Lyn's Log, 4th July 2006
Back to England

"Respec', mon!"

Returning from Trinidad to England on June 22nd we expected to be taking advantage of our NHS benefits, but did not realize just to what extent! Sentinel was laid up on shore, we were all ready to leave, and I was looking out for the taxi to take us to the airport. Our own ladder had been stowed on deck and we had a ladder from the yard leaning against our hull. Andrew, with laptop over one shoulder and a bag in the other hand, stepped off the boat for the last time and the ladder slid over sideways onto the ground.

Andrew fell about 10 feet and was very shaken but more concerned over the fate of his laptop than himself. Some workmen helped him up and found his glasses. The taxi arrived and we drove for an hour and a half to the airport with Andrew resting his sprained wrist on a bag of ice. By the time we arrived, he could hardly walk and I got him a wheelchair. After checking in the baggage we visited the first aid post. They wanted to send him to the hospital, but gave us permission to fly as we would be back in England in less than 12 hours and could go to a hospital then. Andrew was suffering a little from shock when he arrived in his airplane seat but after that was not too uncomfortable. At Heathrow we eventually got another wheelchair and hired a car. As we had arranged to spend that night with my mother, we drove straight to the Walk-In Centre at Crawley hospital and within ten minutes Andrew was having X-rays taken. He had broken his pelvis and possibly his wrist as well. The doctor strapped on a wrist support, gave him a crutch and some strong painkillers, and said it could be three weeks before he would be walking again. We visited my mother but booked into a local hotel for the night.

That weekend we had a great time in Northamptonshire with my daughter Stephanie, eating out, speeding around the countryside in her Lotus Elan, and visiting interesting old buildings – a triangular one and a castle. Then it was back to Crawley to spend a few days with my other daughter Nicola and granddaughter Rebecca. Andrew visited his old office in Canterbury and I shopped for his birthday presents and helped Nicola with one or two things in the house. Friday we changed our hire car for a much cheaper one for the next six weeks, and drove to Hayling Island to a hotel for two nights while attending the wedding of one of Andrew’s nieces, Clare.

Clare was marrying Tim, whose family owned a farm on the island. Their house had a wonderful large garden with grassy walks between roses, a large fish pond, a tennis court, a bouncy castle for the children and a large marquee for the wedding breakfast and disco. Since arriving in England the weather had been as hot and sunny as Trinidad and was continuing the same. The wedding took place in the parish church just down the road. A few of the guests camped in the field adjoining the garden. During the time between the church ceremony and the meal, a string quartet entertained the guests in the garden, while a crucial World Cup football match entertained most of the men indoors. It was truly a superb day and the disco had everyone from 3 year olds to the over 80’s dancing. After a swim in the hotel pool Sunday morning and another great English breakfast, it was back to the marquee for coffee and croissants and farewell to Clare and Tim, a drive round Hayling Island, and then off to Plymouth to stay with Andrew’s mother.

That night I went to bed feeling I had a little indigestion. An hour later I awoke feeling really bad and Andrew drove me to the A & E at Plymouth hospital. Two days later I had my gall bladder removed by keyhole surgery and was discharged the next day. With Andrew still hobbling on his crutch the doctor was not sure who was going to be looking after who!