London!

As most have you have probably already figured out, I am indeed back from London.

Stupid computer issues are still being annoying though, I tell you the company my computer comes from are the bane of my life. My computer is involved in my life so much, that to go without it for any period of time is hard, but its over a month now since I had a full working laptop urgh.

I rang to tell them it had a fault, it took them nearly a week to collect it, they then had it for over 2 weeks and another week to return it. I get it back today, unzip the case (It was sent off as laptop, charger and case, all with my name in large letters on it) To find only the computer no charger. What use is that!! By the way it was the cooling system that had gone. After 2 weeks of not hearing from the company I got my mum to ring them and their reply, yeah its back sitting here, well gee thanks, weren't you supposed to email/call? When asked why it had taken so long, they said because its an insurance job, payments had to be sorted. Ermm no, it was a warrenty job, nout about insurance. When I get the letter back today, it was sent to sony in Germany for repair as it was a manufacture fault. So the company didnt even do anything with it except ship it and return it and they still mess it up.

I paid extra when I got it to upgrade to a sony as they have a good rep, never again. Thats the cooling system and motherboard both gone in like 8 months on a top spec laptop. They send their appolgies and a free cleaning cloth (Like you get with cheap sunglasses) Anyone in the north west, if you get DSA, avoid Remtek at all possible costs!

So yeah, back to London. It was fun. It made me think a lot, but fun all the same.

Got into Euston station about 1, so I took mum out for a taste lunch in Prezzo, which does the most tasty Italian food. nom nom



We then took the short stroll from Euston to Kings Cross and booked into my mums hotel room, dumping half my stuff and all of her stuff there then straight back out to book me into my hotel (or hospital hehe.) My letter said I had to be there for 4, we got there about 4:30. The letter said ward B, which had a big sign on the door saying shut go to ward C. Went to ward C and they directed me straight into a room that resembled a fish tank. Full windows the length of the room. Full monitoring until next to the bed and a load of equipment such as resus trolley, and about 4 oxygen ports. (I was later to find it was a HDU room I was in)

Pretty uneventful to be honest. They said I would be on the early morning theatre list, but didnt end up going down till about 3. Under for about an hour. Pain was manageable, but when i came around it felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I tried telling them, but the drugs where still in my system and I couldnt lift my arm to my neck to talk so I began to panic. They ran a few nebs and gave me more pain relief and it seemed to ease off.

Was discharged the next morning with a little bit of information. (See previous post)

Was pretty tired so didnt do very much, before putting my mum back on the train. I went to stay with a friend. we had a pretty laid back week, lots of munchies and films, which was ideal.



And of course drank lots of food coloring.


Went to Camden one day and drank lovely milkshakes in an American Dinner. I also managed to finally find a nice bag for the summer to carry all my junk around (I usually have a black Jack Skellington one, but black really dosnt look good in summer)I needed to to go across my body to distribute the weight, but big enough for things like alco gel, spare tubes, drink and most times my camera. (I dont leave the house without spare tubes and tissues and a drink)


We also had a day at the zoo. We saw Otters.


A gorgeous Galapagos tortoise.




I found Nemo!!


And dory! (Yes I love disney)


I found a pushmepullyou (Anyone who dosnt know what one of them is you need to watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKkURpdzIQ&feature=related (wont let me embed) but the 1967 version of Dr dolittle is the best one!! )



There were lots of bright colored birds

Including ones that used the same hair color as me :)


Lots of bright butterflies that would come and land on you.


Giraffes!


Tiny baby monkeys! (On the left on top of the log)


Pumba!! (there goes the Disney thing again hehe)


And the most gorgeous penguin! They were all being fed and he was following the keeper around. He wasnt interested in the food, he just wanted a cuddle hehe.


Ah it was great fun.
It was a really big step I think. When I first got told I had to have the trach, the thing that put me off the most (apart from the obvious) was not being able to jump on a train/bus to go visit or stay with friends. I had been used to going to visit people every couple of weeks and I didnt want to lose that. Well I was already down there so I stayed and took the train back on my own. Had to take a big case to carry my nebulizer in and all my other junk like medications and dressings. I didnt take my suction, I thought, if I need it, then im not well, so I can either jump a train home or go to a hospital there.

It was difficult sticking to my routines of nebulizers and dressing changes, but I did enough to survive on for the week.

It was also a bit of a wakeup about just how different I am from last time I was there. Since I had started visiting a friend there, I always had breathing trouble due to my stenosis, but the main factor was the depression, I didnt want to do anything, but when we did do stuff, I was able to keep up. This time it was the other way around, I wanted to be out touring and seeing and doing things, but just could not keep up with everything. I used to love getting the tube as it was so quick and directed you straight to where you wanted. This time however, I dreaded it. Most the stations have escalators, which is ok, but a lot of stations and attractions in london involve stairs (my worst enemy). People would be virtually running up them and I was going as fast as I could, but still gasping. I do hate that feeling. I could never live in London, they all walk to fast.

But its a step in the right direction towards independence. And who knows, if they fix my airway maybe one day I will be able to run up the stairs with the londoners.