Feel a bit like I’m going full circle as far as my health is concerned. Last night was very bad – lots of blood again (though contained within the catheter system) and I couldn’t sleep. Started taking second lot of antihistamines last night – same brand – and by this morning urine was starting to turn a more acceptable colour. For obvious reasons, I feel very tired. But let’s go back to telling the story in order…

Thursday 9th – Sun and cloud ; very small amount of rain. Felt pretty groggy in the morning. Colin came and finished the patio and wall, plus trimming back the ivy. In the afternoon went to hospital, expecting my catheter to be removed, but was told by Maria that I had another infection. Very disappointing. She has booked me in for a new date and is ringing tomorrow about antibiotics.  No date yet for operation. On way home picked up medicines from the pharmacy (Dot’s and mine) then called at Rosary to take a picture of Andrew’s stone. Then I sat in the car while Dot went into Morrisons. Fell asleep and forgot where I was. Miraculously in the evening I was well enough to watch Hamlet on TV (3 hours). David Tennant version. Don’t think I’ve ever seen Hamlet before. Urine looks more like blood. Pretty fed up. 

Friday – Quite cold but some sun, and dry. Woke up with urine looking good and no pain. Found blood mark at neck of leg bag which may have been a blockage. But everything remained much better all day. Didn’t do much. At 4pm rang the hospital as I hadn’t heard from them. Maria rang back and said she hadn’t heard the results, and I should ring tomorrow.  In the evening I felt well enough to street meet for a while: quite cold. Had fish and chips. Watched Australian series, Newsreader, which was quite good. David FaceTimed – all good. 

Saturday  was pretty chilly but dry, with some sun. Decided I would walk up to St Julian’s to see the exhibition. Dot followed after she had breakfast, and then we both walked up to St John’s Timberhill to see theirs. (their exhibition, not their breakfast). Felt quite odd walking so far. They were in the middle of Mass (Anglo-Catholic) so we sat at the back before looking at the much more extensive exhibition. Some good stuff. Then walked home. Lay down after lunch while Dot listened to football. City came from 2-1 down to beat Cardiff 3-2 away. I caught up with some stuff on computer, including ordering permits, which was incredibly difficult to because it had been outsourced. After supper watched mediocre drama on My5, then the documentary Hero, which David had recommended. Very inspirational, especially for younger people. Earlier got a (returned) call from hospital which said I had a secondary infection and probably didn’t need antibiotics – unless I was having an operation. Yippee  – great that they’re so co-ordinated. Ordered antibiotics online from surgery. Actually feeling much better.  

Sunday was a reasonable day, weatherwise. Dot went to church for Remembrance Day service, and I stayed in bed for a while, then got up and watched a bit of the Cenotaph march-past. After lunch we watched cricket and football and then I began to feel a bit odd, so lay down while Dot practised violin. Later made chilli con carne and we watched an awful lot of TV, but I did feel better. Went to the loo a lot. Heather Savigny got in touch: we may see her tomorrow. 

Monday was chilly and becoming very windy. Had an early morning call from surgery, saying my antibiotics would be ready in the afternoon. Also from Neville Thrower checking on how I was. I actually feel more or less ok, but I seem to be producing blood instead of urine again, which is where we came in. Without the pain, though. Had a lovely couple of hours with Heather and Simon, who managed to scale our slope in his wheelchair and have coffee and scones, which Dot made.

After lunch we (ie Dot) drove to the garage and I told them about our warning lights. A technician had a look and said there was a battery problem, which I would have thought they’d have spotted at the service. I have now booked a new battery to be fitted on November 30. Meanwhile it seems to be running ok. From there we went to the chemist’s, who miraculously had the antibiotics – but not the statins that I’d also requested. Nice pharmacist (really) said to try on Wednesday. Ho hum. Dot did some more music practice and we had chilli again. Just before that Dave and Julia rang, and we had quite a long chat on speakerphone. They are about to holiday in Egypt (Red Sea) and shortly afterwards in St Lucia. Watched some football and Under Milk Wood, which was brilliant. Bed early.