Wednesday 12 October 2011

A Day in the Life . . . . .

Market Hall, Shrewsbury



The last traces of the week of woe have been tidied up, health problems are resolved and most importantly, we have a new fridge freezer, which is doing its job. I know how boring it can be when  bloggers tell each other about mundane trivialities of daily life, but bear with me, this is my excuse for having been absent for a few days and not visiting. All shall be remedied in due course.

Beloved had his second skin cancer operation yesterday, which brings us to the end of this current spate of hospital visits. Everything seems to have gone well and we are looking forward to opening a bottle tonight, having something  extraordinarily extravagant for dinner and letting the stresses and strains of enforced contact with the medical profession for both of us dissolve while watching a fluffy, undemanding film.

I felt pretty tense yesterday, not an advisable state to be in after my own recent health scare, but Beloved took it all in his stride. What it is to possess a calmly benevolent and imperturbable demeanour.  At times I envy him, but it can also also be utterly infuriating.

Finalising the last bits of organising for the day (he had packed his own bag), I called to him,  "We have about an hour." (The hospital is an hour's drive from us and what I meant was "Get on with it.") Whereupon he assumed his best bass voice and burst into the phrase the gaoler sings to  Cavaradossi before the latter's execution in TOSCA.

Il resta un hora. Un sacerdote i vostre ceni attende . . . . . .

I'm not at all sure that I've got the Italian right, having only ever heard the words sung, but "You have an hour, a priest is here, should you wish to see him . . ." is roughly what it means in English. Did I say he also has a sense of humour?

If I tell you that I very nearly broke into somebody's car yesterday, you get an idea of my own state of mind. After I left Beloved in the Day Surgery Unit I went grocery shopping in the town. The new fridge/freezer - second attempt at getting the size right - only came on Tuesday; the job to fill the appliance awaited; spending a few hours shopping was as good a distraction as any and fulfilled a useful purpose into the bargain.

After stowing the final load in the boot, I took the trolley back to its parking space and went for a coffee.

When I came back to retrieve the car, I found the aisle without any trouble, I am quite good at remembering where I've parked. I blipped, heard the click of the doors opening and tried the handle. It didn't give. I blipped again, the click came and I pulled once more. Still no luck. I pulled harder, tried to rattle the handle, pulled, pushed, blipped again; nothing doing. I could hear the click each time I blipped but the blasted door just wouldn't budge.

Frantic now - this sort of thing would have to happen on the day when my schedule was fairly tight anyway - I looked into the car for help. The bag on the passenger seat was gone! I checked the boot through the back window. No shopping!

Something wasn't right, my car had sprouted fancy black seats instead of grubby pale tan ones. Finally, I understood: the blipper click had come from the car next in line, an identical red to the one I was attempting to break into, and therefore mine.

Back at the hospital Beloved was still perfectly calm; he allowed himself a slight feeling of irritation at the time it all took, but he was glad when the nurse brought him tea and toast; it had been a long day without food or drink.  

I got us home safely (I hate driving on these drizzly dark evenings) and my stiff-upper-lipped man finally cracked. "Thank you for looking after me", he said, "I'm so glad it's all over."

54 comments:

  1. If anyone can make the mundane activities of life interesting, Friko, it is you!! I will read about all you mundane life.

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  2. It is easy for a pragmatist to become a fatalist. You did a good job of avoiding that. I hope your culinary rewards lived up to expectations, although tea and toast are very nice as well.

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  3. But it isn't mundane when you write it & I suspect isn't mundane when you live it either. Hope the wine is extra-wonderful...& that you have plenty :-).~Mary

    ps I also think the pressure(at times) to visit fellow bloggers is, hmm, what is the word I am groping for....F'n overdone. The love in your life should always come before commenting on someone else's damn blog ;o.~Mary

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  4. As Mary said, Friko, "never mundane."

    So much happening to you in so short a time so there's no surprise about that car. Just a moment, it seems to me, you were a little overwhelmed. Just for a moment. But then you found your usual equanimity and returned to the hospital to take your beloved home.

    A lovely post.

    Peace.

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  5. I am happy "Beloved" is back home, safe and well and in your gentle hands. When we look back, it's often nice to get "it" all over in one day. (Even the car clicking)
    Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

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  6. happy for beloved...just had similar surgery today, but the places found not to be cancerous...

