I can't disagree as I've not been to Southend since the late fifties.
An aunt used to have a nice bungalow in Prittlewell next to Southend Airport. Quite a nice area in those days.

Around that time there were areas of South London, like Balham and Tooting where you wouldn't want to live, but are now most desirable.

Ah, speaking as someone who had a hip replacement in 2001 i must say i thought he was trying to do too much!... i was only about 54 when i had it done and was at the fittest i had ever been but i must say it takes a lot of getting over!..i had osteo arthrtis in my hip same as it sounds like Craig has!, and the replacement took away all pain completely but the thing is!, your mind and body needs time to get used to the thing thats been done to it!. and i was off work for 3 months!, I remember waking up some days and thinking 'i am back to perfect fitness' and full of energy and then hardly being able to get out of bed for the next two days!..... and that went on for quite a while so... i could understand him pushing himself to do the strictly show but when i have seem news items about him out and about doing other things i have been thinking 'is he a superman or what?' .....

From what you say mklass it does sound like a painful thing to have to go through and recover from. I did tweet Craig yesterday to wish him well and ask him to take things a bit easier, when he gets chance to reply I will let you know what he says.

The surgery has made a lot of advances in recent years, I had a new "all plastic" hip three years ago. I played a lot of squash when I was younger (and it's all the turning on that hip) but I was back playing golf, in just over six weeks later.
People have different rates of recovery.
I was impressed with my surgeon, as he said he had to chisel off calcified spurs around the joint before he could get it out. Then work out where to attach the new hip to the pelvis. No one would know I've had it done, though one or two golfing friends still show symptoms of the operation after many years.
The advantage of the non-metal hips are that the bone regrows over where the hip is attached.

Craig has had his "resurfaced" a less intrusive operation, but unlike a complete replacement, I think the nerves will still be there so he'll be on meds.
With a new hip the nerves are gone. You're uncomfortable for a bit, but the pain has gone.
I'd advise anyone who has been diagnosed with a hip problem to get it done as soon as possible, you won't regret it.