Surfing then Sausage and Mash!

With the camp all set up it was of course time to get on the beach! I joined them after they'd already had one dip and the children were being entertained by Jamie and Phill playing Happy Families ...

Sara was building a sand castle and managed to rope Jo in to helping her ...

Then it was time for me to get in the sea for the first time this year and of course we had a group photo ...

Ellie had her new wetsuit on ...

and then we were all having a great time ...

I can't believe that this is the first time I've been in the sea this year ! In no time at all we were all knackered and returning to the beach ...

Some children had been making some amazing sculptures in the sand ...

We were then invited back to the campsite for a sausage and mash supper which was fantastic ...
There was just enough time for some French cricket ...

before the children and Phill went off to do the washing up. What a great start to the week.

Camping at Cambrose

We left Luton at ten o'clock last night and headed for Ash Vale to meet up with Simon and his family. We then drove in convoy to Cornwall arriving at 5.15am and ready to crash into bed. Somehow we managed to sleep everyone for a few hours and then after breakfast we all walked round to see Pam. Back home again and most of the camping gear which is stored in our attic was piled into the two cars. It took several trips to get it all up to Cambrose but eventually the camp began to take shape with the two tents erected ...

The children sorted out their own beds ...

and we helped by putting units together ...

By mid-afternoon we were exhausted but a trip to Tesco was a necessity as the cupboards were bare. After eating a very naughty Ready Meal we turned in for an early night.

First Hospital Check

I can't believe that it is a week since Mike was discharged from Moorfields and so today we were back on a train and heading for the hospital for his first check-up. We'd planned to get the 08.12 fast train to London and so as we went through the barrier I asked which platform for London trains. We were sent to number 1 and waited only to hear over the tannoy that the next train approaching platform 3 was the 08.12 train for St Pancras! Good start to the day! Never mind we'd allowed ourselves plenty of time and got on the 08.14 train which made just two stops. London at that time in the morning was heaving and the taxi struggled to get away from the station but eventually it pulled up at the hospital and we made our way to Clinic 4. We hadn't been sitting more than ten minutes and the fire alarm went off. Everyone just sat there - nobody moved! A nurse started waving her hands and telling us all to make our way outside. We all traipsed through A&E and out onto the road at the side of Moorfields. A fire engine arrived and I naturally had my camera to hand!

As we stood waiting I noticed that Mike's surgeon, Mr Verity, was standing in front of us looking very smart in his suit - we'd be seeing him later ...

We must have stood there for at least 20 minutes and then were allowed back in. Well we hadn't been back more than five minutes and once again a fire alarm started but this time it was an intermittent noise. A nurse had to shout above the din and told us that it was okay to stay put this time as intermittent meant another section of the hospital was being evacuated. We all sat there with fingers in our ears as it was a terrible noise and seemed to go on forever. There was a big round of applause as the noise stopped and then we were called in.

Mr Dart, Mike's Consultant, was very pleased with him but wanted to give him some ointment as well as the eye drops in the hopes that he would heal a little bit quicker. We then accompanied him downstairs to Clinic 15 where Mr Verity was working and they had a little chat about Mike. Mr Verity was very pleased with his handiwork and agreed with the ointment suggestion. He took out a couple of little stitches which he thought might be irritating his eye and then it was all over and we made our way to the Pharmacy to get his prescription made up. He's got to go back in one week's time which means a flight up from Cornwall but it's essential that they keep a watch over him and make sure that all is progressing well before handing over to our local hospital at Truro. The return journey was quite uneventful thank goodness and we were back in Luton by two o'clock.

Visitors for the Patient

Simon, Vikki and Sara came up to Luton today to visit Mike and after lunch while the patient had a snooze the rest of us took the dogs to the park. At first Sara was very reluctant to try out the equipment but she soon got the hang of it and didn't want to go back home!

Jamie and Phill cooked us all a lovely roast dinner which we ate al fresco on their new garden table and then it was time for Simon to drive back to Ash Vale. It was a lovely day and Mike really enjoyed himself even if we did have to stop what we were doing every two hours for eye drops!

