Unfortunately, going on my nightly experiences, that probably won't help much... but I'm going to take it easy this week-end. I've spent three days visiting hospitals last week and another rebuilding the house network. Phew!

Each time I go to a hospital it basically uses up a day. If I go to the local hospital for a blood test, it is a mile walk and then a bus ride each way; I can get other things done but you can't get a full run at anything. Going to the Renal clinic is an hour's train ride and a mile walk each end so basically we make it a day out and roam the shops, eat out, etc.

Tuesday it was a blood test, then Thursday it was the CT scanner for chest and sinus scans. That was an odd experience since the guy didn't seem to care what I wore or whether I took things off or not, even my glasses. Perhaps I don't know how CT scanners work... On Friday it was an MRI scan, which is the scary one. Everything metal has to come off and the scan of my head took about 25 minutes, whereas the CT scans were extremely quick. I don't know if I'll ever find out anything from the scans but it won't hurt to ask.

Next clinic visit is next Wednesday but that's one of the ordinary kidney clinics just to check I'm still warm. I don't see the specialist again for another two weeks after that but they are only a phone call away if there's a problem.

We finally got the new broadband in and functional. Of course, once I found out how the new setup worked I then had to figure out a way of connecting it to my existing setup. This meant, among other things, replacing old cables I first laid when we moved in here in 2002. So I ripped out the whole lot and rebuilt it, including all the phone extensions, labelling everything afresh as I went.

This latest health problem has made me realize that I have to leave behind a setup which can at least be fixed by somebody else if I'm not around for whatever reason. This means labelling all sockets, cables and patch cords and diagramming the heck out of the setup with simple enough explanations of why I did things a certain way.

There's still more to do. This morning I upgraded the firewall, which now lives behind the new BT connection. The upgrade has been pending for months but I couldn't do anything until I had the new line in. I don't have any control over what the BT wireless hub does, so I'm treating it as "untrusted". The extra level does mean I can cut down on the huge list of rules I had plugged into the firewall... essentially to stop filling up the logs with stuff I'm not interested in.

There's a couple of cables still need replacing which will involve pulling up floorboards in a bedroom and putting conduit down an outside wall. Those can wait, especially with the weather the way it is.

As for SEE, we're now on the (eventful) journey back to the palace. I note that one or two readers have made assumptions... heh, heh, heh. There will certainly be a number of surprises along the way.

With any luck (!) things will calm down between now and Christmas. I have a story to tell and I'm desperate to tell it. The best is yet to come.

Penny