For the Senior Quigley's 2009 has been a relatively quiet year limited by the fact that Jill has been somewhat restricted by severe back pain emanating from a collapsed vertebrae above the level where she already has had a spinal fusion.  As a result Jill and I end the year stuck in France where Jill had to have her 2nd back operation. This because the NHS has proved to be a complete disaster. 

Jill's operation is the 3rd family back operation this year - Jill's & Chris's in France & Danielle's in Luxembourg. The outcomes are still a little uncertain - Dani still has some back pain in bed, Chris had to be re-admitted to hospital in the UK for a few weeks as his back failed again, but he is now OK, and Jill is still in severe pain and is spending Christmas in a re-habilitation hospital  in Bagnere de Bigorre, South-West France.

It is a sad reflection on Britain and the NHS that if Jill & Chris had not come to France for their operations they would both still be waiting, incapacitated and in pain!  For the full harrowing story of a disastrous inefficient, over manned, bureaucratic NHS compared to a highly efficient, though not without problems, French Health Service click on "Health Report"!