This wasn’t the planned title of this blog Dear Reader but so excited was I this morning about my new found knowledge , I felt compelled to share it with you ( you know the saying “ little things please little minds”) Well this morning, I had cause to go to the funeral of a friend’s mother. I’m not good in black , so much so that I don’t possess anything in my wardrobe of that colour. So the never ending question I have when going to a funeral is, what do I wear . I opted for a navy skirt, an autumnal blue jumper and brown boots . Then what to wear on top? About ten years ago, I bought a brown wool trench coat – from the Jaeger sale don’t you know …at least my mother would have approved 😉( she was an avid Jaegerite!) . The reason for that was that I had a funeral to go to but no coat to wear …said coat arrived but to my dismay, I was ill on the day of the funeral so the coat remains unworn in the wardrobe . Of course , the problem with having a woollen funeral coat, is that it only serves a purpose if you have a funeral to go to in the thick of Winter. The weather may not be brilliant here but today it certainly wasn’t cold and not a day to wear that coat . I’ve completely digressed here …..so back to the question ….what to wear on top?
Into the coat cupboard I peer – it was raining a bit , so the peacock green rain coat with hood and navy lining would be a good choice- sombre enough . Then it came to me – and I’ve had this coat for nearly 5 years – what a pity it isn’t reversible ! I seem to remember at the time of purchase someone said it was reversible and ever since I’ve been slightly disappointed that it wasn’t . Well that’s until this very morning when I took a closer look ….and thought that it might just be reversible. Can you believe it , I’ve discovered after all this time it’s as good on the navy blue side as it is on the peacock green side …two coats for the price of one ! Oh the joy ! So the navy blue coat it was and I felt perfectly attired for the occasion !
Now I’ve got that off my chest we can get back to my original train of thought – consequences! I am delighted to tell you that our seven year old granddaughter ( the one who’s school administers “ consequences” in lieu of punishment ) after almost a month back at school, has no consequences. Not so her grandmother, who has one rather large consequence. Last time I wrote I think I told you I had, to my dismay, discovered that I had a displaced fracture of my left collar bone. Well I saw a shoulder specialist two weeks ago, and the outcome is surgical repair a week before Christmas ! However, reassuringly the surgeon told me I couldn’t make it any worse . Now when I tell my friends who advise me to take care that , they just say “ All well and good, but he doesn’t know you does he?” 🥴🥴🥴
On a serious note, I have been amazed ( very impressed in fact) at my pathway of care for this treatment . Within two working days of speaking to my GP, I had seen a specialist physiotherapist who referred me for an x-Ray, scan and for an orthopaedic opinion . Within a week of seeing her I had my x-Ray and within a week of that I saw not just any orthopaedic surgeon , but one who specialises in shoulder problems. To boot, I saw him at one of our local private hospitals which is where I will have my surgery and any further care. All on the National Health Service ……. I am extremely grateful and can in no way fault the process whatsoever. Good old NHS …..and I say that because the NHS is in my blood – literally ! My father started work as a doctor when the NHS was born and my mother was a theatre sister. The majority of my extended family were medical – GP,s, Anaesthetists, Dentists, and Theatre nurses. I spent many a happy hour in the hospital with my Dad on a Saturday morning going round all his patients; and the highlight of my Christmas Day was going with him to the ward to carve the turkey……and there was always a side room decked out with decorations and providing chocolates galore and every possible alcoholic drink imaginable . A different era I know but is it better now? Well of course it is,! (although it is completely overloaded, underfunded and really needs a total overhaul and at times drives me crazy) I mean look at the treatments provided now ….. cancer diagnoses and survival rates are unimaginably improved .. I myself being proof of that . When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I struggled to get my Dad’s voice from fifty years ago, out of my head “ five years survival would be lucky” Of course back then, there were no mammograms or advice on what to look out for, so when women were diagnosed they would have been Stage 3 at best or Stage 4 at worst … and of course the adjuvant treatments for breast cancer then just weren’t available, so they were doomed from the very start.
Now I am going to have a bit of a rant I’m afraid ..every so often I see something that makes me despair and this was one of many. I was sent a memo ( by someone else) advising the avoidance of the word breast when talking about feeding a baby so as not to offend transgender parents – the word chest feeding was recommended . Now I would never want to offend anyone but help me out here please . Men can develop breast cancer … therefore men have breast tissue ..therefore ….do you see where I’m coming from Dear Reader ? In fact I don’t know whether you recall recently a coffee chain ( here’s a clue …….how much does it ….?) developed an ( in their minds ) inclusive emblem . It was a person with purple hair ( other colours are available) but with two scars on their chest indicating removal of breasts. I’m afraid that was so insensitive and will have offended the many many women who as a result of breast cancer have had to have single or double mastectomies. I was incensed about it and as I’ve heard no more about it, I suspect they saw quite quickly the error of their ways! Rant over …I’ll let you digest that before I start the next……however in this time of tight financial restraints within the NHS where Doctors and nurses are crying for more staff , would anyone like a job…..
Couldn’t resist that …sorry …the world has gone mad ! So I’m going to leave you now Dear Reader ( phew I hear you say, there’s only so much we can take …) The DB and I are off on our travels so the next time I write, I won’t be here ! I’ll be elsewhere…..well of course if I’m not here I’ll be somewhere else won’t I! Interesting topics in my notes to tell you about….automated telephone responses, knickers and shingles … bet you can’t wait 😉
In the meantime ……….
Camino Romero 