What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

[gennepher]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen as our regular poster @ianpspurs said, today is a bitter sweet day. Heart felt thanks for your best wishes and concern.
.
Today is not only national bin day, but much more importantly the 30th anniversary of my liver transplant also even more importantly the anniversary of a young man’s untimely death and his family’s brave decision to donate his organs, to the family I am eternally grateful and will be forever in their debt. Without their gift I would not have see my children grow up and seen my grandchildren and surrogate grand children.
As I walked out of hospital for the first time, the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham I set my self a task of trying to live as normal a life as possible and to show transplants work and save lives.

Bittersweet for you Alf, and also for them.
He and his family gave you the precious gift of life.
It is a poignant day for all you.

Take care in this heat.

 

[Cumberland]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen as our regular poster @ianpspurs said, today is a bitter sweet day. Heart felt thanks for your best wishes and concern.
.
Today is not only national bin day, but much more importantly the 30th anniversary of my liver transplant also even more importantly the anniversary of a young man’s untimely death and his family’s brave decision to donate his organs, to the family I am eternally grateful and will be forever in their debt. Without their gift I would not have see my children grow up and seen my grandchildren and surrogate grand children.
As I walked out of hospital for the first time, the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham I set my self a task of trying to live as normal a life as possible and to show transplants work and save lives.

Amen

 

[Krystyna23040]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen as our regular poster @ianpspurs said, today is a bitter sweet day. Heart felt thanks for your best wishes and concern.
.
Today is not only national bin day, but much more importantly the 30th anniversary of my liver transplant also even more importantly the anniversary of a young man’s untimely death and his family’s brave decision to donate his organs, to the family I am eternally grateful and will be forever in their debt. Without their gift I would not have see my children grow up and seen my grandchildren and surrogate grand children.
As I walked out of hospital for the first time, the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham I set my self a task of trying to live as normal a life as possible and to show transplants work and save lives.

I agree with @gennepher that it is a poignant day for all you. You have definitely shown that transplants work and save lives.

 

[dunelm]

Fbg 6.7


Thursday: this is a long post about frustrations at the pharmacy yesterday. Don't read if you don't want to. That is okay.

I do not appreciate being lied to.

I have been chasing up my overdue prescription eye drops for over 2 weeks now. The regular pharmacist had told me to come back this week if they weren't in and he would get a prescription for some different ones for me.

The regular pharmacist was not in yesterday, but the lady who looks a slip of a girl, dispenses medicines as the pharmacist does.

I asked the counter assistant if my eye drops are in and gave her the owing slip. After checking, she told me they were not in and they were none available, and handed the owing slip back to me. But, I have now run out I said and the pharmacist had said to come in today and he would order some different eye drops for me.

So, she tells me to sit down (we finally have two chairs now in the pharmacy), and she goes and asks the lady pharmacist. I am in a good position to lipread the conversation between the counter assistant and the lady pharmacist, despite them being about 15 metres away, (by the way my lipreading skills are absolutely amazing at a distance, it is harder to do near to when I have to constantly move my head to find who is speaking, and I followed very interesting conversations years ago, in the pub...). Tell her (that's me), the lady pharmacist said, that each time we have ordered her eyedrops, they have sent the wrong ones, and we cannot let her have these wrong eyedrops, it's not allowed. And the lady pharmacist repeated that again to the counter assistant. Tell her we can't do anything about it, the lady pharmacist finishes.

And I am thinking as I am lipreading, what on earth is she on about. She has just made that up.

The counter assistant comes over, and repeats what she had been told, and goes to go away, leaving me with no eye medication, and no way of getting it. I had already been back many times for these particular eye drops.

I say, hang on, please will you listen to me. So I explain about St Paul’s Eye hospital, and them prescribing new eye meds earlier this year, and that this empty packet I was showing her were the eyedrops that had been prescribed earlier this year, and that it was on their pharmacy system. And that the regular pharmacist had said, a few days previously, he could get them represcribed for me if my current eyedrops were still unavailable. In any case, I explained, it is on the system that I can go back to the previous eye meds any time I want, if I don't like the new ones.

So the counter assistant went back to the lady pharmacist and explained what I had said. The counter assistant came back with, these eye meds are not on the system (the lady pharmacist hadn't even looked). And the lady pharmacist had finished with, we can't do anything.

