Back pain. Three months on from the robbery.

The font of all knowledge has just driven off to Orvieto to see a back specialist. This reminds me that it is exactly three months ago today that our little idyll here in Italy was invaded in the small hours by a group of armed, hooded men firing their guns and beating us and our friends with fire irons. It's amazing how quickly time heals both the memories and the physical damage. Fractures have mended, stitches have been taken out, bruises softened, and the bullet damage to the floors and walls patched up. The back sadly has not recovered from the kickings and beatings so quickly. Why is it that modern medicine has made so many advances but the field of back pain remains in its infancy?

It's easy to criticise Italy. It has many faults - the bureaucracy is dreadful and anything to do with computers is at best hit and miss. What you can't criticise is the genuine warmth of the people - the support of the villagers has been both freely offered and practical. Where else would the local restaurants take it in turn to send down food while we were recuperating? Certainly not in the UK, where the sense of community as it exists here disappeared years ago. We have also found new friends - a local American couple have proven to be towers of strength and support. I take great cheer from the fact that you can stumble across new friends and untrammeled human kindness at any age and in the most unexpected of places.