What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[The Panda Nut]

Good luck for tomorrow, are you morning or afternoon list? are you going in first thing or lunch time?

I don't seem to remember there being any particular pre-op diet that specified those things, are you sure that's what it says? does someone need to check with Mrs Panda Nut?

I think the diet (low fibre) is to allow clear scans during the op.
I dont mind a diet of steak chips and bacon butties that ll do nicely!

Well Im still here. More than I can say for my kidney. It, was "ruptured and probably hadnt been filtering anything for some while, the ureter was effectively flattend, dead and was disintegrating", in addition a massive cyct cyst? had appered boosting its size and weight to 10 times the normal size, all sorts of other minor complications that surgeons have to face including access to my bad pipework. The side show with extreme pain and swelling on my side for the last 8 weeks is now clearly identifyable as such.

Its a shame a Doctor could not see what was being shown or listen sufficiently tp put a retty simple 2 and 2 together. Noone is perfect.

OH, where the hell did they find all the cattle and horses to trample me so badly....

5 tool holes for crowbars and a dirty great hole to extract the thing which put laprascopy into a new size bracket apparently. You can se where the tyre levers were levered against my wheel rims!

However Im here and it could have been worse. Pretty clear the delay caused by the pandemic and chronic conservative underfunding clearly came near to threatening my existence.

For now its Hey Ho Noop, The Panda Nut ryiiiiiides again.......................

AND GOOD LORD! If I was appreciative and in awe of the NHS front line staff before, I now am unable to express my respect adequately.
There are no words just the tears of gratitude of which there have been plenty.

In 45 years or work and having bee let loose in a whole variety of industries I have NEVER, EVER seen any group of people work so untiringly hard for such awfully long shifts. The efficiency see was astonishing and the teamwork up with anything that could be asked of anyperson in any situation. Sometimes nurses were running from bed to bed to get to people who were choking before going immediately afterwards with being kind and decent with all around them. Helping a groip of silly old men who kept dropping and loosing things. More individuals deserve singling out for extreme praise than don't. And the Nurse who had a half day off should now be credited back for working 60% of that R&R time for the benefit of others.

Anyone who has the temerity to suggest efficiency improvements in this service in my presence will need to be able to duck faster than I can swing or their day will be done!

Please everyone get on to your MP's and seek proper funding before all these wonderful people burn out, and we are left with no care at all. We need a properly funded service with adequate staff to staff each role.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Good luck for tomorrow, are you morning or afternoon list? are you going in first thing or lunch time?

I don't seem to remember there being any particular pre-op diet that specified those things, are you sure that's what it says? does someone need to check with Mrs Panda Nut?

Thanks for the kind wishes. Its much appreciated.
I was in a.m. It shocked me when I went in first at roughly 8 to 8.30 an didnt come round until 15.20. SO 5- 6hours op. My throat had the tyre lever treatment and face is battered too. Thankfully all this is slowly getting easier. I think to do this op they have to really chuck you from one side to the other throwing the body into all sorts of unnatural positions to get access. It must be much easier for the surgeons to just open you right up, but they managed somehow not to make it any worse by doing so. Im definitely improving each day though still feel pretty rough at times. Apart from pain free peeing , which has to be worth a few quid and a bit of inconvenience my sense of taste has changed significantly for the better. I no longer want or like loads of butter on my toast and everything seems to taste stronger and better. Its odd the side effects experienced. With luck in a month I should be running on 2 cylinders again. (Im a twinair not a hybrid or 1.2) I do feel lucky to be looking at an improving future. All the angst of 2 years wait has gone and I must be very thankful not to be in the state most of the other men in the ward were -much much worse. Its totally unacceptable to have to loose an organ due to the funding crisis, but in the scale of need the other guys in there were much much less fortunate so the need to manage the waiting list cant be disputed. I met some very brave and impressive chaps.

I have to hope the remaining kidney carries on OK I always had muti cyliner engines and love hte TA so why not!. Its more than a bit humbling to have been offered a spare if required by my son and daughters. The whole things has been a very emotional expereince which I hope not to have to repeat. PS. I never fit secondhand parts so they are safe.

David MasonBahr... Bloody fine fellah!!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

OH, where the hell did they find all the cattle and horses to trample me so badly....

glad to see you’re on the mend.

Sounds like you had this specific method of surgery



Now don’t sit and convalesce you need to be up and moving as much as you can

 

[The Panda Nut]

Yes thats the bloke. Ran off with £5.60 worth of kidney I bet he had in a pie for his dinner.

