Sunday, 10th September, 2023
Decided I just couldn’t cope without my Blog. After almost 15 years, it is so much part of my psyche that I was uncomfortable not posting it. Someone suggested I commit it to paper and then ‘burn it’! I thought about it, considered doing it but realised it was never going to happen. Do you know, there is nothing in my life that embarrasses or demeans me so much I dare not admit to it. There are things I’ve done that I’m ashamed of, embarrassed by, could be ridiculed or rebuked for but I just have to confront them in the court of public opinion.
I have to mark the anniversary of the death of my brother-in-law, John (Jack) Barnes. He died an awful although quick death from Brain Tumour in Pinderfields Hospital, Leeds in 2006. I remember it so distinctly that it could be last week. And yet, we haven’t spoken for 17 years.
Jack worked in advertising in a wide span of his life but was quite well know as a singer in the pubs & clubs of Manchester in his early days. Of course, he was much older than us. Jack was born in 1934 and died at the tender age of 72. My age now!
Friends have sent videos of spectacular thunder & lightning across the North of England last night. No such luck here. We stayed out in the garden until late because of the extreme heat. Back in the house, every window was open to draw the air through. Bedtime meant aircon on all night. I just sleep on the top of the bed, luxuriating in the cold air. I woke in the middle of the night, felt so cold I couldn’t feel my legs. I turned the aircon off but was sweating profusely within 10 mins. Aircon back on until I got up.
This morning is insufferably hot and humid but a little overcast. Went out for an early walk to keep the fitness going. It was hard work but we can’t afford to seize up. In fact, I am not prepared to give up on Life at any time until I drop. I hope my friends and relations feel the same way. There is no benefit in attending funerals when we could be going to parties together.
There are some things that come up over and over again. At the top of the list for fitness and well-being is …. Walking. This is followed by, if you can believe it, connecting with loved ones on social media and then – and you really won’t believe this – writing a daily Blog. All of this is followed by eating ‘indulgent meals with wine’ followed by taking multiple naps. You can see why I’m optimistic about living forever.
The one thing I’m not doing enough of at the moment and I’ve got to get back into it is strength training and balance exercises. My balance is poor – particularly after a couple of bottles of wine and I definitely need to get back into rowing for muscular maintenance and skeletal strength. I’ll keep you posted.
Monday, 11th September, 2023
Another warm night which didn’t fall below 18C/65F or, in our bedroom 0C/32F. These are lovely days to be treasured. The Winter will come soon enough.
I wonder who is on these flights from Gatwick to the Continent – buying extended Summer. Hot & humid weather might be uncomfortable but, for me at least, it is preferable to cold and wet.
It is hot and I am wet this morning. Autumn tidying up of the garden. Booked a slot at the local Waste Disposal for this afternoon. Amazing how much collects over the season. Lots of it appears to be housing spiders as big as saucers. I let my wife deal with those. The car is packed and we will have a lovely afternoon trip out …. at the tip. Could it get much better?
One reader wrote to me this morning to say I had to keep the Blog going or he would never get to sleep. A bit cheeky but I can take it! I’m going to the Bupa Radiotherapy Centre on Wednesday and I am currently working out the best route. I think I’m going to drive down the coast
Tuesday, 12th September, 2023
What a lovely morning – warm and welcoming. Had nice messages from friends. I’ve never thought of myself as a people person although my wife insists I am. I do love people in my life. Heard from little Cathy, my sister who wants to come and see me. Don’t know why she doesn’t just turn up. She only lives 15 mins away. Heard from John-2, John Morris, Dave Roberts, Kevin and Julie all from the north of England. Next door neighbour, Jason, stopped in the middle of the road to ask after my welfare. Lovely lad with a lovelier wife who is as thin as a stick insect.
My next door neighbour on the other side has just come to ask if we’ll look after their cats while they are in Canada for a month. We have a key for a number of houses who also have a key for ours. Of course we’ll help them if we can.
