So, last week I popped into Arnold Clark to look at used cars. I knew what I wanted and had done some research. Immediately a salesman came over to me and showed me a couple of cars of the type I wanted, he then mentioned an older version and I immediately said that I knew that a certain feature had been improved since that one. SO he knew that I was not playing at buying the car.
I decided on one of the ones he showed me, and played at moving the seats around (a 7 seater, and I just had to try the back seats to check that even I could manage to get in).
Then to the nitty gritty. What would I get for my car as trade in, how to transfer the number plate, (private reg) need a towbar etc etc. I got a reasonable trade in, and if I signed that day the manager would throw in a towbar (not literally!). Looked at the finance offered which was better than quotes I got elsewhere. So, handed over my pink credit card for the deposit - ouch! He gave me the documentation and said he would need certain documents so they could transfer the number plates over. Now, we live an hour from civilization, so it isnt as if we can just pop round. Well, I was playing golf the following day (wed) and my pal said she could get the docs in by 9am on thurs - great. Done.
Friday, got a text message asking for a cover note. Phoned in and asked what it was about. Apparantly a cover note is needed for them to get the plates transferred. Asked if a fax would be ok - yes came the answer. On to insurance company, increased my insurance and put the new car on from this tuesday just gone. Received the fax copy and emailed it to the garage. Phone call came - wont accept a fax! But the docs would take up to 5 days to come thru the post! My salesman said I would have to wait then. Hrmmphhhh
Another salesman phoned. He gave me a work round for getting a free 7 day insurance from the manufacturer which would be printed at the garage - problem sorted. Tow bar to be fitted Tuesday afternoon, so told that it could be then when I pick it up.
Monday. Phoned up to see how it was going. Saleman phoned back and said "what are you phoning me for?" in a very terse way. Well, err I would like to know when I get my car? Dont know, could be friday. What is happening, why the delay. "if you didnt want your personalised plate you could have had the car by now" (big lie as the car didnt get the tow bar fitted until this morning (wed)!
Tuesday. Insurance docs arrive. Help!!!!! my insurance is now for my new car (the one I havent got yet) so the car I am driving around in is uninsured! Phone call to insurers - beg, plead etc etc and they cover me until Friday but tell me to find out when I get the new car and that a further change will cost me! Go for coffee before my head explodes. Phone the garage before 12. Can the salesman return my call? No reply. Got on to the head office via email and lodge a complaint. Oh boy, what a quick turn round of emails.
Wed. Wait for phone call. None. Phoned and asked to speak to the salesman - day off!! Can I speak to the other one who helped with insurance? On the phone, will phone back! I explain that I am still waiting for a call back. Takes number again. Phone rings! He explains what is happening with the number plates, no, they dont post them as I was led to believe, the drivers go to the dvla for 15:30 in the afternoon, but he wouldnt expect mine to be back before Friday (Poo - going to be in Inverness then!). At least I understand what the process is now - that's what I wanted.
Got home. Ansafone message from manager. Phoned him back. Wow - he hates receiving complaints and was really pleased when I explained what I had expected, the treatment I had received by my salesman and the information from the second salesman. He said when they take the docs to the dvla they get given a chitty to say when to come back - mine said 26th! So WHY didnt they tell me that? Anyway, he had tried to phone the dvla to find out if they are open on Monday as it is a bank holiday for some (not me!). So he said that he would phone me on Monday to let me know which day. He was very apologetic about his salesman and he will reimburse me for any extra insurance costs plus he will make sure I have plenty of fuel. If I have any queries just call him. What a difference.
Phoned the insurance and they have given me a free change to cover both cars Mon/Tue depending on which I am driving!
I shall be so glad when I get my car - I just hope that the troubles have not taken the edge off the excitement.
Anyway, off to Inverness tomorrow to see the Scottish Community Drama Association's Festival of One Act Plays Scottish Final. 9 plays over 3 nights.
Bye for now.
Wx
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
LIPS update
I just realised today that I had not updated my blog since February when I was off to Portugal golfing with the girls.
the holiday was fantastic. It was unseasonably windy, but still warm - much better than the cold, wet and windy weather we left behind.
Our hotel was very nice. There was a lovely outdoor pool, but unheated - brrrrrrr. NO - even the brave Wizzard did not venture in (well I did pop in my toe!). There was also a very chlorinated indoor pool - very tiny!
