HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Family Money

Snap Shot

Modern Medicine

Heart to Heart with Hillary

Bits ‘n’ Bobs

Personal Directions

Social Commentary by Khai Khem

PC Basics

Women’s World

Family Money: Scary Moments

By Leslie Wright,
Managing director of Westminster Portfolio Services (Thailand) Ltd.

Which worries you the most? Depleted pension coffers in the UK, accounting standards in the US, war clouds gathering in the Middle East, or the very future of global capitalism itself?

In times like these, it’s one thing to speculate on where to focus your worries, but quite another to decide where to put your money.

In recent weeks, equity markets have bounced around like tennis balls, investor sentiment has continued to deteriorate, and trading volume has been high. A combination of several factors has brought this about.

The prospect of war and hence the uncertain global outlook is putting a greater risk premium on equity investments, with investors preferring bonds, cash and gold.

Corporate profit estimates have been continually revised downwards causing shares to look overvalued.

Oil prices have increased, which if sustained will have a negative impact on the global economy and therefore equities.

The insurance sector has been dogged by crises of capital, and the banks by fears about under-provisioning for bad debts.

So should you still be holding onto equity investments or - if you believe the bottom has been reached - be buying new ones?

In the first 9 months of this year, the S&P 500 dropped around 32%; the FTSE All Share about 29%; the European bourses around 40%, the Nikkei 14%, and the Hang Seng Index 25%.

Figures like this are enough to scare all but the most stalwart investors - or be seen as a great buying opportunity. But with the volatility we’ve seen in recent months no one can accurately predict the next 24 hours, let alone the next three months.

So where do you put your money? Cash on deposit? Well, cash deposits are relatively safe (although you’ve the currency risk to consider) - but what about the lousy return on your investment when interest rates have never been so low?

Of course, there is the ‘traditional’ safe and favoured asset - property. But some experts tell us that this market could have overreached itself and is about to tumble. (Remember UK 1988?) Holding property and TEP funds spreads the risk wider than holding onto actual bricks & mortar - and can be dumped much quicker if the warning signs come on.

Alternative strategies - hedge funds - are also predicted to be over-stretched (see my recent articles about hedge funds) and anyway, the six-figure minimum investment threshold for the better ones puts them out of reach to small investors.

Financial management, particularly when the aim is to achieve capital growth, is harder than ever.

There is no easy way to say to the private investor that when markets are plunging, there’s nowhere to hide. You may not be invested directly in stocks and shares, but somewhere along the line, and you don’t have to look very far, you will discover that your potential wealth has been put in jeopardy by this year’s miserable market performance.

As the news gets worse by the week, many thousands of investors are left in complete darkness as to how much further share prices may fall.

So how can you protect your profit potential for tomorrow? Every reputable investment analyst these days is coming up with the same answer - which is: the only way to survive is for investors to get used to holding on for the longer term - and 2~3 years is NOT long term! Those of you who invested seven years ago in 1995, and have held those investments until now - a medium investment period - will, in all probability, have reaped gains, even after the spectacular falls we have witnessed this year.

For example, take the FTSE 100, an index which at the start of 1995 stood at 3000. Even though this index has plummeted from a peak of just under 7000 it still has not fallen below that 1995 level. Similarly, the FTSE SmallCap index stood at around 1600 at the start of 1995 and is still above 2000 today. The only sectors in which investors would not have gained are technology & telecommunications. But you wouldn’t necessarily have lost money either. The FTSE techMARK 100 index kicked off at the start of 1996 just under 1000 which, at the time of writing, is where it remains.

We all know that global equity markets have fared poorly in recent years. But the historic perspective throws a revealing light on why professional investment advisers always urge investors to consider entering equity markets only if they are prepared to invest for the long term. The annualised real percentage returns on US equities for the period 1900-2001 was 6.5%; for UK 5.6%. This compares with 1.6% real annualised return on US bonds for the same period, and 1.3% for UK gilts.

