Discharged from Physio at last!

After 4 months and 70 sessions, I have been discharged from the tender clutches of the Physio team. I have almost normal movement - although apparently I still walk like Quasimodo - I do hope they were exaggerating in their mime.

I now have to spend the next 6 months jumping up and down to build bone mass before another op next autumn. At this stage they will take out what ever plates or pins aren't necessary so I need to jump up and down to strengthen the bones prior to this. I will keep my bouncing within the privacy of our own home - as this is not something I would inflict on neighbours.

Ian is pleased too as this means he no longer has to do the return trip twice a day to drop me off and pick me up. So hurrah all round!

The weather seems to be warming quite rapidly now, it is 4 o'clock and 25 in the shade. Even my workshop is in double figures. It is noticeably lighter in the mornings and evenings too - at 8 when I started at physio it was like the middle of the night - however this morning the sun was just up.

storks fighting

storks fighting.jpg
Originally uploaded by Marchena.

Two storks fighting in Trujillo.

Foot rot

For a couple of weeks now I have been aware of a hideous smell following me around. I naturally thought it was something to do with one of the animals – or more likely, Ian. However it was with great distress that I found out that the evil smell was in fact coming from me - or, I hasten to add, my walking boots.

So bad was it that I had to investigate further and check that nothing nasty was contained within them. One of my all-time most horrendous life experiences todate (and lets face it there’s a few to choose from) was putting on my Wellington boots one day and finding that my big toe had speared a rotting mouse.

Amazing – 6 months of my boots being forcibly rested and you’d have thought that the fresh air might have done some good – but instead my boots seem to have suffered from fester fast-track.

Well, good old internet – quick search for ‘smelly walking boots’ (which reminds me I do hope we never have to take out computer in somewhere to be mended as I am sure that they will have no end of fun looking at our search history!) showed that what I required was a spoonful of Bicarb.

Of course!

This is a magical, wondrous material. Do you have any idea what it can be used for – well besides removing nasty niffs from walking boots? Whitening marble, cleaning shower curtains, taking stains from socks, removing nasty taste from vacuum flask, to strengthen nails, to soften the skin of new potatoes, to ‘freshen’ the fridge……

Unfortunately I did not have any bicarb but I did have a bathbomb which is 80% bicarb so I dissolved that and popped the lovely lavender liquid into my boots. The lavender would only enhance the new found freshness I thought. I forgot about the lavender flowers however and think I will be spending the next few weeks removing bits of lavender from between my toes. hey ho.

Response to 'Trip to the UK'

Well, having written about my flight with Clickair - I was surprised and extremely impressed to receive a comment from the md. I have posted it below.

Dear Kate, my name is Alex and I am the MD of clickair in Barcelona - I am sorry about the delay and the change of plane; after our maintenaince provider informed us of a repair required, we decided not to cancel the flight and rather, find a replacement aircraft as soon as possible. Ultimately, all booked passengers travelled.

Drop me a line anytime if you have any comments - we hope to be able to see you on board soon.

Sincerely,

Alex Cruz
MD, clickair

Trip to UK

I have just returned from a trip to the UK. I booked the flight through the Iberia website and was surprised to find that the flight was not an Iberia flight but operated through Clickair - a budget airline which Iberia have a 20% stake in. The flight was a good price €160 all in, so I wasn't too worried.

Until the flight was delayed.

There was apparently an indefinite delay at Seville. After 4.5 hours, at 6 o'clock, they told us the flight would not go till 10.00 so a lot of people left the airport for something to eat. About 5 minutes later they said the flight was going NOW, and we were rushed through. Well, those that were left.

Rushed not onto the plane, but onto a bus and then driven around Seville Airport for 20 minutes! People who appeared to know about these things said it is common practice with delayed flights to do this. Compensation is payable after 5 hours and this is timed not to the time of take-off but the time you are checked through the final check at the gate. Therefore although we didn't take off until over 5 hours over the scheduled time, our trip round the airport meant that we didn't qualify for compensation. Hmmmm. I don't know about this - but it did seem strange to be going quite so many times round the Seville airport perimeter!

