Thursday 1pm Spoke to Doc, sip clear fluids, he has given me something to put between my lip and gum for nausea. Observe overnight, if its a surgical problem the pain will get worse, could just be gastro-enteritis.

Thursday Morning - Been sick several times since last night. Can't seem to keep anything down, was sick last night after a glass of milk at 8.30 and again later. Another poor nights sleep with increased pain and nausea. Sick again this morning. Don't feel right at all will ring Frank and seek his advice. Drastic step of cancelling visitors needs to be taken too.

Wednesday 8pm. Dr Frank called he's going to speak to the surgeon and the anaesthetist about the pain. Sick after tea. Feeling a bit fed up afterwards but my old mate Si rang up. I wouldn't normally mention phone calls but his wife is prone to complaining if I don't mention him - Cheers Angela.

Wednesday Morning. Veronica Bellis visited yesterday - she brought me up to date with everything happening at work - none of which I can remember. Afterwards we went for a trip to the Tesco superstore at Prescot. Most enjoyable. I am becoming a connoisseur of leading supermarkets across the region. Visited by Jeans family in the evening, Ruth (Jeans sister) said she thought I was down last week, but noted an improvement today. Hazel and Dave came later on. Dave is a "big lad" we exchange stories about being fat in a side splitting fashion. Having a laugh like that is as good as a tonic. Bad nights sleep again, still in pain. Dr Frank to visit later today. The spell checker wants to call Veronica "Bellies" I like that.

I know I am beginning to sound monotonous but I still have this pain under my ribs which stopped me from sleeping despite three of Dr Franks synthetic opiate powders. I will ring the surgery today this can't go on. Up early today, to get my meals in. Kieran Lamb from the library at Hammy House has set up a blog (in which I get several mentions). I'll circulate the address if he wants me to. Despite one or two moments the Office wasn't up to its award winning standard last night.

Monday Afternoon - Still in pain along bottom of ribs left hand side. Didn't sleep at all well last night. Tried something new this am, Jean woke me up at 7.30 and gave me breakfast. We have been struggling to fit everything in if I don't get up till 9.30-10. Doing OK today went to ASDA, well the opticians really for some new glasses cleaner. While Jean was in the mall I sat people watching. The man was there to empty the Liverpool cat welfare food donation bin. They done good this week. The man sorted about 60 tins into separate bags based on brand. Fascinating to watch, I need more brain stimulation. Also I cashed in my penny drawer, I stick all my loose change in a drawer. In ASDA they have a machine that counts it automatically - kewl. Sixty four quid, not bad for a load of old slummy. Then off to PC world to buy a treat, I didn't I wouldn't pay their inflated prices. Jean bought a gardening cd???

Monday Morning. Saturday night was bad, after tea I was ill for about an hour, vomiting didn't bring on the immediate relief it normally does. Very fed up. Sunday was quiet with no visitors - Ally went out for lunch with the rest of the family, to Owens at Childwall Fiveways. Jean and I had liquidised soup. Continuing with my walking each day, I am convinced I am more mobile than before the op. I had to extend my crutch (walking aid)by one notch. I am definitely more upright than before. I watched "The Shield" on channel five on Saturday and Sunday nights - website at here The main character is a bad cop who looks like a cross between Phil and Grant Mitchell and Bruce Willis (quote lifted from the Guardian). Thanks to Sandra Bagnall for putting me on to it.

Saturday am - bring it up to date. I had the best nights sleep for ages, Franks new pills worked. I woke up feeling refreshed. I even spent some time sleeping face down, my favourite position as its easier on the back and hips. Feeling good. Ally has gone to Cadbury world with the guides for the day, I asked to bring me a pressie, a pen or something.

After Terri went I had some scrambled egg for tea. I only eat half and kept it down - a victory I feel loads better. On reflection the vomiting was making me feel very miserable. Visited by Grandma, Ruth, Paul, Colin, Hannah and niece Catherine home for the weekend from Manchester. The egg stayed down and I felt a minor victory.

Ali Lee and Archie her baby turned up just after four. Ali did a good job about putting my head in perspective about things, I am doing well and things will get better. Archie is just cute beyond words, having a small babe in the house cheers everyone up, especially my daughter, who had invited Lizzie her friend to meet Archie. Ali Lee also pointed out about not even being mentioned when visiting. A new policy then all visitors get mentioned, (to be fair its not the first complaint I have had). Ali brought a get well card from the executive team at the matchworks. Terri Holcroft from Hammy House called in on her way home, she thinks I look good and pointed out how much more mobile I am compared to before the op. BTW the spell checker aint working.(well it is really but I installed some software to stop the numerous pop ups when surfing and it killed it)

Well on Friday morning after writing the blog I went back to bed - till 3 o'clock. Not really a good move, missed meals and more importantly fluids. I felt a bit dehydrated when I woke up. Jean had been trying to persuade me to get up but I didn't want to. I got fed up with everything and started to feel down. Expecting visitors at 3 I got out of bed and made a big effort to get looking human - it nearly worked. I think the poor sleep and the scale of my recovery (ie another 8 weeks) had got me down.