It is not unusual for equity markets to experience declines, but the magnitude and duration of the current decline has been atypical. Since 1949 the S&P 500 index has dropped by 5% or more in a single month 46 times. But, in 83% of those instances the S&P was in positive territory a year later, and 41% of the time the rebound was better than 20%. Of the eight times in which the market did not bounce back, all except one year was followed by a recession.

While most of the current macroeconomic news points to a slowdown, it seems unlikely this will become a world recession. The volatility that we have seen in markets in recent months would tend to indicate that at some point in the not-too-distant future there might be a strong rebound. But you have to be ready for it.

As investment analysts are always happy to remind those of us with steady nerves and a long gaze, today’s markets represent a strong buying opportunity.

Investing in funds, which are well researched, well selected and well managed, is still the safest route. Private investors must spread their risks - then all you have to do is to perfect the art of selling at the most opportune moment before the next fall.

Snap Shot: Composition - part of the photographic conundrum

by Harry Flashman

When Harry Flashman was but a little lad in short trousers he used to be given “compositions” for homework. Here we are five decades later, and still concerned with “composition”! However, what we are talking about here is photographic composition.

Frame within a frame

Understanding photographic composition is one key to getting great photographs. With the increasing sophistication of today’s automatic cameras the vast majority of photographs are properly exposed. The new film stock materials are also such that the colour renditions are very satisfactory also. So what then differentiates a “good” photo from a “bad” or “ordinary” one?

The simple answer is “composition”. Now the photographer’s eye is something that you may or may not be blessed with, but there are some easy hints which will improve the composition and final visual effect of any of your photographs. Guaranteed!

The first rule of composition is to “Look for a Different viewpoint”. While the standard, “Put the Subject in the Middle of the Viewfinder” idea will at least ensure that you do get a picture of the subject, it will also ensure that your photographs will be dull and boring! If nothing else, always take two shots, one in the “usual” horizontal format (called “landscape”) and the second one in a vertical (portrait) format. You will be amazed just how this simple trick can give you a better picture.

In attempting to get that different viewpoint also try to take some shots from something which is not the standard eye-level position. Squat down, lie down, stand in the back of a pick-up, climb a ladder - anything! Just don’t get stuck with standard eye-level views.

The next way to add interest to your photographs is to make sure the subject is one third in from either edge of the viewfinder. Just by placing your subject off-centre immediately drags your shot out of the “ordinary” basket. The technocrats call this the “Rule of Thirds”, but you don’t need to know the name for it - just try putting the subjects off-centre. While still on the Rule of Thirds, don’t have the horizon slap bang in the centre of the picture either. Put it one third from the top or one third from the bottom. As a rough rule of thumb, if the sky is interesting put more of it in the picture, but if it is featureless blue or grey include less of it. Simple!

Now what else can you do to improve those shots of yours? One good little trick is to include some details in the foreground of a shot to lead your eye towards the main subject. Look for lines, roads, telephone wires, fences, etc., with strong lines to include in the shot. Arrange the picture so that the lines “point” towards your main subject. A few foreground details also help add interest to any photograph.

One foreground detail to always look for is the possibility of producing a “frame” around the main subject. We call this the “Frame within a Frame” technique. It is a very successful way to convert an ordinary shot into one with a lot of visual appeal. And this is indeed a successful ploy. Any of you who have ever looked at all the entries in a photographic competition will perhaps recall that the winning photographs generally will have used that technique.

Perhaps the last tip in making your shots more interesting is to include people in them where possible. That shot of sweeping rolling hills always looks better if you can put some human interest into it as well. A girl on a horse, a couple on a seat or a jogger all help to elevate a landscape above the hum-drum. Always look to add the human element.

In summary, take any shot in portrait as well as landscape mode, try to avoid just simple eye-level shooting positions, place the subject off center, don’t place the horizon line bang in the middle of the picture, look for frames within a frame and stick people in your pictures to give some interest.