On my pharmacy computer system are details of previous medicines, and what the regular pharmacist does is hand me a previous same kind of med if the new one is unavailable, and then he sorts that out for me. The regular pharmacist says he can do that because it is already on the system.

Anyway, this went back and forth for an hour and a half. I had been out to see my friend all day, and my car had shown the temperature as 31C. And we had walked out of icy air conditioning places into a wall of unbreathable hot air. So, I am very tired, but despite this, all the while I am very polite and courteous with this counter assistant. I had asked when the regular pharmacist would be in and she didn't know. I also explained I have 3 different eye conditions, and I cannot use any old cheap eye drops because they make my eyes worse, and I am allergic to them. I am under the care of St Paul’s eye hospital in England. I need these prescription eye drops.

The counter assistant lady was really nice and helpful, unlike the lady pharmacist who appeared so unhelpful. And by the way the lady pharmacist appeared to be very unhelpful to other customers who were making health enquiries, while I was waiting all that time. Whereas the regular pharmacist would take time out (5/10/15 minutes) for each customer enquiry, and help them. That is actually his job (more that it was before), I have a printed sheet which explains what the pharmacist (from this pharmacy at least), can do now for you now.

Normally I order my prescriptions online, but the site was shut down over a month and a half ago for updating and was to return on 27th July. It has not returned yet. It is now 11th August. The site says "Practice currently unavailable".

Yesterday while I was there, there was a constant stream of people walking into the pharmacy with repeat prescriptions to put in the shoebox on the counter. It was stuffed full. They must be in the same boat, not to be able to access the online site.

This practice/I don't have a GP, and there has been no GP's in this practice since 2019.

I googled online, and I find there has been a computer system outage for the last month in the Welsh NHS site for various things. It seems to be a bit far reaching.

I don't know what to think. It is scary.

I am waiting for the helpful counter assistant to text me on Friday. She says she cannot promise to have my eye meds, but she promises to push and push with this to see how far she can get. I believe her, but at the end of the day, she is a counter assistant who doesn't have authority in this. But her eyes matched her words when she told me she will try as hard as she can on my behalf.


I apologise for this being a long post to read, but it was my frustrating day yesterday, and I couldn't sleep last night. I was unable to read some books I bought yesterday, because my eyes were far too dry.

Creative is borage in a kaleidoscope in Laboscope.

Now I need a cuppa and a rest.

Take care...


View attachment 55873

A winner for perseverance and a hug for such a tiring day - shoe box technology trumps 21stC screw ups and rude people - we are all regressing to the 1950’s. I still don’t see what was wrong with just turning up and sitting in the next available chair and then shuffling round until eventually you were in the chair next to the receptionist who then handed you a brown bundle of your medical notes to take with you in to see your GP - and they did exist in the real time! Smashing Borage plant - I love the colour of the flowers, especially when brightening up a salad.

 

[dunelm]

This is an absolutely amazing drawing. It must've taken a very long time. But satisfying to do @dunelm
Enjoy that coffee...

Thank you @gennepher - it took a few hours, over two days.

 

[dunelm]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen as our regular poster @ianpspurs said, today is a bitter sweet day. Heart felt thanks for your best wishes and concern.
.
Today is not only national bin day, but much more importantly the 30th anniversary of my liver transplant also even more importantly the anniversary of a young man’s untimely death and his family’s brave decision to donate his organs, to the family I am eternally grateful and will be forever in their debt. Without their gift I would not have see my children grow up and seen my grandchildren and surrogate grand children.
As I walked out of hospital for the first time, the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham I set my self a task of trying to live as normal a life as possible and to show transplants work and save lives.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I do worry that my agreement to donate my organs after I die may not be of much use as I age, but you can never be sure.

 

[gennepher]

A winner for perseverance and a hug for such a tiring day - shoe box technology trumps 21C screw ups - we are all regressing to the 1950’s. I still don’t see what was wrong with just turning up and sitting in the next available chair and then shuffling round until eventually you were in the chair next to the receptionist who then handed you a brown bundle of your medical notes to take with you in to see your GP - and they did exist in the real time! Smashing Borage plant - I love the colour of the flowers, especially when brightening up a salad.

I remember those 1950's days well @dunelm
Also you chatted to the person next to, you and everyone was friendly.
Thanks for liking the borage plant!

