Mar 2007

Yes, the Bob and Jan show is now back on the road!! We set off again on Friday 23rd March for Miami, having booked a cruise from there around the Western Caribbean leaving on the Sunday afternoon.

However, having travelled for over 4 months without the sniff of a disaster, we were not prepared for what happened next!! Jan managed to throw herself off a kerb and straight onto her left knee. At first we thought it was only a slight graze and bruise and she hobbled back to the hotel to ice it up and rest!! However, as the evening wore on the knee got bigger and bigger until it was the size of a football and excruiciatingly painful!!

At that point Bob decided action was required and called for an ambulance. However, they do it differently in the States and the Fire Rescue Service turned up instead (with three hunky firemen in tow!!) as evidently they deal with the non life-threatening accidents

They were great (says Jan!!) and rushed us off to Doctors Hospital which we later learnt is one of the best orthopaedic hospitals in the US!! They were excellent and x-rays revealed no breaks, but they were worried about the extent of the swelling and internal bleeding and thought that she might have torn a ligament!! Thoughts of the cruise were disappearing rapidly out of the window!!

Jan was admitted overnight and had an MRI the next day which fortunately revealed no problems other than a traumatic haematoma made worse by the fact that we had taken aspirin for the long haul flight!! Everyone at the hospital knew about the cruise and they all worked really hard to make sure we got there!!

Bob had the task of finding somewhere to buy crutches (never knock the NHS!!) on a Saturday afternoon and eventually managed the task and the cruise was back on!!

So, here we now are, two days into the cruise and moored up on the Costa Maya in Mexico. We have decided to stay on board as Jan's knee is still not up to much walking but it has been peaceful as most of the other occupants have disembarked!!

Bob has been taking several photos of the knee for posterity and when we can get internet access to allow us to download them you will be able to see the damage in glorious technicolour!!!

The "Carnival Victory" is wonderful - we have a room with a balcony, the food, 24 hours a day, is superb although not for the waistline!! Bob however has been up to the running track and the gym for a workout! He is also having to run around and play nursemaid (no he is not dressing for the part!!) a task he does with good humour and lots of ice!!! We have (so far) managed to leave the rain behind - the weather has been glorious and we are both working on the suntan!!!