The day we got there was a "free" day - no golf. So my pal Olive and I wandered around the town of Villamoura and spent a lot of time around the harbour. We ended up in a very nice par overlooking the marina just as the sun went down.
The next day was our first golfing day on Pinhal and also my birthday. When I entered the breakfast room the rest of my party burst into song! HOW EMBARRASING! I had to wear the birthday hat all day long. this was very difficult cos I have a big head! The girls bought me a frog head cover and a dozen balls with my face on them!
We went out for an indian meal in the evening (well Portugal did have close links with Goa in the past!) which was my choice - wonderful.
Next day we had another "free day" so Olive and I had booked a massage at the sister hotel. Well, what a laugh. First of all you can tell from the picture that I am not a small woman! Well, we got given toweling robes, paper slippers and a paper thong! O-K-A-Y! The toweling robe was probably a size 12 - no way was it going to do up. We had to walk through the pool area to the massage rooms - there was me hugging towels to my very exposed front. Olive and I nearly wet ourselves laughing. We shared a massage room which was very different. We had these very tiny portugese girls doing the massaging, but boy did they have some strength in them! After the massage we sat on beanbags (still in the gaping robe) and had a cup of tea/glass of water.
That evening we found a Portugese restaurant just at the back of our hotel -that is where we ate from then on. We had the most delicious sardines with a lovely salad - delicious.
Two of the "old birds" as we affectionately called them introduced Olive and me to white port. Chilled. Fabby.
On our next day off - another golf course in between. Olive and I went to see her friends who were in the process of building a house - we got the tour of the house, huge pool, outside kitchen/bar and a garage for 40 cars underneath the house.
In all we played 3 golf courses - Pinhal, Laguna and Millenium.
We all agreed that it was a great holiday especially as we did not have to drive anywhere as we had airport transfers and transfers to the golf courses.
where to next year......
the holiday was fantastic. It was unseasonably windy, but still warm - much better than the cold, wet and windy weather we left behind.
Our hotel was very nice. There was a lovely outdoor pool, but unheated - brrrrrrr. NO - even the brave Wizzard did not venture in (well I did pop in my toe!). There was also a very chlorinated indoor pool - very tiny!
The day we got there was a "free" day - no golf. So my pal Olive and I wandered around the town of Villamoura and spent a lot of time around the harbour. We ended up in a very nice par overlooking the marina just as the sun went down.
The next day was our first golfing day on Pinhal and also my birthday. When I entered the breakfast room the rest of my party burst into song! HOW EMBARRASING! I had to wear the birthday hat all day long. this was very difficult cos I have a big head! The girls bought me a frog head cover and a dozen balls with my face on them!
We went out for an indian meal in the evening (well Portugal did have close links with Goa in the past!) which was my choice - wonderful.
Next day we had another "free day" so Olive and I had booked a massage at the sister hotel. Well, what a laugh. First of all you can tell from the picture that I am not a small woman! Well, we got given toweling robes, paper slippers and a paper thong! O-K-A-Y! The toweling robe was probably a size 12 - no way was it going to do up. We had to walk through the pool area to the massage rooms - there was me hugging towels to my very exposed front. Olive and I nearly wet ourselves laughing. We shared a massage room which was very different. We had these very tiny portugese girls doing the massaging, but boy did they have some strength in them! After the massage we sat on beanbags (still in the gaping robe) and had a cup of tea/glass of water.
That evening we found a Portugese restaurant just at the back of our hotel -that is where we ate from then on. We had the most delicious sardines with a lovely salad - delicious.
Two of the "old birds" as we affectionately called them introduced Olive and me to white port. Chilled. Fabby.
On our next day off - another golf course in between. Olive and I went to see her friends who were in the process of building a house - we got the tour of the house, huge pool, outside kitchen/bar and a garage for 40 cars underneath the house.
In all we played 3 golf courses - Pinhal, Laguna and Millenium.We all agreed that it was a great holiday especially as we did not have to drive anywhere as we had airport transfers and transfers to the golf courses.
where to next year......
Friday, February 01, 2008
LIPS 2008
Not long now before I go on my ladies golfing trip to Portugal. We are staying in Vilamoura and playing on 3 courses - The Millenium, Laguna and Pinhal.
I have been watching the 10 day weather forecast for Faro, and it looks good so far. Our only concern is getting to Edinburgh airport! It will be great to get the sun on my skin again.
