Kaci's 4th birthday and I'm in Brighton!

November saw me packing my mini case for a long weekend in Brighton. Celebrating the crazy Kaci's birthday... oh yes she is!  Funny, cute, beautiful with a dash of crazyiness thrown into the mix too.  

I had such a lovely suprise to be met at the airport by Frankie my daughter, Kaci, and a rather huge baby bump.  That was a complete shock as Alan, my friend Jo, and Frankie had concocted a plan, and I was expecting Jo to meet me.  So it was wonderful to have little Kaci running to meet me out of arrivals. 

I had asked Kaci prior to me going over, if she would like a Spanish dress, as I knew she would be receiving lots of other toys and pretty clothes from family and friends. She decided she would like that very much. Mark, Laura and my other gorgeous granddaughter Maisie alll came over the evening I arrived.  We had a lovely evening together and Franke cooked a lovely curry for us all.  I decided to give Kaci her birthday presents that evening, just to spread it out a bit.  Plus of course I thought she may want to wear her dress for her party the following day.

Yes she did!

I was unsure of Maisie's plans for the weekend, so I was over the moon to be able to pick her up from her mummy on the Saturday.  We went to watch Kaci's ballet lesson, then on to enjoy Kaci's party.  Jordan's mum, Kaci's Grandma Shelley, had suggested to Frankie that the party was held at her house which is larger than Frankie's, which was very kind of her.

At Grandma Shelley's

My girls.  I love them so much!

Pass the Parcel.... 

After lots of opening prezzies, scrummy party food, pass the parcel and a change into a Rapunzel dress, it was then time for Kaci to go to her daddy for even more celebrations.  Another change of outfit, and this time back into the Spanish with the high heels was in order...... She had as many dress changes as a super model that day!

Maisie enjoying her birthday cake, on the bus home

That left just a couple of days for me to have another major dental trip... more news on that in my next blog post, and admire that beautiful baby bump and enjoy my time with Frankie.  I wonder if he would wait for me?  My first grandson is due on December 12th and I fly back on the 17th... who knows!

An Interview for Costa Women

Ok so this is a sneaky cheeky blog post.  There maybe some bits and bobs you didn't know about me here though!

I was rather chuffed to be asked to take part by Ali Meehan thw Costa Women boss lady. You can join the Costa Women website very easily.  It's fun and informative.

http://costawomen.ning.com/

Introducing … Lorna Penfold

Why Spain?

I was having some health problems. After 2 years of doctor and hospital visits I was diagnosed with an illness called Sarcoidosis. It was making working difficult, and most days I was driving to work in tears feeling ill and exhausted. One day we were walking the dog along the beach near we lived, and I said to my partner Alan, “I’m not sure how long I can carry on like this.”  We decided we needed a complete change of lifestyle.  Alan suggested moving to Spain to breed alpacas! Initially he wanted to move to Florida.  He would be happy selling Coca Cola in Seaworld, I had a 24 year old son and a 19 year old daughter and that was too far away.  We needed somewhere closer.

Before Spain you were…?

We lived in Peacehaven, just outside Brighton on the south coast. I was mum to Mark and Frankie and life was great until I started to feel unwell.  For over 30 years I had been a dance teacher. I taught everything from teeny, tiny tots to line dancing for my more mature ladies with a huge amount of sequins in between. It was a career I loved, and I had thought I would continue dancing for many years.

How did you choose Montoro, Cordoba to live?

Well maybe Montoro chose us. Alan wouldn’t let me come on the first viewing trips as he knew I would fall in love with everything as I was desperate for a change. Estate agents kept showing him white boxes, with a chippie on one corner and an English pub on another.  We know some people want that but we really didn’t. He had seen the Olive Mill on line and loved it. We were looking for something with land, and character, and the Olive Mill had both. It also had the added bonus of being off grid, which meant our bills and living expenses would be minimal. The first time we were staying in the hotel in Montoro, it was actually the local feria and we joined in the towns celebrations. We were totally unaware that life in Spain seems to be practically one long fiesta. There is always a party on or being prepared for.

And now you do something a little different… tell us more about your farm

Well, it all started in Prague. We were enjoying a weekend break, and being animal lovers we used to like to visit zoos and farms as often as possible. We took the opportunity whilst in Prague, and during our visit we were approached by a strange looking animal. He was a goofy, brown, and a fairly ugly looking alpaca. We now know they shouldn’t be kept on their own, they need company of their own kind, but this little guy sowed a bit of a seed. We rather fell in love with alpacas that day. Alan must have done some googling and found out that it was possible to make a living breeding these lovely animals. So, when we were discussing ideas for a new direction, Alan said to me, “Why don’t we move to Spain and breed alpacas?”

