September 2025

Most of the important action in July and August was concentrated in the second half of the latter, comprising both a serious health scare and a wonderful holiday.

In the early hours of 13 August I awoke shivering violently in my bed, and when I got up to visit the bathroom experienced excruciating pain in my left calf. Turning off the air conditioner and wrapping myself in a blanket made no discernible difference: I was freezing cold. When dawn finally broke I resolved to cancel the day’s appointments (two coffee meetings and a haircut) and see the doctor (my longstanding GP Frank O’Tremba of Vio & Partners).

My fear was that the leg pain signaled Deep Vein Thrombosis – the dreaded DVT – and Frank’s initial diagnosis was the same. He strongly advised proceeding immediately to Queen Mary Hospital to check it out which I did. Given the seriousness of the potential problem, I was seen quickly and admitted. A team of doctors inspected my leg and concluded it was not DVT but rather a serious infection, possibly even the deadly flesh eating one necrotizing fasciitis. In this case immediate surgery would be necessary to save my life so prompt diagnosis was essential. The doctor duly hacked into my leg and cut out four samples of flesh for checking. He claimed to administer a local anesthetic first but I couldn’t feel it.

Long story short, just a serious infection which a course of intravenous antibiotics could treat. After two nights in the hospital I was discharged with a week’s supply of pills to be taken orally (this bland description hides a dramatic episode involving hospital security, details withheld to protect the innocent).

The good news was that I was after all safe to fly. Fanny and I had planned to go to UK to see son Alex who is based there, and daughter Tiffany due to fly in to sort out US visa issues at the American Embassy in London. At the last minute Fanny had to drop out due to pressure of work, so I went ahead on my own. Had a fabulous time with the children including a ladies rugby world cup match in Sunderland, plus visits to Nottingham, Cardiff, Charlestown in Cornwall, in the process catching up with friends Gerry and Judy, brother Tim and family, college mate Chris and wife Dawn, niece Jenny with son Henry, plus prominent Brentford supporter Rob Pelton. Many of the group made it to the bench in Kew Gardens which honours my Mum and sister Lynda. So a big scare but memory wiped clean by wonderful trip.