Last year we went to Spain for our innaugural trip, the first day of golf coincided with one of the Ladies birthdays, so we made her wear a hat in the shape of a birthday cake with candles on all day! Thing is, it will be my birthday on our first game of golf this time!
I will post pix on my return - after I have censored them of course!
BTW LIPS 2008 = Ladies In Portugal Spring 2008!! I've even bought us all badges!
Wx
I have been watching the 10 day weather forecast for Faro, and it looks good so far. Our only concern is getting to Edinburgh airport! It will be great to get the sun on my skin again.
Last year we went to Spain for our innaugural trip, the first day of golf coincided with one of the Ladies birthdays, so we made her wear a hat in the shape of a birthday cake with candles on all day! Thing is, it will be my birthday on our first game of golf this time!
I will post pix on my return - after I have censored them of course!
BTW LIPS 2008 = Ladies In Portugal Spring 2008!! I've even bought us all badges!
Wx
Friday, January 18, 2008
Laser Eye Surgery - an update
I cannot believe how long has passed since I posted the 24 hour update - life has been so busy that the time has just flown by.
I went for my 1 month checkup just before Christmas and was told that my sight was 20:20 but my left eye still had some improving to make! I notice that some days it is my left eye and some days (not as often) it is my right eye that is weaker. This is totally expected as the scarring round the cornea cut is still healing.
My sight is much better than it ever was with contact lenses, so I have no regrets, or complaints. I keep lubricating my eyes with eye drops daily - doing what I am told for once!!
What is really great is being able to get up in the morning and see, to have a shower and see, to be able to go out in the rain and see. Fantastic.
When I sent to Stobo between Christmas and New Year I still had to wear goggles in the pool, I am looking forward to the time when I can swim without them. Some opticians say after a week you can swim without goggles, but mine would rather that I didnt.
I am going to Portugal in a few weeks - it will be brilliant not to have to take all the gubbins with me - more room for wine in my bag on the way home!
I went for my 1 month checkup just before Christmas and was told that my sight was 20:20 but my left eye still had some improving to make! I notice that some days it is my left eye and some days (not as often) it is my right eye that is weaker. This is totally expected as the scarring round the cornea cut is still healing.
My sight is much better than it ever was with contact lenses, so I have no regrets, or complaints. I keep lubricating my eyes with eye drops daily - doing what I am told for once!!
What is really great is being able to get up in the morning and see, to have a shower and see, to be able to go out in the rain and see. Fantastic.
When I sent to Stobo between Christmas and New Year I still had to wear goggles in the pool, I am looking forward to the time when I can swim without them. Some opticians say after a week you can swim without goggles, but mine would rather that I didnt.
I am going to Portugal in a few weeks - it will be brilliant not to have to take all the gubbins with me - more room for wine in my bag on the way home!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Laser Surgery - the first 24 hours
Well I have done it and I am so glad that I did.
Monday afternoon was the pre-op just to check that my eyes were still OK and had not changed since my previous check. That was fine. Tuesday saw a trip into Glasgow where I spent a few hours shopping then went for the wavefront scan. This is where they scan the eyes and map them out so that the laser can be programmed to suit the individual eyes rather than just have a blanket prescription which might not be perfect for your eyes. That went well, and then I had a few hours to kill to wait for my pal to finish work so that we could go to her home in town. I got very fed up with shopping - not one of my favourite things! and my feet were sore from walking and walking and walking! I did get some Lush products and got a bargain pair of trousers though!
We went out for a meal and a few glasses of fermented grape juice! then an early night. I was woken in the morning by a JRT jumping onto the bed and tramping all over me - he was just checking that I was OK. Friend's hubby cooked me breakfast and then I set off for the train into town.
I got to the optician's on time, then came the wait. The waiting room was full of patients and their friends/partners/relations waiting for treatment. I then got called in for another pre-op check - still all OK. then back to the waiting room again. Eventually, about 75mins after my appointment time I got called in. A really nice male nurse explained the post op drop regime that I was to follow, then he cleaned my eyes and the surrounding area and told me not to touch them as they were now sterile. He came back a bit later and took my handbag off me - he did say to remind him to give it back as he had a habit of not returning them! LOL. He gave me a lovely hairnet to wear, then led me into the theatre. He introduced me to the team, but as I couldnt see them it was just voices that I was greeting. He then dropped some anaesthetic into my eyes and handed me over to the team.
