Back to back

Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes everything happens. Last week was one of those weeks where everything happened. I had seen the GP during January about a little mole on my back which The Spouse had noticed and commented that it had appeared to change. I don't often look at my back, in fact I can safely say I never look at my back, so it was handy that he was looking and more to the point, that he was seeing, as he is inclined to be unobservant. The GP couldn't say for sure, but she agreed that it may have changed. She doesn't look at my back all that often either. An appointment was lined up with a rather lovely skin consultant who removed the mole and stitched me up so neatly and carefully I was tempted to ask if he wouldn't mind turning up the hems on some trousers for me.

So here I was, enjoying a week of relaxing and allowing my scar to heal nicely, when I remembered that I was due to attend a day at a spa with three girlfriends. L, W and I had given out friend, F, a day out at a spa for her birthday. A pamper day. The plan was that while F was being pampered, we three would recline in the jacuzzi and read our books at the poolside.Her birthday present but we'd get to enjoy it too.

It seemed like a great idea at the time. How were we to know that I'd have a dressing on my back, instructions to not swim for two weeks and to steer clear of chlorine? Or that L would do something to her knee that would render her a helpless invalid? Or that F herself, would develop a trapped nerve in her neck and be highly inflexible (and in some considerable pain) around the shoulder and arm region? Thus it was that a group of normally fit, not too mature yummy mummies staggered into the lovely Jacuzzi and laughed and laughed and laughed. And then we had lunch. Without a doubt the best part of the day. Although it must be said, lounging beside a pool in unseasonal warmth is pretty good too. Especially when with one's good friends.

Shortly after we returned from our pamper day I received a call from the consultant, he of the expert stichcraft. Everything was fine, he said, the mole was benign but it was worth having removed.

And in best Aesop tradition I end with a moral to the story. Get someone to take a look at your back from time to time.