Just a bit of news...

[Kamagrian]

I've been back for my latest begging session at the doctor's surgery, and he's reluctantly agreed I can try to return to work on Thursday. His justification is that this way, my first week is a very short one and I can see if I make it to the end of Friday OK, before needing to rest at the weekend.

He's off next week, but he's had a case meeting with another doctor who's going to keep an eye on me in case there are any problems with my going back. :unsure:

Still have to have medical tests next month and December to check the pancreatitis is settling down OK, and determine the extent of any damage, but at least I'll feel more useful than sitting here at home!

So...first thing Thursday morning my office fridge is getting kitted out with Vitalite and soya milk and the staff are getting gentle instructions not to accidentally feed me any dairy... I must admit I'm a bit nervous about going back after all this time, but I'm also looking forward to it as I want to get the project up and running properly asap!

Wish me luck...and any interesting dairy-free sandwich ideas you might have! :D

[cnc]

Good luck!! :D

[rebecca c]

Good luck, take it easy - one step at a time.

Tuna mayo
homous - home made is much nicer
Egg mayo
bacon and ketchup
sardines (very healthy and add a whole load of calcuim to your diet)
smoked mackeral and horseradish

Beccy

[Copper]

Good luck on Thursday Gill.

[Nic]

Gill - good luck with going back. On sandwiches, I often have:
sliced ham/chicken (check for lactose), mustard and lettuce
houmus and red pepper (sliced thinly)
smoked tofu and BBQ relish (sounds odd but is nice and very filling)
smoked salmon (offcuts) lemon juice and black pepper

If you've got a grill there's all sorts of non-dairy cheese toastie possibilities, I rather like ham and cheese or mushrooms and cheese.

Nic

[matt]

well done and good luck. keep us informed.:D

[Kamagrian]

Thanks for the good wishes everyone! :D Well, I survived...just. Three different people told me I'd lost weight (near-death experiences tend to do this to a lass), a random woman on the bus told me I looked 'lovely and very neo-Victorian' in my clothes and demanded to know where I shopped (!), and there was a phenomenal pile of work to get through. Varied day, then. Staff have been very sweet to me though, and it's great to be back.

I had to take a longer lunch break than usual (I normally allow myself about 20 minutes), and leave work a bit earlier than expected - but I don't think I did too badly given the amount of opiates I had to take!

Very tired now. I shall sit and watch a film until I fall asleep. Yes. Zzzzz.

[Copper]

Congratulations on surviving your first day back at work. It is probably a good idea to take a longer break at lunch time for the time being.

[cnc]

Well done :)

I agree with Copper, take care of yourself and don't push things.

[rebecca c]

Excellent result from your first day back - but continue to take it easy give yourself a month of pacing yourself.

Must come to Edinburgh more often - cant remember the last time a stranger gave me a compliment. We stayed at the Glasshouse in March (long story but got a kingsize suite as a comp) and it was the most amazing hotel I have ever stayed in - we had such a relaxing weekend.

[matt]

well done, take it easy.

last time i was in edinburgh was about 25 years ago...much changed?

[Kamagrian]

Wouldn't know, Matt, as I wasn't in Edinburgh 25 years ago. ;) Still a beautiful city though - I love the way the roads twist and are on lots of different levels, and the architecture is stunning. There's a real sense of history in the town.

Second day was a bit rougher, mainly because of a huge argument with BT (another story, but I've decided they're all evil) and a major case of too-much-to-do-itis. Sadly I've got one of those jobs where taking it easy it very difficult, as often the only way I can arrange things to fit others' schedules is by way of evening or early morning meetings. I keep getting made to sit and have a cup of tea with other staff though - they deny vehemently that they've been commissioned by my doc to keep an eye on me, but I have my suspicions.... :unsure:

More likely they're just great, and they keep telling me how nice it is to have me back. Still can't wait for the refuge to open though - I'll have my own office and team, and won't have to feel I'm stealing space off the main unit! Be wonderful to get it all open and running. :D

Mmm...moussaka smells coming from kitchen. I'll stick that in the 'What did you eat today' thread instead though, in case I get my fingers rapped...

Thanks for all your good thoughts and cheering words, guys - I don't think you know how much you've been helping, especially when I was feeling so ill. It's a great community you have here.

[cnc]

Glad you made it through the two days. Make sure you take it nice and easy this weekend so that you recover :)

My Dad has a similar opinion of BT I believe (he has/had to do business with them at one point, and wasn't particularly impressed!)
Its so wonderful that you've got people in work who are looking after you. Will make sure you are not doing too much :) Make sure you get lots of TLC this weekend- are you back at work on Monday? (don't go back if you're not well enough!!)

Good luck

[Copper]

Well done Gill for getting through two days of work.

My youngest daughter could write a book on how useless ntl are.

[Nic]

Gill - glad things went well at work. I once spent an entire £10 mobile phone voucher getting through to BT... though frankly Telewest isn't much better.

Nic

[Pam]

We're with ntl and (fingers crossed) have had a relatively trouble free time with them. We've probably been with them for around 8 years since they first arrived in our area and have had internet with them from quite early on too. We had a minor problem with crossed lines on the telephone but that got sorted out quite quickly and we've had the occasional down time with the internet but generally have found them ok. Hubby is good with the technical bits so he sets up the internet himself and doesn't need to rely on them.

When we finally move house that will test the system though.

[cnc]

In our home we don't have any problems with BT, but my Dads' job involves working with these companies, and apparently they're not that useful!!

Our broadband isn't with them though, as they're really quite expensive!

Gill hope you are feeling ok this morning- sleep is good :) (think I may return to bed shortly, only had 10+ hours of sleep last night!!)

[rebecca c]

Ahh NTL .....on second thoughts I'd better not get started. Luckily they are so useless they dont even always bill us for things.

I rang on Friday to sort the move out but apparently cant because its my husbands name on the bill not mine. So I said next time can we have both our names on the bill, apparently no...I am so glad modern businesses have adapted so well to the concept of feminism.

So my husband rang them and gave up after 40 minutes on hold. Looks like it might be a while before we have a phone in our new place.

[Kamagrian]

Couldn't rest up much this weekend as it was the celebration party (in Gloucester) for the wedding I was a bridesmaid at LAST weekend. :D

Was great though - slept a lot in the car so I'd have the energy, and even managed a ceilidh dance! Hope there are no pictures... The buffet had plenty of food I could eat, though they'd accidentally cooked the falafel in butter and warned me about it. At least their diligence gave me confidence in eating the rest of the not-obviously-dairy things - about the only things I couldn't eat were the butter, cheese and desserts.

Back at work tomorrow and I'm pretty bushed and painful right now, so I'm going to take it very easy tonight. Found a motorway services on the way back that sells Village Bakery chocolate orange brownies! HOW wonderful are they? I'm only allowing myself a tiny bit of it though as it's so high fat and I'm scared it'll make me more ill...I may have to adjust my favourite vegan low-fat choccy cake recipe with some candied orange peel and oil...