 

[dunelm]

Good morning everyone from holiday mode here in the dark and dangerous north. We are off on a road trip - well, not really as we know where we are going. Birmingham today - a stop off to see 50% of the grandchildren (3) and then tomorrow down to Bristol to see my Brother. I expect that the air conditioning in the car will be well used but I will keep hitting the recycled air button to save fuel although our little Smart car is quite efficient as long as you don’t have a foot made of lead. Art bit - adding a bit of definition to yesterday’s thin black lines. It’s now finished but I will post the end game tomorrow. Have a fabulous Friday if you can and remember your pets. We have two, gingko trees, but my sister in law will be round to feed them while we are away and add water to the two water dishes for the birds. Time for a koffy before I wake up Mrs Miggins.

 

[gennepher]

Good morning everyone from holiday mode here in the dark and dangerous north. We are off on a road trip - well, not really as we know where we are going. Birmingham today - a stop off to see 50% of the grandchildren (3) and then tomorrow down to Bristol to see my Brother. I expect that the air conditioning in the car will be well used but I will keep hitting the recycled air button to save fuel although our little Smart car is quite efficient as long as you don’t have a foot made of lead. Art bit - adding a bit of definition to yesterday’s thin black lines. It’s now finished but I will post the end game tomorrow. Have a fabulous Friday if you can and remember your pets. We have two, gingko trees, but my sister in law will be round to feed them while we are away and add water to the two water dishes for the birds. Time for a koffy before I wake up Mrs Miggins.


View attachment 55884

Very effective definition @dunelm.
This is a splendid drawing.
Very dramatic.

Enjoy your road trip, and your air con.
And enjoy your coffee which I have no doubt is brewing now...

 

[Krystyna23040]

A rather unexpected 4.7 this morning. Yesterday I went completely off the rails and had ice cream, 2 liquorice allsorts and a lot of salted peanuts.

I was feeling really hot and had been thinking about how nice it will be to have some ice cream as a special treat when we are away next week - when I was drawn inexorably to Mr K 's ice cream in the freezer. The liquorice allsorts and peanuts followed in quick succession.

 

[gennepher]

A rather unexpected 4.7 this morning. Yesterday I went completely off the rails and had ice cream, 2 liquorice allsorts and a lot of salted peanuts.

I was feeling really hot and had been thinking about how nice it will be to have some ice cream as a special treat when we are away next week when I was drawn inexorably to Mr K 's ice cream in the freezer. The liquorice allsorts and peanuts followed in quick succession.

Winner...and a hug for those inexorably temptations... @Krystyna23040

 

[gennepher]

Fbg 6.6

I had my post and words about Midnight worked out last night for this morning, but that will have to be another day now.

When I locked up last night, everything was present and correct. And as it should be.

This morning I opened up to let the air go through the bungalow. But I noticed something orange on the concrete just out side my front gate. My front gate is not at the beginning of my driveway, but half way up, by the bungalow.

It was a very large screwdriver, larger than for any screws I have as an average householder.

I checked the car because it was next to that also. No damage on the care. It had not been used on the car. And if the screwdriver had been thrown there, there was no evidence of it landing on the car first.

So I took several photos. I didn't touch it. I didn't have a big enough sterile plastic bag for it, so I had to use a carrier bag and I put it in a safe place. I am in full view of Mr Insensitive Xmas Lights neighbour's fish eye 'spy' camera all the while I am doing this. So, he will have information on this camera as to who put that screwdriver there.

But you know how he is, the most objectionable neighbour ever. This screwdriver has not fallen off the dividing wall, because it has an apex at the top, so it has been dropped from the spot on my property, or thrown over.

I think whoever had that screwdriver and to be that far up my driveway, had a nefarious purpose. It was not there when I locked up at 10 pm last night.

I often go to the gate in the middle of night when I make a cup of tea in the kitchen when I can't sleep to watch the moon. I think that has been knocked in the head now for safety purposes. I wouldn't stand much chance if that long heavy screwdriver was driven in my front or back. And the chances are no one would find me until morning, and I would just be congealed blood on the concrete by then.

I need to find my locks for this wrought iron gate today. And they will be locked overnight again.

Because of the heat many of the neighbours are leaving their windows wide open during the hours of darkness, so, I presume there are opportunists about. None of my windows are open in the night, except one in my bedroom, which is locked in the groove, and is only open a minuscule amount.

