danger – willowdot21

K.L.Caley’s #WRITEPHOTO – Gargoyle.

Here we are again it’s time for K.L.Caley’s#writephoto Gargoyle. I hope no one minds that I have added an extra photo to the story. This week finds Morgarna at her whits end and Merlin and Gail in danger

As Gail walked along the left side of the path she noted the dates and names on the grave stones, anything from the 14th century she thought to herself. Then she saw a few people ….no not people ghosts milling around. After a while they noticed her and a young woman carrying a baby came across to speak with her.
“Hello miss you’re one of us are you, you have a gentle aura”
Gail smiled and replied, “Hello I am Gail , who are you”
“I’m Sarah and this is my son Richard , what are you doing here because I can see you don’t belong”
“Well it’s a long story but we have a friend who is in trouble and we were wondering if you could help us”
The young woman nodded and asked “How can we help?”
“Well we were here the other night and an entity followed us home and managed to get Morgarna, that’s out friend to take him back to him time to help him clear his name of murder and find out who commited said murder. But the thing is he lied about where and when he was from and he covered his tracks on our computers…and he should not know what a computer is let alone how to use one…..”
Sarah looked at Gail open mouthed ,
“Oh! Sorry Sarah I am gabbling aren’t I, sorry! Have you noticed anyone, any ghost , not ghost hanging around! “
As Gail stopped talking Merlin approached them , “Hello I am Meriln please don’t be afraid of me I can see you as well as you see me. We are looking for an Entity called”
“John, John” Sarah suddenly said.
“Yes that’s right” said Gail and Merlin as one.

Sarah had called the others over and they all sat on the steps of the war memorial, some old and young service men had joined them.
They told Merlin and Gail how this John had arrived about a week ago and had been quizzing everyone about their lives especially the older ones….he was looking for an Annette.
Had he found her Merlin asked, they told him no because she was buried in one of the chapels in the church but they noticed he could not enter the church. That was when they started to wonder who or what he was. Merlin looked at the all and asked ” so you all felt there was something odd about him, then?”
As one, Gail included they answered “Yes”

Merlin got out the E.R. and took some readings from where the others had said John had been hanging around. He also took a couple of readings from the resident ghosts for comparison. He fed these readings into his tablet and started to scan the results. “Gail” he called “Come and check this out” pointing to his tablet ” Look this reading it’s not human and it’s definitely not spirit “
“So what is it” asked Gail peering over Merlin’s shoulder.”
“There’s only one thing it can be and that is alien” Merlin replied.
“Look, Merlin , that huge reading there that’s new and it’s not one of us!” Gail pointed out.

High above where Gail and Merlin stood staring at the screne, there was movement on the crenellation above them, below which were four gargoyles jutting out above the arched windows of the church. Suddenly there was a noise, a slipping noise . Just as the missile came hurtling down towards Merlin’s head Gail saw what was happening and she shoved Merlin to one side while all the other Ghosts stood in shocked silence.
Merlin fell backwards as the grotesque head of a gargoyle just missed him, he fell flat on his back but bounced up immediately! There was a sudden flash and another gargoyle hurtled towards Merlin. This time the wizard stopped it with a hand! The entity known as John cursed loudly and stepped back through a crack in reality and disappeared.

The Ghosts all gathered around Merlin and asked if he was okay, then they turned to Gail and demanded how she had managed to move a human and an immortal wizard at that!
Merlin put his hand up to silence them and answered their question. “It’s simple I have given Gail a human shell and real feelings so that she can move among humans and assist Morgarna and myself without drawing attention to herself or us.
“Who is Morgarna” asked a young airman with a burnt face . “Our other partner, she’s a sourceress and this alien John has kidnapped her and has her imprisoned somewhere. Now it seems to me we need to meet Annette before John returns possibly with back up. “

They entered the church, this strange band of ghosts from different era’s and walks of life/death lead by Merlin.
The church was dark and cold but as they all entered it was of a sudden full of warmth , light and happiness.
As they all walked up the ailse the door to one of the side chapels opened and a beautiful woman dressed in a pure white shroud came out to greet them.
She had the most beautiful face and although she exuded an aura of peace she had a deep jagged scar around her throat.
“Lady Annette ” said Meriln bowing deeply, “I am Merlin and I am here to help. “
Annette smiled and asked, “Have you truly come to help unite me with my John, my true John”

Meanwhile back at the dungeon Morgarna was getting angry , none of her magic was working, she’d run out of cigarettes and down to her last flask of Bacardi and coke . She was tired, cold and dirty and angry but also she was scared and as she swore and shouted at her captures a single tear ran down her cheek…

PART OF K.L.CALEY’S#WRITEPHOTO: GARGOYLE

K.L.Caley’s # Cemetery.

