The Reason

As some of you have been slowly finding out by reading my spanish page, I have been out of action for a bit. Now for those of you who require an english translation, I will spill the beans.

On saturday afternoon, after sleeping off all the caffeine of the borret that I drank before going to Mike's birthday, Andy and I made our way down to the gym on one of our weekly trips (it would be tri-weekly except we have commitments that clash). Helen came along too for a swim. Time seemed to fly by as we had spent nearly 2 hours exercising on the various equipment. There was a TV hanging down in the corner of the room, which was showing the England vs Scotland rugby match. If you positioned yourself well on a machine you could exercise whilst viewing the game. This is what I was doing as I reached up to grab the bars to pull down on. Just before my hands clasped around the metal, I heard a familiar (it happened 3 years ago as well) click as my shoulder dislodged itself from the socket. Waiting for the ambulance, supporting my arm as the muscles contracted and in so doing, spasmed, I could see people deciding that they rather wouldn't do any exercise any more.

To ease the pain whilst in the ambulance I was given a gas inhaler. I haven't yet found what the gas was, but it sure did work. Every time I could feel some pain I would just breathe in some more gas. In the end I couldn't actually feel my arm let alone the pain. Getting to the hospital I was enticed into different positions by being allowed a few more breaths of the gas before moving myself. If they could sell this stuff over the counter, there wouldn't be a single pharmacy that could keep pace with demand - it really worked !!

As happened last time with me, the shoulder couldn't be put back first time, and so I was given the extra dosage of 40ml of morphine. This therefore made any further recounts of what happened completely useless as I was on a different planet entirely. As I had so much morphine in me, I had to be kept under supervision overnight at the hospital. The advantage of this was that Accident and Emergency Nurses are really good looking. The disadvantage being that I couldn't get to sleep because of the other people in the ward crying out all night.

So, after 20 hours in the hospital (and a sunday lunch) I was set free to roam the streets again (ok, to go home and lie in bed).

Now you know why I haven't been able to write as much/quickly as before. I am slowly learning to clothe myself with one hand (shoelaces still being a problem), wash myself (had a full shower this morning), and cook some of the basics. But I think it will be some time yet before I can make myself a tortilla, and longer still before I return to the gym.

I will endeavour to keep up my postings, but if I do not get to write as much, you'll know why.

Let it be.