Modern Medicine: Dr. Corness’ Guaranteed 75% Weight Loss Diet!

by Dr Iain Corness, Consultant

“You are what you eat” is very true. Pass the wrong stuff over the back molars and you become overweight. A very simple equation, yet there are many of you out there who know that you are eating the “wrong” food, and too much food, but these people continue to say, “I don’t know what is wrong, I just can’t lose weight.”

Unfortunately, in most instances this is just an excuse. It is always easier to do nothing rather than actually doing something about any problem. Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow and why do tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely?

To ignore your food intake is dangerous. The results of this type of thinking include diabetes, hypertension, hardening of the arteries, premature senility, arthritis, liver disease and a whole host of other conditions that you do not want.

So let’s imagine you are not overweight, but thinking about your diet, and let us look at “What should I eat?” Like most things in life, the answer lies in the “middle way”. Extremes of anything can be fun - but extremes should be infrequent. What we are talking about here is the “average” kind of menu that is “healthy” for the average member of the population. The following suggestions are a good guide.

Each week you should have grilled or poached fish on two days. The old “Fish on Fridays” was based on good nutritional evidence, not just religious dogma! How they knew about Omega 3 way back then, I do not know, but that’s the “good oil” behind the fish story.

Go to work on an egg! Have two eggs each week, preferably boiled or poached.

Eat Asian food for two days each week, especially all the vegetarian or vegetable and rice based dishes. Getting Asian food is not really difficult around these parts, is it?

Have cold meat and salad twice each week. Likewise have soup twice a week, especially the “kwiteo nam” (watery noodle) variety.

That has you eating Asian for two days, fish for two days and meat and salads for two days. That leaves one day a week for you to have anything you want. Splurge, go mad, roll in raspberry jam and cream! But it is only one day, remember!

Now for all the people who are already overweight, there is no secret in losing those extra kilos. When you are putting on weight you are absorbing more than you need. End of story. It is that simple.

The first rule is to restrict your eating to three times a day. No in betweens.

The next rule is to eat and drink only 75% of what you would normally have. After a few days of this your body will start to burn up the excess fat to fill the void - and that is just what you want. By only eating 75% you have cut your calorie intake by 25% and never had to count a calorie!

You will be amazed at the good results you can get by having a good menu and eating sensibly. Follow those recommendations and I will guarantee you will reduce your cholesterol and your weight by a significant amount in three weeks. Go on, try it.

Heart to Heart with Hillary

Dear Hillary,

Please, please help me out of this desperate situation. I work in a busy shop and up until recently had a very good, attractive assistant that was also a secret lover. She has now left the shop and severed her ties with me to be with her husband. I was a constant shoulder to cry on and now feel I was completely used. I nearly gave my wife and child up for this girl. What can I do to avoid this in the future? I am asking you Hillary as I know you are a mature lady and must have avoided tricky situations like this for many years.

Longfellow

Dear Longfellow,

Offering a shoulder to cry on is asking to be used, one way or another. I must thank you for your nice words, but Hillary has always been very wary in any work environment. The way out of any of these work situations is to never enter any of these work situations. They always end in tears, Petal.

Dear Hillary,

My girlfriend has a very annoying habit of losing things. If it is not her phone, it is her handbag or her keys or her camera. I have managed to not lose mine, yet she loses something at least once a week and I am forever getting locks changed or running spare sets all over town so she can get back to the house and open the door. What can be done about this?

Laurie the Locksmith

Dear Laurie the Locksmith,

Lots can be done, Laurie. The first is to live in a tent, this way you don’t have to worry about locks and keys. The second is to never run all over town. By doing this you are reinforcing her silly behaviour. Whether she is losing her things as an attention seeking device, or just because she is totally disorganised doesn’t matter. While you are running around, mopping up after her, she will never improve. By the way, sit her down beforehand and tell her that you are not going to pander to this kind of behaviour, so that it does not come as a shock. At least when she loses her phone, she can’t ring you up to tell you another tale of disaster. If this is all too much, then try losing the girlfriend.

