Joined at the hip? Well, not exactly!

RECENTLY, I had my hip replaced. Having one done was tough enough; having both of them done at the same time seemed impossible. However, one day, while still in hospital, I got chatting to a man who was visiting his wife, Mrs Simms, who was in for a double replacement. Two days after my op, I was getting the hang of using crutches and, as instructed by my physio, was trying to get as much exercise as possible walking the hospital corridors. I spotted my physio with Mrs Simms, also on crutches, in the distance and received a friendly wave from them. After my walk, I headed back to my room and saw my physio at the nurses’ station. She was grinning broadly and beckoned me over. ‘do you know Mrs Simms?’ she asked. I said that I’d met her husband and knew what procedure she’d had done. ‘well, then, when she saw you she asked if you were single. I was a bit surprised at this question and told her you have a partner. Mrs Simms was quick to reply: “No! I meant did he have a single or double hip operation?” ’

Edward Fraser, London NW5.