Tuesday, 31 March. It’s the first of what will be many milestones I suspect and not just because it’s the end of the first week in autumn. It’s a week since the leg brace came off – seven weeks since surgery. Leg was still pretty swollen. Wish it would start to go down. Too sore to go into work. Managed to get out of bed and make it down to the MGS physio to see Dave Sheppard. He worked me really hard and it hurt a bit when he was flexing my knee. At the end I had good range – about 125° compared to a maximum 115° last week. Last week was the first day of physio out of the brace and he seemed very pleased. He gave me the all clear to get the remediation underway. I managed to walk all the way down to Manly and back, virtually carrying the crutches. Dave said I could dispense with them now if I felt I didn’t need them. After lunch, Seaforth Pharmacy came to pick up the wheelchair. Saw it depart about 3 o’clock for the last time. I felt kind of sad watching them load it onto the truck. Have been in a wheelchair for nine weeks starting in Canada. Travelled through airports in one, attended a wedding in a wheelchair, showered in one and did numerous laps up and down Manly beachfront in one. A time of great self-discovery and appreciation of the difficulties of others. That is now at an end. No more crutches either. Starting to feel like I’m returning to normal. This morning was the first time I had a shower without leaning on the crutches. I inadvertently left them in the shower and couldn’t find them afterwards. I guess it’s a sign confidence is returning. At swimming this afternoon, didn’t bother to take the crutches with me. Had to park my car a long way from the pool. Walked from the carpark to the pool and back without any difficulty, although I have a limp. I did 20 laps using a new central snorkel which lessens the rotations and might give my shoulders a break. Shoulders now sorer than my leg, which is very disappointing. The beginning is now over. I guess this is the start of the middle bit, where it becomes slow drudgery. Start gym rehab work tomorrow.