Eternal Refuge

Yes, that was what my yesterday was!

I walked into work, and really realised how far my leg still has to go in it's healing ... but it was good to get there. I spoke to a few people I work with, a few people I know vaguely, as well.

I also battled my employers ... although I work at the hospital, staff bank was taken over by an independant company, who give new meaning to the word "unhelpful". I phoned them 3 times while in hospital trying to get them to register that I was ill ... but each time got nowhere. Eventually someone said I needed to take my sick-note/hospital paperwork in to the office on site. So, yesterday I went ... and said that I had brought it, and they said "why"???????? Oh yes! Eventually they agreed to send a scan of the papers to the head office. Great ... except this morning I hear that they didn't get me to fill in the sick-note!! So, I shall wait and see what that brings.

I then went and visited the volunteer who was taken into hospital about a month before me ... he is very slowly progressing, so that's good news, as week 1 no one knew if he would make it.

I then did a load of ironing in the afternoon. The day before I was injured I had a load of washing ... and then did some the day I came back from the hospital, and again yesterday morning ... so I watched TV, and ironed the afternoon away.

Now I want to try and get some housework done.

Yes, I am hobbling around in my splint in the house, so it's slow going, but at least I can get some things sorted out.

So ... I am going to get on while I feel motivated!! And, before that -





6. Have you ever listened to a play on the radio?
No – don’t think so.
I never enjoyed reading plays at school, so I suppose that doesn’t help me.


7. How long can you stand on one leg – is it easier on your left leg, or your right leg?
Hee – at present I can’t take weight through my right leg at all!!!!!!!!!!
But normally, yes, I can stand on one leg … it’s a good exercise. Actually.




Right, let's catch up with you all, then grab the clening stuff.

I do love Exeter Museum ... to say that there is an eclectic mixture within the building is so, so true.  As you know, I love giraffes, well here is Gerald & and Elephant, which go together ... but the other large item on the display ... a harpsichord.  I suppose it does make you take in what you are seeing as it's hard to know what you will see next!!




Mini Dress 1969

Inside the tomb of Pairy, 3,400 years old, Thebes
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As I said I made 20 icons for ships20in20 over at DW .... I had chosen Avon & Cally from the BBC series Blakes 7.  I had picked them lat month as my pairing, and as I had only made the one icon before I ended up in hospital, so I posted that one as well.  This set are made using 20 icon bases/textures




20 THEMES

1 (elanordh)	2 (elanordh)	3 (rhcp_csi)	4 (Brutal)	5 (nkash?)
6 (lemonrocket)	7 (absolutelybatty)	8 (wunderkind_lucy)	9 (wunderkind_lucy)	10 (wunderkind_lucy)
11 (wunderkind_lucy)	12 (wunderkind_lucy)	13 (blimey_icons)	14 (bombay101)	15 (crazykira-resources)
16 (crazykira-resources)	17 (crazykira-resources)	18 (crazykira-resources)	19 (crazykira-resources)	20 (elanordh)

As ever the credits are available over at my icon journal d4s_icons ... although the credits for the icon bases/textures are listed in the actual grid itself.

Plus one with a Hallowean theme -



For those who don't knw (most of you!!), Blakes 7 is a BBC TV series that was never repeated ... shown 1978 - 1982.  I shipped Avon & Cally ... and it turned out to be the first of my ships that I still follow ... and all of which end up with the pair not ending up together.

Sadly Cally died at the end of Season 3 ... Avon, at the end of season 4!!

I ship Janeway/Chakotay from Star Trek Voyager, Buffy/Spike from BtVS, Jack/Sam from Stargate SG1, and John/Elizabeth from Stargate Atlantis.

Maybe that says something about my life, that I ship relationships that fail!!!!

The Fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason & plot. Than that's all I know of the poem, which was written in about 1870. and is here -
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For those who are not English, Guy Fawkes is also the only man who got into Parliament for a clear reason!! Even if it was only to blow the place up ... 1605, was the year and 420 years later there are still multiple Faireworks parties, as we remember Guy Fawkes Night

Anyway, to backtrack - yesterday was good. It was slow going round the museum, but nice to see some of the displays, get some lunch, spend time with a friend ... and feel "normal" after a month of just feeling disabled. This morning I walked down to the shop and bought some things ... trouble is having to only buy enough for the backpack ... but again, it is good to feel normal again.

