After a very informative talk about tigers in India at the RGS – packed house for this one – tigers seem to get people going, I actually went to a gig that I didn’t book myself.

Thanks to Pia for an invite to see Elbow. Whilst the tickets weren’t available for the accessible area, we did actually get put in there, rather than in General Standing ( obviously difficult for me, that one )

To my surprise, I was the only person in the access/ wheelchair area that appeared to have any obvious problem with mobility, other than a chap wearing a ‘ Beckham/ Rooney boot ‘ who I’m sure was Jose Mourinho, or had modelled himself on him very diligently.   The others all seemed to jump up and run to the door, as soon as the gig finished…..

Cynical ? Moi? Never.

Great to spend an evening with my lil bruv, Stu, on Sunday. We had a lot to talk about, having not met since the autumn.

I’m at my wit’s end with one or two of the District Nurse personnel that ‘ look after ‘ me every other day, in the mornings. My insides are obviously in a mess, and they appear to be out of their depth. It seems to be irrelevant to them, what well informed guidance I offer ( after all, I’m the only one that is actually a paraplegic ) so I have been obliged to write to a superior, who is actually blessed with a lot of experience, and , more importantly, common sense.  Thanks then to Karin for her intervention. As I’ll be in hospital from April 12-19th having this permanently remedied, it’s relatively short term that I have to put up with this, though April 12th seems to be approaching so very slowly.

I’ve resumed aerobic exercise on a daily basis, my only option being one armed ‘ cycling ‘ on a machine in the gym. I swap arms when the first arm feels like it’s going to fall off, and then back again etc etc.  I don’t know how much of my dire physical reflection is down to limited exercise, and how much down to severe bloating. Either way, after a lifetime of being exercise obsessed, I don’t like what i see at all, so I’ll do what I can from here on.  I’ve already realised that I’m sleeping far better, for doing more exercise – a blindingly obvious connection  that I’ve always known about.

Tomorrow my cultural existence will be further enhanced by visiting the Royal Academy to see an exhibition – Grapes of Wrath period – and then a lecture entitled CANNABIS: PLEASURE, MADNESS, MEDICINE?

Thanks to my friends that are making these things achievable.

Oh and thanks to my social worker for her dedication.

Russ