Saturday June 17th

 I was very happy with my bed experience last night. Yes, a couple of visits to the bathroom, but easier to walk there and, afterwards, to get my usual mouthful of Diet Tonic. And I had no problem finding a sleeping position that was devoid of pain.

Today--Saturday--I am not so sure. Walking around in a more upright position is possible, but pain arrives in my leg fairly quickly. I will get up and try now.

I have just walked 50 paces around the apartment, and it wasn't too bad. Funnily enough, while I had been sitting without pain before I walked, I am now experiencing pain in lower left buttock that I did not have before. Oh well...we will have to see. I think I could probably walk from a taxi to the United check-in desk. (Since I typed the rest of this entry my sitting position has reverted to painless.)

I have spent the whole morning from 10.00am watching the Trooping the Colour with one eye and slowly absorbing the Times newspaper with the other--The Saturday edition has God knows how many sections, including one on luxury watches.

The morning TV went on and on, with squad after squad of Guards in their busbies marching up and down, marching band after marching band, and shots of the Royals, in carriages, or in Charles' case--on his horse. And finally on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, to watch a flypast of aircraft of all shapes and sizes. The three grandchildren look like three peas from a pod--three faces exactly the same.

What a parade for a country that seems to be in the middle of crisis in all sorts of ways--lacking a government that knows what to do, lacking an opposition party that knows what to do. Inflation rampant. NHS falling apart, junior doctors, railwaymen, on strike. Strikes threatened at Heathrow.

Joan is away with Robin, down in Greenwich. I am happy that she is getting out and about. She has had to sacrifice so much as a result of my back and leg problems. In my present condition, I think we might stay here into July as planned. I think I can cope with the two days she has to go to Brussels.

I am puzzled as to what follow-up we are going to get from the doctor. Surely he ought to call me and ask how things are going...