K.L.Caley.

Morgarna landed first by the river and loved the whole scene…while she could she took in her surroundings and pulled her cape around her against the morning chill.
John arrived hitting the ground running…
“Woa! What sort of sourcery is this” he whispered as he came to a stop just short of the water.
“Mine” replied Morgarna with a smile… Though I have to give Merlin some credit well quite a lot … well never mind “
John looked at Morgarna as she lit a cigarette and took a large drag on it.
“So this is where it all happened John are you brave enough to find out who murdered Annette, we will have to witness the whole scene are you up for this?”
John took a deep breath and agreed that yes he was ready for whatever might transpire.

They spent the day in the village Morgarna asking questions and sharing healing potion recipes with the women in the village and drinking in the tavern …
She had made John invisible so that he could watch and listen and hear any plans that concerned Annette being made.
At one point she summoned John to a copse outside the village and said …’This is not three hundred years ago John, this is more six hundred years back … Why did you lie to us ? Did you think I wouldn’t notice? “
“Oh! no Morgana I didn’t mean to lie I wasn’t sure if you’d help me after all these times are dangerous for a sourceress. I knew you’d know as soon as you saw the village.”..he looked a little sheepish …. something Morgarna noted.

Evening approached and Morgarna and John followed the line of the river. After half an hour they reached the spot and John suggested they hide in the bushes and wait. Dusk fell and Morgarna had a cigarette and a drink from her flask. John seemed rather agitated which Morgarna put down to nerves at having to watch his lover being slaughtered and by who!
Then along the same path Morgarna and John had walked earlier came the sound of voices.
To Morgarna’s surprise she saw John and Annette walking towards them…
They were arguing , as they reached the back she watched in horror as John drew his sword and holding Annette down he cut her throat.
Wide eyed Morgarna span round to confront John. Who was right behind her but he was older and his black eyes held her gaze as they glinted with evil?

The last thing Morgarna saw before she lost consciousness was a younger and blooded John and the older version meld into one. She had a vague sense of being picked up and flung over a horse before complete darkness engulfed her.

Morgarna’s eyes opened and she tried to focus in the damp and dark… She was wet and cold and she smelt really bad. As her eyes became accustomed to the dark she could make out that she was in a dungeon. Looking round Morgarna could see a couple of skeletons and a rotting corpse ….well she thought to herself this looks helpful..not.
She lit a cigarette and gave the matter some thought…where was she, well for a start she was three hundred years further back than Merlin thought she was….that was not good, neither was the fact that she was stuck in this stinking dungeon .

Merlin put his coffee down and looked at the readings from his new ‘Entity Reader’ he’d read it three times now and he was now certain that there was something truly amiss. “Gail , could you spare a minute I need a second opinion, as you come in could you just walk throy the new E.R. reader for me. “
“Yes on my way Merlin just let me get this Lasagné out of the oven and I will be there!”
Merlin rolled his eyes, what have we created he smiled to himself , Mary Berry move over.
Gail came in and walked through the E.R. machine, immediately the reading came up on his laptop. He compared it to the reading he had taken from John the night before and shook his head. “What’s the problem Merlin you look confused” Gail asked looking concerned.
“It’s John’s reading Gail ….it’s so different to yours that I really doubt that he is what he said he is .. No ghost would have a reading like his”
Gail looked at the readings and though she could see they were in no way similar she didn’t really understand. ” Honestly Merlin I don’t understand this at all but my first impression of John was evil….. Then later I felt bewitched by him and after he left I was so relieved.”
“Yes” Merlin replied, there is definitely something not right here and his signature is definitely a lot older than three hundred years as he told us. It’s much more like six hundred?”
“Signature?” Asked Gail, “whatdoes that mean?”
“Well the new E.R. machine takes a reading from all entities that it scans, your signature Gail, is eighty years old, twenty years of life and sixty of death “
“Right ” agreed Gail, “and John’s?”
Merlin looked up , ” Well it’s over six hundred years and he has never died!”
Gail and Merlin looked at eachother , Merlin picked up the car keys …get your coat Gail we need to go back to the Cemetery where John or whatever decided to follow us!
As they left Gail called out as she grabbed her coat “Alexa turn everything off”. Merlin waved his hand to make doubly sure be all was safe.

