A fly in the ointment

I’m really hoping that a trip to Bodnant will bring me butterflies to blip - and dragonflies come to that - but no. All I’m left with after an hour wandering the terraces is a blurry Common Darter on the path and a rather bedraggled cabbage white. Where are they all? Perhaps it’s too cold today - or too windy. Or maybe too late in the season. Maybe it’s just bad luck. Whatever the reason, I’m left with bees and hoverflies and green bottles - and flowers galore of course. 

Back home, I phone up Walton to check the latest on my operation.  Theoretically, there’s enough time for me to have it between my Madeira trip and our cruise - I need six weeks before I fly, but I now find my surgeon has booked his annual leave at the crucial time. I’m left with one date only: Friday 13th September - I know, not the most auspicious date! Either that, or wait until February. I realise that in the current NHS climate, I’m very lucky to be in a position of being offered a choice of dates, but I remain frustrated by the delay which stopped me having the operation during the summer. 

The September date means we can’t go to Madeira. G feels it’s a no brainer - sacrifice Madeira as sorting out my spondylolithesis is more important. Quite often, my back is fine, and it’s hard to believe there are times when I can hardly walk;  it would certainly be better to have this done before we embark on our Mumbai to Tokyo adventure in December. 

I’m given a few days to make up my mind, so we’re currently trying to negotiate a change of dates in Madeira - unfortunately insurance won’t cover it. 

Meanwhile, my blip today is a close up of a green bottle - not the most attractive of creatures, but I love its iridescence.