Latest news with #grandpa
Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Dr Hilary Jones: ‘Why I travelled 180 miles to have my hip operation'
Turning 72 last month felt surreal. When I was a young medic, that seemed ancient. In my head I feel 30. I've even got a T-shirt which says 'It's weird being the same age as old people'. I first started appearing on breakfast telly as the resident doctor in 1989. 'This won't last,' I assumed. Yet, here I am. We all tend to think we're immune to ageing, even doctors. So I was shocked when, in 2018, I learnt I had moderately severe osteoarthritis. With five adult children and six grandchildren aged from six months to 12 years, I always wanted to be an active grandpa (even though being called that name still makes my head spin around looking for the old man sometimes). Working on breakfast shows means 4am starts, but even after long days, exercise energises me. Exercise has always been integral to who I am. From rowing and running, to squash, skiing and, more recently, padel. But the truth is, decades of sport has worn out my joints, so I knew my hip would need replacing. I've seen too many patients wait until their quality of life is severely compromised. By then, they're in constant pain, their muscles have weakened, and recovery becomes tougher. So I didn't want to wait. Feeling the hip pain About five years ago (after three marriages and nearly a 50-year-long career) I suddenly had severe pain in my right hip. Agony at night, pain during the day, and the strong pain relief I tried made me feel awful mentally and physically. The X-rays revealed osteoarthritis in both hips, yet interestingly, only the right was causing pain. (It's actually common for scans not to correlate with how we feel – because of the different nerves, movements and mechanical dynamics in our joints, we all experience pain differently.) Six weeks later, I had a hip replacement on the NHS, not far away in the Hampshire hospital, and I was doing crosswords soon afterwards despite the general anaesthetic and walking the same day. I returned to work in London just eight days later, which isn't something I'd advise, but my job is hardly laying concrete – I'm driven to a studio and sit on a sofa. Religiously I did my physio exercises, because when it comes to joint replacements, the surgery's only half the journey. Rehab is just as important. Fast-forward to October last year and my left hip started to go. While the pain was less intense this time, my mobility was suffering. Getting into my classic car was a struggle because it's so low. Putting on shoes was effortful; if a lace came undone on the street I'd hunt for bollards to use rather than bend. Swimming breaststroke felt wrong, and I had twinges walking and running. I've always known that if I needed the other hip done, I wouldn't delay. Why choosing a hospital 180 miles away made sense So I went back to my GP last autumn, this time using something many people don't realise exists: NHS 'patient choice'. Formerly known as 'choose and book,' it's where you can ask to be referred to a different hospital – anywhere in the country – that you're willing to travel to. You might even be treated in a private hospital, free of charge (and no, it's not costing our NHS any extra). Anyone can use this service for routine bookings, except for maternity services where the unpredictable timing makes it impractical. I believe passionately in the NHS. I've worked in it since 1976 and have seen first-hand the incredible care it provides. Yes, it's under strain, but people take it for granted. So that's exactly why I travelled 180 miles from my home in Kent to Birmingham for my op. At my local hospital I would have waited more than a year – this took half that time. I'd opened the Practice Plus Group Hospital in Birmingham last year, and when I learnt they had no waiting list, I jumped in. The hospital is part of a network treating NHS patients as well as those who opt for their private option, Wellsoon. I went in on a Tuesday and my brother drove me home the next day. (Incidentally, he's already had both hips replaced and he's still a competitive oarsman rowing in his 60s.) The facilities are excellent, the pre-op assessment – things like having an ECG, blood tests and X-rays – were very thorough, I felt in safe hands. Don't be afraid of the operation People are scared of hip surgery, though it's now one of the most common and straightforward operations performed. I arrived at the hospital in Birmingham nice and early. Everyone from the reception and catering staff to the anaesthetist and surgeon were all so welcoming (and I think happy to see a familiar face – there were a few selfies taken), and I was always aware of what would be happening. Doctors aren't always the best patients, frankly (we think we know it all already), so I told them to treat me like anyone else, and I promised to listen to their advice – and be a good patient. I'd met the surgeon before, so knew I was in safe hands. But I ended up being the last on the list to be operated on that day. As you can't eat, I was surprisingly not starving by the time I was wheeled in at 2pm. I didn't have a general anaesthetic. Instead it was carried out with a spinal block (where they injected a local anaesthetic into my lower back with a big needle), so there was no pain and I was given sedation. First the surgeon made a small incision in my hip. He removed the worn parts and replaced them with a new hip, which has a plastic socket and a ceramic head, slotted into the femur. Essentially it's carpentry. During the 90 minutes while it was happening, I just lay there sedated – I didn't feel or hear a thing. By 4pm I was siting up in bed having a cup of tea and tucking into cottage pie. That's the beauty of not having a general anaesthetic, there's no nausea. Once the spinal block wore off, I had a little bit of Oramorph (liquid morphine) for pain relief that night, but after that, paracetamol and codeine were enough. I drank lots of cups of tea and, although its seems incredible, I was up standing and taking a few steps that same evening. The next morning, the physiotherapists made me walk down the corridor on crutches and climb some stairs before declaring that afternoon, 