Well I’m being repeatedly asked “how’s it going”, so it’s probably time for a bit of an update on my post-accident progress.

The ribs: these continue to be the most annoying of the injuries, but are steadily improving:

• Last thursday was the first time I managed to bend over, pick something – a catfood bowl – off the floor, and stand up straight again without having to lever myself upon a stick.

• Last friday – a lovely day with a friend over to visit – was the first time I’ve lain flat-out on the grass of my lawn, watching the clouds go overhead. I managed to go the whole day without a nap, although I did spend most of saturday asleep to compensate.

• Yesterday was the first day I’ve managed to stand up straight in the shower, rather than on the bath-bench provided by Hart social services.

• When I wake up it still feels like I’ve been sleeping on rocks, but that passes after a while. Deep breathing-in is comfy, but at full inflation feels like someone’s squeezing a large belt around my upper chest cavity.

Soft tissue damage: an radius of about 6″ around my left kidney still – 8 weeks later – feels like it has been recently pummelled; the tingly/itchy feeling is fading, and the painful twinges after food have become less strong and less frequent. The radius is shrinking by about 1″ per week.

The knee: the operation scars are shrinking, on some days are barely visible; that said I am quite aware of the screwheads beneath the skin, sometimes rather tender and sore. I wear my legbrace for occasions where my knee is liable to get hurt – walking about on crutches in unfamiliar environments – and the bad leg is allowed to take between 10 and 20% of my weight, but the joint must not twist.

This means I can stand up quite freely, and lets me cook so long as I can conspire to get all the ingredients in one place. The exercise also means my calf muscles are returning.

The physiotherapy: (PT) I have a long list of exercises to do, and I try to do them, but damn I’d rather either be asleep or up-and-about in the house. My next PT visit is not for several days, because I have an X-ray scheduled for next week, which will hopefully provide the green lght for heavier PT – treadmills and so forth, leading to “proper” walking and full recovery.

Work: I’m trying to slide back into work, rather than go for a “big bang” approach to it; hopefully I’ll get into GMP for a day this week, maybe one or two next week, two or three the week after… my stamina won’t permit me todo full days for a while, but that’s why I have broadband at home.

People: friends are great; few days go by without visitors, and several of the regular visitors now have as good an idea of the layout of my kitchen as I do. That someone stops by for a cup of tea, or reorgs their schedule to give you a lift into work, or visits bringing Thai-marinaded chicken, cooks it for you, serves it beautifully, and cannot be dissuaded fromdoing the washing-up afterwards – all these things make life stuck at home a lot more pleasant.

In short: having a broken leg sucks – I don’t recommend it – but in some ways having good friends more than makes up for the pain and hassle.