More of . . . The Same!

The more of the same old same old. What more can I say at the moment? So what has changed? Ab-so-lutely nothing! More sitting around reading or watching television. Though I'm glad that I have Sky Arts on my Freeview box as they're currently  running Sky Arts Landscape Artist of 2021. I wasn't sure whether it's a repeat of a past series, but it's new. It makes me wonder how they could film it with social distancing in force. The first episode came from West Wycombe Park, a National Trust property which Carol and I visited a few years ago. It seems to be a favourite location for quite a few television dramas such as Downton Abbey, The Crown, Austenland, Cranford, the more recent film version of The Importance of Being Ernest which starred Dame Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell and many more. I have recognised it in many period dramas over the year. In fact, I would say it's becoming somewhat over-used.

(Friday) 7.55a.m.  I've just got back from taking Alfie out and as we walked down Strudwick Drive I could see someone standing on the grass with what I assumed was a blanket wrapped around themselves. Then, as I gradually walked along I could see an ambulance parked on the road. There was no indication what was going on. I've had to call an ambulance enough times to know what was likely to be going on inside. Then, further along the pavement with Alfie, the door of the ambulance slid open and a youth came out, also swathed in a blanket. The paramedics were obviously coming to end of examining the youth and then slid the door shut and both the youth and the woman walked off in the direction of Milton Keynes centre, going through Oldbrook Green. I still had no idea what was going on and probably best not to know. 

Some delightful soul has seen fit to abandon a supermarket trolley at the intersection of Oldbrook Boulevard and Strudwick Drive. It was marked with 'Morrison's' on it's handle, which made me think, someone had pushed it a long way from Morrisons, which is a couple of miles away. If they'd bought it thus far, why not return it? Also, another electric scooter, abandoned nearby. As we walk past, Alfie cocks his leg against it! Good for you, young man, that's a good way to mark the thing, cluttering up the place as it does.

Washing done. Everything back on hangers and in drawers. Thank goodness that's finished for a week. Washing-up also done and kitchen tidy. Domestic duties done.

Later. I've been out again with Alfie. There were Council workmen, dressed in day-glo clothing, litter-picking. Why do people insist on dropping so much litter? More particularly discarded face masks. No intention of even doing the thing and putting them in the many and various bins located around Oldbrook Green. Just not nice and something of a health hazard.

It's a bright and almost spring-like day. Not a lot else to report.

2.05p.m. How quickly the weather changes! As I write this, it's pouring with rain and I'm wondering whether Alfie is going to appreciate getting soaked. I doubt he will enjoy it, so I will have to wait until the rain goes off.

Later. The rain doesn't go off. I take the plunge and gear up to take his nibs out. It's raining hard. No sooner does he get out than Alfie turns tail and takes me home. Probably just as well as it's teaming down. No sign off it easing off. Better to be inside in the dry. Alfie had on his Regatta coat and I had on my bright yellow Regatta rain coat. I'm so glad I purchased it when I did!

This And That

It's not quite a hot as it's been lately. The sun is out as I write this (at 9a.m. on Thursday 20th August.) We have had rain, but there really is no real sign of it outside, except a small muddy puddle in the children's playground as I took Alfie out for his walk this morning. I went out for the second walk around 8.15 as I'm going out for a walk with my friend Mike from Church at 9.45. 

A few days ago I saw a workman on the grass as I crossed over from Strudwick Drive, the area that fringes Oldbrook Boulevard. He was spraying the grass, painting lines, in a sort of arc. It wasn't at first clear what this was for. Possibly a pipeline going in, electric cable, more internet cabling? Not entirely sure at the time, but yesterday, when we walked across, it was all too clear what it was for. More workmen, erecting a low fence, presumably to prevent travellers getting on to Oldbrook Green, although it doesn't look particularly robust and wouldn't take much effort to remove if someone wanted to, although it that was to happen, do doubt they would be done for 'criminal damage'. We'll have to wait and see how far this fence is going to go. They will have to leave a gap somewhere to allow pedestrians to gain access, such as myself and Alfie.