I also wonder about the message we were given about flight not going till 10, as surely the plane must have been at the airport when this was given. Was it happy co-incidence that the plane that they replaced the broken plane with was much smaller than the original and that there were many less people to go on it as many people had left the airport?

Obviously this meant that I missed the last coach to Bournemouth, however luckily have some friends who have just moved near Heathrow so I was able to give them a call. Needless to say I had not paid any attention to where I was - not even knowing which terminal I had come in at so they told me to stay where I was and they would find me. I was by the arrivals section and I noticed that a man with exactly the same suitcase as me kept sidling up to me and looking at me in a meaningful way. I kept thinking that he was going to tell me that red-fox was running or something equally spy-like. I ignored him, thinking that if he was a spy he was pretty rubbish - and how unlucky that they picked on a case like mine for the 'drop'. All of a sudden another man with the same case poked his head out of the Arrivals hall and started bellowing at the first man. At this stage I any thoughts of them being spys went out the window - I am sure even the most inept spy would not shout across heathrow for the man to come and change the b****dy case.

What had happened I guess, was man 1 had taken the wrong case and was told to come back and change it. He thought he was supposed to swap with me and I ignored him. Man 2 was patiently waiting for his case to be returned and finally cracked with impatience and decided to make his presence known in no uncertain terms.

Anyway - sucker for punishment that I am I have booked another flight with clickair for later this month. I wonder how eventful that flight will be!

Snow!

neckwarmersnow.jpg
Originally uploaded by Marchena.

I've been working on a design for a neckwarmer and although it's not finished - when it started to snow here I asked poor Ian to stand out in the snow (no, it's not him in the picture) to take this pic. I thought it was probably a better picture to show the neckwarmer than in bright sunshine!

The snow has now gone, but still awaiting the return of the sunshine!

I've never been able to touch my toes.

A fact which I have managed to live with for probably half of my life and one which I feel I will quite happily live with for the rest.

However I appear to be alone in this, as the latest quest of the physio department is to return me to a state of bendiness previously unattainable. Until I am able to fold myself double I believe I will remain in the vice like clutches of the physio department.

I am also being taught to walk with a deportment which would please even the most finicky of finishing schools. Happily to help me with my walking they mimic how I walk currently - my broken ankle appears to have turned me into Quasimodo.

Quite frankly I'd be happy to have a small limp - but no. When they have finished with me I will be able to balance the most precious of faberge eggs on my head whilst lurking around the belltower.

Lady Luck boycotts Carefour

Even by our supreme unlucky standards, we've had an excessive run of bad luck at Carrefour. Indeed I believe it would be safe to say that every visit has been doomed in some way or another.

Here is our list of doom and gloom.

Toaster worked twice then gave up the ghost.
Coffee grinder which works intermittently.
Paella pan worked for 3 weeks.
T Shirt in sealed pack different size to that stated.
Gas heater - oh yes, 90€'s worth - kaput after one gas bottle

and to top it all - Samsung speakers bought this week sealed was found to be an empty box when we got it home!!!!!!!!!

This isn't necessarily any worse than anywhere else - (as I have alluded to at best we get grimaced at by Lady Luck) and indeed we became on first name terms with the manager of B&Q Penrith after a run of problematic purchases and most family and friends coming to visit us would break their trip at the store to pick up missing pieces; it is still frustrating. We've not yet tried customer service - however it is getting beyond a joke now (let's hope our customer service experience also has no resemblance to a joke).

Annoyingly we were in Seville last week and I made a joke about getting the speakers in Zafra Carrefour so it was 'closer when they went wrong'.

I hate being right.

New Year and Macs

We didn't go out on New Years Eve - Basil is scared of fireworks and 11 stone of quaking Pyranean Mountain dog is not a pretty site. For Ian and Basil think Scooby Doo and Shaggy.

Ian has been like a bear on a hot tin roof this last week (and I have mixed my metaphors wisely). He has bought a new mac -computer not raincoat, and it was due for delivery some time after the 28th. This means that everytime someone walked past the door both Ian and Basil raced to throw themselves at the gate. Unfortunately this spectacle also added extra spice to knockout ginger, the popular village game of ringing our doorbell and running away, and meant that the bell rung more than usual. One time our young knock-out ginger friends did not run away and wanted to see Basil - they also offered us 50 euros to have a party in our back yard, an offer which we declined. I am glad that the mac has arrived, the old pc takes quite a long time to start up which meant that, in the same manner as Reggie Perrin's daily reporting of his trains 11 minute delay, I have enjoyed Ian sharing with me the daily start up times of the pc, which is tedious for both of us - but for different reasons.

