22nd September 2008

I've finally finished my physio sessions. Hurray! You know the system: you go to a specialist, he tortures you, then you have to give him money (albeit refundable). But I can report that I have finally reached the pinnacle of achievement: I can now clap my hands above my head. Amazing. It made me think, though, about this whole health and fitness thing. I was interested to see on TV last night all those bike-riders in London, organised by Boris Johnson, the London Mayor. What I like about bikes is that when you get tired, you can stop. In French cities like Paris and nearby Toulouse the people have really taken to heart the latest craze: the Velib, the bike-hire scheme sponsored by JCDecaux. You take out a regular subscription which entitles you to pick up and drop a bike all around the city. Velib has just celebrated its first anniversary with an agreement to extend the scheme into suburbs too. It's been a roaring success, despite the inevitable people problems of vandalism and theft. They've had to introduce new, stronger frames and to solder the baskets onto the handlebars to prevent people making off with them. This whole bike thing made me remember when him indoors went to the doctor with his bad leg. The doctor said 'it's because of your age', but H retorted 'the other leg's just the same age and that one doesn't hurt'. So the doctor muttered something in French, which I translated to the poor patient. What did he say? He says you've to get on your bike! Exactly.