Si returned home from work on Friday with a stiff neck and feeling a little bit grim, assuming it was just a touch of flu, he took some paracetamol and had an early night. Saturday was more of the same and by this morning he was completely unable to move his neck.
Faced with the prospect of a maximum 4 hours wait at our local A&E department we decided to try and ring our local emergency doctor instead. Now having been confronted continually by negative comments about the inefficiency of the NHS I wasn't holding out much hope to be honest, and was pleasantly surprised when my call was answered (in person and not by an electronic voice) after just a few rings and a very pleasant and efficient lady handled my call.
Si was listed as urgent and within 20 minutes I had been called back by a doctor and Si had an appointment scheduled at our local emergency surgery. We arrived at 9.20am (appointment was 9.30am) where shown straight in and 10 mins later Si had a diagnosis of severe neck spasms, a prescription in hand and an instruction to see his GP in the morning to be referred for intensive physio therapy.
So as for inefficiency....well not in our experience....in fact I think it is the fastest I have EVER been seen by a doctor.
Am trying to potty train Nick at the moment which is making for a slightly manic weekend between playing nurse and cleaning accidents but hey ho, better to be busy then bored they say lol
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Saturday 12th February 2011
Life has returned to some semblance of normality....as I type Phill is curled up in the lounge watching telly, Nick is pottering around trashing the house lol, while Megs is tucked up in bed with her new love....a good book. Si and I have enjoyed breakfast together and the boys and I are about to head down to Brighton on the train for Philly to do some shopping.
Can't describe how nice it is not to have loads of pressing work to do on the house and for the first time it really and truly feels like home rather than a project. Sometimes I feel like I need to pinch myself to wake up from this magical dream.
Can't describe how nice it is not to have loads of pressing work to do on the house and for the first time it really and truly feels like home rather than a project. Sometimes I feel like I need to pinch myself to wake up from this magical dream.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Thursday 10th February 2011
It has been a long time without internet and life really has changed DRAMATICALLY in the last 11 days.
We are now fully in the house and after many many many hours of hard work and back breaking slog it is beginning to feel like home. We have been totally overwhelmed by the kindness and support of our friends, and almost everyone has had a go at helping us in some way or another.
We are all enjoying the extra space the "breakaway" rooms seem to have given us and although the property is by no means massive it has a nice spacious feeling to it and when the sun shines is gorgeous and light.
Nicholas is the only one finding it a little hard to settle, but considering what he has been through in the last month with the move and going into a new big boy bed it isn't surprising really. He has become very "ma vas" and doesn't like me to be very far from his side... I am sure it will settle soon but it must be very confusing when you have been going to one home for two years and then suddenly one day you are told you are going home and it is a completely different location.
The two older children are both loving the new house and it's close proximity to parks and the local swimming pool. Megs has a friend from school who lives nearby and she enjoyed running home alone after dark the other night having been visiting after school. The area is very quiet and I am yet to hear my neighbours.....looks like God has been smiling on us again and we have found a very happy place to call our home.
We are now fully in the house and after many many many hours of hard work and back breaking slog it is beginning to feel like home. We have been totally overwhelmed by the kindness and support of our friends, and almost everyone has had a go at helping us in some way or another.
We are all enjoying the extra space the "breakaway" rooms seem to have given us and although the property is by no means massive it has a nice spacious feeling to it and when the sun shines is gorgeous and light.
Nicholas is the only one finding it a little hard to settle, but considering what he has been through in the last month with the move and going into a new big boy bed it isn't surprising really. He has become very "ma vas" and doesn't like me to be very far from his side... I am sure it will settle soon but it must be very confusing when you have been going to one home for two years and then suddenly one day you are told you are going home and it is a completely different location.
The two older children are both loving the new house and it's close proximity to parks and the local swimming pool. Megs has a friend from school who lives nearby and she enjoyed running home alone after dark the other night having been visiting after school. The area is very quiet and I am yet to hear my neighbours.....looks like God has been smiling on us again and we have found a very happy place to call our home.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Thursday 27th January 2011
MOVING DAY....well the small stuff and boxes at least, bed and large furniture go tomorrow morning....it is actually happening, we are about to move into our very own home in England, a dream which 3 years ago seemed so so far out of reach.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Happy Birthday my Love
Not every one is fortunate enough to meet their life partner early in life (or at all for that matter) so I count myself to be one of the very lucky ones. Almost 20 years ago I met Si whilst we were at University together in Grahamstown (South Africa) and we have walked a long, sometimes hard, but mostly joyous path together.
Today my wonderful husband and father of my children turns 41, we have been together more than half my life and I am so grateful that he is a part of it. We have laughed together, fought together, stood together and cried together over the years and I can honestly not think of a single person I would rather have to walk though life with.