Merlin drove , he would never of admitted it but he was worried about Morgarna where was she and what was happening to her. An hour later they arrived back at the cemetery a path with graves and trees aligning each side of it. Right said Merlin you take the left and I will take the right …..if you meet any ghosts please question them we need to find out who this John is and where he is from.

Meanwhile Morgarna was cold dirty and actually quite scared….. She lit a cigarette and thought ….find me guys find me!

Part of K.L. Caley’s # writephoto.

K.L. Caley’s #WRITEPHOTO – Dress.

The next chapter in The 3 Ms adventure. For K.L.Caley’s #writephoto

The woosh stopped right outside the door, Morgarna lifted her left hand and whispered some strange words making Morgause disappear. Then she took two more drags on her cigarette before stamping it out on the floor. She stood facing the door as the shadows rushed in and surrounded her.

Morgarna could feel their hands reaching inside of her and she could hear everyone of their murderous thoughts…… Suddenly she felt so chilled and oddly light headed , she could feel herself drifting out of conciseness. Just as she decided all was lost and that all her magic had deserted her she felt two familure hands around her chest pulling her backwards.

As her eyes became accustomed to the light after the dark of the celler she made out Merlin in the corner gentle pouring a potion down Morgause’s throat.
“Is she okay” she asked quietly, taking in her surroundings she realised they were back at the lab.
“Yup ” replied Merlin ” it looks like I got you both out just in time, thanks to you using the panic button just in time!”
Morgarna shivered “I am so cold those shadows had their hands right inside me and their thoughts invaded my head, I was slipping Merls honest I was! ” Morgarna held on to the worktop feeling weak.
“Drink this” snapped Merlin pushing a cup towards her.
Morgarna grabbed it and took a couple of long swiggs of the steaming liquid. ” Is this what your giving Morgause?” She asked feeling the warmth flowing through her veins.
Merlin laughed, ” I am not wasting good potion on you , no it is black coffee laced with brandy and cream”

Later while Morgause slept peacefully , Merlin and Morgarna sat in the kitchen eating curry they discussed their next move. Tearing of some naan bread Merlin said, ” I am sorry Morgs Hun , I had no idea what I was sending you into the instructions simply said… Trouble at Barnard Castle , run on eye tests and lots of shadows? “
Morgarna took a sip of her wine, ” I see so really there was no sense in that, that things were lethal? … Is Margause going to be okay, it was touch and go back there. “
“It was and is, Morgause is going to take a while to come round let alone recover. I should never of let her join you she is still a medieval sourceress at heart. I really put her in danger….. And you of course” Merlin added the last bit when he saw the look on Morgarna’s face.
Putting down her knife, to Merlin’s relief, Morgarna half smiled. “It’s okay I know how she can wrap anyone round her finger and she can get you to do anything she wants” putting up her hand to silence Merlin who was about to defend himself she continued. “Yes she is a total anathema, we have had centuries to adapt where as she just Jumped impulsively into our time line before I could stop her! “
” But she is a danger to herself and us ” they both said together.

After they had eaten they sat up long into the night working on their laptops and several magic books until at 5am Merlin shouted “Morgs here I have found it , in this book of spells believe it or not!”
Morgarna wandered across, ” Well what’s the plan then? “
“I think the best thing is you go back to the day you arrived but this time you’ll set down in the castle. Before Morgause joined you.” “Tell me Merlin” Morgarna interrupted, “why did Morgarna arrive as a crab ??”
Taking a deep breath Merlin ignored her and continued, this is the plan” he said handing her, her phone, and guess what Morgs you’ll be wearing this!

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a traditional ballgown made of leaves and foliage.

K.L. Caley’s #WRITEPHOTO – Crab.