Dear Hillary,

Do you believe in night people and day people? I love getting up early in the mornings, just before the sun rises. It is such a beautiful time of the day, listening to the world stirring, and just being part of it. I go for long walks and return home totally refreshed and ready for the day. Unfortunately my partner is just the opposite. He likes to have long lie-ins in the mornings, and is quite grumpy until he has his morning cup of coffee, which is usually early afternoons. Come the evening and I am ready for bed when the sun goes down, but he is starting to get ready to go out to bars and clubs and comes home at 2 in the morning. The only time we see each other is in the afternoons. I have asked him to change, get up earlier, so that we can enjoy each other’s company, but he refuses and wants me to change. Have you any advice for him, Hillary?

Tony

Dear Tony,

Yes, Petal, I do believe in night and day people. I also do have advice for him, and that is simply to get out of this relationship. I also have the same advice for you. You are both far too self-centred to even have a relationship. Stop it now.

Dear Hillary,

As I am now in my early 50’s it is becoming noticeable that my tummy is getting that little bit larger. My wife even says it is very noticeable. I have tried dieting but that just makes me hungry. Is it worthwhile going to one of the gymnasiums round town, or do I have to give up drinking as my wife suggests? I only have six to eight pints at night which I do not consider excessive as I used to drink even more than that.

Kenny

Dear Kenny,

Or is that “Kilkenny”? Looking carefully at your letter, since I can’t look carefully at you (and perhaps don’t want to!), I do think I might perceive a very slight chance that you are just the teensiest bit worried that someone might suggest cutting off the pipeline to the brewery. Hillary would never do that to you, Kenny, my old drinking mate! You must remember me. I’m the two people at the other end of the bar every night! Come on, Kenny! 8 pints! OK, Kenny, I’ll believe you really want to do something and here’s the answer. Cut the pints in half, join a gym (the Fitness Centres are better at fat burning than the musclemen types of places), cut out sugar, drink more water (without the sugar, yeast and hops) and walk everywhere in town rather than driving, riding or catching taxis.

Bits ‘n’ Bobs

Personal Directions: In training we give 100 percent effort and nothing less!

by Christina Dodd, founder and managing director 
of Incorp Training Asssociates

Last week I touched on the subject of learning in my article entitled “living to learn and learning to live”. During the past few days I have had some interesting calls from people who all agreed that learning is most definitely an intimate part of our lives and without the ability or desire and indeed the opportunity to learn, then we are lost! I couldn’t agree more.

I also had some enquiries as to what constitutes good training or should we say - effective training. So in order to make matters clear I would like to let you know my personal views and how I believe we should approach training in the business and corporate world of today.

Firstly, I think it is necessary to understand that I firmly believe and am committed to the fact that people - as individuals and teams of individuals - are the essence and the key to the success of businesses, companies, organizations, institutions and governments - anywhere in the world. And I have a deep faith in the ability of the individual, given the opportunity to better themselves and the opportunity to learn.

As the key to corporate success, it is therefore absolutely essential that companies harness the potential of every individual employee that they have. This not only means those at the top, securely situated in the management mezzanine, but also the rank and file, those workers who make up the process lines, the van drivers, the telephone operators, the administrative staff, the security guards, the tea lady - employees at all levels within a company.

For many years it used to be the case that the major part of training budgets went only to the management and to the more senior positions at that. There is of course “some” logic in this, in view of the leading role management does tend to play. Other departments or levels, however, would have to make do with what was left after the cream had been taken and more often than not, the amount leftover was seriously lacking and, as a result, so was the training.

But times are changing - thank goodness - and it has been realized that training no longer remains the right of those who work in the upper echelons of a company. It is the right of every individual, of every employee.

