Monday, July 25, 2016

I have been much moved by all your messages. Thank you.

This is very sad news, about Susan Crawford’s cancer. I feel that frisson of guilt one has, when something terrible happens to someone one has been bad-mouthing. I wish her nothing but well. Bugger the book.

It has been a tough week here, but things are looking better. My husband had hip-replacement surgery late on Tuesday (having fallen on Monday morning). He is, at last, pulling round. He hasn’t been able to swallow all week, but yesterday he did, and they were going to try to get him up in the evening.

Helen came from Greece, James from London. They’ve gone away again, but Rachel is coming today.

Soon we will be thinking about rehabilitation, and the “care package”. He fell when under the care of the council carer who had come to get him up and dressed, as every morning. I was in the kitchen. They can hardly refuse to reinstate the “package”, I hope, when the fall was largely if not entirely their fault. My husband bent over to pick up his handkerchief. I wouldn’t have let him do that, if I had been there. I suspect the carer wasn’t at his elbow as he should have been.

Meanwhile Archie is here, and it is a comfort to have him. We were talking about movies over supper last night – he is an expert in some fields, naïve in others. He said he had never seen a Woody Allen film, and I suddenly thought that he must see “Zelig” – so I ordered a DVD, and it will be here soon. We’ve got a videotape of it, but that’s not much use any more. My father has a bit part in it: a great-grandfather Archie never met.

I haven’t see it for a long time, and it will be very odd to see it again. My father, as I remember, has two short scenes, full-screen, utterly himself. Allen wanted what my father was, a retired newspaperman who could (pretend to) reminisce about the ‘30’s. I don’t know how they got together. My father (counting on fingers here) was a bit younger then than I am now. He had a lot of fun shooting those scenes, and happily dined out on the story for some time thereafter.

There is disappointingly little to say about knitting.  My husband is in the Royal Infirmary this time, a long journey. I could drive, but the thought of finding space to park and then struggling with the payment machine is too much for me. The bus is slow and bumpy, but pretty well door-to-door. Still, a certain amount of sock-knitting is not impossible.


I’ll return to the subject soon. Maybe not tomorrow, what with Rachel being here.

33 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:22 AM

    Thinking of you all, as always, Jean. I hope your husband recovers well and promptly. Stella

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  2. Anonymous8:58 AM

    Good to hear from you again Jean and glad that your husband is improving. Catriona

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  3. My husband has had three hip replacements (the first one was a faulty appliance and he was in his 40's - too much running). I'm sure your husband will recover well.
    You could watch knitting podcasts on your iPad while you sit at the hospital. I like Tilly Trout's. She hasn't recorded one lately but there are quite a few on Youtube. She lives in Norfolk and has two cute spaniels. She's a very fast knitter.
    God be with you, Jean.

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  4. Christine9:49 AM

    I'm so glad things are looking up Jean, it's a really worrying time when those sort of things happen. Speaking from the the point of view of being three weeks post (elective) hip replacement and a few years younger than Mr Miles I'd say the next bit's hard work but really worth it. They made me do stairs the day after the op! So I wish him well, and you have all my best wishes too xC

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  5. Such a relief to hear that life goes on, though with changes. Wishing you both the strength to cope with what comes next.

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  6. Anonymous11:34 AM

    So good to hear from you Jean and sounding 'chipper'. I'm glad your husband is improving day by day and hope that you and Archie enjoy your film together.

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  7. Woody Allen, such a range!
    Archie should also see Play It Again, Sam, and Midnight in Paris.
    Glad that he is staying with you!

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  8. skeindalous12:12 PM

    So good to hear from you again. Don't neglect yourself, in caring for your husband!

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  9. Glad to hear your husband is improving.

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  10. =Tamar12:18 PM

    Relieved to hear that he has received immediate treatment. I'm glad you have the option of the bus.

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  11. Anonymous12:24 PM

    I'm very glad your husband is on the mend, and I hope he feels stronger each day.

    Please don't be too hard on the carer. I was once helping my dear mother-in-law get to the bathroom. I was right there, and next thing either of us knew, she had gone right down. Luckily, her pride was the only thing seriously injured. I still don't know how it happened.

    I'm very very glad Archie is there. I continue to be just oh-so impressed with him. I hope you will watch "Annie Hall" with him, too. My favorite Woody Allen movie and one of my all-time faves.

    Thanks for keeping us posted.

    Beverly in NJ

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  12. Nice to have you back. I'm glad you have family to help and glad your husband is improving. Some Woody Allen sounds just the ticket; how has Archie managed to miss all of his movies? There's enough variety there for a whole year of movie-watching. And, do take care of yourself.