My kidneys. You dont get many of them to a pound!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Great to hear you are on the mend. The people working "at the coal face" in the national health are nothing short of miracle workers. I've had several "serious" operations in my life of which the one which most approximates to your's was when my gall bladder decided to rupture and give me Peritonitis which almost did for me. The operation was carried out by keyhole surgery and left me with some very interesting wounds in positions that didn't seem particularly relevant. However, despite a second intervention a few days later, I survived it all and, like you, I enjoyed some extraordinary care from some very dedicated people. The most interesting was the night sister, who ruled the ward with an "iron fist" but found the time to sit with me and listen to my delirious rantings at maybe 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning whilst giving me no end of comfort. I can't think of any amount of money which could "pay" for that sort of care and dedication.

We really really need to "mend" our National Health don't we? you never know what you've got until it's not there any more - and we're very near to that situation right now.

Again, so glad to hear you are with us still and thanks for posting this. Makes me think how lucky I am to be enjoying reasonably good health at this time and I'm looking forward to reading many more of your interesting posts. You're in my thoughts.

 

[puntofan01]

Got home from work to find 2 letters waiting for me. The 1st was from the insurance company, telling me how to put the Punto in their name, and where to send the V5C off to. The other was, rather fittingly, the V5C for my Suzuki.

It's quite literally the end of 1 era, (in more ways than 1,) and the start of a new 1!

 

[StevenRB45]

Standard weekend stuff...filled the car up on my way home Saturday. When I parked it..it was showing 472 miles of fuel range and 52mpg AVG.

Got in it this morning after my wife commuting it to and from work about 7 miles away. Showing 40 AVG and 410 miles of range.

Today I've travelled 85 miles, without a thought to hyper miling..it's currently showing 420 miles of range and 52 mpg. Sure tomorrow it'll be showing 350...

Also lovely conversation on Saturday.."there's something on the back of the rim of the steering wheel". Immediately I thought to the fact she scratches the back the wheel with either her nails or a ring. Scratches the leather a treat, can usually be brought back with gentle rubbing but one day she'll go all the way through. Lo and behold yes it was that but first time she's noticed it. "Well it could have been you" "I've not sat in it since last Saturday dearest..so unless I've done it remotely that is unlikely.."

This is kinda why we still have this car..we don't need 2..and I don't want to unleash her on a nice one but as someone cursed with mechanical sympathy it hurts.

However it did happily complete the trip, and despite her launching it at speed bumps with vigour the wheels are still round and balanced at motorway speed and it was cruising along lovely. Also less wind noise since I've repaired the ripped door seal *twitch*.

 

[StevenRB45]

Vaguely interesting one...

Some E5...is actually E0...at least that sold by BP, Texaco and Gulf.



Was on Shell for years...but stopped recently oddly enough as it was the only local garage that never dropped and BP compete with Morrisons.

Interesting that despite being more expensive it's more diluted...

 

[portland_bill]

Just after 4am, off to the loo, noticed extra light outside. Neighbour's Renault Modus had its lights on, and the headlamps were flashing randomly. Well, more of a bright flicker than a full flash. I'm not about to go knocking on doors at that time, in the drizzle, in my jammies.
Later, around 6am, lights still playing games, although unsurprisingly dimmer.
Strangely, at 8:30, as he prepared to go to work, the battery was flat. He used his jump leads connected to his wife's car, and off he went, no light issues.
We see what tomorrow brings.

 

[bugsymike]

Just after 4am, off to the loo, noticed extra light outside. Neighbour's Renault Modus had its lights on, and the headlamps were flashing randomly. Well, more of a bright flicker than a full flash. I'm not about to go knocking on doors at that time, in the drizzle, in my jammies.
Later, around 6am, lights still playing games, although unsurprisingly dimmer.
Strangely, at 8:30, as he prepared to go to work, the battery was flat. He used his jump leads connected to his wife's car, and off he went, no light issues.
We see what tomorrow brings.

Renault electrics or the neighbours cat on the bonnet?

 

[Cheest]

Our 02 Audi A4 did that when the battery pack on the factory alarm system went south. It was a disco dance party while singing the song of its' people at 2am. Not bright nor loud but annoying enough to have the local gendarme knocking on my door.

 

[StevenRB45]

Had to deal with this building opposite for years...it was a club when it was open.

Bloke who owned it went bust...then ended up in prison...then someone stole the roof.

It is slowly getting out of my life..and as it's a council ordered demolition...there's no plans to replace.

Should have a very nice view from upstairs once it's finally gone.

 

[StevenRB45]

Well the demolition noise had an unexpected benefit..

Was picking up the post and leaned on the front door..the noise of the digger got significantly quieter.

Stuck my hand beside the door realised there was a bit of a draft round the PVC door. Opened the door to find the screws holding the striker plate had entirely backed out.

