Hello friends

A few days ago I was wondering why everything was so right in my life, and I was looking round worriedly for any bad omens...

It took two or three seconds for the damage to be done. Then, suddenly, you are lying horizontal, totally dependent on others for everything (food, medicine, general care, support)... Then, the friends come! My room was soon heaving with food and presents - it looked like I was about to perform the next feast de Babette - minus my good leg and in a badly chosen venue.

Everything came back to normal again: the routine, the morphine, the dull pain, the kind staff, always so supportive (until I decided to open a half bottle of Gevrey Chambertin... the young nurse was horrified and promptly - and forcibly - removed the offending wine - from my own region, Burgundy sacre bleu!). She told me that I couldn't do that! To be fair to her, she had a valid point; that wine, however good, would not go too well with the cocktail of chemicals they have put into my body over the last few days.

You see, after all, old dogs can still learn new tricks, even from the very young. But what a shame that she may never know what a great burgundy tastes like!

Tomorrow will be my sixth night at the John Radcliffe hospital... each evening has given me the most dramatic sunsets and for that alone, I am grateful.

And, also, the knowledge that tomorrow's operation will be carried out by one of the world's best surgeons.

Bonne nuit les enfants. I will blog again soon.

Best

RB

I have received so much food! But actually foie gras and chocolate are the last things you want to eat. Of course, I love flowers too, to smell and to eat... but there is only so much you can eat!