Ouch

I set off to Kent this week to have my heel hacked. Literally. The surgeon has sawn off a chunk of bone and reattached a cleaned-up achilles tendon. Dave from the Community Orchard asked for the bonemeal to help the plants grow but the surgeon said that wasn’t possible. I left a bit of me behind. The hospital I used is amazing and it was NHS. It is a calm haven where everything runs so smoothly. There I was answering the questions of the anaesthetist and then a nurse was asking me if I wanted to sit up. Marvellous stuff. All done. A lady phoned me up the morning following the operation to ask if I was OK. She seemed genuinely interested in my welfare – how unusual!

Jane and Cliff – friends from long, long ago – looked after me, ran me around and made me feel really comfortable. It is always lovely catching up with them. They are my “go to” place as they live close to Benenden – sadly, they have been stuck with me imposing myself on them.

Getting sorted out was nothing short of a military campaign. Sammi is on my car insurance now so he got the train to Appledore on the marshes and then cycled to Tenterden after he had finished his lecture. When he got to Tenterden he was a bit lost so he called up. Cliff inadvertently redirected him – so he did a bit of a tour of the town in the dark. No problems – he found me eventually.

So with the bike, the crutches and paraphernalia packed in my car we set off for Cosgrove. We got home about half eleven. Poor old Sammi was exhausted. Now he is looking after me. Coffee on tap being my biggest demand, but I still manage to get up in the morning before him. 

This bit is especially for Sam’s friends who don’t know what he is doing. I understand that his commitment to keeping in touch is pretty low. Extenuating circumstances can be blamed such on uncle duties and a Nokia 3310 – no joke!

Meanwhile, I am captive to my heel, and just hopping around the house as I can’t do any weight-bearing on my right leg for two weeks – that will get faster – I am in training. I have a Zimmer frame, thanks to Diane on the top floor, my crutches on the middle floor and Diane’s four-pronged walking stick in the basement. I get up and down stairs on my knees or bottom. Currently, I totter on one leg and a crutch to pull my knickers up after a visit to the loo or get in a bridge on one leg on the bed to get myself dressed. Not a pretty picture. The biggest problem is carrying anything. I haven’t worked that bit out yet. Next challenge - the pub done and dusted!

Returning from the Pub!