If you are squeamish miss this bit out:
The next stage was to make the flaps in my corneas. The surgeon put a clamp in my eye to keep the eye open, then attached a contraption to my eye, the pressure was tough to stand, but this only lasted until the flap had been made which ended with a pop! then the same to the next eye. My head was then shifted under the laser machine. Again a contraption was put onto the eye being treated (the other eye was covered by a shield) and I was told to watch an orange light. Then the laser was put into action, there was a slight smell and cranky noises, and the light was quite strong, but this was soon over. Then the other eye was treated the same way. Anaesthetic eye drops were topped up throughout the procedure.
After the op I was told to sit up and was then led into another room where the surgeon checked my eyes and I picked up the eye drops and my handbag.
I then returned to the waiting room and called my pal. I immediately put my dark glasses on as the lights were very strong to my now sensitive eyes.
My pal picked me up and steered me towards the station, she had to lead me as my vision was like sitting in a steam room (not like Stobo though!). She gave me her return half of the rail ticket and put me on the train and told me that her hubby would be waiting for me on the platform which was 6 stops away. I dutifully counted the stops as by now I could not bear to open my eyes. It was as if I had been peeling onions all day and had wiped my eyes with onion hands. Every time I did open my eyes tears poured out and stung. Hubby picked me up and drove me back to their house and I immediately went to bed to try and sleep. The pain was getting worse and I topped up on ibruprofen! eventually I went to sleep and woke up 3 hours later no longer in pain! My vision was a wee bit blurry and I was sensitive even to low level lighting. I sat watching the news with sunglasses on! Hubby made me a cup of fruit tea and gave me a biccie (no lunch). About an hour later I could bear to take my sunglasses off, and my vision was good enough to read the BBC straplines on the news. I was very very tired and retired to bed after the England game!
This morning I woke up and could see. It was brilliant. I made sure I put my drops in - 1 I have to put in 6 times a day, 1 4 times a day, and 1 at least every hour.
I caught a train into Glasgow, then another into Stirling. Then to the optician (after buying a Jasper Conran handbag that I had seen on Monday and couldnt justify the expense, but today it was 20% off!! - must have been a sign). The optician first checked my sight for driving and said I was perfectly OK, then I went on to read ata greater level - that was less than 24 hours after the op! He then looked at the eyes thru his gadgets and was very pleased with what he saw.
My next appointment is a week today, then I will have one at a month, and I think 3 months.
If anyone is considering laser treatment please do ask me questions. I would recommend it, but would say that it would be better to have taken pain killers immediately after the op in hindsight. I had Intralase Lasik with Wavefront - the creme de la creme treatment but worth every penny.
Monday afternoon was the pre-op just to check that my eyes were still OK and had not changed since my previous check. That was fine. Tuesday saw a trip into Glasgow where I spent a few hours shopping then went for the wavefront scan. This is where they scan the eyes and map them out so that the laser can be programmed to suit the individual eyes rather than just have a blanket prescription which might not be perfect for your eyes. That went well, and then I had a few hours to kill to wait for my pal to finish work so that we could go to her home in town. I got very fed up with shopping - not one of my favourite things! and my feet were sore from walking and walking and walking! I did get some Lush products and got a bargain pair of trousers though!
We went out for a meal and a few glasses of fermented grape juice! then an early night. I was woken in the morning by a JRT jumping onto the bed and tramping all over me - he was just checking that I was OK. Friend's hubby cooked me breakfast and then I set off for the train into town.
I got to the optician's on time, then came the wait. The waiting room was full of patients and their friends/partners/relations waiting for treatment. I then got called in for another pre-op check - still all OK. then back to the waiting room again. Eventually, about 75mins after my appointment time I got called in. A really nice male nurse explained the post op drop regime that I was to follow, then he cleaned my eyes and the surrounding area and told me not to touch them as they were now sterile. He came back a bit later and took my handbag off me - he did say to remind him to give it back as he had a habit of not returning them! LOL. He gave me a lovely hairnet to wear, then led me into the theatre. He introduced me to the team, but as I couldnt see them it was just voices that I was greeting. He then dropped some anaesthetic into my eyes and handed me over to the team.