There are some very progressive companies today dedicated to providing training across the board and without question. It is refreshing and somewhat consoling to know that this is a trend developing at rather a fast pace. The CEOs and powers that be have finally got it right in some places - but there still is a long way to go.

So we come to the point of good and effective training. What is good training? Companies want value for money as well as good training that will not be lost and forgotten once the trainer leaves the scene! One can’t put argument to this. In my mind, good training comes down to the quality of the training and the ability to meet objectives; the quality of the trainer and their interpersonal skills; and the adherence to a solid and equally as important follow-up program.

Before we undertake any program at Incorp Training Associates, it is necessary to fully understand what the objectives of the training are so that we can create and design programs specific to meeting the needs of those participating. What is supposed to be achieved? What results are required? What are the trainees expected to be able to do as a result of the training? There is no possibility of implementing a program until these questions and objectives can be addressed and an approach developed to answer them. Once this is completely understood then the path is clear and the rest of our work can begin.

It is integral to the success of every program we undertake at Incorp that we build on the existing qualities, capabilities and strengths of an individual, improving their personal and interpersonal skills along the way. When we tap into this the basic fundamentals of self-confidence, enthusiasm, commitment and drive come into play. And when this happens, individuals become better equipped to take on the challenges that come with the training itself. They embark on the training with heightened attitudes and the will to improve their skills - to achieve and to perform.

Then there is the delivery and the presentation style of the trainer, another key factor that demonstrates the quality of the trainer at first hand. Presentation and preparation are everything! Training a group of people requires practise, practise and more practise. It’s not appropriate to just bumble your way through it - it requires professionalism and tact at all times. It requires rehearsal and method to it. It needs formality and informality and a keen sense to know where to find a comfortable and effective balance of the two.

At Incorp we use methods that allow for optimum interaction and participation at the same time enabling everyone to feel comfortable and happy to be there! We use techniques that combine theory, practical activities, group and individual exercises, business simulations and case studies, reflection and facilitated discussions. Every ounce of encouragement possible is given to people who attend our courses so that they have ample opportunity to derive some benefit from the training. We give a hundred percent effort and nothing less. There is no use in adopting a half-hearted or less than professional attitude to training because if you do, then they are exactly the results at the end of the day - half-hearted and less than professional. It is a fact and I have seen it happen. It’s quite simple - what you give you get back!

And finally when we ask what constitutes good training, there is the follow-up process and adherence to programs that stimulate the continuous development process that exists back at the workplace. There is no purpose to training unless it is backed up with support programs that address needs that arise as a result of the initial training. There’s no point in getting people to a competent level and then leaving them high and dry - using a sink or swim approach. The only way for training to fully succeed and to provide the desired results is to adopt a follow-up approach and to reinforce what has been learned in the training over a period of time. It is how we have learned most of what we know as adults. It makes a lot of sense - and we are humans after all.

Training is fast becoming one of the major investments a company can make in terms of its people and ultimately in terms of its future. Whether a company is small, medium or large, whether the budget allocated to training is small, medium or large - it makes no difference to the level or the calibre of training that individuals within a company deserve. Training is training and the responsibility of every trainer is to deliver the best, and nothing but the best ... regardless!

If you are interested in our approach to training and you would like to talk further about our programs and how Incorp can assist with your training needs, please contact me by email at christina.dodd @incorptraining.com or directly at Incorp Training Associates in Bangkok. Tel: (0) 2652 1867-8 Fax: (0) 2652 1870. Programs can be found at www.incorptraining.com

Enjoy your week!

Social Commentary by Khai Khem

Red lights or red flags?

Pattaya is presently undergoing a series of crackdowns aimed at reinforcing traditional Thai values, reducing drug abuse and related crime, and polishing its tarnished image in order to reclaim its place in the marketplace of quality tourist destinations.

