Happy New Year!

I have a lot of catching up to do! Apologies - and it may be a long ....

Derek took such a long time to get over our brief trip to the UK in November, he found doing anything a great effort, with the result that we've done very little since my last blog. We had a couple of weeks when it seemed to do nothing but rain which was extremely depressing. Found ourselves dashing out between showers to do what we needed to do! I have to admit it got me down and I really didn't feel like doing much myself.

The builders turned up from time to time, then they disappeared altogether but the plumber and then the electricians came to do their things which again meant we had to stay home as they were in and out of the house connecting to the plumbing or electrical circuits.

Sara and her girls and Mark and his daughter planned to come for a short visit, flying out on Boxing Day, 26th. We went shopping for a few extra gifts for them, we checked the inherited christmas decorations and found them wanting, so eventually bought a real christmas tree (to go on the naya!), some new decorations and lights, even a poinsettia, which I've always avoided in the UK as I'm not known for my ability to keep a plant alive. Spent the week before christmas trying to arrange the house to make it Elli-proof but it was impossible to put everything out of her reach!

Christmas day we went to the Country Kitchen for our christmas lunch - the first decent meal Derek had eaten in what seems like weeks. And it was fabulous. We were very excited about the family arriving the following day.

Boxing Day Derek woke up with a bad pain in his groin, which we at first assumed was trapped wind as a result of his fairly big lunch the previous day. But it got worse until I had to call the doctor. He decided Derek should go to hospital and called an ambulance. By the time the ambulance arrived Derek was significantly worse and it got very frightening. He was unconscious before they got him on a stretcher. Instead of going straight to hospital we went to the clinic in Teulada where they worked on him while waiting for an ambulance from Denia with a doctor on board. Once they'd brought him round he was taken to Denia in the second ambulance. I couldn't go with him so had to get a taxi back here to pick up my car and go to Denia by myself. Not familiar with Denia, no idea where the hospital was. Checked the internet to see if the plane was on time for landing as it was 1.30 and the plane was due at 1.30. I wanted to talk to the children before I left for the hospital. The iternet told me the plane was going to be late so I decided to go to Denia at once. I'd sent texts to tell them Derek was going to hospital and where I would leave the keys for the house. Just as I got in the car I received a text to say they were waiting for their baggage, so phoned and told them briefly what had happened. They would come to the house and then to the hospital. Thank goodness Mark had brought his TomTom to use in their hire car!

I headed off without a clue where I was going, I just assumed that somewhere in Denia I'd find a sign for the hospital. It was better than I thought and after one wrong turn I made it to the hospital about an hour after Derek got there. Eventually I was taken into the emergency observation area - as I was being taken to where Derek was being treated we walked past a lady who is an interpreter for 'Help of Denia', a voluntary organisation working in the hospital to help english speakers who have little or no spanish. She was actually with her own father but she left him long enough to come with me into the emergency room. I was so grateful - thank you Candy!

I was told Derek's kidney had 'broken' or 'exploded', I had thought it was his aneurysm that had ruptured. But they insisted it was his kidney and it would have to be removed. However, they needed to get the warfarin out of his system as it was keeping the blood flowing. By the time I saw him he'd already had a scan and they knew about the aneurysm as well. He must have been sedated as I couldn't talk to him. I filled the staff in on his other problems and when I could be of no further help I left to call the children (and have a much needed cigarette). I couldn't get back into the observation area when I went back into the building - it was 'quiet' time. So I went back outside to wait for the family to arrive. Needless to say their arrival was very emotional, Sara was in bits. Chloe had made me a bracelet, a bright pink strap with 'Granma' on it in silver letters, two silver hearts and a star. I put it on and I'm still wearing it.

