After 3 steroid injections on my right elbow, expensive physiotherapy & painful acupuncture, my tennis’ & golfers’ elbow is not getting better. My consultant told me to rest for 3 weeks.

This puts me in a bind. We’re very busy at work, our project is due on May & I’ve got additional staff & intern to train. I can’t just up & disappear.

Also the UK Statutory Sick Pay is cr*p. I get taxed heavily but when its payback time, well as our HR said I’m better off using up my annual leave credits. This will leave me with 8 days for the rest of 2006!

And rest has to be that, no lifting, no housework, no PC, no phones. I can’t use my hand very much. My dev manager obviously was very reluctant but then we’re talking about my health & livelihood here. So as a compromise I won’t leave straightaway but stay on until Easter.

Then I will leave the country & stay where I can be pampered. Either at my sister’s in Dubai or my parents’ in the Philippines.

I just hope that after the 3 weeks’ up, I don’t get the pain anymore when I come back to work. The consultant said I should observe it for 3 months. If the pain returns, I’ll be up for a tennis elbow release.

After a carpal tunnel release, now I’ll have tennis elbow release. Great! Please please don’t let this happen again. Not on my left arm. Not on my right leg. Not on any of my limbs!

The worrying thing is, I’ve noticed my dental bridge has been stinging since last week, which might mean — root canal!!! ARGH!

When 2006 arrived I told myself I’ll be married for 5 years in March. Then “the” day arrived & I just totally forgot! I was so wrapped up in my tiny world of work & my toddler’s tantrums I didn’t even get my husband a card.

He arrived near midnight & when he tried to gently wake me up with a kiss, I nearly gobbled him with disturbed-sleep’s anger. Ang sweet ko ‘no? When I got up I saw a silver package on another pillow & then it hit me, ngek anniversary pala namin! I hang my head in shame.

We’re not rich so the gift wasn’t expensive or glamorous or extraordinary. But my husband’s gesture & his effort to be better at this relationship-building thing is priceless.

I know we still have a lot of growing up to do even if we’re already in our late 20′s. Sabi nga marami pa kaming kakaining bigas. So my wish for our anniversary is that our bond to become stronger, that our patience, respect & love for another keep us together for the rest of our lives.