Progress

Finally the decorator has left, the bedroom is looking great, just got to finish the floor, the lights, buy a bed and move in. Been receiving all my bits and pieces through the post so got nearly all the Christmas shopping done now, and am getting about much easier too - finding that I am using the crutches more to steady me than support, and I am not taking as many painkillers now either.

All I need to do now is step up the exercise a bit once I am properly back on my feet to lose the wee bit of tummy that appears to have been transplanted as part of the operation!

Family First came today to pick up the dining room table so that is now out of the way, we have ordered a new one and we will probably decorate the room next.

Been getting up with Hub every morning, so knackered - looking forward to a couple of days off now that the decorator has gone. It gets tiring to have someone in the house all the time, as can never really relax, so looking forward to being able to enjoy my privacy.

anyone know a good plasterer?

Had my stitches out on Tuesday. Thought it might hurt but didn't a bit! Lots of little clips, probably 20 - 25 in total. Swelling virtually gone now, although knee still quite bad, making it difficult to bend, and also my foot is hard to keep warm - remembered the hot water bottle yesterday so hope to have solved that one. Nice scar though - looks a little bit like I've had an encounter with a great white off the barrier reef, this will be the story to tell at parties anyway!

Was expecting the plasterer yesterday. Got up with Hub - he had a trip to Darlington meaning we were out of bed at 5am - haven't had a lie in yet. Plasterer was due to come but he phoned us on the Tuesday evening to say he is running behind with his jobs, can he come Thursday instead. So I waited this morning, no show! The decorator is coming on Monday so we need to get it sorted with enough time for the plaster to dry, so not sure what we can do now.

Have left many messages but he hasn't got back to us yet.

Still, have had lots of presents delivered from E bay, great fun. Also had to wrap the Hub's pressie yesterday before he came home - quite a feat on crutches when I can't lift anything, let alone a great big box, but managed it! Also got a great skirt, and have my eye on a couple of suits - well, more than a couple actually, going up market shabby chic! - but will allow me to create a different image when I get back to work.

Wonder if we'll ever get the bedroom done?

anyone know a good plumber?

This weekend has seen Hub finishing off the ceiling in the bedroom ready for the plasterer to come on Wednesday. Bearing in mind that this was necessary due to the cold water tank leaking while we were on holiday last Christmas and that the ceiling in the dining room is still showing the effects, the idea that we could get the bedroom finished has been really exciting. Plasterer this week, decorator next week, bit of finishing of light fittings etc from Hub, then the floor going down and we will be back in the room by Christmas, 20 months after we first moved out to decorate it!

So you can imagine my horror when I got up to go to the loo this morning at 3 am, only to hear water dripping somewhere! It appears the hot water tank is leaking and it has brought down the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs! So my task of the day, if I can stay off E bay long enough (!) is to try to get a plumber in who won't cost an arm or a leg!

Poor Hub went off to work this morning muttering, "I hate this house!"

Three steps forward and nineteen back, as always!

hip ops - the new body piercing!

Getting better in leaps and bounds, although I can't do any leaps and bounds as yet! Had the dressing changed yesterday by the district nurse. She says it is healing very nicely. and the whole process took about 2 minutes. Filling in all the forms she had to complete afterwards took about 10 minutes!

Also had an E Mail from Laurel the Marketer - I spoke to him at length prior to going into hospital as he has been thinking of having the op - he is younger than me and has been suffering for about three years, and although it is not as bad as I was, he is on that downward path. Anyway, he has decided to go ahead and has his op on the 5th December! Got an E mail from Stoney saying that obviously it is all catching on, I have started a trend in body piercing plus - had to laugh, wish I had thought of that line!

Got some flowers from work yesterday too, at last, I thought they had forgotten me!

Had a lie in this morning, and had to confess to Hub that I have been out in the garden - bless him, I don't think he realises just what I can do - and just what I can't! Can make a coffee but can't carry it, can put clothes in the washing machine, but can't carry them once they are on clothes hangers! Can't feed the cats, or shave my legs, but can make the bed!

