I had my first hip replacement at the age of 23 followed by another at 27. I know, long story .  This surgery has paved the way for setting off alarms at airports and freaking out potential partners.  I knew at some stage that both right and left hips would need replacing but this thought was banished. I was lucky enough to get on enjoying a pain free life and other side benefits such as crazy dance moves and bending down to pick up kids toys etc. 

Peter Wilson, orthopaedic surgeon to the stars (and people like me), gave me a new lease on life, paving the way for a million limpless steps and two very neat scars.  Seventeen years later, single and with a two year old daughter and an eight year old son, the time would come when my first hip needed replacing. Damn it. 

This surgery was incredibly successful and I still count my blessings and gratitude to people like Karen and my sister Vicki and Mum who came down from Queensland.  It is now seventeen years after my second hip replacement and it too needs a reboot.  Luck would have it that on Wednesday the 14th of March 2012, the same surgeon that operated on me 20 years ago, will remove my old parts and install my shiny new titanium rod which will be my fourth hip replacement.  And he hasn't aged a day.

This blog will document my recovery from the moment I first shuffle my way down the corridors of Vimy House through to moving from crutches to a walking stick and finally skipping down the hallway of my house, holding hands with my two gorgeous kids.