Blown away

Just had a phone call from the navigation team onboard the Vespucci. Makes me feel wanted to say the least. They've only just got onboard and they called me to ask how I was getting on.
The rest of my day has been fairly ordinary. Decided to make a couple of banana cakes. One because I can and two to use up the bananas which were going off a bit. Next it's carrot cake to use up some carrots.
Walked to Morrisons about three quarters of a mile. Not yet confident enough in the eye to risk driving. It also gave me some all important exercise. Right shin felt a bit tight but all good.
Hopefully tomorrow I will get over to the new house to do a bit of gardening. Also have some lights to put up.
Still completely blown away about the phone call from the boys.
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Knackered

Well I didn't make it to FarFar Away today. I thought I'd start off slowly. Didn't want to risk starting to walk all that way and then not have enough energy to get back.
As a partial attempt I decided to go and do a bit of shopping at the Broadway instead. I'm glad I did coz I am knackered now. I think that being upright is also tiring me out quite a bit.
The eye hurts a bit today. It still feels bruised and the slight out of focus is not doing my head any good.
I am getting the occasional solid black floaters in my vision as well. They don't hang around very long but could get annoying.
This morning I was looking in the mirror at the pupils of both eyes. The left was a lot wider than the right which for some reason looked to be almost closed!
When I rang the doctor's this morning about what I needed to do to get a new fit note they said I would get a phone call in the morning? Didn't realise it was going to be that easy and will wait to see if it actually is.
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Posture no more

Mr Webster dropped me into the REI for my new appointment this afternoon. When I got in the door it looked really packed. Thought I might have had to wait for hours. After being on the receiving end of a quick service when I needed it, I was hardly going to go get annoyed if I had to wait for a simple checkup.
Despite the initial outlook it actually went quite quickly. Saw yet another different surgeon. He did however confirm that I didn't need to posture anymore. I can now look up. They did say no hard exercise and no flying for at least 3 weeks. A new appointment will be in the post for approx four weeks from today.
This morning I received some little gifts for the surgery team. They were some small little led lights in the shape of a lightbulb. I signed and dated them. Unfortunately I didn't know all the teams names so just had to put the surgeons name on and ask him to sort it out. Hopefully he'll be able to get most of them as I only delivered 20.
Mr Webster also picked me up to drop me back at The Swamp.
Tomorrow will see me over at FarFar Away to start some gardening. Simple low level stuff. Honest.
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Progress

Good news. Got a phone call from the REI appointments department this morning. They apologised for putting me so far forward and said I shouldn't have needed to contact them about it. Result.
New appointment now 1615 hrs tomorrow (14th Feb 2012) and the one for the 5th Mar has been cancelled. Will report back after tomorrow with what they tell me about travel etc.
In anticipation of being able to work on the new house I have been onto Amazon and bought a series of led lights as a bit of an experiment.
Also looked at some wireless door chimes so that I can hear it in the garage or shed but the reviews were quite frankly pants. The main issue seemed to be the outside interface between the electronics and the visitor. One way forward maybe to use a converter device. Will need more investigation.
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Food parcels

Me mother decided to send me a food parcel which arrived yesterday. Thanks mum.
Also had a few visitors during the day. Caitlin, Maison and Rose arrived first. We finished off the first of the cakes from up North.
Later in the evening Webster & Caroline came round for a chat.
Still not doing an awful lot during the days. Today Ken & Anne came round for a chat. Discussed the possibility of getting solar panels on shed #2 at FarFar Away, which will involve quite a large change in the roof design.
The bubble in my eye is getting a lot smaller by the hour it seems. This is making it even more frustrating having to lie down. When looking up now, less than 20% of my vision is obscured. Hopefully will get a message from the REI confirming a closer appointment. Can not wait to be able to drive etc.
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Groundhog day