(Friday) Yesterday I went for another walk with my friend Mike from Church. I drive over to his flat in Downhead Park and then we walk to the cafe with is in a precinct near Willen. This morning, as we were walking along the Redway (well, I presume it's Redway.) we came upon a man laying on the grass near Pennyland Basin, which I had never heard of. It's what I would call a marina, joined on to the Grand Union Canal. At first we weren't even sure if the man, who would have been in his 30's, was dead or alive, but we eventually made out that he was breathing, but only very lightly. He was wearing trainers and track suit bottoms but with no shirt and, because it was fairly warm, was sweating copiously. We attempted to rouse him, but we couldn't. I began to wonder if he was having an epileptic seizure, or at last, had had one and this was the end result, because generally, if someone has a seizure it leaves them very tired and they usually sleep. I would have put him into a recovery position, having done a first aid course, but, because of the coronavirus pandemic it was not advisable. So it was then that we decided, having attempted a few times more to rouse hi, to dial 999. I got through to the ambulance service and because I wasn't sure exactly where we were, found it difficult to tell the operator where we were, but by saying Pennyland Basin, the paramedics were able to find us. Mike went up to Dantseed Way, the nearest grid road, to let the ambulance driver know where we were.

The paramedics soon turned up and took over the car of the young man. They managed to rouse him and when they said he ought to be check over at A and E he was reluctant to go, but it seemed obvious that he needed the care they could give him there and it was at this point that we left.

I had to go to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre for a blood test at 9a.m. I had been told, due to the pandemic, that I needed to arrive 5 minutes before the appointment so I drove there and was there a good 15 minutes ahead of the appointment. I parked the car, finding that there were plenty of spaces, and just sat and waited in the car until around 8.55 and then went towards the entrance of the surgery, expecting to be able to walk in but found the door locked and a  notice telling me I needed to use the intercom on the side of the door to get in. The phlebotomist made a good job of taking my blood. I didn't feel and thing and 10 minutes later, when I had time to sit and wait, I left the surgery and drove back to the flat.

At around 4 o'clock I got a text message from the doctor to tell me that the test was 'satisfactory' and that 'no further action is required,' although my vitamin D level was slightly low and he recommends me taking a vitamin D supplement. Not a problem as I can buy some when I'm next in Sainsbury's.

Second Stent

As a result of the myocardial perfusion imaging test, which was done at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford a couple of months ago (described in great detail in an earlier blog post on here.) I have been booked in to have a second stent fitted next Wednesday, 12th December. I have to be at the hospital for 7.30a.m., and I'm being taken by someone from church who has kindly offered to drive me there. I couldn't have driven myself, for one thing, I don't think the stress of the journey there at that hour would help, and, secondly, I wouldn't be able to drive back home because of having a local anaesthetic as well as other drugs and the possibility of the wound that would be made when the stent was fitted. I had a telephone call from the hospital yesterday morning to tell me I'm on the morning list, which means the procedure should be done at some stage during that morning. I have to remain in bed for at least two hours afterwards and can then be discharged. I did wonder whether I would need to stay in hospital overnight, but not this time, fortunately.

As with this sort of thing, it's the waiting which is the worst part. I don't generally like needles, giving blood and all that sort of thing. I have explained things regarding this in an earlier blog post. When I had my second heart attack in early September this year, I was rushed off to the John Radcliffe and there was talk of 'stents' on the ambulance as we drove at speed towards Oxford, but at that time I didn't really think of what was going to happen. Little did I realise, once I arrived, I would be in the operating theatre (I don't think it's actually referred to as that, but never mind) and having a stent inserted in a vein in my right arm. Not a lot of time to think about it, really and truly.

It's been a really wet and windy day today. I took Alfie out for his walk as usual, but I had to put my waterproof jacket with hood on before venturing forth. It had been kept in the back of the car for such an eventuality, so I had to nip out and get it before taking Alfie out. We didn't do the full circuit of Eaglestone Park, because he was getting soaked (not surprisingly), so I decided to cut across the park and make a short-cut back home. He shook himself, as dogs do, to try and get rid of the rain from his coat.

