Dear All, forgive long period of silence. I’m sorry that all I have posted recently have been Guardian columns. They will stop for three months or so I fear as I finish documentary filming with one arm for much of the time. For the grisly amongst you here is a picture of the break (a spiral fracture of the right humerus for those who know about these things) and one of the operation which secured a plate and ten screws along the bone. Quite a smash as you can see and it has taken me some time to recover both tissues and spirits.
Over the next month or so I continue the American documentary, filming my way up from New Orleans to the Great Lakes for Leg 3 which begins on the 3rd February.
I will be posting new blogs, both in audio podcast form and in traditional text blessay mode.
Meanwhile thank you for the tremendous quality and spirit of your own postings and comments, for pointing out my manifold omissions and ignorances, for contributing gracefully and knowledgeably to the various debates and for overlooking my own spasmodic presence.
Sxxx
That must have hurt like hell on a jetski! My apologies for quoting your own sketch Stephen, but that looks like an incredibly nasty break!
I hope you are in good spirits and it isn’t too painful.
Kind regards
Pete
OUCH!!!!! Just don’t use a knitting needle to scratch your arm when it gets itchy.
Just one thing. How dare you visit New Orleans without nipping over to Mississippi for a cup of Tetlleys with me! Or maybe a nice bottle of Old Speckled Hen :+)
OK, so maybe I should have invited you first before I moaned at you, but you are a clever man, you should have just known . But I just didn’t want you to fall into the trap of thinking that New Orleans was the only part of the world devastated by Katrina.
Besides.
I know where the best sushi is nearby
Jesus Christ on a bicycle what happened to you? Ten screws!! Hope you’ll have a fast and painless recovery.
best wishes Iva from Slovenia
That X-ray looks like a fence in your bone. Looks immensely painful and I can’t even compare that with my growing wisdom tooth that had me in so much pain today that I couldn’t concentrate for FART. I took some pain meds (after a long pathetic debate with my friend about Ibuprofen) so my jaw feels numb now. At least you’re all right so thumbs up!
I hope you make a speedy recovery. To state the painfully obvious for a moment: it looks like a very nasty break! I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in America and let everyone look after you while you have official “invalid” status.
Kind regards and all that.
Hope the old fracture don’t set you back…I’m like a pathetically sullied marmot whenether I stub my toe. Let alone breaking a bone…
maybe some Gypsy wife can hardboil it and feed it to her young.
Yikes, that X-ray is intimidating. As someone who writes software for a living, writes stories for fun, and rides horses for exercise, I live in terror of an arm or hand injury of that severity! I’d go crazy.
Though I suppose if nothing else, this could have given you material for a blessay on the American medical system. Silver lining, right?
Best wishes for a speedy recover.
Not very humerus, I suspect. Crushed my right elbow many years ago and I, certainly, was not amused.
By way of coincidence I used to share a flat in Soho, 35 years ago, with someone of the same name as you (a C.B. Fry descendant)
Get better, keep blogging and keep extolling the virtues of Apple.
After, I expect, the releases of SDK (feb) and 3G (june) watch the sales of iPhone take off.
And then, I hope, we will see the iTablet.
*shudders* holy smokes! when you do something . . . please do, as gynoidgirl says, let others help and, much as we miss your blogs, if it’s a choice between write or rest, we’d all prefer you rest! that said . . . happy travels!
My best wishes for a speedy, and as painless as possible, recovery Stephen. On the bright side, it looks like you’ll have a jolly handsome scar to show off, whilst you brag about your ‘war wounds!
Ouch! You’re going to start a new fad: medieval medicine.
Dark maylee, before I start fussing over our lovely Mr. Fry I had the same problem with the wisdom tooth – cut a slice of lemon, place it over the area that hurts and bite on it…I swear it helps, mums use it for teething babies for a reason
Now I did my bit for the teething community, damn and blast Mr. Fry that looks absolutely horrid! 10 screws, 10?! My friend’s gran tripped over the dog, fell down the stairs and she only has one screw… Lord above that is one nasty break…
I hope you did talk to your doctor about what painkillers you can take, because ibuprofen can slow down healing of the wounds… oh and I do hope you will take time for physio afterwards… I’m a horrible fussing hen arent I? Ah well cant help it really
I am looking forward to your audio podcasts that should be fun and much more convenient because your arm will need the rest… and I understand you have to go to States, but do try and take it a bit easier and for the love of everything holy mind where you are going this time around… sorry went into hen mode again
I should stop writing before I turn into a walking, talking Mr. Brumie sketch…
What I’m trying to say is take care of yourself will you?
Gadzooks.
I wish you a full and speedy recovery.
I freely admit that on first glance to the title of this post I initially thought that it would be a educational article on the in and outs of another rather more eyebrow raising word ending in ‘ggery’, but then again, my mind sometimes lurks in the gutter.
