08:21, not a time when I often do blog updates...
What's the worst thing I could possibly have done before breakfast? Fell out of bed and landed on my left hip. It's a long way down, thanks to the 11" "orthopaedic" mattress. 230 mornings since we moved in, and the first time I've done that.
Seems to be no serious damage done, but I can't keep on falling on this hip. Something will fail eventually.
Here's the news from my long-awaited appointment at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital's Assessment Unit in central London. In short, the decision is not to make a decision.
Early the following morning I got a reply to that email and it really was the right secretary after all. Yes, it's definitely at Bolsover Street, and I should have had an email with all the details. I've had a very thorough search of all my email records - no trace of it. I asked her to re-send and that one arrived straightaway. And the same thing arrived by post. Belt and braces, but should never have been needed!
Next chapter in my long-running saga...
I had the X-ray after that fall exactly eight weeks ago. At the time I was told three to four weeks for the results. My GP said six to eight weeks. So today I 'phoned the surgery - yes, the result is in.
No sign of recent fracture or healing. Which doesn't really surprise me, as apart from occasional twinges, the pain subsided quite quickly. I didn't ask how long they'd had the results - (a) I'm not sure I really want to know, and (b) if it's more than a couple of days I doubt I'd get a straight answer...
GP wants to talk about it, so 'phone appointment on Monday. If that result is all there is to it, I'm not sure I see the point. Will find out on Monday.
Yet again, there's just nothing new to say about my myeloma or my hip or anything else of medical note, except a bit of an Upper Respiratory Tract infection that hit just after the Writtle Jazz Festival. As usual with these things, the cough is still hanging on...
We had a (very) minor collision while my car was parked –
fully inside the marked space – in a motorway service station car park. While
we having a coffee inside a Citroen Berlingo drove into the space behind and
didn’t stop in time. When we came back the Berlingo was right up against the
back of my car, and the driver was in the back. She reversed away, the plastic
panel below the boot lid popped back out, but the middle of the bumper below
was left sticking out by just a millimetre or so. I tried to push it back but
being reluctant to push too hard and risk more damage, failed.
Took the car to the Chelmsford dealer (a large national
chain) for another job and asked them to quote for the bumper. They said the
centre bracket was bent and needed replacing with a new one, and that meant
removing and re-fitting the entire bumper. £30 for a new bracket, £163 for
labour, and £18 for a box of rivets. Total including VAT £253.
Looking for a second quote, went to a well-known accident
repair place in Chelmsford, which we’ve been happy with for a couple of small
jobs in the past. Man got on the ground, had a look up, took some photos on an
iPad, and said there’s no centre bracket there, what you need is a new bumper.
We’ll email you a quote.
Quote didn’t arrive, receptionist on phone said we have to
wait for the estimator to have a look.
Quote arrived. No mention of bumper replacement. Materials £30 – exactly the
price of a new bumper bracket, and surely way too low for a complete new
bumper. Total £262, and obviously the Estimator, who had at least half a dozen
photos to look at, disagreed with the first man…
Did what I probably should have done in the first place and went to the small
garage in the village where we used to live. He took a look, agreed that there
is no centre bracket, and used his long experience to deliver a couple of
well-judged thumps. The bumper is now perfectly back in place, at cost of
precisely £0 – although I did give him another small job to make it worth his
time.
So who can you trust? Very obviously it’s the main dealer that comes out of it
worst. Draw your own conclusions…
I got into the habit of blogging at night after my shower but now I always seem to have other things to do. If it isn't the Facebook group demanding time it's something else, even if that something is watching Hamilton on Disney+ for the umpteenth time. I've become a little obsessed with it. Anyway, finished it last night so...
Good news is that ether my hip wasn't as damaged as feared, or it's healing well. Mobility is well on the way back to normal and pain is now minimal. But still waiting for the x-ray results!
Had a couple of days in Dorset - stayed at a McCarthy Stone place in Ferndown, and as owners that costs us just £25 a night. Same anywhere in the country. Upheaval of going away is lessened because we no longer have the (much missed) cats to worry about, but I'm still ar from keen on it. And now I have a CPAP machine to carry around as well. Weather could best be described as variable.
Much time occupied lately with my new main PC (this one), which suddenly died completely. No lights, no beeps, nothing. Too long a story to tell in every detail, but eventually and by accident found a couple of connectors inside had come loose. Put them back, and everything restored to normal! But not good for the build quality, inspection, and quality control of the people who've built all our computers to my specifications for some fifteen years now...
Some photos in fairly random order:
Kingston Lacy House
With my sister in their garden
The (local) Writtle Jazz Festival