Carol not in a good state when I visited her this morning. (Friday) She's given so much pain relief that she's really out of things a lot of the time. I helped give her breakfast, which was porridge. I would never have believed that I would be feeding my wife in a care home bed. I have mentioned in some of these posts how I worked as a Support Worker for people with learning disabilities, working mostly in homes around Bedfordshire, mainly those run by the N.H.S. as well as being a Home Carer in and around Milton Keynes, but it would never have occurred to me that I would be caring for my wife in such an environment as that. I don't think that she even knew I was there this morning. She was talking some of the time, but not a lot of it was exactly lucid. She was going on about 'The Boys.' I thought she meant her sons, Daniel and Sam, but then I thought, perhaps she means Eddie and George, our grandchildren. She thought they were visiting, but they're not scheduled to visit. She wasn't sure what time it was, and forgot she had breakfast. This whole situation is really difficult. She prefers to lie on her left side, which had been decided when she was at Willen Hospice, but for some reason at Castlemead, the carers had her in bed, lying flat on her back. I said that I didn't want to mention this, but I had to when they came into the room and so they managed to roll her onto her left side, with pillows to prop her up. They told me that they were only doing what Carol wanted, but it seemed to me that at the moment she was really unable to explain properly. Not that I want to interfere but I do want her to have the best or at least what will make her more comfortable. I know that they've managed to get the pain under control, but do at least make sure she's comfortable in bed. She wanted to get out, which she had done at Willen, and managed to sit on the edge of her bed and, with some help, walk a short distance around the bed. But a nurse came in and said that she ought to stay in bed. 

Carol Moves to Castlemead Court

On Sunday, when I visited Carol a good deal later than I usually visit, I learned that Carol was moving to Castlemead Court in Newport Pagnell. One of the nurses came into her room at Willen to say that transport had been booked to take her there and I would need to start packing her belongings as there wouldn't be room on the ambulance for more than one bag of things, so most of her belongings would need to be transported in our car.

On Monday morning I was told that there would be an ambulance to take Carol from Willen Hospice to Castlemead Court and that it was booked for between 11-11.30 a.m., but they didn't actually arrive until about 1.30. Carol missed lunch, but she had a bowl of soup. We'd managed to pack up all her belongings into several carrier bags which were put in the back of the car. Carol was transferred from her bed onto a stretcher by the paramedics and wheeled out to the ambulance. I drove off out of the carpark and I soon caught up with the ambulance as it left Willen Village and managed to follow it all the way to Newport Pagnell and I was surprised how close it was to Castlemead Court, probably no more than two miles.

On arrival at Castlemead the paramedics unloaded Carol on the stretcher and wheeled her into the unit and I followed with as much of the bags as i could carry and took them into the unit and into the room where she was ensconced a few minutes before I arrived.

It's a friendly enough place, Castlemead. Carol has learnt that she is the youngest person there. A lot of altzeimers sufferers, people in wheelchairs, a lot of screaming and someone calling out constantly. Carol prefers to have her door open, but it's sometimes necessary to close it when there's too much noise. She has been asleep or at least very drowsy when I have arrived in the morning and she's usually being given a wash and the bedding changed when I turn up, so I have to wait in the lounge area, which is just opposite her room. Plenty of armchairs to sit in and a large-screen television. They have put up Christmas decorations. You can always go into the kitchen area in the dining room to make a cup of tea or coffee and Carol gets a choice at meal-time. I generally help her eat her breakfast or lunch. There is a menu on the wall along the corridor so you can always check what there is for each meal, all prepared fresh on the premises.

The big issue I have with Castlemead is finding a place to park. I find if I get there early enough, around 10 a.m., I can usually park easily. On Wednesday, when I drove over from Milton Keynes, I have come via Willen, along Brickhill Street, but that day there I found out until far too late that the road was closed so I had to drive towards the city centre and go via Monk's Way, the road that goes towards Chichley and Only, and cut through to Newport Pagnell along the usual road I take into the centre of the town. Just annoying that I wasn't informed of the road closure earlier and had to drive several miles out of my way.