Friday am -visited yesterday by Gail and Sandra, we did laugh. Frank (doc, not barber) came later on. He was on top form, as ever. He thinks the pain I am getting may be caused by nerve inflammation from where the retractor was holding my offal out of the way during the op. He prescribed some different pain killers (which the pharmacist had never heard of). He said if these don't work I can have some steroid and stuff injected direct to the site of pain, (don't fancy that). See him in two weeks or before if the painkillers don't work. Rang Mr Kerrigans secretary about an out-patient appt. Next slot is 3rd December (too far away), she is going to try to fit me in.Had a scrambled egg for tea - disaster sick again, back to the drawing board. Feel really fed up about this. Mary (my sister) and her husband came round after tea, that and the League of Gentlemen cheered me up.

Thursday Morning. Tried some fish in the style of stage one diet - nearly blocked and was sick, on the positive I felt it happening and took evasive action. Jean and I discussed it and wondered if the cheese sauce it was contained in is implicated. More experimentation required. I just want poached egg on toast! Got up late after more poor sleep.Jean fell asleep after dropping Ally off at school.

Wednesday PM - The nurse was made up with the fruit and chocs - nice one. I went into Rathbone this lunchtime to get a form signed, then off to Tesco at Old Swan - what a change on that corner. Back home tired and worn out (so much excitement). Jo the dietitian rang and has said I can move on to the next stage of the diet. Hooray a scrambled egg for me, now on Cottage cheese texture foods. (as of tomorrow, the cook has already planned todays menu). I'll scan the diet sheets and put them on the new website. It can be found here. Its a bit of a mess at the minute but will start taking shape soon. Have a look at the pics if you can bear.

Wednesday PM - Nurse made up with the flowers and chocs. Been out to Rathbone to get a form signed by Payroll, Then on to Tesco in Old Swan. Not much of a day out but I am whacked.Dieititian rang we had a talk I can move on to the next stage of diet. Cottage cheese consistency diet -hooray scrambled egg tomorrow. I'll scan the diet sheet and out it up at the companion website. It is still work in progress but will improve. Be warned some of the photos are alarming.

Wednesday Morning - Last district nurse visit today we think. They have been great, absolutely top class, and a lot of their business is ripe for computerisation. Links with home loans social services, pharmacy and liason at the hospital. There's a job for someone when I get back. We wanted to get them a present - I was for giving them a bottle each, after discussion and hearing of their diets we have opted for fruit and a small box of chocs. By the way, I had another disturbed nights sleep, this cant be helping the recovery process.

Tuesday AM scar looking good, another poor nights rest, this isn't good. After much thought Jean and I have concluded it may be gas. The site of the pain shifts too often for it to be anything more serious (I hope). Its a good theory but how do we cure it? I have suggested a wick and burning it off in an everlasting flame sort of way. Still we'll see what Frank suggests. Did anyone see The Office last night, new series on BBC2, some laughs but a lot of cringe factor. Very entertaining and some great characters. Very spooky hearing David Brent saying things you have said yourself.

Monday morning - another poor night, I seem unable to get comfortable unless I am on my left side. Any other position causes discomfort and then pain in my abdomen. Perhaps its just the result of all the messing that went on in my belly and it will settle down given time. My hip, knees and back feel better than the have done in ages - so there's a big positive.

Sunday morning - Kathy the district nurse came early this morning, I was still asleep. I had had another poor night going off to sleep late and troubled with aches a lot in the night. Good news dressing can stay off now, what was a wound is now a scar.To celebrate I have just had a bath, it was delightful.

I didn't win the grauniad best british blog award, Scary duck did. I wasn't even a runner-up. Still never mind, I am working on a website to support this blog and do some of the things I haven't properly sussed out how to do here. Things like pictures, on line calenders and even a webcam (only joking). Depending how I am I'll tell you about it next week. My america friend Marta has been in touch, she thinks I'm having a bad time - I have to say I thought I was doing ok. She sounds like she has missed out on some of the post op delights I have experienced.