Post-hospital recuperation and nearly a Mslexia mention ...

Well, I'm out of hospital, phew - and I do have to say how absolutely lovely everyone at Mount Alvernia was, and that includes all the wonderful ward staff, the consultant and anaesthetist too, hurrah. And also a HUGE thank you to everyone who sent good wishes - I really appreciated it, as I was pretty scared. In case you hadn't realised ... Thank you. Mind you, I really do love having a bed where I can move the pillow end up and down electronically to the height desired, plus a little orange button that brings a nurse immediately to sort me out - ah bliss ... And the TV and ensuite bathroom were lovely too. I'm wondering about installing a little orange button that brings Lord H instantly to my side, but I suspect he will not be too keen ...

Anyway, In the end the actual op was rather more complex than the consultant anticipated, I think, and I was in the operating theatre for rather longer than expected. POSSIBLE SQUEAMISH ALERT!! - The good news is they don't reckon it's cancer, though they have removed the cyst and sent it for testing just in case. The surprise as far as everyone was concerned is that it's apparently obvious that I've had galloping endometriosis ("all over the place, my dear" - end of consultant quote!) for years, but it hasn't been diagnosed. (I was tested for it 20 years ago, but the testing equipment then - being not as good as now - never picked it up). Anyway, the consultant ... um ... hoovered(!) appropriately, which is what took so long - though I may have to go for further treatment with an endometriosis expert. We'll have to see. However she was thrilled with the state of my liver, which she says is marvellous, double hurrah. Always good to have one bodily part you can rely on is what I say. And my liver has of course done sterling service over the years, though it's less busy now ... END OF SQUEAMISH ALERT!

It's also apparent that I don't take well to anaesthetic - say no more! - a factor I should have remembered from my childhood stay in hospital many, many years ago. Anyway, I spent most of Thursday evening and all of Friday being hugely groggy and confused (much like an Essex Girl weekend then ...), and am really pretty tired now. Also very sore. But I have dressings, plasters and at least the stitches are out, so I'm well on the road to recovery. Or at least I'm further away from the starting block. Anyway I'm eating normally, triple hurrahs, plus I've managed to wash, including my hair, so I do feel more alive and human than I did. Being clean really makes a difference, you know.

So today I've done nothing more than watch TV, sleep and do crossword puzzles and sudokus. Which has been rather enjoyable. Though it is odd that the cold I had just before I went into hospital appears to have returned, dammit, but in milder form. Curiouser and curiouser indeed ...

However, the nice news has been reading the article on Flame Books in Mslexia in which A Dangerous Man so nearly got a mention in the words: "Since their launch in 2003, Flame Books have built up a list of 13 titles that range from short story anthologies and novels of rural meltdown, to a gay crime thriller - an unusual foray into genre fiction for them." Ah, Michael, so near and so far, eh! Also lovely to see a special mention for Megan Taylor's tour-de-force of a novel, How We Were Lost and for Laura Solomon's utter marvellous short story collection, Alternative Medicine - both of which you should rush to buy and read at once. They're humdingers of books.

The other positive news is that Avari Press - the small US publisher to whom I sent the initial package of The Gifting - have emailed to say that its been through several reviews, they're still impressed and they want to evaluate it further. Well, that's nice to hear - when I saw the email come through, I was just expecting the usual "thanks, but no thanks". Now, even if they decide against it, at least I know the first few chapters do have the ability to hook someone out there. Ah, there's hope, Carruthers - it's just very very tiny, and a long way away ...

Today's nice things:

1. Being at home
2. Orange instant nurse buttons
3. Bedroom TV & ensuite bathrooms
4. The nearly mention in Mslexia
5. Avari Press being impressed with The Gifting
6. Puzzles
7. Regular naps.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website