Home Again

Oh dear, oh dear. I am feeling a little bit sorry for myself today. I have spent the last two days in hospital having my hip replacement. Apparently it was a bit tricky and my personal surgeon, Bonito de la Puerta, had to work really hard on it. Fortunately, I was asleep whilst they did my operation, so I don’t remember anything about it. It was quite handy falling asleep at the very moment that they were going to do my operation – I sometimes amaze even myself with my ability to do things at the right time! Take, for example, Angela’s doorstep – it takes great skill and timing to ensure that I can usually deliver a two bagger at the very moment we pass her door! The hospital was very nice and everybody was really nice to me, but I am glad to get home. The car journey on the way home was pretty awful! I hate the car at the best of times, but the lumps and bumps in the road were horrible and I just couldn’t get comfortable.

Anyway, I am home now and beginning to get settled. The trouble is that I have this huge collar thing on my neck which is apparently to stop me from licking my wound – which is exactly what I want to do! Every time I move around, I catch the stupid collar on something! I have knocked things off most surfaces of the lounge already. Alex did try to get me to go into my crate, but after about 5 minutes I decided I didn’t like it and I barked and cried until he let me out. I am on strict house rest for the next two weeks. That means that I am not allowed to run around the house, I am restricted to one room. I am not allowed out for a walk, I can’t go running, I am not allowed to play games, I am not allowed to do anything! I am just allowed outside for 5 minutes three times a day so that I can go to the toilet. That isn’t going to be a lot of fun, so I’ll do my best to make sure that there are two of us sharing in that pain, if you see what I mean!

They even shaved my hind quarters for the operation, I look like a flamin’ patchwork quilt! I must admit that my scar isn’t quite as big as I thought it might be, but it is big enough! I don’t know how long it will take for my fur to grow back, but I hope it won’t be too long, I am not exactly looking at my best at the moment. My fans will be expecting me to be far more handsome than I feel I look right now. Since I got home I have had a bit of trouble settling. The problem is that I am used to having free run of the house and now I am restricted to one room. That, and this blinkin’ collar, mean I am having trouble getting comfortable! I will work it out eventually and once I am settled, I am sure that the situation will improve. I have to go back to see my personal surgeon in a fortnight to have a review and also to have my stitches out. After that I think I will be able to go out for some very short walks and start to build up to full strength again. I think it is going to be a while before I see Hilly Fields again, but I’ll try and behave myself and get better as quickly as I can. For now though, I really must try and settle, so – must paws … ????