If you are squeamish miss this bit out:
The next stage was to make the flaps in my corneas. The surgeon put a clamp in my eye to keep the eye open, then attached a contraption to my eye, the pressure was tough to stand, but this only lasted until the flap had been made which ended with a pop! then the same to the next eye. My head was then shifted under the laser machine. Again a contraption was put onto the eye being treated (the other eye was covered by a shield) and I was told to watch an orange light. Then the laser was put into action, there was a slight smell and cranky noises, and the light was quite strong, but this was soon over. Then the other eye was treated the same way. Anaesthetic eye drops were topped up throughout the procedure.
After the op I was told to sit up and was then led into another room where the surgeon checked my eyes and I picked up the eye drops and my handbag.
I then returned to the waiting room and called my pal. I immediately put my dark glasses on as the lights were very strong to my now sensitive eyes.
My pal picked me up and steered me towards the station, she had to lead me as my vision was like sitting in a steam room (not like Stobo though!). She gave me her return half of the rail ticket and put me on the train and told me that her hubby would be waiting for me on the platform which was 6 stops away. I dutifully counted the stops as by now I could not bear to open my eyes. It was as if I had been peeling onions all day and had wiped my eyes with onion hands. Every time I did open my eyes tears poured out and stung. Hubby picked me up and drove me back to their house and I immediately went to bed to try and sleep. The pain was getting worse and I topped up on ibruprofen! eventually I went to sleep and woke up 3 hours later no longer in pain! My vision was a wee bit blurry and I was sensitive even to low level lighting. I sat watching the news with sunglasses on! Hubby made me a cup of fruit tea and gave me a biccie (no lunch). About an hour later I could bear to take my sunglasses off, and my vision was good enough to read the BBC straplines on the news. I was very very tired and retired to bed after the England game!
This morning I woke up and could see. It was brilliant. I made sure I put my drops in - 1 I have to put in 6 times a day, 1 4 times a day, and 1 at least every hour.
I caught a train into Glasgow, then another into Stirling. Then to the optician (after buying a Jasper Conran handbag that I had seen on Monday and couldnt justify the expense, but today it was 20% off!! - must have been a sign). The optician first checked my sight for driving and said I was perfectly OK, then I went on to read ata greater level - that was less than 24 hours after the op! He then looked at the eyes thru his gadgets and was very pleased with what he saw.
My next appointment is a week today, then I will have one at a month, and I think 3 months.
If anyone is considering laser treatment please do ask me questions. I would recommend it, but would say that it would be better to have taken pain killers immediately after the op in hindsight. I had Intralase Lasik with Wavefront - the creme de la creme treatment but worth every penny.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The Wedding
Just back from my Brothers wedding in Bromsgrove.
I drove down on Thursday and picked up 'im indoors from Birmingham airport as he had cut his Bridge and Bowling holiday in Spain short to come for the wedding. My brother and his wife have been an item for many years now - almost as long as me and 'im! But because of one thing and another they were not able to get married until now. I was asked to be a bridesmaid (one of 5) along with my 2 new nieces and my great niece! The colour theme for the day was coffee and cream- the only one wearing white was my new great niece (aged 18 months!). The wedding took place at the Bromsgrove Hilton where my brother and my new SIL first met. It was a lovely day and we partied well into the night -the only problem was that a glass of wine cost £7.45 and a coke cost £2.50! so we were restrained on our drinking which was probably a good thing as we were both fine to drive back today.
I even managed to fit in 3 swims during my stay which was great.
here is a pic of me and 'im indoors with the bride and groom...
I drove down on Thursday and picked up 'im indoors from Birmingham airport as he had cut his Bridge and Bowling holiday in Spain short to come for the wedding. My brother and his wife have been an item for many years now - almost as long as me and 'im! But because of one thing and another they were not able to get married until now. I was asked to be a bridesmaid (one of 5) along with my 2 new nieces and my great niece! The colour theme for the day was coffee and cream- the only one wearing white was my new great niece (aged 18 months!). The wedding took place at the Bromsgrove Hilton where my brother and my new SIL first met. It was a lovely day and we partied well into the night -the only problem was that a glass of wine cost £7.45 and a coke cost £2.50! so we were restrained on our drinking which was probably a good thing as we were both fine to drive back today.
I even managed to fit in 3 swims during my stay which was great.
here is a pic of me and 'im indoors with the bride and groom...
Saturday, October 13, 2007
What a busy 5 weeks
Forgive me purple folk for it is 5 weeks since my last blog.
what a lot has happened in the last 5 weeks.