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  7. It has become a refrain..."never mundane" but I have to chime in, because I agree. Nothing is ever boring when you write it, Friko.
    So glad you are both finished with doctors for the time being. The English used to have a lovely expression "for the nonce" which I took to mean for the present. Do any of them still say that?
    I don't know how many times I've found myself trying to get into the wrong car. Several, anyway. Even our dog, who is supposed to be a retriever of sorts, walks up to the wrong car sometimes and stares at the back door, waiting for it to open.
    K

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  8. that last line touched my heart!
    Bless you both...



    Aloha from Honolulu;

    Comfort Spiral



    > < } } ( ° >

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  9. friko - what a day, what a life! nothing is mundane about life when it's shared like this. my goodness!!! steven

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  10. I can relate to your frazzled state. I've certainly been there! But you told the story with grace and humor, and that is a blessing. Love your blogs. Jim

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  11. Oh Friko, your beloved is truly your beloved.

    I send both of you loads of best wishes.

    I'll have my own regular annual post-skin-cancer checkup next month and already have got my mind focused on getting an all clear. Is it not wonderful to get that signal?

    Hey, glad to know that your new fridge is also behaving well.

    xo

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  12. Friko there is nothing mundane about what the last two of your posts tells us. Glad all went well.

    "Thank you for looking after me", he said, "I'm so glad it's all over." So tender, touching. It shows that even the most stalwart of us have vulnerability. Bless his heart & yours.

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  13. I like hearing about the everyday happenings of people around the world. We are all so similar in so many ways.

    I'm glad your Beloved is home safe and sound and that you are together.

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  14. i agree, not mundane. Well lived, well written.

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  15. I swear you could make even my life seem interesting, Friko. So glad "it's all over" for both you and your beloved. Hope you enjoyed your celebrations.

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  16. hi friko,your posts are refreshing,keep it up and keep visiting my blog

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  17. The idiosyncrasies of daily life filled with a bit of humor and much meaning. Thank you for always sharing the finer moments in this life.

    Glad its behind you both and now on to better things to fill your time, like that special evening of celebrations.

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  18. I'm glad everything is finally falling into place for you, take care :-).

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  19. Very courages to still write such a long article after such a hectic day. I wish your husband a speedy recovery.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  20. A very good ending to your day. Enjoy your evening!

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  21. Nothing could ever be mundane with you recounting the events, Friko! I am so pleased to hear all is now back to normal in your household. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this entertaining post, although I realize it was not all entertaining when it happened. How wonderful that you both possess such a good sense of humour. Enjoy your new lease on life!

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  22. Health and happiness, Friko. You've both been through the mill, of late.

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  23. schön zu lesen, in jeder Hinsicht, lustig und berührend...!
    Einen schönen Tag wünscht Dir, liebe Friko, Renée!

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  24. I'm glad for both of you that the day is over. There was enough there to account for a week's worth of being frazzled.
    Our fridge gave up the ghost on the weekend - perfect timing in some secret appliance world.

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  25. Sounds like you've really been having a lot on your plate to deal with... poor you! Take care of yourself and your beloved x

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  26. Oh I am so sorry you have been having such a hateful time. I so hate illness, hospitals, all that stuff. But I am also incredibly grateful we have them, and I appreciate all they do. Even so, though...! So I am very glad that you can now close the door on it.

    I hope the weather stays nice and you can have some relaxing time outside just looking at things and being glad to be okay.

    I have a close and beloved relative in hospital right now and it's been awful but she is now making good progress although it will be a long haul. Lots of long journeys and sitting around at visiting, but miles better than being anxious all the time.

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  27. Difficult times make our mundane ones seem pleasant and welcomed. I truly enjoy hearing about days spent with your Beloved. Personally, I attribute a boring day as a victory in life. For the troubled times happen all too often. Give me rain, silence and a good book and see me smile ...

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  28. One more thing crossed off the 'to do' list of life.
    I quite like Beloved's quick sense of humour!

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  29. You had too many things going on in your head to be sane! I do things like that even when I have nothing going on, you're OK Friko,
    Wishing beloved well, and you of course.
    With Love
    Di
    x

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  30. I know this feeling well!!! Glad you found your car!! Ha!!
    But so frustrating at the time I know!

