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.