My Aunt fell and broke her hip - not a nice experience for someone of 75ish. She was taken into hospital on the Monday and did not get operated on until the Wednesday - she had a pin put in as the break was below the hip joint. We were travelling down to Northhamptonshire for our Nephew's 18th birthday party, so we set off a day early so that we could call in to Birmingham to see Auntie. Thank goodness for Sat Nav - I dont think we would have found Heartlands Hospital without it! We stayed overnight with Mum and Dad which was nice, and it was great to see how Mum was improving.
The next day we travelled to Daventry where we were staying. The hotel was on a golf course, free internet, free coffee, free fruit, swimming pool, sauna, steam room & jacusi - and all for £50 including breakfast for the 2 of us!
The party was something else - I have never felt so old! It was actually our other nephew's 16th birthday on the day, so there were crowds of 16yr old and 18 yr olds! Most of them were hanging around outside the venue, until the music went louder and the lights went lower! We made our excuses by 10pm and went back to the hotel for a decent drink and an early night.
I have managed to play a fair amount of golf during the last few weeks - this has been good for me health wise as well as helping me to relax.
me and my pal Olive (her nickname) have booked for a trip to Stobo Castle on 22nd for 2 nights - she has been to the wedding of her son this weekend, so the two of us will enjoy the break.
So, last weekend whilst playing golf I was discussing the problems I had been having with my contact lenses and that I was considering the laser surgery. Her pal had had it done 2 1/2 years ago and had not looked back since. So I made an appointment to see if I was suitable. That was yesterday.
First I had to wear my glasses for at least 48 hours prior to the treatment - that is a struggle for me as I find it difficult to see with them on and feel very trapped when I wear them. The appointment started with the puff of air in the eye routine, then a check of the prescription. After this I had a chat with one of the girls who was very informative about the whole procedure and explained all the different options that MIGHT be available to me. Then followed the more rigourous tests. I had drops of anasthetic put in my eyes - stingy or what! Then she measured the thickness of my corneas using a probe against the eye - weird or what! Then she put some other drops in which relaxed my eye muscles so that I could not focus - I couldnt even see my watch! Finally she gave me the news that I was very suitable for the treatment, and I could have a choice of every option.
I decided that the Lasik method was preferred as it has the fastest healing time, and did not require a dressing on the cornea. then I had a choice of which method was used to cut the flap in the cornea to give the laser the required access. There is a mechanical method where a gadget is put against the eyeball and suckers onto it. Then this is rotated to cut a flap - a bit like taking the foil off a bottle of wine. The more modern method is to use the laser to cut the flap, a series of dots are made on the eye ball which causes bubbles under the cornea, then alcohol is put on which raises the flap for the surgeon to peel back. The downside of the mechanical method is that the incision is deeper and therefore takes longer to heal - so I decided on the Ultralase method.
The next decision was whether to have a standard treatment which basically gives you off the shelf laser treatment for a standard prescription. This gives you the vision you have with your lenses or glasses, but no better. The Wavefront option gives you a treatment that is specific to you. Your eyes are scanned and any inperfections are noted - these can give you problems with night vision - halos, glare etc when driving. I decided that I might as well go for the top treatment.
So the next stage was to book all the appointments. I have to go without lenses for 7 days before a further check with the optician in Stirling (again with the possibility of the relaxing drops so no driving), the following day I have to get the Wavefront scan in Glasgow, and the following day the surgery also in Glasgow! My pal also has a house in Glasgow, so I will be staying with her the night before and she will bring me home after surgery.
So all booked up after a 2 hour appointment - boy was I exhausted! I went to meet my pal who had driven me down as I knew that I would not be able to drive. She was in fits of laughter as I could not see a thing. Because my eyes were dilated I was suffering from the bright lights in the shopping mall, and I could not control the vision in them. Trying to read labels in M&S was impossible - so she had to read them to me!
I got home and could not turn the PC on as I knew that I would not be able to see it anyway.
This morning my eyes were still quite dilated, but I could put my contact lenses in and I can see - what freedom.
I am so pleased that I have made the decision, even though it is costing mega bucks, but Mum and Dad have offered me a huge sum towards it. I just look forward to being able to swim and use a spa without being worried about water getting into my eyes and lifting my lenses.
Played golf today - not brilliant, but happy with my game. Off to play at a different course tomorrow as a guest of a couple of male pals of mine.
Hopefully it will not be so long before my next blog.
what a lot has happened in the last 5 weeks.
