Beasty's sweaty plaster cast - the road to recovery 2014/5/6/7.....

Didn't race on Sunday following a bit of a relapse on Saturday with dizziness setting in during the evening. Fortunately I was feeling fine by Sunday evening and went out for an hour then, following it up with a commute today.

Had previously done the Club league prologue TT last Wednesday. The results were largely used to determine who would race in the "A" and "B" leagues for the season. Hence although at the time I was simply assuming I finished in mid-table mediocrity, it turns out I actually finished 4th in the "B" league. Due to clashes with the track league I may not do anything more this year in the club league other than rest on my laurels with never having finished outside the top 4....

That also provides an opportunity to brag about all my racing so far this year. It started with 6th place in my age group in the LVRC Omnium championships in February. 3 IVCA races have resulted in 7th, 8th and 6th places, and Wednesday's result now means I've finished in the top 10 in all 5 races so far this season:p

Won't be racing next weekend as I've some track sprint training in Derby lined up. I'll also miss the start of the track league but will hopefully be back and raring to go in the next IVCA race a week on Sunday.

Been doing some sprint training in Derby over the weekend.

Saturday was flying 200 technique. We did a couple of 100m efforts followed by a flying 200 to seed us for some head to heads on Sunday

We had no opportunity to try out the track ahead of our efforts and this was my first experience of the new Derby velodrome. First lap I moved up to the blue line for minor panic to set in when I had a wobble on one of the bends. Anyway I carried on without further incident hitting a peak power of 680w with 10s at 582w in the effort. After that I discovered a couple of others had a similar experience on the bend - we had discovered the infamous Derby ridge.

2nd effort I was a little cautious at the ridge but still felt the front wheel go a little. They timed this effort at around 6.8s, equating to something like 13.6 over 200m (although most riders were to subsequently show a little tail off in the second half when we were timed over 200m) - that would have equalled my PB

Final effort and I got my build up OK, but only managed 14s, although I had splits of 6.99 and 7.01s (and it is quite usual for me when I do get splits to be almost even)

So onto Sunday and the head to heads. I was the slowest qualifier and my first race would be against the girl who was second slowest. She would be leading and my plan was to leave a gap of 4-5m and then rush it late on. Alas the plan failed miserably with my opponent catching me unawares a lap out to take the win. Interestingly though I did manage to hit a peak power of 889w with a 20s average of about 700w (10s @ 822w) - quite an improvement on all my qualification efforts.

2nd head to head and our roles were reversed. Plan was simple. No-one had tried it so far and the first one to give it a go often wins - all out from the start. Worked to perfection with my pursuiting skills coming to the fore, so now it was 1:1. Peak was 920w, with 30s at 671w (10s @761w) - again significantly better than any of Saturday's efforts

3rd race was a 3-up. I was third in line against the girl I was 1:1 with and another who was faster and much more experienced than either of us. Plan was to try and force my way into 2nd as the 3rd rider hardly ever wins. Alas the other 2 were having none of it so plan B kicked in and I moved quickly into first and from a 2 and a half laps out just pushed on. The faster girl came past me in the home straight but my tactics had certainly worked better than in the first race. This time peak power was 830w with 60s at 577w (10s @ 760w))

Final race was another 3-up this time with me leading with the girl I had been up against in all rounds and another guy who had shown quite a bit of speed in beating the girl who had won the 3rd race although he was inexperienced at sprinting. This time the tactic was to stay at the front al all costs. Basically try and keep it as slow as possible but push on if anyone attempted to overtake. Leading off I looked round. The other 2 were there but seemed to be busy chatting to each other. I later discovered they were saying something along the lines "he won't try that again". Another 20m or so and I looked around again and they were still dawdling. Sod the plan! Plan B kicks into action. Drag race to the line. The new guy managed to catch my back wheel but not before my front one had already reached that line!! My tactics may not have been particularly cunning, but definitely effective... This time peak power was 825w with 50s at 622w (10s @707w)