As it turns out, today, I should have been travelling to London for my annual holiday ... so feels wrong to be here! However it gave me the oppertunity to get my set of icons completed ... thy will be posted soon.

So, I need to sort out those, and the photos that I took yesterday, and post them.

So, before I do that -




4. Have you ever received a birthday present that was just perfect for you? What was it?
Quiet a few over the years.
The family know I love jigsaws, and jewellery … and often get those as gifts. One of the last gifts Mum & Dad bought me that was a surprise was for my 50th birthday … a ring, with a sapphire cross on it, and a verse of the Bible in the shank. So, yes, some very special gifts over the years.

5. Monopoly went on sale for the first time on this day in 1935. Have you ever played it?
Both brothers loved the game … so over the years I got to play it quite a lot. I never enjoyed the long-term planning, so a simple game was fun … but not long-term strategies.




Right, I shall sort and post some more in a moment.

I have had to adjust the setting on my splint this morning, and had not planned to do much today, other than stretch the damaged muscles. However, despite having had a lazy day yesterday, my leg was sore even before I changed the balance. But I know that all in all I have to just listen to my body ... listen to what it's saying ... and be a good girl!!

So, yes, a lazy day yesterday, although I did do a walk again. It was odd being a Sunday, but being unable to drive meant I was unable to get to Church. Sadly there is a Church really near me that even with my injury I could walk to, but sadly the paster admits that he doesn't believe in the Bible. So there's no way I would go to such a service.

I want to get your replies done ... thank you.

Until then -






3. What’s the weather like today?
Very wet, and grey … and windy, as well



Well I want to get some icons made today.

I hope to be back tomorrow, but my friend is coming over to do some shopping for me, so if I get delayed I will return on Wednesday

I hadn't remembered that I was a bit behind anyway. So have a month to go ....



30. Have you ever owned an electric blanket?
As a kid, of course. However I don't actually like a hot bed! So although I have lots of blankets, none are electric.

1. It’s National Cookbook Month – do you own many cookbooks, or do you rely on the internet for recipe ideas?
Loads ... and then I inherited Mum's ... so even more than loads (if that's possible!)

2. Have you ever made chilli (with meat or vegetarian)? Even if you haven’t, what do you like to have alongside chilli as part of the meal?
Don't like Chilli

3. Do you have well-organised kitchen storage?
Umm - sort of!!

4. In 1957, Russia launched their Sputnik satellite. Do you receive your TV or broadband via a satellite, through cable, or via an aerial?
Aerial

5. What’s the temperature today where you live? Is it warmer or cooler than average?
Warmer (today in November as I type this)

6. Jenny Lind, the Swedish opera singer (the Swedish Nightingale), was born today in 1820. Operatic arias are often used in advertisements (e.g. the airline company British Airways used an adaptation of the "Flower Duet" from the opera Lakmé by Léo Delibes), do you recall any ads using opera arias?
Nothing that I can remember.

7. Do you often wear scarves? Draped around your neck or tied artistically?
Winter scarves ... summer often the scarf/shawls

8. If you didn’t have access to a car, could you get around easily where you live?
I have a car - but rarely need it

9. Did you ever have one of those ‘magic’ painting books where you used water on the paper to bring out the colours when you were small?
Oh they were really brilliant

10. It’s World Porridge (oatmeal) Day! Are you a fan?
About once or twice a year I am happy to have some

11. Do you own/use a food processor or blender?
A large mixer

12. Do you like doing puzzles (crosswords, wordle, sudoku or something else)? Do you do something that tests your brain every day?
I have a monthly crossword puzzle book, do on-line Scrabble every day, etc, etc

13. Are there things you ate as a child that you would never eat now?
Mum made us eat liver ... I hated it then, and haven't had it since

14. It’s Ada Lovelace Day - daughter of the poet Lord Byron, she worked with Charles Babbage to create the ‘Analytical Engine’. This is considered to be the first computer and she is considered the first computer programmer. Have you ever learned any computer code such as html to create programs?
Not to creat programmes, but can change font colour, size etc with coding.