Ta ta,
Simon
Stephen, you filthy show off!
(Although I notice you’re omitting any “I embarrassingly fell over” anecdotes… some nice pride and street cred maintenance happening there, I reckon!)
I’m being quite mean, ’tis quite the beauty really, congratulations!
The x-rays actually make me buzz slightly due to a passion for biomedical-ish stuff. Ah well, with your pain comes terrible fan fascination, I guess.
Best wishes, happy healing and enjoy America!
(and watch out for manatees, you never know what traps they’re laying) x
Reminiscent of a 17th Century Japanese bridge. Just think of it as a little Edo period in your arm.
I can’t say much more than what has already been said about the break–ouch. It looks (if I’m reading the x-ray right) that it was compound as well? Please head the good advice of everyone and rest!
I am excited to hear you are coming through the Great Lakes states. Pack your heavy winter coat, we’ve got -14F windchill here in Minneapolis today, and I spoke to my father over in Door County, WI where it was very similar–only with snow! I wish you could have made it to a Packer game before our season was over–you would have experienced the real Wisconsin then! I hope you have a blast in my home state–WI will always be home to me
I wish I knew where you were heading so I could give you some pointers, but I know you’ll have a good time no matter where you go.
But don’t forget–take care of yourself first!
O I hope you are better and feeling well now.
Please be kind to my poor dear missed Charleston, SC. They’ll absolutely love you.
Wow that looks impressive. Here’s is too a speedy recovery!
All the best to you, enjoy the documentary making.
I hadn’t even heard of this. Looks pretty nasty – are you sure the story behind the break isn’t a bit of good PR?
Get better soon either way
Oh my gosh, you poor thing, that looks like a really nasty break.
I’m glad to see a real blog, I love the articles, but the personal touch is more appealing!
Oh, ow. I read about the break in the news, but the reporting didn’t quite mention it was that bad. And while I love traveling, I really can’t imagine doing so with the pain that (especially that particular break and surgical fix – torsion fractures are all around awful things) must cause.
Best wishes.
Ouch, that looks like it must hurt a hell of a lot! Best wishes for a hopefully speedy recovery.
oy!
(jew-yorker for “my word!” don’t want anyone on this bloggery to confuse it with the “oi!” more popular, perhaps, in your hometown).
i suppose this means you’ll now literally be a card carrying member of the forever-setting-off-airport-checkpoint-alarms.
feel better! i hope your recovery going forward is as speedy and painless as possible.
I dimly recall a work colleague once managed to do themselves a similar mischief… by throwing a baseball!!
Ouch! does seem to be the appropriate sentiment.
Poor Stephen! Get well soon and thanks for this ever-optimistic-and-slightly-sarcastic spirit of your postings. Hope your arm heals fast. Looking forward for blessays and especially podcasts!
Sorry to hear (and see about) the break. That looks pretty bad, and quite painful. As another plate sufferer (only 6 screws so you win there) be prepared for the occasional ping at the airport security, especially when the US is on paranoid setting.
Get better soon.
Stephen, a nasty break indeed. I was excited to hear you got to experience the awesome animal that is the manatee, not so excited to hear how the trip ended. I hope time and rest finds you healing well. Make sure you continue to get rest as you move across the States. I hope you enjoy the Midwest–pack your woolies, as mom would say. It was -14 degrees F windchill here in Minneapolis today, and my parents said there are similar conditions over in my home state of WI. I am looking forward to see what you think of Wisconsin–too bad you didn’t come earlier and experience a Packers game. That would have been the ultimate WI experience for you
I hope you have a great time travelling–I’ll have to keep my eyes open for the taxi! Please be safe and take care of yourself…
Dear Christ, man! When you break an arm, you break a fucking arm. But forgive me, I can’t stop giggling– I just read “Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction”, and if you haven’t read it, there’s this whole running joke about how swans can break a man’s arm, and I get this image of you doing battle with some huge white bird. Anyway, I hope Leg 3 goes well; you’re getting into the part of the country unknown to me (unless it includes Coldwater, Ohio or Turkey Creek, Mississippi) so I look forward to whatever you will show me about it.
(Also, any further messages for Alan Moore? I’m meeting him again, if you can believe it!)
That looks extremely painful! I hope things improve for you soon and your spirits improve.
Is this cheesy? Before i found that you had posted a new blog, i was online searching about arm breaks in adults and i was honestly worried about you and wondering if you were okay.
i’m really glad you left a message.
That might take a long time to heal and i’m sure it hurts. For what it’s worth, you’ve helped me heal from some things in your own ways of just being you…plus you sent me a letter once that worked better than most medicines.
I wish i could do that for you.
I didn’t realize you were coming back to America. I’m moving back to Oklahoma soon, that’s where I’m from. I want to warn you…my father still has pins and screws in his arm from when he broke it, and it does attract lightning occasionally. (He’s also very tall…but really, i think it’s the arm.) Be careful! Get lots of rest! Don’t forget to call your mom!