I love you Si, you are a kind, generous and incredibly strong man and I trust that we will celebrate many many more happy years together xxx
Today my wonderful husband and father of my children turns 41, we have been together more than half my life and I am so grateful that he is a part of it. We have laughed together, fought together, stood together and cried together over the years and I can honestly not think of a single person I would rather have to walk though life with.
I love you Si, you are a kind, generous and incredibly strong man and I trust that we will celebrate many many more happy years together xxx
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Tuesday 25th January 2011
The final countdown is now on and I seem to be ahead of schedule as far as packing is concerned....had a mini meltdown last night, but once Si had talked me through it and made me see sense I feel more in control again - horrible what nasty pregnancy hormones do to your state of mind.
Nothing to do for the house today apart from pick up the keys from the plumber at 5pm and check on my lovely new boiler system (amazing how fond of your radiators you become in this cold).
Midwife appointment at 10am to check how the bean is doing.
Nothing to do for the house today apart from pick up the keys from the plumber at 5pm and check on my lovely new boiler system (amazing how fond of your radiators you become in this cold).
Midwife appointment at 10am to check how the bean is doing.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Monday 24th January 2011
Things are happening very fast now....met the plumber at the house before 8am as the new boiler system is going in over the next two days. Si is off from Wednesday and by Friday night we should be fully in our new home - words can't describe how I am feeling at the moment.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Sunday 23rd January 2011
Today was long and hard and seemed to be filled with little frustrations which sent both mine and Si's stress levels soaring. Sadly they also resulted in us not achieving nearly as much as we had planned for the day, but I guess these thing happen occasionally, and what we did achieve I am very very happy with.
Meg's came with us to the house this morning while Phill played in a rugby tournament and then all three children spent the afternoon there with us. In spite of all the little "hurdles" it was lovely to hear them laughing and playing upstairs and it really started to feel like home.
This time next week we will be all moved in and hopefully starting to settle - like a dream come true!
Meg's came with us to the house this morning while Phill played in a rugby tournament and then all three children spent the afternoon there with us. In spite of all the little "hurdles" it was lovely to hear them laughing and playing upstairs and it really started to feel like home.
This time next week we will be all moved in and hopefully starting to settle - like a dream come true!
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Saturday 22nd January 2011
After a little bit of a slow start, Si and I finally made it to the new house around 10.30am to begin the laying of the floors, unpacking of the new fridge and dishwasher and finish off a little bit of the painting work which we just ran out of time on last weekend.
Rob once again joined us and was BRILLIANT with his little hints and tips when it came to laying the floor. Having done it 3 times before in his own home he was well aware of all the little "traps" and expertly guided us through the process while Megs, Phil and Donay spent time at the swimming pool.
Kerry very kindly came to the rescue in the late afternoon and had all 3 of the children to play which really gave us the chance to get stuck in and finish a large portion of the floor (well ahead of schedule) before having us for a lovely fish and chip dinner, which is JUST what we needed.
Rob once again joined us and was BRILLIANT with his little hints and tips when it came to laying the floor. Having done it 3 times before in his own home he was well aware of all the little "traps" and expertly guided us through the process while Megs, Phil and Donay spent time at the swimming pool.
Kerry very kindly came to the rescue in the late afternoon and had all 3 of the children to play which really gave us the chance to get stuck in and finish a large portion of the floor (well ahead of schedule) before having us for a lovely fish and chip dinner, which is JUST what we needed.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Thursday 20th January 2011
I am not sure whether my previous post on friendship has inspired this one, or whether I am simply just feeling the love from all the amazing women in my life at the moment.
I have always been a firm believer that your friends are the family that you choose and at the moment I am feeling incredibly blessed to have such a huge and wonderful group of "sisters". I have met the most incredible girls since I have moved here and the more I allow them into my life the more grateful I become that I found them. There are also those from my past that I have grown even closer too and my experience with "cyber friendship" has been a uniquely rewarding one.
The support that we have received through this pregnancy and move has at times been overwhelming (in a good way) and I only hope that when the chips are down I am able to be the friend back that all these super people deserve.
I have always been a firm believer that your friends are the family that you choose and at the moment I am feeling incredibly blessed to have such a huge and wonderful group of "sisters". I have met the most incredible girls since I have moved here and the more I allow them into my life the more grateful I become that I found them. There are also those from my past that I have grown even closer too and my experience with "cyber friendship" has been a uniquely rewarding one.
The support that we have received through this pregnancy and move has at times been overwhelming (in a good way) and I only hope that when the chips are down I am able to be the friend back that all these super people deserve.
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