Four hours in hospital is not a fun way to spend a morning with your child. Lauren was very patient during the long wait for the operation, despite her growing hunger and thirst. We arrived, as instructed, at 6.30am and waited until 8.45 for her to go in to theatre. She was back in about half an hour and upon waking from the anaesthetic was instantly hungry and fell upon the coke and ice-cream and jelly. She seemed to be doing really well compared to a lot of the other (younger) kids in recovery who were all extremely disoriented and miserable. There must have been some lingering pain-killing effects of the anaesthetic, because very soon after that she was in a lot of pain. Not from the minor surgery but from the plastic tube that was down her throat during the operation. Fortunately that was treated quite soon and quite successfully with some Stopain, and we were able to leave at 10.30. The hospital experience was as pleasant as could be expected, and the staff were considerate and friendly. The only annoying thing was the damn TVs that were on everywhere. I don't think children recovering from anaesthetics want anything other than their parents and peace and quiet.

On the way home we stopped to pick up some movies and some comfort food for the afternoon. Lauren required several more doses of Stopain throughout the afternoon and evening. She was in a terrible mood. In particular she was freaked out by the loud noises she was now experiencing after several months of poor hearing. She kept grousing at us to be quieter.

Today she was much better and seemed really happy. I think now she is growing accustomed to the 'noise' again she is loving being able to hear and participate in things properly again. She and Robyn and Daniel played a long and involved game under the jungle gym all afternoon.

Tomorrow is a public holiday as it's the day of the municipal elections. I have never missed voting, but I don't find it satisfying as it's a case of voting for the least unsatisfactory party rather than a party I particularly support.

The DA candidate for our area happens to be the son of Lauren's school principal. In a somewhat tactless or naive move, she has one of her son's posters up at the school. And even sent home copies of her son's pamphlet in the notebooks!

The IFP candidate for Pinetown looks dead. She frightens me on the way to the kids swimming lessons. Possibly they couldn't get an alive person to stand for them. If she'd been in the DA I'd have been tempted to take a black marker and insert an 'O' into 'DA'.