Just to explain the picture. This is my lovely pirate made out of coconuts, which proudly stands in my kitchen. A friend once commented that my house was more like a scene from Toy Story - I wonder why?
Pirating is something of an obsession in my house. I have a full pirate outfit. Where I live, for many years we had a smugglers event - where basically the entire neighborhood dresses up as pirates, drinks too much and then marches down the high street with flaming torches. Then have fireworks on the beach.
We say this is because the poem Smugglers Song was written about where I live (cause obviously it's not just for fun - it's serious stuff). Take a look at this video to get a feel for what an awesome night it is and to hear the Smugglers Song.
If you do watch the video that's me holding the flag 26 seconds in (although you just see the flag). 2016 was my favorite year, because the ship you see burning on the beach was part of the parade down the high street, one of the torches set it on fire early whilst it was still on the high street - causing a certain amount of chaos and excitement for those of us who had had some wine beforehand!
If you can't be bothered to go to the link you may recognise a few lines from the poem: 'Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie.' 'Five and twenty ponies, Trotting through the dark - Brandy for the Parson...'.
For various reasons it hasn't happened for a few years, it was meant to kick off again this year. COVID'S stopped that - GUTTED!
That was something of a major digression and not why I intended to post at all. So let's get back to mouthguards.
On Friday son didn't come home on minibus. I was due to meet him and 2 friends at his school so they could get fish and chips again and go and be grown up and eat them without parents. This was to celebrate half term (fish and chips is meant to be last Friday of month).
I had got 2 minutes away from the meeting point when my phone rung. It was the school. Your son has had an accident playing hockey - there's lots of blood, he'll need to go to hospital. Crikey!! I asked where he was explaining I was outside the school. "Oh he's not here - he's at the sports centre they explained".
It was one of those moments when a million things go through your mind. I knew none of the other mum's were around. I was dropping one of the kids back home and the other mother was meeting us in about an hour. What was I going to do with those kids. Where were they, were they at the sports centre as well or at the school? Of course, the overwhelming thought was 'how quickly can I get to my baby!'.
So whilst walking back to the car (about 10 minutes from school) I was madly on the phone trying to organise everything.
I got the sports centre and son was outside looking rather white with his 2 school friends and 2 teachers (thanks teachers for waiting). Basically what had happened was there was a scrummage by the hockey goal. Son had gone in head first to get the goal just as somebody took a hefty swing with their stick. Hitting him firmly in the mouth and splitting his lip in spectacular fashion.
Every one of my instincts wanted to take him in my arms and say 'poor baby are you ok'? But i managed to hold it together - remembering that he is now in seniors and therefore 'too cool for school'. I gently touched his arm and asked how he felt and then turned attention to the teachers. Inside my head was the mantra 'want to cuddle my boy, want to cuddle my boy'.
Teachers were great and told me where the local drop in hospital was (son goes to school in next town) also said they'd stay with son's friend whose mum was picking him up.
Was all very strange going to A&E in COVID situation. It's a cottage hospital, which I suspect made it a much better experience than the big City hospital nearer us. We rang a bell and then could see through the window as somebody got fully masked and aproned up before opening the door. They asked us what the situation was and then masked up we were invited in. We had to fully sanitise before going further.
All the seats in the waiting room were socially distanced. It was a really surreal experience, but I was seriously impressed by how everything was dealt with. Son's friend that stayed with us was utterly brilliant. A real star keeping son's attention away from the pain whilst we waited.
When we went in for son to be sorted out the first question was 'how are your teeth'. It hadn't even occurred to me that his teeth could be in tatters. But I have the school to thank wholeheartedly. They insist that the kids wear mouth guards when doing sport. Son hates it because they are uncomfortable - I hate it because to get a decent one they are REALLY expensive. However, from this point forward I totally see the point of them.
Son didn't need stitches. They essentially glued him back together. Let's hope the scar isn't too bad (my baby's face.... ruined!). Apparently glue will flake off in about 6 days and until then needs to be kept dry. Son is looking forward to a week of minimal bathing.
Eating is still a bit of a challenge as it has to be thin things that mean he doesn't open his mouth too much. But he's coping - crisps are quite thin! Although he's slightly gutted that cucumber can also be cut into nice thin slices. I guess you can't get everything to go the way you want it all the time.
All the boys were just really sad to miss out on the fish and chips - husband too as I was supposed to bring some back for him.
What next I wonder?
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