Need Hub to do the bedroom ceiling tomorrow as we have the plasterer coming on Wednesday. It's his last chance! That is one thing I don't regret not being able to help with!

Right, back to E Bay now, to check on my Christmas presents, and then X Factor, I regret to say we are both addicted!

Last few days

On Friday they put me on crutches, and showed me some exercises to start stretching my muscles - I still stand quite twisted due to the amount of time I was in pain before the operation. Really started to feel confident in moving in and out of bed, and walking around although still a bit concerned about overdoing it.

Saturday was even better - I had a shower and washed my hair, and attacked the wine list with my dinner - Hub and Big Girl came to see me, so we all raised a glass to the ongoing success of the op.

Sunday I came home! It knocked me up a bit actually, the trip in the car was quite strange because you become aware of every single shift in gravity and weight as you are travelling.

Monday I had another shower, this time in the cubicle that Hub has built while I have been in hospital. Bless him, he hovers like a mother hen at the moment and keeps threatening to take away my crutches. This morning, Tuesday, for example, we were in the bathroom where is is putting in a handgrab at the side of the loo, and he caught me cleaning the sink and tile surround - this is the sort of thing I can do on one leg so can't see the problem, and it is good for me to be on my feet and busy, within reason. Still, he is back to work tomorrow which gives me a bit of leeway.

Had an E mail from Little Boss to tell me that Big Boss has gone, left the company! Damn, and I missed it! Must get the inside info now! What a time to have off work, when it is all kicking off.

Thursday - two days after hip surgery and getting much better

"Had my morphine drip taken out yesterday evening and the paracetemol as well because the canula was hurting. However have felt so much better - been out of bed today - got a bit shaky at first so they pooped me back in bed for an hour, my blood pressure is low.

The pain is much better today, much more manageable, been for an enormous poo just now which has also helped. Can't believe the difference 24 hours have made, was on rock bottom and in tears this time yesterday but today have been up, to the loo - rolled there on a commode chair but walked back and have moved all my bits - bladder, bowels and legs. The swelling is going down a bit" (I obviously didn't know then what I know now!) "however I haven't managed to wash the black arrow off my leg yet." They put this on to make sure they operate on the correct leg, and it is still there after two showers!

"Seems strange but really yesterday I couldn't lift myself onto a bedpan, then suddenly got all gymnastic and could lift myself to the point where the nurses could move things around underneath me really easily, and now I have been out of bed!

Black Wednesday 8th November

Transcribed as written on day.

"God, what a day. Didn't sleep very well at all - they changed my dressing twice and it took till 2am before I managed to use the bedpan. Then they had to change the dressing and the bed again. Finally got to sleep about 3 only for Margaret Doo Lally to wake us all up at 4.45. Bless her, she's 90 and had a hip replacement a couple of weeks ago and then fell and fractured her hip so she's in a lot of pain. But when she is banging on her table and shouting "hello" over and over it's enough to send you round the bend yourself. Still, she's off to a nursing home today.

Things were not good today though - been very sleepy most of the day. Had a bit of a nap this morning but also felt very weepy at one point. The nurse told me that I have to remember I've had major surgery and that it's understandable but I don't like losing control like that! I had more I/V paracetemol at 11 then they came to give me a bedbath. Being pushed and pulled all over the place, then I had a wee and wet myself, there was too much for the bedpan. So they had to change me again. Pain was considerable. Then they wanted to do an X ray so I had to go down on the bed again back towards theatre. They lifted me up and down onto the x ray plate, and then up and off it, ouch ouch, and the morphine in my Patient Controlled Analgesia (hit-a-button-when-it-hurts machine) had run out just at the wrong moment. No morphine left! So had a shock when I got back to the room and discovered the zimmer frame and two physios waiting to get me "up on my feet!" They wanted me out of bed! I just cried, sobbed really. So didn't have to today! They were very understanding! But I will have to get up tomorrow.

Now I have been to the loo several times, Hub has been in, spoke to Mum and the consultant is pleased with my progress, and finally it doesn't hurt. Roll on tomorrow!

