A Mixed Bag

Well, that was an interesting day! It transpires that John does have some lung capacity left, after all. Just got to find it somehow.

We toddled over to the QE this morning, mindful that in a few weeks’ time we will have to start paying a clean air charge or find a new route into Birmingham. Or buy a new car? Now there’s an idea.

The appointment process proved exceedingly smooth. There was no charge for car parking as John has a blue badge – the first time we have experienced such a thing. We parked, walked up to the reception area, did the self-check-in thing and sat and waited for perhaps ten to fifteen minutes (we were early) before they called John through. They then took all his vital observations and, very soon afterwards, we saw the consultant.

Regrettably, the consultant spoke very quickly and had a slight accent, making it difficult for John to pick out exactly what she was saying. That meant that the experience for John wasn’t as good as it could have been and he came away with a less than good impression.

Being contrary, I thought the consultation had gone well. The consultant told John that there is lung capacity – it just needs to be treated with the nebulised antibiotic to get rid of the bug, pseudomonas, which true to form, is proving awkward.

The consultant wanted to know if John had been given any physiotherapy. Ah……no? I think the implication was that he should have been. She said she will set it up. We mentioned about John’s difficulty in walking very far and she said she’d set up an ambulatory test and then, if necessary, she can prescribe portable oxygen. I thought that was a positive, but I am not sure that John did.

The prescription for the antibiotic to shift the pseudomonas bug wasn’t in stock, so we are on a promise that it will be delivered to us here at home in a couple of days. So there we are – depending on who you talk to in our household depends on whether it was a good visit or not.

I do hope, though, that there are better days ahead. I am a bit fed up (as is John, of course) of constantly feeling dragged down by illness lurking all around in one form or another. Thank you for your kind thoughts those of you who sent them – keep ’em coming!

The weather has been variable here and the clouds were gathering as we drove home – as black as black as black – and shortly after we arrived home hailstones thundered down. This, in contrast to the glorious sunshine at eight o’clock this morning when I walked Chester.

Once we were home, we treated ourselves to some hot chocolate and cake – after which we both promptly fell asleep. If it was a competition, I’d win. I slept for another four hours. John was triumphant that he’d woken up well before me and had let the dog out into the garden for a run. I did feel a bit guilty. I’m blaming a ruined night’s sleep for my tiredness.

After we’d eaten our evening meal, it was a quick scamper over the fields for a last dog-walk before Quiz Night. The sun was absolutely stunning again this evening and the walk wonderful. Quiz Night, too, was wonderful. On what was our 52nd week of quizzing, it was great fun and great company as usual. We even knew some of the answers today. Happy days. More, please?

On the coronavirus front there are still grounds to be hopeful, but I’m keeping my beady eye on the figures just in case they should decide to misbehave. I am hoping that a hard stare might do the trick if they start wriggling out of line – what do you think?

People with positive tests – 2,144; people who died in the community – 27; people who died in hospitals – 9 on 2 & 3 May.

Take care everyone. God bless.