Staff are allowed to bring their dogs to work. So there can be a couple of really delightful dogs running about the unit. One, called Charlie, does tricks. You have to know the hand gestures that will get him to 'sit' or 'roll over,' and then give him a treat out of a box which is kept near the television. Carol loves him, and he was put on her bed to stroke. A really good way to motivate residents, in particular, those with alzheimer's. On my first arrival when I was viewing the place last week, I was greeted at the front door by a little shitzu, which was one half of our dog, Poppy, who was a cross Westie/ Schitzu. It barked at me and kept coming up to me and then when I arrived on one of the upper floors I was greeted by two, what I think were pugs. I think Charlie is a pug, but I'm not exactly sure.

Carol Transferred To Willan Hospice

I'm sorry, but I have to face up to it. I don't really want to discuss Carol's condition, but it has got worse than we thought. She was moved from Ward 19 at Milton Keynes Hospital to Willan Hospice on Wednesday afternoon. It all happened very rapidly and I have to say I'm incredibly grateful to the doctor who went to a meeting at Willan and managed to get the bed for Carol. I had walked to the hospital so I had to return with quite a lot of her belongings which we managed to pack up in several carrier bags. An ambulance team arrived on Ward 19 and at first Carol was to be transported out of the ward on a wheelchair, but she found it too painful to sit, so the ambulance team went off and eventually came back with a trolley for her to lay on. I had to walk back home with some of the bags of belongings and then drove straight over to Willan. Carol had arrived well before me and was already in bed in her room.

We now know that the cancer has spread. On Tuesday Carol learnt that it has spread to her lungs. She was to have further chemotherapy, but it looks unlikely that this will now happen. She was going to Willan so they could deal with the issue of pain and they had the expertise to deal with this.

Carol's mum and dad have been visiting from Bournemouth. They came up to Oxford via train and then caught the coach to Milton Keynes and I collected them from the station  on Thursday morning and we drove to Willan Hospice.

On Friday I had to ring Daniel and asked him if he could visit his mum and hopefully contact his brother, Sam, because I didn't have a telephone number to call. Also, I rang Chloe and she eventually texted me to say she would come up with her husband, Steve, on Monday morning.

Carol's mum and dad had booked a room at the Peartree Bridge Lodge, a hotel and restaurant which is very near home as well as the hospital. It would have been incredibly convenient to stay there and be so close to Carol in hospital, but by Wednesday afternoon Carol was on her way to Willen so it would mean, when they eventually arrived on Thursday, I would have to drive them over to the hospice when they arrived. It would have been easy to just walk over from Peartree Lodge, no more than a five-minute walk to the hospital. As it is, it's only a mere ten-minute drive from our home to pick them up from the hotel.

On Saturday evening I had a lovely meal with Carol's mum and dad at the carvery within the Peartree Lodge. Especially nice because it meant I didn't have to cook a meal at home when I got back from seeing Carol at Willen.

That's all I want to add at the moment. I will keep things updated when I feel I want to write more.

730th blog post: Ashfield Surgery Appointment and Over-night stay at Milton Keynes Hospital

Over the course of the past six weeks or so I have been experiencing a rather nasty pain in my chest, rather like an angina attack, bought on by some form of exertion, such as walking. It usually goes off with rest. This happened a few weeks ago when we went to Stowe Landscape Garden and started up as we walked back to the car. I had to stop and sit and it gradually went off. It also happened again last Friday after we'd been to the restaurant for a meal with Carol's work colleagues and we were walking back to the car. It's almost like a sort of 'spike' of pain, as I say, similar to an angina attack. I have used my G.T.N. spray which is supposed to relieve an angina attack.The G.T.N. doesn't seem to make much difference to reducing the discomfort.  I was prescribed insoborbide mononitrate last time I was admitted to Milton Keynes Hospital when I had an angina attack which didn't subside after a particular bad attack. It has a similar effect to G.T.N. spray as it makes your blood vessels open up to allow a better flow of blood and so reduce pain. I had got to the point where I was really suffering with this discomfort but was reluctant to go to the doctor because we have been going there quite a lot recently, and in particular, after the last few weeks with Carol's medical problems. I was prompted to get advice for this situation when I went to Sainsbury's pharmacy to collect a repeat prescription and the pharmacist did a review of my medication (as they do every six months or so.) I managed to mention this chest pain and he said that perhaps it was caused by one of my current medications, such as bisoprolol, which helps maintain a slower heart rhythm and possibly the dosage I'm on needs reducing or increasing and that, as a result, I should make a doctor's appointment and discuss this chest pain with my doctor and get him to either increase or reduce the bisoprolol dosage I'm on. So, yesterday morning I decided to ring the surgery to get an appointment with the doctor (or 'a doctor' as there are several doctors at the Ashfield Medical Centre.) As mentioned in an earlier post on here, they have changed the appointments procedure and you now have to ring and go through a sort of 'triage' system so that they can decide which medical problem are more urgent than others and then get  a doctor to telephone back to discuss the problem and then make an appointment for later in the day. I eventually go through at around 10 o'clock. Then a doctor rang me around 45 minutes later and I was able to discuss the chest pain to him and as a result was given an appointment at the surgery at 4.30 yesterday afternoon.

