Thursday, 4th August. All sorts of activities.

 The young Tongan lady goes for her appendix removal, and after rounds, Mararma just has to await her paperwork before discharge. I'm allowed to get the naso-gastric tube out which isn't too bad, and it will be good not to get things like mushroom soup stuck to the tube, which must look a bit like globules of snot. s I am having a little nap when Gail finally gets the go-ahead for the flight to Waikato for her reconstructive surgery. For a while there I am in the only bed in the ward.

The Tongan lady is no sooner back from surgery when the extended family appears, complete with a tray of roast pork from the Roast Takeaways place. Prayer and blessings to accompany. Next an unmedicated diabetic goes in the bed opposite. She is quite grey and sleeps for many hours, which gets her readings down from 20 to 8.6.

I am waiting excitedly to go to see Gaynor, a friend in Ward 8 who had a stroke-like turn after having COVID. But they are very strict about visiting this ward, as it is on the same floor as the COVID ward. Cajin takes me down and clears my visit with the nurses there. Gaynor has a room to herself, a state of the art bed, her own toilet, and has just enjoyed a chicken and salad wrap for lunch. I am so totally ENVIOUS.

I am just heading back under escort of a physio who walks way too fast, when Cajin comes to get me. You just aren't allowed to wander around on this floor.

So I'm just flicking through a magazine when Camille comes up after a day relieving . She brings a bottle of Ginger Beer, which is most welcome.

What an exciting day with all the visiting! Very disrupted night to follow.