I woke about 7 again (I seem to be getting into a routine very quickly!) and waited around until breakfast (oh yummy, more clear fluids, consommé is not something I'd recommend for breakfast!). I started catching up on Thursday's and Friday's papers to see what I'd missed in the greater world (not much). My drains came out today (they were two flasks attached by tubing to the general "surgical site" to allow excess fluids to drain off, quite revolting looking with all kinds of really quite horrible stuff floating around in an indescribable liquid). Birgit (my German nurse today) wasn't very sure how to do it so she had to fetch Delphine (who's French) and get her to do it. (The thought that crosses my mind of course is that one of the reasons I came to Woodingdean was because my French wasn't great for talking to nurses in Brussels, what happens? I get a French and a German nurse! Only joking though, they were great, especially Delphine who was on every day except one of my stay).

Sally rang to check up on me and was much relieved to hear I was still in the land of the living I think! I got a bit of a surprise then when Penny and CK dropped in to see me, bringing a "Goody Bag" for me (I never knew blowing bubbles could be so enjoyable!) Unfortunately I won't get to eat anything in the bag until Tuesday or so... Kate came in to say goodbye, she was off home, so we exchanged e-mail addresses to keep in touch. Mam, Dad and Fiona rang that afternoon, I asked Dad to give Dol a ring to let her know I was OK.

Pam rang and we had a very long chat, the only problem being that (as the song says) it hurts only when I laugh and talking with Pam means that happens quite a bit:)

It turns out this is the weekend Mr. Royle is away for (for someone reason I thought it was next weekend) so I won't get to see him until Tuesday now. Spent the day watching TV and reading, I haven't got the concentration to read any of the books I brought so I just read short pieces from the papers. Janamitra came in again after tea and we talked for ages about all kinds of things. She is a bit more mobile but sitting is still sore for her.

Mammy and Daddy rang again that evening and then Dad rang later that night. At that stage I asked him would it be possible for someone to come over and help me home, explaining that the nurses had thought it unwise for me to travel by myself. He said it probably would and that he'd talk it over with Mammy (she'd gone out).

I was in a bit of pain tonight, so I asked for another painkiller and for some reason they went off and got me a shot of Morphine. I drifted off to sleep about 12 but woke again about 5 to find that the bed seemed all wet. My first thought was that it was a haemorrhage so I pressed my nurse-call like I'd never pressed it before. Turned out it was just a bowel movement, several days ahead of schedule and not something that was all that uncommon even with pico-lax. So another change of sheets and T-bandage (this time I did get a good peak and was pleasantly surprised:)