In one of the races I led on the "flat" at a marginally faster cadence (and therefore speed) than I did in the flying lap with a steep downhill start! My head to head performances were far superior to any of the time trial efforts. Plenty of food for thought there, with maybe needing to work on cadence, or possibly using a higher gear or maybe more likely both to improve my flying 200 time. There is clearly quite a bit of improvement in me - just need to find a way of delivering it. The whole weekend (which included a very informative physiology talk from one of the specialists employed by the GB paracycling squad) was great experience and hopefully will help in future sprint efforts, be it indoors on the track or outdoors at Sundrive or the end of an IVCA road race.

Although I did a TT in the club league a few weeks ago, that was on the road bike. Tuesday was the first time I had done one on the TT bike since the accident (although I have done a few pursuits on the track, they involved being in the aero position for less than 3 minutes at a time)

It was a vets 10 miler on a course I am familiar with - the Black Bull course through Batterstown

In the warm-up the TT position did feel a little unusual, and indeed quite uncomfortable in a way that I did not recall from prior to the accident. Certainly being on a rough road was quite a contrast to a smooth velodrome surface

Anyway, I got to the start, albeit not fully aero - it was chilly enough not to use a skinsuit.

Looking through the power records I was actually not too far adrift from what I was doing 3 years ago on the outward leg. However a headwind and overall incline meant my time was looking quite slow. Approaching the turn I was really starting to feel the wrist and shoulder and thereafter that just got worse. The power dipped from 260-270w on the way out (plus a bit more when getting up to speed), to nearer 240w until 2km from home when I raised it back up to 260w. For a lot of that return journey my right hand was resting on rather than gripping the bar. 2 days later and I can still feel the discomfort in the wrist and shoulder.

My time was 26:32, over 2 minutes slower than I had previously achieved. Conditions were far from ideal and I think a few were quite a way behind their PBs. My average power was just shy of 260w, perhaps 25w or so down on my PB, but that should only be worth 40-50s. That's certainly the highest I've put out over 25 minutes+ since before the accident. Certainly there are also some aero gains to come, but the main issue for now is getting a more comfortable position as there is no way I could complete a 25 miler if I get the same type of reaction in my arm

Been struggling a bit with the shoulder and the back was playing up on Monday, meaning there was no way I would even consider the vets race on Tuesday

However track racing is much shorter and the surface is smooth so yesterday evening saw my seasonal return to the track league

I had been warned we had a new but very fast youngster in the group and so it turned out with him taking the 8 lap progressive race. I went from a lap out but everyone must have stayed close enough and 3 came past me in the last 20 metres or so - probably only lost 3rd place by not much more than the width of a tyre

Having taken 4th in that race I expected to face quite a handicap in the 1km handicap race. The handicapper looked kindly on me though and I ended up in the front group. Hugh gave us our tactics before hand - work to stop them catching. So I let him lead for half a lap then basically went for it. 750m is my sort of distance and I knew that was my best chance. One guy came up alongside me in the home straight but I pushed on and he faded, so my first win of the year was secured.

Next up was the kierin - 5 of us behind the derny and I settled into last place. As it was about to pull off I moved up alongside man 2. Unfortunately the guy at the front then decided to pull up the track forcing me to swerve to avoid him. When I got past him I though the only thing I could then do was go for it which I duly did. Again though i got caught in the final 20m or so and finished 3rd

Final race was a hare & hound combimned with the ladies. The handicapper did not look as kindly upon me this time and I was in the last group. Worked hard for 5-6 laps but it was clear that gadetra's group was not going to be caught so I eased up and cheered her on to her 3rd or 4th victory of the evening.

Another vets TT last night.

The day did not start well when I left my phone at home. Anyway it wasn't as if I needed it and I headed off towards Battertown and the Black Bull circuit. Traffic was horrendous on the M50, but I still managed to get there with plenty of time to spare.

