spot the odd chair

I accompanied someone to Northallerton's Friarage Hospital the other day, and had to wait for a while before seeing the consultant.
The waiting room was awash with matching blue chairs, except for this stand alone beauty, which l assume must have been donated by some kindly soul. The picture doesn't do justice to how much it stood out amongst the other chairs, but in a way, aren't we all red chairs trying to fit in with, influence, or make our mark on the rest of a conservative society, pointlessly screaming into the onrushing and all encompassing storm? In a similar vein, the red chair could represent Labour against the blue of the Conservatives, and the waiting room the limbo of the undecided and uncertain policies of our modern times, waiting to experience the Brexit aftermath, and the outcome of the possible unraveling of the currently flailing Labour party, but that just shows what mad thoughts can enter your head when there is bugger all to do but wait and think.
I think l maybe took too much acid when l was younger, and l have issues.
Time for a lie down..

toodle pip

the james cook experience (two more from them later)

 My original bed (and operating gown)

Jacking up before the operation

Notes after the operation

 More notes after the operation

My evening and night time bed

The Bridge entrance at James Cook

 The covering l have to leave on at the moment

Well, it was off to the James Cook Hospital to have my pacemaker fitted yesterday.  I was already knackered by the time l got there, as l was up late the night before (my fault) and then had to get up and leave Catterick at 7am to be at the hospital for 8am (not my fault).  The FPO drove through and stayed with me for a couple of hours while l got settled into my ward (31) and told what was going to happen.  I then read until about 11.30am, when l was wheeled through for the operation.  I stayed conscious throughout (with painkillers of course), and getting the loop recorder out first didn't hurt that much, but the pacemaker part afterwards certainly did.  I asked for extra relief (pain - settle down at the back), but l had to grit my teeth on a few occasions, due to the pain and discomfort (and not just because Meat Loaf was being played at the time).  There were no photos of the op, and they wouldn't let me keep the loop recorder as a memento, so that was a disappointment, and l am 100% going to be sedated and knocked out if l need another implant like this.  One good side is that l could get back to my reading, change into my trackies and top, and have some food straight away, until l was wheeled down into ward 29 for the evening and night.  Robbo visited and bought an NME, sweets and lager (l didn't have the lager), and l had a stroll around the hospital by myself at about 9pm, to stretch my legs a bit.  When the lights went off (about 10pm), l listened to podcasts on my ipod, as l couldn't sleep properly, due to the discomfort. An old fellow in the bed next to me got confused as to where he was, and the nurse had to come to get him back in bed and re-assure him.  There were also the usual snores and farts (not from me for a change), and the day started again veeeery early (about 6am).  by then l was really shattered, but laid on my bed all morning reading and dropping off a bit, apart from when l was wheeled off to get the pacemaker checked and have an X Ray.  Got the all clear to go home at about 1pm, and the FPO drove back again.  No work for about 5 or 6 weeks as l've got holidays booked for when l could probably go back, but the bad news is l can't drive, lift my left arm much, and l am pretty sore, both in my chest area, and in the small of my back (as l am probably using different muscles to overcompensate and protect my chest and arm).  Have to type with only one finger due to the way l am sitting, but at least l can manage to go on the computer.  A box load of comics arrived for me yesterday, but l will have to wait to sort them out until a bit later.  Not looking forward to trying to get comfortable in bed tonight, but l'm off to give it a bash (NOT THAT) as l am still tired.

toodle pip

no one at northallerton hospital

Visiting (again) at Northallerton Friarage hospital this week, it sometimes felt as though l was The Omega Man, as there was a distinct lack of other people about at some stages.
One day l'll storm the place and claim it as my own (in the name of The Colburn Popular Front, for old times sake).

toodle pip

urethroplasty - ouch!

I am rather glad that, until yesterday, l had never given urethroplasty a second thought. That was until somebody mentioned having scars from an operation, and l foolishly looked it up to find out more.
I will now try to remove the images from my head, but seeing as how l had to suffer them, l thought others can as well.
It certainly looks as though it might smart.

toodle pip

a busy week and the romanzo criminale series

It's been a long and busy week with no peace for the wicked, as l have been slaving away, including all over Easter, and attending to lots of other matters.
I've been to parties (photo's at a later date) and had way too many trips to hospitals. l was there all this morning (Sunday) and am going again tomorrow morning, and probably tomorrow evening as well.
In the meantime, Kelly is now 16, Dazzer is now 40, myself and the FPO are struggling onwards towards 20, and everyone is being taken ill with hip transplants, infections, heart trouble (not mine), amputations and blood loss. This is however, other people who are ill, as l am still indestructible.

The footie has been great and then bloody awful.
United beat QPR and then City got beaten by Arsenal, thus opening up an 8 point gap, but then United lost against Wigan. Sanity has been restored with a victory over Aston Villa today, and the lead is now 5 points with five games left.