If I could hold you
Steve’s Song
If only for a second I could hold you
And let the fear rage on
Cling to each other in the eye of a storm
I am cooking Dinner tonight. It will be Tomato, Dill & Garlic with mushrooms, Giant Prawns and Cod Cheeks. Of course, it will be brilliant. You would love it, Dear Reader, and you are very welcome. While I am preparing the meal, I am listening to the soundtrack from Keeping Faith which is so un-me but I find so moving after a number of years. I really don’t listen to popular music but I can indulge myself with this ….
Wednesday, 13th September, 2023
Up early on a warm but overcast morning. Driving to Brighton to the Bupa Radiology Centre where I will be receiving my treatment in 4 weeks for 4 weeks. Just 19 miles but 1 hr driving each way. It is going to dominate my life for a while.
Well, left home at 8.15 am and didn’t actually arrive until 9.45 am. Traffic and route were awful. Can’t face that every day! It is all very high tec. which would impress me in other circumstances but looked a bit overwhelming this morning.
I’ve been told this morning that the treatment will leave me feeling exhausted, sick and lacking in appetite. Can’t wait. Actually, the drive will be the most trying. Feels a bit like going to work all over again. Up at 6.00 am. Liquid Breakfast and out driving. Reminds me of work days.
One of the good signs that my prostate is seriously shrinking already is I don’t need to wee so often. Just realised this morning that I had drunk the juice of 2 freshly squeezed oranges, a large cup of Yorkshire tea followed by a huge, Cappuccino before driving there and back over a 3 hr period and hadn’t needed the loo. Suggests that the hormone treatment has really worked. If the tumours haven’t escaped out of the prostate (metastatic) then they will have had to shrink as well so there will be less to irradiate.
Hopefully, targeted external beam radiotherapy will do the job and I will be roaming the world again soon. I really want to see people, talk to them and share my life without moaning about illnesses. I have to keep Covid-free and it is really on the rise at the moment. I am pushing to get the Booster immediately to keep me healthy. Learnt today that the Booster will be the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. The much-lauded British vaccine has been quietly dropped because of its side effects.
Thursday, 14th September, 2023
Gorgeous morning. Very warm 26C/79F at mid day. Had to be at the clinic for 10.00 am for another javelin-full of hormones but this time just for a month. I still have one more to come.
The atmosphere at the surgery was quite shockingly different to previous times. On the last two occasions that I had these injections, I was the only patient in the waiting room. I was in and out within 5 mins. Today, on a beautifully warm and sunny day, the clinic was packed with grumpy old people all complaining about how long they had to wait.
They weren’t very pleased when I, the last to arrive, was called before them all. I’m afraid I left the embattled Receptionists to deal with that. It’s a big needle and I’m bruised for a few days afterwards. I play on that a bit so that I get better treatment than I normally would. Today, we went straight from the clinic to Sainsburys where I was treated to a box of fresh figs. They’re Turkish not Greek so didn’t quite have the flavour but lovely all the same. As you will know, dear Reader, quite a moving fruit.
The day has progressed fabulously with hot sunshine and largely cloudless skies. Really enjoyed the walk this afternoon and looking forward to Dinner of Kalamari & Salad with Skordalia (Σκορδαλιά). Skorda is Garlic. Skor-Dal-I-Ah is Garlic Sauce made with Garlic, Bread or Potato and Olive oil. It goes beautifully with fish &/or salad. We will cook and eat it outside in the garden, basking in the sunshine and the warmth.
While my chef cooks Dinner, I will toil on the internet. Thank goodness it works so well out in the garden these days. Gigabit Broadband reaches right across the house, garden and gym. It supplies the TVs, mobiles, and so many home devices. I even control the air-conditioning, heating & lights from bed on my smartphone. I have talked to most of my friends today. As I pointed out the other day, this is keeping me alive!
Of course, some friends are still teaching. Every working day of my life, I drove across the Pennines each way. It was a nightmare then and it is worse now. Often, I would go on the M62 J23 – J22 and reverse. I would be struggling today. The Manchester Evening News sent me a warning this afternoon of long delays after another accident. Just look at the sunshine (NOT).
