For six days Miss T had the top of her right arm like this. She didn't cry or complain and only took pain relief during the first two days. The emergency unit sent us home the first day saying that they thought the break would start to mend on it's own and to come back in five days for more x-rays. We weren't shown the first x-rays, had we seen them we would no doubt have questioned their analysis. On our return visit the x-ray department hadn't been informed of our appointment, the emergency unit had forgotten to send on our referral (?) and we spent several hours in waiting rooms. This time an orthopedic doctor looked at the x-rays and came to the conclusion that this break wasn't going to mend on it's own.
The next day Miss T was booked in for an operation. The anesthetist mixed Miss T up with another patient, fortunately I was there to correct him , but he took some convincing. He also put in a needle that was too small so the poor nurse who was administering the anesthetic had to struggle. The operating table was the wrong one and had to be changed after Miss T had already lain on it for about 10 minutes, and in the room next to the operating theater where I was gowned up there was a 4 inch hole in the wall that had been filled in with scrunched up paper.
By now the broken ends of bone had penetrated muscle so the surgeon, who had calculated on a 30 - 60 minute operation, spent two hours repairing the damage and pinning her together. During these two hours I was left in a small waiting room and given no information. I spent my time observing a mosquito flying around and reading posters on the importance of hygien.
In spite of everything the surgeon was brilliant. He talked to Miss T before the operation and explained very carefully what he was going to do, and he came to the recovery room directly after the operation and apologised for taking so long, but he had wanted to keep the cuts as small as possible and taken his time, for which we are very grateful. Most of the nurses were fantastic too, considering the conditions they have to work under, and yes, we are in Sweden.
Sorry! I don't seem to be able to keep up, but we're all fine. It's half-term and we're heading off into the wilderness. I've done the cleaning and almost finished packing, but the cars still have to be fixed. One needs a dose of something sweet to stop it from freezing up, the other one is having its battery re-charged. Once we have done that, then we're off for a few days to re-charge our batteries. I'll come round and see you all when we get back.
It snowed last Sunday, but it didn't settle. Then on Tuesday evening it snowed again. The snow in town stayed until Wednesday morning, then the sun came out.
But out at the cottage the snow was still waiting for us. And the ice was several inches thick.
I can't tell you what they're giggling about, but I can say that the first shot here was not for publication. We are scouting out a location for camping next week when school starts. I'll be spending a night with 70 thirteen year olds not far from here, and Miss T and Strawberry will be at home keeping the man of the house in order.
Worst of the wet weather is the increase in mosquitoes; there are two on the brim of Strawberry's hat.
As soon as there's a clear spell we try and get out, but the water level in the lakes is much higher than usual. The jetty the girls swim from is partially immersed and not only did we have to do a lot of bailing from the boat, but we also had to wade out to get to it. Still the fishing's good and three fine perch have been caught and eaten.
So I won't complain, just hand me the mosquito repellent!
This was taken on Saturday, when it was still warm and sunny, on our way home from a visit to the other side of the lake. Since then all it has done is rain. But the strawberries don't seem to mind.
Now we are back we have to provide for ourselves. Fortunately Miss T caught a fine perch on Tuesday which fed us all. Before we left Strawberry and I attended a cowboy and Indian party, but I didn't have time to blog it, so here we are:
Is it just me or can you also see the face of a Norwegian troll?
It's alright she's got a matress with her to land on if she falls.
Between the strands of flying hair there is a sea eagle.
The only rain we had was on the way there. One minute it would be pouring down and the next it was bright sunshine again.
The friends we stayed with came and met us half way and then led us to our final destination on the island of Froya, in the far west of Norway. We had walkie talkies with us, one in each car and were given a running commentary on the sights, depth of tunnels, where to watch out for speed cameras and where to look out for deer etc. It was a good trip.
Miss T is still in Sweden and Strawberry is in Norway. The white circle in the road and the gap through the trees show the border line between the two countries.
and home made sandwiches.
Catching the fish was easy, landing them wasn't.
After a short shower the sun comes out again, and Miss T, on her way home from Scouts isn't too old for splashing in puddles.
This battered sign says: Drive carefully, children at play.
