Preparing for the weekend...

Well, under normal circumstances, I would have been preparing to go out on the lash with Julian and co, but due to the fact that my ribs are still highly traumatized, and I'm under strict instructions not to do anything daft, I'm having to do as I'm told for once, and it doesn't suit me at all.

Having said that though, there are compensations to having to spend a quiet weekend for once - namely the fact that I can spend some time at home with Mum... Ok - I'm the first to admit that I don't see as much of Mum as I would like to, simply because of the fact that she's working every other weekend, and I have this habit of buggering off with Flame. Or at least I did until I got booted!

But, this weekend has been quieter, simply because I'm too damned sore to do anything, and I've made the most of it by going and getting my hair cut again, and getting the copper highlights put back in it. Only this time, I opted to go shorted than normal for me!

Don't ask me what prompted me to get it cut as short as I did - suffice to say that I'm a lot happier than I was - even though I do look like a hedgehog first thing in the morning, as my hair is all spike!

Aside from that, I've also been to get measured for my new body armour... Unfortunatly for me, the manufacturer has stopped making the 1/4 inch thick plate, so the insurance company has authorised my saddled to get the 1/2 inch thick plate - with me still paying the same excess!!

Time to call this quits - it's my turn to give the maurading moggies their last snack of the day..

Back when I get chance.

Karen
Learning to fly, but I don't have wings

Mangled by the sawbones, but it's good news.....

Well, the sawbones has spoken - and I'm off to see the physiotherapist again - this time for a three month stint of intensive physio. But, at least he was positive, and said that if I felt that the pain was worsening before I was due to see him again in three months time, then I was welcome to go back and see him.

If this physio doesn't work, then I've got to go for a course of jabs (not my favourite option, thank you very much) but I guess that it's preferable to having an operation on my shoulder! Ok - it would only be a minor operation to see what's going on in the joint, but I still don't like the idea of being operated on.

So, it boiled down to the fact that the shoulder is in the throes of acute tendonitis, and that I should continue to use the wheatie, Ibuleve gel, anti-inflammatory pills and painkillers. I was also told to consider acupuncture, as I'd already said that I wasn't averse to considering alternative therapies.

As well as getting the shoulder seen to, I was also examined by the consultant in A & E who treated my rib injuries on Saturday. He was quite impressed with the bruising, and told me that I wasn't to ride for another 4 weeks, but I was to get the same standard (or better) body armour if I intended to continue riding, and more to the point, intended to survive that sort of impact - as the last time he'd seen this sort of injury, the patient ended up in ITU, then the morgue as they had succumbed to the injuries sustained.

Talk about getting shaken. I swear that I had a guardian angel looking after me on Saturday, and I know one thing - Dad would say that it was money well spent if the armour had saved my life. So, I guess that I shouldn't begrudge having to pay the £50 excess on my horse insurance - especially as I get like for like with the policy!

Guess I should call this quits - I've got work to do, but I've just got no interest at all - guess that I'm just bouncing like a demented tigger because of the news from the hospital...

Back later, if I've stopped bouncing!

Karen

Learning to fly, but I don't have wings

Sore ribs...

Talk about having a guardian angel looking after me...

I got kicked in the ribs on Saturday - by Flame as I tried to jump clear of her, so that she could deal with a dog that was chasing her. The result? My body armour plates got smashed to pieces at the front, and the back plates also got broken.

So, I spent Saturday morning in the local A& E department, getting examined by a consultant, who couldn't believe that I wasn't more seriously injured after being kicked by a 17.0h horse! I guess that it goes to show that the initial investment in the body armour was well worth it - as my later father bought it for me for my birthday... It wasn't cheap when he bought it for me, but he was of the opinion that you got what you paid for - and I got 1/4 inch thick Kevlar plates...

Ok - I've got badly bruised ribs (and it makes breathing VERY painful), but it could have been a lot worse - I could have still been in hospital with broken ribs, and internal injuries. But, to be on the safe side, I've got to go and see the consultant on Thursday morning - before I go into see the sawbones about my shoulder.

What really irritates me though is the fact that I've had to claim on my horse insurance for a new set of armour. Admittedly, it's better (from my viewpoint) to pay the £50 excess, instead of the full £600, but it still galls me that I've go to go up to Walsall on Sunday to get the new armour fitted. Add into that, I'm banned yet again from horse riding for another 4 weeks, and you get one unhappy little tiger.

But, on the positive side, my friends have been really good about finding ways to take my mind off the pain, and I have to admit, I am eternally grateful for their support.

Guess I should call this quits - it's nearly time for me to take some more pain killers...

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen


Learning to fly, but I don't have wings

Post Christmas madness

Well, either I'm getting more cynical in my old age, or people are becoming less tolerant as the year moves towards its end.

Mum and I were planning on going to Milton Keynes today, but as usual, the great British weather decided to intervene to change our plans - meaning that Mum and I ended up going into Coventry.

Since the closure of a couple of the big(ish) stores, the city seems to be dying on its feet. The only department stores that the city has, as BHS, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer - but you get all of these in Banbury - where the parking is a damned sight cheaper (and easier), and you get Marks & BHS in Solihull - as well as Beatties and John Lewis.

I know this sounds like I'm knocking Coventry - far from it. All I'm saying is that the city council needs to do something to attract another big name store to the city - otherwise people are going to desert the city for places such as Banbury and Solihull...

I'm not mentioning Birmingham, as that is a totally different league - that's more akin to places like Sheffield and I hate to say it - London (without the outrageous prices!)

Despite that, (or should that be in spite of that!) I did quite well in the sales.. I managed to get some of my favorite perfume - Dior Addict - (the original one) and a couple of turtle necks and a new black wrap, as mine's looking like it's seen better days...

I also got myself a book - it's the Fast Set - and details the history of the land speed record - from the starting days at Daytona beach, right up to the current record holder - Thrust SSC - the first non-rocket powered car to supersonic.

Aside from that, today has been a quiet day, which probably has been the best thing for me, as I'm still recovering from the pounding that I took yesterday (after I'd posted my blog entry - I went horse riding with Rachel in the Burton Dasset country park - and Flame threw me off - thank God for body armor!!)

Guess I should call this entry quits, as I'm due back to work tomorrow... (boo, hiss!)

Back tomorrow - if I haven't gotten to the stage where I hate looking at my computer!

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread