4 weeks on

It’s 4 weeks today that I had my knee op and I can definitely see signs of progress now. Still stiff and sore, and sleep, although improving a little, is still not easy. I decided to look back at my old blog diary from 12 years ago when I had my first knee replacement and that has encouraged me a bit. I was still on Tramadol then whereas I gave up the opioids after just 2 weeks this time.

Back in 1983 I was contemplating getting some ankle weights for my exercises – perhaps I need to start using them again now? I was also starting to, ever so gently, get on the exercise bike. Time for me to try that again now, I think.

I have been out on a few walks – some short, just to the shops and back but a couple of longer ones too. Last week, Jo dropped me at Morrison’s and I walked back from there, hugging as close to the river as I could. This year’s drought has certainly tamed the Dee – the strip of water has got ever narrower and there appear to be more rocks than water in places. This was down below Banchory Lodge:

I walked under the Dee bridge and then realised I would have to somehow climb back up the embankment to the golf course. That bit was a bit of a struggle but I got there and then bumped in to some of my pals playing their regular Wednesday Quaich. I rewarded myself when I got home:

 Yesterday Ross took Jo out for her weekly visit to her friend Elizabeth and I hitched a ride with them. Ross dropped me off at the entrance to the Household Recycling Centre, aka the tip, and I walked the trails back from there – just over 3 kms in total. I had been getting in to trouble with Jo as she had spoken to former Physiotherapist Joan McLoughlin who had told Jo that I must continue to use my walking stick on the longer walks, else I will end up with a permanent limp. I did as I was told yesterday but I don’t feel the stick’s helping at all – I feel I’m past that stage.

The other thing that Jo is banning me from is driving again just now. It’s just over a week until our trip to Mallaig so I need to get in the car before then. I can’t see how it can be an issue in an automatic car, given you only use your right leg to accelerate and stop.

I walked up to the Legion on Saturday and had a couple of pints of ale with Colin – first time for a month.

That’s about all for now but I’ll close with some photos. First of all, Jo wearing the nice jacket that Lucy had to leave behind:

Then a couple of Kendall – one with Lucy and another with Cade:

Medical update etc

It’s Monday 25^th August, some two and a half weeks after my knee op and I guess there has been some improvement over that time but, from where I’m sitting it doesn’t really feel like it. One of the big issues is lack of sleep – I had forgotten what a major issue this was the last time (almost 12 years ago now).

One lesson I did learn from back in 2013 was to come off the heavy drugs as soon as possible. You need them to allow you to do the essential exercises and get the joint moving again but they are addictive. Last time it was co-codamol, this time it was dihydrocodeine. Both are opioids (synthetic opiates). I’m happy to say that I stopped them just over a week ago. I’m still using paracetamol on an occasional basis and I’m getting through the exercises OK.

A week ago I went to our local medical practice and got the staples removed, using a special tool. The nurse cleaned the wound and put on lots of small sutures and a light covering which was to remain for a week. Here's a couple of before and after photos:

                                                                     Staples in – staples out

Then, this morning I removed the temporary dressing:

Jo and I were due to be going away next week but given our current relative lack of mobility we have now decided to cancel the whole trip. We had booked to go on a CAMRA tour round Ludlow Brewery in Shropshire and we thought we would take the opportunity to visit Bath - somewhere Jo has always wanted to see. It was a bit of a road trip - 6 nights' away - 5 hotels and averaging about 4 hours of driving daily. Our next planned trip is to Mallaig on 11th September - let's hope we can manage that one OK.

I think I forgot to show you the photo of Gary arriving at the golf club in his (relatively) new company’s van when Scott and Lucy were here:

Last week was Barry's 71st and he and Helen went for a meal at a fish restaurant in Oban:

 

ONE WEEK LATER

Just over a week ago, Scott and Lucy came to pick me up and drive me home from Woodend. There weren’t that many hours left in the day before most would be heading to bed prior to their early morning drive to the airport. Scheduled departure was 4:20 am but we were all awake by 3:30 am. And then they were gone after 2 hectic weeks.