No-one else was there when I arrived - maybe others had been held up. Then I thought maybe I had the wrong course. Without my phone I could not check so I drove off to the meeting location for another nearby circuit and again there was no-one there. Maybe I had go the dates wrong? Perhaps tonight was supposed to be a road race? No use if it was as I only had the TT bike with. Sh!t, my head is starting to play games with me again:(.

Headed back to the Black Bull sign-on location and still no-one there. Sod it, I'll just race myself! Headed into Batterstown to park up and sort myself out. After the major suffering with my arem and shoulder last time I had dropped the saddle a centimetre and also sloped it down slightly. I had turned the bars up a little and lowered the presssure in the tubs to try and make things a bit more comfortable.

Everything set and I headed back to the start. By doing the full outward leg and returning to Battertown I would not complete the circuit but should have some useful data to compare with last time. It turned out the wind was stronger but more southerly making it almost a crosswind. That made it a little disconcerting as I was heading to the start line but I thought if it was too bad I could simply stop again in Batterstown.

Anyway started and dropped onto the TT bars. This time it did feel more comfortable and the lower profile alleviated some of the wind issues. Was certainly not full gas but near enough and completed the outward leg in just under 13 minutes. Looking back my power was down on last time but the time was quite a bit faster. The wind was stronger but not so much in my face which may help explain that.

Back to Batterstown I and pulled up just after 3/4 distance. Although I was feeling the arm a little it was no-where near as bad as last time. Speed was faster (probaby 30-40s when extrapolated over the full distance) and power was lower (about 12w) meaning I must have been quite a bit more aero, although the discomfort last time must also have been a factor.

Headed home and eventually established the IVCA had been runnung a TT but over at Kilcock. Looking back it's not a bad thing that I did the Black Bull course as that has allowed me to get some sensible comparitives between the 2 efforts this year and a steer on what I may need to do to improve my times further.

Relatively quiet week as this was supposed to be my last "easy" week ahead of the GBR Track Masters in another month. A couple of level 1/2 commutes, 50 mins out with the kids yesterday and an hour working on cadence today, plus the track league on Wednesday

First race was a 10 lap "progressive" - 3 laps controlled before the race "opened up". The 2 guys leading the league broke away in the final lap and I had to settle for 3rd.

Next up the 1km handicap. This time I was in the middle with one other - the 2 fastest 50m behind and 4 others 50m ahead. Tried to close down the 4 in front and made some inroads but that stalled when I let the other guy take the front. May have made it if I had stayed in front for the full 1st lap but I would have had nothing left anyway, so no points this time.

Then on to the win & out. The 2 fast guys broke away and I close them down but they went again. Unfortunately the 2nd fastest won the first sprint meaning I would have to beat the fastest if I wanted to win the next one. Looked around and there was no-one with me and closed the guy down. Didn't want the others to catch up so ended up leading out in the next sprint lap and he managed to get past me in the final few metres - only a couple of inches in it but I had to face up to another 3 laps. Worked to stay away and looking over with a lap to go I was probably half a lap ahead so could take that final lap a bit easier

Onto the final race - the Italian pursuit and I had the fastest guy in my team. I would take the penultimate half lap and leave the final surge to him. In the end we had too much left to do and missed it by a few metres

Next week I hope to make an impact in the vets RR on Tuesday night, then it's the track league on Wednesday and the Duane Delaney Track GP on Saturday. So far only 6 have entered my group, but there's usually a last minute rush of ringers...

Spent Thursday travelling over to Newport with the GBR Masters starting on Friday with the sprint

I had entered all 5 events but was uncertain how far I would make it as I had been on antibiotics all week for an ear infection. It's the 4th time since my accident that the ear has blown up (almost literally!) like that, and I am now wondering if it's possibly caused by all the damage as that was the side of the face that was smashed up worst. I've also suffered from sinus issues for many years which may be contributing to the problems, Anyway I'll now arrange to visit an ENT specialist in the hope of finding out what's going on.

