FRIDAY 14th July: I went to the Thames Traditional Boat Festival (TTBF) on the Friday. It was pouring rain. I met two narrowboat owners and interviewed them inside their boats, with the intention of Tony going to photograph them and their narrowboats tomorrow. All the other boats were covered with canvas with the owners/handlers presumably taking shelter in the bar, so I came away.
SATURDAY 15th July. Met up with Tony at the TTBF. We wandered up to the narrow boats for a photography session. Stepping off the grass bank down onto the 'jetty' and lost my footing and fell forward, banging my head and injuring my hip. I was in agony and a paramedic was called. On examining me, he suggested that I'd broken my hip. A short time later the festival ambulance turned up. After more examination, I was 'scooped' up onto a trolley, lifted off the jetty, and wheeled into the ambulance which conveyed me to the First Aid area. An NHS ambulance was called for, and we were told that the waiting time exceeded two hours. However, it thankfully turned up in 25 minutes and I was transferred to it (in agony).
I was transported to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough. To cut a long story short, I was given pain relief and X-rays. It was confirmed that I had fractured my femur and needed. The operation was scheduled for Sunday but wasn't operated on until Monday.
On Saturday, after my departure, Tony took photographs of the boats that I'd asked him to.
TODAY SUNDAY 23rd July. Ever since I've been confined to bed, and have had extreme difficulty in moving the leg.
That's roughly the story so far. Watch this space!
