Following surgery to repair a Hernia, Mal has been recovering for the last 7 weeks.

The time has been a battle of wills between us ( family and friends) who know about the aftermath of abdominal surgery and he who knows everything because he asked a student nurse while he was in hospital and she said he would be up and about in a couple of weeks. ( Up and about in Mal’s world means back to normal )

Okay I admit Caesarian births, gallstones and a variety of other ailments requiring surgery is not quite the same as a hernia repair but we all agree on the instructions given that say, don’t lift anything heavier than a kettle for the first couple of months. Now that has been the challenge. Starting with, not liking to bother me and ask for help, to I’m just bringing in logs that are light, six at a time!!

Somehow I have managed to cope with sorting and feeding the chickens, ducks and geese. Feeding the cats, washing, shopping, cooking and cleaning so he can convalesce.

Seven weeks of him getting up at midday, breakfast, read a book, coffee, snooze in armchair, read a book. Lunch, siesta, a couple of light jobs as the weeks have gone by, (such as sorting out the fire and cutting kindling wood,) tea, read a book, go to bed as he is tired. Sort of sums it up in a nutshell. 

This is good as he is recovering. It’s how it should be. No lifting apart from numerous small logs. We all told him that at his age it would take time.

I am convinced he thought we were exaggerating about the no lifting and how long things would take. 

However there is a necessity to keep a certain level of fitness. All the sitting in an armchair munching snacks and nothing much in the way of exercise will take its toll.   

Today we went to the hospital for his follow up check by the surgeon. 

After examination his hernia repair was pronounced successful. 

but now for the first time there were words of wisdom from the surgeon.....

Thou shalt not lift more than a coffee cup for at least another month and afterwards increase slowly. Bombshell……… la la la set in so the surgeon repeated himself and I repeated it again in case the news wasn’t getting through.

It’s a wonder he hasn’t popped his internal stitches with his, ‘ it’s only a log’ strategy, totally NOT following the words of wisdom from everyone else for all these weeks.....Mal also told the surgeon he wanted to get back into the garden and cut the long grass to which the reply was, let it grow, let it grow,…….    ( ……try not to sing) it will be next spring before you can cut it. REST !!

Bubble burst, we went home had lunch and the impatient patient promptly fell asleep for the following 4 hours. 

I want him to do more within his guidelines and gradually get back to normal without lifting. Many jobs spring to mind. Cutting lettuce, washing up with the follow through of actually putting stuff away. After his help washing up it appears the magic draining cupboard over the sink usually deals with the collection of cutlery, crockery and saucepans. Poooof, it all evaporates back where it came from. He must have watched far too much Mary Poppins. Spickety Spock. 

I envisage a little cleaning of his bathroom, maybe sweep a few floors, vacuuming perhaps. Mmm. My list goes on. Barb suggests a job list so he knows what he’s doing. His short term memory is sadly lacking and the jobs he tries to help with invariably involve lifting. Yes, a list in this case is a good idea. 

Following Alan’s helpful advice of........let Mal come up with a list so he can suggest things he feels he can help with........... good idea, it will be easier to remember if he picks the jobs in the first place ........I suggest he write a plan of jobs he can do to not only help but also to keep a certain level of fitness. He also needs to increase his walking, again to get fitter and burn off some of those custard creams. I’m thinking up and down the garden doing a few little lightweight jobs....... the surgeon said he should now do more walking and can now drive.

After much thought he produced a list with a flourish........ yippee, this idea is working a 

treat.......thanks Alan.

Well, before I produce this list, can I at this point introduce myself, in the light of reading his list, my name is hence forth Cinderella, in charge of not only Chook Palace with Feathers Spa as featured in the Daily Chook, with good ratings on Avian trip advisor (still working on that illustration)

But also  chief cook and bottle washer in charge of the Caprala Convalescence Home.

Can I tell you the facilities are second to none, meals cooked, washing done, the magic drainer in charge of all the washed dishes unless I do the job properly and avoid using it. Beds changed, washing done, birds fed, cats fed, gourmet snacks ready to serve with coffee, meals cooked.......

Sound good so far? When would you like to check in?

Okay, now his helpful list ( I do hope you are sitting down with empty bladders )

1. Sort out all the screws and nuts and bolts in the workshop.

2. Sort out all the CD’s

3. Sort all the music on the computer.

4. Practise all his singing calls for the Barn Dance in June.

5. Sort out his shelves in the dressing room.

Now for the walking bit to keep fit

Hold onto your hats guys you couldn’t see this one coming......

6. Get to know all the shops and streets in Elda and Villena better by walking round them.

And there you have it. Job’s a good’n 

Thanks Alan.

Oh well back to my fireplace. 

The next day having had a night to think about my reaction to his list. ( it was the raised eyebrows that gave away my thoughts ) Mal asked what I had in mind as I had clearly thought there was a problem with his list.

I gave him this blog to read, it was the simplest way.

We then had a full and frank discussion.

The new plan is to share out some of the housekeeping jobs to ease the load a bit........here’s hoping it works. 

Now lunch, and for Mal back to sleep, with sinking heart I creep out to cut lettuce and feed the noisy brood in Chook Palace who know tea time approaches. 

Birds fed I wander back to the kitchen..............to find Mal awake and vacuuming the conservatory............hallelujah...........