Last time I wrote I was gloomy Eeyore. Well ...... it passed.
Actually, the hospital visit for A's pre op assessment went just fine. It was little bit like Treasure Hunt – round the hospital to the various units for different tests, from bloods to urine to ECGs, we wandered up and down the corridors and took a lift and then stairs and then back where we started ..... I think maybe it is some kind of twisted endurance tests and once you give them all the forms they chuck them in the bin – knowing that the fact that you spent the last hour clambering round the hospital makes you fit enough for surgery!! We met once more with A's lovely oncology/urology Macmillan nurse, who oddly, knew nothing about this site?! Trust me - she knows all about it know! Then we chatted about the op, and I could see A getting paler and paler in the corner. It oddly had the opposite effect on me, but that's probably my liking for "forwarned is forearmed" lifestyle. If there is going to be a problem I want to know EXACTLY what it is, how they propose dealing with it and all the ins and outs. A looked a little unhappy when he heard how many drains they were going to poke in him during the op, especially as he would once more have to be plumbed in to a catheter (his least favourite of all time) and the fact that it would be done while he was under the anaesthetic was small comfort. Actually, I think he is most dreading the epidural, and I was all "They've done it a million times ..." etc. Having thought about it since I know that if someone was advancing on me with a big needle to stick into my spine I would be out the door quicker than two shakes ... so I am hardly one to give reassuring platitudes.
The surgery itself looms in the distance, but we have had so much fun and been cramming in so many evenings out and good times that it is a hazy undefined happening at the moment ..... it sneaks quietly a little closer every day. Last week we had our brilliant day/night out in London, after getting the most fabulous room upgrade from the hotel, crying my eyes out at Les Mis (to the wibbly lip stage I must confess) but I loved it. And then in the morning we just meandered round the city, snapping photos of people here and there - a snapshot of a moment in their life ..... cool! Friday evening we went to a brilliant gig in Farnham and then the weekend where we really got to grips with the new camera with some great results. Trouble is, we only have one of them, so now our previous cameras (a Nikon D40X and a Nikon D70) have suddenly become the unwanted strays that one of us has to "make do with" while the other gets to play with new toy. Still, we are being good children and taking it in turns at the moment.
Saturday saw A tackle his very first protein drink that he has to take in the run up to the op. It was a "juice" rather than a "shake" but it looked absolutely awful. It was the colour of wee when you've not drunk enough water and had an extreme gloopiness thing going on - yuk! I tried a tiny bit and it was like sweet superglue and it coated my mouth like varnish - poor bloke had to down the whole glass - I have no idea how he managed it! Truly disgusting.
The bits and bobs in the house came on a great deal on Saturday, especially decorating of the utility room. A doesn't understand why I want the house to be "nice" when everyone comes to our engagement party next weekend. He says "they won't care." He's probably right, they won't but I will!! Men just don't get that for some reason. We were both struck down by a bit of a stomach bug yesterday, that lingers on today ... so I have been working from home and feeling "like a half sucked brandy ball" (as my Grandad used to say).
I only have another 3 days of work before the big party weekend (please all you weather pixies out there, don't let it rain!). I am sure I shall be ready, but probably only ten seconds before 50 guests turn up and fill up our little cottage. Actually I am really looking forward to it, as we have rather an odd mix of people coming, some of our colleagues, family, friends, friends from ballroom dancing classes (A is a bit of a secret twinkle toes and I think I am Ginger Rogers!) along with an actor and a really wonderful lady that I worked with on a sex book (she wrote it and I illustrated it). I think it's going to be fun. ;-)
Take care all of you, and thank you again for all your support and comments. It means .... a lot.
T x
