Thursday, 11 January 2018

Running Away

There was a programme on TV last week that I found sort-of fascinating. While Col's not here I get to see it.....( He just moans through this time of programme!)
 It is called Hunted and was on Channel 4 on Thursday. A load of people - 9 in this 3rd series- are dropped off  somewhere - Manchester city centre this time, and have to evade being found for 25 days to win a share of £100,000. Each person or pair have a covert camera man with them.
The people tracking the "fugitives" have access to CCTV, ATM records, phone taps and computer accounts and a  helicopter and now drones too. They have people in cars ready to follow and experienced ex- police officers or experts in psychology and tracking in an office watching everything.
As the man said "every electronic device leaves a trail" - frightening really and this country has more CCTV cameras than many others so it's almost impossible to disappear. No-one stays free for long.

I've often felt like running away and disappearing, I can remember being about 13 and trying to work out how to climb out of my bedroom window, probably after an argument with Dad.
During some of the early days at the smallholding, severe winter depression made me feel like running away from the cold and wet.
And now I sometimes feel like running away from hospitals and illness!
But of course I haven't and won't  run from anything, after all where would I go?

I've no idea how I would fare in that Hunted programme. A lady of 60+ only stayed free for about 6 hours because she got on a National Express coach and travelled to London. Once you are on a coach you are stuck really. A father and son set out for the countryside - no CCTV there but then phoned home and told their wife/mother exactly where they were - phones were tapped-  they realised what they had done and moved on quickly.
I might watch tonight, there again I might not - it's all rubbish really as they must know from the camera men where everyone is all the time anyway!

Meanwhile, news from hospital is worrying. Col keeps passing out when going to the loo in the night. (The doctor gave this a name but can't remember what he said) He's found himself on the floor 4 times now. His blood pressure is too low. Headaches aren't so bad and he's had the bone marrow sample taken that was due so we are waiting to find out what's going on. He's still not on the proper ward and doctors don't get round to seeing him until late each day and feeling a bit down in the dumps with so few visitors to take his mind off things. I can see the benefit of hospitals specializing in various illnesses but it does make it difficult for family and friends when the hospital is 60 miles away.

Back Tomorrow
Sue


56 comments:

  1. sorry to hear Col's situation in the hospital. Why isn't he in the proper ward? not good. prayers that he'll get to feeling better and higher bp will help. Nobody there to help him to the loo? Take care!

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  2. Postural hypotension may be the term the doctor used - low blood pressure on standing up. We had this happen, but it passed as the patient got stronger. A 'bed pan' is the answer to avoid having to get out of bed unaided (we had to ask for one!).
    Fingers crossed this resolves ASAP. Thank goodness interesting books are there to help us 'run away' in our thoughts from the day to day worries for a while.

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    1. I agree how awful, if he doesn't have to get out of bed surely it would be better, he could really hurt himself with falling, poor Col, how worrying for you both.

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    2. He was sitting down! then finds himself on the floor!

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    3. Happens whenever the head is raised above the level of the heart.

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  3. I'm sorry to read the news about Col. It must be such a worry for you, more so for being so far away from him. I hope you find out soon what's going on.
    I too have a strange fascination with that TV programme. It just doesn't always add up for me, but then I fun myself planning what I would do and where I would go!
    Much love to you and Col. X

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    1. Strange Fascination is exactly right. The sort of programme I wonder why I'm watching!

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  4. Hunted sounds like one of those silly tv programmes, one day they will run out of ideas. Keep watching them though it will take your mind off the continual worry you must be going through. Take care both of you...

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  5. Thinking of you and Col, Sue, hope things improve for him soon. Thanks for keeping us updated about him, does it help you too to talk about it?

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    1. If I put hospital stuff on here then I don't have to talk about it as all friends and family can read it - saves them ringing me up!

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  6. Sorry to hear this about Col, it's no wonder you're watching this kind of programme.
    I have never watched Hunted, but doing family history has taught me that it was easier to disappear and become anonymous in the old days than it is now with all the computer technology etc.
    Take care.

    Joan (Devon)

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  7. Not at all nice for Col or for you either. Sending all the best wishes and healing vibes I can muster for both of you. xxx
    J x

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  8. Catch 22 on the visiting side really. When blood pressure is too low, the act of standing can make you pass out. Really need to get that up if possible. Keeping fingers crossed!