Swelling times

Just a brief note to anyone out there who is about to have a hip replacement/resurfacing - look out for the swelling! Had mine done 6 days ago and I have one thigh which is a Mini, one which is a Mercedes and oh, I see you, my ass is like a Renault Megane.

Tuesday 7th - post op

Transcribed as written - except that there is no font called spidery morphine!

"Well, I'm bionic! Wasn't too bad except for the paper pants I had to put on under a robe which would sleep 6.

They wheeled me in the bed down to have the spinal - had one dodgy moment as he started to do that as I was sitting up and it made me feel faint - I told them that it would and had asked them if I could lie down for it! Had a bit of a panic as they lay me down, then they started again with me lying down. That'll teach em!

They gave me a shot in the back of the hand and I woke up in the recovery room 2 hours later.

I have an oxygen pipe up my nose which itches, and a canula - I've had antibiotics and saline in addition to IV paracetemol, and the morphine of course.

I am lying flat on my back for the first time in at least five years - I always had to raise my left leg/knee before. I am a bit uncomfortable though - it aches and I want to wee but although they have put me on the pot twice I just can't go - effectively it would be like wetting the bed and I just can't seem to switch the right controls on. Each time it makes my wound bleed - interesting does not quite sum up the pain!

Hub came along and fed me a bit of smoked salmon salad and I had icecream but I can't sleep at present. I am getting good with the mirror in my compact and the grabby thing - bearing in mind I am flat on my back. So far I have sorted out the morphine pump when it fell on the floor, getting my book, this pad etc. All very well but I can't wee! Ho hum!

Hope I sleep in a bit. Hub is in Darlington tomorrow so I won't see him till late evening but at least he will have phoned Mum to let her know I am OK.

Must admit, when he was putting in the lumbar I said the Lord's Prayer! It worked, as I am still here - unless hell is not being able to wee for the rest of your life. I am quite proud of myself - haven't wimped out and it can only get better from here!"

Tuesday 7th - Pre Op

Very strange night - the bed was very hard although they have changed the mattress now, and my arms kept going numb and waking me up. Had a strange moment of dread at one point too, just after midnight, where I felt I was trying to wake up and someone was in the room behind me.

Loony Tunes is at it again this morning. I have had a nap as they woke me up at 6 for a cup of what they call tea. Then at 7 for some toast, and coffee - this was not even an attempt to make it look or smell like coffee, it was just coloured water.

Think her name is Margaret, she has a very high sing song voice - must be a bit doo lally but she sure gets some attention from it!

I will go down to theatre at 2!

Pre Op day, Monday 6th November

Written and then transcribed:

Well, here I am at the hospital. Hub has just gone home - he didn't want to leave me but off he went eventually. We have had a laugh - there's a wine list! Fantastic - having boeuf bourgignon tonight but no wine as don't need a hangover tomorrow! Am in private room with en suite, tv which gets certain Sky channels, it is a bit like a hotel except for the call button, the bed (single and very noisy) and the blood pressure monitor on the wall. Noisier than a hotel too.

Very tired - I really could go to sleep right now, I suppose it is the slow wind up to being here and although I had a lie in this morning I could have slept the clock round. I will probably change and get into bed after I've eaten, watch Eastenders and Spooks, and then drift off.

I think my op is 2pm tomorrow and Hub is coming to see me at 11.30. He will go for some lunch in the afternoon once I am in theatre and then we'll see.

Later - absolutely stuffed, the meal was great and I couldn't eatanother morsel. On iron rations tomorrow so maybe it's as well.

Today - Sunday 11th. Back home, very swollen, very hard to get comfortable.

hospital tomorrow

Wow

Just listening to Chris Moyles on Listen again on BBC Radio 1 - love this, as even though I will be getting up after 7 from now on, I can listen to him after I have had breakfast at 10 ish! At least for tomorrow. I don't imagine that I can log into broadband tomorrow in hospital - may be wrong but doubt it. Not even sure if I can get Sky tv.

Anyway, will write my blog in longhand! Then put it up as it happens.