Friday turned into a very long and strenuous day, despite having to make only 3 efforts. First was the TT and my time of 13.6 matched my PB from a few years ago. I did try and focus on keeping to the black line and feel there is more to come. I had also pushed up the gearing trying 100"+ for the first time, although it's pretty clear I need to work more on cadence, and that will be a focus over the winter

The 1st round draw had me against the fastest as my time was shown as slowest. However they had a review and suddenly I realised I was not slowest at all meaning I would be up against 2nd fastest who is also a team mate in my UK team.

He started high and drew me up the track, albeit only slightly. Afterwards he told me I went marginally above the red line and he dashed underneath me. Gave me the fright of my life as he knocked against me as he came past for an easy win.

I originally though the repechage would be a 2-up and planned to go from the start. It was though a 3-up and I was starting from the fence. I stayed high round the first bend and with us basically 3 abreast I decided to go for it. The other 2 got straight on my wheel meaning it became a drag race and they both came past with just under half a lap to go. Probably 10 hours for 3 races and with all the warming up and down I was pretty shattered when I got back to the hotel

Saturday morning was the TT and the daunting start gate. As usual a pretty poor start and as usual I took last, but my time as again not too far away from my PB and I'll claim victory over those who failed to turn up!! After that I felt a twinge in my back. It had been showing some signs of problems earlier in the week when I'd been practicing starts. Hopefully it would settle down for the scratch race later on in the day

There were 19 of us signed on for the scratch which was due to be run over 32 laps/8km. I stayed near the front to start but pulled up the track rather than take any turn at the front. That encouraged 2 or 3 attempted breaks and eventually one of them stuck. Again I did not want to work to close it down and again I was caught out. This time 3 of us ended up stranded (with one or two already dropped). I reckon I could have closed the gap down early on but knew if I did so I would have nothing left. hence I focussed on winning our "mini race". We worked until about 3 laps out when we were lapped by the breakaway. I thought we were being called in to avoid getting caught up in the main group sprint but the other 2 pushed on. There was a gap of over 20m when I decided to try and catch them again and I caught them with a lap to go but only had enough left to take one of them. Still there were 3 or 4 behind me in that race.

I had not been feeling well all day and was having some balance problems on the rollers. I decided I was going to try and d the pursuit on Sunday but the way things were getting dragged out and the way I was feeling I would probably not be sticking around for the points race.

So this morning it was the 2k. 13 entered, but only 8 of us turned up. That's 5 scalps anyway!! Plan was to try and take it easy over the first half and pick it up in the last 4 laps if I had anything left. By the end of lap 3 I was dying. I felt as if all the stress of the weekend and probably the effects of the illness were catching up. Only looking back at the data do I see I actually did pick things up in the 2nd half. 2m 46.6 was a disappointing time, but given the way I was feeling I probably should not complain. Comments from others were that conditions were a little slow and Manchester is more suited to pursuiting. the time was slightly faster than I did at the same track in February, but I feel as if there remains plenty of room for improvement. Looking at my start I actually went very fast when out of the saddle, perhaps 10-15% faster than when I dropped onto the aero bars. I stayed pretty much on the red line and I reckon if I can get down to the black and even out the effort more I could break 2m 40s, but that will clearly have to await another day. I did manage to beat my opponent by 5s and there was another slower so I did claim 6th (and not last!) place...