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  9. I really hope Col starts to feel better very soon. Sending love to you both.

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  10. One step forward and two back with Col. He must be feeling proper fed up, that's understandable. You must be worried because he is so far away and there is little you can do to change anything. I hope they get his blood pressure sorted out soon and that his marrow tests are positive.

    I used to "run away" on my horse Fahly when the pressures of nursing mum got a bit much. A couple of hours of horse therapy (and help from Keith of course, with mum's care) and it helped no end.

    I've not seen hunted, but it sounds like they choose some dopes to take part!

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  11. Hard time for you both, I will keep you in my thoughts. I read a Buddhist saying, when you are in a dark place and think you are buried, no you are planted, and starting to grow, look for the green shoots.

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  12. That ‘passing out at night’ thing happened to my dad, and they solved it by getting a commode by the side of the bed. Colin might prefer that to a bedpan. Thinking of you both and sending hugs and good wishes x

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  13. What a worry for you and Colin- here's hoping that this can be resolved and that better times are ahead.

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  14. No wonder Col is feeling down, although he is probably safer away from all the visitors in the main ward just now. The distance is a real hurdle for visiting and most hospitals seem to be going this way of specialist care. Keep watching rubbish TV if it helps to distract you-I’ve been reading rubbish fiction for a few weeks whilst I’ve had flu. Catriona

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    1. He's in a room on his own on the Heamatology ward rather than the Transplant ward where he was before Christmas. Always in a room because of infections. Just means the doctors don't come round so early in the day and there's no coffee making machine in the corridor

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  15. Sorry to hear about Col, it is so worrying 😔

    We love the programme Hunted, and have watched all the series including the celebrity Christmas one. We sit planning what we would do while it's on, but I think I'd just be a nervous wreck for the whole time. And if retired and serving police specialists and ex-military can't evade capture what chance would we have!!

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  16. so sorry about Col - update on my friend with NHL is ok although she still has some pain so back for more bloods and scan next month.she is however eating again and feeling better in herself.
    my son was talking about this programme when he was home at christmas - he reckons round here would be good to hide out or in a forest somewhere that drones can't access.

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    1. i also meant to add we just have a cottage hospital locally , a more major one an hour away but lots of people end up in Glasgow or surrounds 2 1/2 to 3 hours away so i get exactly the problem. we found when my dad was in the one an hour away for 4 weeks in the summer lots of patients didn't get daily visitors as such a wide catchment area.

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  17. How very worrying for you Sue.
    Sending super strength love and hugs to you both-x-

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  18. Hope you get better news about Colin soon.

    I periodically watch The Hunted. The trouble is that it is not based on reality and there are rules that the contestants have to follow - they have to move every so often,, have to call home etc. You can’t just go and camp out in a wood.

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    1. I didn't know that they Had to phone home - that explains it - even sillier than I thought!

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  19. Thinking of you both Sue.

    Tender hugs.
    Hazel c uk

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  20. I have some shows my husband doesn't like a Viking series, and he has one that I don't like--a very drawn out search for treasure on Oak Island. ! I think I would like the hunted series trying to hide but not if it was miserable weather. I'm hoping that your husband's situation is going to improve. Very worrying for you both. I think we are all worrying with you. Jean/Winnipeg

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  21. It's no wonder you want to run away. The news about Col is tough. Please take care of yourself so you can be there for him and strong. I hope there is some sort of support for him. Hopefully there will be good news soon. I'm thinking of you both. If wishes were horses....

    I ran away once when I was about twelve. Not seriously ran away, but I went down to the 'woods' (really a collection of about ten trees) down the bottom of our street after an argument with my Mum. Didn't last too long. Just felt really down and lost.

    Take care.

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  22. I think the show sounds intriguing. I may see if I can find it here in Canada.

    I hope they can regulate Col's blood pressure and keep the fainting from occurring.

    God bless.

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  23. Colin falls with no-one around? I hope they remedy that, quickly!
    Prayers for you both.
    Debbie

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    1. He slips off the loo or commode - no injuries - thank goodness

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  24. You are one of the strongest people I "know" Sue. Hang in there. My prayers for both you and Col.

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  25. We love Hunted - and both immediately said that lady had made a mistake buying that coach ticket and then actually getting onto the coach. Had she not have done they'd still have wasted resources following it, and she would have stood a better chance of slipping away from them.
    Hope the news from the hospital improves soon for you.

