Sleep Apnoea

So tonight is the night. It is the first time I am in a hospital overnight as a patient since I was walked out as a baby many many years ago. This time I have been booked into the Sleep Lab at Sunninghill Hospital for overnight sleep apnoea screening.

By late afternoon I started getting butterflies as I was not exactly sure what to expect when I arrived at the Sleep and Neurophysiology Centre’s laboratory. There is a 3 quarter size bed on one side and this machine with wires pouring out on the other.

Somehow things felt a little disorientated as I didn’t know the processes going forward and had to ask the orderly Patrick what now. Patrick shift ends at six and he has to super glue all the electrodes onto me before he leaves. Yes super glue, you heard correctly. Once the wires where all set up I cannot move more than a metre from the bed. Toilet has to be done in this silver jug that was brought to the bedside. Oh dear I get rather thirsty at night and drink water which means a number of toilet walks normally except tonight a jug has to suffice.

So before all the wiring up happened, I had to shower and dejectedly the shower was a long walk down the passage past all the other wards. Talk about a walk of shame. What happened to a private ward? First toilet in a bottle and this, oh this is so undignified.

Lets pray that they get to the bottom of what is wrong with me so that they can plan for the fixing of me. Anyways this is a good night from me at hospital to get some sleep.

Technicolour Shirt

A first I thought I was seeing Joseph and his technicolour dream coat but I had to look twice and I was pleasantly surprised to see Patrick. It has been a long time my friend. Oh by the way Carol likes your shirt.

Patrick's Family

Patrick, his lovely wife Glory and his two boys Blessing and Zoë came to visit us here in Douglasdale. Besides Maxy relearning how to scale the boundary walls we had a lovely afternoon.

Year End Fast Track

The year is coming to an end very fast. Most of my colleagues are starting to talk about the holidays. Sorry for me but I am working right through this Christmas. Bah Humbug. Anyway talking about work here is a rare photo of Motloli discussing some work related issue with Patrick.

Training

The weather was great this morning but by mid afternoon a terrible storm blew over. The IT guys thought it funny that I was on my bike and offered to get me a taxi. Here are some of them getting training from Patrick. From the left clockwise around the table is Theo, Khathu, Jimmy, Masilo (head down), Thabiso, Thanyani, Karabo, Brian, Lerato, Vuyo, Amukelani, Patrick and Khumbu.

BMW

The weather today has been officially declared BMW or Baby Making Weather. In other words it is a stay in bed day with the cold rain drizzling down. I should have called in a Duvet Day but there were many things to do before tomorrow. Here is Patrick from the Democratic Republic of Congo who is by now used to this weather. It rains a lot up north where he is from but it is warm tropical rain not this sleety rain.

Rain Rain

Ahh, the rain continues to fall not just softly but in buckets. The ground is now water logged. The rain means that the temperatures have dropped to a more comfortable level but what worries me is cholera as reports of the disease is starting to surface here in Johannesburg. Okay lets be more positive. Today’s photo is of Patrick and Motloli from the ICT department of Metrorail.

Friday's small yippee

Well last Friday I was all excited for the weekend but it all came tumbling down. Would this weekend be different? I am cautious leading into this weekend. Here is Patrick who works with me at Metrorail. As I mentioned in a previous post he is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and he is known as Congo or as I call him Pongo.

Pongo

No, I shouldn’t call Patrick - Pongo just because he comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known in Metrorail as Congo. The name Pongo comes from my Army days where I was in the Equestrian unit. After a couple of weeks in the bush we come back smelling just like a horse. We where called pongos because every where we went the pong went too.

Patrick is back

Patrick and his family is back from his yearly visit to back to France. It was good to catch up with him on top of that it is FRIDAY.

AZERTY

After finally getting used to a QWERTY keyboard, Patrick, who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, confused me with his laptop. AZERTY is the French styled keyboard and needs a lot of time to get used to.

Farewell

February was a busy month and March does not seem any less. The days are hot with afternoon thunderstorms. There was a farewell to one of Metrorail’s staff today. So we had to trudge to a house in Roodepoort for a braai. Paid per hour while braaing. Not bad for a days work. Management help contribute but not one of then decided to pitch up. That to me shows some disrespect but who am I to tell it like it looks. Anyway more meat and beers for us. In the photo is Patrick who is from the Congo, watching how Greg braais the meat.