Getting off the bike it was clear my back had gone properly this time and its just got worse since, so I suspect it's going to be a matter of getting some physio when I get back to Dublin

The back spasm I suffered was probably the worst I've experienced. However like last time this hit me (in September) the recovery, once it started over the weekend, has been remarkably rapid. 3 years ago I would probably have continued suffering for perhaps a month. Now I can get over these bouts in half that time

I put that improvement down to the core work I've been doing. Weekly pilates for the past 18 months or so is really showing its benefit

Only problem now is I seem to have picked up a bit of a head cold! However better now than when I'm fully back. Hopefully both ailments will have cleared up sufficiently by the weekend to allow me to get on a proper bike

So on Sunday I headed off to the IVCA race. As I approached the sign-on location the weather progressively worsened. By the time I got there it was pretty miserable and my back was stiffening - so I turned round and headed home! I did a 25 minute WB session that evening and yesterday was out for a 2 and a half hour spin to help rebuild some base (with no particular issues other than the shoulder and wrist playing up after an hour or so). I'm aiming at a couple more lengthy spins ahead of returning to racing next week

Tuesday was the final IVCA midweek event of the year, a 20km circuit TT. This was to be only my second "proper" TT of the year. Alas my shoulder and in particular wrist suffered as it did in the previous outing in May. I ended up spending a couple of short spells sat up to relieve the arm a bit, although by the end I was barely gripping at all with my right hand. Still the legs had a half-decent workout

Then on Wednesday it was my first club league event since another TT, albeit on the roadbike to protect the arm, back in April. This was a Corkagh Park race over 30 mins + 3 laps, the "B" race within the club league

Managed to sit in throughout, although clearly was not finding as much shelter as possible giving myself a bit of room by sitting a couple of feet outside the main "line" for most of the race. NP over 34 mins was far better than anything I've done all year at 277w. I didn't position myself well for the final sprint and finished 4th. Another 20m or so and I reckon I could have got 2nd, but again it was the wider workout I got that pleased me.

So onto today. I've a couple of marshal duties between now and the end of the season and this was to be my final RR of the year. Alas it was not to be as someone deliberately rammed the back of my car (not once but twice) on the way over to sign on for the IVCA race. Was in shock after that and after a visit to the local Garda station to report everything (the other driver drove off making it a hit and run) I headed back home. At this stage I don't feel as if there is much in the way of physical damage, but with all the damage already to my neck, shoulder, arm and back it may take some time for any symptoms to become apparent if there was any whiplash.

The weekend had been planned with military precision. Originally I had entered all 5 events at the World Track Masters but after the hit & run incident a couple of months back I had cut it back to the first 3 events. The scratch on Saturday, the TT on Sunday, and the pursuit on Monday.

Wednesday was spent travelling over to Manchester. On Thursday there was a start gate session at 4pm, followed by an evening of Europa League football at Old Trafford. Friday was all about setting up in the "team" pen and a 2 hour open session in the evening. However I kept that session short, using it as a warm-up and testing the pursuit and bunch race set-ups.

Then onto Saturday. I had been very nervous about indoor bunch racing against unknown opponents as my confidence had taken a big backwards step with the RTA. I consoled myself with the option of simply hanging off the back and dropping out if I got twitchy in the race. First though there was Colin Lynch's world record to witness.

I had a Dolan Track Champion bike "resident" an the Velodrome and had set that upon the turbo. However when I was going to start my warm-up I saw the seat post clamp was cracked. The onsite mechanic did some quick repairs, but what I did not realise was the clamp is integrated into the frame, so basically that frame is now kaput

Then the turbo didn't work. I found a screw on the floor and tried fixing it. Alas there was also a washer missing so I needed to head back to the mechanic to get something to hold everything together!

There were over 40 signed on meaning in my heat we would have 21 riders going for 12 places in the final. The last thing I wanted though was to race again that evening, so getting into the final was never part of the plan. However I was not going to turn down an opportunity should one arise

The race was short - only 20 laps (5km), and I quickly settled in. I knew the 2 safest places were either somewhere near the front or somewhere hanging off the back. I went with the former and stayed in the front third or so until about 6 laps when 2 guys pushed on. I joined them but one was quickly back into the bunch leaving the 2 of us out front. The bunch was back with us after another 3 laps or so though. Still I had time to sit in and recover. Then with 5 or 6 laps to go I found myself at the front. Didn't really want to be there and slowed down for a lap or so before a large group came round and broke away. I pushed on for a couple of laps but it was clear the front group would swallow up all the qualification places so I rolled in last (well at least ahead of the guy who DNS!)

