Day 16.          Wednesday 14th June 2017.         Mileage:  0000   Total: 590

From:             Clinique Francois Chenieux Limoges.                 To:      Clinique F.C.

Weather:       Sunny.

I am awake at 0545 hrs. There was a knock at the door and in walked two nurses. One pushing a trolley. Whilst one took my blood pressure the other popped a thermometer in my ear. Both smiled and said everything was good. They departed and I returned to slumber. Jackie on the put u up beside me was pushing up snores like a steam engine.

I had my douche as instructed and stood, resplendent in my theatre gown. One of the nurses walked in and said "Oh la la." I smiled not so much as what she had said but a story Tim tells of the lads driving in Paris!

At 1100hrs in walks a porter, gabbles away in French and starts to disconnect the bed. It seems I’m off to surgery. That’s great because it’s a few hours in advance of the scheduled 15/1600 hrs we thought it might be. I barely have time to shout over to Jackie "See you later. My thoughts are now with her. I remember how I felt when she had her hip replaced last May and the emotions I went through. Surely it's easier for the patient. We have no choice! The others, the family, 'also serve and wait'.

"I‘m wheeled into pre-op where they check they have the correct patient, ask me all the usual questions, why am I here, what do I think will happen next, what type of operation and where? I must have passed muster as a cannula is fitted with a drip. That’s with a, not into a.  Doctor Sodji arrives, gowned up, shakes hands, we exchange pleasantries, he states “Its time, see you later.” As he turns to leave I ask “Hope you have a sharp knife!” He smiles “Bien sur.”

After a short while I’m wheeled into the op room. The usual equipment is arranged about the room, I shuffle from my gurney onto the op table trying to hide my dignity. A huge circular light, akin to some alien mother ship is directly above. I thought about humming a few bars from Close Encounters but for once thought better of it. Nurses busy themselves. One places an Oxygen mask over my face and tells me to breathe slowly. Another is fiddling with my cannula, she says you will feel slightly dizzy for a moment. I do, then remember no more till I awake in the recovery room. By 1400hrs I am back in room 2711. Jackie, Tom and Angie are munching away on their lunch.  I am a bit groggy and spend most of the afternoon sleeping.

2030 hrs Dr Sodji visits and tells me all went well and he is pleased. We chat for a while about all his and the staffs good work and dedication. His hours are long. I tell him about Niece Sophie, now a trained nurse in England and I say thank goodness there are people such as himself and his staff who are prepared to do this work. He says it is a calling, a vocation. That’s true. Me I’m too selfish to even think about undertaking such a role. I suggest though that everyone brings different skills to the table of life. I cannot resist quoting to him a line I noticed in his office the day before…

Il existe trois grand medicines, l’eau, l’exercise et la diete.  - Antoine Dumoulin.

I suggested a fourth, L’amour. “Dacor” he replied with another of his wide disarming smiles. We shook hands, he to return to his office to write up reports for today’s ops and me to have some more kip.