Day 743
Cataracts half done!
Finally the big day (part one) arrived! My appointment was with Spa Medica, a private company working with the NHS to catch up on the massive backlog of cataract operations caused by Covid. So far this year they had done 17,000 operations and I would make it 17,001! I wasn’t particularly nervous but I knew as the clock ticked down I probably would be. The night before, we had chilled with a sea side walk followed by fish and chips, and we planned an equally relaxing morning with a stroll on Box Hill, loved and hated in equal measure by cyclists taking part in Ride London. I was so chilled I didn’t even look at my phone, it was only as we pulled into the Spa Medica car park I spotted I’d missed a call. I was an hour early but I rushed in to check all was OK, they weren’t going to cancel it at the last minute surely? No, the exact opposite, they wanted me in early! No time for last minute nerves, I was whisked into the operating theatre and was out of the building in less than an hour. I have had no side effects, can see really well but cannot really do anything whilst it heals, so thank goodness for the Tour de France and Wimbledon coverage on TV.
On a break day from Tom decorating and gardening we also fitted in a trip to Vann Gardens, a beautiful 5 acres that a family have spent generations creating. A tranquil oasis, the Vann family can trace their family tree back to the middle ages. The house, forming a stunning backdrop, is dated from the 16th century. Agatha Christie's fictional detective has solved cases there, unfortunately we didn’t get to see inside but we enjoyed just looking at the building. Tom and I pretty much had the place to ourselves. I said to Tom “Maybe they need a gardener? Would you stay?”. No! We are off back to South America as soon as we can! One operation done, one to go!