My Aunt fell and broke her hip - not a nice experience for someone of 75ish. She was taken into hospital on the Monday and did not get operated on until the Wednesday - she had a pin put in as the break was below the hip joint. We were travelling down to Northhamptonshire for our Nephew's 18th birthday party, so we set off a day early so that we could call in to Birmingham to see Auntie. Thank goodness for Sat Nav - I dont think we would have found Heartlands Hospital without it! We stayed overnight with Mum and Dad which was nice, and it was great to see how Mum was improving.
The next day we travelled to Daventry where we were staying. The hotel was on a golf course, free internet, free coffee, free fruit, swimming pool, sauna, steam room & jacusi - and all for £50 including breakfast for the 2 of us!
The party was something else - I have never felt so old! It was actually our other nephew's 16th birthday on the day, so there were crowds of 16yr old and 18 yr olds! Most of them were hanging around outside the venue, until the music went louder and the lights went lower! We made our excuses by 10pm and went back to the hotel for a decent drink and an early night.
I have managed to play a fair amount of golf during the last few weeks - this has been good for me health wise as well as helping me to relax.
me and my pal Olive (her nickname) have booked for a trip to Stobo Castle on 22nd for 2 nights - she has been to the wedding of her son this weekend, so the two of us will enjoy the break.
So, last weekend whilst playing golf I was discussing the problems I had been having with my contact lenses and that I was considering the laser surgery. Her pal had had it done 2 1/2 years ago and had not looked back since. So I made an appointment to see if I was suitable. That was yesterday.
First I had to wear my glasses for at least 48 hours prior to the treatment - that is a struggle for me as I find it difficult to see with them on and feel very trapped when I wear them. The appointment started with the puff of air in the eye routine, then a check of the prescription. After this I had a chat with one of the girls who was very informative about the whole procedure and explained all the different options that MIGHT be available to me. Then followed the more rigourous tests. I had drops of anasthetic put in my eyes - stingy or what! Then she measured the thickness of my corneas using a probe against the eye - weird or what! Then she put some other drops in which relaxed my eye muscles so that I could not focus - I couldnt even see my watch! Finally she gave me the news that I was very suitable for the treatment, and I could have a choice of every option.
I decided that the Lasik method was preferred as it has the fastest healing time, and did not require a dressing on the cornea. then I had a choice of which method was used to cut the flap in the cornea to give the laser the required access. There is a mechanical method where a gadget is put against the eyeball and suckers onto it. Then this is rotated to cut a flap - a bit like taking the foil off a bottle of wine. The more modern method is to use the laser to cut the flap, a series of dots are made on the eye ball which causes bubbles under the cornea, then alcohol is put on which raises the flap for the surgeon to peel back. The downside of the mechanical method is that the incision is deeper and therefore takes longer to heal - so I decided on the Ultralase method.
The next decision was whether to have a standard treatment which basically gives you off the shelf laser treatment for a standard prescription. This gives you the vision you have with your lenses or glasses, but no better. The Wavefront option gives you a treatment that is specific to you. Your eyes are scanned and any inperfections are noted - these can give you problems with night vision - halos, glare etc when driving. I decided that I might as well go for the top treatment.
So the next stage was to book all the appointments. I have to go without lenses for 7 days before a further check with the optician in Stirling (again with the possibility of the relaxing drops so no driving), the following day I have to get the Wavefront scan in Glasgow, and the following day the surgery also in Glasgow! My pal also has a house in Glasgow, so I will be staying with her the night before and she will bring me home after surgery.
So all booked up after a 2 hour appointment - boy was I exhausted! I went to meet my pal who had driven me down as I knew that I would not be able to drive. She was in fits of laughter as I could not see a thing. Because my eyes were dilated I was suffering from the bright lights in the shopping mall, and I could not control the vision in them. Trying to read labels in M&S was impossible - so she had to read them to me!
I got home and could not turn the PC on as I knew that I would not be able to see it anyway.
This morning my eyes were still quite dilated, but I could put my contact lenses in and I can see - what freedom.
I am so pleased that I have made the decision, even though it is costing mega bucks, but Mum and Dad have offered me a huge sum towards it. I just look forward to being able to swim and use a spa without being worried about water getting into my eyes and lifting my lenses.
Played golf today - not brilliant, but happy with my game. Off to play at a different course tomorrow as a guest of a couple of male pals of mine.
Hopefully it will not be so long before my next blog.
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