Sunday, June 07, 2015

Again, sorry for silence.

Medical

Little C is making progress slowly. She has some “bone bruising”, a new concept both to me and to her mother.

And my husband has been moved to the Royal Victoria building at the Western General Hospital, where he is vastly happier. He is in a locked ward, which seems a bit sinister. They suspect a degree of memory loss. I don't think so, or at least not to an extent which is going to cause us any problems. He can tell undoubted Raphael's from Gerard Dow's and Zoffany's, like Gilbert's Major General.

But he doesn't seem to be reading at all. During his first hospital stay, for the chest infection, whenever that was, last month I guess, he polished off an early Graham Greene but now seems to have lost interest. He's got Molly Keane and Nabokov's "Speak, Memory" to hand. He doesn't want me to bring in a New Yorker.

Life

Archie is here, a great solace. I always thought I enjoyed solitude, but in fact have sort of crumbled. It's delightful to have someone to cook for again, and Archie is a particularly good subject in that respect. He'll come with me for today's visit.

We'll have Nigella's Tagliata (from “Nigellissima”) for lunch and her Red Prawn and Mango Curry (from "Nigella Express") for supper, is the plan.

Knitting

Not much. In fact, I didn't knit at all yesterday (when Archie arrived) – a rare event.

Zilboorg's “Knitting for Anarchists” has arrived and I think will repay careful study.


Kate Davies has been writing about self-publishing. Her own books “Colours of Shetland” and, more recently “Yokes”, were both produced that way. I think I'm going to order Lucy Hague's “Celtic Cable Shawls”.

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:28 AM

    Delighted to hear that husband is relocated and is happier as a result. A week or two in a private room where he can catch up on his rest may work wonders, including with the concentration required for reading.

    Bone bruising is very painful, and often slow to heal properly although my physio told me that the younger you were the quicker it all happened. I can recommend a physiotherapist - not for exercises but for special treatments to relieve the inflammation - if it ocntinues to trouble your great niece.

    JennyS

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  2. I bruised the end of my elbow when a teenager and it took a good six months to get better. Bone bruises can be painful.

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  3. Glad to hear your husband is happier in his new setting, and Archie is with you. You sound like you are enjoying that!

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  4. Good to hear that there is some progress on the medical front. Teenage boys who appreciate food are a joy to cook for.
    And, on the knitting front, Lucy Hague's shawls are amazing!

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  5. The idea of a locked ward sounds troubling, but it is simply to avoid residents wandering off - it is for their safety. What a relief to have reached a solution allowing him to feel calmer, in any case.

    Lucy Hague's "Nennir" is a wonderful piece of design.

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  6. Anonymous10:41 AM

    Hello Jean, I'm so pleased your husband is now much happier. I sometimes watch knitting videos during my times of 'forced' solitude. There is a Youtube video 'The Story of the Coast Salish Knitters' which is a bit long (50 mins) but well worth watching if you haven't seen it

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  7. Whew!
    I think I hear a collective sigh of relief that things are going better at your house.
    Enjoy Archie, and get a little knitting in!

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  8. I am glad to hear of your good news. Sending positive thoughts that things will continue to improve.
    Ron in Mexico

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  9. Anonymous1:30 PM

    Nurses are well aware of a syndrome called "sundowners syndrome". It is disorientation in a new setting (such as a hospital), and is worse at night. Often when the patient returns home to familiar surroundings they are back to their alert self. I suspect that the lack of usual interest in reading may be a subtle manifestation of sundowners.
    Oh, and having the ward locked allows them to accept patients for rehab that have a tendency to wander, as well as those that don't.

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  10. Whew! My first reaction when I saw your post. And how wonderful that Archie is there with you, a real joy. My nephew who visits is 15 now and a great eater and likes to try new things in the kitchen. Here's hoping that a few days of quiet and rest will have your husband feeling well enough to want to read.

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  11. I would go for Lucy Hague's book, the patterns are an absolute joy to work with - I did the Morvarch recently, haven't had a brilliant knit like that for a good while! my only advice: don't use silk or silk blends as yarns, because the long cable stretches work better with elastic wools! I hope your husband will be better soon!
    good luck
    Bettina (from ireland, where the weather is slowly picking up - maybe I can do some summer knitting soon?:)

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  12. Anonymous2:43 PM

    So happy to hear that this is the resolution which occupied your normal blogging time. My mother took in my sister's son while he went to college, and it was a great boon for all. She had her cooking audience and we knew she had company. Now he has graduated and moved out, but still comes to her on Saturdays for a meal.

    Here's hoping all continues to settle out happily. I am reminded of the homily used in the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel": it will all be alright in the end. If it isn't alright, then it isn't the end!

    Judith in Ottawa

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  13. Good to hear from you. I am glad things are progressing well and you have Archie with you.

    Bone bruising can take moths to heal.

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  14. sigh of relief that the silence was as expected - a move. here's hoping that your husband settles and resumes interest - i imagine the stress of these last weeks and the hospital (nurses coming and going etc) does not lend to complete rest as one would have in home.. sending prayers that he is able to recup and return with restoration of his health!

    watching Djokovic v Wawrinka.. rooting for Stan since Roger is out and Andy is out. GO Stan - he is givving Nolo a good match

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  15. Oh thank heavens! Your husband will get a nice quiet rest now with a room of his own. Hospitals can wear one out. You must be relieved as I am sure he is.

    Bone bruises can be very painful and take a good bit of time to heal, but at least there are no breaks.

    So happy Archie is with you, there is nothing like a young one who appreciates home cooking. Something special about seeing your cooking being relished that makes the heart warmer. Love it when our God-daughter visits, I cook up a storm and it is devoured. My hubby is a picky eater who is not adventurous when it comes to trying new foods. So she is a breath of enthusiastic fresh air.

    You and Hubby are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  16. It was so good to see your post today, Jean. I got a little worried by the two-day absence although I thought it was probably just that you were involved in exactly the way you turned out to be. Enjoy having Archie with you, and take care. I'll be sending lots of positive thoughts your way as usual.

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  17. Anonymous7:24 PM

    Welcome news, so glad for you.
    - Beth in Ontario

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  18. Grateful to hear this good news. Enjoy Archie!

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