This is part of K.L.Caley’s #WRITEPHOTO – Crab.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a rather fearsome little crab with pretty big claws, making her way along some white stones

Right thought Morgarna stubbing out her cigarette and finishing her wine…what next.
As she watched a pattern emerged, the shadows were circling the people and only seemed to be picking on the weak , age seemed to have nothing to do this selection. It was not random either there was method to this madness.
Well sitting here in the sun, nice as it was would not find any answers.
Morgarna picked up her bag and left the pub garden. The street outside was strangely quiet, no one around but she could hear a strange buzzing coming from up the hill, so she followed it.
Rooting in her bag Morgarna got her mobile out and flicking a switch on the side it opened an app that guided her toward the hum.
Turning a corner by Boots the chemist she suddenly found herself back in traffic and crowds of people. Looking around Morgana could see the shadows where moving around in the crowds, whispering in an ear here and touching a shoulder there . Scanning the area she could see they were everywhere in the cars, shops and they seemed totally in control.
Suddenly Morgarna’s phone rang, it could only be one of two people, Morgause or Merlin and it could only be important. It was Merlin , “Hi babes how’s it going?” Morgarna stepped into a shop doorway and said “Not so good Merls it’s pretty bad here, there’s shadows controling the place and they are killing people”
“I thought there was a problem you’ve been gone so long.” Merlin replied, he could hear the concern in her voice.
“I am sending Morgause to help you she jumped about five minutes ago.” Merlin continued.
Morgarna lit a cigarette and asked where she could find her sister.
Merlin said, “I am sending you an app that will take you straight to her “

Morgarna followed the new app and it took her to an aquarium just off the main street. It was dark inside but really quite an inviting place. The tanks were full of really beautiful fish and coral.
Looking around Morgana wondered where Morgause was. Suddenly Morgarna heard a tapping she swung around and followed the her ears toward the sound. There in a large aquarium were several types of crabs. Morgarna approached and peered in. There, staring at her and, in truth looking a tad discombobulated was a rather fearsome little crab with pretty big claws, making her way along some white stones her claws making a rhymic tapping sound!
Morgarna laughed….”Morgause is that you Hun? “

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 5, 2022.

A little dickie bird just landed on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. Yes it did and it told me that today is the eighth anniversary of LindaGHill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Well congratulations Linda what an amazing achievement 🥂🎇🎆🎊🎉🎆🎇🎊🎉.

As thebdixkie bird left he also told me that:Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “way to go.” Use it as a phrase or use it in its literal sense. Enjoy!

Way to go.

Back in the late eighties hubby, who was a senior Investigator for H.M. Customs and Excise before the Inland Revenue joined them, was sent to Northern Ireland.

I wrote a post about his commission and Warrent. from the Queen here

The late eighties were not the best time for a representative of the Queen visiting Northern Ireland. Why? Because Northern Ireland was then in the middle of the troubles.

Here is another post from that time.

Whilst in Belfast hubby and his colleague had to interview a chap on the Eastside of Belfast. The were told the way to go was to take the motor way to avoid the Falls Road and Divis Flats on Divis Road.

The trip there was fine, the interview fine. The return journey….not so. As they were leaving they asked the chap the best way to go to get back… The were told and gratefully followed the chap’s directions.

All was well until they took a turn onto the Falls Road, surrounded by lots of fierce looking guys sitting on the walls, all the traffic lights had wire meshing over them to protect them. They soon realized they were definitely in a no go area. Worse still they were in a red car with a huge floppy aerial denoting, a radio, denoting an official car. ..eek. Worse still they went through the Divis flats watched all the way by curious and not too friendly looking locals.

After a long and worrying drive back hubby and colleague decided that was definitely not the way to go!

This was part of LindaGHill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday eighth anniversary.

Song Lyric Sunday: Disturbing!

Well here we are it’s Sunday again and time again for Jim Adams. I am late but I have a pass from my dear departed mum.

So it’s August 15, 2021 and our prompts for Song Lyric Sunday are – Nightmare, Danger, Terror,Fear And Horror.

My first choice is Nightmare by Halsey, you may as why I chose such a recent song, well I do live lyrics and in a weird way this song speaks of how I often feel even now.