When I got to the surgery the first thing I realised as soon as I got through the door was that the computerised check-in system wasn't working. You're supposed to put the initial of your surname in the program then the month and day of your birthday and it's supposed to bring up yout appointment-time and the doctor your're booked with. But because this wasn't working (it's a common fault that this sytem crashes whenever I need to go to the surgery and sign in with the system.) so I had to queue up and check in with one of the receptionists. It transpired that I was seeing one of the practise nurses and not a doctor. Having waited for a further ten to fifteen minutes I was called in by the nurse (because the computer system wasn 't working, it meant that the digital display which informs patients when their appointment is ready so you go through to the relevant room.) and then had to explain what I have already described above. I had to have an E.C.G. which is something I've had several times before and when she had the print-out from this it was taken to a doctor elsewhere in the surgery. I had to sit and wait a further ten minutes and she returned to tell me that I would need to go to the hospital.  Which was not exactly what I wanted to hear as I had expected this to be an 'in-out' appointment so I could go home immediately afterwards. She then said that they would need to call for an ambulance to take me. Which seemed amazing since the hospital is barely a five-minute drive away from the surgery. So the ambulance came (within around ten minutes.) and I had to then describe the symptoms of the pain in my chest  to the paramedics and they took notes and took me out to the ambulance and did a further E.C.G. scan and my blood pressure.) We eventually moved off and got to Accident and E I mergency, being taken inside sitting in a wheelchair (which is strange for me, having been a carer, where I often pushed other people around in a wheelchair.) Once at A and E I had to go through the process of describing my symptons yet again. By this time I had called Carol on the phone to let her know where I was and to let her know what was going on. Meanwhile she had arrived in A and E. I was taken to a cubicle and settled in. We were then told that I was likely to be there for around 2 hours. When they insisted that I must wear a hospital gown did I realise that all this was going to take a good deal longer than anticipated. I had to go through the rather unpleasant ordeal of them taking a blood sample. Unpleasant, because, as you know, if you've read any of my previous blog posts, taking a sample of blood has caused stress as well as problems. As it turned out it did cause some problems as the nurse couldn't find a vein that would yield  sufficient for them to sample and consequently it took quite a long time, but eventually it was successful. That done, we had to wait, and wait and wait. It wasn't excessively busy in A and E, so I don't know why they couldn't deal with me quicker. I think they soon realised that my case wasn't particular urgent although, anyone who has a history of heart problems or had a heart attack gets priority which would be one reason why I was taken to A and E so quickly. They then put other patients at the front of the queue and my case was much further down the list which was why I had to wait around 4 hours before anything could be done as regarding what had caused my chest pain. Carol decided that she would need to go home as it was getting late and I would be staying at the hospital over-night. I then was taken to have a chest X-Ray and by the time that was done the doctors could have a look a my notes as well as the X-Ray and blood test results to give a clearer picture of what was going on.