Which has also spun into a writing career for your husband!  Tell us how that started?

It started out innocently enough. You know how it goes, you sit around the dinner table telling your guests about the Spanish neighbour doing drunken impressions of a friend riding a horse whilst having an epileptic fit, whilst being forced to drink strong home brewed wine.  Plus the story of taking one of the dogs to the local vet to be castrated.  When asking when to pick him up the vet shakes his head and tells you how to hold the dog’s legs whilst he prepares the operating equipment.  On one of these occasions somebody said to Alan, “Why don’t you write a book?” The idea percolated for a while, and Alan wrote 50 pages and asked a few trusted friends for their opinion. They seemed to enjoy it, so he carried on. He was able to find out lots of info on the internet about self publishing, and then, once it went on sale, people actually started buying it. Much to his surprise and of course delight! We receive emails from people all over the world who have read the books. The title of the first one,Seriously Mum, What’s an Alpaca? Came from when we told my daughter about our plans, and her reaction was, “What’s an Alpaca?” The sequel which he has just published is called Seriously Mum, Where’s that Donkey?

What has been your greatest challenge to starting the farm?

Our original plan was to breed and sell the alpacas. We have realised since moving here however, and I’m sorry if this offends anyone, but in our area many of the Spanish are not great with animals.  We often have visits from the neighbours horses' who do not worry about secure fencing for their animals, and prefer to hobble them instead.  This is distressing to see. Of course the crisis has hit everyone, and people do not have the money to spend that maybe they would have before these difficult times.  Most alpaca owners breed their animals annually but we rested our girls for a couple of years as we cannot keep increasing our herd with no one to sell to.

Advice for Women just moving to Spain who want to do something different?

My main advice to women moving to Spain, firstly has nothing to with work.  My daughter was 19 when we came here, she also came with us, with her boyfriend.  My son was already in a relationship and stayed in Brighton.  My daughter struggled with the rural lifestyle and they returned home.  Just be prepared ladies it is difficult being away from the family. If you become a grandparent, it can be very tough too.  Think about that seriously.  If my gorgeous grandgirlies had of been born before we left England, I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be here now. 

Be flexible!  We are on plan C  at least.  It’s is no good living the way we do, and worry about sexual equality.  We have pretty much our own roles in life.  I can cut wood with the chain saw, and light the fire and of course push a wheelbarrow full of alpaca poo, if I really wanted to, but I tend to sort the washing and deal with more of the household chores.

Charity Dog book – tell us more about that project

Last year we had a dog dumped outside our house. It wasn’t the first and we know it won’t be the last. A lady called Maria, from a rescue called A New Day in Spain, contacted us and said she thought she may be able to find a home for the little fella. We went down to see Maria and her husband and we gobsmacked to find them caring for over 50 dogs on just their UK pension. All we could offer to help was a small donation and a bag of dog food from Mercadona. Since then, Alan has tried to come up with a viable way to raise some money for these rescue centres that are all over Spain, often run by people just like Maria. Take Me Home, Por Favor was born. Alan invited people to send in their stories of rescued dogs. They are now being put together in a collection and will be released as a book, with all royalties being donated to rescue centres here in Spain. Alan hopes to have it ready before Christmas. So watch this space!

And Zumba! 

Oh yes! I was missing dancing, plus I felt I needed to get fitter.  I used to teach Latin American dancing plus other styles and I loved the music.  I decided to take an instructors course and threw myself into it.  I have a regular little group of lovely ladies. It hasn’t been easy though, Montoro is a very traditional little town and the majority of ladies would not dream of doing any other exercise apart from their regular walk around the town.

Now you must tell us what you do to relax!

We enjoy the simple things in life. We love meeting up with friends, walking the dogs, and even the alpacas.  The cats join us when we take the alpacas for a walk.  Also a couple of new hobbies for me, in the last couple of months I have been learning Sevillana dancing, which I totally love, and I have also been doing a little crystallizing of shoes, phone cases etc, which I find very therapeutic, and I love a bit of glitter, I’m a bit of a magpie!

Favourite quote and why?

Simple and one of the most well known “Treat people like you would like to be treated” As a dance teacher when parents would discuss partnership problems etc, I would always say that to them.

