February began with my quarterly online MND clinic, on the first of the month, which turned out to be a little comical. The video link worked perfectly but, although the medical team could hear us, we
couldn’t hear them. I was unable to resolve the problem, so they rang me on my mobile, which we put on speakerphone. That created feedback problems so I had to disable our PC’s microphone.
With my hearing problems, I struggled to make out what they were saying, and as I was wearing my neck support, which distorts my speech, they couldn’t understand me. Doreen had to ‘translate’
both ways! We did, though, complete the main business, sorting out stronger painkillers for me.
In last month’s blog, I wrote that my GP arranged for a blood sample to be taken. Maureen, a practice nurse, duly arrived one Wednesday morning to take it but, with my wasted muscles, finding a prominent vein proved to be quite a challenge. After multiple attempts, puncturing both arms, wrists and hands, Maureen admitted defeat. Was there any blood in there? The following Wednesday another nurse, Jo, arrived. She also made several unsuccessful attempts. Deciding she needed a ‘baby needle’, she said she would return in a few days. Another week later, Maureen came back and had more tries. She then suggested one of the GPs would have to come out. One in
particular swore by taking blood from the groin. Now I didn’t like the sound of that at all!! I awaite his appearance with trepidation but, another week went by, and Jo returned, this time armed with a
baby needle. It only took one attempt and, bingo, she hit a gusher. My groin was reprieved!
If I needed more evidence that I did have blood coursing through my veins, I didn’t have long to wait. The following Monday morning, I bumped into a door frame, dislodging my elbow. Unable to take
my hand off the wheelchair’s joystick, it slewed to the left, powering my left foot into a wooden pillar. Inspection of the damage (to my foot, not the pillar!) showed a deep cut between two toes,
exposing the tendon, and bleeding profusely. My GP recommended a trip to A&E and arranged for an ambulance, but Sod’s Law, that day the ambulance paramedics were on strike. An ambulance did eventually appear but not until 4:30am on Tuesday morning! A&E at that time was quiet. I was soon seen by a doctor and taken to X-ray, but it was 11.30 before I was seen again. There were no fractures so the wound was dressed and I was sent home, arriving just in time for lunch!
The month ended with the return of Wheelchair Services to fit new head-activated controls. The 4-month delay in returning was apparently due to non-arrival of specialist brackets from China. With everything now to hand, they set about amending the controls. Unfortunately, once everything was
fitted, it didn’t work! They diagnosed a software problem, which they couldn’t resolve immediately, so they left saying they didn’t know how long it would take to fix the problem!
Of all the sporting events I enjoy, my absolute favourite is the Six Nations Rugby Championship held annually in February and March. The game between Scotland and England also competes for the
Calcutta Cup, the oldest trophy in international rugby. This year’s game saw England playing at home, at Twickenham. Scotland victories at Twickenham are as rare as hen’s teeth, their win there
in 2021 being the first for 38 years. A sensational game saw Scotland win again, 23-29. A terrific result for Scotland, winning back-to-back games at Twickenham for the first time ever.
Finally, I am delighted to report that, after an absence of 3 months, the fish in our garden pond has returned! Son-in-law, Tudor, spotted it while doing some maintenance work. How it has survived I
don’t know, because Doreen, absolutely convinced (again!) that it had been taken by a heron, stopped feeding it in December. It’s a good job fish don’t eat much during the winter!