I Missed My Train Today

It was the last day of my boyfriend's 21st birthday.  A very warm day indeed with highs of 28 degrees Celsius.  It was a wondrous day full of family and friends and lots of cake.

Those are not ice creams but cupcakes inside ice cream cones topped with dairy free butter cream and an assortment of toppings.

We came across a traffic jam on the M25 on the way to the train station after having to cut my evening short due to my impending train journey.  The look of dread was a common look among my mum, sister and myself as we knew, at that moment, I would not make my train and we may be travelling to Loughborough by car.  My mum suggested I rang the train station to see if I could catch the later train, but seeing as though the station is on the way to Loughborough, we would just slip in and see there and then.

20 minutes passed and we were only moving at a snail's pace.  Then 2 unmarked police cars came hurtling past on the hard-shoulder, followed by a Highways Agency 4x4 and 2 incident support trucks (or tow trucks really but that's what they had on the side).  Another 10 minutes passed and we could hear a siren, possibly an ambulance we thought.  It was behind us, and not getting any closer and we couldn't figure out why.  A quick look to the hard-shoulder told us that the road works currently occurring on that stretch of M25 (like the rest of it) had closed the hard-shoulder.  My mum, along with the other drivers stuck on the road, tried to move as best they could with the limited amount of room and 2 fire trucks drove past.  Then another 2 came along.  As we slowly reached the tunnel before the A10 turning, we could see that 3 of the 4 lanes had been closed off and cars we slowly being allowed through the single lane of the tunnel, and the accident.  Another 2 fire trucks slowly edged their way through the small gap between cars and the cones the Highways Agency had used to close the lanes.  As we passed the accident it looked like a mini-van had gone into the back of a 4x4, and someone was on a stretcher (I know, we're nosey).

After that it was smooth sailing to the train station.  I was 15 minutes late to my train, so if the mini-van hadn't gone into the back of the 4x4, we would have made it with 15 minutes to spare.  Luckily, I had the right type of ticket so I could just jump onto the next train.

After we passed the accident, the clockwise lanes were shut due to the road being uneven after an accident (I assume the accident part).  This was the couple-mile long queue.  I'm glad we weren't in that.

 Here's me thinking my life is so uneventful.

Challenge Failed

Well I only lasted a week and a half.  I'm really upset with myself.  I'm not sure if I could have continued with it or not though.

Yesterday I woke up and everything hurt - my muscles and joints.  My muscles feel like they are all bruised and my joints just ache.  I'm still getting on with things though, going to work and such.  I'm not sure what brought on the ache, I'm just hoping it's not a flare up.

My boyfriend's 21st birthday was a success last week.  We went to London for the day, explored Camden market again, nearly bought the whole of Forbidden Planet, and ate our weight in ribs at Bodeans.  On Saturday he had all of his dad's side of the family round for a BBQ which was very nice indeed, and this Sunday he's having his mum's side of the family round for another BBQ.  More trains!!  I love trains.

My computer is still trying to fix itself.  Good old fashioned Check Disc.  Everyone I've spoken to about it though have said to just scrap it and buy a new and more reliable one.  I think I will once I've backed up all of my data though, if I can back it up when it finishes.

Oh well... Train soon :)

Wednesday Wonderings: Trains

I know today isn't Wednesday, but I was out the whole of yesterday and didn't get a chance to write a post.

I'm on the train. A lot.  It feels like I'm on the train at least twice a week (partially because for the past 3 weeks I have had return journeys).  I need an aisle seat for my arthritis and Crohn's - it makes things easier if I need to rush to the toilet or get up and stretch - so I always choose it as a preference when booking my tickets.  One thing I do not get, though, is why one of the preferences while booking train tickets is to sit at a table.  Having a table seat restricts your leg room and you are facing at least one other person.  No one wants that.  The only time having a table seat is good is when you have the whole table to yourself.

Rant over :)

Medical Support

I've been with my gastroenterologist since I was diagnosed back in October. When I was first referred to him, he was brilliant. I had my colonoscopy quickly (unlike someone else I know who is currently on a waiting list, I had mine within a week of my first appointment). I had great faith in my doctor. The third time I saw him, back in December, things went a bit downhill. Most gastro docs don't like surgery; they see it as a last resort. Now, knowing that I have a mild case of crohn's disease and what I would call a manageable amount of pain, he was considering surgery. I'm still in my early twenties and only diagnosed two months beforehand. I didn't have the greatest faith in him after that visit. The last time I saw him was back in February (I see him every 6 weeks). Bearing in mind that I see him privately, have to catch a train from loughborough to Essex to see him and have a day off work, when he was over 30 minutes late and only saw me for 5 minutes telling me he couldn't do anything because he didn't have my latest blood test results (which is a lie because my healthcare assistant faxes them to his secretary) I lost all faith in him and I now feel like I am in this on my own. Don't get me wrong, I have my family to support me, but having someone who knows what they're doing and has knowledge in the area in which is causing you pain is a great gift and weight off your mind. I feel incredibly let down. Keeping in mind the fact that I see him privately, I'm meant to see him again next week, but he cancelled in the last minute and I can't see him now for another 3 weeks. So that's a train fare and day of work wasted.

Busy busy busy

Next week is going to be a very busy one for me.
Doctors on Monday, along with a blood test.  I have to go every two weeks because I'm on Sulfasalazine (just to check my full blood count and liver functions, make sure it isn't killing me from the inside).
On Tuesday I've got a monthly review, just paperwork for my university, along with a four hour company meeting (free lunch :D).
On Monday and Tuesday, we are releasing a commercial and first beta (software engineering, fun times).
Wednesday I have my last meeting while in testing, and Thursday I move back to developing (I get swapped between both every 3 months).  Thursday evening I'm on the train home (yay :)) and it's Sootie's first time on the train.
Friday is a trip to the GI consultant and physio.
Phew, long week ahead.