Well, thanks, everybody. They let me out for good behaviour. I wish it could have been for bad behaviour.

The score is actually five broken ribs, three cracked vertebrae (only minor), and a little bleeding in one lung, plus a little bruising.

About half an hour before I left the hospital, while I was waiting for my brother-in-law to pick me up, Rich-joy and Paul dropped in an derived an immense amount of sadistic satisfaction from making me laugh. I'll get even.

Rapaire, if I could afford your fare, I'd be paying a bleedin' painter - but I'm the bleeding painter.

Yes, Sandra, I do have tickets to nearly all the World Cup games in Brisbane, and so far I have only had to give away the ones for tonight (USA V Fiji - could be a tremendous game, too). All those steps at Lang Park would be too much, even though I could use the lift to miss some. It was going to be very convenient, too, because the game is only about half a kilometre from the Kookaburra Folk Club, and I was planning to go from one to the other. I'll try to wake up at 11.00 pm tonight to catch the delayed highlights - I don't have FoxSports. Should be okay for Monday - USA v Scotland.

The really funny bit: I lay there half-stunned on the ground, gasping for air and checking that my feet could move, wondering if I could ever breathe again. I pulled myself slowly to my feet, and saw that the paintbrush I had been using was lying on the ground. It still had wet paint on it, and the most important thing I could think of was that I had to get that brush into some water (I'm using water based paint) or it would be ruined. So I painfully picked up the brush, and walked/staggered very slowly around and under the house to a tap so I could put the brush in some water.

Then I went and got the tin of paint I had been using, and carfully (and slowly) put the top back on it. THEN I went upstairs to have a rest. HOW FLAMIN' STUPID DOES A BLOKE HAVE TO BE?

The worst thing is that telling that makes me laugh again. Owwww...

The Princess Alexandra Hospital (Prince Alfred is in Sydney) food was actually pretty good, and the staff were wonderful. If I'd stayed in for another couple of days, I would have been spoiled rotten.

Peace, and thank you all for your good wishes.