Day 17.          Thursday 15th June 2017.             Mileage:        0000   Total: 

From:             Clinique Francois Chenieux Limoges.  To:   Clinique F.C.

Weather:       Sunny.

After the usual early hours checking of vitals by the nurses etc I dropped off to sleep to be woken when the breakfast trolley arrived. There was coffee, yogurt, (plain) an apple puree with some packet toast biscuit and a small pot of jam. Enough. Jackie was offered coffee and some biscuits. Angie had brought in some fruit and orange drink and a few tiny cakes yesterday which supplemented her breakfast.

All of the staff here I believe have been chosen as much for their looks as hopefully their various skills. The reception staff all look like something out of Vogue. Even the male nurses are looking pretty good! In anticipation of the young beauties who normally attend me first thing I am sat up in bed bright eyed and bushy tailed.

In walks Nurse Ratchett. I recoil in horror. She demands I get up out of bed and take a shower whilst she changes my bed linen. Fortunately, earlier a nurse had removed the drip tube from my arm and I could double away from her clutches unencumbered by the drip stand! I thought I was safe in the shower room. Suddenly, the door is flung open wide and in she marches, inspecting me to ensure I am washing all my important little places. Satisfied I am doing everything correctly she issues a few instructions to Jackie and disappears. “Is it safe to come out I ask, has she gone?” Jackie relays the details. I am not to get back into bed but start walking as per Nurse Ratchett’s instructions.

I dress into shirt and Boxers and go walkabout. We are on the second floor, the top. It’s set out in the shape of a plus sign. I walk to the intersection and check on my nurses’ station. Peering around the corner in case Nurse Ratchett is on duty there. No. I’m safe. I wander on past. You can’t really get lost but these are long corridors. All with private rooms leading off. From somewhere I can hear Jackie whistling for me. I need to return to my room as Tracey and Callum are about to ring from home.

We spend most of the morning in the room. Mike standing for a couple of hours typing out his diary. Jackie on a chat line to Mumbai querying her roaming charges that have been levied. As usual the terms have been couched so that we, the customer, will get stuffed by O2.

Lunch arrives at 1245 hrs. I’m on chicken soup, mash and sliced ham with Natural Yogurt and some more apple puree. Coffee to follow. The auxiliary who has been issuing the rations asks if Jackie would like some lunch. She is given lamb stew, rice, bread roll, Brie and a sweet dessert. Result. In theory both Jackie and I are billed for our grub on discharge. We shall see if Jackie’s was buckshee. 

Tom and Angie arrive at about 1500hrs and stayed for an hour or more. They provided a welcome distraction. I had been on walkabout when first I’d heard Angie’s voice talking with staff as she exited the lift. I could not catch them up as they walked down “my” corridor. I thought I was moving a bit faster until some old biddy with her drip stand on wheels went racing past, a selection of bags swinging wildly from the hooks, the contents and colours of which looked most strange.

Diner, which is probably the highlight of the day arrives. Mike has Chicken soup, ratatouille, plain omelette, soft cheese, bread roll and the dreaded apple puree. For once I eat the puree. The scran arrives in pottery dishes all with well-fitting plastic lids. It is piping hot and tastes pretty good to me. The Omelette? It was as hot, fresh and fluffy as though it had just been cooked. How do they do that?  Whilst I devour this feast Jackie is tucking into a chicken and pasta salad that Angie passed in earlier washed down first by a G+T, I kid you not, followed by a glass of sangria. God bless the Brittles.

We now await a visit from Dr Sodji. Least we hope he will call around. Mike is keen to be discharged now.

1930hrs and your man arrives. After a quick inspection and a rather lengthy pause to reflect, I swear he was building the tension, he states I am ready for discharge tomorrow afternoon. Great news but there is a kicker! He needs to send a nurse out to Le Buis to inject me with anti-coagulants for the next seven days then a visit in ten days back here to Clinique Francois Chenieux  for a final med exam and discharge. Now I wasn’t expecting that!

We will literally have to throw ourselves once again on the hospitality of the Brittles at Le Buis.