Two things stand out in my first one - the first hospital experience I'd since I was a three-year old
I was terrified of the idea of a major operation but had decided that once they knocked me out I'd be oblivious to what they did
On the morning of the op I got a visit from the anesthetist, who was a White South 'Efrican' of the worst kind - banging on about 'the troublesome Blecks'
I though it not a good idea to argue politics with your anesthetist on the morning of a major op, so I said nowt
He told me that, rather than knocking me out, he would give me an epidural (he had to explain what it was)
The idea was to supply me with headphones so I couldn't hear what was going on - they forgot to give me them and I didn't like to ask
I didn't mind the hacking and banging too much (MacColl's relaxation exercises worked a treat), until I heard the doctor ask a nurse "hand me that nail"
If there had been a window, I would have been in Gort (the next town)
The second hip, 18 months ago, was a doddle, except it always sets the theft alarm off when I go into my local bookshop
Jim Carroll