Newsletter August 07

My husband Tony is a saint. For six weeks he has waited on me hand and foot. I have not shopped, cleaned, done the washing or cooked a single meal in all this time. He has shunted me back and forth to the consultant, doled out oceans of tea and sympathy and continually encouraged me to get well soon. What’s more he hasn’t complained once – well he did have one small whinge towards the end …. But I think I was pushing my luck by then.

Negotiating a wheelchair was an odd experience. I was a bit amateurish at first, so I practised reversing and three point turns in the garden and eventually was able to fast track right round our priory. I felt ready to try out Waitrose which was a dream. You hitch onto a special trolley and then you can whiz yourself around and everyone jumps out of your way, mostly from fear rather than empathy. It is also absolutely fantastic being wheeled to the front of the queue at airports.

The downside is that it gets a bit wearing to continually be staring at people’s belly buttons and bums or talking up to a set of nostrils. And it’s true – some people do patronize and ignore you when you are down there and they hover above you – IF you let them! After a week of exercising my Wheel Power the novelty wore off and I was rather relieved to give up the speed of the wheelchair for the increased independence of a pair of crutches.

I found these had their advantages too, especially in restaurants. One hot evening our favourite French pizzeria was packed to the hilt with seats only available at the back in the annexe. So I sat on the stone steps at the entrance waiting for a better seat to become available. As soon as the owner noticed me reclining dramatically on my crutches over his threshold he came rushing up, frantic with concern, offering us apologies and the best al fresco seats in the Bastide, overlooking the fountain. Job done!

Crutches also make amazing arm extensions, giving your hand gestures that much more command and gravitas. This can be most useful when instructing gardeners and such like but Tony made me draw the line when my imperious pretensions got out of hand – in fact I think that was what his whinge was about towards the end!

Being immobile did not stop me from having a wonderful sunny summer garden party. In fact it was great not having to circulate. I just sat under the 100 year old walnut tree and took it all in. It was absolutely lovely having my grandchildren Ella and Dilys there to wish me better and all the close friends and family who had brought me joy over the past year. One friend, the artist, Xavier Pick is making a huge painting of the day which should be finished in a month or so. It is called "Under the Walnut Tree". Xavier has really captured the magic and happiness of the day.

At the end of August the consultant Mr Lloyd Williams took a look at my feet x-rays and gave me the all clear, declaring that my orthopaedic "geisha" shoes could come off for good and referred me on to the foot physiotherapist, Susan from "West One." I was thinking I might auction my special shoes on the site for charity. Any bids?