Something you will achieve in 2014

God willing I will have my first grandson who is due in the next couple of weeks! Like all of us, it would be great to earn a bit more money, please!  Continue to improve my Sevillana dancing as rumour has it we will be dancing at the Cordoba feria. ALSO year 1 of my online blog is in the process of being edited, to be published with lots of photos as an ebook.  So people will be able to read my side of the story as well as Alan’s. 

Who, or what, inspires you?

I think I would have to say my parents.  They brought me up in a loving family, and encouraged me to study hard, and supported me during my professional dance teacher training, and taught me to work to achieve success.  I was trying to think of someone totally inspiring, but no it had to come back to my mum and dad.  They are both in a better place now and they are probably looking down at me thinking I’ve gone bonkers.  Yes bonkers but happy!

What gift do you most hope Santa brings you?

First and foremost my little grandson to be fit and healthy of course.  This year I will be in Brighton with the family to welcome him into the world.  I’ll be looking forward to spending time with my little girlies that are 3 and 4, and of course my son and daughter. Alan will be here alone as he needs to be here with the animals, and I will of course miss him.  He will be well looked after by our friends here and fed much better than I would feed him!

If they made your life into a film, who would play you and what would the film be about?

Felicity Kendal of course, as we are trying very hard to live “The Good Life”.  Not always successfully, but we try!  Shame we don’t have a Margot in our lives!

Where can we find out more about Alpacas, the farm, the Books etc. 

You can find me on my facebook page Lorna Penfold http://www.facebook.com/lorna.penfold.7      

and on my Lorna’s Life in Spain page https://www.facebook.com/LornasLifeInSpain   

My online blog can be found at http://lornaslifeinspain.blogspot.co.uk/   

Alan can be contacted through his facebook page for his books https://www.facebook.com/whatsanalpaca or follow him on Twitter @alpacabook

Thank you Lorna Penfold

Alan's New Book is Published

Hooray once again that clever other half of mine has published his second book.  The sequel to 'Seriously Mum, What's an Alpaca?'  Alan's latest book is called 'Seriously Mum, Where's that Donkey?'

It is of course next stage in our lives here in rural Spain.  The ups and downs of living off grid.  The highs and lows of extreme temperatures.  There are stories of new friends, especially our very dear friends Pat and Pedro, that we met in the fruit and veg department of a supermarket.... as you do!  We have become great mates and  we love spending time with them.  Plus we met a new Spanish family with a huge menagerie of animals and literally thousands upon thousands of olive trees.  There is the heart warming story of our Santa, the youngest of our alpacas, who became ill after gorging on copious amounts of figs after escaping from the boys paddock.  He was like a child at a party who had eaten to much.  A trip to the vet with an alpaca on my lap did the trick.  And of course a disappearing donkey.... it all happens here!  

If you are interested in buying Alan's books, look him up on amazon... Alan Parks.  The books are available as paperbacks or ebooks. He's got some rave reviews.

Our Cheeky Santa

  

RIP Auntie Marg

Dear Auntie Marg one of our pretty white chickens finally gave up her fight and passed away recently.  She had been ill for at least a couple of weeks.  Alan first noticed something was wrong when he thought she had hurt her foot or leg.  On close inspection he could see nothing but she seemed to be limping and occasionally she would fall right over onto her side.  She would manage to get up eventually and shuffle round with Auntie Mabel and Auntie Jess, all be it at a much slower pace.  We tried he with some apple vinegar which was recommended, and we also spoke to our vet who suggest some general antibiotics. She certainly didn't seem ill, but to me it looks as though she may had suffered a little stroke.... do chickens have strokes?

As time went on we really were at a loose end. We didn't want to have her put down unnecessarily of course, although we hoped she wasn't suffering.  In the mornings when Alan would let the ladies out, he would get Auntie Marg down for a little toddle aound, making sure she drank her medicine, then put her back in her comfy alpaca and straw bed.  Oh yes nothing but the best for our ladies!

One morning I went to let the 'Aunties' out.  Alan prepared me that she may have died in the night.  I was prepared, we had thought that for the past week.  I opened the door slowly as I didn't know where she was. Thankfully the door is raised about 4 inches (in old money) due to a step into their room, and the door brushed over her, she had been lying behind the door.  I felt awful!  I picked her up, gave her a cuddle and popped her back into her fleecy warm bed again.  Bless her!

