So 20th August is E-Day - the day the surgeon takes a knife to my damaged lateral epicondyle tendon to try and rid me of the Tennis Elbow.

Being the National Health Service (and free) I have a pot-luck of 1 of 3 surgeons working that day.  2 of them do a keyhole procedure, one de-briding the damaged tissue (Shaving it away from the healthy stuff) and slackening off the tendon with a small incision; the second almost identical but using an ultrasonic probe to emulsify and aspirate the area to remove the damaged tissue (sounds delightful!)

The third seems to be a little more 'agricultural' and old-skool!  3-5" incision in area, followed by excision of the damaged tissue and a small incision in the tendon to slacken off the tension.

I'm hoping number 3 is on holiday that day, but to be honest, I'll take anything that solves the problem.  The surgeon reckons that the prognosis is excellent, with a smart aftercare routine leading to 85% success rate (no re-occurrence within 4 years).  Then again, they're hardly likely to tell me it's pointless!

Can't grumble really.  I'd give a small piece of my right arm to get a decent night's sleep again!

For now, I'm off to France for a spell.  For the first time, without my Banjer as (to be honest) I can't really play it at the moment!  Should be interesting - what am I gonna do to scare the natives away now?