Life Support

Good morning everyone on this fine sunny Sunday.
We went to Luton yesterday for the open day at Bedfordshire University. It was an experience I can tell you.
We got there no problems, I was concerned before leaving because of the sciatica I had been suffering from. Anyway, we got there, no real pain for me and I was set for a gentle day of talks from the heads of the university and discussions with lecturers and possibly a wander around the accommodation and campus. How wrong would I be.
We started by waiting for the welcome talk which was going to start in around half an hour. We decided to have a coffee and headed up to the university cafe, this is where the troubles of the day began.
We found a seat in amongst the other visitors and sat down, Ping! Nope not an idea, ping went something in my back, it was like a switch had been flicked, a switch of excruciating pain. My right leg felt like it was about to explode. Oh no! not now, pleeeaaaasssssse, I thought. Too late.
The chair I had sat on was a raised chair and I thought it would have been a good choice to not put any strain on my already delicate back. I instantly got up and with a pain that was so high my mind didn't know what to do, it wanted to try and run away from my leg and leave it behind. I suddenly found myself outside barely being able to put any weight on my right leg, tears were forming in my eyes, tears that I couldn't stop. I was now in a blind panic, the pain was just so unbearable.
I began to fight back and compose myself. I usually have a high pain threshold, but this was something else. It happened so quick and was so intense it took even my pain control capabilities by surprise. Now with my mind back under control I headed inside and spotted a solid wooden bench. Arriving at it I spared no time in parking my rear on it, the bump down must have done something as instantly the pain went as quickly as it arrived. Unfortunately the damage, whatever it is had been done.
Gill found someone who took us up to where the welcome talk was to be held. By the time I got there my leg was hurting, not as bad, but it was then I realized the damage to my back was now worse than it had been before traveling down. I found relief by rocking backwards and forwards, there was not doubt about it, a nerve was trapped in my lower back somewhere.
The talk ended and we went back to the reception area where the lad who had shown us to the welcome talk had been speaking to his superiors who had arranged a comfy seat for me, a coffee and a personal tour of the accommodation for Gill and Sam as they had quite correctly assumed we would be heading for home shortly with the day in tatters. This was fantastic, what thoughtful people, I couldn't thank them enough.
Gill and Sam returned from the tour, we thanked the staff once again and then made for the car which was parked just across the road in a multi-story car-park. When we arrived I noticed something on the drivers window, it was smudge marks, whilst we had been in the university someone had been in the car-park attempting to break into cars by forcing their windows down, all the cars in our row had the same marks on them. Luckily they hadn't been successful. Sam went back over to the university to let them know, they thanked him and said they would inform security.
We headed for the motorway, stopping off for a bite to eat. I was now getting very used to this pain coming and going and had found a series of positions whilst sitting to relieve it.
We eventually arrived home and I spent the night in a degree of discomfort, I have awoke this morning to find all my leg muscles have a pulled feel to them which would suggest the pain yesterday was huge cramps and spasms throughout my leg.
I can see the day is going to be full of rest and there will be the possibility of a doctors visit tomorrow to get it checked out.
Oh well, think of all the tea I can drink.

Todays upload is once again from RHS Harlow Carr. This was another leaf I found being supported by another plant. I liked the contrast between the reddish brown of the dead leaf and the vibrant green of the leaf that had saved it from the fall.
I also liked how the water had run off the leaf that was alive as if it was able to have a shake to remove it. The dead leaf however, the water had pooled.

Thanks for looking and for any comments.

Thanks also to Jenn (Taggart) for my award on my last upload, it will be treasured.

Brand:	NIKON CORPORATION
Camera:	Nikon D700 Check out Nikon Nation!
Lens:	105.0 mm f/2.8
Recording media:	RAW (digital)
Date Taken:	3 Nov 2012 - 10:46 AM
Focal Length:	105mm
Lens Max Aperture:	f/3.6
Aperture:	f/16.0
Shutter Speed:	1/60sec
Exposure Comp:	0.0
ISO:	100
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
Flash:	On, Return detected
White Balance:	As Shot

Title:	Life Support
Username:	Hop-A-Long
Uploaded:	18 Nov 2012 - 10:43 AM
Tags:	Autumn, Catch, Close-up / macro, Death, Fall, Leaf, Life, Plant, Support, Water
VS Mode Rating	100 (42.86% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2 Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode
Votes:	23