I have been fairly lucky with my health of late, and have had several blissful weeks which have been virtually pain free.  In the week running up to Christmas, I experienced the odd random twinge, but it was really nothing to write home about, and so it was with considerable annoyance that I realised I was taking a turn for the worse on Christmas Day.  I spent the early hours of Boxing Day morning writhing around in my bed and gasping for breath in a most undignified manner, and it was only thanks to a painkiller which is stronger than that which I usually like to take, combined with just the right amount of caffeine to complement it, that I managed to drag myself out of bed and make the traditional Boxing Day journey to the little village of Broadway in Worcestershire. (more…)