Lockdown Diary - Monday 20th July 2020

Today is the penultimate day of my post-operative recovery, all being well. At 8:30 tomorrow morning I have to return the the Urology Department at the hospital to discover if the operation was a success.  All being well, a few more tests and then I'm out of there, though they do advise you may have to stay until 3 p.m.

I want to make the most of the day, since - if all goes well - I'll be back to work on Wednesday, however the limitations placed on what I can do, make that difficult. One thing I do want to do is finish reading the 'Hades' chapter of 'Ulysses', so that'll be my first activity, post-breakfast.

Another limiting factor on what I can do is that I am required to drink at least 2 litres of fluid ahead of tomorrow's hospital appointments, as I have to be 'well hydrated'

Breakfast of porridge and coffee over, I've just finished reading to the end of 'Hades', ready to start on 'Aeolus' tomorrow.  One goal achieved. 

After doing a few minor chores around the house I decided to read this week's poem, by Lewis Carroll, another poem by Julia Copus, then more from the Hawkwind and P.G. Wodehouse books. Which reminds me: last week's poem was by Emily Bronte (of 'Wuthering Heights' fame), a surprisingly dark poem, titled, 'Fall, Leaves, Fall'.  I must find the time to investigate her other poems.  Here is the poem:

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night’s decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

Late morning I got a message from my yoga teacher saying that the class were asking after me and that they sent their best wishes, which was heartwarming. Don't know how long before I'll be back, though I should have an idea after tomorrow. Hopefully soon.

Next thing I know the carers are here for the lunch call and, after chatting with them for a bit while they complete things for my wife, they leave.  Time for me to go and meditate for 20 minutes or so.

Lunch with the boys: chatted and watched another 'South Park' while we ate.

After lunch I thought it was time for music: started listening to yesterday's 'Freak Zone'. The most striking pieces so far have been the title track from David Axelrod's album 'Song Of Innocence' and something electronic from the rather cheekily named Lana Del Rabies. 

The sun is out so I'm going to sit out on the seat at the front of the house and read in the open air. That's what I need to do.

Far too quickly evening arrived and time to make dinner: son#2 at the helm again tonight.

After that we watched another episode of 'Umbrella Academy' before I began to get organised for tomorrow's hospital appointments.

Got this stuck in my mind, so this'll exorcise it: Once & Future Band, with 'Problem Addict' from their album 'Deleted Scenes'.


[[]]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Love, Poetry and Revolution - Monday 13th May 2024

Image
The last time I wrote here, April was disappearing into the sunset. Given the amount of cloud and rain during the month, that was more metaphorical than literal. Ho, hum, pig's bum! It may or not be the case.  Scrub that: it May be, is. What's the craic, I 'hear' you ask? It's a game of two halves, to be 'honest'. Allegedly, I am a 'parrot', sleep-wise, though not as sick as one. Over to you, Barry. It's alright, I'm just messin'. I am toying with the idea of attempting to write entirely in clichés, but mixing them up and playing with them for the linguistic fun of it. I could try to do that, but it would take a while and I have other things I want to say today.  So, it's time to get down to business.  Nose to the grindstone. Shoulder to the wheel. Pull my socks up. This post is not going to write itself. Sadly, for all concerned, E's health seems to have plateaued again. I'm not sure who this benefits, not her nor our sons wh
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Friday 28th August 2020

Image
I had a lie-in until about 7 a.m. as it's the last day of my leave, but I was up for the first carer call just after 7, then after she'd left I got on with showering, exercising, getting dressed and having breakfast. I have various things to organise, not least to make sure son #3 has actually thought about what he needs for university, which potentially he starts 3 weeks from today (I say potentially because things are not yet finalised, but it's looking like he'll be starting on our wedding anniversary) Apart from that I'm going to revise the next module of the Mulesoft training course, which I hope will take no longer than an hour. Cripes! The morning has gone and I have no idea how I've used it all up.  Sons 2 and 3 are making lunch - bacon and eggs today - and son #1 and his gf are up and about. We watched an episode of 'Peep Show' over lunch then split up to do whatever we had to do. Fully recharged by lunch, I'm going to tackle Mulesoft now. 
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Wednesday 8th July 2020

Image
I shall start this post, my first since Sunday, with a warning - actually, make that two: It's going to be a long post, as I have a lot to say; It's also going to have load of hospital / surgery / whatever stuff in it too, about which you may well have zero interest. I'll mark the beginning and end of that section clearly so you can skip it and move to the rest of the blog without getting bored senseless. I have to write it though, because it needs to be recorded for posterity and for one reason or another everything that surrounds this operation has been a major part of my life, with a load of impacts on almost every aspect of it, for a few years now. I cannot ignore it for that reason. I came out of hospital yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon being discharged at around 1:30 p.m. and collected by a good friend. During my time in the hospital - from 7:20 a.m. on Monday, when I was greeted by the admin person at the door of the ward - I was looked after incredibly well. I'd
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Thursday 11th March 2021

Image
Work until early evening, when I joined the Idler Drinks with this week's guest, Chris Difford, of Squeeze and solo song writing fame. Interesting and temporarily diverting chat which roamed far and wide across his career and what he's doing under lockdown.  More of that, including monthly (I think) online socials with guests in aid of charities (see here for more info on all Chris's activities) and much more.   Early on in the chat he talked of the early days of writing with Squeeze co-conspirator Glenn Tillbrook, when they were much taken and influenced by the songs of Todd Rundgren, which I enjoyed hearing about. The interview ended with an impromptu acoustic rendition of 'Cool For Cats' from Chris's shed/den. After that son #2 and I started making chicken and black bean enchiladas from a recipe off the BBC Good Food website. Prep time is always longer than their estimates - and that was with two of us doing parallel tasks. Usual series of events, accompanie
Read more

Lockdown Diary - Tuesday 29th September 2020

Image
Although I have today off, it pales into insignificance compared to the action of yesterday. This is often my challenge. I decided last night that I'd get up later, but I have to admit, though technically I had more sleep, I don't feel any better for it. I still struggled to get up and I know that there is an undercurrent of tiredness which cannot be cured by sleep alone. Less or more, makes no difference. Ennui. I've only got one specific thing in the diary today, which is a call with an ex work colleague who I've not spoken to in a while.  Not sure how long. At the appointed hour WA kicked into life and I began a longish video call with an old friend. He has retired (who hasn't?) - in fact he's been retired for two years and seems to be enjoying life, subject to the same restrictions we are all living under.  It turns out he didn't even know my wife was ill, never mind bedbound, which means we may not have spoken for 11 or more years.  Despite the interven
Read more