Monday 27 June 2011

Ever Had A Bad Day?

Photos Copyright: Maggie May

Ever had a bad day from beginning to end?
I woke up with excruciating sciatica. Well, that is an understatement because I've been battling with it for weeks but this particular day I felt I just wanted to sit and cry with the pain. It is a problem that keeps recurring and has done since I was in my late forties.

Harry is just starting chemo 3 and isn't very well right now, though he has been doing fine since the strength of the treatment was reduced last time.

The area I chose to do my shopping in that day seemed to have a great problem. I realised that the roads were blocked off and buses had ground to a halt. Passengers had to get off and walk and eventually the vehicles had to go a different way through some really tricky side roads and narrow streets full of parked cars.


There was a terrible smell of acrid smoke and fire engines all over this (usually) very busy road. Pedestrians were eventually stopped and I turned into a little lane, up a hill and suddenly saw the shop....... or rather what was left of it. People witnessing everything, told me there had been several explosions, as the shop had been a nail bar and had chemicals stored there. Luckily no one got hurt but the flat above was gutted as well as the shop.



I felt a bit of an unsavoury character taking photos but lots of other people were doing so too. I do carry my camera at all times and am always ready to snap unusual things but of course this was tragic for the people involved, losing property and possessions. However, when it comes down to it, no lives were lost and it could have been so much worse.



Some hours later, I went back a second time and the fire engines were still there but this time pedestrians were allowed to walk to the other side of the road. Still there were no other vehicles allowed....... only Police and fire engines and crew. There was a car next to the nail bar that had partly melted with the heat.

When I eventually got home....... a phone call that I answered made things so much worse. My friend, who had been in hospital for several weeks had died that morning. She wasn't expected to die as she'd got over the worst. She'd even talked about coming home in a few weeks last time I phoned her. I'm so glad that I did phone her when I did a few weeks ago, little realising it would be the last time I would ever hear her voice.




31 comments:

Irene said...

I'm sorry, Maggie. That was a little bit too much to handle all on one day. One thing on its own would have been more than enough. I hope you can manage all the emotions that come with it and that you manage to sleep well tonight despite your sore back. Take extra special care of yourself in these hard times and tell Harry good luck with his chemotherapy.

Much love,
Nora

Mya said...

Blimey Maggie, what a terrible day. I'm really sorry.
Mya x

Formerly known as Frau said...

Maggie sorry for your terrible day and the loss of your dear friend. I do hope you feel better tomorrow. ((hugs))

Sally Wessely said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your friend's death. Your day was a very bad day. I hope that sciatica gets better. I hope things get much better.

RNSANE said...

Goodness, it WAS a bad day - the worst, of course, was the news of the death of your friend. I have been thinking a lot about mortality these days which I guess, at 66, is normal. I just learned that the loveliest lady, just 40, who owned/managed a fun place called "The Monkey Club" where my retirement party was held, on her very first mammogram, found she had breast cancer. She had surgery - twice - as they didn't get it all the first time and is starting radiation and chemo. I can't believe her wonderfully positive attitude.

Good that the fire didn't take any lives!

I am so sorry that your sciatica is troubling you. I had extensive back surgery over 25 years ago after rupturing two discs bilateally in a fall in the operating room where I worke
( hydraulic fluid leaked from an OR table ) - and I have been plauged by chronic pain and tingling in my left leg and foot since that time!

I hope Harry is doing better. Chemo is such a necessary evil.

larkswing said...

So sorry Maggie! Some days just leave you needing to prop your feet in and taking the rest of the day to wait for the new day to dawn. May next days be so much better than this one was!

Mimi said...

dear Maggie, I'm so sorry for your loss, that was a terrible shock for you, on top of an already bad day.
Pain is very hard to deal with, it drags a body down. So take care of yourself. Would acupuncture or massage help it?

CorvusCorax12 said...

i'm also sorry for this terrible day , but mostly for your friend dying, how sad ...sending my love

What About The Girl? said...

Oh I am so sorry, Maggie.
Here's hoping for a better tomorrow!

Dimple said...

I'm sorry, Maggie. Losing someone you care about is hard. And that on top of the rest of the bad day makes it harder. May God comfort you and bring you better days to come.

