The plan for this week was brilliant.Tuesday was post- foot -surgery follow -up. By an amazing luck I was due for the blood pressure monitoring device fitting on Tuesday afternoon. Not only making good use of my train ticket but also giving me an opportunity to see Daughter 2. Wednesday I was due to take said device back to London. Then to see my awesome friend CJ recently widowed.
Well. That was the plan. You can sense that did not happen.
I caught my early train that morning having grabbed a coffee and toast at 6:00. I arrived at Mr Foot on time and he ushered me in chattering away. He was delighted with foot progress but was not so happy about my knee.
In short Bedford knee man had said I should get a knee brace as my knee kept locking and or giving way.
XRay and MRI had been carried out in London. ( Bedford couldn’t handle the implant and MRI scenario). But I’d heard nothing further.
Mr Foot rang a colleague, Mr Knee. He immediately pronounced that something should be done. As his list was full for next week he made the decision to change the covid rules so thatI could be admitted immediately. Covid tests duly completed. Blood pressure clinic contacted. They let me postpone they didn’t expel me which I had feared. Mr Knee got the MRI report found. Insurers approval sought and miraculously given. Having not eaten since 6 I was taken to a room. Gaping gown issued and in no time found myself in the operating theatre being administered general anaesthetic by some one I’ve never met. Knee was operated and a few hours later, Daniel who is back at his London office, drove over to take me home. Amazing speed efficiency and remarkably my knee is brilliant. Hardly any pain, does not lock, does not give way and all actually is brilliant.
Whilst awaiting the covid test part I was spotted by Mr Spine. He’s looked after me in the past. He sat and chatted about his ever expanding family and his trips to Europe via Dublin and Gibraltar. He also told me he hated wearing a mask.. pulling it off with a flourish. He explained he’d been shopping and was challenged by a security guard for being maskless.
He told security they were not meant to challenge and he was exempt.
Security pushed further: why are you exempt?
Ah. He said because I have something that rhymes with physalis and begins with s not c .
Off he strode leaving security to look it up on google/ phone!
Needless to stay my laughter could be heard along the whole corridor.
Speaking to Jerome later he was able to reassure me that orthopaedic surgeons rarely spell or speak accurately
Jerome thinks Mr Spine really has a physalis in his pocket
You can imagine him walking around with one in his bag.
“ I’m exempt because I’ve got physalis”If asked to prove it he could whip it out from the bag.

Ice machine for swelling – could be a welcome addition to the home drinks cabinet