The rest of Friday was quiet but I had to run our 3 monthly Headbang in the evening – remotely on this occasion.

Nothing eventful on Saturday either – other than the fact that Jo and Mary broke with tradition and didn’t spend the afternoon video calling!

Sunday mornings are usually my turn to go shopping – and pick up my Sunday Times while Jo’s at church but she wasn’t quite ready for that this week so was happy to do my usual little chores for me.

All had seemed to be fine – progress on my knee was OK and I was getting through the exercises alright too but an unexpected issue crept up on me on Monday – my bladder and bowel were blocked. No movement overnight either so, on Tuesday morning I had to phone our local GP Practice for help.

Dr. Henderson arranged for me to come in immediately and he then went about sorting the problem for me. Having a catheter fitted is, shall we say, a novel experience, but when I saw the length of the extraction tube I got a bit of a shock. Not a fun way to start the day – for me or for him. Well at least I now know the capacity of a male bladder (600 mls if you really want to know).

Prior to the operation, once the date was confirmed, it finally gave us an opportunity to organise a few short trips that, earlier in the year, we had thought I would be fully fit for by now. These included a CAMRA brewery visit in Shropshire early in September and our usual trip to Marbella in October.

Because the operation was now later in the year it did, however, mean that I would not be able to participate in our group’s annual Walking Weekend which this year would be based in Mallaig. It was all booked and fully paid – hotel, ferries etc – and it would be a shame to waste it, so Jo is now coming too. We won’t be walking with the rest of the group but it gives us a chance of a short break.

All good you would think but then one of the nursing staff suggested to me last week that I wouldn’t be able to drive for 6 weeks after the operation. What? Even though my operation is on my left knee and we have a right hand drive automatic car? I had to consult a higher intelligence:

I know which one I prefer.

Anyway, how is the knee progressing? Here's the "before" and "after" shots:

 

The one on the left was taken in hospital immediately post-op. The one on the right was taken yesterday - 8 days later. The dressing is the same - there has been no need to change it. It gets removed on Monday anyway.
Other news in photos:

Greyhound no.3 has just been delivered to Gary. " Completely demented with a bad case of the runs" - Gary's words, not mine.

Scott on river walk with Lucy on their last full day here.

Ross in his daily routine.

Lucy checks up on Kendall

Kintore Utd's promo for their match on Saturday features Luca (no. 2)

We seem to have dodged a bullet, weather-wise, yesterday. The high pressure eventually brought some thunder and lightning to Scotland - and locally, there were some flash floods, hailstones and, apparently "818 lightning strikes in the last hour across the Cairngorms and Aberdeenshire" (according to a headline on FB). We heard some thunder but never experienced any of the other stuff in Banchory.

This was a road leading in to Dinnet:

Some of the hailstones were pretty big:

Quiet house

Scots comedian Kevin Bridges often refers to "empties" in his stories - that's what our house feels like now that all our relatives have gone home. The last to leave were Scott and Lucy. Early on Friday morning - 4:20 am to be precise - Ross drove them to the airport:

Now they're going through the usual pain of jetlag. They had a busy 2 weeks in the UK - London first, where they met up with Lauren and Malcolm:

Then they arrived in Banchory and it was Brian and Mary for a couple of days plus Lucy's "bestie" Lorna popping in occasionally - they went to Craigievar Castle for a photo opportunity to show little Kendall the "Princess Castle":

Next was Dawn and Julie - for this Lucy and Jo had to travel down to the Central Belt - they took our car while Scott and I headed off to St Andrews for golf. Here's the team photos they took:

Obviously nobody in Houston was technically proficient enough to set up a camera timer and get all 8 of them into the photo - they had to get Lucy to do one and then Jo the next one!

Jo and Lucy drove back to Banchory on Saturday where they were met by a car-less Gary who joined us on the short drive up Deeside to the Aboyne Highland Games.

