Recovering from the Flood and the Gall Bladder

For me, recovering from the removal of my Gall Bladder (Cholecystectomy) proved much easier than the shop recovering from the flood. No pain relief was needed from Sunday Morning. However I think Anita still has a headache! From the problems caused by the burst water main of course. As I said in the last blog, the assessor approved the carpet, so before that could get layed, the store room had to be cleared out as well. So a few of the younger chaps from church who were available weighed in and helped out.

They had to move all the excess stock into boxes or trolleys, or even just carry it by hand to the temporary storage locations. The insurance assessor agreed that we need to replace the old water logged counters, so Anita measured and began calling around. Without exception, not one cabinet maker or joiner in Warragul said they could help us before Christmas, and probably not before February! It wasn't looking good, we needed two quotes, and there was only one guy willing to even look at quoting now. Craig from Allure Kitchens looked at the job and said that seeing it was small he would squeeze it in. So he quoted, Anita told the insurance company of our dilemma, 'not until after Christmas quotes', and they agreed to go on the one quote. So Craig got the job.

The strange thing was that even whilst the shop was being stripped and things moved to other vacant shops in the centre, people still wanted to come in and buy things, regardless of the complete sense of disarray. Some customers seem to thrive on disorder in these situations. I don't know if they think they might get a bargain or just want to get the items on their shopping list. I have to say most of our customers were very understanding, most just said they would come back next week when things were back in order

So Wednesday was the day, the carpet got layed. Anita was happy with the choice of color, but she was very unhappy on Thursday with the smell that the carpet glue made. it gave both her and Kerryn headaches. The carpet layers looked like they knew what they were doing, it all seemed to go down smoothly and little mess was left. That was until on closer inspection we found that the carpet was about one inch short of the wall in the front corner of the store. Fortunately for us, there is a fixture that goes over that spot and hides the error. On one of the joins, there is glue that has marked and damaged the carpet. and in the back where it is not so important, they did a lousy job of fitting the carpet around the pipes. The front door had to be adjusted by the landlord as the carpet is thicker and if left alone would have damaged the new carpet very quickly.

Anita originally planned to re-open on Thursday, which she partly did, but due to the fixtures having to be moved back in after the carpet was layed and the glue dried, it was late Thursday before some normalcy returned. Thursday morning saw the young volunteers from church return, and lend their able bodies toward the task of returning the fixtures to their spots, as directed by the Queen Bee and her apprentice, Princess Bee.

We had the odd fairy turn up to help as well.

But by the end of the day, the fumes and the effort had started to get to the girls.

They called it a day around 4.30 p.m.. Which was fair. And Friday saw some return to normal trading, although the paper stands were still out for most of the day until clean up and restoration was more complete. My sense of humor was definitely NOT appreciated when I walked in near lunchtime and said, "Is that all you've done?" It lacked sensitivity and understanding. I also failed to say how great the shop looked. Then again being tired can do that to you.

So How did my recovery go? I rested a lot. I apologise if my email to some were short, but it was difficult to sit up straight for the first few days, and resting a laptop on my lap took time to get comfortable. I spent my time mostly reading. I ready Wally Lamb, "I know this much is true"(900 pages). Paulo Cohelo "And on the seventh day" which is a trilogy that includes: By the River Piedra I sat down and wept, Veronika decides to die, and The devil and Miss Prym.(350 odd pages). Followed by Ken Follet, "World without End". (1250 pages). So as you can see I have not been bored. I have also watched a few movies, drunk some coffee & tea, and visited the surgeon again.

The surgeon was generally happy with the operation, but one of the blood tests was not back to normal, so that is to be repeated. I see the Surgeon again on the 6th November. I visited my G.P., Dr McKelvie today, and had a Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) removed from my right cheek (face for those wondering), and a Solar Keratosis burned off with liquid nitrogen. The good news is that my cholesterol levels are great, and there are no signs of diabetes. I have now lost around 14 kiograms, which puts me within 6kgs of my goal weight. Not that you would notice.

Anyway, to those I have offended I am sorry. To those I have overlooked, again, I am sorry. To those of you who feel neither offended or ignored, I am sorry. Better luck next time. Cheers