I have had a fantastic day! After over three months of turmoil, pain and being confined to my bed, I finally feel like I am on the path to recovery and can see an end to my personal hell.

This week, I have been trying to aid my recovery, by attempting to get out of bed and independently stand. This has often been a struggle. Spending three months in a bed would be enough to leave anyone deconditioned.

With help from Claire, I have been able to get out of bed, and for a brief period, maintain a standing position most days. I feel like each time I repeat this exercise, I have been able to progress a bit further than on previous attempts.

Today was my best effort to date. For the first time since my accident in November, I was able to get myself out of bed and comfortably stand for half a minute. This may not sound like much, but for somebody who has spent a quarter of a year primarily on his back, this was a massive step forward.

My biggest accomplishment of the day was yet to come. I have been able to sit downstairs on the sofa for a few weeks now. I generally try to do this a few times a week, and spend two or three hours at a time, in the front room.

Today I spent the afternoon on the sofa. This was no two hour visit, though. I was downstairs for six hours. I ate lunch, spent time with Roman and Claire, watched Soccer Saturday, and even found the time to rub my wife’s leg with the back-scratcher. It was just like old times.

I felt incredible. Claire also remarked how I looked like my old-self. This was intended as a compliment! I was so chilled, relaxed and pain free. The only stress I felt was following the Leeds game, but even they won. I was left feeling very happy indeed.

While I am very pleased and proud of myself, I also feel indebted to Claire. Without her love, support and patience, I would not have been able to achieve any of this today. Who knows where I would be. Best not to think about it.

Anyway, I wanted to remain downstairs for tea. Claire had bought one of those Mark’s and Spencer ‘Dine In’ meals, to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Granted, we are one day late, but whatever – my wife and I love each other very much. We certainly don’t need an anniversary of some Saint, in order to enjoy a romantic dinner… although we will still buy cards and food promotions in his name.

Sadly, eating downstairs was not possible. As mentioned in a previous blog post, this weekend has seen the country ‘gripped’ by Storm Dennis. Personally, I think it is something about nothing. I am sure that naming a storm is a new thing. While unpleasant, the weather is just wet and windy.

Despite Storm Dennis being as entertaining as Les Dennis, Claire and I were concerned when the ceiling lights started to flicker. My Dad recently fitted some long life bulbs for us. You know the kind – the ones that claim to last for so long, that they will outlive anyone who makes use of them.

The fact that they had started to flicker was therefore a tad concerning. I was worried that despite being as impotent as a 100-year-old monk, following a lifetime of celibacy, Storm Dennis was about to cause a powercut.

A powercut is bad news in our household. Not only would it prevent Claire from watching the Liverpool game on television, worse still, I would be trapped downstairs as my stair lift runs on electricity, and sadly not magic spells and wishes.

We whizzed upstairs as fast as the stair lift could take me. 43 seconds. Incidentally, it takes 50 seconds to go down, which I find strange. For some reason, I just assumed it would be faster going down, what with gravity. In case you were wondering, yes, I have used the stopwatch on my mobile phone, to time how long it takes. Saddo.

There was no powercut, which meant that Claire was able to watch Liverpool win. Blessed with electricity, she was also able to cook our Valentine’s Day meal.

I ate mine upstairs in bed. Claire stayed downstairs, eating hers while watching The Masked Singer. Based on the choice of television on offer, I was more than happy to remain in the bedroom.

Now that I know what I am capable of, I am planning on spending a large part of Sunday on the sofa. That is unless Storm “Les” Dennis has a say in the matter…