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  13. So good to hear things are improving and you have company. If you travel on the no. 24 then you'll be passing my house each day! Can you knit on the bus? I find socks quite doable while bussing. X

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  14. I have been away from the Internet for a few days. Just caught up with your horrid news. So sorry to hear it,Jean. It sounds like progress is being made, however, and your husband is now at the beginning of the road to recovery again. Wonderful for you that your children were each able to be with you during this time. Even more wonderful that Archie continues to be such a support. He really is a very good, thoughtful young man and I congratulate you -and Helen, quite naturally- on his being so. Do take care of yourself while all this difficulty is in your life and I hope that your husband recovers well. Blessings and warm thoughts

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  15. Anonymous1:34 PM

    Thank you for the update. I'm relieved to hear of the improvements. How nice to have Archie with you. May Zelig arrive soon, you need something to enjoy.
    Best wishes, Helen (anon)

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  16. Anonymous1:34 PM

    So glad things are looking up. God's blessings on you both!

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  17. Anonymous1:51 PM

    So happy to "hear" your voice, jJean, and that there has been an improvement in your husband's condition! I, too, curse those newfangled parking meters - for many reasons. And am grateful that there still are buses in this high-tech world where so much has changed. What a neat story about your father. Will continue to hope for your husband's progress. (Hope is the least valued, it seems to me, of the three theological virtues. And yet very powerful.) Chloe

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  18. Have been hoping to hear some good news from you. Sending healing wishes for your husband's continuing progress. Please take care of yourself during this stressful time and know that your followers send moral support. Wish we could do more.

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  19. Anonymous2:25 PM

    I am glad your husband is on the mend and you are bearing up. Continued thoughts and good wishes for you all.
    CKP

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  20. So glad to hear that things are looking up for your husband, Jean--and very glad you have the comfort of Archie! I'm sure it's a great richness for him as well--I was able to spend a good deal of time with my grandmother at about his age and it's a memory I treasure 30-odd years later. What a gift for him and for you.

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  21. It was so nice to get up this morning and see a post from you, Jean. I'm so glad your husband is showing signs of improvement. If this happened in Canada or the US he would go from the hospital to a care facility once he was out of any danger. They would work on rehabilitation with him, and once they deemed him ready to go home then he would be released. I wonder if a similar thing happens in Scotland.

    And yes, the news about Susan Crawford is very sad. Imagine putting all that work into the book, then, just as it's finally to be released to instead be dealing with this. Poor woman.

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  22. Oh, Jean! It's wonderful to see a post from you. I'm so happy to hear that your husband is improving and that you've had a support team in place with your lovely family. And thank goodness for Archie! Please take care of yourself--obvious advice, for sure, but still essential. Sending positive energy your way!

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  23. Continued good thoughts for you and yours. Wonderful to read your prose again. All best.

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  24. Dear Jean, so sorry for what you husband has endured! Hope you are keeping well yourself! Knitting is a good friend. It doesn't disappear when we can't come out to play and it's always there waiting for us.

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  25. Anonymous10:22 PM

    Very best wishes for your husband's recovery and rehab. I echo the plea not to be too hard on the caregiver - my impression is that this can happen even when one is there "at the elbow". Wonderful story about your father and Zelig.
    - Beth in Ontario

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  26. Anonymous10:57 PM

    Welcome back!
    Best wishes all around.
    (and kudos to Archie!)
    LisaRR

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  27. Good news - I must watch Zelig again some time, especially now that I know your father makes a brief appearance. Lucky for you and Archie both to have this time together. Safe bus journeys and smooth knitting.

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  28. Anonymous11:36 PM

    So glad to 'see' you this morning and hear that things are improving. That Archie is quite the treasure.

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  29. Anonymous11:46 PM

    I've waited to convey my best wishes until we had further news of your husband. I'm glad he's mending and that your family has rallied to support both of you during this trying time. I hope he recovers fast and that future days will be trouble-free. Blessings on all of you. - Joe-in Wyoming

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  30. I was worried. Glad to hear about his replacement surgery and here's hoping that he recovers well. YOU take care also. While the internet has it's faults, connecting people is one of its virtues.

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  31. To cheer your soul watch Michelle Obama's speech from tonight ... i was crying thru most of it... a gracious passionate human endorsement - very classy. Sanders is speaking now having just endorsed HRC.

    glad to hear about the successful surgery but imagine the logistics of the rehab care are going to be time consuming ... glad you have had some support from the family.

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  32. Hope your husband is continuing to improve - and remember to take care of yourself (I know how is it is to forget - my mother is currently in the hospital)

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  33. Thinking of you. I hope your husband is improving and you are getting the help you need. Have you ever taken Uber? I just checked and they are in Edinburgh. If your husband is still in the hospital, it might make visiting him a bit less stressful. Maybe Archie could set it up for you.

    Robin in California

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