Hi guys, sorry for the delay in posting this, it was taken a few days ago pre Russ being able to take a shower!

Russ – minus tracheotomy and minus nasal feed tube (yay!!!!) – getting his hair washed by Amber Bamber.

Xxxx

They knew I was coming at LBH…

…….cos they’ve installed these everywhere!!!

Xxxx

They’re trying to get me to learn stuff that will enable me to survive outside hospital.
With that in mind I had my first SHOWER in 10 weeks this morning.
I washed my own hair and even my own, er, well you know
I was sitting on a wheelchair comode at the time but hey, it was a step in the right direction.

I’ve done some resistance training with rubber bands and also been on a tilt table that you’re strapped into and made to stand up. I go to about 55• then lose blood pressure so they take me off it for a bit and then repeat

You take standing up for granted until you can’t, take it from me.

I had quite a few surprise visitors today, plus Quentin, who was there at my crash and for an hour had to ignore my pleas to be turned on to my back. He said I was desperately struggling to breathe whilst face down in the road, but he knew that moving me might make serious into dead. I want to thank Q for his strength of character during that hour, a feat not everyone could achieve by any means.
I’ve not seen him since the crash , so was pleased to hear him say I looked a lot better than the last time he saw me.

I try really hard not to relive the crash in terms of having been avoidable or just bloody bad timing/ luck, but it’s hard not to.
I’m sort of brought back to earth when I think of the number of times I could have been killed over the last 46 years, whether on skis, in a boat, or on a bike or after drinking.  Dani says that really it’s a miracle this didn’t happen years ago , since I’ve always been a risk taker. So really I’m lucky to have had what I had, aren’t I ?

I’ll be on a sitting down disabled ski bike- look on YouTube – as soon as I can, and a hand powered bike, so plenty of chances to kill myself yet.

Don’t worry about me too much, there are so many people worse off than me, with little hope of rescue. I don’t have to worry about people being there for me it seems so far, so I realise how fortunate I am.

Russ x

Thanks Lissy for posting the pics.
More interesting than my musings, I’m sure.

I would like tho to say thank you to an old friend, Phil Keith Roach for his gift but more for what he said in his card to me.
Thanks Phil.

My brothers have been. And gone. Great to see them. I worked out its the first time since 1993 that its just been the 3 of us in the same room talking bollocks. . We def need to do it more often, the chemistry is great ( even in the circumstances. )

Loved all the books and gifts I’ve received. Gotta try to find some time to actually start reading one now. How do I choose which ? They’re all good!

Ok it’s late now so should sign off. Dani and girls safely back in Portugal. Lucky things.
I’ll get on with getting stronger and gaining weight, as I’m the same size now as when I was 14.
For me, not what I wanted!

Had a massage earlier. God, it helped release my shoulders. Another one tomorrow should sort my tension out significantly.

On that optimistic note, goodnight to all those reading this.

Russ
X

My buddy, mike Jenkins came to see me then found this pic from our school: Jones' West Monmouth Grammar for boys.

Beautiful Lily with the equally gorgeous Johnny!

(Johnny incidentally plays for Toulon!)

Hugh Dennis… sorry Hefner in action 😉 xx

A good looking man walked into an agent’s office in Hollywood and said ‘I want to be a movie star.’ Tall, handsome and with experience on Broadway, he had the right credentials. The agent asked, ‘What’s your name?’ The guy said, ‘My name is Penis van Lesbian.’ The agent said, ‘Sir, I hate to tell you, but in order to get into Hollywood , you are going to have to change your name.’ ‘I will NOT change my name! The van Lesbian name is centuries old, I will not disrespect my grandfather by changing my name. Not ever.’ The agent said, ‘Sir, I have worked in Hollywood for years…. you will NEVER go far in Hollywood with a name like Penis van Lesbian! I’m telling you, you will HAVE TO change your name or I will not be able to represent you.’ ‘So be it! I guess we will not do business together’ the guy said and he left the agent’s office. FIVE YEARS LATER….. The agent opens an envelope sent to his office. Inside the envelope is a letter and a check for $50,000. The agent is awe-struck, who would possibly send him $ 50,000? He reads the letter enclosed… ‘Dear Sir, Five years ago, I came into your office wanting to become an actor in Hollywood , you told me I needed to change my name. Determined to make it with my God-given birth name, I refused. You told me I would never make it in Hollywood with a name like Penis van Lesbian. After I left your office, I thought about what you said. I decided you were right. I had to change my name. I had too much pride to return to your office, so I signed with another agent. I would never have made it without changing my name, so the enclosed check is a token of my appreciation. Thank you for your advice.. Sincerely, Dick van Dyke