As you can see, I’m rather incapacitated at present. I have had my first cataract operation, on the right eye, last week. Until it improves I have lost my stereoscopic binocular vision. I’m having trouble judging distances, my world is temporarily two dimensional for the most part. Simple little tasks like pouring a teapot need a lot of concentration to avoid missing the cup altogether. Even hitting the right keys on the keyboard is not straight forward. Driving is on hold for a few days. There will be no walks for awhile. Hence this more mundane post today.
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The operation was a little complicated for reasons I won’t go into, taking twice as long as usual and needing all the skill of the surgeon of whom I’m in awe. Lying perfectly still for three quarters of an hour wasn’t easy. Anyhow I’m on the mend, the shield has now come off except for night time and the blurriness is receding One drawback, though essential, is having to use eyedrops every four hours. I set my alarm to remand me six times a day and to get me up for the 4am dose. The second operation, on my left eye, is due in August when I will go through it all again.
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This week whilst resting up I have had a series of appliance failures, electrical rather than bodily this time. I knew my microwave was ‘on the blink’ ( no direct reference to my eye problems) so before surgery I payed a visit to our local friendly electric shop and came home with a new microwave. Amazingly I was able to purchase the simplest version with not a digital screen in sight, just two knobs – timer and power. Just like they used to be. 
At the same time my expresso coffee machine, which has done good service over maybe 20 years, started to cut out. I suspect the thermostat is malfunctioning but in this throwaway society there is no chance of repair. My morning coffee is essential so I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately the shop doesn’t sell these machines so I have to revert to the internet, I normally always try to buy local. What a complex subject with some versions costing up to a thousand pounds for the barista touch. Lakeland Plastics have a reasonably priced version just coming out but in their sale was the old version at half price. It arrives promptly in the largest cardboard box possible. I’m getting the hang of it, time will tell how reliable it will be. 
They say things come in threes and yesterday I noticed my freezer had stopped working, possibly without my knowledge for a few days. Everything was well and truly defrosted and beyond safely saving. My job today was to empty it. Bread, cakes and pizzas have gone to the birds – I have a hungry family of blackbirds. The vegetables and prepared soups etc were loaded into the barrow to boost the compost heap. What a shame. I haven’t thought about a replacement as yet. 
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All this has me thinking – where does the expression ‘things come in threes’ – good as well as bad, come from?
The number three has historical as well as folklore relevance. The Holy Trinity and The Three Wise Men from the bible. The Trimurti triad in Hinduism. Literature and Fairy Tales have three bears, three wishes, and three challenges. In everyday life we suggest the best of three and count to three before a race. Three darts. Three Lions. Three Bells.
The origins remain unclear but we continue to use it. Psychologists suggest that by accepting a limit of three we subconsciously create an end point and hope our bad luck will cease. Obviously there is no evidence to support bad luck occurring in threes, randomness prevails. We forget the times when bad luck didn’t occur in threes and hence perpetuate the the theory.
So my three bad luck stories this week are purely coincidental and there may be another one around the corner. Or lets hope for some good luck stories, preferably in threes.
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Whilst taking my defrozen food to the compost heap I am assailed by a deep sweet rose scent coming from rambling Bobbie James. I leave you with a picture of him, you will have to imagine the scent.
I can’t help thinking that despite my troubled week I have come up smelling of roses.
Oh my, what a week you’re having. You have my sympathies and best wishes for a bright and clear future. But you’re right, the phrase up north is ’these things happen’ and we’ve been saying it since at least Anglo Saxon days. Funny how it’s never the good stuff that happens in threes!
Thanks.
Meant to say the ‘new eye’ is so much brighter now.
A blessing we haven’t got 3 eyes then. 🤣
We all have a third eye when needed.
The ever seeing 3rd eye. It should have known of the failures coming.
Ah! but the best things come in four. Unfortunately I ca’t get even anywhere near affording this stuff. Here is the old Bordeaux Premières Cru list:
First-Growths / Premières Crus
Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
Château Latour Pauillac
Château Margaux Margaux
Château Haut-Brion Pessac, Graves (since 1986, Pessac-Léognan)
Having to chuck all that freezer food is a real tragedy, especially when you factor in the labour that has gone into its creation. You may recoup something by making a valuable work of modern art from the colourful photo- your freezer cooking looks like a Hockney palette.
I know what to buy you for Xmas.
Wish you a speedy recovery. I had diplopia last year which was bad enough.
Thanks John. The eye is healing remarkably quickly.
That’s a bad run of luck, but worth the trade with the universe for the eye op to be a success – mind you, you didn’t sell it well – I couldn’t lie still for ten minutes. I’ve long suspected my own early cataracts are why I’ve given up driving at night, unable to deal with super-bright headlights. Here’s to a speedy recovery.
Thanks Michael. I think normally 10 minutes is all they need. I cannot praise the ssurgeon enough. All ready I’m virtually back to normal – hopefully will be able to drive at night this coming winter.
Sorry to read of all your woes BC but it’s good to know your eye is on the mend. A shame about all the freezer food but better to dispose of it than risk becoming ill on top of everything else.
Thanks Eunice, I’m still smelling of roses.
Thought this might interest you if you haven’t already seen it – it seems the gate problems still haven’t been sorted
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boat-owners-at-troubled-lancashire-port-face-huge-bill-for-police-escorts/ar-BB1pF9EB?ocid=msedgnt
When was that article? I thought they had sorted the gates
It was today BC, I read it on MSN News just before I sent you the link
Hope your on the mend and getting to grips with the new coffee machine. I feel quite similar about my morning coffee….
I’ll be out of action myself from next Wednesday- a minor toe op will restrict my walking for a week or so. Fingers crossed(another old saying!) that we’re both out and about soon
Upwards and onwards.
Wish you speedy recovery.
Thanks. The eye has healed very quickly.