Hi everyone, Steve here!

Since my last blog, I've had an operation on my elbow. If you remember, I had a CT scan done in December. I now realise that this didn't get a good picture of my elbow - well I never did photograph well - because the subsequent operation was more complex and took MUCH MUCH longer than planned.

You see I was booked into Wythenshawe Hospital Friday morning at 07:30 to go under the knife sometime before lunch, to then stay overnight and go home before Saturday lunch (hurray!). But "Ooh no no no no no!" as the dog from the Churchill advert would say! Not for you Stevie boy! You've got to stay in till MONDAY! - I was gutted!

Before the operation, Mr Phillips - that's my surgeon - advised me that one slip on the operating table could mean I may lose the nerve in my arm and the use of my hand. When he explained this particular caveat to me, I said "Don't worry Doc, I've never lost my nerve in my life! I'm not going to start now!" We laughed, but deep down this was serious stuff. But he's a good man and I've grown to trust him.

The operation took 4 HOURS! The reason for this was when Mr Phillips opened up my elbow, he found that the calcified bone had grown SO MUCH that he had to work ALL the way round my elbow joint to clear out the excess. He also found that the bone had pushed my nerve up and then had grew around it, so it appeared as if my nerve had grown through the bone! Mr Phillips told me he'd never seen this before! However there's no surprise that something strange should happen to me!

When I came round after the operation, I was asked by Pauline if I was hungry. And as always, I said yes! I asked for a sausage butty. I then looked about me, saw a bottle full of blood which was draining my arm and asked for red sauce!!! I usually have brown!

Then I realised I was pinned to a bed (again) and on discovering I was going to be there for 4 days, my mind cast back to the time I was in hospital for 9 months - and I immediately started to plan my escape! I didn't expect to be in for 4 days - the most I'm prepared to do now in hospital is 1 day (all hospital administrators please note) - so I hope I never have to have brain surgery - they'll have to operate quick because I'll be out of there as soon as I open my eyes!

The good news is that my arm has opened up more. It's not straight but I'm told that I should work on trying to straighten it as much as possible. I cant bend it more than 90 degrees at the moment because it may undo the good work that Mr Phillips has done. So I'm making frequent trips to the gym to work on my arm in the hope that I get further use from it, but I'm not out of the woods yet.

If I do get the full use of my arm back, I may be able to do some sparring. I've bought myself a very light and inflatable (wait for it ...) punch bag and when I have the strength to blow it up next year, I may get some practice in for the Battle of the Badges. This is a yearly charitable boxing match that pits the Fire Service against the Police. The Police robbed us last April (excuse the pun!) and won the first Battle of the Badges. So if the Fire Service don't square the score up this time, I may have to step in and show the wimps how it's done!!!

That's all for this month, so until next time, take care all.

FF Steve Morris

PS If anyone happens to see smokin Joe Frazier at this event, advise him to get a smoke alarm !