Friday, 15th September, 2023
A lovely morning which is forecast to give us another beautiful and warm day. The times are definitely changing though. Half way through September, Nightfall is coming increasingly early. The sun goes down at 7.15 pm and the nights are less warm now – about 16C/60F. I’m still sleeping with aircon on but maybe not for long now. The real test will be how long tee shirt and shorts will last. Chef serves Breakfast at 7.00 am and the sun has only been up for about 30 mins by then. Moisture from the night air can be seen on the garden furniture. Fortunately, it soon evaporates as the sun burns it off.
I’m afraid my wife of 45 years has to go. She has spent the past 10 years looking for trousers that don’t exist. This week, she thinks she has found them and ordered 8 pairs. White Stuff, and Boden seem to be causing commotion. She really has gone over the top this time spending £500.00 on trousers. Some couples keep their finances separate. I cannot even understand that idea. I gave everything I own to my wife from the outset – nearly 50 years ago. I know I seem to be dominated by money and cost in my Blog. It interests me but it really doesn’t worry me much at all. The car is in her name. The house is in her name. The investments and savings agreements are in her name. I never want her to worry about money or me.
If I die, if we separate, she will always be alright. That’s why I feel confident in throwing her out for overspending on her clothes bill. I mean, why would anyone consider buying these many trousers? Once she gets into the buying mode, the fever takes over and all is lost. Today, all was lost quite early!
I’m pleased to report that our pool in Florida is now complete and looking good. No expense spared – only what I deserve. Heated Pool, Jacuzzi Plunge Pool, outdoor shower, seating area and Pizza Oven.
Outside the statutory poolside railings which I regret, a strange man has been developing a pitch and put green. I mean, who does that? Well, I’m allowing relatives to use it at the moment until this cancer is GONE! I’m looking forward to a dirty month in Brighton.
Saturday, 16th September, 2023
Absolutely lovely morning with blue sky, strong warm, hot even, sunshine. Woke a bit tired because the mobile next to my bed announced a Whatsapp coming in at 1.45 am from a girl in Florida. She was having Dinner in a Steakhouse in Florida and felt the need to tell me how good it was. I might even go and try it but not at 1.45 in the morning.
I found it hard to get back to sleep, put the radio on and heard hours of discussions about the misery of the Libyans lives destroyed by a burst dam and about the need to ban dangerous dogs. Personally, I would ban all dogs but some people seem to need them.
It got more and more boring to the point when I fell asleep. It was a hot night and the aircon was on until it got too cold… and off until it got too warm …when I had a hot flush … and on again. I am a nightmare to share a bed with at the moment. I don’t know how anyone else copes!
I was woken by the new BBC day starting at 5.00 am with its usual round up of things from this day on past years. Appeals to my sense of History. This one particularly interested me today because it linked to the communication from Florida.
On this day in 1959, the first commercial photocopier was successfully launched on live TV in New York. The Xerox-914 links to the girl from Florida because she was once a big cheese in the Xerox company. What astonishes me is that, when I started teaching in 1972, schools didn’t have and certainly couldn’t have afforded photocopiers. I was reproducing worksheets using a primitive spirit Duplicator which we called a Banda. We had to generate page reproductions by turning the wheel by hand and the smell of the spirit certainly woke you up in the morning.
The other item that stuck in my head was the anniversary of Black Wednesday and – for us – Black Friday. On this day in 1992, a speculators’ rush on the pound meant that the UK fell out of the ERM – European Exchange Rate Mechanism that pegged the values of disparate economies which were desperately trying to integrate with each having their own currency. The pound crashed on this day in 1992 and, two days later, interest rates went up from 10% – 15% which was very painful on our mortgage rates. No ‘fixed rate’ deals in those days.
As a result of these sorts of tensions, the Eurozone introduced the common currency , the Euro, in 1999 and it was adopted across the Union 3 years later. The nay-sayers predicted its downfall within months and then within a few years but here it is more than 20 years on and a real force to be reckoned with on the World stage and certainly eclipsing Sterling.