Will be interesting to edit once have had morphine anyway!

last day for three months

Last day at work today - although have been working to this for the last six weeks it is still a huge wrench when it happens.

So many E mails that I think, I'll deal with that on Monday... oh, wait a moment, can't because won't be here. My team is fantastic, they really make me proud, but I am really worried because the vultures are gathering, rumours such as the QA team will be working for x next week, the pre sales are trying to set up meetings with production and the production boss blocks them - I ask them to set things up, he agrees, then cancels at the last moment. He sent me an E mail offering his support saying he knows we don't always see eye to eye, but I know the moment I disappear he will be tricking around. I have brought home my laptop and archive anyway, so let him try. I think he doesn't realise that I have faced this sort of thing throughout my entire career, so bring it on, small fry!

When I get back - if I go back, rather than buying a B & B, ......

On another matter. Sent an E mail today pointing out to my boss and the HR person that for me to have a male member of staff earning more than me, when he reports to me, could be seen as discrimination under the Equal Opportunities Commission legislation. He has been earning £6,500 per year more than me over the last two years, surely this is grounds for me to get a) equal money b) oh, he reports to me, more money c) compensation or back pay. I have given 18 years of my life to this company, so it is about time they pay me what I am worth, if only measured against my staff!

I have never been in a situation before though when I have several months ahead of me to think things through on my own, without any interference, well, except decorators and plasterers! whatever. If we win £85 million tonight - this blog will go very quiet for a while followed by references to Yves, Via Condotti and 5th Avenue!

Anyway, last weekend before hip op - I could die, so maybe the last weekend ever - spooky feeling. And after that, lots of time to read, watch tv, write blogs and play games - PS2 is always good! Don't know if I can finish Res Evil on my own though!

Not sure if I can take my laptop to hospital but if so, will be filling you in on events once the cut has been made.

situational leadership

Been on a two day training course over the last two (doh) days.

www.kenblanchard.com is the link if you are interested. Good, and nice group to work with, but they brought something to my attention - when I mentioned that one of my (male) staff gets paid more than I do even though he reports to me, they said I could have a case under the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Course was very interesting - apparently the feedback from my staff shows that I cover all 4 of the leadership styles, which puts me in 1% of the management population!

Lots has happened over the last couple of days. We got a quote to get the bedroom decorated - it is the chap that did the front of the house this year, he will come on the 27th November. Hub may be able to take the day off because we don' know how mobile I will be.

Secondly we are going to sort out the bathroom to deal with the fact that I won't be able to step into a bath - Hub is going to take out the existing tub and out in a tray and cubicle arrangement. That should be done this weekend. Hub's dad should be round to help.

Also bought a chair today that operates by motor but which reclines and tips forward which will mean that I can sit in the right position, relax when I need to and also can tip to the optimum position to be able to get out of the chair.

Also I phoned a plasterer and we had the ironing picked up. All this on top of a usual working day!

Had our last Spanish lesson for a while yesterday - as we don't know how long it will be before we go back, it is not fair for Max to be unable to take on extra people if we can't go for a while.

Last day tomorrow for some time, three months at least probably. Be interesting to see how much of the job is left to me by the time I get back.

Hope we have a go weekend, then into hospital we go.

It's just too much to mention

We have been to the Classic Car exhibition at the NEC - brilliant. Really good show, lots of jags.

Prepare to be an invalid!

Went to the clinic today for my pre op assessment. Things are not going to be as straightforward as I thought.

I will be in hospital for at least 5 days, not the 2-5 as originally understood. In practice it will be more like 8 days. When I come home I will be unable to take my full weight on my hip for at least 6 weeks! This means that I will be on crutches for this time, and cannot carry anything whilst moving. Think about it - I have nowhere to sit and eat in the kitchen, instead I have a separate dining room. Whilst I will be able to make myself a cup of coffee, I won't be able to carry it, and will have to consume it standing up in the kitchen! I will not be able to cook, clean, have a shower - can't get in the bath! I knew I wouldn't be able to drive for 6 weeks but I had still thought I would be pottering round after a couple of days, painting the gate, clearing cupboards, steaming the carpet, transplanting conifers, instead I will not be able to put my socks on!

