Monthly Archives: June 2010

All clear…well not just yet!

                                                                                             

Today, the Lady of the House was given the all clear that the macular hole in the retina of one of her eyes had been repaired successfully and that within about another three months she should have near-perfect sight again. This news was gratefully received, especially because some six years ago, two operations had failed on the other eye, and she now has no central vision there.

The operation was complex, and she had had it under local anaesthetic! Her only comment to the surgeon at the time was that they were not to talk of football whilst operating, as she had heard every word spoken the last time!

The joy that flooded her this morning was fully justified, as she has not been able to read, do sudoku, solve crosswords, type, drive, or carry out any job which required precision movements or views of something up-close.

So her life has been brought back from the brink, and for this we have to thank the learning, skill, dedication, and patience of a group of specialists. So for all the complaints we hear about the NHS, we have to acknowledge a large debt of gratitude to these people.

Be grateful that in this country, and the Western world in general, miracles still happen, and lives renewed. The same surgeon has a charity which saves sight in Ethiopia and a large cheque will be winging its way to help those less fortunate than have their sight improved.

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…and while we’re thinking…

Apropos the recent departure of England from the World Cup…….how can any individual justify a wage-packet of £6m for managing a team (in fact for doing any job)?

Seems a bit obscene, doesn’t it?

P.S. maybe he’ll now think of going into the banking fraternity!

Walking the walk……

Lady of the House, Son, and I were at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, last night  (the ASDA Car Park to be precise), to see off some 1300 ladies young and old on a Midnight Walk. It was a beautiful evening and the ground shook and lamp-standards vibrated to the dancing and gyrations of these ladies in ridiculous costumes. All sported pink, which is quite nice and feminine, but others had luminous tu-tus, sparkling tiaras, hideously-coloured leggings,etc, which were (I imagine) intended to chase off any male pursuers!

Their intention was to walk some 13 miles (half a marathon, for goodness-sake!) from Hamilton to Bothwell,  Blantyre and other assorted bits of the roads round the area. They were  seen-off by fire-engines, escorted by police, marshalled by stewards all along the route. Both ASDA and Tesco provided some much-needed facilities. We let them get on with it whilst we headed off to bed, and ultimately hear of their safe return.

The reason for the walk was to raise funds for St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie. This wonderful organisation has a tremendous shortfall in its finances of some £45,ooo per week, and with the government cutbacks likely to be announced this week, the situation will not improve. To put it in some kind of context, even one fewer shell per week fired in anger in our current battlefields would keep them afloat in their marvellous work…..think about that you politicians!

Women have been aware of the scourge of cancer for many years, and the effect it can have on their well-being, as it is talked-about quite freely between themselves, and in the media. Not so with men…the macho image most of them have of themselves and their bodies does not sit well with self-examination, or discussions with doctors etc.

It is well-known that early diagnosis and treatment is to be preferred, and yet the young virile male feels himself invincible and immortal. Not necessarily-so, guys! Take a lesson from the ladies, and maybe this time next year, we might see the equivalent walk with males, without the tu-tus, tiaras, and leggings, of course!