Our city is suddenly very concerned with its image. Surely the first thing visitors will see before they get to their cozy hotel or their chalet on one of our tropical islands is some of the worst traffic snares and maniacal driving in the region.

So what are authorities going to do about the city’s increasing traffic chaos? It is obvious that we have outgrown the present infrastructure and new roads and highways must be built. But sometimes small beginnings can produce surprising results. Why don’t we start enforcing the traffic laws that are already in place?

One of the most frequently asked questions by visitors to our region is why Thais have absolutely no respect for traffic laws. The answer is easy. Traffic laws here are not enforced and every motorcyclist and motorist that enters the area knows it.

In reality, not all drivers are either suicidal or even flagrantly lawless. The majority drives with the aim to get to their destination and back again - alive and without incident. This does not, however, have anything to do with law enforcement. I think it lies more with the individual’s personal decision that they have decided to stay alive one more day.

Every civilized nation has some basic rules of the road. Let’s take traffic lights for example. They come in 3 colors, green, yellow and red. Green means go. Yellow means caution and red means STOP.

In Pattaya, even when the traffic lights at intersections are actually working, red lights have somehow lost their meaning when translated into the Thai thinking processes. In Thai a red light is the equivalent of the red flag in a Spanish bullring. Charge!

Traffic policemen on motorcycles run through red lights with impunity. These cops are not only the very ones who are supposed to be enforcing the laws, but they are also the role models who should be setting examples to the public. And so they are. The message is clear. The uniformed police have no respect for the laws they represent, therefore, neither does the driving public.

“Pattaya’s Finest” also drive down the wrong side of the road against traffic. Last week as I made a left turn onto Thepprasit Road from Sukhumvit Highway with the light in my favor I came face to face with a Pattaya police car making an illegal turn onto the right shoulder of the highway in order to take a shortcut into Tesco.

As we both came to an abrupt stop, headlight to headlight, I waited patiently for the officer who was driving to return to his side of the road. As we both entered our third minute of stalemate the traffic was backing up behind me. I was boxed in and couldn’t move. The policeman finally got out of the car and told me to “go around him.”

The traffic lights at Pattaya Central that intersect with Sukhumvit Road are another perfect example of a waste of electricity. Packs of motorcycles creep their way past cars lined up at the red light and huddle together in the middle of the intersection. When the light turns green, most of them turn left and make their way down the wrong side of the busiest section of highway in the area.

The sad fact of the matter is that many local drivers do not actually know the rules of the road and make them up as they go along. We have introduced English and computer skills into the school curriculum. Why not provide driver’s education in local schools? And while we’re at it, we should create a similar program in the police department and stress to officers that they are high-profile public figures whose actions are being judged by the people they serve.

Pattaya City has a lot of ambitious improvements on the drawing board. Some of them may eventually become a reality. Enforcement of traffic laws should be right up there at the top of the list.

PC Basics: Bytes, Bits & mega tips

Install on Demand

Who is doing the demanding here? You or your computer? I have no idea what “Install on Demand” means, so it must be my computer. Damn right it is.

When checking my email recently a dialogue box popped up and told me it is going to download a language plug-in. It gave me a cancel option and that is exactly what I did - cancel the action. I did not want a language plug-in to be installed. I cannot think of a reason why I should want to have a Japanese or any other language plug-in when I don’t have a clue how to read the language anyway. Furthermore, it could be a vulnerable security hole.

Over the last few months I had this dialogue box jump at me just when I tried to delete this same email message, causing me to cancel the download and then try to delete the message again. That just wasted several seconds of my precious time!

Well, here’s how I won back that valuable time:

The most confusing part is that, although I use an email program such as Eudora or Outlook, I had to change the setting in my Internet browser application, which is in my case Internet Explorer 5.5. Oh please, spare me the words “What! You are still using the old version 5.5. I’ve got 6.” I have long given up on keeping pace with always having the latest version.

