Tuesday 22 April 2014

Sooooo Long!!





My dear blogging friends
It has been so long
and I feel ashamed that I haven't replied
to so many lovely comments
and emails!
Thanks you all so much!



I wasn't allowed to drive for sometime
and so kind friends took me 
out for drives



This one is over the Preseli Hills
with the 2 reservoirs in the background




I had hoped to have made more progress by now.
The pain in my back is easier
and I can feel my feet 
(though this is sometimes very painful).
I am still on crutches
and cannot walk without them.
I asked why this was worse than before the op
so they decided to do an Xray
of my left hip...
and....
low and behold...
it is bone on bone and growing spurs
The right one is, apparently, text book OK!!




When I look at the quarries above
or the little cottage
in the moors..
when I think of how hard life must have been
for those working there...
I think, "What have I to whinge about"




The fact still remains....
I am still in a lot of pain and on strong painkillers
and
I need another operation!
So I am going back to Cardiff 
for a total hip replacement 
on 30th April



Tomorrow I have to go there
for a 2 hour pre-op assessment....

I have been rather down.
Although I know that hip replacements are routine and very successful now...
It's the thought 
of the immediate post-op pain
and the pain when you have to start mobilising.

I know some of you have been through so much worse but it's only a few months since my last major op and sometimes I think that I just don't have the energy for this all over again.

Plus over these last 6 years I have had been in plaster 3 times (2 of these ops.1 of those a fusion) on my left ankle;
2 times on my right (1 was an op.);
2 back operations
and now...this!!

And...
Every time...
I was told...
"This will be it...after this all will be well...."

I thought I'd be up and able to walk our lovely coast path and do things with my mother and grandchildren without having to take handfuls of painkillers and sit down every few steps...

I'm fed up of putting a brave face on so that people will want to be in my presence.
I'm fed up of people laughing at things that I have to do for day to day living..
like carrying things up and downstairs 
(which I do as seldom as possible as it's so painful) 
in a backpack.  
I laugh with them laughing at me
but inside I'm bleeding!!

In the Drs the other day I was in tears and was told "Never mind.  Use your black humour.  You'll get by"

Now you see, my friends, why I haven't blogged in so long....
I've probably already driven away
the few of your who have been kind enough to write!!

Sorry!
I do hope that you can understand 
why I haven't blogged.
Life has just been too painful
and upsetting
and I can no longer put on a mask
and joke about it!



It was a lovely day Easter Sat
so I persuaded a friend to come to one of my favourite places...
Picton Castle.
In a wild patch of garden the Fritillaria 
were looking gorgeous




Aren't they gorgeous?

Round the corner we came upon.....



Aren't they incredible?





My friend was totally
overwhelmed!



They are made from sculptured willow.

Just look at the hands!



Aren't they....?
I've run out of superlative adjectives!!



It was a lovely..
and surprising....afternoon!


And ...then...
I arrived home to find
an Easter arrangement from a friend




Isn't this a cute arrangement?
I am so fortunate in all my friends...
and I include you all in this.
Thanks you so much for your care and concern!

Do you see who I see 
lurking amongst the flowers....