Seems I might have been here before. Yet another weekend wasted watching tv or listening to the radio.
Got frustrated yesterday. Tried to call the surgeon's secretary to see if I could get an appointment before 5th Mar 2012. No answer to the phone at all, and I did let it ring. Not as though I needed to go somewhere else.
I was given a fax number to try. Who uses fax anymore? Thought I'd give it a go though. I don't think I have a modem anymore. First off was to try friends at work, but it seems fax machines really have fallen out of favour. Ken was ill at home but said the machine he had at work wasn't even connected. Maison didn't have one either but suggested an online service.
Next was to look at the smart phone to see if there was an app for that. There were a few available but none stood out above the rest. All seemed to require payments which was not a problem in and of itself but for one fax didn't seem worth the hassle. The feedback on some of them didn't inspire much confidence either.
I looked at the www for the surgeon and found his private practice details. Sent an email to his secretary who replied quite quickly. Hopefully this might mean I can get seen quicker. Even if it is only to get a new fit note.
One good thing about this situation is that my alcohol limit has dropped quite a bit. Probably explains why I felt quite affected after the remainder of a bottle of wine.
Not in a rush to do anything anymore. No point.
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Wishing

Yet another day lying around. Just going from hour to hour. Gets a bit desperate when you start wishing the time would go quicker. Wishing my life away.
It is amazing the things that become a lot harder if not down right impossible when all you can do is look down through one eye.
Using a computer is difficult. Reading isn't easy. Writing is not impossible but slower due to offset focus.
I have got better at making quick meals although I am not sure of the healthyness of them. My timing for 10 mins is better.
I am sure the almost complete lack of movement is not doing my health any good at all. With my head resting on my arms for large periods of the day they sometimes get pins and needles due to lack of blood.
My back and neck will probably be weak once I am allowed to move. My arms and hands already feel worse. Will have to start to think of some easy head down exercises. Not a bad idea I think.

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Next appointment

Received a letter this morning from the eye hospital with the date for my next appointment. 5th March 2012? I was expecting something like 17th Feb 2012! That makes it about 4 weeks since the last one.
The bubble is now only obscuring about 30% of my vision so I don't think it will be around that long.
Bit put out that I am getting almost nothing from the office as regards replies emails etc. I will send them another one today stating when my next appointment is going to be. Will wait and see if that gets a reply.
My timings have started to slip a bit. I still try and keep my head tilted forward for about 50 mins out of every 60 but not lying down.
The weather today is cold but bright. Trying to get out in the sunshine a bit to try and keep my vitamin D levels up. About 10 mins is about all I can handle in only a t-shirt and shorts anyway. Very parky. Gives me something other than the floor to look at.
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B O R E D now

Getting really bored with this now.
I have read a lot. Listened to pod casts a lot. Watched TV shows from the media server a lot.
The weather outside is sunny and I should be at FarFar Away getting stuff sorted in the garden at least. Even if I am not allowed to lift heavy objects I could put my plants in the ground.
I would at least be able to walk around taking measurements and plan stuff. There is still the small extension at the back to consider. The kitchen needs planning etc.
What about lifting the floor in the dojo to see what caused the joists to sag. Personally I think that is due to the lack of ventilation under the building. I could be doing the loft insulation or moving my office over to one of the spare bedrooms.
Aaarrrgghhhh!  How much bloody longer? Really?
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Long soft and yellow....

The bubble in the eye has already reduced to less than 50% of my vision when I look straight ahead. Now when I am looking down I can see a dark circle which I assume is the outer edge of the bubble.
Today I needed to be at FarFar Away for a Southwest Water survey. This was so that I could get a water meter fitted, to avoid paying approx £2000 pa on water rates.
Alastair picked me up at The Swamp to drive me round. After a quick tour of the property we noticed a van outside with somebody who could've been who we waiting for. The driver got out and did indeed turn out to be there for SWW. He said that he could fit a meter straight away if there was room in the box! He took a meter out of the van and attached it to the supply. Bish bosh sorted. He gave me some paperwork with the serial number on it and that was it.
Eh? Not what I'd call a survey? Still it is now fitted and I will now only get charged for what I use. Now then, where's that pond that needs filling?
Alastair then dropped me round the corner at Ali's who has said she'd do me supper. Curry was on the menu. No feeling very stuffed.
We opened a bottle of wine I'd sent from my trip to NZ way back in 1998. The cork fell to pieces but wasn't completely dry so didn't look to be corked. The wine looked very yellow and not at all like an unoaked chardonnay. The smell and taste reminded me of a brandy. It wasn't unpleasant but was probably a bit stronger than original. Wasn't going to drink too much of that.
I had also asked if she could knock up a support for my forehead to aid me while I need to keep the head forward. This she did but threatened it'd be pink and frilly. Thankfully she didn't do that but made it out of yellow fleece instead. Less mickey taking from the boys. I have tried it out and it is ideal.
While getting this down I got a call from Anne to ask how I was and if there was anything I needed. Nothing tonight. I keep saying I've got great mates.
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Ordering supplies

