:: what a week

So I went to London with zero sleep, trained our writers there (who were grateful), wandered the streets of Soho and Chinatown marvelling at how crowded, dirty and rushed London is, ate a big bowl of noodle soup with char siu, then went back to Edinburgh. I was quite spaced out a lot of the time and tended to fall asleep any time I sat down. Once home I pretty much just crashed, after a hot bath (fell asleep in that too).

Next day I had my appointment with the radiologist, the sidekick Dr Ingram. Turns out the fibroids haven't shrunk much at all. She wasn't surprised, given that I hadn't suffered much pain. No pain, no gain! Or no shrinkage in this case. So I may be looking at having another go at embolisation or giving up entirely and having a hysterectomy. Depends how the symptoms develop. Sigh.

Then I had coffee with Faye, who's now settled in at Pennicuik. Her new employer is the worst person she's ever met in her life, apparently -- very autocratic and rude. But the hours and pay are good and it's a lovely spot.

That evening Bertie arrived back from his Dunfermline mini-break and appeared to not be overjoyed. To say the least. I think he'd like to be Colin and Jenny's dog, though Colin swears he wasn't spoiled. Huh. After walking him I was shattered so it was a bath and early to bed for me.

Yesterday was mainly spent cleaning, changing sheets and grocery shopping. Yes, a visitor! Andrew arrived last night just as I was starting work, and he's staying until Sunday. Today we had a chat-fest catching up on every little thing while I painted the new shed doors with primer. I wanted to get that done before it rains & today was lovely and sunny.

In between all this busyness, war has broken out. Tonight I was meant to come in at 6pm and work through until 3.30am. So I'd done the painting and Andrew had headed off to town and I'd had lunch and was just gearing down for a couple of hours of rest and relaxation when the phone went. It was my boss, telling me to come in at the usual time, 4pm, as they weren't going to do late editions. Oh, ok. I quickly changed and walked the dog and rushed in. Then they changed their minds and now I'm here until 2.30am. Sigh. Luckily Andrew was able to walk Bertie tonight.

It was horrible watching the missiles raining down on Baghdad on TV tonight, the whole thing is awful. But there's also something sinister going on elsewhere in Iraq. Turkey is sending troops in to sort out the Kurds. The Kurds have an autonomous area in Iraq and have suffered massively under Saddam's regime. They're the ones he gassed that time; they've also been tortured and shot. There were reports of them being pleased about the US assault, because it will get rid of Saddam. But I think they've maybe been sold down the river -- I'm afraid the Turks will be just as murderous. The reports say the US is against the Turks going in, but I'm not sure I believe them; the US I mean. I think there was probably a wink and a nudge.