Also...
At long last l have got around to watching the first series of Romanzo Criminale (one episode after another in one block) and am now cursing myself for leaving it so long, as l really enjoyed it.
A criminal gang start from a humble kidnapping, and end up running the Rome underworld - all based on a true story.
It's Italian, subtitled, violent, slow in parts, based in the 70's, but outrageously well done.
Of course the leaders start getting more messed up as the power (and drugs) go to their heads (especially the crazed Lebanese), but that's only to be expected. I'm sure l would go the same way (as Fleetwood Mac nearly sang).
Now l have to dig out the film version and get my grubby little paws on series two.
There's always something else to do - it's neverending.

toodle pip

visiting joe in hospital (again) and the love crazed rabbit

As it was another glorious day full of the Great Lords sunshine today, l took up some stuff  for Joe, who has been admitted into James Cook hospital and had another hip replacement done, as there were complications with the first one.
I needed some fuel when l set off, but was amazed to see the queues  at the local garage. I had to wait a while to get served, and fuelled by the paranoia about strikes and shortages (see what l did there) , decided to put in extra diesel 'just in case'. Of course this also develops into a 'Catch 22' situation, and will probably cause shortages in the future, but what the fuck, l need the fuel anyway, and just got a little bit extra to save me queueing later on and make sure l can get to work (but not until next Tuesday afternoon).
Joe was his normal self (unsure if that is good or bad), in a private room, and is going to be kept in for 4 - 6 weeks.
Saw Robbo afterwards, got some wine for home, and watched some recorded stuff on the TV with the FPO (with the idiot rabbit finally crumbling and licking my nose at long last).
A loved crazed rabbit, a drunken FPO, Joe with his radio, and me on the computer. All is present and correct with the world.

toodle pip

james cook heart tests

Out and about this afternoon at the James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough (again) for my heart loop recorder battery to be checked. Pretty routine stuff, but the person doing the testing seemed to be a bit concerned, and has said l need to see my consultant at Northallerton about the results. I sneaked a look at my notes while she was out of the room and it shows l had 58 episodes of Asystole during the last year (when my heart stopped). This did not cause me any discomfort, and l haven't fainted or anything, but l guess they might want to try me on some drugs (hurrah!!) or check me out again. Looking at the recent dates, l was in London for the Todd Snider gig (slightly tipsy), out and about on New Years Eve and Day (had the odd ale), and celebrating Manchester United beating Arsenal 8-2 in Portugal (pretty damn merry). I think l can detect a pattern already. Still, if that is the sort of lifestyle that is going to see me off, bring it on!
Obviously l'm indestructible, but this sort of thing would have seen off many a lesser man.

toodle pip

out and about at hospitals

My exciting life part 42. I have been out and about a bit this week, including visiting hospitals hither and a yonder. I had to go to the Catterick one yesterday evening for an emergency out of hours doctor (for work), and earlier on in the week l was at Northalleton, visiting someone and taking someone else (work again) for an appointment. That's without the trips to James Cook at Middlesbrough.
At Catterick hospital, the only other person l saw was the doctor, as there wasn't even anyone on the gate when l drove in (excellent security), no one in the corridors, and on the way out l just ignored the security post and didn't stop, as it still looked empty.
Northalleron hospital was busy (apart from the waiting room), but l wanted to avoid photographing other people, so it looks as though a plague has struck.
Still, it's always a ride out and something different to do, so there is no way l am complaining about it, it's great to get out and about as far as l am concerned.
Bring it on.

toodle pip

still going to northallerton

No great change at the moment. Nozzer's still dead and in the garden, Tubbs is still shocked and making me sneeze a lot, and l still have to go to Northallerton (although an operation was performed yesterday, so it's not for much longer).

I took these pictures on the way back today, not a bad day really, although by Christ, I live in the middle of nowhere.

toodle pip

no operation at northallerton hospital

One of the people l support has been in hospital in Northallerton for the last four weeks following a stroke. They eventually decided to take him for an operation on Friday, so l went there before the operation, saw him taken away to be operated on, and said l would be back after the operation.

When l returned, he still seemed pretty cheerful and said he was not sore or sleepy, which l found a bit odd. l then went to find out more information, and was then told that the operation had not gone ahead, as one of the medications he was taking would make it too risky, therefore they were changing the medication, had to give it a week to get out of his system, and then do the operation after that.

What a waste of time for everyone involved, you would think it would be somebody's job to check whatever medication he was on well before he was in the operating theatre, after all, he had already been in the hospital for four weeks and they were the ones that prescribed the medication to him. His family were not happy, l can tell you that.

