THE BLOGMEISTER IS BACK....WITH ALL DONGLES FULLY FUNCTIONAL!!!!!!

My thanks to stand-in blogger Todd who kept everyone up to speed during my incarceration here in the Bay of islands and Whangerai Hospitals.

It wasn’t the start to my time in New Zealand that I had envisaged but my thanks to Mr Vince and his Orthopedics team, the staff in Theatres 1 & 2 who looked after me during the two operations to fix my foot and the hard working staff on Ward 1 who seemed never to stop, always had a smile and made sure that I was well cared for.

My thanks also to Todd and Terje for helping me get Curious to a safe haven, their many visits with clean clothes, DVD’s, books and Chinese and Indian meals as well as the forementioned Dongle!

Family and friends back home made sure that I received numerous e mails of support and love as well as photos of grand daughter Anwen to keep my spirits up.

But I owe a debt of thanks to my extended cruising family who ralled round from the get go.

Rolando and Sarah in Auckland, Rick and Jon still at sea, Alison and Allan in Australia and in Opua, James and Lucy, Steve and Helen and  Mona from Navarene.

A special thanks must go to Michael and Gloria who rallied round to take me to and from hospital, visited on numerous occasions bringing books, goodies and meals.

And to Jo and Gram who helped get me to the Bay of Islands hospital on the first morning and continued to visit and make sure that I was OK.

But I am indebted to my good friend and personal Orthopedic Surgeon Bill Strassberg.

We have shared some fantastic adventures together this year, some unforgetable meals and more than the odd bottle of good wine.

When I called in to Opua Customs and MAF at 6.30am asking to be rushed through the formailities so that I could go to hospital it was his voice that next came on the radio, telling me he would meet us on the dock, take me to hospital and ensure that I got the care I needed. He has kept his promise and his own immediate diagnosis has turned out to be 100% accurate.

Standing by my bed in A&E he quietly suggested to the German doctor that he might consider a certain course of action (part of which was to keep me in hospital for full time care).

He visited daily to ensure that the correct antibiotics were administered, that the wound was dressed and that the infection was given time to show itself.

When the Doctor suggested that he should clean away the infected tissue and leave it to take its course it was Bill who insisted that things were far more serious and that treatment by an Orthopedic Surgeon was the correct course of action and that I should be transferred to Whangerai. It was he that suggested to the attending Senior Registrar who saw us in A&E Whangerai that perhaps his boss the Consultant should take a look at my foot...and so it was that I came under the supervision of Dr Vince a very experienced Orthopedic Surgeon from the USA (and Bill looking over his shoulder asking questions and making suggestions).

At the very least his intervention has saved me many additional days in hospital, probably from a far serious infection and possibly a from far more serious outcome.

GOOD FRIENDS ARE PRICELESS

I count myself a very lucky man to have so man good friends and I cannot find the words to fully express my gratitude.

And finally, Trish has had the hardest time of all, we have had to virtually tie her down to stop her catching the next flight over and possibly passing each other mid air as I fly back to her.

It is only all of the care and attention of the  friends above that has enabled her to remain in the UK.