Hernias Aren't All Bad

Day 111, Tuesday April 21, 10am: It's been a bad, bad few weeks.

I've a) got badly-paid work coming out of my ears b) had yet another another another cold c) so my ME is absolutely rubbish and d) if that wasn't enough, I've gone and got myself a hernia. Oh, and e), a trapped nerve in my left shoulder to boot. Otherwise, things are just great.

At least I'm not Brother Roger. He's just had his appendix whipped out and has requested he be released from his TRSNYRC pledges. Our second faller. That we know of.

I feel a bit like a fall-guy myself right now. This is the first blog entry for about 10 days, for which I apologise (to myself in particular, on the assumption that I am the only one reading it anyway). I have been snowed under writing sports internet pages on rugby and cricket. It's interesting, I can fit it in around family life, but I'd earn more per hour at Tesco's. Mind you, did you know that William Webb Ellis's grave was only re-discovered in 1958? He's buried in the south east of France, apparently. And did you know that Barry Richards only played four Test matches, all against Australia, averaging 72.57? And Graeme Pollock only played 23, all against England and Australia, and his average was only surpassed by one Sir Donald Bradman? And did you know that New Zealand took 26 years to win a Test match? No, neither did I.

Anyway, back to the hernia. Hernias, it turns out, are quite interesting too. Did you know that men are predisposed to having weaknesses in their muscle wall around the groin area? And that you can get a hernia by coughing? I think I got mine from writing sports internet pages. Anyway, I'm due for an op at the start of June. Which has rather curtailed my resolutions. I haven't been to the gym for a week, but that's mainly due to the cold. I shall go back today and do a light bike session, while wincing. Hernias, my piano teacher informs me, should not impinge on my keyboard practice (damn - there goes another excuse!).

Golf, though, is out. It's pretty painful. As for swimming, I've not tried that for a few weeks either (cold, and internet sports pages, and hernia, and shoulder) but I'll give it a go on Wednesday. Right. I can't chat on like this. I have to write the history of Pakistan cricket. Did you know that...