15. Have you ever owned a leather coat or jacket? Do you still have it?
Had a leather jacket for years, that I did love

16. Do you own many things that need to be recharged rather than having a battery you change when it’s stopped working?
Phone, Kindle, Camera

17. Have you ever bought something via the Internet and regretted it?
Not that I can remember - but, there again, I don't buy much

18. The definition of an antique is something that is 100 years old – do you own anything that old?
Loads of stuff

19. Are you wearing any finger rings today?
I have 11 on 9 fingers/thumbs.
I love jewellery.

20. When was the last time it rained where you live? Has it been drier than normal for this time of year?
Yesterday

21. Do you own a wine rack? What do you keep in it?
No

22. What size is the smallest decorative ornament in your home?
Minute ... I have a pen-knife that is about the size of 2 (garden) peas, in lenght

23. How do you dry your laundry? Indoors, outside or in a drier?
Outside, whenever possible

24. Do you own a calculator, or do you rely on your mental arithmetic skills?
Either - depends on the sum needed

25. Have you ever had surgery?
Repair of my right retina, in 1988 (I have silicon clips in the eye)

26. Do you have a go-to ‘comfort’ novel you will return to again and again? Or do you prefer reading new fiction instead? Do you often reread books?
Some books I read so often ... And a few of my fan-fics I read at least every year.

27. What is your favourite thing to walk on with bare feet or do you hate walking barefoot?
I love being barefoot, but I wear a heel lift on one leg, so can't actually spend too much time like that.

28. The American costume designer Edith Head was born today in 1879. She won eight Oscars for her work, and her last one was for her work on Paul Newman/Robert Redford’s film The Sting. Have you seen it?
Years ago
I love her work.

29. What kind of toothbrush do you own?
Manual, firm bristles

30. Can you click your fingers (and are you doing it now – LOL)?
Yes ... and, of course, who didn't when they read the question!





Right I am back up to date!!

Wow, today is November ... and I managed a slow staedy 100 yard "walk". However the advantage of walking slow enough that snails ere overtaking me, is that I was able to enjoy the things I could see around me. So ... this is literally just up the road from my house, this morning. So much colour.







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So life is progressing ... slow, but overall I can see that I had a better walking style ... I really concentrated on walking through the leg, allbeit, slowly.

I want to try and get a bit of housework done, but I do plan to have a lazy afternoon.  This evening I am looking forward to catching up on Strictly, having missed the last 3 Saturdays ... so although I know who is "out", I have missed the process, and the eving entertainment.

Then tomorrow being Sunday, a very lazy day ... especially as I am unable to drive, so can't get to Church.  So, other than another couple of short walks I plan to totally rest the leg.

I do plan on catching up on the missing questions, as I enjoy the challenge, and thinking what the answers are ... and, after all kazzy_cee went to the bother to sort them out, so don't want tp ignore her work.  So, here are the questions since yesterday, and this weekend -






31. Do you have a favourite aroma you love (a perfume, something baking, a flower etc)?
I have anancient rose bush, and that is one beautiful smell.
But, there again, so is fresh cooked bread!

1. In the UK, the 5th of November is Guy Fawkes night, which is celebrated with fireworks. The firework displays and parties usually start this weekend and may continue for several days of November. When was the last time you attended a firework display?
I haven't been to one for years, although I love fireworks.
When I was a teen our Sunday School group used to have a great firework party, complete with singing round the bonfire, while drinking tomato soup.  For all the years we did it, it always seemed to be a lovely evening - great memories.

2. Do you have anything you love so much on TV that you record all the episodes?
My TV doesn't record!!
However there's not been much that I really want to keep recently - although I have quite a few series on DVDs






Right, let's get this posted.

I will see you all on Monday x

Last time I posted I was getting back into regular posts here again after work had taken over.  Now, it's about a month on, and I am getting my first chance to return her.  I know there are some unanswered comments, but I would feel a fool replying to "history" ... however if you did give me a vital question, please re-send it.

Anyway ....

Over 3 weeks ago, now, I went to the dentist and as I was walking back to the bus-stop ready to head home and get on with the day, my right calf felf quite achy.  No worries ... by the time I was on the bus, the calf was throbbing, and I ended up hobbling back home.  As I was home I realised the leg was super sore, so decided I would get it checked out at the emergency department on my way to work.  So I messaged my colleague to say I should be there OK, but if not, I was on my way.  Because of time, I decided to get a taxi to ED, and hobbled in.

