Well, if it’s any consolation we Brits aren’t the only ones who have to put up with miserable weather at this time of year. London Eye recently enjoyed a few weeks in New York at a sister surgical institution and I tell you what – Big Apple, City that never sleeps – call it what you will, it is properly, properly cold over there. And dark. And wet. Having said which, it was, overall, a hugely enjoyable visit. Even in the icy winter, Manhattan is a great place – whether you like shopping, art, eating, drinking, or theatre, they’ve got it. Being rather partial to all of these, Mr and Mrs London Eye thoroughly enjoyed the visit.

Who’d have thought it? No sooner are we all settling back into the routine after our summer holidays, than the shops are full of Christmas trees and it’s time to start thinking about buying presents.

Well there you have it. A new Prime Minister, a new (if slightly confused) government, and – following on from my last column – a new Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore. Thirteen years of hard work from Tim Briggs, Medical Director at the RNOH, in trying to wrest the necessary money from the DoH to rebuild the dilapidated hospital, have finally paid off.