Monday 15 December 2008

THE HOMECOMINGS

The machines decided that they had had enough and demanded to be bought in out of the cold. – so in they came courtesy of OG (who nearly sustained a hernia in the process) and John . They are now happily ensconced in their rightful home in the newly refurbished laundry room, again courtesy of OG and John. I only hope that they appreciate them.



And our French family came home too, but their journey was far more troublesome than the machines’ journey (those machines have a charmed life).

The trauma started on a Paris motorway. They broke down and because entrapped in a typically French bureaucratic cock up. The garage sent to rescue them had not been informed they were on a motorway, which, apparently, is the jurisdiction of the Police. The Police did not arrive and the rescue service said that they were not authorised to ring them direct. After a long wait and another call to the original garage that WAS authorised to ring the Police they were finally rescued some four hours after first breaking down. The Police had responded to the original SOS but couldn’t find them so went back to their depot no doubt muttering “Stupid English”.

As the fault could not be immediately rectified they stayed in a hotel overnight and set off for Calais in a hire car the next morning, got caught in a traffic jam, dropped off the hire car and missed one sailing by 5 minutes. Next sailing was par for the course, a two-hour wait. The car hire companies in Dover had no suitable car available for the onward journey so, toting masses of luggage, they staggered onto a train, crossed London by taxi, staggered on to another train and OG met them at Peterborough some 40 hours after they had first set off.

One day to recover and, dropping the children off with us, they set off again in a hire van to collect all their personal possessions from Toulouse and (hopefully) car from Paris. What was that Labour Party slogan? “Things can only get better”?. Huhh!

It will be good to have them back in the bosom of the family again, safe and well and ready for Christmas.

In the meantime, following a CT scan, the oncologist said that one of OG's lymph glands could be slightly enlarged, but as it is within the “normal” range, albeit that it is at the top of the range, it need not necessarily be sinister. Another scan in March will enable him to look at the gland again and determine whether or not further treatment is called for. Fingers crossed.

And finally ….. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe

12 comments:

Maggie May said...

The trip was a bit of a disaster, wasn't it?
I hope OG's next appointment will prove things are OK. We have a similar trip in Feb too because of rising PSA levels. Trying to forget for now.

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Hope you are all re-united in good time for the festivities.

Fingers firmly crossed for OG's March scan.

And finally ...... I think you may be right.

A x

Lindsay said...

Hope OG's gland will be OK by next scan. I had thyroid cancer 10 years ago and have a permanent lymph gland in neck which fools all the MRI scans because of its unusual shape. Upon surgical investigation it was found to be normal - so fingers crossed for OG.

ADDY said...

What a horrible journey. Good luck wishes for OG.

Sandi McBride said...

So glad that the washing duo could manage to get home in time for company! And that the travelers are well and safely ensconced in the bosom of the family! My prayers for OG will be constant. Hope your Christmas is wonderful!
hugs
Sandi

Anonymous said...

Yes, definitely fingers crossed here.

A 40 hour journey - ouch!

CJ xx

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

It's always lurking in the sub-conscious isn't it Maggie? I pray that Harry is OK.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

The family did get back Ok Anne, but it was a pretty difficult jorney for them.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

I wouldn't have given much for his chances a few months ago Lindsay, so I know that we just have to take it one day at a time in the hopes that he will be OK. You must be incredibly thankful that you are OK yourself. Much love and continued good health.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Thanks for the good luck Rosiero. Good luck yourself too.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Thanks for your prayers and hugs Sandi. We feel them every day.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Yes from this side of 60 a 40 hour journey sounds hurrendous doesn't it CJ, but in our youth that was nothing to us.