The deck takes shape...as I fall apart

Well as you can see the frame of the deck is now finally complete. Not bad eh? And yes it IS all level before you ask, and this didn't come together without considerable blood, sweat and tears I can tell you. There was still plenty to do after we got back from Cornwall and I was all set to get cracking this weekend until I was struck down on Friday night with the mother of all stomach bugs. Actually it was a hang-over from the slightly 'loose' week I had on holiday but without putting too fine a point on it, the troops were evacuating from every port. Amelia was not herself either on Friday so as is customary at the moment I was attending her bedside at around 3:30am when the call from on high came and I spent a good portion of the next hour downstairs, conversing with the big G on his porcelain megaphone. I felt terrible and ached all over in a flu-ish, kind of way with a touch of African Sleeping Sickeness too I'm sure. It could be - I read about it. Anyhoo morning broke and I managed to nobly stagger into the garden to begin some deckwork. After a full programme on Saturday and Sunday the end result was as you see now. What you can't see is that I was immobile for the entire evening & night. I must have wrenched a few muscles because by about 2:00am I literally couldn't move. Must be getting old.

Also I can't take all the credit because Anna played a sterling supporting role all weekend by keeping young Amelia occupied. Also in terms of navigating the tricky bits around the drain and that strange circular concrete thingy by the fence (origin unknown) she was invaluable. Not for the first time since I've known her she would chime in with gems like 'you realise you can't put that in there until you've screwed that on properly'. Ooh matron.

So to the bairn! Amelia had her annual appointment with her original consultant Dr Ian Rodd back at the now slightly less familiar, Royal Hants Hospital. As expected he's thrilled with her progress and I think would have signed her off completely were it not for the fact that good practise means they'll keep an eye on her until she starts school. Actually to say he's just thrilled with her progress is an understatement, he's astonished. To emphasise the point he highlighted some new research which has concluded that in the Severely Premature birth bracket (24-28 weeks) they have discovered that 50% of babies are disabled as a result, and 50% of those severely so. Although we'll never forget Amy's start in life I often think we're not thankful enough for how truly amazing she is. Here she is with her new backpack which she adores.