Blue Cat

I was also thinking of Typical yesterday, but didn't want to bombard him with a DM, hope you are well

typical

Wotcha.

Yeah, I'm back in the UK. Had the reconstructive shoulder surgery a few weeks ago, and it's now settled down almost enough to start physio. I've got very little movement in it and some nasty scars, but they're saying positive things and I've got drugs.

Emotionally, I wish I knew - there are good and bad days. Grief counselling helps. I miss working but I nap throughout the day and the drugs don't help with concentration.

Miss all you guys. Hope to drop by before long. Anyone back in the UK over Christmas who fancies a coffee, drop me a line.

scrubbedexpat141

Glad to hear you're sounding positive. Drugs are good.

Keep strong, keep your head up, scars are cool (let's be honest) in the long term. Get that physio work going and you'll be back where you need to be in no time.

I can't imagine the pain and grief you've been through and deal with, but I'm sure you have the friends and family you need to keep each day moving. Afternoon naps will help and counseling is almost definitely better than bottling stuff up, I'm sure.

Where in the UK are you? Would love to buy you a beer.

al dente

Thanks for the update, such good news to hear you're doing well in the circumstances and that the grief counselling is helping. When do you think you'll be able to go back to work? How long do you envisage the phsycial recuperation taking?

Hope you've got plenty of decent people around to keep you entertained. BTW Plants vs Zombies is an excellent time filler..

OriginalSunshine

Just promise you won't punch out the physio with your good arm like I almost did the first time they tried to move the bad arm?! The pain of "breaking" the stiffness was awful, but the mental relief of actually being able to move & use that arm again was awesome.

You'll get there. Usual cliches, hang on in there (unintentional pun, sorry) and you will get there. You will. The grief will be there, it always will be, as a dull pain, and the sharp pain bursts will always occur; but eventually you will find yourself not liking the pain of loss & grief, but accepting it, and managing it.

Take care.

typical

Thanks all. Really appreciate the thoughts! Just to respond to a few bits:

I'm staying in the East Midlands. Jaunting down to London fairly regularly too though. Can't wait to be able to rent a car, but a bit of a way off that yet.

I'm aiming to start working mid-Jan but only an hour or two per week, just to give a bit of structure and keep up with what's going on. I doubt I'll make it full time before March, and possibly not until the summer. Depends a lot on the intensity of physio and how many painkillers I need to stay on! Physio will be between 6 and 12 months worth.

Am on PvZ 2 already

Haha, I'll do my best! I'm suffering a bit because a) the muscles have atrophied quite badly and b) the arm was badly broken too, so there's going to be a lot of stretching and then rebuilding before I am getting decent movement. Can't wait for it to work again, though.

al dente

You're keeping your wits about you anyway, just make sure you never get started on CandyCrush. I've seen grown men weep at around evel 217..

Millhouse

I've been on level 97 for weeks. I have given up on it now - time to go cold turkey and delete it.

scrubbedexpat141

Stuck somewhere around 210 I think. It's getting deleted.

Eva

Meh....I looked PVZ2 up in Mims!
Makes me a f***wit
X

Blue Cat

great to hear you are on the mend, its a tough time of year for you and Olejanx, take care x

mentalist

Here is the verdict on what happened...well, sort of...some interesting points emerge.

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Securit...p/-/index.html

typical

Hello you lot. I find myself heading back (at short notice) to Dubai for Thursday and the weekend.

Drop me a line if anyone fancies coffee - have one night out planned and probably can't do more boozing than that, sorry.

Also, hoping to clear out my storage unit, so if anyone knows anyone who'd like to buy a "flat in a box" (bed, TV, fridge, kitchen stuff, all that jazz) let me know.

Finally, I'm guessing my UAE driving licence isn't valid without residency, so I'll be stuck with taxi and metro... is that right? Sigh.

scrubbedexpat141

Good to hear from you.

I'm out and about this weekend, so if you're night out is Friday and you're in Bur Dubai then I'll buy you beer.

Ditzy

Typical, you can hire a hire car with your (UK?) license, but otherwise no you shouldn't drive a UAE car.

Maybe seeing if there's a flea market on in Mirdif or Safa on Friday would be an option? Good luck & all the best.