It was just a few days later after tucking the ladies up for the night, Alan was concerned.  He thought she looked weaker than usual.  It's so hard to lose a pet, no matter how big or small, but I must admit it was a sad relief when she had passed away during that night. Aw God bless Auntie Marg.

Argh... Where has the time gone!

Sorry to deceive you but this is not a blog post, more like a grovelling apology.  In between reminding myself of zumba choreograhy for tonight, I shall endeavor to start to catch up.

Now what was there... Alan's new book, my ebook, Costa Women and Spain Buddy interviews, some wild weather here, the losing of dear ole Auntie Marg (a chicken... don't worry too much)  then there is also my trip back to Brighton in November plus the latest on my teeth and eyes, AND Christmas in England with the new baby grandson. Phew ok, let's get dancing, have some lunch and get blooming cracking.  

Sorry it's been so long.  catch up soon!

On a good note it's sunny today....

Eye eye... Another hospital visit

Get yourself a cup of tea or something stronger, it's a long one.....

When we watch television, which is nothing like the amount we watched in the UK, it's a little diddy one. So when I couldn't see the planner very easily I thought that was why.  I was starting to think however that maybe I would soon need glasses for everyday things and not just reading.  Blast, I'm falling to pieces!

A few days after, we had some friends over, and Alan called out to us all “Look at that eagle”  They were all ooh and ahhing at the eagle soaring high above us, and I couldn’t see it.  Immediately I was aware that something was not quite right and I saw silvery lights. Something weird was going on in my right eye.  Luckily one of our Spanish friends here, David, is an optician, so I went and had a chat to him.  He tested my eyes however he knew within seconds something wasn’t right, especially as my pupil had changed shape, and he said I had to go to the doctor, soon.

The plan was to make an appointment to the doctor and hope it was nothing too serious. Meanwhile  I was having the bad nose bleeds and the fainting episode.  I told you all about that palarva and the hospital visit in the previous blog post.

I couldn't see the doctor immediately after this, as we had holiday guests plus one of the alpaca boys had suffered a bite on his ear by Santa... our naughty boy.  Alan was doing his best to corner poor Eduardo, get hold of him, plus bathe his ear and put cream on it, whilst I was in bed before I could help him.  A few days later I saw my doctor, luckily David came along with us so there would be nothing lost in translation, this was all pretty important stuff!  Regarding the anaemeia, I’ve got what is like little bottles of blood to have every day for 3 months, he looked at my eye and said there was a serious problem going on and it needed looking at by an opthamologist.  I had to go to the receptionist and she would organise an appointment there and then for me.  However if it was any longer than a couple of weeks wait we had to inform him, and he would give us a letter to take to the Spanish equivilant of accident and emergency. In fact it was only a months wait, but he wanted me seen as soon as possible.

We were show into a different waiting room this time, and it seemed to be full of people with bloody noses or banged heads.  We waited our turn and a one point a scary looking lady doctor came out and walked past us, in high heeled shoes a mop of blonde curly hair. She had an air about her and we hoped we wouldn't be seeing her.  Sods law of course we did, and she couldn't have been nicer.  As usual we stumbled through and we even brought our Spanish - English dictionary with us. Half way through the consulation as she was asking us questions, a voice from behind a door was translating and shouted the question in English. After a few minutes a friendly head popped around the door and apologised for her interruptions.  Of course we were extremely happy for her help. The lady doctor was unhappy that it hadn't been looked at when I had my 'collapse'  as she called it and I was sent straight to the eye department to be seen. 

This was on a Thursday and I was seen by a doctor but not a consultant.  First I had to read the letters projected onto the wall, then he looked into my eyes with a slit lamp.

From Wikipedia - The slit lamp is an instrument consisting of a high-intensity light source that can be focused to shine a thin sheet of light into the eye. It is used in conjunction with a biomicroscope. The lamp facilitates an examination of the anterior segment, or frontal structures and posterior segment, of the human eye, which includes the eyelid, sclera, conjunctiva, iris, natural crystalline lens, and cornea. The binocular slit-lamp examination provides a stereoscopic magnified view of the eye structures in detail, enabling anatomical diagnoses to be made for a variety of eye conditions. A second, hand-held lens is used to examine the retina.

After this examination he told me I had a condition called uveitus, and inflamation of the eyeball.  That made sense as my eye hurt, rather like a toothache in it.  I had been watching television covering my right eye as it had been painful and also everthing seems so bright.

