WEEK 85 to 87 (2 – 22 Mar 2008)
As Andrea seemed to be recovering a little she summoned up the strength and patience to give me detailed instructions on how to make a vegetable soup. It took over an hour, mainly to find all the bits and pieces and cut up the vegetables. But it tasted fine even if my dicing was not as fine as some and the lumps were the size of actual dice. I thought that’s what it meant and was grateful I didn’t have to add the numbers to each side of the cubes!
I contacted our insurance company to start making claims and requesting assistance for the next stages and were referred to a consultant in Kampala. We only had to wait 30 minutes and were then sent for a CT scan and X-ray. Although we travelled across Kampala we were able to get them and return to see the consultant the same day. No 3 month waiting lists here! However, he then wanted to send her for further tests but after some discussion agreed that the best option was to return to the UK. Even so, the insurance company wanted to send us to Nairobi but eventually agreed to make arrange and pay for the flights home. By this stage it was too late to return to Arua – I could get there but not back again so we had to travel very light and with only summer clothes.
The flight back wasn’t as bad as we expected although Andrea had to be carried onto the plane at Entebbe. We were told at checking that there were there were no upgrades available but the chief steward directed us to a more comfortable seat as soon as Andrea got on the plane. The seats were larger with more space between making it easier to get in and out. Of the seats, not the plane. Only 7 of the 22 seats in this section were occupied so it was much quieter too. We were met at the plane with a wheelchair and taken through passport control very quickly. Even our one (small) bag appeared quickly and our taxi was waiting for us too.
We saw our GP fairly quickly but the earliest appointment for the consultant is two weeks away. I also had the opportunity to attend a memorial service for Dennis. He was a member of the paras and parachuted behind enemy lines 5 days before D-Day. He was seriously injured a few days later. We used to sit in the same row at church and spent a week with him and his wife at Spring Harvest. It was not surprising that the church was full and extra seats were needed. He was so gently and friendly and we will miss him so I was glad to be present.
I was able to watch the last matches of the Six Nations Rugby – all three on one day. This was another unexpected bonus, even if Ireland were beaten. But I’m not saying by whom.
It was strange going to the service at Brentwood Baptist Church, partly because Andrea wasn’t well enough and partly because I shouldn’t be here! But it was good to see our friends again and participate in a Palm Sunday service. Peter Thomas visited on Monday morning. In the afternoon we went to Weald Park but the Visitors Centre (and coffee shop) is closed on Mondays so we just sat in the car and watched the deer and ducks. Barbara visited in the afternoon after school.
Another highlight was the arrival of Laura from Exmouth. She planned to stay for a week – the longest we have seen her for several years. Even visiting the storage and Tesco’s with her was entertaining! However, she didn’t join me on the March for Witness in Brentwood on Good Friday morning (too early?) nor on our visits to friends. Poor girl, she needs a break from her parents already! She also has some work to do and would get on with it better if we’re not present. Though I can’t understand why she didn’t want to join her mother at the church knitting group.
I contacted our insurance company to start making claims and requesting assistance for the next stages and were referred to a consultant in Kampala. We only had to wait 30 minutes and were then sent for a CT scan and X-ray. Although we travelled across Kampala we were able to get them and return to see the consultant the same day. No 3 month waiting lists here! However, he then wanted to send her for further tests but after some discussion agreed that the best option was to return to the UK. Even so, the insurance company wanted to send us to Nairobi but eventually agreed to make arrange and pay for the flights home. By this stage it was too late to return to Arua – I could get there but not back again so we had to travel very light and with only summer clothes.
The flight back wasn’t as bad as we expected although Andrea had to be carried onto the plane at Entebbe. We were told at checking that there were there were no upgrades available but the chief steward directed us to a more comfortable seat as soon as Andrea got on the plane. The seats were larger with more space between making it easier to get in and out. Of the seats, not the plane. Only 7 of the 22 seats in this section were occupied so it was much quieter too. We were met at the plane with a wheelchair and taken through passport control very quickly. Even our one (small) bag appeared quickly and our taxi was waiting for us too.
We saw our GP fairly quickly but the earliest appointment for the consultant is two weeks away. I also had the opportunity to attend a memorial service for Dennis. He was a member of the paras and parachuted behind enemy lines 5 days before D-Day. He was seriously injured a few days later. We used to sit in the same row at church and spent a week with him and his wife at Spring Harvest. It was not surprising that the church was full and extra seats were needed. He was so gently and friendly and we will miss him so I was glad to be present.
I was able to watch the last matches of the Six Nations Rugby – all three on one day. This was another unexpected bonus, even if Ireland were beaten. But I’m not saying by whom.
It was strange going to the service at Brentwood Baptist Church, partly because Andrea wasn’t well enough and partly because I shouldn’t be here! But it was good to see our friends again and participate in a Palm Sunday service. Peter Thomas visited on Monday morning. In the afternoon we went to Weald Park but the Visitors Centre (and coffee shop) is closed on Mondays so we just sat in the car and watched the deer and ducks. Barbara visited in the afternoon after school.
Another highlight was the arrival of Laura from Exmouth. She planned to stay for a week – the longest we have seen her for several years. Even visiting the storage and Tesco’s with her was entertaining! However, she didn’t join me on the March for Witness in Brentwood on Good Friday morning (too early?) nor on our visits to friends. Poor girl, she needs a break from her parents already! She also has some work to do and would get on with it better if we’re not present. Though I can’t understand why she didn’t want to join her mother at the church knitting group.
posted by J & A McAdam at 3:40 PM
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