AN INVITATION TO "A FILM PREMIERE"

As I mentioned I have really been suffering with chronic pain in in my back over the last 3 months, but, thanks to the X Ray I now know what is wrong and once I know what the problem is I always tackle it head on, so sorting this out was my next challenge.Fifteen years ago I incurred a serious head injury that left me with real problems and after 12 months, the specialist said this was the best I would be and that no more could be done for me. That was like red rag to a bull to me, he might have given up on me but I hadn't.

In desperation I went to see an osteopath who turned my life round and helped me to return to normal. I have never forgotten that marvellous gentleman, especially the time he left me on a machine while he went to tend to another patient. I fell asleep and when I woke up an hour later it was pitch black and all I could see was the ghostly outline of the skeleton he kept in the room - what a shock! I quickly dressed and went into the hall of his house and called him. To my surprise all was in darkness and no one replied, so I let myself out leaving him a note. The next day my osteopath rang mortified that he had forgotten me and gone to the pictures.This can only happen to you my friends said! but not put off of by this experience I have found another osteopath who will hopefully work the same miracle for my back but without the skeleton I hope!.

In the meantime a lovely yoga session helped to ease those aching bones followed by a trip to Malvern with our friends Jean and Ray to see the very moving film "The Changeling".

The next day I was up bright and early to go to "a film premiere" of another moving little film called "Waiting in Rhyme" It has been produced here in the Midlands and the proceeds are going to Macmillan Cancer Support.The writers, producer and the press were there for the preview in Birmingham and well known actors and actresses gave their time to help this worthwhile organisation and the result is both funny and moving. I could relate completely with Les Dennis who brilliantly plays the part of a man who has just been diagnosed with cancer and feels life is over for him, then he turns it around and decides he has much to live for and this will not beat him. I also had that defining moment when in the depth of despair I decided life was much too precious to give up without a fight. That is such a powerful decision, because you are taking back the control of your own life.

At the end I found myself raising my hand and saying it was brilliant how they had got it spot on and that was exactly how it was for me. At the end the writer came over to thank me for saying that and I found myself doing an impromptu interview for a local radio show and a local newspaper. I am sure I would never have had the confidence to have spoken up years ago, but if you have a voice you must use it.

I left the reception in full flow as I had a lunch date at The Mail Box with my old friends from the BBC. At the end of the day, as I sat on the train going home I thought life is an adventure and you never know any day what is going to happen. Some are good, some are bad, but this felt like a particularly good day and I couldn't wait to recount it to my beloved back home.