AN EARLY MORNING DRIVE.

After another night with no sleep at all the last thing I needed was an eight O clock appointment at a hospital located over thirty miles away down a maze of country lanes, I freely admit that I was dreading it.

Pa has been so much worse these past few nights and I so much pain that it tears me up to watch him suffering so much, when I can do so little. I arranged that he should see the doctor today while I was away at hospital.

Before the crack of dawn I dressed and waited for my taxi to arrive,my darling son had refused to remain in bed and as I drank my coffee he arrived in my room with a plate of the most gorgeous and very welcome hot buttered toast. Suddenly the whole feeling of the day changed and as I munched away my spirits lifted and things did not seen quite so bad,

The taxi ride was wonderful, the views spectacular, There had been a sharp over night frost and a low mist hung over the frozen fields. On one side the moon was still brilliant ,silvering the frosted furrows and the stark branches of the trees. Out of the mist rose The Wrekin, mysterious and magnificent, a vision straight out of a fantasy.

On the other side the Welsh hills in purple shadow were being flamed by the rising sun and as we travelled the rising mist began to clear revealing the mountains beyond tinted rose, even the frost took on the tinge of red, as the sky colour deepened to the exact shade of a Bullfinches breast. I was spellbound.

With a five hour schedule of tests, examinations and questions ahead of me I paid my driver, gritted my teeth ,walked through the doors of the brand new orthopaedic unit and went in search of a coffee machine.

What amazed me utterly was the speed , efficiency and real care the process was carried out, in stead of having to leg it around miles of corridor from imaging to E.C.G. to Pathology then back to the consultant all the tests were performed by one person in a well equipped room in record time.

A short wait a few more forms and then another examination by a nurse to ensure that my skin was sound and to check that I had answered all the questions and answer any queries I might have.

Now for the bad news, the nurse told me that I had a heart murmur and would need to be examined at another hospital before my operation could go ahead but that since my blood pressure, blood gas and the E.C.G had all been perfect I was not to worry about it Hmmmm! Easier said than done , still I am not the panicky kind and when after seeing the Registrar I was allowed to go home, was joyful to say the least. The whole process had lasted a bare three hours.

The drive home while not so spectacular as my early morning journey but a drive in the countryside is always a pleasure to me. On my arrival at home there was freshly made coffee waiting for me and my son had everything in hand for a lovely dinner so I had nothing to do but rest for an hour or two. For which I was very thankful indeed.

I relieved to hear that Pa's Doctor had given him Morphine in a liquid form which should not only ease his pain but also help him to sleep, since our surgery has it's own dispensary Pa already has the stuff and can take his first dose tonight. Oh how I hope it works as we both need to get some sleep, things cannot go on as they are for we are both exhausted by the lack of it.

Thanks to my wonderful son today went better than I could have hoped,and if my scan on February 26^th is OK I shall have my surgery three weeks later. Fingers crossed.