That's interesting about Brass. Looks like you have something here.

"This was just before I swanned off to hospital . . ."

I've always been intrigued by the U.K. non-use of the article "the" before nouns such as "hospital" and "university", in contrast to American placement of the article before all nouns. However, it has become a growing trend in America these days to drop the article. I think our preoccupathion with "the" stems from Spanish influence -- but I could be wrong. I've been wrong so many times in the past that it has almost become my standard. What's your feedback on the subject . . . of "the", that is!