From the beautiful Pia;

Morning Russ-Boy,

I have just read your blog but decided I can’t write the following knowing that you have by now no doubt had over 50,000 hits?!
There was an evening in Toulon (I think it was the Wednesday evening after your accident), there were quite a few of your family & friends there: Dani, Alwyn, Stuart, Jenni, Dan, Lisa and Karena (your Mum and Dad were also there but at their hotel miles away!) and by all accounts the news looked a lot more promising than it had that first weekend. The evening ended up being a late one with non-stop Russel stories being told. It was quite unbelievable how many totally unique and bloody hilarious stories that were being told. It was very surreal knowing that you were up the road fighting for your life and obviously highly emotional for Dani. The one thing that struck us all though was the amount of friends, family and love that people have for you. So remember that when you are reflecting on the person you are! – you are very special and unique Russ-Boy.

See you this afternoon.

Love you lots xxx

Dear Family and Friends,

Most of you know our friend Beth went in for a surgical procedure for an Arse Lift at the Tesco Medical Center . She didn’t have the most pleasant experience. She should’ve left well enough alone.

We wanted to show you how it turned out. We hope this keeps YOU from having this done.

Please, PLEASE, PLEASE . . . Don’t get an Arse Lift at the Tesco Medical Center . You will most certainly regret it!

From Piran Shelley; We can make plans on how to get him back on the Thames with the river in the background to inspire him. With Russ leaning like this learning how to paddle again can only do him good 😉

Another good day today . Russ on good form. We arrived at the ICU to find that Russ was being hoisted into his wheelchair. This is a painful and lengthy manoeuvre for Russ. Almost all of Russ’s ribs were fractured and they are not fully healed ;any pressure, however slight, continues to be very painful. Today, it was just too painful for Russ to sit upright in his wheelchair so, he had to be hoisted out and back into bed. No stroll on the bank of the Thames today. However, he was smiling when we entered his room, in typical Russ fashion. Russ is determined to eat more , determined to gain some weight as he is still extremely thin. With that thought in mind, he ate a very good lunch . Being his Mum, I was very pleased about that. His physiotherapists are very pleased with his progress too which is excellent news. Today we return to our home in Wales. We find it hard to leave you Russ but we can do so because we know that you will be well taken care of in our absence. Thank you to all those wonderful friends of Russ who have and continue to support him. You have all made such a difference Mum and Dad

I’m finally getting to watch the British Lions vs Australis tests from 7 weeks ago. I know the results already but have just got to see the apparently amazing Welsh input. Today’s been a day most memorable for how painful it was trying to slide into a wheelchair. My ribs are very much NOT better. By the time I’d gotten in, I had to get out again into bed, before I started to cry! My parents came for the last time for a month, as they go off to my brother’s mansion in America. I’m sure there is more fun than here! Big thanks to them both though for their support. 🙂 A level result day today. Friends of mine have kids, plus my nephew Sam, who got what they needed and are off come September. Christ, I got my results on my birthday back in ’84(?) and after that there was no stopping me. I don’t think I’m a whole lot different now to the guy that graduated from Cardiff 3 years later. Ok, so I drink less and don’t get into fights so much, but am still a 20 yr old big kid underneath. The staff here are so nice it’s untrue. Across the board they are lovely. I think the people that employ them must place niceness as highly as ability We’ve found at my business that that’s the way forward anyway. Increase the love I say, you can teach people the job, but you can’t create a nice person out of a total, er, ****. Mind you, I used to be bloody hard work on occasion,whereas now I’m a pleasure 😉 I have to credit my partner, Helen, with putting up with me 15 years ago. Now I’m the softy and she’s the Hatchet. I’ve not had a coffee since June 13th. Wonder if that’s had any effect on me? I’m about £150 better off, that’s a fact. Not drinking’s saved me a lot too. Not much incentive to drink alone in bed in the middle of the night. Obviously I’d do anything to turn back the clock 2 months, but that’s not an option. My girls and Dani are back from Portugal for a few days on Saturday, and I can’t wait to see them. My daughters make me so very happy. Having them in the same room as me lifts my spirits I’m sure it’s the same for all parents. But since my accident I seem to crave their love more. Is that self pity or was I missing something before? Night all X

Once upon a time, a girl asked a guy, “Will you marry me?” The guy said “No” and the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, drank martinis With friends, always had a clean house, never had to cook, had a closet full Of shoes and handbags, stayed skinny, and was never farted on. The end.

Thanks Mum for updating.
Today I’m seriously tired. Not sure why. Have had a lot of visitors though
And physio, and an assessment by the neurologist.
He describes my ‘ journey ‘ to wherever I finally get to physically as 20% there   So  I’m still warming up really..
They’ve just given me a baguette with horseradish on it. God I detest that stuff. Had to spit it out!  Replaced with a chicken sandwich 🙂
Had more presents today including a fart machine….. And a penis water pistol.
It’s great that people take my intellect seriously ..

Both eating and sleeping are getting easier for me I’m happy to say. 7 hours last night more or less non stop. It’s a relief I can tell you. 2 hours then awake is really not great

Been thinking ahead to driving. I’ll finally have to have a decent car. The 10 yr old Yaris will have to go I think. App it’s easy to convert cars to hand controls, which is a help.
Maybe I’ll get a Mustang from my Bruv?

Gotta sleep now.
Thanks for being out there for me.

Russ

A good day yesterday. Russ's brother Stu turned up just as we arrived at the hospital entrance. Russ was leaving the hospital in his wheelchair for his almost daily constitutional stroll by the Thames. We were able to accompany him . On our return, the waiting area had filled with visitors all so eager to see our man. We had to seriously shorten the period that each spent with him . Everyone had a few minutes  which 
Russ enjoyed.
 The athletics are continuing to be a source of pleasure for him. Stu , who lives outside London, was able to spend some time with his brother . They are very close and it was really good to watch them enjoying each others company and  humour as brothers do.
Well done Russ. Another good day under your belt.

Love Mum and Dad

Hi all.
I’ve been told by my doctors that I need more rest.
The only way to do that is to restrict visiting times a bit.
So from now on I’ll get physio 9 til 10. I get proper rest between 11 and 2 every day, then I get physio 2 til 3.
Around 3 I get to go down to the river in the chair, so all welcome to come 🙂
Then visitors are fine after 3.

If I can stick to this I’ll get better sooner, right ! So it makes lots of sense.

Thanks to everyone who’s gonna come and say hi.
🙂
Russ

Note from Melissa:  Thanks Russ, the calender has been updated to reflect this regime so any times in the day that are in red, please don’t visit! x

Today I had a very brief visit with Russ (sticking to my own guidelines!).  Russ, lovely to see you and the impressive progress you have made in the last 9 days since I was last there.  So good to be able to hear you and understand completely what you are saying…probably the first time in years!
😉

I am glad you are getting through your smoothies but do make sure that you allow yourself plenty of time to eat your meals too…us visitors can wait, you need your grub to get strong.

I came back after my shopping expedition but the waiting room was completely chocca with lovely compliant friends all with confirmed slots on the calendar, I might add!  Lovely to see Sarah, Larry and their lovely boys, Trudi, Bob and Di and of course your little Bro, Stuart…Stu, thanks for not pointing out my sunburn/redness this visit! 😉

Hope to see you very soon.

Lots of love

xxx