Sometime later, getting on for around 10 o'clock, one of the doctors came to tell me that, having looked at past E.C.G. records and other material they had from earlier hospital visits that there was no evidence to show that what had caused the pain I had been experiencing had anything to do with my heart and that I could go home. But by that time I was really tired and felt that I wouldn't be able to drive let alone walk, even though 'home' was so close. So I rang Carol to say I would be home in the morning. Earlier the doctor had said that whatever it was that had caused the problem had been because things 'had been stable for a long time, but now they had become unstable' but at that time they could not see what it could have been that had caused the pain.' But by now they had decided that the problem wasn't heart-related, which was a relief to me. So, I was moved into a sort of holding ward, away from A and E, as they have to free up beds for incoming patients. Then, having got to sleep and was well settled in for the night, I was woken at around 3 a.m. to be told I was being moved once again, to yet another ward. I was pushed there by a porter and nurse, through the corridors of the hospital, into a ward that reminded me strongly of the C.C.U. at Bedford Hospital (Coronary Care Unit) because it was almost exactly the same sort of configuration of beds with curtains around them and facing one another (I think the Bedford C.C.U. has eight or perhaps six beds, in two blocks, one for men and one for women.) I was once again checked in, with 'obs' (observations) blood pressure, temperature and another E.C.G. I suppose they have to adhere to certain procedures, but by this time it was becoming somewhat annoying. How many times did I repeat the symptoms? It seemed somewhat obsessive. Could they not have kept the various sets of notes and referred to them? Build up a set of notes from each successive examination? It does seem that the N.H.S. is somewhat over-staffed with people pushing bits of paper and in some cases, over-sensitive to such things as targets and statistics, which would be what most of this is about.  I spent a somewhat restless night attempting to sleep, as it was so noisy. Staff walking about, doing such things as 'obs' of other patients and someone talking in the next ward very loud and squeaking trolleys and electronic gadgetry making strange beeps and burps at irregular intervals. But I think I did manage to sleep for two or three hours. At 5.45 my mobile alarm went off, as it's set to that time because we always get up at that time every day, starting off the day with me making us both tea. Incidentally, I didn't get a cup of tea early as I would have expected when I had had to stay in hospital, although we did have tea and a sandwich given us as we waited in A and E, nor did they ask me what medication I was on which was rather a surprise. At 6.30 Carol phoned and said she would come and pick me up later and the doctor re-appeared to reiterate what he had said the previous evening about the pain being unrelated to my heart but at that time they could put a finger on exactly what had caused it. So, I was free to go home. A further lot of 'obs' were done and I got dressed and walked out of the ward. I went to the nurses station to tell them that I was leaving expecting there to be some paperwork to sign or allow me to be discharged. But the staff didn't seem that interested so I walked out. I didn't get so much as a cup of tea when I was on that final ward. I hadn't eaten anything since having the sandwich when we were in A and E. Not so much as a packet of crisps. I'm somewhat surprised. It seems I was totally ignored. They kept an eye on my blood pressure, temperature and so on, but not one offer of something more substantial to eat. When I was a carer I could have been done for neglect if I didn't allow one of my clients a drink or something to eat if they were unable to provide something for themselves. So I'm shocked to think I got nothing except a rather lack-lustre sandwich and a mug of tea. But I got outside and couldn't work out exactly where I was, and certainly not near the front entrance of the hospital as I had expected of even near when I had entered A and E when the parmedics had brought me in in the ambulance. I had a call on my mobile and Carol came and collected me from near where we had gone the other evening when we'd visited the former Walk-In Centre. So, we drove home, to be met by our two dogs, Poppy and Alfie, who were pleased to see me as they were totally confused by having their routine upset when I had gone out and left them alone in the house the previous afternoon.

Heart, Hospital, and Home . . . Part the First

I've been in hospital again. This will be the fourth time, the first when I had the initial heart attack (MI to give it it's proper technical name. Myocardial Infarction.) and now three more visits to the hospital in Milton Keynes, following bouts of chest pain caused by angina. The first time was when I woke in the night and had to go to the loo (as one does . . .) I think it was brought on by cold that time. The second bout was when I was working for Guardian and had to lift a wheelchair in and out of my car. I then had to go to hospital when the pain didn't subside. This third bout started two weeks ago. On the Monday the pain returned, and didn't go away. I used the Nitrolingual spray as usual, three puffs under my tongue, but the pain continued.   Carol said that I should make an appointment to see the doctor. I was somewhat baffled by the fact that I haven't had any sort of appointment with the cardiology department at MK Hospital in months and months, not some sort of follow-up after the last hospital visit. Then it occurred to me that they might have written, but that any letter that was sent had gone to our old address, which would explain things. Anyway, Daniel (my Stepson) told me off for not going, so I went to the surgery as soon as it opened, but they couldn't see me that day, and the receptionist said that she'd get one of the doctors to telephone me. I was then told off for not ringing 999 if I had chest pain. I went home, and later in the morning I did get a call from one of the doctors, and he said that he'd need to refer me to the cardiology department at the hospital for an appointment. Again, I was told, if the pain came back (as, by this time, it had gone off.) I was to ring for an ambulance immediately.