“Nightmare” is a song by American singer Halsey. It was released as a single on May 17, 2019 and was sent to top 40 radio on May 21, 2019 through Capitol Records. The song was written by Halsey along with its producers Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat, and Happy Perez. The music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, accompanied its release the same day.

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Next up it has to be Dangerous by David Guetta featuring Sam Mark. Guetta’s fabulous creation so complimented by Sam Martin’s voice, what not to love? Plus a Si Fi video to die for💜

“Dangerous” is a song by French music producer David Guetta released as the second single from his sixth studio album, Listen. It features vocals by American singer and songwriter Sam Martin. It was released as a digital download on 6 October 2014. Both artists co-wrote and co-produced the song with Giorgio Tuinfort and Jason Evigan, with additional writing from Lindy Robbins. A remix featuring Trey Songz, Chris Brown, and Martin was released on 9 January 2015.

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“Your my my courage when I worry in the deep of night”…we all know that feeling don’t we. Again I find myself drawn to group and the only reason is they sound so good! So that’s why I picked the Afters again.

The Afters are an American Christian pop rock band founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they played for customers, before deciding to form a band. They were initially joined by Brad Wigg from the same Starbucks, and drummer Michael Burden and performed under the name Blisse. When Burden left the band Marc Dodd, from the Mesquite Starbucks, stepped in. Their song “Never Going Back to OK” was the most-played song on R&R magazine’s Christian CHR chart for 2008.

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With such Night terror prompts I had to include The Eye of The needle by Sia…. No one expresses the night terrors better

Eye of the Needle” is a song recorded by Australian recording artist Sia for her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear (2014). The song was released on 3 June 2014 as a promotional single by Inertia in Australia and Monkey Puzzle and RCA Records globally. It appeared on record charts of Australia, France and the United Kingdom.

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Of course I saved the best until last….no one does it better than Kate Bush….(well perhaps Immi) with Hammer Horror. It’s wonderful lyrics and video….it so beautifully hammy!

Hammer Horror” was Kate Bush‘s fourth single release and first single from her second album Lionheart. It was released on 27 October 1978. Following the top ten success of her first two singles, the song charted at a much lower No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart. The parent album, released a few weeks later, was unaffected and charted in the top 10. “Hammer Horror” proved to be a temporary blip, for Bush’s next single returned her to the top 20. In other countries it fared better, such as Ireland, where it reached No. 10. In Australia, Kate Bush devised the dance routine for the song in her Melbourne hotel room, and performed the song on the television show Countdown.

The song references Hammer Films, a company specializing in horror movies. However, Bush conceived of the song after viewing the film Man of a Thousand Faces, a biographical film – not produced by Hammer – about Lon Chaney starring James Cagney. “The song was inspired by seeing James Cagney playing the part of Lon Chaney playing the hunchback”, Bush stated in 1979. “He was an actor in an actor in an actor, rather like Chinese boxes, and that’s what I was trying to create.” The story of the song concerns an actor who gets thrust into the lead role of The Hunchback of Notre Dame after the original actor dies in an accident on the film set. The guilt-ridden narrator of the song ends up being haunted by the ghost of the jealous original actor, who was a former friend. A promotional video was made for the single featuring Bush and a black-masked dancer performing the song against a black background.

Information on this post from Wikipedia

Everything else said is from me!

Well I know I am late but it’s a busy day today, better than a fear filled night though! Here is one of my night horror poems .

NIGHT HORRORS.

image from here

When sleep deserts you reason is not far behind.

Panic moves in and is far from kind.

With sanity fleeing, taking sense in its path

It feels like a car crash’s bad aftermath!

Darkness creeps and confusion reins

You can smell the fear like dirty drains.

Open a window and breathe in the night

Calm yourself now there is no need for flight.

Look up to the stars they are laughing at you

They’ve seen night horrors before so it’s nothing is new.

The moon and the stars burn with ancient light

Oblivious of you with no care for your plight.

The night is an abandoned tunnel damp and dark.

Shadowy and cold echoing to the sound of a vicious dog’s bark.

The climb is steep and narrow there is no rest

You slip and stumble blindly hoping for the best.

Where is the comfort where is the light

When will there be an end to this endless night.

