Thanks to everyone for the good wishes
And even the smartar$e ones 
After failing to secure a bed last Wednesday evening I was on the phone first thing Friday morning to check again (my doc only operates there once a week & I didn't want to miss my chance). Yes, they had a bed, subject to me getting there before any more urgent cases arrived
So we hightailed it to Talla.Now, I know where the hospital is (which is just as well seein' as there's feck all signs
) but I'd never been in it before. Jaysus, it's like a small town, again with feck all signage. After finding the right reception, queueing to talk to someone & queueing again for Admissions, we were finally sent to the ward where there was a gang of nurses telling us "They're waiting for you in theatre" Well if ya streamlined admission we coulda been here an hour ago !All in all it took more than 2 hours more before the pre-med was completed & I was 'safe' to go for my op. By which time the anaesthetist & half the theatre staff had fecked off to lunch
Eventually we were good to go & after what felt like only minutes (but wifey says was more like 4 hours) I was back in my little cell, sorry, room. That night was spent in fitful sleep as my nurse was nothing if not punctual - every hour on the hour she was in to make sure I was alive & sleeping well
The longest sleep I had was between 6 & 8 AM. I was expecting to be released about 10 or 11 that morning, & the family arrived enmasse to make sure I didn't go astray on me way home, but it was to be a long wait. They wanted to take another xray of their handywork (probably for someone's CV) before they let me go. But with the Xray Dept backed up it was well into the afternoon before it was my turn. Then another delay until some doc came out of theatre to pronounce herself happy with the repair & it was time to leave. You've never seen anyone get dressed & packed (one-handed) so fast
It was so late by now that I'm sure the poor bugger who was to have the bed after me had been turned away until the following day. What a way to run a health service 
At this point I have to commend the staff in Talla. The place is a kip but every single staff member I came across, from the lady on the info desk, through the dinner lady & the nurses to the surgeon, were helpful, curteous & professional. I honestly don't know how they do it, day in & day out, with too little money / resources & too many patients. Hats off to them
After a fairly good nights sleep on Friday night yesterday was spend lounging on the sofa watching Heineken Cup rugby & reading / snoozing. The earlier part of today was spent at Number 1 sons rugby match & then catching up with all the bollox you tossers have been posting in my absence
Although one of the docs said I'll have the sling on for 4 to 6 weeks
I'll see what the specialist says on Thursday week. Hopefully it won't take that long as I can already hear my babies calling me from the garage 
......did they give you the full Steve Austin treatment??. Any good X-Rays? 