I took them into the emergency waiting area where we hung around. Sara got fed up and went off to get some information. He was already in theatre but no-one had thought to find us and let us know. We were then taken to a waiting area near the theatre. More hanging around. The girls were very good considering they'd just arrived for a holiday and were now stuck in a hospital instead. Eventually a bed appeared being wheeled by about six staff, we spotted the top of his head and realised it was Derek so raced off down the corridor after it. When they realised we were the patient's family one of them came back and took us to the waiting area outside the UCI (Intensive Care Unit). After they had him settled the doctor came out and told us the right kidney had been removed but all being well he'd be OK and we could see him briefly once he was properly settled. He also told us that the aneurysm would need to be dealt with in a separate operation later. The three of us went in to see him, one at a time. I am very impressed with the attention to hygiene and cleanliness. We have to gown up, wear bootees over our shoes and wash our hands before going in. He was heavily sedated and would be until the following day. We were told we could visit twice a day, 12.15 to 12.45 and 6.00 to 6.30. Information on the patient is given daily to relatives at 12 noon, otherwise you don't ask staff for progress reports although the staff will tell you bits if they come in the patient's room while you're there. Candy had told me where to find the 'Help' desk so I could ask for an interpreter for the 'Information' session.

We finally arrived home about 9 pm, could have been later, I don't know. We were all shattered and hungry - I hadn't eaten all day, not even breakfast. The girls were so tired but they'd been so good under the circumstances we couldn't blame them for being a bit crabby! What a start to their holiday - but Sara and Mark were relieved to be here of course. We kept Simon up to date and I felt sorry for him being so far away and wanting to be here too.

First thing Wednesday Mark and I went into town to the bank and to buy a spanish mobile phone, the hospital wouldn't take my english mobile number so the only number they had was the house phone and it meant someone would have to be here all the time. Back to the hospital for 12.00, I went to the 'Help' desk and a lady named Carol came with me to the ICU for the Information session. Derek had lost a lot of blood and would be having transfusions for quite a while, and was still very very ill. It would be a couple of days before they would know how things would turn out. He was barely awake when we saw him and quite disorientated. We didn't go into details with him what had happened, time enough for that later.

The news was much the same on Thursday but he was more talkative and seemed quite alert. He wasn't happy about having his arms tied to the bed but evidently he'd been resisting having drips and drains put in and, without realising it because of the drugs he was being given, had been trying to get them out!

He didn't look or seem as well at the lunch time visit on Friday but now the doctor said he could possibly be moved out of ICU. Just waiting for a blood test result - if it was good he could go to a general room. Obviously the result wasn't good enough because he was still there Friday evening. Talking tires him so we keep our visits short, but this would be the last time Sara and Mark would see him before returning home. During the week we'd been talking about Sara and Elli staying on for a few days, sending Chloe home with Mark and Robyn. Mark couldn't stay on because of work commitments. Simon had booked to come out on Saturday and stay till Wednesday. At the time we didn't know how long Derek would be in ICU and were thinking it would be well into next week before he was moved if everything went well.

After visiting him Friday evening we went to the Country Kitchen, our only meal out during the whole week. As usual a lovely meal, we all enjoyed it so much and were glad we'd not cancelled the booking.

Between visits during the week Mark had taken Robyn and Chloe to the beach, he was brilliant with them, on Friday morning we all went into town to let the girls spend their christmas money and do a bit of browsing.

The Saturday lunch time visit would be the first I would do on my own - the family were leaving for the airport around 12.15. Thankfully we managed to say goodbye without shedding tears but I expect Sara did after I'd gone. Simon's plane out was the one they'd be going back on! No chance of them meeting at the airport though. Turn round of these planes is far too quick these days.

When I got in to see Derek a doctor, who spoke excellent english, came in to tell us that Derek would be moved that afternoon, he was just waiting for a room to be made available. If they could phone me and let me know which room he was going in they would, if not I should come back to ICU at my usual time and they'd tell me where he was. Once I was out of the hospital I let the family know the news, they were very relieved.

Back home I checked the internet for details of Simon's flight, only to find it was apparently delayed. I phoned Sara to ask if she knew, but they weren't being told anything. She texted me shortly afterwards to say the plane had landed so I guessed Simon would be just under an hour late arriving here. The delay at EMA was due to not being able to start the plane's engines and it had to be done manually, and of course the same thing again at Alicante. Sara wouldn't like that! We had a quick cuppa and toast when he arrived and left for the hospital to find Derek in a two bed room by himself! He'd finally had some food - soup and coffee - the first since Monday evening. He was thrilled to see Simon but tired quickly and we spent about half an hour with him.

