6 months today I had a significant operation on my knee after an accident in the hills. Please donate - however small amount - to the Mountain Rescue.

On Dec 14th on a cold beautiful winters day, Judith and I decided to walk the Pentlands ridge from Nine Mile Burn back to Edinburgh.

On a steep wee grassy descent off West Kip my left leg slipped with my right then hyper flexing taking my full weight. I felt a snap and was immediately in agony.

Fellow hill walkers, Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue and the Special Operations Rescue Team (seriously fit ex-forces paramedics) all came to my aid and were all wonderful. 3 hours later, I was helicoptered the 5 minute ride to RIE because of a suspected broken femur. You can see the helicopter in the picture below.

A&E and follow up visits confirmed a ruptured quadriceps tendon (the thick band above kneecap). The operation involved drilling 3 holes lengthwise through my kneecap to tether the tendon to leaving a 12cm scar.

After keeping my leg immobilised for 8 weeks, I then had an extremely painful and scary pulmonary embolism (blood clot on lung).

Modern medicine is amazing, without the operation I would have been permanently disabled. Without the op I would never have had the embolism. But I have to look on the bright side. 30% die from an embolism. A bullet dodged. It could as easily been a stroke or a heart attack.

After 4 months of rehab, I can now walk pretty well but going down hills are still a challenge. I can ride my bike very well easily completing 3 hours rides. I still cannot run and I wonder if I ever will properly run again. I love running. At this stage walking a Munro or skiing ever again feels like a very unlikely scenario. I have another 6 months of rehab at least before I will really know.

I had always planned a 60th year challenge such as a big run or a ride but instead my personal challenge is to recover to the best I can be. I am determined to get back to as strong as I can be. Hopefully J and I can finish that nice walk sometime.

I have gone through a lot of emotions over the last 6 months and never been able to bring myself to write this but finally have managed.

** THE APPEAL ** the Scottish Mountain Rescue branches are all volunteers who rely on donations. They often rescue people from any inaccessible country areas where emergency services cannot reach - even Arthur's Seat.

Please as a massive favour to me - could you make a donation - however small to Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue? These are people who often rescue mountain bikers in the valley - hopefully Innes will never need them.