Into Virgo territory

Late evening and a tiny crescent moon

I've just returned from a checkup at St Eloi hospital in Montpellier, where there is a specialist pain clinic.  I am realising that the name ‘pain clinic’ describes its effect on people trying to find it. The building itself is in one of the nicest hospital approaches you can imagine, but once inside you are frequently lost!  Even the appointment letter says it cannot predict which floor you’ll be on, and the two possible venues are about 10 mins walk apart. The only sign I found actually mentioning douleur, nicely printed and encased in plastic, referred to the one I was NOT supposed to go to! And the consultant I saw last time was running 2 HOURS late. But the nurses - the people I normally need to see - do run on time, when you track them down. One of those appointments it is as well to be in good time for.

My TENS  treatment for sciatica has however been amazingly successful. Years of dud short sessions at physiotherapy centres have had their reputation redeemed for me by carefully designed use. I now have 3 one-hour sessions a day attached to electrodes carefully place around the nerve pathways leading to the site of pain. It overcame my scepticism as well as reducing the pain - quite an achievement! I still need some painkillers, but less than before.

Meanwhile our birthday season approaches, and we will celebrate with wine tasting and a small group of friends. One of my pleasures alongside the things I do myself, if to see and hear Mary's demanding range of activities, including lots of cello and her knitting. I've profited in the past from her jumpers (these are too hot to think about just now!) but her latest project is a series of knitted house squares. No idea how and where these will end up, but they are really enjoyable to see in a growing pile!

And the Tour de France begins on Saturday, with many fewer spectators of course