Please don’t give me a break …

because the one I have is enough. Unfortunately it’s not a publishing offer or anything wonderful like that, but a spiral fracture of the upper right arm. Dashed out of bed at 4am to close the windows when rain poured down, hooked my foot on the bed leg, and crashed into the wall. The bone may be called the humerus but I didn’t find it very funny at the time 🙂
So now I’m in plaster from shoulder to elbow, with a collar-and-cuff sling, and learning to do things with my left arm. Typing is slow but I’m getting there. Brushing my teeth is a different matter. Just like I can’t reverse a trailer on the car (I’m sure I’m spatially dyslexic), I couldn’t get my left hand to brush satisfactorily (okay, I know I’m paranoid when it comes to having clean teeth but be kind to me) so I asked my darling husband (who is showing patience I didn’t know he had – or maybe he’s feeling guilty because he left the windows open when it was stormy weather) to buy me an electric toothbrush. This resulted in another discovery – if you don’t like the speckled bathroom look, don’t turn on the brush before you put it in your mouth.

Having good friends is wonderful all the time, but especially when something like this happens. Because I’m plastered and trussed like a Christmas turkey, my gorgeous friend Lyn brought over several of her singlet tops which are a couple of sizes bigger than mine, cut the shoulder straps and sewed on velcro so I can step into one and my husband pulls it up and fastens it at the shoulders. One of her shirts goes around the bulky arm so I am at least looking presentable on trips to doctors etc.

After all the flooding and now the destruction from Cyclone Yasi, I feel bad even mentioning my arm problem, but wanted to explain why I’ve been so slack in blogging. I hope that everyone affected by the floods and the cyclone can recover as quickly as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I’m anxiously waiting news about a friend in Innisfail as I haven’t been able to make contact with her. She and eight others sheltered in the bathroom while Cyclone Larry tore most of her house to shreds around them in 2006, so I’m hoping Yasi has spared her this time.

6 thoughts on “Please don’t give me a break …

  • 21/03/2011 at 11:30 pm
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    Hi Dean
    Electric toothbrushes are a bit like writing – you have to keep control of them or they’ll shoot off in all directions 🙂
    Funny thing I learned about having a broken arm – when you have to constantly use the unbroken one and it’s not the one you usually use, it’s very brain-tiring. It’s as though all my energy is spent on the physical act of ‘doing’ and not much is left for creativity. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon, but I still have at least another three weeks in the splint and sling.
    WriteFest is certainly coming around fast – I’m trying to keep on top of the organising – cross fingers!

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  • 21/03/2011 at 11:22 pm
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    Hi Irene and Noel
    Great to hear from you. I doubt I’ll be making it to Cairns any time this year, but I’ll definitely catch up if I do. I hope you’re both keeping well and enjoying life.

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  • 20/03/2011 at 2:28 pm
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    I just read your blog and laughed hard at the electric toothbrush episode. Just had a picture of you wondering where all the dots came from, just like Thomas, my son did the first time he used one. Looking forward to coming down in April/May again and seeing you.

    The arm is a challenge but challenges make us think! Don’t over do it Sandy and I will see you soon in Bundy. Have boat organised if we get flooded again.

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  • 11/03/2011 at 5:03 pm
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    Hi Sandy
    I was just reading you went to Mackey last year. When are you heading for Cairns, would love to catch up.

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  • 02/03/2011 at 8:37 pm
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    Looks like my humerus bone is going like life – not in a straight line 🙂
    I’m getting better at doing things (it’s amazing what you can do with one hand, your teeth and very flexible toes) but am frustrated that it takes twice as long to do what I can. Thanks for your kind thoughts, Kerry Anne.

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  • 02/03/2011 at 5:14 pm
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    Sorry to hear about your broken arm. Remember life just doesn’t go in a straight line [a dissertation on my own blog]. I hope you are soon much more mobile but watch out for that electric toothbrush, they can have a mind of their own ha ha!

    Reply

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