Today we planned to go in the afternoon and stay a couple of hours or until we tired him. Simon did a few jobs for me this morning and I set to and started the washing. However, just after 12 we got a call from the hospital - can we come as soon as possible. It didn't sound urgent but we set off immediately. Turned out there was nothing wrong, Derek had asked them to ring me. He didn't have a watch or his mobile with him so has no sense of time passing, and between dozing, sleeping and napping thought he'd missed our visit! I took his phone this time, plus charger, so at least he'd know what time it was! We stayed about an hour and returned again at 6, this time I took an old cheapish watch and his glasses. Then we discovered that tomorrow he's to be transferred to Valencia - TOMORROW - NEW YEAR'S DAY! This news has unsettled me a bit, but common sense tells me he's in no way ready for another operation yet, he doesn't appear to be worsening, so we're assuming (and hoping) that he's going for tests and observations for the aneurysm. I keep telling myself that it's nearly six years since his last aneurysm operation and techniques may/will have improved since then. It has certainly been mentioned several times that the doctors at Denia have talked to cardio vascular specialists at Valencia. The staff at Denia are certain he won't be returning there so it looks as though I'm going to be visiting Valencia a lot this week. Depending on what we're told tomorrow, I've decided that once Simon goes home on Wednesday, maybe even Tuesday if Derek is only going for tests, I'll try and find somewhere to stay near the hospital and come home every couple of days or so. No-one can tell us what time he'll be taken to Valencia tomorrow so we'll turn up at Denia and if he's gone we'll head off to Valencia, if he hasn't we'll wait and try and follow the ambulance.

So that's the state of play at the moment - Simon and I are spending the evening waiting to see if there are any fireworks in the town at midnight (well I am anyway!) but I hardly dare contemplate what the new year holds for us.

However, I wish you, the reader, the happiest of new years.

Getting worse

Apologies yet again, it's over a week since I was last on here - not even going to ask where the time goes..... Will try and fill in the week's happenings briefly!

Friday (24th) - late afternoon took Derek to the clinic we use. He had a mozzie bite on his hand and it's turned really nasty, lumpy, messy, weepy and purple. Obviously the diabetes is preventing healing. The doctor is puzzled but ruled out anything very serious, dressed it and gave me a list of dressing supplies to get from the pharmacia.

Saturday (25th) - the builders turned up early and finished the steps. Then to my astonishment they indicated they wanted the laundry room cleared so they could level the floor. I wasn't ready for that so we hastily moved all my scrapbooking stash into the kitchen. The washing machine had to stand outside temporarily (crossing my fingers it didn't rain!), the dryer went up into the garage and I found space in various places for the rest of the bits - ironing board, iron, shoe cleaning box etc. Took a while to dismantle the desk, it's a very sturdy one from Ikea but takes some sussing to get the legs off! I remember we had trouble putting it up originally - how the heck I'm going to manage that again I have no idea. Praying the painter comes on Monday to paint the basement! The builders threw 6 or 7 inches of concrete on the laundry room floor (on top of the tiles! got to remember this ISN'T England! - no rules here!) - they clearly wanted it to go off over the weekend which makes sense but it was all a bit rushed.

Sunday (26th) - totally done in after yesterday's efforts, shifted my stash onto the covered naya off the lounge - at least it's handy and I may even be tempted to doing a layout or two!

Monday - Builders back, steps finished except for tiling. Antonio turned up with samples of tiles for us to look at - we're having a pale terracott on the 'treads' and a patterned tile on the 'risers'. Kerry was here to finish installing the aircon. He did me a huge favour by taking the dishwasher out of the kitchen (it's died, we'll wait for a new one with the new kitchen) and putting the washing machine in its place). We liked Kerry and he was brilliant acting as interpreter with the builders. Don't know what we'd have done without him! We were told we needed to choose tiles for the new bedroom floor and ensuite floor and walls. Sooner rather than later too! By the end of the day the floor of what will be the walk in wardrobe had been levelled and the ensuite walls partially built. The painter turned up thankfully and by lunchtime my scrapping space had been painted, including a thin wash on the floor. It's amazing what a difference it has made and how much lighter that corner is now!

Tuesday - Tiles for the steps arrived, the builders continued wth the ensuite walls, I started a layout. Hoped that Derek would feel up to going out and choosing tiles but he didn't. We had two kitchen companies come to measure and discuss what we want for the new kitchen, hope to have the quotes by the end of the week.