On Sunday, it was Barry and Helen's turn to arrive. Bacon butties for lunch then Barry, Scott and I grabbed our bikes and headed west to the Deeside Activity Park. Scott's a big, strong lad who's a generation younger than Barry and me but he's not used to off-road riding - especially in a lightweight analogue bike - nor was he kitted out in suitable undergarments for a rough-ish 40 kms ride. No problem for me or Barry, appropriately kitted out on our pedal-assist e-bikes, but, by the time we got to DAC Scott was ready to dial 111. Thankfully, we'd arranged to meet Ross, Jo, Lucy and Helen there and they came to Scott's rescue for the return journey:

Barry and Helen were resident at the Tor-na-Coille and they treated all of us (incuding Luca after his shift finished) to dinner there that evening.

Happily, the weather had generally been fine for the 2 weeks that our Americans were over here, but it appeared that this was about to change - Storm Floris was on the way. We did get a bit of rain and it was pretty windy, but nothing like as bad as had been forecast. As a result, Barry and I decided to do another bike ride - heading east, taking in 2 castles.

Scott, who by now, had got the golf bug - virtually every day he'd either been at the driving range at Inchmarlo or playing 9 holes there - had a caddy this morning - Lucy:

After we had all finished our morning activites, we met up at Drum Garden Centre for coffee and cakes/scones.

Before Barry and Helen went back to Glasgow, we had to take another team photo:

No Gary (at work) nor Luca, but, jumping forward to Saturday, Luca played his first full game for Kintore since his series of metatarsal injuries which started 18 months ago:

That's him in yellow on the ball. His team, which finished  bottom of the league in his absence, won this match against Banff 4-3 with Luca providing a few assists.

Wednesday was the day I'd been waiting for, for over 2 years - my left knee replacement. Ross drove Jo and me over to Woodend Hospital and then the admin and the waiting started. It was fully four and a half hours before I was actually in theatre.

I'd been advised to take music and headphones with me. As soon as the anaesthetist had done her work - spinal, so I would be conscious during the operation - I put the music on and inserted my earbuds. I knew they would also administer "mild sedation", but, blow me, I only heard one track and the next I knew they were waking me up again.

I was told the operation (robotic) went well but all I could see was a hugely inflated knee, swathed in bandages. Of course, I was given some heavy opioids which probably helped me sleep a bit that night. I had been told that morning operations get home the same day but afternoon ones require an overnight stay. However. on Thursday morning, the staff - particularly the physios - started back-tracking a bit and told me it could be Friday before I got home.

Scott and Lucy were booked on the redeye on Friday morning so I was keen to get out to see them before they left, so I started agitating a bit. I was put through the mill by one physio but thankfully I passed his tests with flying colours so they now had no reason to keep me in another night.

Scott and Lucy had a pretty hectic fortnight but they got round to see everyone they had planned for - with one exception. Kelly had video called just before they arrived and asked me to try to find a convenient time to call when as many as possible were there - I did try but it proved to be too difficult, only partly due to the time difference.

Friday was quiet in Banchory but I had a long-planned Headbang to attend that evening - remotely. It actually went quite well - and I didn't fall asleep!

 

All go here

It's been all go over the last week since Scott and Lucy arrived on Monday, followed by Mary and Brian on Tuesday. Scott and Lucy had arrived in London on Saturday and spent Sunday being tourists then went to see Lauren and Malcolm. Monday was a bit of a bummer for them though as their plane north was delayed by almost 2 hours, but eventually the welcoming party of me, Ross and Gary were able to greet them and drive them over to Banchory.

Mary and Brian checked in to the Tor-na-Coille mid-afternoon on Tuesday and I immediately whisked Brian and Scott off for an afternoon of beer drinking in the sunshine with my golf group at our monthly do at Ian Dring's Man Shed:

On Wednesday morning we went for coffee at the Unit next door:

In the afternoon it was golf at Banchory with my pals. Scott started nervously and Brian, likewise, struggled for a couple of holes but eventually they came on to their games. After the round was over, the plan was to gather on the golf club balcony with the others for a quick beer. First of all, Scott and Brian had to walk their clubs back to Arbor Court. Meawhile, I went through my usual procedure, utilising the trolley and battery room then putting my clubs in their locker.

