The Excursion

Saturday 13 March

The weekend is here!! I slept in until just before 9am. Breakfast is between 8-10 and the later you get there the crustier the food is!! I like to get there somewhere in the middle as a general rule! Martin is still sleeping as I sneak off to the shower. It can be awkward living in such a small little area and I like to keep him asleep! Just before I walk out of the room he wakes up and decides that he wants to come down to breakfast with me. I am pleased for his enthusiasm... it is hard to be enthusiastic about the food in the best of health, so for him to be keen to come is nothing short of miraculous!

As we walk around the hospital everyone is stopping us to comment on how amazing Martin is looking! It really is remarkable the difference in his colour. He is still weak in his strength but I am glad that people are encouraging him in the positive things! It is one thing to hear from me, but is a whole lot better come from others.

Today the hospital has organised an outing! We are all like kids excited about their first excursion! Because we came down to breakfast late the list for the day out is full. I add our names anyway – we are desperate to get out!! Martin is more desperate than I am to escape. I think he is still feeling caged in here. Fingers crossed for our shopping day out.

After breakfast we head out for a walk, this time deciding to go in a different direction to the usual one. The roads are busier being a Saturday and they are all heading towards San Diego. The border crossing is amazing! During the week it is bad – but over the weekends it is insane. You need to expect it to take you about 3 hours to leave Mexico. That is one thing but what amazes me is the amount of cars that fill the city as they queue for the exit point!

I collect some flowers for my hair. I have decided this is going to be my own daily habit. The habitat is very similar to home – except for my own garden which probably resembles more of the desert that Mexico should! The flowers, mainly wild daisies, are like home and I can hear my sister telling me they are weeds. I still have a soft spot for them and even more so now that they are a touch of familiar! Today I pick a flower which, I do not know the name of, but my mum has it in her garden. The scent is strong and filled with fond memories! Memories of my grandmother’s garden when I was young, and more recent memories of calling into my mum’s for a cup of tea! Oh how I am looking forward to having a real cup of tea with mummy soon!! Come to think of it I am looking forward to having a real cup of tea with anyone!

Lunch is done – thank goodness – and the excursion has arrived. Fortunately, so we thought, they had decided to do 2 bus trips so everyone could go. As we arrive it becomes apparent that this is not the local shopping centre, or mall as the Americans would say, but rather we are in Downtown Tijuana! The driver goes to leave saying he will return for us in 3 hours.... 3 HOURS! Don’t leave us here for 3 hours!! Please come back in 1½ max! I feel like I have just arrived in what I would picture India to be like. The streets are filled with shops, which I would call markets, owners stand out the front telling you to come in... promising it will be free to look and cheap to buy! Every shop is the same – ponchos, sombreros, ‘real’ silver and flamingo outfits. I would be enticed to stop and look for some take home gifts, but the bombardment of the streets is too much to handle! Martin is regretting coming – he has wilted! The streets go on forever- more of the same. Donkeys are on every street corner. Poor half starved donkeys that are spray painted for added effect. You are not allowed to take a photo of them because that is what they are there for – people to pay to take a photo!

We manage to get a lift home earlier than the bus trip. Someone’s son had driven in with his car and offered to drive us back. I am somewhat relieved! I feel like I need to go home and have a detol bath!!

Not wanting to remain caged inside we head out to the courtyard armed with some games. It is a beautiful day – the chill in the air has lifted and the sun has warmth in it – like a beautiful spring day at home.

The young man from England, Matt, and his daughter, Farren, have come out to play. He is worried about his wife. She has not bounced back since their long flight over from London. She hasn’t been down from her room for since Wednesday as her lungs have filled and she now has pneumonia. She is now on oxygen all the time – fighting to breathe! The little girl plays and laughs, almost unaware that her mummy is in serious trouble. Sometimes I wonder if it helps to talk to others and realise that there people worse than you, or if it disheartens the soul. It takes a lot to fight the fear that it is what you will also come to!!

We spend an hour playing in the sun and retreat back to our room for some rest. Martin manages a sleep and I spend some time getting lost in youtube! I would be lost without the computer!! However did people survive before such things as laptops and internet! I would be a basket case of boredom!!

Dinner rolls on – like a torment. I swear I will never eat rice again. I feel like my guts are clogged with rice and my taste buds have forgotten how wonderful food can taste. I am not sure how I will continue with this method of eating, let alone cooking, when we get home but they statistics on how it aids the treatments are very convincing! My children are going to have nervous breakdowns!!

I decided to let Martin try one of my magic pills tonight. He has been having envy battles thinking that mine are better than his. To my surprise he was asleep within 20 minutes of taking it!! Meanwhile I was awake for ages – even after I took mine. I am not sure why I can’t sleep – I was exhausted this afternoon! The cleaner, bless her heart, has noticed the hardness of my bed and placed an overlay on it to soften it up. I should be falling asleep like a baby, instead I am laying here waiting for sleep to come!!

Tomorrow there is a church service. I am looking forward to that. There is also another trip into the markets. I am a little apprehensive about that - if today wasn't markets I am afraid of what the markets are like! I have been promised they are nicer than the shops... a strange back to front concept, but I guess we are in Mexico!

My new catch phrase "Anything go in Mehico!"