Jigsaw Sorting Plans

 I know, I have covered a post on sorting of jigsaw pieces before but I have been researching the different methods that people use.

This has led to me acquiring some small trays and being a little more particular with my sorting. Yes, I am a 'sort the straight edges from the middle piece's person'. Then all the middle pieces just get put back into the box and I sort through as I am completing the jigsaw.

But I have seen others who specifically sort colours into separate piles, along with edge pieces. They ensure that all pieces go back into the box up the right way and some, even have large trays so that nothing goes back into the box, and you can see all pieces at all times!

I do not have enough space to do that method.

I have however, treated myself to a couple of smaller plastic trays (from Temu, where else!) to be able to do a small amount of colour sorting but that is as far as I go for now.

Day 2 - Home Time

 The extra day/night in hospital was by far the best thing to do, and now it is home time.

Whilst it will be good to be in my own surroundings, I know for certain it is not like a hotel there, everything at my fingertips and a mini fridge in the room. This room is exactly like a hotel room; in fact, I think I have stayed in hotel rooms far worse than this hospital room!

Onwards with my recovery

Day 1

 To say the past 24 hours have been rough is a definite understatement. Crap is a better word, I think. It has not been a pleasant journey and consequently, the surgeon has decided that I am not going home today, and I get the joy of staying in for another night, and believe me, I need it.

Reaction to medication, uncontrollable pain, nausea, vomiting, more pain, lots of tears and low blood pressure.

It was lovely when a colleague/friend came to see me and bought me a small gift to keep me smiling. Ok, she did make me walk up and down the corridor (for my own good) to get the blood flowing to my legs and assist with easing my tight muscles.

I told you, nurses make the worst patients!

Surgery

Today is surgery day. Although I had to be nil by mouth and not report to the hospital until 12:30pm, I had nothing else to do in the morning, so rather than waste sick days, I carried on teaching this morning and then walked up the road to the hospital (about a 5-minute walk!) when required. Thus, why I have my laptop with me.

Talk about being a nurse patient and knowing how to push the limits 😎

I am all checked in, room allocated and now I sit and wait.

Been seen by the anaesthetist and the surgeon and just been told of a slight delay. Not much I can do about that.

My nursing was actually in the operating theatre for 20 years, so I totally understand all and everything to do with surgery and running of the department. I have scrubbed for many different specialties and have seen the inside of the body from the top of the head to the top of the big toe. I have helped to fix it, move it, remove it, replace it and generally anything to do with any part of the body, with the exception of cardiac and lungs, I have only scrubbed for one cardiac emergency case in my time, otherwise I have seen the inside of all of the body and it still fascinates me and amazes me at the miracle of what it does for our whole life. Even if it does go wrong occasionally and need bits removed 😇

I have lost count of the number of times I have scrubbed for this operation I am having today - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, so I know exactly how and what is going to happen. (Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing 😐)

Jigsaw 16 - Bargain Hunting

 On a roll now, and back into it.

Next one sorted and completed. Frustrating in parts due to some matching of colours but overall fun to complete,

Jigsaw 15 - Craft Fair Barn

 Yes, I know, it has been a while since I did a jigsaw puzzle. June was the last time I completed one and it is now August.

Life just sometimes passes you by and you have not been in the mood or had other things going on, or you have just puzzled yourself out.

For me, well as the previous posts show, I have been dealing with an illness and trying to get on top of what is going on and what that means and what the plan is moving forward. Add in work, it being winter and generally me just sleeping a lot and being exhausted, has led to no jigsaws.

Finally, here we are with my next one. Can't be all bad as this is my 15th jigsaw of the year. That currently leads to about 1 every 3 weeks on average for the year (if this is all I did for 2025 and stopped now) and with the stack I have of ones to be completed, I think my plan to beat the 19 from 2024 is well achievable and I will surpass it with ease.

I actually purchased this one and at the time didn't realise two major flaws....

• it is only 500 pieces, too easy to do
• it is XL pieces

This led to a very easy, very quick, jigsaw that saw me take about 1 whole evening to sort, complete and move on. It was simple and passed an evening very well.

Verdict

 The results are in, the plan is set, and we are all go

Today was the surgeon appointment and he confirmed my findings (😀) my gallbladder is coming out.

Now I just have to wait the 5-6 weeks until surgery time but at least we have a solution, although he did say it was only a 50:50 chance of it fixing the problem! A chance I am prepared to take.