Merry Christmas Everyone......

Christmas Day was really lovely this year. My parents, daughter and her partner and their two and a half year old son spent the day with us. Mr T cooked a fantastic lunch and in the afternoon we all went to see my sister at the nursing home where she now lives and her son was visiting too. Later on we spoke to my son and his fiancée on Skype, they are living in Poland.

My Dad who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's  said he would remember this Christmas for ever. I'm not sure he will remember much of it this morning. My lovely sister has a terminal illness and has problems with her short term memory so I'm sure she will not remember we all visited yesterday but I felt so happy and privileged to be with four generations of my family.

I have a canvas of a photo of myself aged about 10 with my sister and our parents feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square, London. (Fifty years ago :) I look at it most days and count my blessings. My son gave it to me knowing how much I loved the original photo.

 

 

 

 

This is a photo of me wondering if my head will fit the Christmas paper hat :) 

Happy Christmas everyone and wishing you all a very prosperous NEW YEAR .

 

 

 

 

 

  

March Fracture

Last Thursday my left foot was strapped upright whilst I lay flat and motionless on a trolley being scanned by a MRI machine. As its very noisy I was given thick ear muffs to wear and fortunately I went foot first into the machine so I didn't have to face claustrophobia. I think I may even have fallen asleep as the radiologist said "You okay, its finished?" Amazing how you can relax in the most weird situations. Oh and they ask if you have metal in your body and are especially worried about sheet metal workers and insist on them having eye checks in case of metal particles being ripped from the eyes. Now that is a horrifying thought!

Today I went to the Fracture clinic to get the results but the report wasn't ready so two consultants and one doctor looked at the scan and decided I have a March Fracture, (a toe fracture to us non trauma specialists) so called because soldiers suffer from them. I do a lot of marching around at work.

I couldn't hold back my glee as I was beginning to think the pain in my foot was all my head because for the last 6 weeks it was only less painful than when I went to the Accident and Emergency department. The Doctor looked at me as if I was demented but agreed a diagnosis was a good thing. I've heard stress which I have a fair bit in my life at the moment can materialize in other parts of the body. All my friends have been telling me I'm daft to think there wasn't a real injury.

I'm to wear the Beckham Boot for another three weeks and go back to the Clinic on New Years Eve, hopefully I'm be seeing the New Year in bootless. I'll keep you posted :)

The Beckham Boot

After presenting myself twice at the local Accident and Emergency Department (A&E)  at the local hospital I was sent to see a trauma consultant at the fracture clinic. Following on from the A&E doctor saying "Stella come and look at the X-Ray its exciting" and me nearly fainting because of extra bone laid down around my big toe which turned out not to be exciting because that happens routinely due to arthritis but a black line at the base of my toe! To be fair the excellent A&E doctor smiled and said "Not that exciting" when she saw my shocked face.

The very professional trauma consultant decided I need a MRI scan to properly show what's happening, a consultation with a foot and ankle specialist and to see the podiatry department. Whilst all this is in the pipeline I'm to wear a leg brace / boot.

What made me smile was the consultant first thought was to plaster my foot then he said no a boot might be better. Looking at me he said "its not very fashionable you know"  I've just had my 60th birthday and in my wildest dreams I'm no Kate Moss :)

It's been three weeks now, one week wearing the boot. I'm back at work, trying to sit more and doing 2 hours less a day. It's better than it was but still hurts. I was really feeling sorry for myself  think it was the daytime TV I was watching constantly and not getting out to walk. It's so easy to become self centred and not count your blessings.

One blessing is the NHS its something we should all be very proud of. It has its failings and that is being addressed but I've always said when you urgently need medical care you receive it. I'm happy to continue to wear this boot till my non urgent appointment comes through for the MRI. Only hope its soon because this Beckham boot has an open toe and it might snow!!       :)

It will be FINE TOMORROW.....

Yesterday at work I was hobbling all day with my left foot not being able to bear weight. (Not sure if I've used the correct bare!) The day before  I had a slight niggling pain in the calf, nothing to fret about. Leaving work I always walk to my parents home where my car is parked but this time I leapt in a taxi because I just couldn't walk. I was able to drive home as my car is an automatic and you only use your right foot.

The foot looks perfectly normal today, the slight swelling has gone down but it still hurts to put weight on it. Everyone has asked if I've gone over on it, injured it somehow but I haven't. Then Mr T reminded me that on Tuesday I had been called out of work, my lovely sister had fallen at home and couldn't get herself up. With the help of one of her neighbours I had hoisted her up back on the settee. So hopefully I've sprained something and by Monday morning all will be well.

This is a big lesson for me from the Gods because I now know its no fun not being able to walk. Missed lunch out with friends and that's not fun either. :)         

Phoenix

Nearly missed my story Phoenix http://t.co/clxPlZdl9i . I was so excited when John Zero said it was being included in 101 Fiction and forgot it was going online on 1st September 2013. John asked me to edit the original one I sent in and gave me pointers so I could better edit the edited version :) Thanks John for all your encouragement.

Had fun writing this in 100 words and a 1 word title. I'm wondering if readers think there are two characters the Monster and the Husband or like me think they are facets of just one character. Whatever you think is right. :)

The Value of Money or Not........

Bought amazing Salter scales from Asda today. Shows your weight, body fat, body water and BMI, only £5 with a 15 year guarantee. I'm now drinking water, eating less and planning to go to the Gym on Sunday morning. As one of my friends said "Truly amazing if they get YOU to go to the gym"
I pay gym membership religiously every month but haven't been for years. Bit like calling myself a member of the Church of England but never turning up.

Just cleansed my face & applied Boots number 7 Day Cream, first time I've bought grown up face cream (£23) problem is a) its night time b) I'm 60.... thinking this might be a little too late :)

I pay over £300 for a yearly car parking permit to park at my place of work but always park on my parents drive and walk the short distance to work. There seems to be a pattern forming here. Answers on a postcard please no prizes offered though. All my money is going out to places I don't use :)

The Graveyard......

In a corner of the graveyard I watch a man silently weeping. I draw near. I know him, I have never seen him cry before. He is strong and dependable. I wrap my arms around him and he shivers. It's like a cool wind has wrapped around him. His skin feels cold to the touch. In the distance standing around an opened grave I see people I recognise, it’s my family. I leave my lover; I don’t want them to see us together. I look down at the coffin in the grave and read the name on the bronze plaque. Now I shiver and know why I see dead people.