Oh dear. I would be terrified of slipping on ice. Being kept awake at night by the pain must be really awful. Sounds like you are making definite progress in self-rehabilitation,though. Good for you!

I too would be very sad at the death of a barn owl. We have had a similar bird visting our garden at night (a tawny frogmouth) and it's wonderful to see it perching and watching for prey, then silently swooping. Such beauty and elegance.