The first part went OK and I stepped out of the trolley store and was about to lift my clubs when, all of a sudden, I heard a huge bang behind me - followed by the air outside filling with this black, acrid smoke then huge flames broke out just a couple of feet behind me through a glass door. I immediately abandoned my clubs and ran up the stairs shouting "fire, fire!". By this time, all the alarms were going and everyone evacuated the building. This was the scene I narrowly managed to escape from:

Brian and Scott arrived back at the club wondering what was happening - fire engines were arriving and smoke filled the air. I was somewhat shaken - but a beer might help, so we headed to the Legion and the terrace there.

Dinner had been arranged for 7 pm for 8 of us (Luca was working) so the 3 of us strolled down the lane to the Derbar, where we were eventually joined by Jo, Lucy, Mary, Ross & Gary. Here's the team photo:

Lucy's bestie, Lorna, came over on Thursday morning and she took Lucy away to Alford for most of the rest of the day. I had originally planned that Scott and I go for a bike ride but I was too tired after the previous day's events. We had been to the Inchmarlo driving range before golf on Wednesday and Scott then decided he would like to play the 9 hole course there, whilst I chilled.

Another golf challenge for Scott on Friday - we were off to St. Andrews to play the Eden course - an annual event for my golf group. This would be a whole new experience for Scott - links golf - fast, undulating greens and deep bunkers. Just like the day before, Scott's start wasn't the best but he settled down eventually and hit some booming drives on the back nine, topped by a terrific par at the tricky 14th hole:

Dinner for our golf group was at the Balgove Steak Barn.

Jo and Lucy had driven down to the Central Belt for a (late) long lunch with Dawn, then dinner at Julie's (after an adventurous near 2 hour drive from Dawn's!).

Jo and Lucy stayed at Mary and Brian's on Friday night then set off back to Banchory on Saturday morning. Gary, Scott and I had decided not to drive down to Perth to see Partick Thistle after all - we would instead go to the Aboyne Highland Games, but first we needed a car to get us there. Gary had left his car in Aberdeen and bussed through to Banchory so only 5 of us could go in our car. I think Jo was quietly pleased to opt out.

It was a brilliant, sunny afternoon at the Games - lots of activities happening at the same time - pipe bands, sword dancing, tug-of-wars, hammer throwing, track running, hill racing etc. Very entertaining:

Now today, Sunday, Barry and Helen will be arriving shortly. Bacon butties first then a cycle this afternoon, followed by dinner for 9 of us tonight in the Tor-na-Coille.

Rain at last

It's cooled down a bit in the last few days and finally we've got some proper rain - a bit too much this morning, if truth be told. We had seemed to have dodged the previous storms sweeping the UK but it's finally caught up with NE Scotland now.

Only a few days now until Scott and Lucy leave Oregon on the long journey over the Atlantic. They arrive at ABZ a week tomorrow after spending a couple of days in London. They're going to be busy when they get here and the time will flash by. Lucy will want to spend time with some old friends, especially Lorna, and she plans to meet up with Julie somewhere too. I'll make sure I keep Scott busy too - and Brian and Barry when they're here. This is some of what I'm thinking of:

    Monday 28th July - pick up at ABZ (17:40)

    Tuesday 29th July - Brian & Mary arrive. Scott, Brian and me to Ian Dring's for beers

    Wednesday 30th July - Afternoon golf at Banchory

    Thursday 31st July - Brian & Mary leave

    Friday 1st August - Golf at Eden course, St. Andrews

    Saturday 2nd August - St. Johnstone v Partick Thistle (Perth) with Gary?

    Sunday 3rd August - Barry and Helen arrive

    Monday 4th August - Barry, Scott and me cycle?

