Surpreyes........

So. 

I had my first cataract surgery on 19 July and in August I had my post-op check, at which the optician confirmed that I would be referred for surgery on the other eye.  At that point I anticipated a fairly lengthy wait, probably until sometime next year.

Last week I was contacted to make an appointment for a pre-op assessment, which was carried out by phone on Friday.  At that point they said that they anticipated the surgery would be scheduled within 14 weeks, so then I was cautiously hopeful that it might be done before Christmas.

Yesterday I had a phone call offering me an appointment to have the surgery..... next Monday!!!!!  I'm still in shock.  To have both eyes done within 11 weeks is frankly unbelievable!  In some areas of the UK patients are having to wait up to 2 years for cataract surgery, the delay likely exacerbated by the effects of Covid.  

We are so lucky to have a stand-alone Opthalmology unit in Bexhill, which must help.  Also their policy of doing both eyes is a factor.... in other health authorities the second eye is not treated as a matter of routine.

I also suspect, that being of working age, (while the majority of cataract sufferers will be retired) and my work being reliant on excellent binocular vision, may have helped secure me the speedy appointment.   

I was very apprehensive last time, but having experienced the surgery I'm much less nervous this time.  Also my appointment is for 8.00am so I won't have time to get worked up on the day.  I should be home by lunchtime.  

In the immediate aftermath, after a few days for my vision to stabilise, I should be able to use some cheap single vision reading glasses (unfortunately my temporary ones will no longer work for the second eye) to enable me to resume close work.  I've been driven demented by having to put them on and take them off every few minutes while working, so at the 4 week post-op check I've decided to opt for varifocals, so that I can wear them all the time I'm working without the tedious on-off-on-off mallarkey.  

All being well, I should be fully operational again by the beginning of November, which I'm so looking forward to.  In the meantime, as I'll be unable to do any tiny doll work, I'll be concentrating on my new kits, which I'm tentatively hopeful will be ready to release sometime in November *fingers firmly crossed*.

Guilty as charged.....

I am soooooo bad at sticking to one project at a time.  I invariably have at least two or three projects on the go, which I'm sure is a common issue familiar to miniaturists the world over. However, at the moment I have a grand total of six, all competing for my attention following my eye surgery lay-up.

SIX!!!!! 

Even by my standards that's quite a lot.  To be fair, it's all completely my fault, as just a few weeks ago I only had five, which, admittedly, is still quite excessive.  Then I was sorting through my ideas box and one thing led to another and now I have six.

Of course, instead of parking the sixth project, to concentrate on the others, which are all much more advanced, I did the complete opposite, and plunged head first into the sixth one and now I'm starting to panic as juggling six projects is just a one way ticket to misery and madness and the workroom is a complete mess and I'm getting all muddled up with what I should be doing......

*STOP! Calmly.... breathe*

So anyway, only two of the six projects are for myself.  Namely a 1/24th scale shop kit which PP got me for Christmas 3 years ago, and my Mignonette Doll Box which I'm doing along with members of the Mignonette Doll Club as our 2021 project.

Don't you just love a project which has a set timescale?  Back in January I was convinced that a whole year was more than enough time to complete my box, and I did get off to a flying start...

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

I have made more progress since then, including installing a musical movement plus all the layers and compartments,  and I've made a start on the 1/12th scale doll but as my eyesight has been compromised she's not quite finished.

I'm sure I could complete it in the next three months, but I'm not making any promises which I know I will probably break, even if those promises are to myself.

The other four projects are all work-related kits, and I'm tantalisingly close to completing two of them.  So it would make so much more sense to push on and get them sorted than starting a completely new one, but hey....... that's just the way I roll.

Sight for sore eyes.....

Had my post-op eye check up and sight test last Thursday.  The operated-on eye has healed nicely and the new lens is sited perfectly.  So all good there.  

The other eye however, is struggling, and as a result I have been referred back to the opthalmic surgeon to have it done too.   I will probably have to wait several months for a date for the surgery though, and in the meantime I really need to be able to work, so as an interim measure I'm having new glasses for close work, which should hopefully be ready to collect later this week.

Since the op, although I haven't been able to do anything creative,  I have been gainfully employed with general admin and website stuff, as well as sorting through my stock boxes and re-organising things.  I've made some progress on the three project kits, which I'm hoping will be ready before Christmas, and in order to kick-start my return to full-time work I've booked to exhibit at the September Mini Miniature Show, which runs from 15-19.

So... less than a fortnight to completely re-jig my dealer page.... no pressure there then.