Anyway new mac has now arrived and disappointingly it looks like the old one. No flashing lights or anything, but it has a super-dooper spec and will be beneficial for Ians design work. I have his old one so we are a mac household. Unfortunately the keyboard didn't arrive with it - so a quick trip to Carrefour was required before the new mean machine became usable.

New Year - new projects: Bellaonline Crochet more information than you ever wanted to know about crochet and not forgetting 10,000 Great Ideas.

Feliz Navidad

Well Christmas is nearly upon us and the fridge is full of Dia 3 for 2 cava. Excellent!

One challenge that we are facing is how to cook our traditional Xmas day lunch of Lentil Wellington and all the trimmings. We only have two gas rings and a paella pan. Ian has cooked a roast before successfully however not a Lentil Wellington. What a festive challenge!

We were looking forward to having our Xmas lunch outside however the weather yesterday was horrible - cold and cloudy. So far today there is frost outside but perhaps I can see the start of a blue sky which will hopefully mean that sun is on it's way.

Ankle update - I'm now on one crutch which is a big step forward (boom boom), although still having problems with my fingers, but as ankle is improving I should put less weight on hands so perhaps it will ease up a bit.

Anyway - Feliz Navidad!

I am saving the world

We have just launched our new website www.10000greatideas.com. On here we are collecting and sharing 10,000 Great Ideas and these will be catorgorised into different sections. Some ideas are proving quite difficult to categorise and one that was a particular challenge was my idea for making a decorations out of rubbish. I put it under saving the world!

So how, I hear you ask, does making an angel out of a yogurt tub help save the world? Good question!

One area where there are lots of good ideas which people want to share, is recycling and green issues in general. We are increasingly aware of the importance of looking for different ways of reusing or recycling items - providing the double benefit of saving money and reducing waste.

So in case you were wondering why I have been subjecting Ian to daily yogurt drinks and the house is full of rubbish angels (angels made of rubbish that is) - I am saving the world.

Olympic Gold Medal

Should charades ever become an Olympic event then the British Olympic Committee need look no further than the British abroad. Well let’s put a caveat on that – I obviously don’t mean those at either end of the language spectrum; those with good language skills – or those monolinguists without the slightest inclination to speak another language or indeed make any form of recognition that they are in a foreign country.

My Olympic charades team would be formed of people like me – lot’s of enthusiasm, limited volcab and a great deal of arm waving.

Today I had to mime ‘being still’ and this was jolly difficult. I am still attending physio (I can put limited weight on ankle now) and I wanted to raise the problem I am currently having with my fingers – my four fingers on both hands now are ‘locking’ in the morning and my left hand fingers lock during the day after periods of staying still. Unfortunately I had left my dictionary at home, so therefore to mime ‘being still’ I needed to mime activity first. It therefore appeared that my fingers locked after frantic activity which alternated between some form of break dancing and a nasty fit. After rather startling the doctor and several nursing staff someone eventually put me out of my misery – inmóvil… of course.

So, whilst I note that the moral of the story is to continue with the Spanish lessons and never go anywhere without my dictionary, in the meantime I will await my call up to the Olympic charade team.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

Llerena was an important town during the Spanish Inquisition and in 1485, one of the 8 tribunals was set up here. Many dissenters, non believers and people suspected of witchcraft would be bought here for trial and often this would entail torcher in the chambers under the court.

I wonder why, as whilst having my leg and toes being bent in unusual directions during physio in a room in the basement of Llerena hospital, this interesting part of local history sprung to mind.

For more information about the Spanish Inquisition I urge you to revisit Monty Python (NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.), or failing that wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spanish_Inquisition_(Monty_Python)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition

Leg Pulling

I am having daily physio, starting at 8 in the morning. This is consisting of excercise, massage and what appears to be leg pulling. The excercise is fine, the massage isn't quite the relaxing peaceful massage that I would hope for, and indeed yesterday when looking for the muscles in the back of my leg it was a tad painful. The leg pulling is because my right leg appears to have shrunk slightly, and there is quite a lot of emphasis in straightening the foot out as it curls slightly over to the right. None of this is anything to worry about, but allows for plenty of literal leg pulling.

