Pleasant Valley Sunday

Okay, so we've a Monkey's song title for today's blog. No real reason...other than it is a very pleasant Sunday, but not really sure where the valley bit comes in. However, I have already walked the dogs down our valley for an early swim (them, not me, I might add....although I was tempted). Isn't it warm....actually flippin' toasty...dogs just went straight in the sea and lay down. I guess you'll have realised by now that this is Steve here....I think her ladyship would have struggled...with the walk down the valley that is...but maybe later this afternoon we can manage another paddle somewhere on the east coast....Anne Port?

The last time Jill posted was Friday, so there's some catching up to do. We started early yesterday with a trip to hospital. Jilly's drain wasn't working, and it was doing more leaking than draining. That in itself isn't a huge or serious problem as such, but it was uncomfortable for Jilly and needed fixing....and, despite asking District Nurses and other people, it was only the consultant that could "sort it out". We sent a message, headed for town, and when we got there the consultant very kindly came in to the hospital to try to "get it going" (BIG thanks to PS for that). It's just a question of flushing through and, with the help of a video record, I was "given a go" under supervision so I can now "do the procedure" myself at home. I'm not sure it's something I'll make too much of....although being "able to aspirate a lung drain" isn't something everyone has on their CV!

I digress....we came home from the hospital via a visit to M&S (Jill didn't come in I hasten to add....just provided a scrawled list for me to attempt to interpret while pushing a trolley around the aisles looking bemused). We came home to a waiting District Nurse....so, by 11:00 we had already had quite a morning. A rest for the ill one was in order....after the routine drugs....we have 7 pills and potions to administer at various times of the day...and I try my best to get them in the right order!!!!!

Betty arrived at lunchtime....Jill had rested enough to come to the airport (with her mobile oxygen) and we headed from there straight to Bouley Bay, where I found a very handy parking space on the slip. Betty went swimming...Jill stayed put but still chatted to people she knew (there's always people she knows where ever we go!) and I went to see Mad Mary. Mary was "on form" and had bacon and eggs supplied in various rolls in short order. It was just as well the food came quickly as, before we knew it, the time was 2:30....and we had to rush home for Jill to have a rest at 3:00!!!! On arrival at Seaford the girls went in one room to watch Wimbledon and the boys in another for the footie.

In no time it was 17:30 and, because Jack had been on the boat during the morning, she (the boat that is) needed to be put back on her proper mooring. We decided to make the most of it, so Jack, Stephe, Jill, Bex, Bet, Dan and I all went down to St. Caths. and went for a quick spin to Gorey and back. So, another successful afternoon.

Overnight has been uneventful, although Jill did decide that she's had enough of me and slept downstairs....the rippling mattress on her downstairs bed seems to be preferable to my rippling biceps apparently! Up early as usual for the daily routine.....dogs, cats, dishwasher, drugs, breakfast et al. This morning we also have Jack and Dan on Lifeboat duties at the Blessing of the Boats at the Breakwater (Bex down there too), and Stephe has decided to row to the Ecrehous, as you do! 

Did I mention that I actually did some aspirating last night (not very successfully) but this morning the drain does seem to have yielded a little more which is good news....or is it? Half of me wants the drain to stop (which might indicate that all the fluid has gone) but the other half wants to keep going so we keep taking the fluid away. I suspect we will be back at the hospital tomorrow morning but, with the drain still working, I do wonder if they will put the talc in or not. Jill's lung really should be dry before they do the procedure. How long can one keep a drain in? That's almost certainly one of the questions for tomorrow.

Betty goes back to the UK after lunch and, if Jill has had a rest before going, feels okay and we don't run out of oxygen (!!), I think we will try to stop for a VERY quick visit to the (nearly) 7th. member of our family in St. Ouen on the way home....it's her birthday today....don't ask how many it will be next year. I say nearly...because if she didn't live in that funny parish in the north west of the Island where they all have grey tummies then she probably WOULD be allowed to the 7th family member officially.

The other little thing we've got on this week coming is"The Wedding".... no doubt things will start getting increasingly stressy as the week progresses....I'm sure that reports will be made.

I think that's it for now....I'll get her ladyship to check this through for factual detail (and maybe to add some sarky comments and photos).

Look at these two ....just needed a couple of gin and tonics?

 Captain Jack and First Mate Dan.

 Always vain, so whipped off my oxygen tubes for the photo.......

 We took the plastic off the seat covers! Never mind how fast it goes, or anything else technical, its got a FRIDGE- so ice for the gin being essential. (joke is I'm not even drinking!)

I'm being well looked after, and little happy times like these, make up for the loss of all those other myriad of activities I can't do.... like walking, and swimming and breathing properly, and laughing.