Rain, Marble Floors and Crutches

Over the last few days it has rained. And rained. And rained.

And when it really rained it wasn't just a case of little half hearted squawls of wind and rain - but full-on bath-emptied-over-the-head rain. The rain turned the roads into white water rivers, it seeked out the smallest hole in roof, doors and walls to sneak in and form small lakes, the storm drains which normally contain a few dead leaves and the tide mark of old puddles became gushing gullies... I can't say that we felt 'at home' as in Northumbria we hadn't experienced rain quite like this and it certainly would have been cold.

The combination of the wet and hard marble floors is not good for me with my crutches. Given my propensity to fall over anyway (hence this whole sorry saga) I am naturally cautious - however it doesn't take a lot for the marble floors of buildings to feel like an ice rink. Particulary when hoping up or down a step as I can feel the crutches slipping slightly. Having a group of people behind me shouting encouragement does not help - as I experienced trying to hop up the step out of a bar. It is hard enough anyway hoping up wet marble steps anyway without having to worry about minimising bottom-wobble.

I had an idea for how to overcome crutch-slip in the rain. And this is for wet-weather suction ends (similar concept to wet weather tyres fitted in F1) which can be fitted and will allow the crutches to be fixed in place when it is raining and the crutches would attach to the floor like a limpet to a boats bottom. Also very handy for 'parking' crutches upright and saves that clatter and crash as they again fall over knocking the contents of the table off with them. Of course there is one slight flaw with my otherwise brilliant idea and that is that the suction ends would slow movement down somewhat as they would fasten spontaineously and thus making the crutches stay still as I would be propelled forward in a similar manner to a pole vaulter - but without the grace or style. Hmmm, idea probably needs more work...

Reporting in

Well, the Gripe or flu turned out to be something different and I spent another two weeks in Llerena hospital and then some time recouperating. This wasn't directly ankle related - well I suppose it was, but not with any long lasting affect.

Ankle-wise it is now naked, having had the plaster taken off when I was in hospital. As I was just laid down anyway the consultant thought I might as well have the plaster off so that I could flex my ankle and also to give the incisions some fresh air to aid healing. Having had a fever for quite a period, my plaster was insulating my ankle nicely and turning it into an oven. Fresh air was quite a novelty and it was quite shocking to see my ankle in all its glory for the first time. For about 24 hours it was quite mishapen and looked sorry for itself. However it soon came back into shape and with a bit of scraping off of dead skin (Ian impressed all the nurses by helping me wash my foot for the first time) it soon looked presentable. The incisions have been healing really well and the large one on the right is now partially invisible and the one on the left which is slightly swollen is coming along nicely. I have noticed that my right leg has started not to have the muscle definition of the left (ha - and that is saying something) and that when I am sat down the left leg looks normal whereas the right looks like blacmange. Heyho.

I had the ankle x-rayed when I was in hospital and the left bone is healing, however the right one is not. This means another few weeks without putting weight on it and therefore more time on crutches. I am glad of the wheelchair. Unfortunaltey it also means a few more weeks of anti-coagulant injections. Boo.

The weather has now turned from the scortching hot days of summer into a wet and windy autumn. Although I suppose in fairness it has only really rained this week - but boy, has it rained. Autumn is not quite the season of mellow fruitfullness that we are used to. The only fruitfull things we have are two ugly fruit which we've been nuturing. Luckily as it turned out, these were not melons as Ian kindly treated me to 9 melons from the nice man who came knocking at the door. Worryingly Ian has also found a recipe for melon curry (on the Waitrose.com website if you are interested). Hopefully we will have eaten them all before he feels the need to try this recipe - however he is always one for a challenge!

Tibs and Fibs are growing up, and are now little cats. It seems a long time ago since I took the picture of them climbing up my plaster.