I have crumbled and have bought a gas fire for my workshop. I was hoping to wait until the new year, however as I am not particulary mobile I do feel the cold at the moment. Although it is warm outside during the day, my workshop is distinctly chilly and I have been huddled under a blanket which hampers my work slightly. During the summer we welcomed the small windows as it kept things cool - however now we are thinking again about large picture windows which would allow the sun to take the chill off the rooms. Of course had we done this last year then we would have turned the house into an oven, well actually more like a kiln. The key would be to have large windows which can be narrowed using blinds or something during the summer.

I washed one of my last fleeces and needless to say this was the signal for the weather to turn - not cold but overcast. However not the hot and windy weather that had it dry in no time. So wet-sheepy smell again in the workshop.

Rehab

Today I had my first Physio or Rehab session at the hospital. I had a phone call yesterday which was a tad confusing as I was expecting one about an x-ray – however we finally established that it was for rehabilitation and at 8 o clock this morning I reported to the rehab centre. I was prodded, probed, poked around and yet did not feel any pain, at the worst it was a little uncomfortable. They kept telling me to relax which was very difficult as I wasn’t sure if it would hurt when they were bending my ankle. I didn’t like it when they prodded around the pins and plates, I was aware of the sensation which made me feel a little funny.

After an hour and a half we left the hospital and Ian congratulated me on visiting the hospital without crying. He said that was a first. Quite frankly from time to time I do wonder about his sensitivity.

One thing I have really wanted to do is to watch the storks return. I am fascinated by these big ungainly birds who nest in huge bathtub like nests in the most impractical of positions. They disappeared when I was in hospital the first time and we’ve been wondering where they have gone and when they will come back. Do they return to their original nests, are they the same as swans and remain in couples, what do the young do or do the oldies not make it back from wherever they go and the young take the nests…. Ian said he saw a stork on top of the church, but only one and we’ve seen no more. So I wonder what this one did – did he leave a couple of days early to get the pick of the nests?

Needless to say not having any guests the weather has been glorious. It has been lovely during the day, although cold at night. I have taken advantage of the weather to clean and dye some fleece. It is good to get it to dry outside, wet-sheep smell is not a good one for in the house and the sun and wind soon gets it dry. However that has now changed and it rained in buckets overnight. I woke up thinking that someone had left the shower on in the bedroom which would have been quite remarkable seeing we don’t have a shower in the bedroom – anyway, it was the sound of the rain outside. There are rivers again where before there were ditches.

Cat-stration and mushrooms.

Our most recent medical foray was to the vet to get one of the cats neutered. This teeny-tiny insignificant operation was carried out whilst we waited – indeed Ian held the cat whilst the vet concentrated on the other end, although Ian did go a bit pale at the point when two little things the size of peas were lined up on the table. I am pleased to report that cat and Ian are recovering from their ordeal.

Autumn is well and truly here and this seems to have manifested itself by the countryside going green, flies descending and fungus. The rain has drenched the ground and things are growing green again. It is really quite noticeable and very different to the parched fields of the summer. It is all looking lovely outside but the flies are a nuisance. Apparently it is fly time of year. Ian is on a one-man mission and with his fly swat is busy trying to reduce the fly population. I find it a little unsettling when the said flies are apparently hovering over my head as Ian approaches me with his swat – however so far he has resisted temptation. Hopefully they will start to disappear when it gets colder. Wild mushrooms are growing in the fields and we’ve been told what to look for in the edible ones compared with the poisonous ones. I think that the fact that I cannot get out into the campo at the moment is probably a good thing. I am not sure that I would be completely confident in my ability not to get the wrong sort. Ian has sampled some wild mushrooms in the bar, as he staggered home later I was concerned that he had eaten a toad-stool or poisonous mushroom. However the strong whiff of beer following him allayed any fears.