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  26. I hope you and Col will receive encouraging news from his lab tests. Your strength and courage are an inspirations.

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  27. We used to have a show on over here called Mantracker. Two people called "The Prey" are placed in a different location of the Canadian wilderness each episode. They are given a map with a starting point and ending location approx. 40 kilometers away. The prey are given 36 hours to reach the ending location by any means, and by any route necessary. The "Mantracker" and sidekick (usually a new one per episode) will then attempt to capture the prey while on horseback before they reach the finish line using various expert tracking skills. Some people got a long way, very rarely did the mantracker not catch them. I can't remember how much of a head start they got. There were no aides like drones, phones, gps etc. you just had to use your wits and the mantracker used his tracking skills.
    I hope you get some positive news about Col. I'm amazed at how far you have to travel to the hospital. Thank goodness you don't have our weather, -27C, -38C with the windchill and it's snowing!

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    1. Yes I'm mighty glad the weather here is just grey and wet rather than snow and ice!

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  28. Beaming you massive hugs right now through the ether, Sol xxx

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  29. What an interesting experiment! I used to drive down the M5 every day to work and every morning without fail I'd wonder what would happen if I just kept on driving past my exit. I told myself that one day, I'd just do it - some sort of need to be totally un-contactable, to have absolutely no-one know where I was, just for a while. I never did.

    Sixty miles is a long way to go to hospital - they are moving more and more to this idea of specialist centres of excellence, and whilst I understand that concentrating resources in one place can be cost effective and practical, its not so good for the patient in other ways. Low blood pressure can be as troublesome as high blood pressure. How worrying for you. With very best wishes.

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  30. So sorry Col is so poorly and so worrying for you. Hope things pick up soon. I haven't seen the Hunted programme. Yes cctv everywhere yet people still go missing sometimes for years.

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  31. I've found wrapping myself in a very soft blanket is very soothing when stressed to the max, reverting to babyhood I suppose. Poor Col, how unnerving. The BP is sneaky, it will often let you get as far as the loo before tanking

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  32. We live a similar distance from a major hospital Sue and it is so wearing. But content yourself, as I am sure you do, by telling yourself he is in the best possibly place. I hope the news soon improves.

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  33. Not sure if this comment will post. Some of mine do, then disappear? I hope I haven't offended! Praying all goes well with Col. At least that you'll find answers & solutions. No doubt you both would like to run away from everything sometimes. The show sounds interesting.

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    1. Promise I've never deleted comments! so that's a mystery.
      It's a strangely fascinating programme

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  34. Fingers crossed Sue that it is only a hiccup especially with this horrible weather at the moment. Its never easy when family live quite a way from the hospital. Just take it steady the pair of you. Tricia x

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  35. Really enjoying your blog. I budget like a fiend; I'm the only person I know that checks my bank statement every week! You mention your husband being on £7.50 a month mobile and you are on pay-as-you-go. I wonder if either of you are on Giffgaff? I've become almost evangelical about its value for money (I'm NOT a salesperson for GiffGaff by the way!)For £7.50 a month I get 250 mins free calls which is much better than my former PAYG.No contract either. Keep up the good work budgeting.

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  36. Thinking of you and Colin and keeping my fingers crossed that this is just a small glitch for Colin. xx

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  37. Hope they manage to sort Col's BP out, passing out so often must be terrifying. Haven't seen the programme but now I'm sat here thinking where I'd go and how I'd get there! xx

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  38. We are still thinking of you both and hope that the doctors manage
    to find a solution to Colin's setback. If we can help in anyway please let us know x

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    1. Hi to you both. We are just looking forward to him being home and well enough to see Jacob and H and J too of course.....but mainly Jacob!

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  39. Sorry to hear about Col's condition, hope there is some improvement soon.

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  40. Hope Col improves soon, maybe he could try moving arms and legs while seated to get the pressure up a bit so he stays upright.
    Sorry to hear he is getting bored I suppose it is to be expected. Try to get him one of Lee Child's " Jack Reacher " series or some early Clive Cussler (boys own adventure type for adults) books both authors are very entertaining.....

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  41. So sorry to hear about Col. Is he able to notify nurses when he needs to go to the bathroom? I hope they can find the reason for his fainting spells and get it under control.

    When full of worries, it is good to escape into a good program or good book. I can understand how a show like that could get one’s interest.

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