I can’t honestly say that 2023 was amazing. Firstly dealing with the side effects of medication and the my Wife’s life changing announcement.
2024 looks like more of the same, a hostile uncommunicative environment.
The last half of 2023 wasn’t very productive. Any little pleasures that I used to have were stripped away. I barely picked up a paintbrush.
What I did manage to do was to get a new laser tube and have started cutting and designing again.
There are four big projects that I would like to bring to completion if only to get boxes of odds and sods out of the way.
Bloodbowl – everything is printed. It just needs assembly, painting and most importantly storage.
Heroquest – this need the characters and furniture painting. This one is almost there.
Then I have two big modular terrain projects.
The ruined city, all made apart from a few pieces which need laser cut tiles. And obviously painting.
Modular trenches. This has been made with pink insulation foam. It is about three quarters done. I have been laser cutting walkways and wall retainers. There are still some more tiles to make but before I do I need storage. A trip to Ikea beckons.
There has, understandably, been no product of the year for me.
I’ll sign off and wish all three of you a Happier, Healthier and more Productive 2024.
The saying goes, “Bad news always comes in threes”. I am currently at six.
Separation
Malignant Melanomas
Cataracts
Jasper
Pulmonary Embolisms
Gout
The separation is hard and has sapped any will to live. I love my Wife dearly, she has been the kindest most patient person I have ever met and she has enriched my life immeasurably. Not being able to understand people I didn’t see any signs. Only a week beforehand we had been watching “Death in Paradise” and she turned to me and said that she thought we were doing ok as a couple. What is hard for me is that she just blanks me now. We are not in a financial situation to move apart and the loneliness and the isolation of where we live is difficult. Just some basic civility would help me a lot.
As you hit a certain age, for me sixty, your Doctor will encourage you to have health checks. One of them was a check up of my skin. The Specialist told me that I had two areas of concern and he used the words “Malignant Melanomas”. I have an operation booked to remove them and there will be a biopsy performed to see if there is any reason for concern.
The next test was on my eyes and it was revealed that I am developing cataracts. That would explain why I need more light for painting. The whole process will take maybe ten years to fully develop. I will be going for a further examination in a year so that the speed of development can be more accurately predicted. What I am not looking forwards to is the period when the cataracts are not quite ready to be removed but the visual quality is impaired. My Wife made no comment when I told her about them which is a bit harsh as I am very visually active.
Some of you may have read past posts about the kitten, Jasper, who adopted me last year. He has been a constant companion and a great source of comfort to me recently. About three weeks ago I found him dead. There was no sign of physical injury. This has been very hard to deal with.
At the same time as finding Jasper dead I started experiencing pains in my left calf. After a couple of days and some ibuprofen the pains diminished. I didn’t really think anything about it but I went to see a neighbour who is a Sports Therapist. I was told, firmly, to go to the Doctors first thing. I did this and was promptly rushed off to Hospital in an Ambulance where I went through a series of ultrasounds and CT scans. The main concern was of Thrombosis. I didn’t have one but the CT Scan revealed that I had Pulmonary Embolisms in both lungs. Cue a couple of days stay in Hospital. I woke up crying after the first night that I hadn’t died in my sleep. Life is that low at moments.
The final of the six is Gout in my left foot. I usually have a small glass of brandy as a night cap. But since the separation I have been knocking back five or six in order to be able to get to sleep and I still wake up at about half past four with my mind whirring. Cue the Gout. The Doctor has prescribed me some Passiflora (Passion Flower) drops to help with sleep. So far I am finding them making me more depressed and I have been waking up earlier.
I have had a scan of my pelvis done last week to see if a cancer I had eight years ago is in remission. I get the results later this week. To be honest I would not care if it was a bad result.
genuine grumpy old tin 