Between Here & Hell isn't just my latest Novel.

So much has happened in the last four weeks, it’s hard to believe it.

Today, was my day for spinal surgery, a discectomy. Removal of a herniated disc that was impinging on one of my spinal nerves. As I’m writing you can see that never happened. To recap, sciatica six months getting worse. Surgery today and 2nd MRI and 2nd consultation to confirm the week beforehand.

That all changed on Monday 13th March when the pain became intolerable. I couldn’t stand up at work. Had to be collected and taken home. I remember lying curled up in my hallway waiting for the analgesia I’d taken to work so I could crawl upstairs to bed.

As the pain eased, so did all sensation down my entire right leg. I’d never been so happy to be pain-free. Was this the price I was going to pay? I wondered. At that point I didn’t care. I didn’t even consider not being able to ride my Harley ever again. I was still in awe of no more pain.

Problems began when I tried standing the next day. Wanting to go to the loo, up till then I’d been out of it on meds, and crawling. The outer side of my thigh, back of my knee, outer side of my calf, outer side of my foot, entire sole, heel, and three toes didn’t exist. I know. I took my sharp embroidery scissors, and points open, poked them in the entire length to check. Nothing. A few specks of blood is all.

Standing got easier. No pain. Lovely, but also no feeling. Returning to the doctor for his comments on the second MRI I was informed my body had done the surgery for him, and it was no longer required. He had seen it happen a couple of times. It appeared my vertebrae, unhappy with the state of affairs had taken matters into their own hands—or should that be bones—and excised the offending piece. He advised me that it would remain floating around in my back.

That statement made me re-consider something that happened 24 yrs ago. I slipped a disc lifting my son off the floor when he was a baby. A short while later, a lump appeared on the left side of my back. It’s still there today, like a piece of gristle. I’ll let you know if the same happens on the right side.

Its weird because I made my first incantation a few days earlier asking my body to pull together in sorting this out. I also decided afterwards, for a really silly reason, to go out on my motorbike one last time, realising I might never be able to ride one again. The potholes might have had something to do with it, but I was careful.

Consultant says, the paralysis is normal, (wish he’d told me that before), and sensation should gradually return. If it doesn’t, I’m planning to discuss my first tattoo with a local artist, phobia be dammed.

This issue has overshadowed my month, but I still managed to complete Chicken Wizard. It’s at the cover designer and formatter now. Already lined up my printing company as my usual one can’t cover picture books the way I want them. Would love an agent for these, but I know it’s not going to happen. Deep into Between Here & Hell. About to start Shea Pingle and the Swarm.

Other activities continue apace. Been to a Ladies night. Did a signing and selling event in Faversham, have another in Herne Bay on;

Saturday 22nd  April at Herne Bay High school.

Did a ride-out to the Heritage Sprint event at Betteshanger Park. Was a bit dubious but managed fine. Luckily I’m left footed, so always lean to the left. Right foot only ever use inner part of foot and big toe. Amazing what you discover, even at my age.


Managed to get to grips with the layout for my writing group’s next anthology Indigo, so that’s in progress. A new layout and newly designed cover being developed.
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