January, February...February and more...

Where to start? The beginning of 2024 saw us catch up with Wendy and Nicholas over lunch, but then I had my first ladies breakfast of the year. 10 or so of us, gathered in the sitting room - the dining room was, once again, too small. It was, as always, great. I shared on hospitality, in particular using the two pictures from dear friends Tami and Lisa. The upper print from Kazakhstan by a well-known Russian  artist was given to me when Tami and Stan came to stay with us shortly after our arrival in Guernsey. it depicted the famous passage from Revelation: Behold, I stand at the door and knock... One of the ladies who came that morning was in fact Russian, so she was most excited to see it, researching the artist for me and showing me similar works. 

The lower picture was a card, framed by Lisa many years ago, showing 'our' blue and white china: we both love and own versions of the Blue Denmark Royal Copenhagen design, though mine are a humble copy. And, again, the picture reflects the hospitality of offering a cup of tea or coffee. For me, a fulfilment of a prophecy I was given 20 years previously that I would be 'ministering over the tea and coffee' cups. 

 

Jonny's friend and neighbour Bryan, a skilled photographer, created this wonderful wildlife calendar.

The early days of 2024 brought unexpected news. I phoned the Medical Specialist Group, wondering when my planned knee replacement would be happening - only to be given a date in a couple of weeks' time. I had had no idea it would be so quick, having already waited since September 2022 when I signed the pre-op disclaimer form. (I had actually been waiting since April 2022, but hadn't been told I wasn't actually on the waiting list until the form was signed.) I had not been expecting it before May at the earliest, so this was great news, although I had had a letter in December, addressed to me but written to someone else, saying that my op would be scheduled soon.

January 23rd was the proposed date. Eeek! I set about finishing up fiddly little jobs and preparing the house, as best I could, for the time when I would be incapacitated for a while. Recovery time before returning to work was, I was told, 6 - 8 weeks. (In actual fact, the day of the operation the surgeon told me I would be signed off for 3 months.)

Dentist's appointments - no treatment can be done for at least 3 months post-op in fear of infection, and even then I will have to have an antibiotic beforehand.  A wonderful afternoon tea out at a hotel with friends Sarah, Tess and generous Rose who treated us with the voucher she had been given. (I was so grateful to have fitted it in beforehand! See next month's post!). Lunches and dinners with friends, hosting dinner with our wonderful dog-sitters Anne-Marie and Paul. 

And snow! Just a little, not staying long, but still a delight.

And then the op was postponed, as I had a slight skin infection which needed to be cleared up. Once I have the knee implant, I will need to be careful of infection for the rest of my life as bacteria will congregate on the metal, possibly needing the replacement to be removed. 

Disappointing, but all for the best. 

The postponement meant that I could host another breakfast in February, meet up for coffee or go out to dinner with friends, have more friends round... and then, at half term, Phil and Judy came to stay. So wonderful to have them. We were able to celebrate Judy's 60th with lunch overlooking the sea at Cobo, on a lovely sunny day. So many special times of sharing and chatting.

However, on 14th February, I went into hospital to have the knee replacement... thankful to have fitted in a more active visit with the beforehand.

A good book!

New Year thoughts and wishes....