Anyway, things were fine for the rest of that day, Monday, until Wednesday lunchtime, I was about to sit down and do some reading, doing nothing very active or in any way shape or form or indeed, what you'd call strenuous, when the pain came back. I used the Nitrolingual spray, and just sat and waited for it to take effect. It is supposed to take about five minutes, but it didn't work. I tried it again, and after a further five minutes it didn't make any difference, the tightness in my chest continued.

At around 3 p.m. I was beginning to get somewhat anxious, and memories of the original heart attack came back, and when the spray had no effect on the pain, I rang 999.   By the time I got through to the operator I was hyperventilating, and I was told to chew three asprin (I take soluble asprin as part of my medication.) They taste bad enough when dissolved in water, but chewing them in your mouth is nasty, to say the least! I gave details of what was going on, and I was told to have the front door open ready for the ambulance to arrive. I was concerned for the dogs, so I got them into the kitchen and shut the door. Poppy is o.k., but I know that, if Alfie gets out he will run off up the road, although he will suddenly realise that he doesn't like it outside, and on his own, and then run home. But he has no sense of danger and would get run over. Apart from that, he would be in the way when the paramedics arrived.

At this point I was concerned that, if I was going to be taken to hospital, I would have to lock up the house, and that Carol would wonder where on earth I was. I imagine that she would have worked out where I'd gone, and she would be thinking all the wrong things, so I decided to phone the mobile (which she had taken to work with her, with exactly this eventuality in mind.) I rang the number, and all I got was my voice on the voicemail! I have done a somewhat sarcastic voice which greets callers when they decide to leave messages for us. I left a message, but was still concerned that she hadn't answered, and, besides that, I never trust these answering services and prefer to speak to someone direct.

Within barely five minutes of my dialling 999 a car marked 'ambulance' drew up outside the house, and a lady paramedic came to the door and came inside the house. I was surprised by the speed of her arrival, but then I realised that there was no excuse as regards getting here as the hospital is only a short distance, away infact our house is immediately behind Milton Keynes hospital. She connected me to an E.C.G. so as to do a heart-check. She ran the checks and then the proper paramedics arrived. I have never had a PRE-PARAMEDIC arrive first before the actual ambulance arrived. She handed over and then it was up to the two male paramedics to decide whether I needed to go to Accident and Emergency.

Then they told me, unbelievably, that I  might be going to Oxford Hospital, rather than Milton Keynes, which seemed odd, considering how far away we were from Milton Keynes Hospital. We went outside into the ambulance which was parked immediately outside the house, and they connected me to their own E.C.G. machine. It was from this reading that they decided I should go to A and E. In the end they informed me that we were going to Milton Keynes Hospital to have me checked out, as this is the procedure for anyone with a history of heart problems, and particularly someone like me, who has had a heart attack.

By now I was beginning to get concerned that Carol hadn't got my message and would worry where I was. I told the paramedics, and they told me that, once I got to A and E one of the nurses there could ring her.

I was able to lock the house up just before the ambulance drove out of the estate.

I had nothing with me as regards staying over-night in the hospital. Under any other circumstances I would have prepared some sort of bag with pyjamas, toothpaste, toothbrush and shaving things, as well as some sort of reading material, my iPod and something else to keep me occupied, as my previous experience of being in hospital is that I get extremely bored and need these things to take my mind off the boredom, but I was unable to organize any of these items. In any case, my iPod wasn't charged up, and I hadn't put anything on it that I could listen to in hospital.

It didn't take very long to get to the hospital. Well, it isn't that far, but it's odd being driven somewhere when you can't see where you're going, so I'm not exactly sure which way we went out of the estate and then which way we went into the hospital campus.

 . . . To be continued . . .