Hiatus Day One - Emails and Texts

As well as emails and facebook I also contacted people using the useful “text to many” system (not all of which I’ve kept).  The replies say a lot about my various friends and relations.

26/03/2025 11.21 email to Cousin Daisy, Middlesister and 28 others

Hello All

No blog today and I'm afraid Ferretfingers’ ankle is in a bad state.

We went to the Freeman this morning to have the dressing changed and the wound is badly infected.

The swabs they took when they took the metal out of his ankle "grew something" in microbiology.

There is a bed available for him in Ward 22 of the RVI this afternoon and he will probably be operated on tomorrow.

I am going to stay with him as before so the next job is packing overnight bags for an indefinite period.

I'll leave how I'm feeling to your imagination.

If you've a mind to light candles or say a few Novena's of the Rosary ...

TTFN

Ben

xxx

2.48 email from Mrs Quilt

So sorry to hear this.  Good luck to Ferretfingers.  Loads of love and best wishes to you.  Won't be the Rosary but will be "Remember Gracious Virgin Mary....." etc.  Do you need to borrow anything that would help your stay be more comfortable?

Love and virtual hugz

Mrs Q

Texts Wednesday 26 March

13.35 Mrs Eft – Such bad news re Ferretfingers.  I am available to fetch, carry, taxi, visits etc.  Just let me know.  Love to Ferretfingers and big hugs to you.xxx

14.14 Mrs Eft – Oh poor Ben, you don’t deserve this.  Especially after you coughed up the money you owe me.

14.39 To Middlesister - No ghosts in the RVI.  Ferretfingers has 2 tablets so he can watch tv and be on facebook.  I’m sagging.  His bp is 102/79.

14.51 Middlesister – Bp good.  Presume tablet was painkiller or antibiotic.  Found my Rosary beads.  No ghosts :-) xx

14.53 To Middlesister – Tablet as in computer :-)

15.00 Middlesister – I’m not too tech savvy.  Brain in medical mode.  Try to flop like rabbits’ ears.xx

19.11 Bigsister – So sorry to hear the news about Ferretfingers.  You must be devastated.  Wasn’t sure about when would be best to call, so decided to text.  Thinking of you Ben and hoping all goes well xx

19.34 To Bigsister – Texting is best until we get back home.  Sometimes the light at the end of a tunnel is an oncoming train. 

27/03/2025

16.16 Sister-in-Law – Middlesister is updating us on Ferretfingers’ treatment etc.  I’m afraid I can’t say a rosary or novena for you but I will be putting Ferretfingers name down on the intercessions list, and will keep you in my thoughts at the same time.  Take as much good care of yourself as you are able to xx

Middlesister phoned my mobile every day of our stay in hospital, then kept the rest of our siblings and niece up to date.  She is a retired nurse so could explain things and answer any questions far better, and with more good grace, than I could have done.  Knowing she was doing this was a great help.

It was also good to have someone to vent safely to, and just have a much needed giggle.

“Ghosts” refers to the fact that I sometimes find being in the Freeman hospital quite problematic.  It is where Phil passed away and occasionally a sudden memory transports me back to that time and I have had to drag myself back to face today’s trauma.