20/05/12

Hi, everyone.

After all of Val's good work setting up my room at Bed 17 on Monday we have had to move. On Thursday night a nurse-call tube which also operates the TV decided my breath was no longer acceptable - too much garlic, perhaps? I understand the nurses put in an urgent maintenance on Friday but an electrician has yet to be sighted (excluding Darrel). As my inability to call for a nurse apart from using my own voice was deemed a safety issue, the nurse in charge decided I should switch with Bed 18 and that it should be a permanent switch. This was a bit traumatic for both my roommate Denise and me, and caused a lot of work foe Kylie and Val. The move is now complete and is now - thanks to Kylie - super organized.

Friday afternoon was my first time in the physio gym. At the time it didn't feel like Tiffany had made me do very much but I sure felt it later! Despite this I am looking forward to getting back in the gym next week.

Most days when I am transferred back to bed I forget to ask the nurses to undo and remove my bra. Nurse Tina has christened a term for trying to get the bra off when once in bed: it is called "the boyfriend maneuver" and I am sure requires no explanation for you, dear readers.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and I was determined to be ready before the scrabble tournament started at 12 noon. Sadly this ambition was not fulfilled, but the day was very successful with lovely food and great company. I was lucky enough to have Karen and Alistair Richards draw my tiles for me, which helped me to pip Paul Richards at the post to win the tournament. It was great to finally catch up to Jaime who had driven down from Gympie that day baring cheese for us hungry scrabblers, hopefully next time we will have a little more time to chat. Celeste and Helene dropped by for a chat and to present me with yet more cake to eat. I am very spoilt! It is perhaps lucky that the bizarre decision to weigh every patient in SIU in one afternoon was made earlier in the week rather than later....

My cold has completely gone now which is a blessing even though the coughing provided only minor impediment to guessing Letters and Numbers clues. Val erupted into laughter when, in the middle of my chest being pounded to assist in coughing, I yelled out "DECADENT" which confused the nurses tremendously. It was the solution to find a word in 8 jumbled letters!

It has been another gorgeous day today. Darrel cooked a succulent batch of scallops in the BBQ to the envy of all and what with snoozing in the sun the day and weekend has passed way too quickly, I hope all of you have been lucky enough to have as good a weekend as I have.