Back to June 16--London

 This was written in a notebook as a way of passing the time lying in a hospital bed on June 16.

"I am in a private room in the King Edward VII. Hospital. I have been here since about 1.00 pm. During that time I was wheeled into the operating room, heavily sedated, and my 'Pain Consultant'--one Dr. Tom Gilkes--performed a couple of injections, the aim of which was to get rid of the excruciating pain I had been suffering over the last two weeks.

It took some time for me to come round. Slowly I returned to compos mentis, and then I was served a splendid 'post op' meal: thick tomato soup , roll and butter, roast beef salad, followed by mango-sorbet, which I shared with Joan.

The room here is palatial, with a huge en-suite bathroom. It is equipped with two beds, but I am the only patient."

I might note that the injections gave me no relief at all.