They have given me a raised toilet seat to put over the top of ours, and a grabber to help pick things up as I won't be able to bend more than 90 degrees at the hip. For at least 3 months!

I saw one of the nurses I will meet again at the hospital, who did blood pressure - it's low, and my weight. 10 stone 4lb. (At home I was 10/11, a very good way to lose a half stone!) Then I spoke to the occupational therapist, who was giving the news about all the things I won't be able to do. Then went to have blood taken - as usual I asked if I can lie down as I have the tendency to faint, and she says, oh, I've come in part time, and although I used to be a blood nurse I haven't done this for years! hah - made her more nervous than she made me then! Actually all went well, no swoons, and four pots taken successfully.

Anyway, went shopping afterwards for the stuff for the Christmas puddings and the cake, and also went to Macarthur Glen for some nightshirts, flat shoes to accompany the crutches and the bowls and basins I need for the kitchen.

Back home spoke to Hubby who told me to ring the chaps that the surgeon had given me to get in touch with - got through to one, who told me it will be the best thing I have done, once I get over the fact that it will be very painful afterwards. His quote - "Incredible surgery, amazing difference, very painful afterwards, but go for it!"

Fair enough.

Will have a glass or three of wine tonight though, think I deserve it!

two weeks and counting

Well, lots of things have happened over the last couple of days. Went out to a great restaurant in Eastwood with Trickster and his new girfriend. She is really a very nice girl, and I hope he sticks with her. Also met up with Dangerous for the first time in absolute ages. He has bought a bungalow, his builder cut off two fingers on the circular saw and he has fallen out with his sister.! At least he hasn't decorated our bathroom this time after the last pink cocktail incident!

Brother of Hub has decided he isn't coming to Spain with us over Christmas as his new girl can't get the time off. Rather a relief that we will not have to spend a whole fortnight with the lovey dovey pair, however we have now decided that due to the op we can't guarantee to be able to go either! We will see how it goes and decide later. Not sure if will get insurance, will I be able to get on the plane, can i walk, be comfortable enough- who knows.

Been at my job for eighteen years tomorrow! Wow! Feels like only forty!

In two weeks time I will be going in to hospital, ready for the op. Starting to really get wired about it now. Have lost a half stone ready, mostly by going without the copious amounts of red wine. Could have eaten a cigarette on Saturday night though, and now not going to Spain not likely to be able to enjoy a puff in the near future either.

Anyway, have booked a holiday for next year, flights and car for about £300. We will be going in September. Poppy B got back today - the three of them have really enjoyed it and apparently my garden is looking great! They ate at La Boheme, www.champagnecompany.com they went on the beach, even to La Grenadella without shoes! They got lost, tried a U turn and go the car stuck - they were fortunately rescued by La Guardia!

Glad they had a good time, and that they liked the place as much as we do.

going bionic -hip op

Try this music, I bought the album recently and it is ace. www.lilyallenmusic.com

really good tunes, reminiscent of all the reggae and ska stuff that was around when I was her age, very good, and recognisable voice immediately. Everyone seems to think it is outrageous that she calls the police "the filth", is this really such an 80's term?? Obviously I am so out of date I am hip!!

Op

Anyway....two and a bit weeks left. Really busy at work, everything is time critical. Until you have such a deadline you don't realise that time is a quality in itself.

We take it for granted. I'm sure that Second Hub didn't once he was diagnosed, and I think (I know,) I understood its finality, but in a different way, now, everything I do at work needs more than the two weeks.

Meetings. Love 'em or hate 'em, but they are necessary for the average working person. Now, either the people I need to attend cannot be there in the next two weeks, or the projects we meet about presently cannot be finalised inside the next two weeks.

So, I have Deputy!!