Happy Sunday everyone.💜💜

Template: Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 141 #PhotoPrompt

Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

**A Final Warning.**

Dead

Starfish

On the beach

Are a message

Tell me who’ll listen

The bottle glints brightly

In un-natural hot sun

It too holds a message for us

Our planet is dying as we watch

We were custodians but we have failed.

Can

We heed

The message

Is it too late

Are we spoilers

Is this our sole fate

Can we save the planet

Rescue the land and the seas

Hark the note in the bottle please

Time is galloping away from us

Stop the rape and plunder of mother earth.

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The above is my entry to Colleen’s Tuesday Tanka Challenge.

Today is the middle Tuesday of the month and I am delighted to say it means we have a picture prompt. Thank you Colleen this one is a beauty which we can take in many directions. I have chosen a Butterfly Etheree , I feel the Butterfly is apt because I have chosen to use the message in the bottle as a warning. We have polluted our seas with plastic and chemicals, injuring and killing our aquatic wildlife. We are mining, deforesting and poisoning the earth and burning a hole in the ozone allowing climate change, It is real. I have not even touched on the ward we are waging.

We (humans) are the cause whether we intend to be or not. We must act now or lose our beautiful home.

Love to you all.

Never ignore a scratch, the dangers of Sepsis. Part 2.

The night of 24th/25th July.

The nurse set up my first drip and hoisted my arm up and got me into bed. I was in a very strange position but I could put up with that. She said she was sorry that I could only have two pillows as she had another patient coming in later and she didn’t have enough to go round. It was already 11pm and I wondered what time the next patient was coming in.

I was offered painkillers but as much as my hand and arm hurt I refused the prescription painkillers but I accepted paracetamol. I had to explain that I had been addicted to Tramadol and Gabapentin ( I have broken my back twice and had been addicted to painkillers…another story) so paracetamol it was….it didn’t help but there was no way would I take anything stronger.

I couldn’t sleep, there was so much going on, people taking my temperature, blood pressure at different times, changing my drip. The the other patient arrived that was all a flurry.

I couldn’t sleep for the pain and I couldn’t use my phone as the battery was low and I had brought nothing with me , not even a charger.

Me in a fetching hospital gown, lol, don’t I look a mess

I did eventually fall asleep but then the dreams started. One in particular, I was outside talking to a Dr when I fell back and everything went black, felt a strange floating sensation as I drifted into the sun, I remember thinking don’t let me die please. I woke up to find a nurse standing by me. I didn’t tell her about my dream but I decided not to go back to sleep as the dream was so scary. A long painful night.

Thursday 25th July.

As always with hospitals they come round early with tablets, then breakfast, I ran the gauntlet of the tablets again, but after explaining again I got away with just paracetamol 😁.

More blood pressure temperature and drips it all busy. I had a headache still but I felt that the drip was working. A trainee Nurse and the ward sister arrived and ask if I would mind the young nurse taking my blood. I agree but almost immediately regret it. I concosole myself that she has to learn somewhere. I end up with a spectacular 6 inch bruise because she nicked a vein .

The doctors come round and checked me out they were pleased with the results of the blood test, the infection has halved, not gone but moving in the right direction.

The doctor’s decided that I can go home with a massive dose of antibiotics and a sling to keep my arm elevated. But before I can go home I have to have two more I. V. Drips. The day passes I do not feel at all well but I am relieved to he going home later.

At 3pm my youngest son arrives to visit me just as the sister is giving me my antibiotics, 3x150gms of Clindamycin 4x a day. I am feeling so tired I just want to get home. So my lad takes me home.

It was hard getting in the car with the huge sling on but I just wanted to get home.

I was so glad to get home, to rest. I was so grateful to have all my fingers, toes and limbs. I rested and finally after about four sleepless nights I got some sleep.

Friday 26th July.

I slept in and got up late and rested with my arm propped up and took my tablets. Our middle son came to visit and cheer me up.

I also was sent lovely flowers from my sister in law and youngest son and our eldest son rang up to check on me too.

I couldn’t sleep very well as the finger was still very painful.

I spent the whole night awake in pain worrying that things were not improving.

Saturday 27 July

Much the same as Friday.

Sunday 28th July

No sleep and the same as the day before. We had mother in law round so I put on a brave face.