We’ve had several visitors over the last few weeks and have been going out and about. I’m not very mobile so I have stayed in the car whilst people have visited some of the more inaccessible to crutch-bound people, so I am looking forward to seeing for myself some of the local sites of interest.

Not a lot to report on the ankle front – I have another xray due later this month when I will find out more. I had hoped to be getting back to normal by now and therefore could be wearing my normal shoes however my bad food is still swollen. As the weather is changing, sandals are not really appropriate. Luckily I found a ‘bargain’ at the bottom of a box which I had forgotten about. Before we moved I found a new pair of Dr Marten shoes in a charity shop – ok they were a size too big– but they were a bargain and I just had to have them. Needless to say they were much too big and I couldn’t wear them without them falling off (which resulted in a certain someone saying through pursed lips that annoying phrase about a bargain not being a bargain if it is left at the bottom of a box….grrrrr) - however they are perfect for now. On my bad foot they are big enough to allow for the swelling – and on my good foot a pair of thick socks and some padding means they do not slip. Perfect!

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.

Gripe

I have been suffering from the flu – the Spanish word for which is Gripe, how appropriate! I’ve spent the last 10 or so days in bed which is why we’ve been blog-silent.

Last Wednesday I went back to the hospital as arranged for an x-ray and to see the consultant. I was very disappointed when the consultant said that I was to spend another 2 months in plaster, and that it will be November at the earliest before I can start putting weight on my foot.

Later that day I fell on my foot quite badly. It was my own stupid fault, I used my crutches to go down the steps from my workshop and missed the last one and fell. It was the same time that my temperature started and I was worried that this might have been as a result of my fall. However it was just co-incidence and the start of flu.

There’s not a lot else to report – however I am sure that when I am back truly in the land of the living I will be full of interesting tales to recount…

...we both visit the surgery

Yesterday we had a two hour wait at the surgery. However this time it wasn’t for me, it was for the person we shall just refer to as Divot Head, who not believing when I said he needed two hands to push wheelchair – needed to prove it to himself by tipping the chair and falling under it. I had little more than my pride (the little that is left) bumped as I led there legs in air looking at the sky. Divot meantime managed to give himself little-boy knee grazes and a nasty chop in one of his fingers. As I laid there looking at the sky a number of things went through my mind. ‘Poor Ian’ was not one of them.

So it was with slight satisfaction that Ian had to drop his pants in front of the nice nurse and she rammed his backside with a needle. I also felt a tad smug at his whimpering, and indeed his scream as she came at him with a needle – and he had not even been jabbed at this point. He now looks slightly ridiculous with a bandage round the top third of his finger. I think the frosty silence – and the fact that he was threatened with loosing some of his vital and not so vital appendages should he ever come close to me when I’m in the wheelchair again might have made my feelings perfectly clear.

I felt a little embarrassed as we went to the surgery yesterday – not just because of the above, but also because my bandage was such a state; kittens and general wear and tear over what had become a week between changes had taken it’s toll. The nurse always sends me out looking neat and tidy with the top of the bandage neatly folded, and I return with some unravelling mass looking like something that has been found in an Egyptian tomb. The end of the plaster is decomposing a little too - but I'm not too worried as I am at the hospital tomorrow.

The nurse normally gives my foot a little wipe too, however because it was a week since my last visit it had gone rather crusty. A bit like what is left in the bottom of a Greggs Cheese and Onion Pasty bag after the pasty has crumbled whilst eating. Uuuuuuuugh. Embarrassingly large flakes of skin fell off in a heap. Poor nurse. I think that it was more apparent as the swelling has gone down quite dramatically and this made the flaking worse.

I am getting quite good at hopping down the stairs from the workshop. Going up is crawling, but going down is getting easier. The trick I found is have my bad leg forward rather than back and to hop on the count of three – not let momentum step in. To start of with I had my bad leg behind me which didn’t give me my balance easily after each hop.

I was a little surprised at the thunder and lightening we had again on Saturday, I think as a weather forecasting tool seaweed is probably more effective than my ankle. It cleared the air and it is not has hot as it has been.

Tibs and Fibs are settling in well, they spend quite a lot of time playing and the rest sleeping. Last night they were sat on the back of the chair and both hitting Ian on his head. And they say you can’t train them……