Deputy is a... well, what is he? He looks at Racing Pages .com or whatever every time you see him; he talks Gambling! he doesn't appear on the outside to be a member of GA (but then I can't ask his wife!), and he doesn't own a racehorse (his suits aren't sharp enough) and he is definitely not a jockey (his suits aren't tight enough)!

But he is bored with what he does on a day to day basis, and makes no bones about it. So I have been trying to get him interested, firstly from the point of view of my job, want it to be well looked after while I am not there, but also to give him something to want to come to work for.

Took him to a meeting today when he actually looked interested! About the Goneaway product. So I say to him, when I get back, please feel free to continue with these projects, this is not just an interlude! So when I come back bionically and he has my job I have only myself to blame!!

Anyway, got the shits tonight, and needed lots of painkillers, so may not go to work tomorrow, I have not used the "oh it hurts" up till now, so maybe deserve to once before it all happens!

saturday - day of rest

Actually been very busy!

Friday, Fog and Photographers

I used to sit with the male members of my team, and talk was about horses, tips and odds, beer, the war and football, and now I sit with the female troupe. I have to confess that they do cross stitch! I mean, they are in their twenties, for heaven's sake. Perhaps cross stitch is the same as crystal meth?

One has recently gone off on maternity leave so we have had the pictures and the obligatory visit with the offspring - thankfully I was on holiday - and now one of them is getting married and you would not believe the amount her parents are forking out! Well, maybe you would, but considering all my marriages have been do it yourself affairs, it certainly, as they say, beggars my belief!

Over the last couple of days we have had the Saga of the Photographer. Little L and her mum paid the aforementioned snapper of snaps an £85 as a deposit and have been trying for a couple of weeks to get a receipt and also to book an appointment to finalise the details. The wedding is not until next August, however apparently you need to order early for these things. Considering Hubby and I organised our do in the space of 6 weeks and still managed to have a transvestite Abba tribute band at the evening do, can't understand the panic, but hey!

Anyway, this thing was to cost £2,500. No, not the wedding, the Photographer. Is it just me? OK, I'll shut up then.

So, if they can't manage to send out a receipt, would you be happy with paying them that much for a few photos and expect them to turn up/take off the lens cap/develop the right negatives?

Nor me.

Anyway at the "last" minute, instead of sending the receipt through the post, the firm have sent the deposit back. They have refused to do the gig. No reason given. Cue floods of tears from Little L and, by default, her Mum. This girl is a rottweiler when it comes to project managers not doing their job, give her a wayward Photographer and I would expect her to eat him for breakfast, but as it is to do with the wedding it all goes out the window.

Forget the fact that I have one team member on maternity, another heading that way imminently, (if she burps, you find yourself ordering towels and boiling water), one up for hospitalisation, oh, and me for the same, one resignation, and the rest working flat out to cover these and their own jobs, as well as a Board communication telling me that they have decided they need me to find a fully qualified QA analyst to get this product live by 15th December, no worries, if you need me I'm in the loos talking to a distraught Little L and persuading her that all will be all right on the night, it was meant to be, and don't for a moment worry about it.

Only Friday the 13th after all. Are they racing at Haydock today? That, I can handle.

Bring back Beckham

Can't beleve how badly the England team played last night. Late kick off meant that I had to listen to the first half whilst sat in a traffic jam. It was quickly apparent that the English weren't getting the best of the possession.

Traffic very bad as a scooter and a car had duelled and the scooter rider had lost, then there was an event at the Harvey Haddon stadium called, ironically, What Next! It was rammed. And as the powers that be have recently had great fun turning a two lane dual carriageway into a one lane with lots of room for pushbikes and parked cars, complete bloody nightmare!

So, traffic jams and bad football. Not a good start to the evening, and then it went from bad to worse, what with the own goal and all. I mean, what was Gary Neville thinking of? Considering these people get paid £50k per week, I've seen more passion shown in the team meeting at work that they displayed on the pitch last night.

Sack MaClaren, appoint O Neill, and bring back Beckham pronto, or we won't get to 2008!

Bloody Mobile Phones

Typical, isn't it!

