The dog and I watched the dawn come up from the doorstep. We had seen the stars sparkle in the moonlight and watched the mistwraiths dance in the fields as the first pre-dawn light crept over the horizon. It was a lovely moment, but not one we had been expecting to share. We should both have been a long way from home.
I had just loaded the last of the bags into the car yesterday when the phone rang. The dog was ready to go and another five minutes would have seen us on our way north, all calls blocked until I stopped driving.
For the life of me, I couldn’t see why the surgery was calling. Maybe they were getting the flu jabs lined up early? I wasn’t worried. I’d only had the X-ray a couple of hours earlier and the results would take at least a week, so it didn’t even occur to me that the proverbial rug was about to be pulled from under my feet.
Except, the health system can move fast when it feels a need.
Within the next few minutes, it became apparent that, if I had any sense, I was going nowhere except back in the scanner. Could it not wait till I came back? No, it really could not, apparently. Not quite the holiday I had in mind… and that upset me more than anything else. I really need a break and I hate letting people down. And I don’t much fancy spending my birthday as the jam in the middle of the CT doughnut.
For the rest, it was more of a relief than anything. There actually is a reason for the pain and fatigue that has been bugging me all year. It is not just a stressed body and mind… or an ageing carer seeking attention, as one never-to-be-forgiven doctor suggested. The dark mass in my lung is real. We just need to find out now what it is. So, with a five minute margin, the journey north was cancelled.
There is a cruel irony to that, when we were, once again, planning on meeting Mary Smith at Cairn Holy. And let us not forget the darker irony of Covid, which has made seeing a doctor at all both difficult and guilt-ridden. I wonder just how many, like me, have felt it unfair to ‘bother’ the doctor about ‘minor’ health problems until they got out of hand? As this has been going on for so long already, I also wonder if waiting till after the Scotland trip would really have made a great deal of difference…
Be that as it may, we did not go, the confused dog may not forgive me… and Scotland will still be beautiful whether we are there to see it or not.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Oh, no, Sue! Sending prayers that you get the care you need {{hugs}}
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jacquie. x
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes Scotland will be there. Take care if yourself first! 💓
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cheryl 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
ouch that’s a bugger! Sorry to hear that, sending healing to you. Be well my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My thought exactly, Jay 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, I’m sorry. Health is always first.
LikeLike
Thanks, Trent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scotland will wait for you, Sue – Sending you the best of wishes that it all turns out okay for you 🤗❤️❤️❤️🤗
LikeLike
Thank you, Chris ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh hell Sue! At least they are doing something. Take care. Thoughts are with you. ❤
LikeLike
They are on the ball at least ❤
LikeLike
Take care Sue.
LikeLike
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keeping good thoughts in my mind to send your way.
Take a net break if you need.
As others say – Take care of you first.
And I believe your Pup will forgive you.
LikeLike
I’m planning on staying offlinefr a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
((Hugs))
LikeLiked by 1 person
And Cairn Holy will still be waiting – it clearly hasn’t been the right time to visit there for some reason.
LikeLike
There will be a right time 😉
LikeLike
You are often in my thoughts. ❤ 🙏 ❤
LikeLike
❤
LikeLike
I’m so sorry to read this, Sue. Sending you light and love and strength for whatever lies ahead. Take good care of yourself. Scotland will wait for you. ❤
LikeLike
Thanks, Diana ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love and prayers go with you and Angels attend! ❤
LikeLike
Thanks, Annette ❤
LikeLike
So sorry to hear that Sue. Take care. Jeff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jeff.
LikeLike
Oh, Sue, canceling your trip is not the worst thing – your health is MOST important. I do hope whatever is going on in your lung can be taken care of and soon. Thank heavens you DID go see someone about the pain and fatigue.
Sending you much love, prayers and hope for a good outcome Hugs and xxxxx
LikeLike
Thank you, Noelle. xx
LikeLike
I would like to add my good wishes too. These things never come at a good time but at least it is being looked into. Sending positive thoughts your way.
LikeLike
Thank you, Darlene.
LikeLike
Oh! Sue , praying for you. Scotland will wait .
LikeLike
It can<3
LikeLike
Oh I hope it turns out okay. Prayers and hugs for you.
LikeLike
Thanks, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, gosh, talk about the very last minute. Sending positive vibes your way… ❤ ❤
LikeLike
It couldn’t have ben cut any closer… 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
[Insert four-letter word here] But it’s a good thing the health system is moving quickly. I’m thinking hopeful thoughts for you, Sue.
LikeLike
Thanks,Audrey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure whether to be angry that it took them this long, or happy that they are moving quickly…
Big hugs. ❤ xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, H ❤ xx
LikeLike
Sending all best thoughts Sue. (K)
LikeLike
Thanks, Kerfe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve learned that when Doctors say, ‘it can’t wait’, it probably can’t … bugger that the trip had to be cancelled, love the ‘jam/CT doughnut’ comment … all digits crossed for not-too-scary results.
LikeLike
We were evidently not meant to get to Scotland this year…
Next year will do 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Sue. I’m sending you a veil of healing light. Someone in the universe is playing dirty tricks. I hope they are as quick with this set of scans. Try and breathe and have a mindless weekend getting lost in something you love ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Debby xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤ ((()))
LikeLiked by 1 person
My goodness. Who would have thought this would happen. Yes, the trip can wait, albeit a disappointment. Knowing there is an answer to your health problem is a good thing. Sending you my very best wishes, Sue. Please keep us posted. And, take Debby’s advice.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jennie. A bit of an unpleasant surprise, but I’ll feel beter when I know hat we are dealing with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Sue. Fingers crossed. 🤞
LikeLike
Oh yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scary stuff. You are in my prayers!
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLike
Realised I’d missed something when Mary let the cat out of the bag on her second diary entry. Hope all turns out well for you. We’re thinking of you – yes, me and the guinea pigs. The GPs are particularly good at thinking to you in the early hours when nobody else is there to think of you. You have our support, always.
LikeLike
Thank you, Jemima xx
LikeLike
I am so sorry Sue, and thank goodness they moved quickly and I hope that a few days on you have more information and clarity of what comes next. I have both you and Mary on my hit list when it comes to daily thoughts. I am sure the many others who love you both will be thinking of your too. I will check in from time to time…♥♥
LikeLike
Thank you , Sally… still waiting for answers here, and sending much love to Mary xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
We will double our efforts to make sure you are both covered..♥
LikeLike
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person