Starting to run a bit low on a few things. Not being able to pop down the shop in the car is a bugger. Needing quite a few things which would test the loyalty of even the best of friends, I thought I'd use the supermarket delivery service as it would only be about a fiver delivery charge.
As I lying here using my smart phone more and more I downloaded the Tesco android app.
Excellent I thought. Easy peasy from the prone position or at a table. Unfortunately it kept losing the different lists and wouldn't keep going. I got very frustrated with it. Couldn't figure out if it was my network or the phone, before I had to uninstall it and revert to doing it on the netbook.
Probably avoided the excesses of walking around in person but I didn't order any perishable goods on the basis that they might not be that fresh when they get here. Hard to dispel the feeling that the pickers will take the produce with the shortest shelf life
Managed to book a slot for only 3 quid. It would probably cost me at least a pound to get to Tescos and back in the tank so quite cheap on the whole.
Will need to prevail on the good will of friends for fresh vegetables etc. I am certain it isn't too much trouble as I have had plenty of gracious offers. Don't want to do it too often though.
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Eye levels

The bubble now seems to be decreasing by the hour.
If it gets a lot smaller before my next appointment I will ring the ward and ask them about looking forward.
As it gets smaller I guess it becomes more important to keep it as high as possible due to the decreased area it can work on.
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Bubble levels

The bubble level in the left eye is slowly decreasing. When I look up in one of my breaks I can the level seems to be about 50%.
Even with my glasses on though, the vision in the clear bit at the top is out of focus. This could be due to the eye not having seen anything for a while or I am thinking my pescription has changed.
Won't know definitively until the bubble has gone and the eye has recovered a bit.
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Increased pain

Just taken a pain pill. Try to avoid them whenever possible but the left eye is giving me a bit of extra jip today.
Received a couple of cards today which was extremely good.
One from my sister which also included a millionaire shortbread. It has nearly gone already.
The other was from an aunt up North which was unexpectedly great to receive.
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Extra gunk

Pretty early night last night. Had very nice tea at Jane's after she had brought me back from the hospital.
The cellophane like stuff I saw in my eye is not there this morning so I am assuming it was probably just some extra gunk in there refelecting weird off the lights. Will keep a check on it though just in case.

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Cellophane

Noticed something new this evening before going to bed.
There appears to be something akin to cling film sitting on the surface of my left eye.
Will ask the hospital about it in the morning.

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Multiple possibilities

Two of the YouTube videos were posted by a guy showing how to sit during the day and sleep during the night.
This guy was a bit of an expert seeing as he had had 4 detachment ops in 8 months.
I hope I don't have that many! :'(

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YouTube videos

I have just been looking at YouTube videos about the surgery for retinal detatchment.
All I can say is that I'm glad I didn't look at them before the surgery. Looks very bad.
If you are at all squeamish I would avoid them as much as possible.

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Eye update week 1

Hello Levent,
Have just got back from the checkup after week1.
They are happy with the progress. Pressure in the eye is good. 60% of gas bubble remains. They want to see me again in a fortnight. Oh joy another 14 days of looking at the floor.
You didn't reply as to whether you'd received my fit note scan. I will ask my mate to send a scan of the new one which is for another two weeks from today - 2nd Feb 2012.
Share & Enjoy
Zippy.
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1week down

Yippee. I have managed to keep my sanity for the last week. This is in no small part to my friends who have been round regularly and offerred assistance when required.
Anne popped in last night with some medication to ease my guts a bit.
I managed to sleep through last night until 0730 this morning.
Quite glad I closed my bedroom window before getting my head down as it went very cold last night. The weather station recorded a wind chill of -7°C overnight. It is pretty chilly still.
Actually good weather for weeding as the ground is harder than normal and doesn't turn to mush straight away. I would've been working on FarFar Away.

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