So I saw my partner off at the station last Wednesday. Late that evening she phoned to say that when she arrived at the hospital they had cancelled the operation and that they had phoned to tell her! Er, no.

It seems they phoned some other poor person instead. Long story short, she ended up staying down there and being operated on on Friday 23rd at 13:00. I made plans to go in first thing Saturday and stay overnight, coming back Sunday.

When I turn up at ICU at 10 on the Saturday morning, they said, "Er, there's a slight problem. She hasn't yet woken up from the anaesthetic." There was a guy in the bed facing her who had been operated on that morning and was already sitting up fully awake.

I stayed there the whole day, except when they threw me out for lunch, and helped to keep her tidy. Now, when someone is under like that, they just don't lie there, they move about as though they are asleep. She thrashed quite a bit and tried to roll from one side to another. This meant that there was a chance for one or more of the numerous tubes, pipes or wires to get dislodged, not to mention the bedclothes went flying! All in all a tricky day. When I left at about seven to forage a meal she was still out.

After a terrible night's non-sleep - far too hot in the room and I haven't slept in a single bed for about ten years, so was afraid of falling out - I got up on Sunday and staggered down for breakfast. While I was waiting for the canteen to open, one of the doctors came out, motorcycle helmet in hand, obviously going off after shift. "Ah! Your partner! She finally woke at ten last night. Everything's okay."

She was on a morphine drip but had occasional moments of lucidity, which gradually improved as the day went on. To start with, she was extremely confused, and I'm not sure she has fully grasped yet that she's lost an entire day. Still, it looks like progress.

I left at about 18:00 yesterday to come home. London is insanely hot at the moment, and also extremely full. I don't think I've ever seen so many people filling the streets, almost all of whom seem to be foreigners. Anyhow, got home reasonably okay and fell into bed.

Was hyper yesterday, which can happen, but this morning it's all drained out of me. Globe-trotting son came and went, visiting his mother on the way through London both times. Now I have to gird my loins for the tricky business of bringing her home, probably Thursday or Friday.

Ah, life. So much to do, so little time, no energy at all. Thank goodness for a chance to relax with BCTS, although I can't afford to spend so much time sitting in front of the computer. Them's the breaks, I suppose.

Penny