Tightened down and now much less noise and draft..no idea how long they've been loose. Could probably have saved a fortune in heating..

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Not quite sure which thread is most appropriate for this as I'm not sure if I'm feeling grumpy or smiley or what. However last night, well after dark, while we were watching a bit of telly, Mrs J suddenly comes out with "don't mind us then will you" and points out the living room window - we hadn't yet pulled the curtains. An AA van has pulled up completely blocking off our driveway. When I popped my head out the front door to see what was going on I could see him rigging up a bright under bonnet light on the wee FIAT 500 which belongs to the young woman who lives in the flats opposite us and which has been parked for over a week just to the right of our drop curb. I think she's been away on holiday so I'm thinking "Flat battery" and went back to the warmth of our living room. However, about 15 minutes later the van is still there and now has both rear and side doors open with floodlighting like a sunny day and the chap still with his head under the bonnet.

After maybe another quarter hour I hear doors slamming - curtains now drawn - and the van drives off. This morning the wee car is still exactly where it was last night (it's quite poorly parked at an angle with the front N/S wheel at the kerb but N/S rear nearly two feet out and I doubt if it would be like that if she'd moved it?) Anyway, I think it likely the breakdown man was unsuccessful in his endeavours and I'm just itching to plug my MES into it and see what's wrong. I've learned it's best not to volunteer though so I'll wait until asked. I did tell her about Kenny's Garage some time ago though, so maybe it'll just go there?

 

[Cheest]

I'm in the process of upgrading my 2018 Dell laptop from an HDD to an SSD. Never done something like this before, so I am proceeding cautiously. Although it is my personal laptop, I also use it for work. The provided laptops are basically Chromebooks and the mothership has downloaded spyware into each one before they are handed out.

My laptop has been getting cantankerous and slow like me. It was diagnosed with a failing HDD. The guy I took it to was willing to sell me a new one instead of fixing it. A new laptop, comparable to mine, $1K. A new SSD and a few hours of my time, sixty bucks. So far, it has gone smoothly, though the cloning process was somewhat time consuming. That bit is done but it's such a nice day outside that I'll save the swap over to this evening.

BTW, all of my files are backed up to a remote 1TB SSD every week.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

BTW, all of my files are backed up to a remote 1TB SSD every week.

My laptop is an HP "special offer" jobbie running windows 10 and I must say after learning to use it - my previous one, the first I owned, ran Vista so the change over required me to "rewire" my head somewhat - I've got on quite well with it. Some time ago I also bought quite a nice Yamaha amp which is now the basis of my home cinema sound system. The amp can do lots of very "clever" things and one of them is that you can connect it to a NAS (Network area storage device) I'd no idea what this was when I bought the amp but soon found out and bought a Western Digital "My Cloud" which I connected into my home network so the laptop, Blue ray player and amp can all access it. (Blue ray does "clever" stuff too).

So, with all this storage - I think it's 3 TB? I use it to backup files I don't want to loose and, so far I've only used about one sixth of it's capacity. Think I'll probably be dead before I run out of space! However Microsoft really P*** me off with their downloads. The last but one messed about with how I access the NAS and altered how the iteraction works. Took me about half an hour to work out how to get back into it and how to transfer files from the laptop to the NAS and vice versa. Very annoying. It also seems to have altered the way it communicates with the TV and AMP when I want to playback a film or music file. It's all working fine, just different, very annoying.

 

[portland_bill]

Microsoft spend a lot of time providing monthly updates, to amend files and processes that were 'wrong'. Then they spend huge resources inventing the latest system, (Windows 11), instead of concentrating on getting it right.
Alternatives have missed the point, by a mile. Windows became ubiquitous due to making it simple to use. Prior to Windows, you had to be a minor geek to use a computer, as it all had to be done in DOS command lines. (I think I may have forgotten most of them now) Windows opened up computers to everyone. Apple did it differently, and swapping between needs a bit of head scratching, so I've avoided Apple for that reason. Google, with Chrome, and Android, created simple, but much less effective. Android, on the phone and tablet, seems to be only able to see one thing at a time, so swapping between 'apps' is tedious, as it effectively reloads most of it each time. Linux has never really provided a user-friendly alternative, as it still requires some geekiness.
So mostly, we're stuck with Windows. Each update slows the thing down more, as files are scattered. A complete reinstall does not fix the issue, as Microsoft don't seem to offer a 'latest' version, completely up to date, for download, so a reinstall starts with a massive update, bringing little benefit.
Swearing at the computer is often necessary.