He gave me two types of drops, one was a steroid drop and the other to keep the pupil dilated, and gave me an appointment to return on the following Tuesday. This we did, this time we saw a younger and extremely good looking doctor.  He also did the same tests performed  previously, plus he also examined my retina by an instument that throws strong lights into the eye.  This was a bit uncomfortable!  He then suggested we come back the following morning and see the consultant, which of course we jumped at the chance. 

The same young doctor was there, that was good as he could explain his thoughts to the lady consultant, who was a very sweet lady. Once again all those tests were performed and also I had Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).  The OCT gives a cross-section view of the retina. Swelling of the retina, collection of fluid beneath the retina, and blood vessels can be seen well with the test. 

I was told to continue with the drops and she wanted to see me again a week later. All the previous tests were perfomed again plus another.  The next test was FFA which stands for fundus fluorescein angiography. This is a special test to check out the structure and health of the blood vessels within the retina by injecting a special dye into a vein in the arm. Both of my eyes were dilated with eye drops, and I had to sit in front of the Fundus Camera and a series of photographs of the retina were taken whilst a nurse injected the dye into my arm.  It was quite uncomfotable and handsome doctor had to hold my right eye open throughout the procedure. That particular test can have some pretty strange side effects, maybe it was a good job the consultant gave Alan the paperwork to read and translate what he could. The most exciting side effect was that my urine was a fantastic neon colour for about 24 hours. Skin, and the whites of your eyes may also turn yellow. Also the repeated camera flash during the procedure can in a few people cause nausea or vomiting. I remembered whilst having the test feeling a dryness and strange feeling in my mouth, but nothing else apart from the exciting trips to the loo! 

After the results which can be can be seen immediately, I was told I have acute uveitis (inflammation of the eyeball, front and back) pressure in the eyeball and an inflamed retina.  With that they said they wanted to give me an injection under the eye.  I was petrified!  My big fear is that I may at some point have to have an injection in my eye! To be honest this was only in my skin and it wasn’t too bad. Although she apologised as she was withdrawing the needle, because she knew immediately she had bruised me.  

A month later I was back again.  All the tests were done once again apart from the FFA (injection in the arm)  Yes even the injection under the eye.  As yet nothing has changed, but she said it's early days.  She now want me to see a doctor about my sarcoidosis, as uveitis is a sympton, and she is sure that's what has caused it. Whilst in the queue making the next appointment, would you believe a lady fainted on Alan. It's the best place for it to happen!  The nurses all rushed around, one lifted the ladies legs, another took her blood pressure and one seemed to give her an injection in her stomach.  Most of the other ladies in the queue stood around fanning her with their fans... never a dull moment! 

P.S. I'm really not highly intelligent, and I have looked up what these tests are called!

After the injection.  Can you spot the strange shape of the pupil?

Oh So this is the Recovery Position?

Another long gap between blog posts, I'm so sorry, and this is the reason why!

I hadn't really been feeling 100% towards the end of the summer.  We had been busy thank goodness, very hot and we were looking forward to having the place to ourselves.  Don't get me wrong, I love having holiday guests, but when the weather is really hot and you are here on our own, you can take some clothes off! 

The last week in September I started having nose bleeds, bad nose bleeds.  That's unusual for me. For 5 days I had 1 or 2 every day, it would just pour out for about half an hour, sorry, not very nice.  On day 6, I was in our apartment and Alan was in the big kitchen, where we tend to live in the hot summer months, when it started bleeding profusely again.  I noticed we had hardly any toilet roll downstairs, so I ran up to the big kitchen holding what little I had to my face.  When Alan saw me he said "No, not again?" whilst he grabbed me a new toilet roll.  I rushed back down to the bathroom, as it was bad.  A couple of minutes later Alan came to see if I was ok.

"I feel awful!"  I said, as I sat on the toilet seat with my head in my hands.  At this point the bleeding was slowing down.  I felt very dizzy and sick.  As the feeling waved over me even worse, I stood over the bathroom sink, splashing cold water onto my face.  I was sweating but I felt cold, it was strange, a horrible feeling.  I remember hearing an involutary moan that came from me.  Then I woke up on the floor!  

I was very lucky Alan had come to check on me.  He was in the bathroom when I passed out, and caught me.  It's a small bathroom with floor tiles and it could have been nasty if I had banged my head on the floor.

