Proceed Aspect

It only ends once. Anything that happens before that is just progress  - Jacob, LOST Let’s start this one with the obligatory railway metaphor. No need to go into the intricacies of the repair work.    As with all such things from the perspective of the driver, the train went into the shops for repairs, the fitters have done their work, and now we sit, waiting for the shunter to clear us back out.    Time for some post-maintenance testing. The blocks are off, the light is flashing and now the shunter gives the signal.    One hand raised, the other moving side to side: move towards slowly.    Brakes released, crack the throttle, and slowly forward is the order of the day.    In reality, it’ll be the way of things for many months to come. As part of the process of preparing for open heart surgery, many discussions are had, both from medical professionals and from your wider support network.    In my experience, as soon as fa...

  You Look Bewildered “Resistance is futile” - The Borg, stardate 43989.1   Much has happened, and perhaps the last week or so could best be described as a blur.    A dream?    A nightmare?    Perhaps both. For the purpose of a starting point however, it begins with nothing more than a vague, distant hissing sound.    Like that of a compressed air line in a workshop, but far more clinical.    Cold. “Stephen.    Stephen”, says a female voice from somewhere far away.    “Can you hear me?    Stephen.    You’ve had an operation”.   In my previous experience with anaesthesia, and mercifully throughout my 52 years, such times are few, it always seems the same.    Hissss….. This time things seem a  little  different though.    I know there’s lights on somewhere in front of my face, but my eyes don’t want to open, so I figure I’ll let this lady know verball...