Wednesday - the builders came but disappeared mid morning (along with the dishwasher which they'd offered to take away for us - yeah right - bet you CAN'T get the faulty switch *insert evil snigger*) while I was out doing a bit of shopping in the village. No idea where they've gone or when they'll be back! Managed to venture out to the tile shop at the bottom of our road where we chose what we want for the new room. We've chosen to have matching tiles on the walls of the ensuite and the floor of the bedroom. They have a subtle striped effect, white with a very pale grey (VERY pale), in the ensuite we're having a narrow border or inset tile of charcoal grey. Because the en suite is basically a wet room we're having mosaic tiles on the floor - it's hard to get tiles that will be non-slip when wet, mosaic will help a bit. Made a note of the reference numbers to pass on to Antonio.

Thursday - still no builders so I can't give them the info about the tiles to pass on to Antonio. The electrician turned up! Yay! I have a small flourescent light in the scrapping space and he put up a couple of others elsewhere in the basement. He also fitted an PIR near the gates and altered the wiring of lights and sockets for the barbecue naya area. He also found a gas leak! The pipe from the gas casita runs along the wall where the steps have been built and the builders neglected to protect it before building the wall, so the pipe has been damaged right inside the concrete of the steps. Thankfully 100% plumbing had someone able to come immediately and it's all OK again now. Michael (100%) and Antonio turned up later to sort a few things out with us. Michael's coming back to us next week with details of storage units for the ensuite.

Friday - no builders yet again! We didn't do the market this week either but I did a quick trip to the supermarket. One of the kitchen people came back with his quote. About €7500. Still looking for somewhere to give us a third quote. Took Derek back to the doctor's about his hand. It's very strange, can't describe what it looks like. The doc would like to do a biopsy but as it will cost €160 approx to do it through his clinic he suggested that we try the Medical Centre in town. We received our E121s this week to enable us to register with the Spanish Health system. Obviously we haven't got the forms stamped etc. yet but the doc thought the Medical Centre might accept us as we obviously have the matter in hand. We're going to try that on Monday. The doctor also prescribed Derek a course of antibiotics as there is infection there. Took the prescription along to the pharmacia where I was given the choice of either 12 or 24 tablets! Would that happen in England? My goodness, I don't think so. I chose the 24 (8 days supply) - our UK GP has never prescribed less than a week's worth of antibiotics, so I went with that!

Yesterday - Had a good clean up, have avoided doing much housework because of the dust etc. from the alteration work. However, we were expecting friends to call in so I decided I'd better make an effort. I shifted all my stash etc. down into the basement ready to organise later. V. and J. arrived about 2 pm having got lost after going through the toll booth at Benissa. We thought we might have a late lunch down in the village but Derek didn't feel up to it so I did an enormous pile of sandwiches instead! V. and I have known each other since our first day at grammar school when we were 11. We lived in nearby villages as children, later living in the same village (briefly). They came out to Spain last year, having bought a property on Camposol near Puerto Mazarron. We had a lovely afternoon and hope to visit them in the new year, they're about two hours away. Derek perked up considerably and really enjoyed the afternoon.

Finally, today! At the moment Derek is still in bed and I have to have my shower yet. My plan for the day today is to organise my scrap stash and get the desk up. Also to dig out the christmas decs left by the previous owners and see if they are worth using or need to be replaced. I had a quick look in one shop on Friday evening to see what kind of decs they had - just like the UK! Found that disappointing, I would like something more typical of Spain if they have their own decorating style. Hope to get into the village this week for a good browse, if only Derek would feel better.

Later......

Looked at the christmas decs (not as many as I thought) and the christmas tree (a bit sad looking!). Best news though is my scrap space is done! Everything is out on display, nothing hidden away in drawers for me to forget about - even my paints and chalk inks are on display, they're things I don't use very often, I may do so now I can see them! Here are a few pics:








OK, so it's not the most glamorous spot in the world, but it's clean, partially organised and for the moment relatively tidy. If it turns out to be a successful place to scrap I may have it tiled out - but it will be as hot as h*ll in summer! Was pleased to find that my old lappy that I bought here in Spain about three years ago (second hand) has USB sockets, so I can use it to print, alter digital photos and use my Craft Robo, can't go online with it though. However, it means I won't have to carry my new lappy back and forth to the basement, which was worrying me a bit.

Just hearing on the news about a terrible explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the south of England, the pictures are dreadful and two firemen have died. A sad end to the day.....