I love the smell of burnt flesh in the morning..

You don't want so see what's under here.. trust me..

So I visited my doctor for an operation. Nothing serious, mind. The lump on my forearm was getting a little sore and needed removing. I found myself chatting with a lovely nurse called Linda who explained about the finer points of cysts and other lumps and bumps before introducing me to Doctor K the surgeon. 

It was all over so quick! Doctor K spent a couple of minutes diagnosing before getting me to sit down and roll up my sleeve. Boom! he slapped on the iodine before the needle of anaesthetic came out. "You'll feel a slight sting" he said whilst the local did its' work (I can still feel my fingers buzzing at the memory as I type this). I turned away and felt an odd pulling sensation as the Good Doctor removed his quarry from my arm. He then pulled out a surgical torch to cauterise the wound before leaving the room. "Call me if you have any problems, Linda" he said over his shoulder before disappearing out the door again. Coffee and donut still warm and waiting in his office, no doubt. 

At this point the nausea kicked in. Was it the meds tripping me out? Or the adrenaline dump being cleared out of my veins? I don't know - all I remember was the sweats breaking out on my temple and the worried glances of Nurse L who gave me a cold compress and a glass of water whilst I road the whitie wave back to level ground again. The smell of burnt flesh is something you don't forget. That metallic tang stuck in my nostrils as the nurse opened the windows to chase it back out the room again.

In short, I survived. The clammy waxwork who looked back at me from the mirror looked as relieved as I felt! Two days on I have a scab which looks like someone stubbed a big fat cigar out on my arm, but that's OK by me.

Maybe I'll freak out the children with it if they misbehave. Tell 'em it's what they're having for dinner!   ;)

Just a thought. 

A. 

A visit to the New Forest with 'Uncle Andy'

That's X's 'Uncle Andy'. Not mine, before you get any ideas.

Autumn is starting to make its' presence felt. I still drink up the warmth of the sun when it hits my skin, but the shade feels cooler. The steady trickle of dead leaves falling from tree to ground gathers pace. It's amazing to think we're three quarters through yet another year.

For me this Summer has been a matter of taking stock. Little D is finding her way in the world and I've finally snagged a job I hope to really sink my teeth into. We have welcomed a few visitors this year, and I think 'Uncle Andy' from Chicago will probably be our last of 2012. Saturday just gone we visited the New Forest to show him the moors, the ponies and the River Avon.. which he promptly leapt into:

Here is my favourite pic of us mugging for the camera together with a cold and soggy looking Andy. He earns the title of  'Wild Man of the Avon' based on this image alone!

Technical Difficulties: Part Deux

The Man Cave desktop is down again. Back to the angry budgie routine of last time around.

I plan to give it a few days off to convalesce, in the meantime I'll rattle a few words off at the table downstairs.

So, I've start my new job with the kiddies, and 10 hour days are as taxing as you'd imagine. Still, having a client base of the under fives has benefits which working alongside the grownups certainly doesnt. They do not grumble, backbite or bicker, or play passive-aggressive power games when they don't get what they want. Kids are genuine, unjaded young people and their enthusiasm can be infectious. They can make your day with a funny comment or an unpremeditated gesture of kindness.

On the downside, the little buggers get stroppy, have minimal attention spans and cannot always control their personal hygiene. When a preschooler announces he's filled his pants by walking around with them dropped down to his ankles.. it can be a shock!

In short, I'm loving it. I drag my sore muscles out the door at hometime flecked with paint but feeling like I've given my all.

One minute she's mewling like a kitten...

... next she sounds like a pissed off seagull.

Those kids grow up quick y'know. It felt like I'd just blinked and she'd started trying to eat things. What next, bringing the first boyfriend around??!! For posterity I've decided to savour the moments a little more. Please check out 'A Dizzy a Day' for regular pictures of our little girl.

I'll aim to post up till her birthday and we'll see how it goes.

A.