A calm week on the medical front. IV line- hospital _at_ home…ie me…pulled the line out as instructed. The exceptionally brilliant team above the ‘FreeDom’ kiosk were on the phone on email and calm. What a service they provide. Bladder has calmed down, kidney twitchily calmer ish and urine crystal clear at last. Amazing.

I have absolutely no idea what happens next. I fear they are all exhausted and focus has shifted to fuel ( shortages) winter pandemic and conference seasons. Jerome had suggested some ideas and was going to speak to a colleague. Meanwhile the paperless hospital has sent me so many letters about a CT and MRI and changed appointments. I am so confused and no idea who has organised the scans. Paperless seems to mean lots of paper letters in paper envelopes with postage. Eric the computer has imploded so many rescheduled appointments stretching into 2022 I just give up. Maybe I will get a letter or 100 to explain or not. FFS

My call up for covid booster jab arrived and the local chemist was the nearest depot. What a calm, empathetic experience that was. To be vaccinated by people that actually know me and chatter and help and suggest flu jab too. Lucky me. The previous jabs had been in hospital, but wonderful Consultant Allergy had suggested I take allergy meds ( at home – this is a great feature of my week!) She felt that I would be ok on account of no reaction for vaccine 1 and 2. Indeed I am. Just a weird headache. Just makes me so grateful it is not the headache we would get if it was covid. Consultant Allergy is taking a career break. She explained to me and wrote such kind words. I will miss her terribly.

Monday next week I start a paid (underpaid D says) post at NHS England. I am not supposed to make it public yet, but I will when I can. The Induction and first meeting is only on zoom. That is so much better than travelling miles for a half hour talk on how to open my password reminder! I have also been asked to take on a paid role with a National research board. Again this is not yet public. But I will let you know.

The work is actually what I have been doing all along, at least now I maybe get some pocket money and a sense of a supportive team and title. Let’s see.

As for the Totally Bladdered book. Well the designer is poised and ready and keeps asking me for the final. The formatting team too. The book will go out asap. There is just the matter of a preface which the poor writer has kindly promised but schedule is so over busy. Hopefully that will arrive soon and all will be revealed. Eek. Meanwhile BOOK 2 – the covid years, is well on the way too.

Hoping everyone is ok and petrol not withstanding getting out and about.