'You're fit to go home.' Going home after the op While my brother drove me home, I reclined on the passenger seat to be comfortable enough for the journey, and my wife and kids were waiting for me when I got home. I've got to sleep on my back for the first 6-8 weeks (a few well-positioned pillows help), but every day I've been making progress. I'm not ready to swim or cycle yet, but I can do all the normal domestic chores, upper-body strength work and make myself cups of tea. With a bit more time on my hands I've been working on my next novel, doing my physio exercises religiously. Standing on my good leg, I raise the other one to 90 degrees, then bring it behind me, and take it to the side, all to encourage movement and keep the muscles strong. The reality of recovery I'm super proud of my progress. Eight days after my op I walked a quarter of a mile up the lane. All in all, the operation couldn't have gone more smoothly. When the NHS works, its world class. I'm passionate about this. We need to respect the nurses, the juniors, the paramedics – and we need to be more aware of what's possible. I did wonder if speaking about having a hip replaced would make me seem 'past it'. But I decided that, actually, I meet patients having hip ops in their 40s; it's not necessarily an 'old person' thing. I wanted to normalise it and let everyone know they too can ask their GP to be referred elsewhere if their local waiting list is too long. I feel very fortunate – to have had options and treatment, to be fit and still enjoy myself. So if your quality of life is suffering, don't wait until it's unbearable. Get it done, you won't regret it. As told to Susanna Galton Dr Hilary Jones shares his key health tips How to recover from a hip op No breaststroke, no deep bending, and no swinging from chandeliers (not that that's something we've ever done). Some bruising and swelling is normal, so I used an ice pack to reduce this, and it helps with the discomfort – but make sure the wound stays dry. Massaging the area a bit to encourage blood flow also helped me. The standard advice is to take 6-8 weeks off work, which I didn't do the first time. As a doctor I've always hated taking time off, as I know the strain it puts on colleagues. But this time I plan to have 4-5 weeks. How to stay well in your 70s I still enjoy a nice glass of red wine, but I go for quality over quantity. My weakness is apple crumble with custard and cream. We eat lots of salads and lean protein. I'm useless in the kitchen myself – if I was alone I'd die of malnutrition! I'm active most days for at least at hour with a sport, and sometimes more, as I might spend four hours gardening I try to get my nutrients through food, but I do supplement with vitamin D in the winter. Keeping creative and curious helps me stay young, my third novel, Under Darkening Skies, is published this month – it's a romance with a military and medical focus. I write for 3-4 hours a day. Sleep is important, but I don't believe in this obsession we all need eight hours of it. If I get 5-6 hours of good-quality sleep, that is better than tossing and turning for longer. If I'm not drowsy during the day, I know I'm getting enough.
SBS Australia
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Учите енглески уз СБС: #90 Talking about role models
For more stories, interviews, and news from SBS SERBIAN, explore our podcast collection here. This lesson is suitable for intermediate-level learners. After listening, test your knowledge with our quiz. Learning notes Different phrases you can use when talking about people you admire: I really look up to my grandpa. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. I would say she led by example. They didn't just talk — they followed through. She's the kind of person who walks the talk. If you look up to someone , it means you admire them. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. If you lead by example , you're showing others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve. When someone has a big impact on someone, they them really make them think and change them in a meaningful way. In the dialogue Allan and Claire use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) to talk about things that started in the past and are continuing to have an impact on the present, and the past simple (verb + ed) to talk about thing that happened in the past and are finished. When Allan talks about his feelings for his grandfather and his impact on him, he uses the present perfect because he still has these feelings: Allan: I've always admired him. (have + admired) He's had a big impact on me (has + had) But this grandfather has passed away, and so when Claire talks about what his grandfather did in the past to cause such feelings, she uses the past simple: Claire: … someone who always led by example (led) Allan: .. He didn't just talk —he followed through….. (did + not + talk; follow + ed) …person who walked the talk (walked) Practise speaking dialogue from this episode: SBS English 08/07/2025 03:38 English Cultural information: Baker Boy is a proud Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist whose powerful work has inspired audiences across Australia and beyond. Blending English with Yolngu Matha—his traditional language—his music brings a unique voice to the Australian hip-hop scene while celebrating and sharing Indigenous culture. A multi-award-winning performer, Baker Boy was named Young Australian of the Year in 2019. Discover more about his music and story at . Transcript: (Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript) SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia. Think of someone you admire. Someone who taught you, helped you, inspired you, or showed you how to be a better person? My name's Kate, and I have a lot of different role models. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve so that we can be more like them. They could be a family member, a teacher, a friend, or even someone we've never met. In this episode, we'll learn some easy ways to talk in English about our role models. You'll hear useful phrases, real examples, and a few stories from me too! Let's get started. Today, I'm taking you to a small, cosy café. The soft clink of coffee cups and the low hum of conversation fill the air. Allan and Claire are sitting by the window, watching people stroll past as they chat. The smell of fresh coffee beans drifts around them. Claire wraps her hands around a warm mug, smiling as Allan begins to talk about someone close to his heart. Allan: I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. Claire: Yeah, you always speak so highly of him. Allan: I do. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Claire: Would you say he's someone who always led by example? Allan: Yes, I would. He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. Beautiful conversation, isn't it? It made me think about my number one role model — my mum. She's has always been the kind of woman who moves mountains for her children. No matter how hard life got when we were young, she never gave up. She worked long hours, cooked and cleaned at home, and still found time to support me and my brother every step of the way. Whenever something is difficult and I feel like life is too hard, I think of her — and I keep going. She's truly my inspiration, and now I'm getting emotional. Let's get to work and take a closer look at some of the useful phrases Allan and Claire used, so you can talk about your own role models too. Allan first said, I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. If you look up to someone, it means you admire them. You think they're a great person, and you respect what they do or how they live. And when you admire someone, you might try to be more like them or learn from their example. Claire then said, You always speak so highly of him. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. When you speak highly of someone, you talk about all the things you admire about them — their qualities, actions, and character. Allan speaks highly of his grandpa because he respects and looks up to him. So, when you admire someone, you often speak highly of them to others. Next, we have, I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Allan's grandpa had a big impact on him. When someone has a big impact on you, they make you think and they change you in a meaningful way. They influence your thoughts, your actions, and even your values. This big impact can be a result of something someone says, or something someone does, or even just how they live their life. For example, have you heard of Baker Boy? He's a Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist that has inspired so many people. His music blends English and his native language, Yolngu Matha. Baker Boy brings Indigenous culture to the Australian hip-hop scene and has won many awards. He was celebrated as the Young Australian of the Year in 2019. He's young, but definitely a role model! Let's go back to our dialogue, Claire said, Would you say he's someone who led by example? Led by example. If you lead by example, you show others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. Instead of just telling people what to do, you show them the right thing to do through your own actions. Can you think of someone who has led by example? Just like Allan's grandpa, who, as Allan says, He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. He followed through. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. So, someone who walks the talk doesn't just make promises — but keeps them. When someone follows through, it means that you can trust what they say because they actually take real action. We can also say that someone walks the talk when their actions match their words. Sign up for previews, updates and to provide feedback. A big thank you to Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan who voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant. For more on NAIDOC Week, check out Celebrating NAIDOC week | SBS NITV. LISTEN TO SBS English 08/09/2023 27:29 English
SBS Australia
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
#90 Talking about role models
This lesson is suitable for intermediate-level learners. After listening, test your knowledge with our quiz. Learning notes Different phrases you can use when talking about people you admire: I really look up to my grandpa. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. I would say she led by example. They didn't just talk — they followed through. She's the kind of person who walks the talk. If you look up to someone , it means you admire them. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. If you lead by example , you're showing others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve. When someone has a big impact on someone, they them really make them think and change them in a meaningful way. In the dialogue Allan and Claire use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) to talk about things that started in the past and are continuing to have an impact on the present, and the past simple (verb + ed) to talk about thing that happened in the past and are finished. When Allan talks about his feelings for his grandfather and his impact on him, he uses the present perfect because he still has these feelings: Allan: I've always admired him. (have + admired) He's had a big impact on me (has + had) But this grandfather has passed away, and so when Claire talks about what his grandfather did in the past to cause such feelings, she uses the past simple: Claire: … someone who always led by example (led) Allan: .. He didn't just talk —he followed through….. (did + not + talk; follow + ed) …person who walked the talk (walked) Cultural information: Baker Boy is a proud Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist whose powerful work has inspired audiences across Australia and beyond. Blending English with Yolngu Matha—his traditional language—his music brings a unique voice to the Australian hip-hop scene while celebrating and sharing Indigenous culture. A multi-award-winning performer, Baker Boy was named Young Australian of the Year in 2019. Discover more about his music and story at . Transcript: (Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript) SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia. Think of someone you admire. Someone who taught you, helped you, inspired you, or showed you how to be a better person? My name's Kate, and I have a lot of different role models. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve so that we can be more like them. They could be a family member, a teacher, a friend, or even someone we've never met. In this episode, we'll learn some easy ways to talk in English about our role models. You'll hear useful phrases, real examples, and a few stories from me too! Let's get started. Today, I'm taking you to a small, cosy café. The soft clink of coffee cups and the low hum of conversation fill the air. Allan and Claire are sitting by the window, watching people stroll past as they chat. The smell of fresh coffee beans drifts around them. Claire wraps her hands around a warm mug, smiling as Allan begins to talk about someone close to his heart. Allan: I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. Claire: Yeah, you always speak so highly of him. Allan: I do. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Claire: Would you say he's someone who always led by example? Allan: Yes, I would. He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. Beautiful conversation, isn't it? It made me think about my number one role model — my mum. She's has always been the kind of woman who moves mountains for her children. No matter how hard life got when we were young, she never gave up. She worked long hours, cooked and cleaned at home, and still found time to support me and my brother every step of the way. Whenever something is difficult and I feel like life is too hard, I think of her — and I keep going. She's truly my inspiration, and now I'm getting emotional. Let's get to work and take a closer look at some of the useful phrases Allan and Claire used, so you can talk about your own role models too. Allan first said, I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. If you look up to someone, it means you admire them. You think they're a great person, and you respect what they do or how they live. And when you admire someone, you might try to be more like them or learn from their example. Claire then said, You always speak so highly of him. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. When you speak highly of someone, you talk about all the things you admire about them — their qualities, actions, and character. Allan speaks highly of his grandpa because he respects and looks up to him. So, when you admire someone, you often speak highly of them to others. Next, we have, I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Allan's grandpa had a big impact on him. When someone has a big impact on you, they make you think and they change you in a meaningful way. They influence your thoughts, your actions, and even your values. This big impact can be a result of something someone says, or something someone does, or even just how they live their life. For example, have you heard of Baker Boy? He's a Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist that has inspired so many people. His music blends English and his native language, Yolngu Matha. Baker Boy brings Indigenous culture to the Australian hip-hop scene and has won many awards. He was celebrated as the Young Australian of the Year in 2019. He's young, but definitely a role model! Let's go back to our dialogue, Claire said, Would you say he's someone who led by example? Led by example. If you lead by example, you show others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. Instead of just telling people what to do, you show them the right thing to do through your own actions. Can you think of someone who has led by example? Just like Allan's grandpa, who, as Allan says, He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. He followed through. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. So, someone who walks the talk doesn't just make promises — but keeps them. When someone follows through, it means that you can trust what they say because they actually take real action. We can also say that someone walks the talk when their actions match their words. Sign up for previews, updates and to provide feedback. A big thank you to Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan who voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant. For more on NAIDOC Week, check out Celebrating NAIDOC week | SBS NITV. LISTEN TO SBS English 08/09/2023 27:29 English
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Barnesy's teen granddaughter releases debut EP
Ruby Rodgers would be "honoured" for grandpa Jimmy Barnes to join her on stage to sing one of her songs
News.com.au
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
WA grandpa Gavin's crazy skills at Mandurah skate park goes viral
A grandpa showing off his crazy skills on a mobility scooter at a skate park has gone viral on social media Gavin, 52, was filmed pulling doughnuts and wheelies on his mobility scooter at the Mandurah skate park, about 70km south of Perth. The Western Australian grandpa can be seen wearing a grey beanie, jeans and a long grey beard riding through the park on his scooter with others who are there. @the_harrington_sisters Who's gramps is this? We love this guy!! 😅 #mandurah #grampa #gopher #everythingmandurah #skatepark ♬ sonido original - Melómano The footage taken by the @HarringtonSisters has been viewed more than 750,000 times on TikTok. 'Grandpa: Hold my beer,' the sisters shared. 'It's never a dull moment at Mandurah skate park and we're here for it. 'Who's gramps is this? We love this guy!' Gavin told Youth Jam Online he was touched by the reaction and was happy the footage brought happiness to so many people. 'The amount of people it's touched and just put smiles on their faces and got people talking about positive things again,' he said. 'Mate, I couldn't ask any more than that, that's why I did it.' The video showcasing the 'Mandurah legend' has received thousands of reactions on social media with people loving the 'skate park boss.' 'We need more of this kids interacting with elderly love it,' one person said. 'This is my neighbour, he's actually the best,' a person commented. 'Never ever have I seen anyone do that in my country. You guys seem to have all the awesome people doing crazy things. Brilliant,' another person said. 'That's my spirit animal,' a person commented.