Last weekend Hubby went out and bought us both a mobile phone, a Motorola Raz 3 thing, brilliant, really neat and fits the hand a treat. Takes good photos (except for the fact it's a mobile phone so you always get a bit of a blur going when you hit the shot), and exactly the same except his is black and mine is (very) pink.

So we go on the website to make them web configured, and his works and mine doesn't.

Doesn't matter what I try, no go. Tried everything, bar throwing it out the window, and believe me that is next.

Been on the website and cleared the cache, taken out battery and reset the SIM and tried again, and then gone back to make sure put in the right number and then etc etc etc.

Still doesn't work.

Gone right back to the beginning, checked all settings - the brochure for the phone doesn't have a troubleshoot page. This I find very unusual and slightly disturbing. Could it be that the phone is so bad that the trobleshoot page would be longer than the main instructions??? We may never know.....

Not even swopping his SIM over to my phone has worked so it's clearly the phone.

Shame. Wanted to use it over the next few days as well.

Had a bad couple of days actually. Went over to see Mum on Saturday along with the rest of the family. Went over originally to see Oldest Nephew who has just passed his GCSE's. He's done really well, and so we bought him a laptop. Got to flex the Rich Auntie muscle very occasionally!

Mum however was on form. The entire nation is being overrun by immigrants apparently. This has always been Mum's point of view of course, it's just that they have been more sneaky of late, because they're not black! I try to shut her up, - she knows it leads to friction between us so why does she do it? But she is on a roll by now. I tell her I don't want to discuss it because I believe that because most of the people who come here are between 20 and 40, and work, they are contributing to the country. They are young, single and healthy, so they pay taxes, do not use schools or hospitals. So on balance they put in more than they use up.

But they take up our houses, she says. Apparently there is a household near them, with a young family - man, wife and a couple of toddlers - living with the in-laws. They have been on the housing list for ages, and now apparently, because we have the entire population of Warsaw and Portugal living here, they have had to- sharp intake of breath - they have had to go into private rented accommodation!

At this point I tell her quite sharply that I do not see this as a problem - so they may not be in a council house but please don't tell me that private landlords are a problem. Hubby and I rent out two houses after all!

I haven't mentoned yet (although I will, I will, one day!) that Dad gave up work when he went out of business and has been on benefit since he was 48, and she therefore has been a "burden on the taxpayer", ie me, since she was 41!

Instead I simply say that when we go to Spain to live we will expect to be given a courteous welcome, and so I will offer the same to anyone coming here!

Anyway, enough of that. Oldest Nephew was suitably gratified and Middle Nephew took note. We could see him working out how much revision he can cram in now before his exams in May. Eldest Niece still wants me to showher how to do a french plait, and Youngest Niece cleaned the bathroom while we were there. This was treated with suspicion. Sister wanted to know what she had done which resulted in such a cleaning frenzy and Husband of Sister made a mental note to order a new toothbrush. (the story that will be told to all prospective husbands of Youngest Niece is how she used Husband of Sister's electric toothbrush to polish the shells of several snails she had gathered on the garden wall! )

Youngest nephew still looks like Rooney and still needs a good slap!

Anyway, work has been a pain. Put into practice something I learnt at management training a week or so ago. always dangerous, however it didn't go too bad. Only one of the team resigned! My Boss by Proxy shook his head and proceeded to run down the motorway to meet with aforementioned Resignee to talk him out of it, whereas my reaction is, if they want to go, they will go. Actual Boss agrees with me, so we'll see.

Hip has been hurting like a bitch though over the last two days. yesterday was very hot and humid, not bad for this time of year, however today was rainy all day. Doesn't matter, hip very bad whatever the weather, so that sainsbury's zimmer needed two bottles of wine for ballast at least! Up to eight tablets a day from the prescrbed 6, but what the hell, it's my pain!

Only 6 weeks left now before the operation, so hopefully all will be on the up after that!

Hamster has a bad day

Heard the news today about Richard Hammond having his accident. Once again there is a rift between what the media think we think, and what we think we think.

We are shocked at the news of his accident, in the same way we are about Steve Irwin because we see them on the TV, and we think we know them. So of course we are shocked when we hear things like this, we are only human after all.

