2018 not the greatest start to the year

2018 has not started well for me.  The year started off getting over the flu bug that I had over Christmas and kept on going for a few weeks after.

I started off a new craft of paper cutting which I was really enjoying and making progress from beginner to who knows what level and then my life changed.

2nd February 2018 should have been a great day for me.  I was going to London to have some time to myself visiting my favourite places, craft shop, chocolate shop, nice chocolate cake, meeting up with a friend and seeing a show.

Well I did most of that except for the last part as I had a fall after picking up my ticket at the Box Office and before meeting my mate.

Was helped by some lovely people who were nearby who offered to call me an ambulance but I did not think that it was that bad and they helped me to my feet and I waited for my mate.  One man who helped me to my feet managed to do so without spilling his beer.  I went back to the theatre and got my money back for my ticket and sat and waited for my mate to arrive.  Phoned my Mum to let her know and we decided I should get myself home and then we could get to A&E.  I know I could have gone to a hospital in London but I did not know where to go and worried that if I spent hours in there I would not get home that night and the next day there were no trains only replacement buses.

Waited for my mate to arrive as he was bringing me something and then he helped get me into a taxi to Liverpool Street as there was no way I could have coped on the tube on a Friday night still in rush hour time.  Lovely taxi driver who took me right to the taxi rank by the platforms I needed so I did not have to use the stairs or escalator to get to the platform.

Not really sure how I got home, at that time I was still in shock but not really in pain but sat cradling my arm on the train drive home.

Went home and got changed as I did not want to have to have my new jumper cut off me and changed into a tshirt.

Got to A&E at around 8.30pm on a Friday night and got home just after 1.30am on Saturday.

Had numerous xrays, two different plasters as they could not agree on the best plaster to put me in as I did a really good job at breaking it.  Had to have it manipulated back into a reasonable position, my worst nightmare but because of the shock and the drugs they gave me I just went giggly and didn't feel a thing!

Was told I needed an operation to have it put back into place and have a plate and pins put in but there were no beds and there were people with broken hips ahead of me in the queue (quite rightly).  As I had someone to look after me I was sent home and told they would call me in to have it operated on maybe Sunday.

Sunday morning came and was told it would not be that day and probably not Monday either but hopefully Tuesday.  Sunday evening came and was told that it could be done at some point on Monday so to come in at 8am and they would fit me in.

Finally went down just after 2pm and was in recovery at about 5.15pm.  Had hoped to go home that night but was kept in overnight, worst night sleep ever as ward was so busy and I had to sleep propped up and with my arm in a sling and suspended from a drip stand!  Managed to get home the next day.  New plaster and finding things to wear was a nightmare as things wouldn't fit over arm or do up over the cast, had to borrow something of Mums.

This was my view for quite a few weeks!

Was like this for 2 weeks until I went back to Fracture Clinic 2 weeks after I was released from hospital.

Story continues on next blog post!

Mixed week

Week got off to a good start, walked into town and back as I had an appointment at the Job Centre, saw someone new and will see someone else next time.

Tuesday found out that I had won a competition on Facebook, £97 worth of colouring pencils.

Wednesday I received my prize, not taken them out of the box yet!  Scared to use them!

Thursday, went to Craft Group showed off my pencils, got a bit advice from them and from some of my Facebook friends and have pledged to use them and take in what I have done to next week.  Got a new ID card, photo too and hopefully means I can operate the car park barriers!

Today, Friday had hoped to do some crafting but woke up with sore sinuses again and a headache so went back to bed, got up for lunch, watched a bit of telly and then had another nap!  Hope it means I can sleep tonight.  Headache and sinus pain seems to have eased.

Tomorrow I craft.

Still feeling poorly but being productive

Still suffering from this cold/flu bug, had to cancel going to my volunteer job at my local hospice today, fingers crossed I can go next week.

Yesterday I had to miss a funeral of a lovely man, his daughter has been a friend since childhood.  Have many happy memories of him and lessons learned about committing yourself at a particular local junction, the difference between Scots and Scotch and what TMC stands for on local lorries.  My Dad and my friend’s Dad were our drivers to and from ballet classes, taking it in turn to take and collect us from lessons and rehearsal.  Both true gentlemen and sadly missed.

Made a birthday card for a friend’s birthday on Saturday, hope he likes it.  Just about managed walk to postbox.

Also helped take down the Christmas decorations down, now have to get them put back in the loft at the weekend.

Also been spending gift voucher from a friend, more books and got a craft order I treated myself to.

Day Two

Started out with all good intentions this morning to get out and active.  Was going to go for a walk to our new M&S to see how long it takes to walk but was thwarted on the way by rain.

Rained most of the day so walk will have to be delayed until tomorrow.

On the plus side did get to the postbox to post out the three cards I made yesterday and have a few more that need to be done ready to be posted out later in the week.  So 7 minutes walking 44 calories burned is better than nothing.

One day in to the New Year and I have been very productive.

Three cards made today, an 80th birthday card, a get well card and a birthday card.

Have set up my reading challenge for the year on Goodreads.

For some reason this did not post yesterday so here it is today

End of Year Report and Promises for 2018

Thought I would start again with my blogging.

Not sure how frequent it will be don't want to set targets and not meet them, but will try at least once a week.

Will document my crafting endeavours, what I am reading and my progress on finding a permanent job.

2017 has been a great year in some ways, reached the age of 50 relatively unscathed and had lovely celebrations with friends and family.

Lost a few friends along the course of the year but they have left their mark on my heart.

Got into twitter, a great way to interact with people with similar interests and famous people too, really makes your day when someone you admire likes or comments on a tweet of yours.

Have read 24 books this year will review them in a different post later and because of Facebook and Twitter have interacted with the authors which is great as a reader and able to give them feedback and help them promote their books.

One of my chocolate brownie desserts from one of my many birthday meals with friends and family.

Thanks for reading.

Karen