So, here in TinyPlanets app for my creative today is the offending screwdriver. I won't be handing it to anyone, only to the police if they call. But I doubt that will happen.

Have a lovely day in this heatwave.
It is already 25C here. I think we were promised 32 C for later today...

 

[ianpspurs]

Hello everyone from another sun drenched, dry as a bone day here on the border (other Eagles songs are much better but I like the LP) between the East and West of East Anglia. My blessings today obviously start with still being in this world then move on to having a grandson here. The warm weather and concomitant freedom to dress very much unlike the Michelin Man are next in line. I have tea for the hydration pre-loading. Later there will be salmon and salad so I'd say I've been over indulged in the giving of daily bread stakes. Thanks be to God. Two sons set off to amble up Scafell Pike for charity. - One son works for RBL Coolbox, 4 walking poles, hats and a sleeping bag provided. Pre-school end of day collection and return home needed today and collection from Cambs Monday morning. . @gennepher worrying tale of that screwdriver but thanks for the kaleidoscope. @dunelm those steps are looking majestic, thank you. Enjoy the trips and time with loved ones. @Krystyna23040 great fbg. Temptation cuts both ways but you always seem to walk the line so well. (Sorry Johnny, but I'm not a fan of yours.). Stay safe, well hydrated, suitably attired (including head wear) and slathered in factor 50 if needed.

 

[gennepher]

Hello everyone from another sun drenched, dry as a bone day here on the border (other Eagles songs are much better but I like the LP) between the East and West of East Anglia. My blessings today obviously start with still being in this world then move on to having a grandson here. The warm weather and concomitant freedom to dress very much unlike the Michelin Man are next in line. I have tea for the hydration pre-loading. Later there will be salmon and salad so I'd say I've been over indulged in the giving of daily bread stakes. Thanks be to God. Two sons set off to amble up Scafell Pike for charity. - One son works for RBL Coolbox, 4 walking poles, hats and a sleeping bag provided. Pre-school end of day collection and return home needed today and collection from Cambs Monday morning. . @gennepher worrying tale of that screwdriver but thanks for the kaleidoscope. @dunelm those steps are looking majestic, thank you. Enjoy the trips and time with loved ones. @Krystyna23040 great fbg. Temptation cuts both ways but you always seem to walk the line so well. (Sorry Johnny, but I'm not a fan of yours.). Stay safe, well hydrated, suitably attired (including head wear) and slathered in factor 50 if needed.

Thanks @ianpspurs
It is worrying as it happened overnight...

You take care this hot day x

 

[jjraak]

Oh @gennepher
What a horrid experience....

Pray the old chemist rocks up soon & you get those much needed drops..

Have my greatest sympathies.

 

[jjraak]

A rather unexpected 4.7 this morning. Yesterday I went completely off the rails and had ice cream, 2 liquorice allsorts and a lot of salted peanuts.

I was feeling really hot and had been thinking about how nice it will be to have some ice cream as a special treat when we are away next week - when I was drawn inexorably to Mr K 's ice cream in the freezer. The liquorice allsorts and peanuts followed in quick succession.

Reads like a court case..."If it pleases the court, m'lud....Exhibit A..to whit, one empty ice cream container"..

Congratulations on such a good reading though.
I'm calling that a WIN...

 

[jjraak]

Hey ho, team

A good week, blotted by some communications not being quite up to par.

Bad bits first.

Everyone dealing with me recommends some sort of gym membership to help rehab

Gym offers free passes, but needs doctors sign off or some such

Doctors not aware so ask what gym requires, I relay that to surgery once surgery actually answers phone (a ring then the message of how important my call is ...then hanging up ... infuriating )

Seems I'm now on a waiting list....and it's long one
so what's new

Not sure I mentioned, but appointment for PTSD counseling missed .

So I call to say I'm waiting.
"Oh, lady called in sick."
"Oh no, wait..your sessions ended "

No...no one mentioned it .

Seems they got it wrong, possibly next week's is on... I hope .

Not sure treating anxiety & depression by making clients anxious & depressed is really going to catch on..



Good news however...
Is BG under 8*...

Physio writing to see if he can help with gym, & took time to run me through the hospital gym with suggested exercises.

