The week of widening circles

This has been a week in which many of the footholds, along the rocky road to recovery, have proved to be pretty secure.

Following deliverance from the dreaded d and v I have spent much time during the last week in the company of Diana. At the start we ventured forth in my second post-operative car journey. Suffice it to say it proved to be a case of my wound having healed somewhat - or Di's driving technique having improved since the day of discharge nearly two weeks earlier. We visited two country parks and completed two modest walks all the while ensuring that we were never too far from my new favourite permitted food - ice lollies.

The second walk was interrupted by an elderly gent with a walking stick who made some jocular reference to the speed at which I was walking. I resisted the temptation to trump his witticism with a flash of my 40cm scar.

The following day we made a trip to the new sushi bar in Touchwood - expensive and exhausting - but then, to be fair, I have always found visits to any shopping mall exhausting (and expensive), so little can be deduced concerning my physical recovery.

On Thursday we went even further, an hour's drive into the Northamptonshire countryside. Di's sister, Liz, lives in the hamlet of Sulby, near Welford and while the two of them went for a coffee and window-shop in Market Harborough, I was deposited into the safe hands of Alison, guardian of the magical Sulby Gardens. Alison's nine acres are devoted to the provision of a refuge for local wildlife. The gardens thrum to the rhythm of nature's families - flower, insect, fish, bird, mammal. That day's highlights included the sighting of slow worms, a grass snake, numerous tench and rudd, a couple of the 15 or so species of dragonfly that inhabit the numerous ponds and the identification of various hoverflies in one of the wildflower meadows.

The week ended with a visit to the Eye Clinic, currently at Selly Oak but soon to transfer to the QEH site. An examination by the consultant concluded that the retinal haemorrhage in my right eye was still visible but 'calming down' and that I would continue to be monitored without treatment. Everything depends on ensuring that my blood pressure remained reasonably low. I asked for a signed letter stating that everyone has to be nice to me and ensure that I am subjected to no undue stresses.