It’s been a weird couple of weeks, I went to see my Orthopaedic Surgeon , and she was happy with the progress I have made with my new hip, as we had been instructed by my Health Service Provider, we asked her if she would make a decision on my right knee, but as she explained she only had my last MRI to go on, and that was from last May, going off that, she stated that the knee wasn’t yet ready for surgery, but she would refer me back to the original Orthopaedic Surgeon, with a view, to probably having an injection directly into the knee joint. I freely admit, I came away utterly deflated, having thought everything would be resolved by year end.
Back home we immediately started the process to see Dr.Sanin, and received an appointment for June 2nd, which didn’t seem too far off at the time, but the following day, March 31st, my knee ruptured, I thought someone had driven a knife into it, fortunately I was in the bedroom at the time, and Marcela was nearby, between, TENS, icepacks, and heat, the pain subsided, but I couldn’t put any weight on my right knee, as a resulkt the zimmer frame had to come out of storage prematurely.
It was like going back to square one, all work stopped, and even when the pain subsided, and I was able to limp around, I had to do so with a stick, as I had no confidence in the knee, which has given way three or four times since. Marcela is trying to get me either an earlier appointment, or a cancellation, we’ll just have to see what happens.
Jaime made contact and last Saturday, his brother-in-law Oscar came with his men, and started cutting and welding the metalwork to start the balcony.
They then came back and worked a full day on Sunday, which wasn’t ideal as it was Marcela’s Birthday, and we were going out to lunch with her family, fortunately they were coming to Marinilla, and then back to the house, so we weren’t away long
The meal was lovely, and the Birthday Girl says she had a great day!
The workmen also got a lot done, the base is tacked together
They have also tacked together, what will be the roof frame, and are coming back next Saturday to hopefully finish the welding work.
My Mother-in-law stayed on after the Birthday Bash, and will be here until after Semana Santa / Easter, she is good company, especially for Marcela.
I decided that as a result of my knee problems, it was time to change the Water Filter housing
It was just too close to the ground, I had to kneel to remove the filters, and worse still, lie down to get them back on again. So I bought some matching blocks, removed the concrete top, along with the bits of block that made up the top layer, I then cut the new blocks to make up another three courses, and two days ago, built up the wall, leaving it to dry out naturally.
This morning, I bit the bullet, turned off the water, cut the pipes either side of the system, and raised it, inserting new pipe into the cut sections…So far so good, no leaks!
Now I can change the filters standing up, the only thing I haven’t been able to do, is lift the concrete lid back on, I will ask Jaime and one of the Welding Team when they come at the week-end, if they could give me a hand!
Day by day, my knee, is allowing me to do a little more, I am hoping that next week, if it doesn’t give way again, I will be able to start using my Brushcutter again, if not, I’ll have to ask Marcela’s business associate, if he can do it for me, paid of course, nothing is for free over here.
That just about brings me back up to date…I think!
An Englishman in Colombia 