So where were we last ...

Oh yes ... we were departing Fueteventura.  When I checked online before our shuttle picked us up, the Manchester airport showed our flight as arriving at 3:30am on the 10th but the local airport showed nothing.  We arrive at the airport and it's chock full ... seems a number of flights were delayed.  Our flight though still showed as departing on time at 6:45pm; however, when checking in they were telling us that our plane had not yet left from Manchester.  They were hoping it would leave by 6pm.  If it didn't get out by 6pm we might not be able to fly out that night as the Fueteventura airport usually closes between 10:30 & 11pm.

Great ... sitting in an airport for hours AGAIN!  GRRR!!!   So we sit, and sit, and sit, watching the board.  Our flight still showing 18:45 departure where the others show delayed or revising times.  The board starts to clear as other flights depart, then around our departure time our flight status finally changes to "delayed", then around 7:30 it falls off the board ... what does that mean???

As I'm heading down to information to see what's up an announcement comes on that our flight will be leaving at 23:05 and we're to collect meal vouchers at the information desk.  At least we're getting out tonight.  €12 to spend is okay, except that half of the 4 food vendors are closing up and the remaining two have run out of some items.  We end up with a burger, fried chicken, chips, drinks and some fruit. 

Our plane finally arrives from Manchester, they turn it around and we leave the ground at 23:45.  Touch down in Manchester is 03:25 ... the Manchester Airport definitely had it right to begin with - why couldn't they communicate this at the other end is beyond me???  Considering the number of families with small kids and the wait in the airport the flight was pretty quiet.  It just makes for a long day.  We crawled into bed about 04:30 Sunday morning.

Sunday was a write off.  By the time we crawled out of bed, ate and showered it was time to head out to the hospital.  Oh I should note that Dave did manage to shovel the compact snow/ice off the balance of his parent's walk and then a small narrow path down to the road. 

Tom had his surgery on Friday.  Seems he broke his femur, not his hip, in which they put a couple of pins but no cast.  Margaret said he didn't wake up at all Saturday when she and Keith were visiting.  When we arrived we was awake and the nurse was giving him some "tea".  Tom was somewhat responsive and did recognize Dave and I.  He's definitely in discomfort but with the dementia it's hard to know how much is pain and how much is general agitation.  When we arrived the nurse informed us that earlier in the day the physio had Tom sitting up in a chair which he "slipped out of" - seems they left him there for a bit and when they came back he was on the floor.  Talk about great attention.  The doctor had yet to come back around to look at him.

Sunday night Dave and I went over to a pub in a neighbouring village, The Waggon & Horses, to meet up with some of his highschool friends.  The four of them usually get together when Dave's in town.  Eric & his wife Jacquie, Dave and his wife Suzanne, and John with his wife.  Unfortunately due to the snow and bad road John and his wife weren't able to make it out.  We had a lovely dinner and a few hours of yakking.

Monday January 11th ... Dave's b-day.  Also it's by brother Reid's 40th b-day.
Another sleep in.  Dave went out and shovelled the balance of the sidewalk to the road, then out to the hospital for another visit.  Today Tom isn't as lucid as he was yesterday.  The nurse today informs us that a chest xray has been ordered for the fluid/congestion Tom has, as well as an ultrasound for his kidneys.  Based on the discussion yesterday about his urine output it looks like his kidney functions may be slowing.  Also he's still waiting on another xray for his leg.  Not very impressive ... he falls (again) on their watch 24 hrs after surgery and it's been over 24hrs before he's xrayed.  Crazy situation.  Today they've also got Tom's legs tied down.  Based on what we saw yesterday, he's constantly trying to move, so I suspect he was probably giving them too much grief and concern about falling out of bed again.   Not a good situation.  Although Margaret doesn't realize it or just won't see it, its going to be weeks in the hospital before they will contemplate moving him, then because of the dementia and his lack of mobility I really don't think they'll have many options of where to put him for care.  The care center he was in for the one day isn't set up for non-mobile patients. 

It's doubly hard with only Keith living in town.  Martin left this morning to return to Corfu, Greece and we're leaving tomorrow.  Dave really doesn't want to leave, but what can you do.  It's hard to know what the future holds.  It could be weeks, months like this with Tom in the hospital or if his kidneys, or heart gives out or he picks up pnemonia it could be days.  Hopefully things will settle down and Margaret will be find herself a new routine.

So last night the family went out to the Grapes for dinner and drinks.  Martin's two sons and their wives joined us as well.  Then the newly found cousin from Margaret's side, Scott and his aunt Lynn joined us as well.  Lynn's been making a family tree so she and Margaret had quite the gab.

Today we'll head out to visit Tom again, then dinner.  I'm all packed and ready to go.  Dave is packing while I'm at the library.  I'm just about out of time so I think that's all I have to say for now.  Next time we talk it should be from back home in Calgary. 

Wish us luck with the weather and airport schedules.  I don't want anymore long waits in the airport.