Yes, I was seen on time, examined, and a few basic tests done, all the time my legs were resting on the gurney ... and, yes, they said I had pulled muscles, and needed physio and got me a referral, and discharged me.  And all with enough time to get to work.

Then, as I went to move the right leg ....


I screamed so loudly I must have deafened half the hospital!  And the leg started to swell.  It actually was about twice it's size within about 5 mins.  All of a sudden my treatment was escalated, and I was put on a drip in case I needed a surgery.

On that day 1, I was on full paracetamol & ibroprofen & morphine and gas & air ... and it still hurt!

Eventually I could move my toes slightly and there was a pulse in my foot again, so I was admitted as there was still a high probability of surgery.

I spent 5 days in the main hospital and then was referred to another hospital for rehab.  For about a week of that time I was totally off weight bearing despite the heavy splinting on the leg.

I came home 2 days ago ... and now am "only" on paracetamol/ibroprofen 3 times a day and morphine once during the night.  It's a battle to walk without crutches, and still can't put my foot to the ground without the splint.

While in the main hospital I had a scan, and it turned out I had torn my main calf muscle, and the internal fibres ... and was left with an haematoma that was 15.5 X 5.8 X 2.2 cm in size (and that was 2 days on after the injury, so the swelling was slightly reduced by then)

So, yes, I am now off work while I try to get my life back to some sort of living.

I have found it so hard to accept, as I literally was doing nothing ... now, I have to rest with the leg up as much as I can, and wear the splint if I need to take a step.  Earlier today I walked about 100 yards ... so, yay, a win!!!!!

Right, that's me.

~~

I am not going to attempt to ctach up with you all at present, as I need to get the splint off and the leg resting easier.

I will catch up with you all soon, I promise.  However if I missed some vital news this last month, please let me know

~

St Michaelmass is an Orthodox Christian celebration (In the Christian angelology of some traditions, the Archangel Michael is considered as the greatest of all the angels, being particularly honored for defeating Satan in the war in heaven) ... but is also a quarter day ... and the first day of Autumn.

I will admit I had never really thought about it, just saw the name on my calender this morning, and realised I had to learn a bit more.

In Irish folklore, clear weather on Michaelmas was a portent of a long winter, "Michaelmas Day be bright and clear there will be two Winters in the year." And, guess what, it's a beautiful bright day!!

The weekend went well - although I managed to burn my arm on the oven yesterday!!

Now I am getting organised for another week at work.

Before I head out ....








29. When was the last time you had to take part in a fire evacuation?
It really would be an odd week if I didn't hear the fire alarm warning bells going off at work. She have a 3 stage system of warnings.
The last time I was out of the building was about a year ago, but only for a short time.
About 6 years ago I was outside for most of a shift ... builders had drilled through a gas mains!
I have helped a ward evacuate, as they came through the ward I was working in (about 10 years ago)
We do annual fire training for a reason! All hospitals have piped oxygen in every wall!!!






Right, let's get some housework sorted, before I am off

As ever the days dissappear ... shopping, housework, work, repeat!

However as you have just seen I managed to finish a set of icons, so really am pleased about that.

As ever the frustrating thing is that today autumn has really hit ... yesterday morning I had a lovely walk for a short time before work ... the sun was shining, and even better as there was a wedding at the local Church so the bells were peeling ... a lovely half hour.

Today I am going to swap my summer clothes to my winter clothes. I have a large case, so it works really well, and actually doesn't take too long to do.

But for now -







25. ‘Rotomontade’ is a bragging speech or rant. When was the last time you had a really good rant about something?
A small rant, with a collegue, about the useless independant car-park company. I get ranted & sworn at, but as part of the job I have to keep the reply rant silent.

26. Have you ever been fruit-picking? What kind of fruit did you pick, and what did you do with them?
Blackberries - most years.
Until I was 25 we lived near strawberry fields, so that was a summer task. Also, our neighbours had a plum tree, that Dad & I used to "scrump"

27. Do you know how to change a tyre/tire on a car? Have you ever had to do it?
Before I even learned to drive Dad got me to change a tyre. He said it was an essential gift ... and yes, I am pleased he did, as the first time I had to do that, it was after dark on a country lane. I have changed about 5 tyres overall.

28. Have you ever eaten caviar?
I am not a fish fan, so have never attempted it ... but, maybe one day??




Right, I must get something to eat