended a medical to assess her ability to work. Not the worst thing I know but, and it is a big but, the assessment is in a town some 17 miles from our home. As some of you who have read this blog before will know, she does not currently have her driving licence so driving (were she able to get into the car)is out of the question. The letter helpfully describes the public transport route for her. This consists of:
  1. Walk to the bus stop (already beyond her current range)
  2. Take bus to station
  3. Take train to station A
  4. Change at station A for 2nd train to station B
  5. Take bus from station B to nearest bus stop to medical centre
  6. walk from bus stop to medical centre
This group of numb nuts robots already have details of her current medical condition so they know that she broke her back. They are also aware that she has had a partial hysterectomy to remove the lump and yet, because their automated system requires it, they are basically asking the impossible. Yes, I can take the day off and drive her there - but what if she was on her own. Yes, it is good that they see her in her current condition - but why so far away and to make her do things that are probably inadvisable for someone in her condition. This country's one size fits all policy for benefit and fitness to work is not suitable in any way, shape or form.

I am very angry!

My wife is very angry.

She is going to contact them today to have it out with them. I just hope that she gets a reasonable response as anything else may just push her backwards again.

For now, as ever, keep loving!

Thursday 24 May 2012

Life's Little Dramas Part 24

It has been some time since I posted an update on my wife's recovery so I thought I should rectify that. Progress is slow and sometimes it seems that she is going backwards but, for the most part, we are both being positive about the future.

Today started a new chapter as she attended her first acupuncture session. I am interested in these 'alternative' approaches and, as far as I am concerned, whether they have a direct physical effect or not, if there is no detrimental consequence, as long as the patient feels that it is helping, then it helps. My only issue is that I don't think I could have it done to me as I am the biggest wuss when it comes to needles - and I know these are very fine.

Anyway, the first session is over and the outcome seems positive in as much as she is not telling what a waste of time it was. Three more sessions to go and then, we are told, if it hasn't done any good, it never will! And so, the waiting game begins. Many hurdles still to cross but, baby steps as they say.

I may post briefly tomorrow on some (what I thought) amusing moments on press day at the Chelsea Flower Show (what a life I lead!!)

Keep Loving

Thursday 3 May 2012

The Likeability Gene

It has often been said of certain people that they are 'likeable'. Usually this is meant as a compliment in that, whoever they come into contact with, can't help but like them. This maybe a gene or some hormone that their bodies produce but, whatever it is, in general, they are hard to dislike.

I have now come into contact with the antithesis of this type of person. I work with a chap who is instantly dislikable. He doesn't seem to have a filter on what he says and constantly sports the sort of 'eat shit' smile that makes even the most docile of people want to smash him the face. It's not as if he restricts his condescending and trite comments to those lower than he. The only time I have seen him deferential is when he is arse licking the MD.

Basically, this man makes me want to slap him every time he talks to me. I want to find a way of belittling him in front of his peers to bring him down a peg or two. Is that wrong? Especially with my usual sign off :) I fear if I write much more I could be sued for libel. I think I should stop now.

Keep loving!

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Fear of the Dark

I consider myself to be a reasonably rational person. I didn't believe I had any irrational fears (well, only one but that is for another post) and was able to rationalise most situations. Something occurred last night though that has made me re-evaluate that opinion and, having thought back over the years, I seem to have a fear of the dark!

Now, this fear is not the kind where I cannot sleep with the light off. This holds no fear for me and nor does the occasional trip down the stairs in the middle of the night for a call of nature. It has manifested itself in two distinct areas.
1. When I am out alone at night - even walking along streets that I know.
2. In the house when I hear noises or (as in last night) when I see something.

Let me say, whilst I have watched horror movies, I am no great fan and don't watch everything in that genre. Also, I don't think, even as a child, I had a problem sleeping at night. So why this has arisen is beyond me.

The cause to reassess last night was quite simple but certainly put me on edge. My wife was in bed and I had come down to deposit the dog back in the lounge rather than on our bed and to fill a glass of water. I had turned on the kitchen light and turned to enter the lounge and make sure the dog was bedded down. As I stepped out of the kitchen, the lights flickered. I know that this is not a strange occurrence but it was the first time these new low energy lights had ever done it. This unsettled me slightly but, what happened next was what really freaked me out. I started to hear music! There was nothing outside, nothing on in the house and no lights on in the neighbours houses. I know that it was probably just ringing in the ears but it certainly put the willies up me I can tell you!

So, I now fess up and say, it seems that I am well and truly scared of the dark at 45, 6ft 2in and rather overweight. I feel a bit stupid really...

Keep loving.

Monday 2 April 2012

Out of Season Rudolph

Sunday was my birthday treat at Brands Hatch to watch the British Touring Cars. I awoke early (something I rarely do on a Sunday) and my wife packed me some sandwiches while I packed some extra clothes - the forecast was for a maximum 10 degrees C. Off I drove looking forward to a day of petrol headed bliss.
I arrived, as I do for everything in my life, early and managed to get myself an excellent vantage point. I unpacked all my kit and smugly layered up as the temperature was around freezing point at 8am yesterday. I had three layers under my coat, 2 pairs of socks, woolly hat and gloves. I looked more like I was getting ready for a protest demo rather than to be entertained.

The racing started around 10am and did not disappoint all day. However, at about 12 midday, the temperature was rising quite rapidly (unless a cloud passed overhead at which point it dropped even more rapidly) and layers were starting to come off. I finished the afternoon with sleeves rolled up and sunglasses surgically attached to my head.

As I sat in my car during the one and a half hours it took to get out of the car park, I started to feel the gentle tingle that suggested I had 'caught the sun'. With very little to do whilst sitting in the queue, I risked a glance in the mirror. At 7.30pm last night, my nose was already glowing so I knew I was in for a scarlet appendage this morning and, true to form, my face feels like I am in front of a hot oven and the thick layer of cream I applied this morning was sucked up by my grateful skin within seconds.

What makes it better is that I have now brightened up the Monday of most of the office I work in. There are very few that have managed to walk by my desk without at least a wry grin and, at worst, a belly laugh :) I always wanted to make people laugh but, in my youth, I thought it might have been from my witty repartee - not a sun burnt nose. It only took 30 minutes for the first email addressed to Rudolph to land in my inbox - laugh? Well actually I did as I think I look pretty stupid too! If you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at??

Keep loving.