Monday 29th July

Much the same again, I finish the antibiotics, I decided to be brave and went with hubby to walk our lovely dog Ruby, my huge sling raised a lot of eyebrows and questions. We had a laugh and a joke with the other dog walkers and it did give me a lift. But I was still in pain. The finger was going down now which was a good sign.

Still had trouble resting or sleeping.

Tuesday no change again but kept myself busy doing what could but getting tired very easily. Still painful.

Wednesday day 30th July

Saw another doctor who said there was still infection in the finger so she gave me another course of the same antibiotics.

Thursday 1st August

The skin on my finger stared to die and peel off. It was leaving the finger red raw and stinging.

Then some of the yellow poison and dead skin fell off.

Not nice but I am just showing you what happened.

Friday 2nd August

Hubby took Ruby and me out to cheer me up which it did. I was still in the sling but my finger was so sore we decided to get some light tubular bandages to protect the finger. It would be lighter than the sling, less hot and sticky and would keep all the dead skin in one place.

This was a brilliant move the lightweight bandages are a real boon.

From 3rd August to 10th (today)

There has not been much change but the skin is flaking off of the whole finger now and it is still sore and throbs occasionally. There is still a deep red patch where the original wound was but I am keeping it clean, dry and covered plus letting the air get to it when I can.

I am keeping a close eye on it and if there is no improvement next week I shall be going to see the Dr again.

I do know that these two posts have not been fun to write or no doubt to read but I think it is very important to let you all know how dangerous it can be to get even a tiny scratch on your finger. Please all of you be vigilant 💜

This is part 2 of Never ignore a scratch, the dangers of Sepsis. You can find Part 1 here.

Never ignore a scratch, the dangers of Sepsis. Part 1

16th of July

Just a normal day, I was busy doing housework and enjoying the warm weather. Midmorning I was sorting the washing, off the line, on to the clothes horse, off the clothes horse into the airing cupboard, out of airing cupboard put away or iron.

Nothing dangerous there. Yet there was, as I hung an item of laundry over the wooden slatted shelves in my airing cupboard I caught the middle knuckle of the middle finger on my left hand.

Shit bags, that hurt, I washed it cleaned it put a plaster on because it bled and I was doing white laundry.

Thereafter I changed plasters. and kept it clean.

This is a photo taken the next day, the scratch is so small if you did not know it was there you just would not see it. In fact it is just luck that the photo has my hands in it because I was unaware of what was brewing.

It was just a normal week, Pilates , coffee with a friend , a trip to Reading nothing special, nothing out of the normal but inside me things were not normal at all.

Saturday 20th July.

I was in the kitchen cleaning up when my finger brushed against the a kitchen cupboard, it was really sore, it made me jump. I looked at it nothing out of the ordinary, just a tiny scratch with a tiny flap of skin, nothing to write home about. So I cleaned it again and put a plaster on it.

In the afternoon we took Ruby for a walk and met my friend Natalie and her family, I have mentioned Natalie before she is blind and has a guide dog. The puppy walkers who had looked after her guide dog Quala while she was in training were visiting her and we all had a chat and again I noticed my finger was sore while shaking hands.

Sunday 21st July

I noticed more that my finger was sore but as with most Sundays we have mother in law round for dinner so, just got on with things. The finger was now sore but still looked okay normal.

Monday 22nd July

I had a Drs appointment about something totally unrelated and as the finger had played me up in the night I decided to ask her about my finger too. I did and she had a look at and said “yes it does look a little swollen, just keep an eye on it and come back if you are worried” Well as we all know it is almost impossible to get an appointment with a Dr, but hey ho!

We took Ruby for a lovely wood land walk that afternoon.

I noticed that my finger was really playing up and since the morning it was beginning to look very angry. I mentioned it to hubby who was as concerned as I was. I couldn’t sleep that night my finger hurt so much.

Tuesday 23rd July

In the morning we were up early and drove to a near by walk in centre we were there by 7.45am it opens at 8am. We waited, at 7.58am a lady announced that she was sorry but she could not allow the walk in centre to open as only one of the four nurses for that shift had turn up and she had no doctors!?