    Tuesday 5th August - Barry and Helen leave

    Wednesday 6th August - My knee op (11 am)

    Thursday 7th August - I get home after op

    Friday 8th August - Scott and Lucy leave (6:50 am)

I've added Scott and Lucy to our car insurance for the period when they're here. Sod's law - we don't have our car now! Last week Jo came home from her regular Tuesday afternoon with her pal Elizabeth and reported that there were a couple of amber lights showing on the dash so I had a quick look - usual drill - reboot and see if they disappear (they didn't).

I got in touch with our car dealer and they advised me to call Volvo Assistance. I got an immediate response and they told me they were sending a vehicle out. I assumed it would be a technician/mechanic to have a look at the problem, but, no - a great big car transporter arrived within 30 minutes and hauled our car away to the dealer's. Great, I thought - super service - but since then, nothing other than a daily text to tell me they haven't even looked at our car yet:

Tomorrow (Monday) we're heading to the Crail Festival (https://www.crailfestival.org/) with Anne & Leslie Mason. I was supposed to be driving but it's going to have to be Anne now. Anne's brother, Tom Cannavan, is hosting this event:

Jo's been busy rearranging the plants in the back. First she created a mini rock garden corner:

Next, she moved up a level and rearranged the layout:

No news yet of Ross' HGV licence. It's been way too long now - something must have gone wrong.

Last week I went to Edinburgh to meet up with some of my old school pals again:

The heat is back

It's a hot one today and it's going to be even hotter over the next few days we're told. I'll be heading across to the golf course shortly - looking forward to it. I've now received confirmation of my knee operation - August 6th it is. I guess I'll be in recovery mode from then until about the end of the year so now's the time to get things done.

Getting a bit more golf in is a start - with the op pending, surely I can't do much more damage to the joint that won't be fixed then? I'm making a start this weekend as it's our group's Summer Tour and this year it's being held around the East Kilbride/Strathaven area. The rest of the group are playing 3 days in a row but I'll just be playing in 2 of them - the latter in a buggy.

Also next week, I've arranged another get-together with my old school pals - our first this year. We're meeting for lunch in Edinburgh next Thursday.

Ross hasn't yet received his provisional HGV licence from DVLC. It's a bit worrying how long it's taking - hope he gets it soon.

Also coming up is our great-grandaughter Kendall's 2nd birthday. We sent her a present and here she is with the first part of it:

Looking back now over the last week and a half since my last post, we had a visit from the Whaley boys on Monday. They came up to see the Grampian Transport Museum at Alford and had booked in 2 nights at Inchmarlo resort - where Lucy and Kelly had stayed on their last visit back in 2013. We took them for a curry at the new Saffron Garden (our usual haunt, the Derbar, was closed that day). Here's the team photo and one of Jo and me too:

The above was all written before I went out to play this afternoon - and it really was hot.

Last Saturday, Jo, Ross and I drove over to Dunecht to meet Gary and Luca for a meal at what is now called the Waterton restaurant. Gary and Luca were playing pool in the sports bar when we arrived but then we all sat down and Gary was presented with his 50th birthday gifts:

We've been enjoying the strawberries from our garden this year but Jo was also delighted that as many as 3 fruits were now visible on the cherry tree!:

Lucy also told us that Scott had finally sold their runabout Jeep and also his old truck, which was replaced with this:

Our friends and former close neighbours were getting rid of their old garden bench a decade or so ago. It was in a pretty sad state but Jo was keen to have it so I set about trying to resurrect it - and it worked for a while, but the bench was riddled with woodworm. I've repaired it as best I could several times but I really thought it was a goner this year. However, I thought I would give it one last go to see if we could get at least one more year out of it. I replaced one of the seat slats and effected some crude repairs to the seat back as well as repainting the ironwork. As long as you don't examine it too closely it doesn't look too bad now:

Funnily enough we're going out tomorrow night for our second curry this week - with those same former neighbours and still good friends.

Oh - and today I finally got round to booking our flights for our return to our Marriott's Marbella timeshare in October. Anyone fancy joining us?