Hello from my flight back from Rome. There was a bit of a last minute panic because I forgot my passport. It was a good thing that the taxi was very late, because if it'd arrived to collect me when it was supposed to I've have sped off without it. Though that probably wouldn't have been terrible because I'd have to hang out with Sarah for another day or two!

The flight attendant guy just gave me two cans of beer because 'in his experience just one can doesn't touch the sides' - funny Italian guy. I was talking to him before while waiting to use the toilet before and he's just now given me the two beers and told me to ask him if I need another. Think I'll be fine.

What a fantastic 3 days I had though, it really wasn't enough time at all. Firstly I didn't...

Not long now and I'm on the plane to Rome! Woohoo, 3 a bit whole days with Sarah! I can't wait, it's so exciting. She's been sending me postcards at the rate of about 1 every second day, it's awesome. I do love the postcards.

Fly out tomorrow at about 9:15pm and arrive in Rome at about 1am. Then I have to make my way to the campground, but I've figured that a taxi'll be the easiest way to do that.

Right, well I'm off into town to catch up with Matt and Claire for a couple of beers, then back home to keep packing. Though I do have all day tomorrow as well.

Tim

I went into town last night to meet up with Sarah's Auntie and Uncles. We had a pint at a quiet little pub in the heart of Mayfair, as I was walking to the pub I walked past a number of very flash looking establishments with their red carpets and little rope dividers all set up.

Dinner was really good, Andy had a 50% voucher for the place. That was 50% off everything, drinks as well. The food was lovely, the service was good although we had probably the grumpiest waiter in all of London.
After our lovely food, we went for a bit of walk through London, watching all the people. Andy took us to a little Italian Coffee Bar he knew of, where we all had a shot of espresso before calling it a night and getting the tube home.

Today, I've done bugger all! Well, I upgraded...

So I've been back at work, all fun and games. It's like nothing ever happened, except I have another scar on my chest that's healing up well.
I got a letter in the mail yesterday from the NHS, I have to go back for a MRI scan of my lungs on the 31st of July. That'll show if there's anything wrong with them that caused the collapse or if I'm just unlucky. My money's on the second option.

I've been doing a fair bit of study over the last few nights, back to studying for my Juniper certifications. It's amazing how much stuff has seeped out of my brain in the last couple of years, it's from not being hands on techie anymore. I only have to read it once and it all comes flooding back. I'll sit my JNCIS in a couple of months. Then JNCIP and eventually, JNCIE...

I went back to the hospital this morning to pickup some forms they were meant to give me on Saturday and also to get my wound redressed. But when they took the bandage off it was clear that the wound has already healed up very nicely! So I didn't need it to be redressed nor do I need to worry about it anymore. I can shower normally and all those sorts of things. Bonus.

I am spending today at home resting as well, but I'll be back to work tomorrow as normal. Taking it very easy of course, no running for the bus or the tube. Thankfully my job is just sitting in a chair, so that's not going to cause me any stress.

Last night I went over to Maggie and Andy's for dinner, very kind of them to cook up a lovely roast. A nice big hearty meal...

Another day in hospital, but hopefully my last.
I was woken up by the breakfast lady shaking my foot, she was about to start calling the nurses I think. I sleep pretty hard and I think she thought I was passed out. But I was just sleeping happily. 30 seconds later I had a bowl of cornflakes and a coffee in front of me. You can't fault the service here.

I sat around until lunchtime when I started to kick up a polite fuss about having my tube removed and going home. About 1pm a Dr came to see me, poked and prodded and asked the same questions for the 20th time. He said it would be OK to take the tube out, so about an hour after his visit the nurse came and pulled the tube out. I got a photo of the butt ugly thing this time.

I've...

I've just finished my hospital dinner of Chilli Con Carne. Last night it was Roast Chicken. And lunch today was Chicken Korma! The food is really good, can't complain about it at all. Well, apart from dinnertime which is 5:30pm! I was starving again by 11pm last night, I had to wander around until I found someone who'd give me a sandwich.

I had another X-Ray this afternoon and after that the specialist lung Dr came down to have a chat to me. He said he's happy with my progress and that he was in two minds about either taking out my chest drain now, or taking it out tomorrow morning. After I offered him a coin to "flip for it!" he decided that tomorrow morning was probably the better option. I tend to agree. So tomorrow they'll do one more X-Ray, assuming that's all good they'll take out the...