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I enjoy using my bus pass and appreciate the benefit of free transport. Buses are frequent on our route although the No 6 which comes along just after 9am is always crammed full with other beneficiaries of the wonderful bus pass!

I usually prefer to sit towards the back of the No 6..... perhaps it goes back to my schooldays when my friends and I sat on the back seat of the coach when we were taken to and from matches. Our singing and laughter was LOUD.

However when I climbed on the No 6 this week it was clear that the bus was full and it would be impossible to make my way to the back. At the sight of me, stepping carefully with my walking stick onto the bus, a young lady immediately stood up and offered me her seat. I was relieved as the troublesome hip was making its presence felt as usual. I thanked her and sat down gratefully. At this point I looked out of the window and saw the following sign.

The kind young lady had actually done me a favour and made me acknowledge that I am now a member of a new category - 'the disabled', (temporarily, I hope). But I don't like the term 'the disabled'. If society has to categorise people I can't help thinking that the sign on the bus coming home was rather better phrased. It read

'Priority seat for elderly and disabled people'

I hope I catch that bus again.

A diversionary pastime

The wonderful late summer sunshine has seen me busy in the garden during the past week. Having a small paved patio garden is wonderful when quick results are needed; completed tasks give wonderful satisfaction and the prospect of next year's colours and leafy combinations excite the creative spirit in me. As usual WPH's help has been invaluable with the lifting of pots as well as the carrying of compost and bark. Weeding, pruning, raking, planting and watering are now complete and we can look forward to some new surprises next year.

I feel sure there will be more visits to the garden centre during the Autumn!

In Limbo

Those who may have been following the exploits of The Troublesome Hip may be forgiven for assuming that I had recently lost the will to blog. Since my last post I have been through a strange limbo like state, as the longed for appointment with the orthopaedic consultant gradually drew nearer. My mind has been preoccupied with too many thoughts and speculations such as

• Are my painkillers really addictive?




• Is one of my legs now shorter than the other?




• How far will I be able to walk in six months time?




• Will I like the consultant?

Everyone I meet seems to have had either a hip replacement, know the consultant, be a physiotherapist (scary!) or have sorry tales of woe to tell about others' experiences. I even spoke on the phone with someone whose wife had two hip replacements done at the same time and didn't recover for eighteen months. I think this is what is known as 'information overload'!

Finally yesterday arrived; I kept my appointment and finally emerged from my state of limbo. I have new bedside reading material and my thoughts are now on limbo dancing!