Ok, where were we? Internet Explorer. When your email program tries to read the message, it detects a bit of code which tells it the language. If a specific language pack is not installed on your computer, it prompts you to download the files as needed.

To switch off this option follow these steps:

Open your Internet Explorer and click on “Internet Options” under the “Tools” menu. Then click on “Advanced”. Under “Browsing” you have several options, including “Install on Demand”. Unclick the check box and click the OK button. Done. You won’t see that dialogue box again.

Q&A: Get your spelling right

Question from Claude G:

When you talk about the software Microsoft Works, what is the right way to write it? MSWorks or MS Works (with space between MS and Works)? A French computer engineer told me that it should read MSWorks, but I am not sure he is right. Could you give me your opinion about this? Thank you.

Answer:

Did you spell check it in MS Word? Oh, how do you spell that: MSWord or MS Word? MS stands for Microsoft, hence Microsoft Word or Microsoft Works - 2 words. Abbreviating Microsoft to MS would make it MS Word or MS Works.

This way it doesn’t show up in my spellchecker either, whereas MSWorks has a red wiggled underline. If it would be one word, wouldn’t you think Microsoft would’ve added it to their own spellchecker? Well, with Microsoft - don’t answer that question.

Women’s World:A mother’s worst nightmare Part 5

by Lesley Warmer

The following morning she left to book into the hospital in quite a nervous state worried about the first of the operations. She said she didn’t want to be put to sleep again. The operation was on the Monday for 4-5 hours so we knew that we couldn’t see her, the surgeon had already said that her injuries were complicated and that was why there were several different doctors, specialising in different fields, involved in her case.

They planned to take skin from the buttock for the shoulder and hand, and skin from the good eye for the bad eye. When we arrived we didn’t really know what to expect and she looked very uncomfortable with a cast on her right hand and arm, in a sling hanging from a drip stand. There was a dressing on her eye and she was wriggling around with a sore backside and neck. It turned out that there was not enough skin on the good eye so they took it from her neck the results were excellent. She had looked skeletal before having no flesh beside the eye; the surgeon had built it up and remade the eyelid.

When I questioned the fact that they had not mended her bones and only patched the hole in the shoulder, they said it was because the orthopaedic surgeon was not available and the shoulder needed a metal plate, pinning and possibly muscle from the chest wall. They were unsure of whether it was a muscle or nerve problem. I asked when they would fix the shoulder and I was told vaguely when the graft was healed; maybe 6 weeks, bearing in mind we were already into the 6th week after the accident.

At this point I was losing patience and understood the horror tales of the NHS. I said to the doctor, “In case you hadn’t noticed there is a perfectly good hand on the end of that arm.” He answered, “Yes I see your point.” I then said, “What about the bone broken in her wrist on the bad hand?” I could tell the doctor didn’t know she had a bone broken between the wrist and thumb. He obviously hadn’t read her medical notes.

The middle finger was wired but would be no use because of infection and the index finger is indescribable having no bone above the knuckle, at least they cut off the top of the thumb and grafted a new bit. The doctor said they will do more work with them but Emma decided against amputation in case there are other options available in the future.

Eventually when they removed the cast after a week they had to put a special plastic mould around the wrist to prevent more damage to the thumb, and then decided that she should have been wearing a sling for 6 weeks to prevent the movement in the bad shoulder. The arm was now hanging on the front of her body and the wound had moved from the front to the back.

I asked Emma how she felt about her friend who was driving, and she answered, “How would you feel about your best friend? She doesn’t stop being my friend just because she was driving. She didn’t do it on purpose did she?” I can’t feel the same and cannot bring myself to talk to the girl and neither can Emma’s husband, but maybe it’s different from our side, we were the one’s that nearly lost her.

Now she just has to wait and see what improvements will be made from the future operations, but she has great healing powers and an enviable determination. It’s difficult to explain, I suppose I thought she would be different but she’s not, she’s still my beautiful Emma.