DON’T Have the ‘flu jab’ (influenza inoculation if you take any kind immune suppressants.

I was foolishly recommended to have it, and did so on Thursday this week. 48 hours later and I have all the symptoms of full blown ‘flu!. I still feel terrible as I write this , and I have   ( and I mean Have) to work a full week! There is no sick time for the self employed!

Have been gargling with TCP for my raw throat, and have reached the limit on paracetamol.

We finished the castle today; it looks great! ready for back to school tomorrow.

Well, the clarinet need a service, and as it is half term (hanner tymor) we trailed off in the usual North Wales rain and wind off to near Chirk, where an excellent gentleman called Roger Price repairs and services all kinds of instruments. He is a proper craftsman of the old school, and charges very little for his brilliant services.

While it was being worked on, we took the boy to Techniquest, near Wrexham ( or wrectum, if you prefer). It is looking a little shabby now, but has some interesting exhibits and interactive stuff. It included a great little presentation ( 30 mins) by a great presenter called Charlotte, about the properties of water. The kids got to join in and was enjoyed by all. 

The place was absolutely teeming with people and kids, and they only had one till, which was stupid, especially in half term.

I dropped my car off before going at Honda, who changed my airbags under a recall. They also kindly changed a bulb for a total of £1.23. Well worth the effort.

Took this on Monday, the sun was out and a nice walk was had.

Had another busy day Friday, up at 05.30 as per…

Got in about 22.00.

Arranged to have a parcel (phone signal booster) delivered to work on Friday. It arrived…. and the receptionist ( intelligence- that of a rhesus monkey tops.) sent it to stores. God knows why, she said she would call me. But no, too thick.

So, the stores guy, even after 6 years, doesn’t know me apparently, even after works parties, a thousand phone calls etc. So, Keith the moron SENDS IT BACK to the sender!!! What a stupid idiotic retard! 

Didn’t sleep well, never do after a hard day in theatres. The drive home never helps. One has be alert and snappy on the ‘death road’ otherwise known as the A55.

Had to see 2 patients today; dont normally see customers  on a Saturday, just in case Im burnt out after Friday.

Did the laundry, and got it out on the line for a bit - first time this year in fact!.

The 'death road' A55

Bloody cold tonight, and this Ciclosporin I’m taking gives you acquired reynauds syndrome -fingers bloody freezing! And, it makes your lips and face tingly! Weird!

The Hills..

Out into the hills this morning up near the Dolgarrog pipeline. Its about 25 mile from here, and from the village, you go up a long winding hill, very very steep, past a few farms. Quite a lot of trees had been ripped up and flung about by the storm. One had been across the the road, and been cut up.

At the top, though a farm gate, and the farm yard, a windy deep rutted track, with deep water in them.

I spend about an hour there all in all. I dont mind spending the time with my patients, it pays off with loyalty, I like to think.

I had an appointment myself at Glan Clywd today, and by the time I finally got away, I was late picking him up. Bad deal, never ever happened before. He was ok though, met him at grandma's house.

I've been started on a new drug, but I just found out I cant take Ibuprofen with it, which is a bloody nuisance.

Through the Mill....

My day yesterday....

Up at 05.30, stumble about sorting coffee (must haaaave coffeeee) and porridge. 

leave the house at 6.30 and drive to Chester. Drive for an hour in the dark howling rain. Arrive 07.30 and change into theatre blues.

Fortunately, a trusted colleague had left my anaesthetic room in good order.

Set up all the equipment, check the machines, sort the table attachments, check the drugs, sort the sending paperwork.

Wait about for first surgeon to arrive. Have pre op meeting, and send for  first patient.

We have NO porter today, so sort it out and collect patient myself.

Once patient safe, set up for next one double quick. Do not forget to write controlled drugs up in book! Watch interesting foot surgery, removal of a very unusual large bursar, with ganglion, full of clear jelly (actually jellified synovial fluid, about a dessert spoonful!) Finish 3 orthopaedic cases.

Finish morning list, grab a bit of lunch quickly before afternoon list. Set up shoulder table. Check in, anaesthetize patient, do regional block, position on table. Finish about 16.30. Start plastics cases. Only 2 cases, but the second, blephs and rhinoplasty, do not leave theatre until 20.30 hours. Bleed a bit on extubation.

Sort my anaesthetic room out, stock up, clean table, get out stuff for colleague on morning shift. I make sure it is all in tip top condition as it is someone I know ho has done the same for me.

Go into recovery to help out with patient. We send everyone else home, and finally take patient up to ward, and hand over.

Finally get into car, drive home, and get in at about 23.00.

Very very tired now. Back and knee very very sore. Skin in a state too, dry and horrid.

So there you are, a very brief idea of my Friday. I am getting a bit long in the tooth for 14 hour shifts these days. It is totally knackering, physically and mentally, and you are fit for nothing  the next day.

Yesterday.... all my troubles, well....

Took yesterday off. My son was ill, so, stayed home with him. Coughing and sneezing. At least he got some piano practice done.

Did my best to catch up today, worked like a demon at the nursing home. It's jolly hard work.
Not like they are lines up and waiting, yo hve to go and find them, and then enlist help to find  somewhere to do oyur thing, as it were.

Also, organising is a big issue. I have a whole load of unpaid invoices, some from 2014, from patients that have passed away. ususally, one has to 'write them off' as unrecoverable. I must loose over £200 a year that way.

It is also knackering, and sometimes horrible, as you are called vile things by people who have vile natures.



This my picture of Penmon lighthouse. An amazing place.

Back to work today: a big nursing home in Abergele.
Now they owe for about 20 + invoices, some from last year- which isnt good.
It's not the home, it's the relatives of the inmates. Some, are tight as hel with their money, and seem to think my services should be somehow 'free'.
I am a private practitioner, the little bit of money I charge is my income. I have business overheads, it costs me money to provide this service. And  then there is the massive 20% of my patry income the robbing bastard government rip me off for.
Its not lke I am Google or Amazon, that gets away with paying almost nothing. Oh no, the tax man sees us little guys as an easy option to screw over.

Little lad not feeling too well today, so we skipped clarinet. He has a nasty snoddy colwd, and feeling yukky.
Hopefully feels well enough to go ot school in the morning...
Any way I took this image at a park farm in Anglesey a while ago. It was a fine sunny day too..