SSDs, for me seem to be the latest "Emperor's new clothes". Just because we can, does not mean we should. SSDs have a limit on the read/write cycles, then it dies. Embedded software should spread the read/write across all sectors, to use it evenly, and it is recommended to always have an SSD at least double the required capacity. But it will still have a finite life. (Teslas are managed entirely by the central computer, relying on an embedded SSD, and with the early Model S, they got the calculation wrong, as some are dying, requiring a new central screen. Huge cost, and the car is an ornament until fixed. If I lose the screen in the Fabia, I've just lost the radio. A HDD can last for many years, even if a few sectors die, the rest is still usable. An SSD loses a sector, and many will lose the lot. This is why memory cards in cameras, and USB drives fail without warning.
Magnetic HDDs are becoming cheaper, due to lower demand, stock up now.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I'm in the process of upgrading my 2018 Dell laptop from an HDD to an SSD. Never done something like this before, so I am proceeding cautiously. Although it is my personal laptop, I also use it for work. The provided laptops are basically Chromebooks and the mothership has downloaded spyware into each one before they are handed out.

My laptop has been getting cantankerous and slow like me. It was diagnosed with a failing HDD. The guy I took it to was willing to sell me a new one instead of fixing it. A new laptop, comparable to mine, $1K. A new SSD and a few hours of my time, sixty bucks. So far, it has gone smoothly, though the cloning process was somewhat time consuming. That bit is done but it's such a nice day outside that I'll save the swap over to this evening.

BTW, all of my files are backed up to a remote 1TB SSD every week.

I got an SSD laptop 6 years ago its a revelation starts so much quicker. I hope it goes well!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Microsoft spend a lot of time providing monthly updates, to amend files and processes that were 'wrong'. Then they spend huge resources inventing the latest system, (Windows 11), instead of concentrating on getting it right.
Alternatives have missed the point, by a mile. Windows became ubiquitous due to making it simple to use. Prior to Windows, you had to be a minor geek to use a computer, as it all had to be done in DOS command lines. (I think I may have forgotten most of them now) Windows opened up computers to everyone. Apple did it differently, and swapping between needs a bit of head scratching, so I've avoided Apple for that reason. Google, with Chrome, and Android, created simple, but much less effective. Android, on the phone and tablet, seems to be only able to see one thing at a time, so swapping between 'apps' is tedious, as it effectively reloads most of it each time. Linux has never really provided a user-friendly alternative, as it still requires some geekiness.
So mostly, we're stuck with Windows. Each update slows the thing down more, as files are scattered. A complete reinstall does not fix the issue, as Microsoft don't seem to offer a 'latest' version, completely up to date, for download, so a reinstall starts with a massive update, bringing little benefit.
Swearing at the computer is often necessary.

SSDs, for me seem to be the latest "Emperor's new clothes". Just because we can, does not mean we should. SSDs have a limit on the read/write cycles, then it dies. Embedded software should spread the read/write across all sectors, to use it evenly, and it is recommended to always have an SSD at least double the required capacity. But it will still have a finite life. (Teslas are managed entirely by the central computer, relying on an embedded SSD, and with the early Model S, they got the calculation wrong, as some are dying, requiring a new central screen. Huge cost, and the car is an ornament until fixed. If I lose the screen in the Fabia, I've just lost the radio. A HDD can last for many years, even if a few sectors die, the rest is still usable. An SSD loses a sector, and many will lose the lot. This is why memory cards in cameras, and USB drives fail without warning.
Magnetic HDDs are becoming cheaper, due to lower demand, stock up now.

Someone makes a piece of software, someone else comes along and finds holes in it and security issues, the original makers of said software have to plug the holes, the his is why there is a constant cycle of updates with any software not just windows.

spinning disc hard drives are no more reliable than anything else, they have multiple moving parts which can fail, they have much more complicated electronics to keep all those moving parts moving. They are massively limited in speed. They are also horribly prone to failure where they are subject to constant movement and vibration which would make them terrible to use in cars. The original iPods had spinning disc hard drives (1.8 inch) most of these died in the first couple of years, virtually non survive now and the lack of available replacements is why many iPods ended up in land fill. They’ve had a resurgences with enthusiasts in recent years since the availability of conversions to solid state devices which has proven much more robust

 

[portland_bill]

We had a bit of snow overnight, so the cars were all covered with about 20mm. Three neighbours all let their windscreen wipers clear it, instead of clearing it properly.
They are lucky the wipers didn't break or blow a fuse.
Their view is obstructed in many areas.
Additionally, none of them cleared the roof of their car, so as it warms up, it can avalanche onto the windscreen if they brake firmly. The snow on the bonnet can slide down over the lamps, obscuring signals, and this can happen at the rear too. As I cleared it off my roof and bonnet, I got a puzzled look from one of them, as he just sat in his car waiting for his heater to clear the side windows for him.