Day 39

Ah the hazards and limitations of the spell checker. Having climbed out of yesterday's bog, herewith today's installment.

We were taking things reasonably quiet, when two blokes came to the door to persuade us to change electric and gas supplies. As I have an aversion to cold callers, Ev handled the matter. Having said it would only take a few minutes the discussion ended some 40 minutes later with the two of them failing to convince Ev it was a good idea. It's a difficult one this because you are aware that the sales people are almost certainly on commission and we all have to earn a living somehow. Equally in our experience changing suppliers has caused us hassle and unless there are real savings it's not worthwhile doing.

In the afternoon, we went to a meeting of a support group. This was organised by the Upper GI Nurse. The turn out of patients and carers was an impressive 36. A local chef prepared some dips and desserts for us to sample. One or two of them seemed inappropriate to us. Sweet Chili sauce seemed the wrong thing for those of us who have difficulty with any kind of sharp tasting food. He also talked about not having too much protein. The nurse pointed out that many of us needed to either stabilise or increase our weight.

The value of this kind of meeting however is that you meet fellow inmates. I had a long conversation with Peter a man who had the operation I shall have four years ago. He was full of praise for Southampton Hospital. He also warned me that in the early stages of recovery swallowing would be difficult. Everything is now fine he said except for eating broad beans and peas.(there's a very old joke about someone not having a pea for 40 years but we won't go there). A listener to my show on Angel Radio came and introduced herself and was very complementary. I can't tell you how things like that boost morale. Ev spent some time chatting to various people as well. It was a worthwhile afternoon.

We came home in good spirits noting on the way that there was a huge traffic jam leading to the car ferry. Evidently the company struggles in what they call high volumes of traffic. It is at times like this that a bridge suddenly seems like a good idea.

Finally I report the following without comment. Our Member of Parliament Andrew Turner sacked a man who worked in his office. The man successfully claimed unfair dismissal and was awarded £10,000 compensation. Mr. Turner claimed £6,000 of that money as expenses that were paid by the taxpayer. The man who was unfairly got rid of had to use the whole of his award to pay his legal fees.