I can't believe in my November update post I forgot about my knee. It turns out that I was very lucky I wasn't sportier earlier in my life as I would have had much more serious problems than I do now. It turns out a lot of things were conspiring against me, I have crap feet, rubbish hips (I'm as surprised as anyone with this news about my well cultivated hips) and, to quote the physio 'a tiny little patella'. That's the medical term for the knee cap, don't you know. No wonder it was so sore, it was just wobbling about in there.
One doctor was very surprised I've never dislocated my knee before and made it sound like I was about to walk out of the surgery and it would happen at any moment. The physio also told me I had the same thing as Rafa Nadal! Who would have thunk me and Rafa would have something in common?! I have to tape my knee just like he does when I do sport now.
I'd have been less impressed if Big Head Federer had this injury.
It's nice to know why it's so painful, but I guess that's it now, I'm old. It's all downhill from here on in.
Where has the month gone? I was very close to not actually blogging at all this month and I think that that would have been the first time that would have ever happened. But fear not, here I am with a last minute attempt at saving November. So what have I been up to since last I wrote. Well let's see shall we?
Feet Up Friday
A couple of months ago Greg James was in Belfast for Feet Up Friday. It was the day after my birthday and I was going out that night so I didn't want to apply because it'd be too hard to organise it all, you know, because obviously I'd get to go. So when Greg announced at the end of October that they were doing another one out and about, I thought there was no way it'd be Belfast again. But it was. And I applied. Next thing was I got a a phonecall from Radio 1. Ha! They always say to be really enthusiastic and interesting on the phone, so I did my best. Apparently it worked! So off my lucky friends and I trotted to Blackstaff studios and met Greg James, Producer Neil, Producer Sarah, and Scouting for Girls.
Also there, although I didn't get to actually meet him was Hugo Duncan! Oh glory. I wrote about him on my web form, you know, to make mine stand out, rather than writing the usual sort of stuff. I might have actually said he was 'a complete Northern Ireland legend'. Well, it worked didn't it.
Before I even got into the studio though I got to meet a Northern Ireland legend. Paul Clarke!
He was as surprised to meet me as Clare Balding was.
Greg plays the tunes, Producer Neil scratches his head.
Scouting For Girls were brilliant! They played about 2 metres in front of us, singing a medley of their songs and made one up about Belfast.
Writing
Not my blog evidently, but I have been working on my dissertation. Next.
Cooing over my niece and nephew
They're incredibly cute. John is very funny now and Kiera is still gorgeous. But other people's kid stories can be dull, I know that so I won't bore you with detail of how John gave my mandarin to Nanna to peel for because earlier she had peeled his. Ah, we laughed! But dull to you. Next
Baking
I like baking. This past while I have made banana bread, banana and chocolate bread, banana cake (there were a lot of bananas about to be thrown out), brownies, and most excitingly of all, a birthday cake for Karen Marathon.
I thought I would try to base it one of her pieces of art and this was my best attempt. (The cake is on the right, just in case you couldn't tell.)
Boyce Avenue
I went to see them in Belfast. It was a good night and they were really good live! If you haven't heard of them you should You Tube some of their stuff. For convenience I'll include my favourite cover they do.
I was back at the doctors' this week. I haven't been at the doctors' for actual years, like before I went to NC. But then with my knee and womanflu I've been three times in the last month. Good old NHS eh?!
I noticed the last time I was there they like to play orchestral arrangements of movie songs. When I was there about my knee they played 'Eye of the Tiger'. It's hard when that song is playing not to feel fine, especially when you are there about your sore knee.
This week, I went to the doctors' with my dad (who made me sick). Not because I am a child, but because it's a bally nightmare getting through on the phone so when I did, I asked for two appointments, one for me, one for him, so then she gave us them ten minutes apart.
This week's songs were another fine selection. We had:
(I encourage you to play them and imagine the scene in the surgery waiting room!)
I so wanted someone to do commando rolls as their name got called. Maybe they did and I just didn't notice because they were so stealth like?
Always a classic. I would have run out (in slow motion) had I been called during this song. It wasn't to be though.
This was a good choice. Except for the dark part in the middle when I can only assume the Death Star is attacking. That's not appropriate for a surgery.
Uplifting and inspiring.
But the best one, which my dad got to walk out to, was this one.
I swear, even though he was dying inside, he held his head higher and walked taller because of this tune.
Fear not, no more embarrassing trips to the doctors'. I diagnosed myself. It's my tonsils, head, back, legs. Nearly like the old joke "Doctor it hurts when I press here, here, here and here." Except I don't have a sore finger.
Anyway seeing as I'm up this late hour I thought I would give you my instructions for making and drinking co-codamol.
1. Boil kettle. It helps reduce the taste.
2. While kettle is boiling make a drink of juice. The sweeter the better. I like to use Ribena but I suppose orange squash would be all right too. It's also best if you use water from the fridge.
3. Do NOT be tempted to taste your pre-made juice. This will only mean you have further to fall once you have drink the co-codamol.
4. Once the kettle has boiled, pour a small amount (1/4 to 1/3 of a cup) of hot water into your cup with the co-codamol tablet(s) in (please consult package for correct dosage).
5. Wait for the tablets to completely fizz. Then add a shot of dilutable orange juice (Ribena does not work well). Be sure to wait because adding something cold only prolongs the fizzing time, therefore prolonging the agony of having to take it co-codamol at all.
6. Drink mixture in four or five mouthfuls. Be sure to be standing by your pre-made Ribena. I like to stand to drink it, I find it helps with the moaning and fist shaking as you drink it.
7. As soon the co-codamol is done, waste no time in drinking the Ribena. You could even hold it in the other hand to reduce the changeover time.