Plan is rejoin gym, nephew acts a spotter, no professional help, but yesterdays tips gave me plenty to go on .

So thanks for the waiting list .but I just CAN'T wait this one out

Sounds ungrateful, but I'm just annoyed how difficult some simple thing just are


* And BG under 8....

Heading back from physio
Called nephew, he's out having lunch with his daughter, come join us he says....for One drink after..

Yes, dear reader....you know where this is going .

His lovely daughter & boyfriend, stay for one round to be polite, then when they leave, my niece's calls to say she's popping over for a bit..

Then we have just one more...to be sociable

Then his sons friend pops in as we discuss finishing up, so of course it would be rude to just leave, so we agree ..one more round ....hic

Sore head V unexpectedly delightful day.

Seems a fair exchange

Stay safe all.

 

[jjraak]

Post script to yesterday.

Pub as such is a pop up one, in a churches grounds.

Church has quite a lot going on in it, kindergarten & boot sales at weekend

Anyway, lovely little spot in the heart of our local-ish community.

Facilities are inside the church
Seems a little odd but sensible.

A good Catholic boy here, so I treat it with respect
Use the toilet and then glance inside the chapel area.

It's empty, but I'm struck by its beauty & serenity.
And just stand there, taking in the moment.

Likely the beer, but my mind this morning, in that not asleep, but not really awake either, moment, was looking through so much this morning, much more of the ethereal then normal.

Can only describe it as rounding off a few edges and giving a more defined 'shape: to this whole accident & recovery experience.

A little too hippie/60’s for you .?

Yeah, I know what you mean, but it's the best description I have to offer.

I just 'Feel' a little blessed,.today

 

[jjraak]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen as our regular poster @ianpspurs said, today is a bitter sweet day. Heart felt thanks for your best wishes and concern.
.
Today is not only national bin day, but much more importantly the 30th anniversary of my liver transplant also even more importantly the anniversary of a young man’s untimely death and his family’s brave decision to donate his organs, to the family I am eternally grateful and will be forever in their debt. Without their gift I would not have see my children grow up and seen my grandchildren and surrogate grand children.
As I walked out of hospital for the first time, the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham I set my self a task of trying to live as normal a life as possible and to show transplants work and save lives.

BEAUTIFULLY PUT ...

Living your best life IS the finest tribute anyone could give them .

And you so clearly are
Long may it remain so

 

[ianpspurs]

Hey ho, team

A good week, blotted by some communications not being quite up to par.

Bad bits first.

Everyone dealing with me recommends some sort of gym membership to help rehab

Gym offers free passes, but needs doctors sign off or some such

Doctors not aware so ask what gym requires, I relay that to surgery once surgery actually answers phone (a ring then the message of how important my call is ...then hanging up ... infuriating )

Seems I'm now on a waiting list....and it's long one
so what's new

Not sure I mentioned, but appointment for PTSD counseling missed .

So I call to say I'm waiting.
"Oh, lady called in sick."
"Oh no, wait..your sessions ended "

No...no one mentioned it .

Seems they got it wrong, possibly next week's is on... I hope .

Not sure treating anxiety & depression by making clients anxious & depressed is really going to catch on..



Good news however...
Is BG under 8*...

Physio writing to see if he can help with gym, & took time to run me through the hospital gym with suggested exercises.

Plan is rejoin gym, nephew acts a spotter, no professional help, but yesterdays tips gave me plenty to go on .

So thanks for the waiting list .but I just CAN'T wait this one out

Sounds ungrateful, but I'm just annoyed how difficult some simple thing just are


* And BG under 8....

Heading back from physio
Called nephew, he's out having lunch with his daughter, come join us he says....for One drink after..

Yes, dear reader....you know where this is going .

His lovely daughter & boyfriend, stay for one round to be polite, then when they leave, my niece's calls to say she's popping over for a bit..

Then we have just one more...to be sociable

Then his sons friend pops in as we discuss finishing up, so of course it would be rude to just leave, so we agree ..one more round ....hic

Sore head V unexpectedly delightful day.

Seems a fair exchange

Stay safe all.

Curates Egg type of week but overall a win imho. Is your bg sub 8 by any chance? Have a great weekend but maybe tinged with sadness come 6 O'clock Sunday evening. I'm counting anything better than a 3 goal beating for us as major progress.