A bit of back ache & lots of music.... !!

Greeting's World's !!

After nearly 3 weeks away from these pages - it feels a bit strange & in the same instant, great to be back !! Oh well.... I know what I mean !!

Ok - it's a Friday afternoon, here in England's South West corner....... just about 4pm - give or take a few minutes. As I type - I'm home alone.... no, that's a lie - I can see Archie has made an appearance, along with Smudge - so, that's our oldest & youngest cats accounted for. Where the others are - I have no idea where they are !! I'm sure they will show up, especially around feeding time.

As for the human parts of the family...

Well, My Wife & Dearest Friend, B has just gone walkabout - into the village. She is heading down to a ladies house, to drop off a card & then over to the doctor's surgery.... to pick up some more of my medications !!

Actually - she has taken the car.... so, there is very little "walk-a-bout" involved !! It would not have been a lot of fun - dragging all of my stuff, back up the road...... We live, at the top end of the village, sooooo - it would of taken a bit of effort - so, I'm glad she has taken the old
banger !!

As for the other 2 members of our little tribe...

ME - our Daughter - and her partner - M - are doing Ok !! They have had their house now, for a few months..... living together seems to be going well !! Bless them both...... I might get to see them, over the weekend - I'm not really sure what their work plans are !!

So - that just leaves me...... well - in a weird sort of way !!

Where do I start ?!

If you have read my words before - you will know, that on September 8th, I went back into the hospital - in Exeter - to have surgery number 9 or 10.... depending on where you start..... on my back. I can't say it's been a lot of fun !! To explain.... sort of.......

I had to be back, into the hospital, for 7.30am.... that was Ok - even tho' it meant leaving here, really early in the morning, to get there, on time !! Anyhoo - we made it.... and, after a couple of hours, I kissed B "goodbye" and I went into theater.

I'm not sure, just how long I was actually there - but, the first thing I can really remember, was being back on one of the wards - feeling very stiff & sore..... oh - and having to stay on my side - so I didn't hurt myself......

It turned out - we know now - that I had between 40 & 50 stitches, in my back & I was having to stay in one position - so as not to pull any of them out !! Great stuff.......

Of course - after a few hours, nature took it's course.... and I was in real need of the bathroom !! So - I got up & walked the few feet to use the loo !! I don't think the nurses were too happy with me - back, as I tried to explain to them - this wasn't exactly new to me...... being stuck in hospital & doing what I was told .... so, they sort of "gave up" and let me get on with it.... in my own little way !!

Mind you - they did have chance to change all of my bed linen..... so, they were happy about that - it really did need to be changed !! I'm not sure how long I had been on the same sheet - but, I had obviously "leaked" over it... hence, they needed to change it !!

After that - I went & did what I was told.... and stayed my side - falling asleep, with my iPod (Mini Egg) playing loudly away to me..... thankfully - I was well medicated up, so.... I slept pretty well !!

I say "thankfully" - mainly as I was starting to hurt..... so, I wanted to sleep, just to get away from the pain !! If in doubt - go to sleep.... it's better (sometimes) to sleep it off, rather than put a shed load of pain killers in my mouth !!

However - once again... I missed the following morning's breakfast !! I've been in that hospital 3 times - since December 2013 - and I've hardly ever been awake, when they come around with the food !! Nevermind...... as it turned out, there was bugger all, on the menu, that I could eat anyways !!

B came to see me, later in the day... and took me for an excursion, in my wheelchair. I didn't go very far - just outside, to get some air & into the hospital shop, to pick up a magazine & some other stuff. It was really nice - just to get away from things, for a while !!

That was the Tuesday - she stayed home, on the Wednesday........ mainly as it was a 100 mile round trip, so.... she came back, on the Thursday - as it turned out, in time to collect me !! Yep - after 3 days, I was ready to come home - that felt really good !! As much as I appreciate, what the Dr's do for me.... there is nothing like getting home.... it didn't last !!

By the following Wednesday - I had been back, into hospital, 4 times !! Things didn't go exactly the ways we wanted it to - sooooo, I had to return, to get it all checked over. It has worked out, pretty much, Ok...... and, now, after 16 days - or whatever it's been - things have settle down !!

Sure - I still have a blooming hole, in my back - but.... it's not too bad !! Ok - I lie... it hurts like hell - but, I will get thru' it all...... I have my family & some great music.... so, life is pretty good !!

I've been having the dressings changed, almost, every day.... so, things have been kept together, by the local surgery & the district nurses - so, life is good !! If all goes well, by next Wednesday..... when I have to go back to the hospital, things will be even better.... so....... I will let you know, just how things have gone !!

As for why it's taken sooooo long, to put finger to keyboard....... well, I've not been firing on all thrusters, so... in a nut shell, I've not felt too much like writing anything !! Take last Sunday, for example....

 I was really feeling like crap & B called the Dr's..... who, in turn, wanted me to head back to the hospital !! I told B - all I wanted to do, was to sleep..... so, I stayed home, in bed & by yesterday - well.... I'm back again & fighting semi-fit - so, life goes on !!

As for the music of the moment.... I'm playing an old live album, recorded in 1995, by Rainbow... Ritchie Blackmore's band. It's been one of many Cd's, that I've been given, over recent weeks..... it's pretty good !! The tracks are:

CD 1

1) Introduction
2) Spotlight Kid
3) Too Late For Tears
4) Long Live Rock & Roll/Black Night
5) Hunting Humans
6) Wolf To The Moon/Difficult To Cure
7) Keyboard Solo
8) Still I'm Sad
9) Man On The Silver Mountain

CD 2

1) Temple Of The King
2) Black Masquerade
3) Ariel
4) Since You've Been Gone
5) Perfect Strangers
6) Greensleeves
7) Hall Of The Mountain king
8) Burn
9) Smoke On The Water

It's a great show - and it's official.... so, go & buy yourself a copy !!

A while back, there was a documentary, on TV - about Deep Purple's 'Made In Japan' album... It has to be one of the few times, that I've heard the members of Deep Purple, talk about each other - without slagging each other off - well, not too much !!

I've had a load of Cd's - given to me, over the last few weeks..... too many to write about now, but over the next few weeks, I'll get around to them all !! Most of them are really good !!

Ok - I must be on my ways... B has got back & is sorting out some tea things for the pair of us... as always - I thank you for logging in & reading my words... until next time...

Bye Bye