Celia said...

Oh Lord Maggie, I am really sorry for losses. What an unbelievable day.

Joey said...

Maggie,

Bless your heart... I'm so sorry about everything; especially about your friend.

I'm praying for you and Harry, and your friend's family.

God bless you,
Joey

Moannie said...

Never two without three, JP is fond of saying, and that was a terrible three day for you Maggie. So sorry for the loss of your friend. Hope today will be better.

Rose said...

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend, Maggie. Dear me, this was a horrible day. I hope that you and Harry are feeling better soon, and that tomorrow dawns brighter and better.

Akelamalu said...

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend Maggie, at least you spoke to her recently that must be a comfort to you.

It's a miracle no-one was hurt in that fire isn't it?

I've had Sciatica for about 3 months now and just when I think it's clearing up, back it comes! You have my sympathy. :(

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

So sorry to hear the sad news of your friend Maggie. News like that coming so unexpectedly gives us pause doesn't it.

Hope Harry is soon feeling better again. A x

Wendy said...

Oh Maggie, I am so sorry to hear about your friend, but glad that you were able to talk to her that time.
I had a similar experience with a friend of mine. I did talk to her, we had planned to meet later in the summer, but she died. At least I did talk to her that one last time.

You really did have a bad day. Sending lots of hugs and hope your dear hubby feels better too.

Jeni said...

I had sciatica problems a few years back and it is nasty, nasty to deal with. That and shingles are about on the same level in my book as being really obnoxiously painful. But, I got rid of the sciatica in a way that was rather unusual and not one I'm recommending but when I had the colostomy 5 years ago this fall, the sciatica disappeared completely! I do believe I kissed my surgeon for that accomplishment!
The loss of your friend, on top of all the other things that happened on your bad day, really had to have set the stage for your calling it a bad day. I'm glad for your sake as well as for your late friend's that you had that opportunity to speak with her though. It does put things into a different perspective when there is such a drastic turn-about with life and living though, doesn't it?

Jinksy said...

That was surely a bummer of a day, and no mistake...But look at you, being an unpaid, roving reporter, camera at the ready? Who'd a thunk it? !
Do hope the sciatica soon leaves you in peace... ♥

Clare Dunn said...

I am so sorry, Maggie.

xoxoxo, cd

CiCi said...

As we be-bop around in life, some not so nice things jump out and remind us bad things happen and sorrow is part of what we adjust to regularly. I am sorry about your friend. Getting the news on a day already raining down things stressing out your emotional level made it a little harder to hear I am sure. Glad Harry is doing better with the chemo treatments these days. You too have certainly had more than your share of health issues.

Gail Is This Mutton? said...

What a day! If it doesn't rain it pours....Hope things have been better today.

imbeingheldhostage said...

I'm so sorry Maggie, especially for your loss. I hope Harry rebounds quickly from his chemo!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Maggie. I'm so sorry to hear this. My condolences to your friend first of all. I am praying that Harry starts feeling better very soon and makes a very speedy recovery. And what an awful thing to have happened to that shop and flat. How dreadful.

Let's hope the coming days and weeks are much more positive.

CJ xx

FeltByRae said...

Oh Maggie, I am so sorry you had such a rotten day, that is just too much for anyone in one day

I really do hope things look up for you very soon

Rae x

Suldog said...

So very sad, Maggie. I wish I had some tremendously comforting words to share. I'll just say that I'm praying for you and all you mentioned. And I hope it helps.

Happy Frog and I said...

Oh Maggie, I'm so sorry to hear your news. As you say though, so good that you spoke when you had the chance. My thoughts are most definitely with you and yours. x

secret agent woman said...

Oh my. What a lot to deal with. Holding you in my thoughts.

Hilary said...

Maggie, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. I hope that you and Harry are feeling more comfort soon. That's some fine photo-journaling of that unfortunate fire.

Suburbia said...

Gosh Maggie, what a bad day. I'm so sorry you are suffering and to loose a friend is very sad.

Thoughts with you as always

S x

debsdigest.com said...

So sorry to read your post. Just come back from a cruise and seeing how very ill some of the passengers were made me count my blessings. We must live for every day. I continue to think about you and your husband and your family - and wish you all the best.