Hospital must-haves

If you are contemplating a stay in hospital, I would recommend any or all of the following (clockwise from left):
1. Crocs – fleece-lined (present from JP) they work as slippers or shoes, so when you are up to forays off the ward you can wear them as shoes. You can also wear them in the shower, and take the fleece bits out to dry them. Gonna get some more crocs, although Jules says they’re ‘dykey’.
2. Ted (Rob won him in a raffle). He was at Rob’s Mum’s care home until she died. ‘He is used to looking after ladies’.
3. Cardboard bowler hats which work as sick-bowls or recepticals for other random fluids. The hospital supply these.
4. Hand cream. General anaesthetic dehydrates skin.
5. Biscuits. The last meal is served at 5pm and it’s a long fast till morning.
6. DAB radio. Radio 4 helps keep you sane.
7. MP3 player, cuts out out ward din. Listening to your own music helps you feel human. You can also put relaxation tapes on there, good for sleepless nights.
8. Holding cross (present from JP) can be comforting for the religiously minded. (I am Catholic albeit not a very good one)
9. Somersaulting frog. (present from Jules) amuses the nurses.
10. Blackberry or other smartphone/handheld device. An absolute lifeline. Thankfully they let you have mobiles these days in hospital.