Eleven

The silly o'clock alarms went off before either of us was ready to face the day.

Didn't help that everyone having surgery today had been told to arrive at the same time. There was only one poor nurse checking everyone in, one by one, taking temperatures before letting the patients carry on. It would have made sense in these covid times to have staggered arrivals but the welcome was pleasant enough.

I lingered at the hospital for breakfast just in case F had forgotten anything and then headed off for a little retail therapy to spend some Christmas money (thank you for relieving me of that quite quickly, Waterstones!) 

About 11 a message came through that surgery might be cancelled after delays with the first two patients on the theatre list, F was third and finally got the go ahead about half one. We both would've been a bit peeved to travel all this way to be sent home again - especially when I've paid for a week at the hotel! 

He was back on his ward about 5pm and is mostly looking forward to finding out when he can leave. The "you wont be able to drive for a couple of weeks" didn't go down well but the food is better than expected. Swings and roundabouts! 

We won't find out for a day or two if the removed tumour remained benign. We can but hope. 

Lots of tiny cogs keeping this big old place turning.