Best Best Best Wishes,
Rachel
p.s. don’t worry too much about the lightning. i was just trying to make you laugh.
> Leg 3 which begins on the 3rd February
So, Stephen, you will have only one functioning arm, but three legs?
Are you experimenting with genetic engineering? I think we should be told!
Paul
OW! Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery, and smooth transit through airport metal detectors.
Condolences on your injury/lengthy recovery.
Congratulations on your new cyborg form.
Oh Stephen ten screws? That looks serious. :’( I can’t imagine the pain you must be going through with that. I hope you take things easy until you’re healed. Get well soon.
Really, Stephen. You have to give up this arm-wrestling nonsense. It’s just not…well, it’s not.
Looks terribly painful. Did your orthopedic surgeon give you one of those cards to carry with you so that when you set off security metal detectors you have some ready explanation? S/he did a really lovely job with the screws, though. Clean and tidy.
Hope your recovery is both thorough and speedy. Enjoy the Mississippi Valley.
@banjo: Such a mother hen. Cluck!
I’m very sorry for your arm injury and trauma. I hope it knits up nicely, and I hope you can carry on comfortably. And hey, podcasts! Looking forward to those!
If you’re a fan of Alton Brown, I hope you’ve seen Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run. It would add some nice background color to Leg 3, and you’d know where to get donuts in St.Louis.
Oh dear. I do hope you’re being taken care of. Get well soon.
I apologize if I end up multi-posting…I blame the Windows hell of my work PC. Now that I’m at home on the Mac, I expect things to be smoother as they always are
I echo everyone’s sentiments in saying that is one nasty break. I can only hope you had some chance to enjoy the beautiful animal that is the manatee before this unfortunate incident occurred.
I hope you are getting plenty of rest and pampering. I am excited to hear you are coming to the Great Lake states, as Wisconsin is my home state. Make sure you pack warm clothes–here in Minneapolis, MN where I currently reside, the windchill is down near -15 degrees F. I will keep an eye out for the black taxi as I meander between MN and WI. Have a safe trip, and make sure you continue to take care of yourself!
Bloody hell! Pardon my french, but by Christ – that’s nasty!
Best wishes for a speedy and (mostly) painless recovery, Stephen
Rowenna
Lots of love Stephen, we wish you a speedy recovery.
Volunteering to type up any podcasts/audio blessays you upload if that is of any help to you.
x
Wow…! As one who has never broken a bone, I can’t even imagine what you have to do to get a plate with 10 screws in your arm..!
Get well soon. Aren’t they giving you *any* time off from filming for this..? (or is it all good fodder for the documentary..?)
I had nearly the same fracture, right arm, much closer to the elbow. You’re gonna be OK, but don’t skimp on that physical therapy, friend! Become a sporto for that stage of your recovery and all will be well. Godspeed!
So, meticulous about everything you do? For that is one very broken arm.
I hope your recovery is both fast and painless. Get well soon!
Oh GOOD LORD……. that’s shocking. I wish you a speedy recovery and please, try to get some rest. I don’t mind the absence of bloggery if it means you’re off on the road to getting better. Really.
Holy macarel. This looks hellishly painful. I’m amazed you’re going on with the show as scheduled. You’re a pro’s pro, dude. Mad props. But really, do take care of yourself – no documentary is worth your arm.
That first piccie looks absoutely torturous. Rest up and get better soon.
j
That is indeed one impressive break! May you have a safe journey over here to America and don’t push yourself too hard. Enjoy the Midwest
yeah Mr Stephen,
i agree with Axmxz. i’d be happy to have you around in america, but most of all
we just want you to be OK. above all else.
Oh my, that is nasty. Having hurt myself while far from a hospital I can only imagine how bad it was for you. If I remember the press, you were in a jungle in Brazil, then had to make your way to America for the surgery. OW….. .
Welcome back to America. Flying with a badly broken arm does not sound pleasant. But I am sure you will be waited on hand and foot by all of those ever so hospitable southerners. Drink lots of sweet tea, attempt to find a vegie that isn’t fried. Not sure about doing the Great Lakes in the winter, but have fun. Just watch out for the snow and ice, you already have one broken limb.
Look forward to the future blogs in whatever format you want to do them. PDF’s of crayon drawings would be good enough for us….we’re easy.
It is very unlike you but attempt to rest, your body is trying to fix that mess…..
j.
Ouch!
When I read you had broken your arm, I felt sympathetic, now I feel a bit devastated for you. Surely even famous bods get time off for healing? May you be blessed with a full recovery, eased by powerful, non damaging and non addictive pain relief for as long as you need it.
And many thanks for writing The Ode Less Travelled! It is keeping me wonderfully distracted from my tax return and other joys.
best wishes and healing thoughts,
Susan M Phillips.