Day 20

Having had a good sleep following the injection I was given by the nurse last night. I note that when turning over in bed overnight it helps if I do the foot circles and extensions. This allowed me to go back to sleep and I finally woke up at around 06:30. In preparation for the day I sorted out things which could be packed and then sat down to do my blood sugar test: Blood sugar was at 5.6.

Breakfast with Sue from Wrexham now trying to think what I haven’t done in preparation for this evening’s travel:

• Boarding pass
• Covid Pass
• Passenger locator form

That seems to be all that I need.

All my morning sessions are now completed successfully and I have received the email from Physiotherapy for homework! These two YouTube videos should do the business.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMmJ6T7Zd-8

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjrbP8UO4Fw

 

After Cryogenic Treatment I sorted out paying the UPA bill for the bar extras. I used my starling card via Google Pay and it worked a treat; simples!

As it is going to be a long day I am now resting before lunch though I might just pop out for a short walk as it is sunny… I relented and stayed 219. At lunch I met the latest group of patients from NordClinic and wished them all well before returning to 219 for a chat with Catharine before she took Jazz out in preparation for driving to Warrington. She sent me a picture of what she was taking for my breakfast tomorrow when we will be in the Travelodge.

 
Next floor 4 for my final massage and as usual I fell asleep during the 20 minute massage. I am now elevating my leg with ice pack for the first time today before my final fling here in UPA, aqua therapy at 16:40.

All done, a good session with Greta in the pool and then back to 219 to get dressed and finish packing. First time I've had trousers on for 17 days!

Early to dinner and obligingly the restaurant was open early. At 18:15 I went back to collect my luggage and go down to reception. As soon as I got there the driver arrived and helped me and my bags to his car.

An excellent driver and the road conditions were ideal for a safe and rapid transfer to Vilnius. Even though it was dark I recognised many of the landmarks as we neared Vilnius. It is a huge modern expansion of the old city.

Through customs and passport control, with the usual manual checks on my knees, to have a calming glass of wine before going to the boarding gate 9.

Now 21:35 and a Ryanair operative has walked round and checked my paperwork so all I have to show is a chit, passport and boarding pass on my phone to go through the gate. Any time soon….

Priority booking gets you through the gate quickly but you are then stacked on the ground floor of the stairwell with all the non priority passengers congregating there until the doors are opened. Once the doors were opened there was no consideration for priority just utter chaos.

On board now 22:03 good leg room sitting by the emergency exit. 

The Ryanair crew are much more specific about face coverings being required to be worn correctly, i.e. Over the nose too! We were advised that the flight is taking slightly longer due to high winds with an estimated flight time of 3:05.

I am finding the flight tedious as I didn’t unpack my headphones and the earbuds are not sound deadening enough; listening to spotify is almost worthless with the engine noise. I am sitting in the better leg length seats at the emergency exit, available to me as I don’t have the crutches with me! Just can’t get sufficiently comfortable and the armrests on these seats don’t fold up. Out of boredom I have bought a pack of Pringles for €2.50 and I have just got my second orange out ready to eat after the milestone of half the flight in 10 minutes!

All things considered it was a reasonable flight with good facecocerings, following strict instructions from the crew about making sure the mask covered the nose. I managed without moving more than twice; once when I walked to the toilet and the other when I walked form one end of the cabin to the other. On arrival at Liverpool at 11:30 local time (a 3:05 hour flight duration) the disembarking was quite difficult trying to carry my two bags down the steps and then a long walk to the customs and passport control areas. Once through to the exit area I tried to call Catharine but there was no signal until I left the building; as I called her I could see her as she walked to meet me at the pedestrian crossing. She had parked pretty close she took my bags and showed me to the car. 

Back to Travelodge next and then pretty much straight to bed…. A long day.