Sunday morning, 3am, I wake up. The left ear is playing up. It's swollen and sore. This has now happened 5 times since the accident. It became a very uncomfortable night and indeed I was not really up to much throughout the day. Another trip to Old Trafford did ensue as my TT was not going to be until nearly 7pm. By the time I came out of the match I was pretty much resigned to not racing. Headed over to the track anyway but was not feeling very well.

Monday morning I was due to sign on about 9am, but woke up around 2, this time the other ear had, almost literally, blown up. Another uncomfortable night ensued, and again I was in no condition to race

Again I headed off to the track. One of my teammates had a problem. His stem meant his bars were illegal. My Scatto bars are shallower and I lent them to him. That must have jinxed him as in his repechage he came up against one of the Irish guys. They came together in the final bend and my bars took a bit of a battering - not as much as my teammate though.

Anyway, now on the ferry heading back to Dublin. the way this weekend's gone I guess there's a fair chance it could sink....

(in the meantime I might just scour the velodromeshop.net to see what they have in frames and bars)

A bit of retail therapy has been prescribed so a replacement Dolan Track Champion Frame is now on order along with some track bars....

In other news I went back to the eye surgeon this morning. He had to do some further laser surgery as the retinal tear had not been completely sealed last time. Was very painful this time. At least the ears are starting to settle down.

Hopefully I'll be back on a bike some time over the weekend (assuming the nosebleeds don't get much worse!!)

....last weekend in Newport

1st up the sprint. Time was a pretty poor 14.32s making me slowest in my age category and ensuring rapid exit after the first round and reperchage. Then it was the points race - 10km with sprints every 10 laps

The race started with 15 participants. I stayed with the group, albeit once or twice having to close gaps, until the 1st sprint. I was trailing at the back and the 3 leaders pulled up after the sprint. They didn't look properly and forced another rider higher up the track. There was yet another rider outside all of them and as we came into the back straight he lost control as he was forced up to the fence. It all unfurled about 10m in front of me and initially there was a feeling of panic. The rider came off and quickly slipped down the track bringing down a couple of other riders. Unfortunately it was the shallowest part of the track and his bike was slower coming down. I was high enough up to miss it all but there was carnage as other riders crashed into his bike. One guy was very seriously injured and there was a 90 minute wait as he was attended to on the inside of the track before the ambulance eventually arrived to take him to hospital. Alas it all brought back bad feelings for me particularly as head injuries and a broken jaw was mentioned along with other possible fractures to his ribs. News the following day was not as bad as I had feared and hopefully he'll make a full and rapid recovery.

The race restarted but there were only 10 of us left in and I focussed pretty much on self preservation. We received a lecture from the commissaire after the event as one or two riders were still being a bit reckless in not looking before changing line.

Got dropped a few laps before the penultimate sprint but got back on as the eased up after it. Think I finished 8th, but most importantly in one piece.

Sunday started with the pursuit. Wasn't feeling too good probably an accumulation of an unhealthy environment at the London 6 Day on Thursday and a very warm and close atmosphere within the Velodrome on Saturday. Sinus problems were not helping and I was pretty bunged up that morning. Anyway I was always wanting to do the pursuit and TT as they were solo events. Had geared down for the pursuit and managed my pacing a lot better then normal. However I still felt quite fresh at the end and could have gone a lot harder. Was certainly disappointed with my time which was just shy of 2m 50s as I'd been hoping to knock 10s off that. However I did seem to be suffering from a bit of a head cold and guess I can't complain too much about the time.