Alan was on the floor beside me when I woke up.  I didn't know why I was on the floor, then I realised what must have happened.  "Don't move" he said.  "I need to get you to the medical centre.  I'm phoning David." David is a very good friend of ours.  He's Spanish, his parents own one of the pharmacies in town, and he is a pharmacist and optician too.  Alan phoned him to ask his advice regarding going to the medical centre in an emergency.  After a few minutes I got my bearings and lifted my head up and leant on my elbow for a few minutes.  Luckily my nose had stopped bleeding, that was one good thing.  I sat on the floor whilst Alan spoke to David.  

"Right" he said, "let's get you up slowly"  I was still feeling rather woozy and disorientated., so I got as far as the sofa, and sat there for a few minutes.  "David wants us to pick him up on route"  Alan said.  That was great he could do the talking, as Alan had explained everything that happened.  I was helped into the car like an old lady and given a kitchen roll and a carrier bag in case the bleeding started again, and we made our way into town.  I was very grateful Alan went slowly on our windy track.

Our registered doctor wasn't on duty but we saw another very nice gentleman.  David explained everything so I wouldn't have to talk too much.  They took a little blood and checked my blood pressure, and the doctor said I was very anaemic and I had to go to the hospital in Cordoba as I may need a blood transfusion.  David also explained a problem I had with one of my eyes, which he also checked.  He waved his arms around profusely after shining the little torch in my eye, and said I had a serious problem, and I needed to see an opthalmologist.  But that will be for the next blog post.

David went back to work and Alan and I set off for the hosptital.  If anyone has been into a Spanish hospital it's a tad different from the A&E in England, well certainly in Brighton.  In Brighton it's a small waiting room and you sit patiently waiting for hours to be seen.  Usually wondering what is wrong the the person sitting beside you (or is that just me?)  The waiting area in the Reina Sofia University Hospital in Cordoba is huge. Half of it has reclining chairs, some normal chairs for those not want to be seen making a fuss, and an area for trolleys.  Obviously emergencies go through to another part, but if it's not too serious you are in with the rest of us.  It is also a room for waiting between tests and treatents.  Anyone needing a drip will be taken back there whilst it is going in, and you wait in there until you are called to your next step of treatment, x-ray etc. 

Alan certainly has got a chapter for book number 3 from the waiting area.  Spanish ladies fussing around their husbands or parents on the trolleys.  Making sure their feet are tucked in and covered with the sheets, and stroking faces and heads.  One lady's grown up daughter must have been feeling extremely hot as she fanned herself continuously with an adult size incontinence pad.  I also couldn't believe how much kissing was going on.  Anyone going out of the room for a couple of minutes would of course do the double kissing when they came back to their loved one.  

Eventually it was my turn to see a doctor.  My name was easy to recognise when it was called as everyone else seemed to be Maria, or Pedro.  The young doctor initially looked horrified when he realised our Spanish wasn't great.  Between us though we managed.  He seemed very pleased with himself as he found English words he probably hadn't used since school, and of course we would also answer back in Spanish.  A real Spanglish conversation.  We were at the hospital for hours, in fact 8 very long hours.  I did however have a pretty good overall check up.  More blood tests, blood presure, even an ECG and they also checked I hadn't suffered a slight stroke.  Having asked about my medical history and informing him of my sarcoidosis I was then sent off for a chest x-ray.  

After all the tests and checks were done he was happy to let me go home without a blood tranfusion.  He did however say I would need to be on medication for a while.  Unfortunately even though the doctor in Montoro had made a note on the letter for my eye to be checked, the young doctor said I needed to see my own doctor, as I needed to be referred to a different department for that.  So that will be the next post.

The following day October 2nd was my birthday.  Alan popped into town and brought me a lovely box of chocolates and some flowers.  He made me promise only to get up if I needed the toilet and if there were any nose bleeds I had to be on the bed.  I obeyed the orders of course!   I spent most of the day in bed, getting up to chat to my daughter Frankie on skype, and Mark my son phoned me whilst I was in bed.  That was awkward as the signal in our bedroom is very bad, so I had to hang off the bed to chat to him.

That was a month ago now, and the week after I would sleep before lunch, AND after lunch and go to bed about 7pm.  Now I don't have a sleep during the day, although I still feel very tired sometimes.  I'm usually in bed about 10pm, which is very early for me.  I have my medicine, it's little vials of what look like blood, and I'm on them for 3 months.  Apparently that's how long it will take my blood to return to normal!  Crazy eh!

I'm so lucky that Alan was there to catch me on that day, thanks Alan, and also that once again the Spanish health care has been excellent!