Dear Mr Opinion,

I think that I've done very well in the gene pool
so far. My accident could have been much worse.
Whilst in Physio I saw people in much worst
conditions. Amputees, stroke victims, paralysed
people and so on. I am one of the fortunate ones
it seems. Touch wood I keep on improving.

If you were indigenous or a refugee or a prisoner you would be fixed up straight away.

Mr Opinion, I will have had 19 birthdays this 29Th of February. Counting actual years that will be 76. Was I ripped off there, or does that just make me a bit special?

I was ripped off on birthdays in 76 & 80. In 76 I was riding out a cyclone in the middle of the Solomon sea, & in 80 I was up a mangrove creek near the Whitsundays, with the 7 boats I was responsible for at the time. Only remembered about birthdays, when it was all over, & I had time.

The truth is that both Foxy & I did not have poor genetics, but wore out really great bodies, [just ask any of our ex lovers], cramming more action than most people ever dream of, into the one life we get.

So there is another warning to more sedentary folk. Don't wait for retirement to have your great trip/fun or whatever, get out & do it now, while the body is fit enough to really enjoy it.

Dear Hasbeen,

I think that your best bet is to fly out and do your knees overseas - there the doctors will do whatever you tell them, so long as you pay of course. I am told that Singapore for example has good doctors who would do what you ask.

Dear Hasbeen,

I'll match your Solomon Isands cyclone with my Philippines typhoon in an ocean going ferry.

You're not that much older than me. Luckily for me I inherited good genes and the worse thing I can complain about is getting the occasional constipation if I indulge in chocolate. I've still got the same body I had when I was 26 and expect to reach 105.

No comment on your sex life. That's between you and your boyfriends.

I'm sure you are right Yuyutsu, & I'm sure I could find doctors who would do whatever they were paid to do here here. I believe also many Asian doctors are at the top of the game, particularly surgeons.

However I really want doctors who will do whatever is likely to offer me the best overall outcome. That may be to do nothing, & put up with a bit of pain. Better a few more years of active life, doing what I want independently, than a pain free invalids life in a wheelchair, because I didn't heal. I'm going to have to try to judge which doctors are giving me the best advice

That I think was Foxy's message. After 13 weeks as a bedridden invalid, she'll take a bit, or even a lot of pain, to have at least some independence back.

Good on you Foxy, you'll come & snorkel the great barrier reef with me yet.