It’s been a good week here at The Farm in New Jersey – with Kendall, Cameron and Andrew enjoying their Summer break, Vanessa keeping around 50 plates spinning at the same time, Mark diving into his new role as CEO of Chuck Media and learning how lonely that CEO role can be, but also how fulfilling it can be too, as he prepares for a major birthday next week.  Senior Nurse Trudy has been in tip-top form and is graduating to become an Honorary Doctor of ankle and knee rehab (as well as MasterChef-in-residence, Chief Cheerleader, and hostess with the mostest as we welcomed new friends Alan and Leslie Berson to their first visit to The Farm, as well as four Spanish friends walking on air following their well-deserved FIFA World Cup coronation.)

Four highlights:

1. My partial knee replacement surgery has been classified as 100% successful.

I have been cleared by my doctors to fly to the West Coast next week, 4½ weeks after surgery – as swelling has disappeared, bruising has come and gone, pain is being managed.  Range of movement is ahead of schedule and as long as I continue my icing /exercise regime (and I will), a full recovery is expected sooner rather than later.

So, I’ll be back on the road again next week – Sonoma, Desert Dream, Montreux, Athens and so it goes.

My thanks to my surgeon, Dr. Elizabeth Gausden and her fantastic team, to her inspirational sidekick Hayden who fed my exuberance with her own, to the HSS communications care team who could not have been more forthright, clear and supportive, to my physical therapist Lisa, who is the epitome of caring and demanding, to Fiona, whose Irish eyes are always smiling and makes the scheduling work, to the makers of GameReady and to George Duncan who introduced me to the best ice machine in the world 12 years ago, to all my family and friends who have been constantly checking in and supporting me positively.  And most of all to nurse and doctor in training, Trudy who has physically and mentally been my Sherpa Tenzing.

Time to get my life back and hit the road.

Thank y’all.

2. Steph (GG that is), Monica, Alex and Enrique from Isdin Barcelona dropped around to reconnect with Trudy and Kendall (KR Connect 21 July 2026) and to talk dermatology, beauty, skincare, Lovemarks, and FIFA World Cup winners.

It was so good to see them looking positive, vibrant, confident and upbeat in the middle of a bounce back year internationally for Isdin.

3. They dropped round on our Wedding Anniversary.  Trudy and I wanted to spend the evening alone and reflect upon the past and talk about the future, so once the day quietened down, we were able to do just that (accompanied, of course by Archer and Gary who have been contributing massively in the knee rehab care programme by not leaving my side from morning until night and making sure they protected me during all my exercises).  Golden days.

4. And I discovered a new author – James Byrne and his fictional, tough guy hero – Dez Limerick.

Once again, thanks to brother-in-law Colin McEwan, who recommended this series and who had already set me up with Orphan X and the Grey Man.

Dez Limerick is right up there.  Four books so far and I’m on number two.  Great way to pass the time during my periodic night-time wake-ups when the knee stiffens.  Thank you, Colin.  As Robert Earl Keen says – “It’s the little things” (https://open.spotify.com/track/2KJ4vzj1v83aIGQ4O3RrTY / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtCUHMRw3ZY).

So That Was The Week That Was (TWTWTW).

I hope you had a good one too.