He's Home from Hospital!

Jamie took the afternoon off work today and came home lunchtime to pick me up. We then shot off down to London with a route plan in my hand hoping that we could find our way to the hospital. All was going so well until we reached Hampstead where there was a road closed and we had to follow the diversion. We carried on and when I saw Kings Cross I began to recognise the road as the one we'd been on in the taxi. Mike was standing outside the hospital so we peeped and waved as we passed him. We then turned at the roundabout and stopped for a couple of seconds so he could climb aboard. Trying to stop outside is very difficult as it is double red lines apart from a small loading bay and any side road takes you into the congestion zone. Not the ideal place for a busy hospital! So retracing our route we managed to eventually find another way back other than taking the diversion and in no time at all we hit the M1 and were back in Luton. We now have two weeks of eye drops to do every two hours and antibiotics every four hours but if Mike's eyes are sorted then it's worth all the effort.

Jamie and Storm

I have had a very lazy day after all the stress of yesterday but this evening I was taken to see Jamie riding a friend's horse called Storm. I've no idea where we were as I got completely lost but I know we crossed from Bedfordshire into Hertfordshire! Storm was in her stable when we arrived so Jamie set to getting her groomed and ready while Michael (the owner) mucked her out.

It was hammering down with rain ...

and then we saw a lovely double rainbow ...

Thankfully by the time they were ready it had eased up. We'd taken the dogs with us ...

and once Jamie was on board ...

we walked over to the outdoor school. Michael worked him hard and by the end he was tired and aching!

So then it was back to the yard ...

where Storm had her supper and was turned out ...

We picked up a very welcome Chinese meal on the way home and then it was bedtime. I need a good night's sleep as Mike comes out of hospital tomorrow and I'll have to get my nurse's hat on!

D-Day or should that be Eye-Day!

Well the day has finally arrived and after taking a couple of photos of his eyes at home before the work on them ...

we're on our way to London from Luton on the 9.20am train ...

After a couple of stops at Harpenden and St Albans we reach St Pancras International station and head for the taxis walking under this amazing roof ...

Neither of us are familiar with London and so the thought of tackling the Underground was too daunting! We soon arrived at Moorfields Eye Hospital ...

and found MacKellar Ward where we checked in and were shown to a bed. After all the paperwork was dealt with the nurse taped up Mike's rings and gave him his bracelet ...

There's no going back now! I felt a bit guilty when the tea-lady came round and I could enjoy a very welcome cuppa while Mike had to sit and watch me drink it as he was on nil by mouth. We had a visit from the anaesthetist and a very young lady doctor who drew arrows on his forehead just in case they forgot where his eyes were!

and then we just had to wait until he was called. He walked off to the theatre at 2pm, at 3pm Jamie arrived to sit and wait with me and with the operation due to take about two and a half hours we began asking if there was any news just after 4.30pm. We finally heard that he was in recovery at 6pm! It had been a very long op but he was through it okay. Jamie and I then nipped up the road for a McDonalds as the cafeteria in the hospital was closed for the night. When we got back we reported to MacKellar to see if he'd arrived on the Observation Ward. Great news - he was on his way! We were shown down by a nurse and as we arrived he was just being wheeled in. He now had a room to himself but he couldn't see it! He'd had work on both eyes and so they were both covered ...

Poor thing he looked like a bug! We stayed with him sorting out the television which of course he could only listen to and helping with some ice-cream. They'd taken some membrane from inside his bottom lip so this was the only thing he could eat easily. The plastic surgeon popped in to see us and he said he was very pleased with the way the operation had gone in fact he reckoned it was 'a personal best'!! At this point Jamie and I left Mike to have a well earned rest and we made tracks for home. With Jamie leading the way we went via the Underground and then caught the train to Luton finally reaching the house about 10pm. A very long day and I couldn't wait to get to bed! Fingers crossed that all will heal well and Mike will be seeing properly again very soon.