Hello Again!

I guess it’s time I really did an update in here.
I haven’t been feeling that socially inclined while I was off work. In all I was off for about 9 weeks, then had 2 weeks leave and have been back for about 3 weeks now. At first I thought I’d gone back too early as, after a couple of shifts, I was beginning to feel low again. But I kept going and have had some good news to help me, which I’ll get to shortly.
During my time off things didn’t go swimmingly either. I told you about the car hassles ( Peugeot is going great by the way. Well happy with it.). Also told you about the Harley going and getting the Triumph and that is still a joy to ride, so much so that I even ride in the wet again…..no longer a fair weather biker.
Firstly we had a weekend of upset when my #2 daughter, Vicki, walked out from her relationship of 4 years, and came home. We were actually happy about this and had expected it for some time cos her partner is a real dickhead. She stayed with us for 3 nights, and during the day they were meeting up to talk things over…resulting in her going back to him, much to our chagrin. Oh well, I can see the same happen again in a few months when he slips back into his old ways.
Secondly, we had to have our 14-yr-old cat, Tammy, put down. She had been poorly for some time and we had spent a fortune on blood tests and medication which seemed to pep her up for a while but she kept going downhill again, culminating in a weekend of not eating, getting weaker and the weight just dropping off her. We took her the vets and they said they could feel 3 masses in her bowel. There was no choice but to end her suffering. It was so painful for us, but so gentle for her as we watched her just fall sound asleep and then her  breathing stop.

Tammy, R.I.P.
We said we would never do this to ourselves again (as we always do!), but she left a gaping hole in our lives as we have ALWAYS had cats since Dawn and I have been together. So 10 days later we went to look at some kittens intending to get one to nurture……..and ended up with two! They were so cute, playing together, brother and sister, we just couldn’t split them up. So enter the Harley household…………..Bonnie and Clyde!! And how aptly named…they’re a right couple of gangsters! Seriously though, despite the scars on legs and arms, they have been a great source of joy to all of us and a well needed diversion for me. Pet therapy definitely works! So much so that I am writing this with one hand because Bonnie is nestled into the crook of my arm asleep!

Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie is the black and white one!)

And this is how close we are already!
Thirdly I went with Lee to his consultant appointment as I normally do, and his right femur is still non-union, not healing. I am of the opinion that the Consultant is at a loss now. We have discussed it and are giving it until January to make some difference. If there is no improvement then it will be the beginning of talks around amputation. Lee has mixed feelings. He feels he will have wasted the last 12 months waiting for this leg to heal, but at the same time h e realises a prosthetic leg will give him back his full height and a full life again within 12 months. Because of all this he is slipping into a more deeper depression (understandable) and has even thought of self-harming, though not done anything yet, so we have been to the GP again for a change of meds. Here’s hoping it bucks him up. I have tried to get him to focus on the positives in his life right now. He has just started his driving lessons after months of trying to sort them out and after the first one his instructor said he would be ready for his test in a couple of weeks! And he also got funding for his college course so that could start any time as soon as he decides where he wants to go.
While on leave I applied for a new job. I had the interview the second week I was back at work, and have got the job. This has been another source of delight for me as the Walk-In Centre is just not for me any more. I have been there 5 years now and need a change. My new job is as a Clinical Research Nurse for an independent company, not the NHS. I will be conducting trials into all sorts of new drugs/instruments and collating the data for the sponsor companies. The job is a lot more involved than that, but that’s the general idea. I will still have patient contact, but ones of my choosing not the idiots that drift into my present place. I finish here on Dec 17th and start the new one on Jan 6th. It’s 9-5. M-F , no bank holidays….. doesn’t it sound brilliant! LOL I guess we’ll see , but I am looking forward to it very much for the new challenges it will bring.
Oh yes, one last thing….#1 daughter, Paula, is going to make me a Grandad again for the 3rd time! “It” is due at the end of April, but I am trying to convince her to wait a week or so, so “it” can have the same birthday as Grandad! LOL
So I think that’s about all for now. Hope you like the pics. I’ll try to get back sooner.
Hugz
Harley