My Blog

This time tomorrow I should be having an operation to repair the macular hole that has developed in my right eye. Faces have begun to look like they have been ‘snap-chatted’ with bizarre distortions. Reading, both paper and screens, is increasingly  difficult.  In the summer I went to the opticians for new specs only to be sent to A and E! Subsequent eye hospital trips later, I am booked for surgery in the morning. I will be home by the evening. Part of the recovery, apart from rest, is that I may have to be ‘posturing’ for 7 – 10 days. This will mean laying predominately face down for up to 10 days – or I may get away with a couple of days. It is dependent on the surgeon’s advice post-op.

I may be very pleased to have phone calls – and visits in the next few weeks. I will be unable to drive for a while too.

I have been scurrying around to sort out many things prior to my enforced ‘stop’. At this late stage I confess to a feeling of panic about what I haven’t managed to do that I intended to! I am having to remind myself of my own tips to others about considering what is essential, what can wait and what is really unnecessary. I suspect that because it is Christmas there are extra tasks too, such as card writing and sending, present buying and wrapping that I normally would be excited and happy to do. It may be that the cards are missed this year!

I had also hoped to have emptied my inbox. In the classic Father Christmas saying , ‘Ho Ho Ho’ – you must be joking. So what isn’t done, isn’t done. Perhaps the other side of the op and posturing, I can chip away.

In the terms of my keynote on ‘The importance of you – why self-care is vital’, I have to say that I shall be very quiet between now and the New Year. Part of me is relieved to slow down as it has been a very, very busy year.

My ‘to do’ list is simply going to have to wait. I look forward to 2018 with increasing better vision. In the titles of my books – I will be pleased to have both eyes twinkling and sparkling again! We are blessed with out amazing NHS.

My first event will be one of my favourites with Healthcare Conferences UK on January 15th in London. I will be speaking and chairing the day, Achieving the 5 Year Forward View in Perinatal Mental Health Services.  If you would like a discounted rate, please email Jayne Jayne@hc-uk.org.uk  and mention my name.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and look forward to an exciting 2018 with you.

Best wishes

Elaine