New Year’s Eve - Monday 4th January Antibiotics finished on New Year’s Eve, I was discharged and moved straight into my new home - the staff block at the hospital. Playing it by ear, but think this’ll be my new home til radio finishes on 19th. Too much hassle wondering whether we’ll get to treatment each day; can’t walk to my house from the car because of the snow; 2 hours a day travelling in normal weather conditions… I ask if we’re allowed overnight visitors in our single student rooms. Yes, if they have their own room, haha. So, like a couple of kids, we sneak his bed into my room (giggling just a bit) and that was home for 4 nights. We’ve never been on holiday (apart from a few rain-sodden days in the lakes in a transit van) so this was a novelty - forgot all about cancer and appointments and Stuff :D Saw the New Year in by finding a nice Italian restaurant down the road with just one table for 2 left; ringing kids who were at a party with their mates and quite happy; speaking to my Mum; texting others and falling asleep by 1am. All too soon it was Monday. I had my 4th radio and a line flush at the day unit in the morning and Pete had to get home before more snow hit and he couldn’t get back. Boys liked having the house to themselves I think and had enough provisions (and enough people offering them meals!) to see them through. Kezzerbird has given me the biggest laugh of 2010 so far with the title of her blog "2010 and no-one thumped me!" :D Tuesday Dropped off ok but woke really early and spent 4 hours willing myself back to sleep. Strange bed I suppose. The flat I’m in has 3 rooms and shared kitchen, living room, shower etc - way better than when I was a student! Someone else moved in during the afternoon - great! Company! However, she had an absolutely streaming cold - sneezing and coughing everywhere. I’ve spent a year trying to avoid this so, because she couldn’t be found, I moved upstairs to another room. I was sure I’d only brought one bag but the extra duvet, the contents of the fridge, wardrobe, bathroom, laptop, wine bottle with flowers in etc and only one bag to carry stuff meant about 20 trips up and down the stairs. Wednesday Thought I’d go to the Tesco down the road after radio to stock up on water and juice. Much further than I thought - bit annoyed with myself that my stamina seems to have dropped so low. I still set off at my normal pace which probably doesn’t help. So I suppose the walk to hospital and the walk to the shops will have to be done separately. My friends from work came to take me out for dinner - found a nice place with no-one else in (it was early). It was so nice to be catching up outside of hospital! Thursday
Snowing again - I haven’t seen it in town for ages - under streetlights and so on. Lovely! Had a good meeting with Macmillan adviser at the hospital who thinks I could get a grant to help with accommodation costs - major headache out of the way if that happens. We’ll see. She knew that the gig the boys played before xmas had raised over £2,500 because she'd helped distribute the posters (I didn't know that) - an amzing amount, so well done to all involved. Also wandered round to the holistic centre and found out I could have a few ‘sessions’ whilst I’m here. 2 reiki massage sessions booked and she rang with a reflexology cancellation for tomorrow. I’ve never had anything like this before - I’m really looking forward to it. More snow. Found out the boys had waded up to work at the pub - thigh deep in places - only to find the place shut. No-one had remembered to tell them. Dolts. Boss is very sorry and still paying them but…
Friday
Day 8 of radio already. Can’t believe I’m over halfway. So far, no side effects other than tiredness (which could be due to my waking up so early?). Had line flushed again. No news on blood cultures which we think means they haven’t found anything and infection has cleared up. Asked about the possibility of getting second swine flu jab up here but not possible - my GP will do it as soon as I can get there though. Reflexology session was so relaxing. Had lunch with friend from school at WRVS café in the hospital - didn’t even know it existed…I’m missing everyone at home. Don’t think anyone’ll be able to get through this weekend (and they shouldn’t try) but haven’t seen the boys since Xmas Day. Facebook and phones aren’t quite the same…Saying that, their ‘term’ has restarted with coursework to do. As is traditional, they’ve done no work over the holidays and have a deadline this weekend. So they wanted me to look at their work with a teacherly eye before they sent it. It arrived at about 9.30pm when my brain has all but shut down for nightJ . Anyway they sent it off and they and Pete were heading ‘next door’ to celebrate their friend’s birthday. His planned meal / party had been cancelled because of the weather so his Dad had lured my lot over with promises of New Home Brew - I don’t expect much face book action before about 3pm today…remember to look in on your neighbours during The Big Freeze, eh J .
xx
