'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Aftermas and the Queen


Well, what a wonderful afternoon it was!  The sun shone, and the light breeze kept the temperature down.  Lots of lovely friends-and-relations arrived bringing sunhats and suncream, plates of delicious food and bottles of chilled drinks, and we all had a lovely time in the garden.




Around 4ish the elderly Matamata contingent started making polite noises about being taken home so I went up to the house to collect my car keys and sunglasses, came down the front steps, and ... whoops, halfway down I somehow stepped awkwardly, painfully rolled over on my left ankle, and went down to the ground with a crash and a number of loud exclamations that seemed to spontaneously emanate from me with no control whatsoever!  
Within seconds hundreds of people appeared around me with soothing voices, concerned faces, frozen peas, pillows, glasses of water and finally a fireman's lift to the couch inside. 

Granny and friend were whisked back to Matamata by oldest son and partner, and the consensus by the remaining guests was that I should get the ankle checked out at the emergency doctor.  A short car trip, a gentle but brief examination by the doctor and three ankle x-rays later, I had parted with the usual dosh and was being shown how to put on my 'moonboot'.  (These days you get the choice of plaster or a terminator-style black boot that is encrusted with velcro straps and has the great advantage that you can take it off to shower or sleep, albeit taking 15 minutes.)


Moon-booted.


So now I sit ensconced on the couch most of the day.  I can get around on the crutches, but as the other leg's a bit sore I am trying to keep off that one too.  It's a bit frustrating not to be able to carry anything in my hands but I had the brilliant idea of using a shoulder-bag for essentials like hairbrush, phone and diary, and son J. has fixed some little wheels to a small side-table so I can 'carry' my laptop to the printer or dishes back to the kitchen. 

As soon as the swelling has gone down I can get off this couch, toddle out to the studio and get back to my usual occupation - painting.  

I had intended to have catch-up visits with lots of old friends this summer, so now that might involve them coming here instead.  However, as it's my left ankle that is broken, and my car's an automatic, I may actually be able to run drive before I can walk!

In the meantime I shall enjoy lying in state and being attended by my menials.  Just call me Queen of Sheba.


21 comments:

  1. Well queenie,
    You have a great deal of blogs to catch up with x

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do! You are right John!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a terrible shame! Good thing it was at the end of the day but a terrible nuisance and I imagine quite painful too. Do hope it doesn't cramp your style for too long and you have a good book to keep busy with ( I hear Kate Morton's latest "The Secret Keeper" is good ).

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for your kind thoughts Helsie. I do have plenty to keep me busy, and of course I don't even need to go to a shop to get that book you suggested. It's scary how easy it is to buy Kindle books! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks like a nice party, sorry it came to such a dramatic ending. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope your Majesty has enough "menials" to cover your needs...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Monica. I have the phone by my couch to call up a menial at a moment's notice :-)

      Delete
  6. There's an awful lot of bones in that area isn't there? It's a good job I'm not a doctor though because they all look to be present and correct so far as I can see. Recover quickly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know Geeb! I can't see which one is broken either. Thanks! And for all you did before you left!

      Delete
  7. Oh dear Kate! So sorry to hear the news about your ankle. You poor thing! And it happened on such a pleasant sociable day too. What a shame!

    Did you miss a couple of words from "get back to my usual occupation - painting."? Shouldn't it have finished with "my nails"? ....Ha! Ha! It's the way I tell 'em!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks YP. I was the most memorable entertainment for the afternoon, so I'm told. Coincidentally, I did do my nails. When one sits looking at one's feet for hours....

      Delete
  8. Oh no!!! I've never broken an ankle but have sprained both many times and it's always a clunk to the ground, and numerous profanities issuing forth without my control or permission. It is just SO painful, so I do sympathise with you.

    I hope it heals quickly! Can't be any fun wearing the boot, not in the summer!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jay. I know, we were discussing our mutual excellent ankle-spraining abilities on my recent post 'Arches' I think. The boot and stretchy sock was getting decidedly high this morning. I've thrown the sock in the wash, so I'm sitting here at the moment with the rainbow foot and leg exposed to the world. Pity there's no-one here but me to admire it.

      Delete
  9. Oh dear. I have one of those scratching things that insert between the cast (boot) and the itchy bits - would you like me to send it down to you?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Violet, that's very sweet of you but there's no need. The nice thing about the 'moonboot' is that it is removable ~ it all straps together with velcro. Takes a while, but I can take it off to shower and sleep.

      Delete
  10. Oh ouchie, nasty ...took a trip to have a break eh? :) hope you are back on your feet quickly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jules. Tomorrow it will be a week. I really did think I'd be a bit better by now. But I'm much the same... :-( and the other leg is sorer than the broken one. Fracture clinic on Tuesday for a check-up. I looked at the ACC form and it says 'distal fibula fracture'. Apparently a common ankle break but painful and takes a long time to heal.

      Delete
  11. Oh dear, heal quickly. This is my first visit here and I was enjoying hearing about the outdoor party and then, ouch! I live in California and have long felt New Zealand to be a wonderful place to visit or live, so I am happy to meet you here.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Daer Queen Katherine, - What a terribel ending of a nice party. Wish you will heal quickly and without much pine.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ouch!
    Get well soon, before you bring the NZ economy to its knees with all this internet book buying ...

    By the way, talking about George Orwell, there's some great stuff on BBC radio just now:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pyz0z/features/about

    You're welcome :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Terra - welcome to TLVD! Always great to 'see' a new face. THanks for your wishes.

    Kirsten - Thank you! I am on the mend except it appears I may have broken another bone - in the other leg, just below the knee!

    Brain, Thanks. Yes, it's so terribly easy to buy from the comfort of your own settee! Thanks also for the links - unfortunately there has been an upheaval in our family (the tragic loss of the young son of our best friends) and I haven't heard more than a few minutes, but they seem great!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sorry to hear about that. It must be unbelievably tough for your friends right now.

    ReplyDelete

Spam will go in the incinerator. All other comments are gratefully received. Communication is what makes the world go 'round.