    Glad you got your freezer too!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  31. Good thing you weren't able to get into the car by mistake! That is very very good news that all the trials and tribulations of recent days are behind you. You are very fortunate to have such a wonderfully calm mate. And you have not lost your ability to tell a great story!

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  32. I have to agree that enforced contact with the medical professions is never fun ... hope all better now!

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  33. Hi Friko - I have just caught up on all your woes - I do hope you and your hubby are feeling better. You have certainly had a few weeks of stress and anxiety. Best wishes - Jo

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  34. For reasons I hope you know, I am at a loss.

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  35. So glad this week of woe is having a happy ending -- and the events you describe are anything but mundane! These health issues are always scary and unsettling. I hope this next week will be a great one for both of you!

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  36. Friko, the cantaloupe reference is due to the fact that almost 20 people across the U.S. have died from listeria in cantaloupe from one single farm. 100's have gotten seriously ill. The listeria lies in wait over weeks sometimes before it make one sick. Anyway, all the offending crop has been pulled but people in this country will probably not eat cantaloupe for a year! (My word verification is exesses... misspelled but apropos.

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  37. Friko - so glad to hear that your Other Half has completed the melanoma treatment and that you are up and running again. Breaking into the wrong car - isn't it embarrassing - I did the same thing myself at Charlie's in Welshpool. Same colour - same make - door wouldn't open ..... because my car was parked three spaces away from it :(

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  38. Godfrey, tea and toast. We get saltines and coke after an outpatient procedure.

    Yes, I have tried to get into a car that was not mine. Now I look for the license plate #. David pointed our one day it was JNE which reminded him of my Mom's name June. Now I can remember that.

    Happy to hear your beloved survived the miserable surgery. I hate these things.

    Dianne

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  39. Hahahahahahahahaha! Oh, how the car story sounds like something I'd do, with my heartbeat getting faster and thumpier by the second!
    Isn't it nice that your stiff-upper-lipped dear one finally felt safe enough at last to feel that great relief!

    And how are you liking your new fridge?
    Do you feel like a new woman?

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  40. The day sounds sadly familiar- I have done similar things for my husband on a number of occasions.
    Mine sometimes seems unruffled
    and he has a wonderful sense of humor too- aren't we lucky!
    Thanks for sharing.

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  41. I hope that you and your Beloved had a restful evening. (I see why you call him Beloved -- a fellow who can sing opera on the way to the hospital is one worth hanging on to.)

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  42. Someone who can sing in the midst of going to a hospital, and a supportive wife is such a lovely read, a good example for many. It shows us the beauty of life despite a few downsides. Thanks.

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  43. You have a great sense of humor!

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  44. glad i'm not the only one who has problems finding the right car :)

    hope all is well with you and beloved

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  45. Hi Friko .. gosh - thankgoodness for all the good things happening and the world tying the loose ends .. I sincerely hope you enjoy your bottle and quiet relaxation with some good food, fluffy film and serenity abounding .. enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

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  46. Whoa! Sounds like you NEED that drink!! Have a great weekend - you deserve it!! And it's probably best to stay off the road for awhile ...

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  47. I'm so glad things are working as they are, Friko. You two deserve some smooth seas...

    And I love his singing. :-) Very funny.

    Pearl

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  48. I'm glad all is well in your world again - you've earned yourselves some extravagance and some quiet time at home - always nice when it's mizzly outside.

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  49. I can imagine you standing looking in at the car and it seeming wrong. Well done for coping and for the drive home in the dark.

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  50. And didn't you have that full moon to contend with too?
    Gosh I can SO relate to the car thing.
    Glad B is finished with his treatments....
    XO
    WWW

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  51. So glad to know that all is well--I very nearly wrote to say, are you OK, but then thought, if things are not OK, the last thing you need is a casual acquaintance out in blogland filling up your inbox! May all stay well for a good long time.

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  52. I had to chuckle about the car mishap. More than once I have headed for the wrong car in a parking lot.

    Daily news is not boring when the teller is as articulate as you are! I've enjoyed reading about your life and glad that medical conditions are looking up.

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  53. You tell a story so well. I was laughing as you recalled your car story. I feel less alone. I have done this same thing on more than one occasion. Embarrassing!

    Isn't nice to be appreciated? Beloved is a dear man.

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