Mike's Operation And Other Things

I might as well start with the other things. The weather was so awful over the weekend, rain was falling in absolute sheets and the wind was howling. Our old sun room must know that it is going and was getting its own back on us.

I was doing the daily Trivial Pursuit online and then remembered something I wanted to tell my beloved. He was sitting at the table in the sun room reading the paper. I opened the patio door to go out there and immediately heard a large plop! Looking at the floor, there was a huge puddle on the carpet and, on looking up, I received a large drop of water in the face. My beloved had not heard nor noticed a thing. The roof had sprung a very large leak.

He had to go out in the most foul weather and do something about it. Luckily in our garage we had a very large green sheet, more like a tarpaulin, that we have hung on to for years just in case it came in handy. Well, it most certainly did. Mike had to get the ladder out, climb onto the roof and spread the sheet right across and then anchor it down with bricks and slabs. He found the place where the roof had deteriorated - a small patch where it had gone soft and caved in.

He was drenched when he got back in. However, it did the job and no more water has come in.

We have left it as it is because it is raining again today with more strong winds. Next Monday demolition work is due to commence providing the weather allows. Obviously the workmen cannot attempt it in the pouring rain. Just as well we decided to have it rebuilt. Now the roof has gone, it would be pointless putting a new roof on when a lot of the wood has gone rotten and been repaired so many times it is a wonder it is still standing.

It was originally built by the first owners (we are the third or fourth) and it has been there for over forty years so the man must have done a good job, it has lasted well. It will be strange to see it come down and have nothing outside our lounge for a couple of days until they begin erecting the new one.

Mike had his eye operation yesterday and is now home. He admitted to being very scared. They lasered away the cataract that was at the back of his eye. He thought that was all they were going to do but no - they implanted a lens as well. They say if all goes well, he will no longer need glasses after wearing them for 65 years! Mike was amazed. He did not enjoy the procedure but felt no pain. He now has a clear plastic cover to wear over the eye for four days and has to put drops in four times a day for a couple of months. He goes back for a check-up in three weeks.

Next year, they will do the other eye. Just cataract removal in that one because the sight in it has always been so poor they do not think a lens will help but he will undergo further eye tests beforehand so they are absolutely sure.

Anyway, at the moment he is not wearing his glasses and can see perfectly well. He says everything is crystal clear. He was warned that it could come and go at first as the implant has to really settle in but eventually his eyesight should remain clear.

So full marks to the National Health Service. He said he could not have received better treatment and had not expected the added bonus of the lens and being able to dispense with his glasses. People run our health service down and I know our American friends, or some of them are worried about social health care as they are referring to it, but I cannot praise ours highly enough. Everything Mike had done did not cost us a penny either for the surgery, the implant, the drugs he had to take, the eye drops or the eye shield. I had wonderful treatment when I had my diagnosis two years ago.

Yes, health care has to be paid for out of taxes and National Insurance contributions made by working people but our health care is free to all, nobody is ever turned away. I would not have it any other way. I would hate the American system where you have to have health insurance and if you do not have it, they refuse to treat you. Maybe our health service is not perfect but I would struggle to think of anything better.

Anyway, it is almost lunchtime, so I will leave it there for now.

Take care everyone.