On 14 January, Jackie writes: Ann took Richard shopping for some essentials and some ready meals he can pop in the microwave for our dinners and his lunches. This was to give me a rest as well. Mike stayed with me, setting up my Alexa in the sitting room. We bought it for the caravan, but the signal was so poor it wouldn't work. It's great. When I can't sleep I can ask her the time or to play some soothing music. And I can change volume without leaving my seat. I wish this had been available for Tom; it would have made life so much easier for him. Mike has set up all the lights in his house to work from Alexa as well. He said the only problem they have is their dog is named after my sister, Lexie. I got a lovely card in the post from Denise St John today. Please convey my thanks; that picture is frame-worthy. Another job for Mike. Well, I must be on the mend; the pressure bandage that was thigh high has now slipped below my knee, because the swelling has gone down. I was told this would happen. The swelling in my arm has gone down and I can almost see my elbow. It's all that Zen and good wishes. Strangely, it's the back of my hand that hurts the most; it still feels like someone dropped a 50-pound hammer on it. It's just bruising & swelling from the fall, the surgery and all the canulas and needles. I have to keep exercising my elbow and it will go away. I think the heparin makes the bruises look worse. I'm on that till 14 February, but that's good, as it must mean I will be more mobile from that date, as it's to stop blood clots forming because I'm sitting 23 hours a day. My step count yesterday was 435; that's a shuffle to the loo and back several times a day. My step count was rarely below 12k unless it was very wet. On 16 January, Jackie writes: Today I gave Nora Batty back her leg and got my leg back - YAY!
[Nora was a star in the BritCom, Last of the Summer Wine, the world's longest-running sitcom. You can see it on YouTube these days; I used to watch it weekly. --ad] I thought the brace was for the broken bone, but it's to support tendons & ligaments and allow my knee to move. Nobody told me - LOL - Dr. Google works. Cards from . . . LEFT TO RIGHT . . . People in the dog class; Denise St John; Hellena, the dogs' groomer; Jackie, who lives next door; Mare Moore; and Steve & Cathy, fellow Schnauzer owners. MARE MOORE in Canada: That leg looks a heck of a lot better since the swelling's going down and the bruising lessening.

EV'RY DAY, IN EV'RY WAY
JACKIE IS GETTING BETTER & BETTER
(PART 2) HERE