My very brave wife went to the eye clinic today to have a lens removed in order to sort out the cataract in it. Apparently this is a very common operation/procedure and millions of people have it all over the world and their sight is improved and preserved for years to come. Obviously, my wife was worried about it, mainly because she would not be anaesthetized and would be watching the whole thing. She would get a sedative to keep her calm, but that was it.
We went up to the eye place early, as her appointment was for 8:30am. This is why we stayed at the hotel for the night because it’s on the same road and not that far to walk. We arrived at the clinic at around 8am and were told where to wait.
Mirinda was prepped; eye drops squeezed into her eye, sedative given in a small plastic cup, stylish shoe bags and hair bonnet donned; then disappeared.
She quite liked the contrasting colours.
After she vanished, I went down to Fabrique for a coffee. The hotel didn’t provide coffee in the rooms. I could have popped down to reception and had one there but, for reasons that will forever be a mystery to me, I didn’t. Anyway, the woman in Fabrique who served me last week, remembered me and knew I liked three shots in my latte.
Having woken up properly, and in a better humour thanks to Mr Caffeine, I headed back to the waiting area, just as Mirinda emerged, blinking and dazed.
After a sit down for 20 minutes as prescribed by the ever smiling doctor, we headed out, to Fabrique for a coffee for Mirinda and a second triple shot latte for me. The woman behind the counter was shocked.
“If I had six shots within an hour, my head would be spinning,” She said.
Mirinda helpfully told her that I needed six to be normal.
While we sat, Mirinda told me about the operation. How it was like having a huge pink bag over her head, before a giant, cylindrical marshmallow started heading for her eye; how there was a tiny hole to look at, how one of the nurses sang (when she asked for requests, Mirinda said I Can See Clearly Now, and she obliged) and how her limbs took on a life of their own and thrashed about. At one stage, the two nurses released her arms but then, quickly re-gripped, when Mirinda restarted her thrashing.
Still, she was very brave and, soon, we left the clinic and headed out.
Apart from much improved vision, the over-riding result of the operation was the size of Mirinda’s pupil.
It let far too much light in, causing halos to appear around bulbs. The sunlight was a bit much too so she bought a cheap pair of, non-prescription, sunglasses.
After hanging around, waiting for our AirBnB to be ready for us, we caught a taxi, driven by a very well-dressed Kurd who lived in Sydney for a few years – Parramatta and Seven Hills – and we reminisced for a bit about that as he drove us from Kungsholmen to Södermalm.
The flat we’re in for the next little while is lovely, though it only has one, very big mug and not much cutlery. It is in an excellent part of Söder, with restaurants and shops abounding. I know because I headed out, searching for an ICA, a Systembolaget and an Apotek, while Mirinda had a well-earned snooze.
As Mirinda’s new lens bedded in, she began to be amazed at how bright and glorious everything was. We watched the Jennifer Lawrence movie, No Hard Feelings and she kept asking if the TV was better than ours because the colours were so hyperreal and vibrant. I assured her our TV was the same. (Incidentally, I loved the film.)
Going out to dinner, Mirinda chose a Peruvian restaurant not far from the Flat With One Mug. It turned out that Checa was a wonderful find. And not just for the amazing food but also for the company. We were sat next to a couple of Americans, Jo and Daniel who honeymooned on the Great Ocean Road in 1993, two years after we did. They are planning to settle in Adelaide.
We had a lovely time chatting, mostly about Sweden, while eating and praising the food.
They have been invited to a family Midsummer party tomorrow, lucky bastards, so I showed them how to toast properly, in the formal Swedish way, exactly as Nicoline taught us.
Just like the during the movie, Mirinda was amazed at how brilliant everything was, as she stared out of the windows at the ordinary, nondescript buildings across the road. This continued throughout the meal, given the vibrancy of the food.
Above is the Salmon Tiradito which comprises salmon sashimi on a fruity, citrusy Passion Fruit & Leche de Tigre Sauce. And it was totally delicious.
After our amazing dinner, we went for a walk along a path leading beyond the wooden houses at the end of our street, until we found a few brilliant lookout points, with views across the water to Gröna Lund. The sunset was lovely, the colours vivid…apparently.
Mirinda was a bit downcast because she feels she has missed out on such amazing sights, given she has worn glasses since she was 14 and has had the cataracts further spoiling views for her. Apart from the obvious, her new lenses mean she’ll never have to wear glasses for distance again. She is overjoyed. Though, of course, she’ll have to go through the whole thing again next week, in the other eye.
It was a delightful end to what was, quite frankly, an incredible day.
So glad her op went well!! She will have a
new lease on life with her new lenses!! 😊