I can remember when Diana died. I hate the gossp magazines, Heat, Chat, Hello, Crap and so on, and because I don't read things like this I think I am not succumbing to the gossip, but because it is everywhere you look, front pages, television, websites etc, you forget that you absorb details about these people without realising.

So when something happens to them it is like hearing about a colleague or friend of a friend having an accident or being hurt, or something.

Except with this you get angry at all the nanny stuff. "Top Gear idolises speed", "Ban it now" etc etc.

We forget that Richard is doing something he always wanted to do and he lives his life as a result - it pays his not insubstantial salary after all.

I heard someone on TV today say that presenters in the days of yore never felt the need to do these things, they would stand at the side and interview the participants. Try telling that to John Noakes after he went down the bob sleigh run on his head - he couldn't wait to show off his bruises on Blue Peter.

What about the steeplejack chap? he became a presenter after a while, the Dibner chap. So which is worse, a chap who goes up the side of huge tall chimneys and steeples and then becomes a presenter, or someone like Hamster who is a presenter first and then takes on things that people would not usually do.

All I can say is that to take advantage of an accident like this to call for banning the programme, to start quoting Health and Safety before the facts are known, to behave as if the producers and Richard would attempt something like this without taking as much care as they possibly can, is insulting.

get well soon Richard and hope to see you back doing what you love soon.

Work, holidays and getting ready for major surgery

Woah, quite easy setting up this blog thing.

Hubby not too happy though, he has enough to deal with considering I have about 1,000 books, all about crime and serial killers! Deaver and Cornwall, Kellerman etc, all devoured. I can read a book in a day, given the chance. Funny, some people have days off work to play golf, or watch tennis and this is considered totally rational behaviour. Hitting a ball into a hole! I, on the other hand, find it hard to justify taking a day off just because I have had a delivery of Koontz.

Got a few days coming up though when I will have as much time as I want. I can see the thought crawling across the minds of colleagues when I mention that recovering from a hip operation is likely to take 6 weeks. The word "wimp" wanders into view, albeit hiding in corners and behind the back of larger colleagues. It does sound like a long time, and you look at it like a gift - a gift that someone else has been given that you would exploit far better - do more meaningful things or just more shopping, depending on your character. Six weeks. How would you spend it? The fact that I will be recovering from having a hip operation, a re-surfacing no less, is a small price to pay.

Imagine. I will be able to get up when I want, watch what I want on TV, read thirty books at a time, do crosswords, become an expert at sedoku, hobble to the loo, can I sit in a chair without dislocating my new hip, how big will my scar be?

I am 46. I need a new hip. I appreciate that I led a very wild life when I was younger, associated with people in the pop world, went to the London Fashion Week and appeared in videos, danced, yada yada yada, so I should be able to take this in my stride!

Can't walk very well though. I mean, really cannot walk very well. My foot thinks it has lifted up and it hasn't. If I am holding the hand of my husband when I start going over then fine , it is a Stumbleclench. If not, then I fall over. Simple as that.

I use the trolleys in Sainsbury's like a zimmer frame, and we bought new bikes in the New Year so we could exercise to get rid of the post smoking spare tyre and I haven't been able to sit on mine. Ever. We sold the VX220 cos it hurts to sit in it, and I haven't been on the motorbike for two years. Couldn't manage the Via Condotti.

When shopping is suffering then something has to be done.

So, my doctor sent me for an X Ray, and looked at it with a frown

"Hmmm" he said, "Never had a patient as young as you who needs a hip replacement!"

So, I will be "going private" as they say when you are not in the army.

Will be having a Birmingham hip - could have been a Windsor! - and it appears that it is really quite new technology. At least as far as the States is concerned. We have been doing it over here since 1996, however it has only just been signed off in the US.

Never had an overnight stay in hospital before, never taken major painkillers (legally) before, never really had anything wrong with me before so this is all new and I am terrified.

Still, 6 weeks off work just before Christmas. hell of a lot of Koontz!