26/02/23 In

We're here, most although definitely not all of the boxes have been unpacked, and we have good fast broadband working. No landline phones yet, long story, but confirmed that we will keep the old number. 

As for the NHS, Good phone conversation with the new haematologist and she's ordering an MRI to investigate the static problem in my left thigh. 

That's all for now. 

21/02/23 Packing, and NHS

It's the day before the big day, and we have two removal men in doing the packing we haven't done ourselves over the last few days. Two more men due to arrive later, and they'll do a first van load as well. Second and final load tomorrow. 

Had a first phone call with my new NHS haematologist this morning, all good. Last weeks bloods all OK but paraprotein numbers not in yet. Good news is that she's ordering an MRI of my troublesome left thigh, although it hasn't been causing anything like a much trouble recently. 

The Telegraph reports that its the worst time to buy a house for 150 years, so presumably the worst time to sell as well. Certainly buyers aren't exactly flocking to view this place. The part exchange deal we did with McCarthy Stone looks better and better with each passing week - in effect they paid us to move in early. 

19/02/23 Closer...

It's getting closer to removal day on Wednesday 22nd (although we retain access here until the 28th). Decluttering is nearly done, although I still have a lot to do taking the computers etc. apart. Yesterday was fish re-homing day - they've all gone to our neighbour's rather larger pond. Later today we dismantle the stairlift with the help of another neighbour - it will go to auction. The skip - now fully loaded with bags of clutter - goes on Monday. Tuesday brings removal men to do their part of the packing, and a 'phone appointment with my new NHS haematologist. And we are both exhausted...

15/02/23 Blood

Gave my first blood sample for the NHS yesterday, so that's another step back to what's "normality" for me. Have to say the phlebotomist did the most painless job with the needle I've ever had. Quite literally did not feel a thing. The Chelmsford Health Hub where I had it done is only five minutes walk from the new apartment, and we were there anyway for delivery of some furniture. Of course some of it didn't arrive for "logistical reasons" but they're supposed to be trying again today and again we'll be there for the handyman who's installing some shelves, putting up curtain rods, and so on. There was a time I'd have done those jobs myself...

That's the balcony door on the left.

12/02/23 The last of our cats

A very emotional day, as we said goodbye to our cat-owning days. We could have taken only one of them to the new place, and neither of them would have coped well with having to become indoor cats. Blue - the more obviously troubled un-rehomeable one with her bad leg, irritable bowels, and deep mistrust of people (except us, after many years) - went to a wonderful cat sanctuary in Surrey a few days ago. This morning we took Belle to a foster home near Bishop's Stortford, and either she'll be rehomed from there or the people there will keep her. Both of them are ten years old (at least), and Belle also has a bit of a history with cystitis so although she's very appealing she won't be easy to re-home. And then there's the saga of transferring their insurance policies. Just another nightmare tale that's taken up time we should have devoted to de-cluttering and move-planning...

11/02/23 Appointment

Success! I have a 'phone consultation booked with Dr.Elshazly at Broomfield Hospital (NHS) on Feb.21st - so I'm back in the system and just about within the time-frame that I had originally hoped for, i.e. two months after ending my insurance at the very end of December.

10/02/23 Success?

I've now got a copy of the email that the Broomfield Hospital haematology secretaries sent to my GP secretary. The most important passages are these:

"We have accepted the referraL as a 2ww as he is an existing case" and "The consultant has just triaged this referral as a 2ww, please can you send over all previous correspondence ie from his private care under Dr Chowdhury etc so that we can scan these onto his profile on Lorenzo."

2ww is the urgent "Two week waiting" time, although I hear that in practice these days it's more like six to eight weeks - but much better than fourteen to sixteen months!

But still no appointment letter or message. I won't really believe it until I've got that.