Stayed with the same setup for the TT and again was a bit disappointed not to go a bit faster than the 43s or so that I recorded. However my power records were half decent and I seem to have lost a bit of time in both standing starts (which were held rather than out of starting gates)

I then packed up and headed back for the evening ferry as I really didn't fancy the scratch race given the events in the points race and the way I was feeling.

Still have another LVRC event planned for Derby in 3 weeks, then in for the sinus op the following week. Went to see the shoulder specialist this morning and am now also booked in for some keyhole surgery at the end of January. 2 lots of surgery will certainly curtail my winter training but with the World track masters moving to LA next year I think I will be prioritising the GBR Masters and IVCA and LVRC championships all of which take place from the end of June onwards. Hopefully I'll have time to regain racing fitness by then.

So the disappointment of not racing today adds to a number of other disappointments and missed targets during the year. After a promising start things went downhill half-way through the year at the GBR Track Masters. I really thought this was going to be the "comeback" year, but continuing physical issues (affecting eyes, ears, sinuses, shoulders and back/sciatica - even recently succumbed to a black big toenail!!) suggest otherwise. I'll probably get on the Wattbike ahead of the sinus surgery next week if the back eases, then once over that operation I'll try and get some base miles in ahead of the shoulder operation at the end of January.

That all means a bit of a late start to next season which is probably not a bad thing. There will be no World Track Masters for me in 2017, but my season is still largely back-loaded with the GBR Masters in late June/early July, IVCA Champs probably in September and the LVRC Champs in October. Hopefully I'll be firing on all cylinders by the time these events crop up.

Did another WB session a week after the operation, but that made me realise I really wasn't ready for anything strenuous. Indeed when I got back to work a couple of weeks ago I was simply not up to anything when I got home each evening. So it was not until earlier this week that I managed to get back onto the WB, with a couple of 30 minute sessions.

Today I got out on the road for the first time since the sinus operation. I was noticing my breathing more than usual, but that was probably because I was trying to breath through my nose more. I'm clearly still quite congested though and it didn't feel much, if any, better than it had before the operation. I'm sure it will continue to improve though

Whilst I've been off the road bike I had noticed the shoulder was not as troublesome as previously. I was wondering if it was actually starting to improve. Any hopes on that front were dashed today as it became quite uncomfortable perhaps 10 minutes in. I had to rest the right arm regularly during the ride, and the shoulder was noticeably worse than it has been. I guess it confirms I've made the right decision to try and get that sorted next month

Then there's the eyes - they have been bothering me for some time now and I saw the specialist early in November. I was not due to head back until February but due to increased instances of "floaters" I had to pay another visit to the specialist last week. He said everything's OK at present but it's a "dynamic" situation so I would need to head back before the next appointment in February if I encounter more problems.

Hence there remain a number of health issues I need to be conscious of, and it's a matter of trying to tick over for now - certainly until after the shoulder operation.

Had a few after the big accident, but they had settled down then became much more active after the guy rammed into the back of my car in August

Had a detached retina over 30 years ago. They can be caused by bits of the retinal wall coming away and creating a tear as it tugs at the retina. That tear can then grow resulting in the retina coming away from the wall of the eye.

Back in September they found a retinal tear (the other eye to the one suffering the detachment). I suspect that was caused by a piece of the retinal wall coming away and tugging at the retinal wall. They did urgent laser surgery to try and seal it there and then, but had to do a bit more a month later as it had not fully sealed. It's possible that the laser surgery disturbed more stuff and I've noticed a few more floaters in that eye since then. However a couple of days before I saw the specialist in November I noticed a very large floater in the eye that suffered the original detachment. Since then I've notice much more "activity" in the field of vision in both eyes. Partly it's a "sweeping" motion which may indicate something that's still attached to the retinal wall, and if it comes away could potentially cause another tear

The other factor is age, and these things are much more common as you get older. Clearly though the amount of trauma my head has suffered over the past 3 years has not helped