August 3rd, 2026

For more than two weeks now, I have been able to get around without crutches and without my faithful scooter. The feeling is almost impossible to describe. After all these years of limited mobility, finally regaining a certain freedom of movement is a genuine joy. Walking is gradually becoming natural again, although I still occasionally have to remind my legs that they are now allowed to work on their own.

I recently visited OrthoTeam, the orthopaedic specialist that will adapt my new shoe. I know the team well, as they made my orthopaedic shoes following my previous operations. They also produced the orthosis I wore last year. It is fair to say that I have become a loyal customer, although I could happily have done without their loyalty programme!

This time, I was able to choose a shoe that looks completely normal. It is a trainer style shoe that will be specially adapted. The one centimetre external raise to the sole will remain very discreet. The additional 1.5 centimetres required will be compensated for by a heel lift placed inside the shoe. Altogether, this adaptation should correct the 2.5 centimetre difference in length between my legs.

The work will be completed in time for me to collect the shoe on 5 August. I will also take along a pair of sandals that I received previously, as their heel lift also needs to be adjusted. I will then have one pair of shoes for going out and another for wearing at home.

After wearing them for a while, I will need to assess whether the result is satisfactory, particularly whether the correction prevents the hip and back pain caused by the difference in length between my legs. If the trial is successful, I will look at which of my other shoes could also be adapted.

Financing these adaptations remains relatively complicated. The new shoe is partly covered by disability insurance. The remaining amount may possibly be covered by my health insurance. The heel lift may also be reimbursed, provided it has been prescribed by a doctor.

However, the insurance providers will only cover the adaptation of one pair of shoes per year. Each additional adaptation will cost between 150 and 300 Swiss francs, which I will have to pay myself for the sole and heel lift. Regaining a balanced posture therefore comes at a price, but avoiding back and hip pain is an investment that is difficult to argue against.

Despite the almost tropical temperatures, I have been visiting the garden regularly. The vegetables are suffering not only from a lack of water, but also from excessive sunshine. Last weekend, Deniz harvested well over ten kilograms of potatoes. They are excellent. The white and red onions have also been harvested.

The aubergines, cucumbers, cauliflowers and beetroot are continuing to grow. We harvest them gradually, as soon as they are ready. However, the garden is not as well maintained as it was last year. My disability has prevented me from devoting the necessary time to it. Deniz, meanwhile, has had to cope with his operation, his work and preparing for his first-year final examinations. Under these circumstances, the garden has had to learn to become a little more independent. Some vegetables seem to appreciate this freedom more than others.

Last week, Gaby and Markus, two friends I have known since childhood, invited me to dinner. They alternate between spending six months in Spain and six months in Switzerland. They are making the most of their retirement and appear to have found a particularly enjoyable arrangement. We spent a wonderful, warm and relaxed evening together, which did me a great deal of good.

On Wednesday morning, I also met some former colleagues in Thun for an aperitif. As you might expect, we reviewed the various bosses we had known over the years, along with their strengths, their weaknesses and a few memories that have become much more amusing with the passing of time. Distance sometimes improves the memory or at least makes it more diplomatic.

The first of August is Swiss National Day. As an interesting historical detail, it has only been an official public holiday throughout Switzerland since 1994. Before then, many people still worked until midday. Patriotism apparently had to wait until the morning shift was over.

The date is also the birthday of two of my closest colleagues. The first is Marco, a motorcycling friend from Zurich. The second is Caspar, a former work colleague. Caspar invited me to his birthday celebration, which took place in the Emmental, beside the River Emme. Sadly, the river was completely dry, a sight that was both striking and deeply concerning. Despite this sad reality, the celebration was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

All these social activities are doing me a tremendous amount of good. After living for so long almost like a monk, isolated and immobile in his monastery, I now enjoy every invitation, every encounter and every moment shared with others. The difference is immense. My life is gradually regaining its rhythm, its colour and, most importantly, its human connections.

On Friday, I visited my mother. She was feeling low. Sadly, she is becoming increasingly aware that her limited mobility no longer allows her to do as much around the house as she once did. She has always taken great pride in her home and garden, and the fact that she can no longer look after them as she would like weighs heavily on her.

For her, moving into a care home would not be an acceptable solution. She is deeply attached to her surroundings, her home and her wonderful neighbours. More regular support at home might allow her to remain where she is while receiving the assistance she needs. This possibility deserves careful consideration, taking into account both her needs and her entirely understandable wish to maintain her independence.

Finally, Deniz has completed his examinations at the end of his first year of studies. He has a reasonably good feeling about how they went, which is already encouraging. We must now wait a few more days for the official results.