While l have been visiting, the snow has been pretty bad, but l struggled through. It has just buggered off in the last day or so, let's hope the bastard stuff doesn't return, l hate it (bah humbug!)

toodle pip.

getting the loop recorder checked

On Tuesday I had to go to The James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough to get my loop recorder checked out (it was fine). Glad to say I was only in the hospital for 32 minutes in total (the parking ticket machine gives out the information). As usual though, it was another crappy August day. Bloody English summers, where's the bleeding sunshine?

toodle pip.

loop recorder has been fitted

Up at the crack of dawn today (fnar), as l had to be at James Cook hospital in the Boro for my loop recorder to be fitted. I was shattered when l got there at 8am (too many late nights and earlyish mornings), but l was taken in first, so was pleasantly surprised to be back in the ward by 9am. The operation was OK, it was only a local anaesthetic and didn't take that long, but it stung a bit at first and l was also told later "This might hurt now, so grit your teeth". Not the sort of thing l want to be hearing just before they tried to ram the recorder in (ooeer). Anyway, l was soon back to the ward and then had to sit around untill 1.30pm when they discharged me. I just sat about listening to my ipod and waiting to have my blood and temperature checked every hour (blood pressure 117/76 when l looked at the machine).

Left the hospital and went straight to the KFC at Teeside park, as I was starving by then. Not very good to tell the truth, tables dirty and the food overcooked, which was a bit of a disappointment, as l had not had a KFC for a while. Back to sunny Catterick afterwards, then it was dossing about in front of the TV and knocking back the Pinot. Not sure if l should really be drinking with my antibiotics, but what the hell (he says as his heart explodes).

I have to go back in about five weeks for a check up, and now have a recorder thing l have to carry with me everywhere (for the next time l flake out), but apart from that, life goes on, only now l will be setting of the scanners at all the airports. Excellent stuff!

toodle pip

oops - wrong hospital

What an idiot I am. I had an appointment yesterday to go and have a chat about my loop recorder which is being fitted next Friday, and have some blood tests before the operation. Foolishly, I did not look at the letter properly, so therefore turned up at the appointed time of 11.15am at the Friarage hospital in Northallerton (where they have done tests in the past), to discover I should have been at South Tees hospital in Middlesbrough (where they are going to do the operation). After some frantic phone calls and re-arrangements, I managed to get my own doctors to do the tests (full blood, SMAC and U's and E's, if I remember correctly). They are then going to get the results and fax them through to South Tees, so I can attend as planned on Friday for the op (if the blood tests are OK). That will teach me not to just to breeze on through life without paying due diligence (or maybe it won't). I had to inform South Tees that I was not bothered about the pre op talk and info, and luckily they accepted that. The worst thing about it was the fact I could have had a day off work to go to South Tees for an hours chat and tests. Damn and double Damn! I missed out on a skive there. To tell the truth, I am quite looking forward to having the loop recorder inserted (steady on, it's only in the chest), and plan to make the most of it while it is in, as it is the size of a memory stick. I can see a lot of knocking, tapping and squeezing it ahead (ooh missus!). More news after Friday!!

toodle pip

northallerton hospital and david hockney

Today l had my appointment at Northallerton Hospital for another ECG and an Echo scan thingie on my heart, which was pretty cool as l could watch it pumping away on the computer while they were doing it. Also had more blood pressure checks, all OK. After all the tests it turns out l am exactly the right height for a man (spot on - six foot), blood pressure is fine, and l have the heart of a lion, or maybe even an ox. What they do think though (l saw the consultant after all the tests) is my heart slows down and stops working, probably the top part of it. It then kicks in again (thank you lower part) and it's back to normal. this apparently will not kill me (damn!) but it has to be sorted. I have to go back to get a recorder inserted into my chest, then when l next collapse, l have another part to attach to it so it can record what has happened. It will probably then be pacemaker time (already been given the leaflet). I am now waiting for an appointment for the recorder to be put in, it's the size of a memory stick and goes at the top of my chest, my left side. I was also informed that people who die unexpectedly (say while playing football), usually flake out because their hearts go too fast. Mine is just too laid back. I was saying earlier on to the FPO that l would not be surprised if it just shut off when l am out in the pub and am finding people boring. That would explain a lot.

Also went to the David Hockney exhibition which was also in Northallerton. Not really a lot there, as most of the stuff was from 1969, work done for the Grimms Fairy Tales book. Still interesting and l have to make sure l keep on my toes and put the hours in. It's all culture and dicky hearts around these parts!

That's it for now, off to work again for another waking night (l did one last night as well), as l foolishly volunteered. Gives me a chance to doss about though, as there is no work l can be getting on with while l am there. That means reading, watching todays footie and listening to my ipod. Superb. Back home at 8am then it's a couple of hours kip, pub, footie and mayhem (if the heart lasts out).

toodle pip