Hubby and I both dialed our surgery while heading for our car, hubby got through at 8.14am he handed me the phone, when I got through I asked to see a doctor, all appointments were gone, why did I need to see a doctor the receptionist asked. I explained, I had a red and swollen finger and a new symptom my hand was going red. …she thought and then said she had one last sit and wait appointment that afternoon. I took it. As the day went on it just got worse and worse.

Okay I was getting a headache now and I was tired because I hadn’t slept properly since Saturday.

I saw the Dr, who took my blood pressure and temperature , fiddled with my finger and gave me a prescription for antibiotics and told me to keep an eye on it. I pointed out the spreading redness he said keep an eye on it and come back if it got worse. While I waited for my prescription I wandered how to manage getting an appointment the next day if I needed it and hoped the antibiotics would work.

Wednesday 24th July

No sleep, at breakfast we could clearly see a red line creeping up my arm.

See how small the scratch is, as it began to go yellow.

Hubby walked Ruby early as he had to take his mother to the hospital for a check up for her pacemaker so we decided we’d make a decision on his return.

I was by now not feeling too good so I spent the morning sitting in the sofa with feet and arm up. My friend came round and she was concerned and she suggested we mark my arm with a pen to see if it spread any further.

Hubby got home after 2pm after a short discussion we rang 111 who after listening to my symptoms told us we needed to see a doctor within two hours.

We decided that after the experience of the previous morning there was no point going to the walk in centre, we decided to ring our GP. Surgery and tell them what the nurse on 111 had said. Luckily they said we could come straight down , which we did .

The doctor called us in and at first seemed unimpressed but when he looked at my finger and the red line shooting up my arm his attitude changed.

He again took my temperature and blood pressure , the blood pressure was high. He then rang the hospital while we sat and listened, he told them what was happening and they said to come straight in and they would be waiting. Then as we left the Dr said , don’t eat or drink anything, they may be operating. This scared us both.

So we drove the 12miles to the hospital …. It was scary.

We arrived at A & E and told them we were expected, after a wait I was called in to triage. The asked a few questions took blood and put in a cannula into my arm, and put a hospital I.D. bracelet and rang the orthopedic team , who said they were on their way. Then it was back to the waiting room .

That above is the good arm!

After what seemed like an age, but was not really, three doctors arrived, and I thought I wonder if that is the team for me. It was and they called me through.

They checked me out and we really nice and calming and up beat. I did not like all the talk of operations. I was sent for x-rays which were painful because the radiographer had to manipulate my hand which made me want to cry…. But I didn’t.

After the xray the team of three were back and told me that they were admitting me as I needed 24hrs of I.V. antibiotics and they were going to make a sling for me as I was going to have my arm elevated for the next 24 hours as well.

Then they made sure where the pain was, eventually they decided they need not operate immediately . They explained that sepsis not only gets into the blood it gets into muscle and bones as well. So they decided antibiotics and elevation first.

So while I am waiting for a bed they doctors fitted me with huge sling ….and then we wait for hed. My finger and hand hurt!

It was getting late and I was very tired, there was a very strange woman sitting next to us rambling on. Then four police arrived with a very drunk and very abusive prisoner who was causing all sorts of aggrevation.

At length a nurse came along and said that there was a bed on orothpedics and they were waiting for me to start my drip. I was taken by wheel chair up to the ward, hubby came too. We were greeted by two lovely nurses who helped me get settled in.

I told hubby I would be fine and sent him home. The nurse fixed up my drip and hoist my arm up on the same pole as my IV.

Hubby had to get home because our Ruby was being looked after by our neighbours and hubby had not eaten since the morning.

For that fact neither had I . The nurse brought brought me some coffee and toast. So began a very , very long and strange night. .

More to come, tomorrow.

One Word Inspiration #OneWordInspiration #OWI

Ritu set us a Twitter challenge. She said.

And thought those of you on Twitter, or even those not, might like to take part!

It’s a one word challenge.

One word to inspire a tweet-length (240 characters) story!

Oblivion is the word.

Willow Willers (@WillowWillers) Tweeted:

@RituBhathal Walking home, unaware that she was being followed. He shadowed her just of sight just out of earshot.
Oblivious to his presence she sauntered on slightly tipsy. As she got her key out he made his move and lunged at her ankles. Oh!Tinker! #OWI

*****

Why not join in too.