Ok, it is time for some major explanations.

Let me commence by saying that I have a new birthday - 18th September.

For about the billionth time this year, I drove (this time accompanied by my beloved) from the UK to Switzerland. As we left the house in England I thought; "That's funny. The left side of my mouth is all tingly." We drove on and then I got a tingly sensation in my left hand, outside fingers.

Sufficient to say, we drove through France, stayed in an hotel, had a nice dinner, drove on to Switzerland, had a nice family lunch near Biel, drove to Bern and found our hotel.

Still with tinglinesses.

Slept overnight, went to a family birthday celebration (I sat next to the husband of one of Diana's cousins, named Pierre-Alain) and a good time was had by all. As we were on the train back from the party venue, I tried to say something and suddenly all the words jumbled up in my mouth like giant cottony cubes. It disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared and I was left with the tinglinesses.

And so the Sunday came to an end.

And Monday the 17th rolled around.

To cut a long story short, the doctor I visited on the Monday sprang into action with alacrity.

Two hours later, I was having an MRI after fighting an initially losing battle with my claustrophobia - they wanted me to lie in a plastic form, with earplugs in, overlaid with headphones, with a slotted mask (think ice hockey) over my face and with my elbows having no wiggle room whatsoever as a machine dragged me into a narrow tunnel.

In the end, we found a larger diameter tunnel, I wore no headphones, had to keep my own head still and the 45 minute 'inspection' got under way. Diana's reassuring hand resting on my knee or hand was a great help.

After another hiccough or two, the doctor phoned Diana up and when he was told I was driving a car, he got very agitated and told me not to. Like immediately. I didn't. I drove another 10 minutes back to our hotel and parked there, then we packed a bag, heeding the doctor's exhortations not to get stressed in any way. took a train back into town.

By and by we got to the Emergency room at the hospital back in Bern and I sank into a bed at about 8:30 in the evening.

10:30 the following morning (now the 18th) I was sent to experience an ultrasound check on my arteries. Which was - weirdly - conducted by Pierre-Alain !!!!!!!

I then went under the knife after signing all the usual blurby paperwork.

I awoke from the general anaesthetic (fighting the operating room porters, btw)

I have been in hospital ever since, until I was released early this morning (22nd). They scraped out a large lump of soggy stuff that could have blown out a part of my brain at any second - hence the urgency from Dr. Hanke.

I wish to acknowledge the rapid actions taken by Doctor Hanke and the experienced and steady hand of the surgeon, Doctor Striffeler. They have saved my life.

The staff were all excellent even if I am convinced that all the nurses are vampires. And enjoy waking patients at 0400 just to take blood pressure or measure blood sugar values.

I have been positively identified as having Type 2 Diabetes, as well as high blood pressure and considerable overweight.

Time for a life-style change it would appear.

The only cloud at the moment is that the site of the repair is not too far below the skin of my neck, just under my right ear. If I receive a blow on that during the next three weeks - say from wobbling and falling, striking precisely that vulnerable area - then the good surgeon's efforts will rupture, and I will bleed out before any first aiders could even begin to react. The three weeks is to give time for the artery walls to thicken up and strengthen.

I wish to also mention that it was Dr. Hanke whose rapid reactions saved Diana's life (also in September, 10 years ago) when it was discovered she had her cancer.

Top man, that!