Yesterday was a disaster.

A fiasco.

The pits.

I decided a trip was necessary. I also fancied a bit of village air to clear a foggy brain. So I drove down. A big mistake.

I had decided I would have a coffee/tea first in the coffee shop. I have switched to tea there as it’s less harsh on a dicky stomach. Then I would do the pharmacy and the groceries. So I headed into the coffee shop.

Dave [the owner and very good friend] was sitting outside having a coffee and a fag at the only no-smoking table outside. That’s one of the things I like about Dave – a healthy belief in making rules suit him and a healthy disregard for petty regulations. I have inquired about the reason for the only no-smoking table but he just laughs.

Anyhows, no sooner had I sat down when the pain hit.

I have never felt pain quite as bad as that. It was as if every tooth on the left hand side of my face had been ripped out, naturally without any anesthetic. It was excruciating. It left me doubled up in my seat. I couldn’t talk, just aimlessly flap my hands around.

I have had brief spells of this pain in the past but they tend to pass fairly quickly. This one didn’t. Every now and then it would ease a bit and I would start to relax but then it would come back even stronger. It was relentless and unmerciful.

Dave was very worried at this stage and had his Missus phone around for help. None forthcoming. Dave then buggered off, collected prescriptions and did the grocery shopping. I don’t believe in angels but maybe I can make an exception in his case. And he’d kill me for saying that. He wanted to drive me home too but he has a business to run….

I’m a hell of a lot better today. A great night’s sleep and the start of a new regime of medication [from yesterday’s trip].

Things might have turned really nasty yesterday but for Dave. I probably would have ended up as an inmate of our Glorious Hospital again.

Thanks Dave.

You’re a fucking star.