The trip through the Australian Outback in August was sensationally good, September and October to date have been rather less so! We arrived back in NZ and both Jennie and I were laid low with severe chest infections which very nearly put us in hospital. It wasn't Covid but may have been an influenza variant. All we could do for a few weeks was sleep and exist on protein drinks. It was the worst that either of us had felt in decades and it was fortunate that we were both fairly fit in terms of recovery. Losing a further 4kg on top of the 12 kg lost over the last 2 years from mountain biking means a certain amount of expenditure on new clothes!
Unfortunately, this meant that I had to cancel my scheduled second knee replacement but that finally happened a few days ago in Auckland where I had the first one done last year. I detailed that experience at the time so there's no need for much comment other than to repeat just how good the team and systems are at Ormiston private hospital in Auckland. Literally everyone at all levels of the organisation are focussed on making the patient stay as pleasant as possible. An example, which whilst minor in nature; typified the human touch. A theatre nurse walked with me from the waiting area to the theatre. She linked fingers and we held hands on the short walk. I made some smartass remark about how nice it was considering that we hardly knew each other and she deadpanned that she wanted to make sure that I didn't do a runner from the hospital! A perfect response to break the tension. Everything went well and 2 hours later, I was sitting in Recovery sucking on a lemon ice cream - awesome! Four hours after that, I was walking the hospital corridors with the aid of a Zimmer frame.
My only "complaint" is rather trivial. A catheter was inserted you know where for the first 36 hours. When it came time for removal, the nurse said it wouldn't hurt, just feel a bit odd. With my English heritage, you'd think that a uniformed nurse getting up close and personal could have erotic undertones. It doesn't - not even close! If ever I have a catheter removed in future, I want to be as high as a kite when it happens, thanks!
Two days after surgery, I was sent home; having demonstrated the ability to negotiate stairs on crutches. Now comes the painful bit - rehabilitation exercises! Jennie has taken it on herself to make sure that I don't backslide or do dumb stuff. Just after arrival home, she headed out to the supermarket with the warning "Don't do anything stupid whilst I'm away". Hardly a ringing endorsement of faith in me following orders, is it? With summer not far off, it's a good incentive to get mobile again. Aiming to be back on the mountain bike riding gentle trails by early December. Should be able to drive my RAV4 or Jennie's Jazz RS in about 2 weeks but the MGB GT will be more problematic. Firstly, it's a manual but the ergonomics will probably stop me from getting in and out of it. Maybe 4-6 weeks for that one.
Most countries seem to complain about the indifferent state of their health systems but my personal experiences of the NZ health system has been outstanding in terms of outcomes but most importantly, arising from the dedication of the wonderful people working in it. Absolutely worth their weight in gold.
We drove the 150-odd km from home to the hospital a day early to get settled into our nearby accommodation and to organise a new offside wing mirror for Jennie's car which had been smashed off whilst parked in our village a few days previously. We had a picnic lunch at Maraetai Beach in Auckland's eastern suburbs and there were heaps of retired greybeard types like me doing some fishing. Every one of them had a drone to take their line offshore for about 800 metres and the following photo shows the guys nearest to us.
Admittedly, the technology is impressive although it takes about 30 minutes to get set up. Bait the line, hook it to the drone and press the button on the controller. The expensive ones seem to be programmable to drop the baited line, return and land without further intervention from the fisherman. Most of the rods had electronic warning devices for when a fish was hooked. Not a lot of skill required, eh? In this particular instance, no fish either which I found perversely pleasing! At least from our boat, we have normal rods to catch them. Well, Jennie catches them and takes the mickey at my relative lack of success compared with her. Maybe I'm just a grumpy old geezer - certainly hope so!
A good news story to end with. Rehab has included watching the America's Cup finals from Barcelona. Good old YouTube has it live at 1am NZT. Current Cup holders NZ are competing against Great Britain in the best of 13 races final and NZ are leading 4-0. It's the oldest sporting trophy in the world and was first competed for in 1851 between the British and America. The British got a hiding and in all that time, still have to record a win. Hope I haven't jinxed things. C'mon NZ!!!
Normal service to be resumed next time......
