Sunday, 28th January, 2024
The moon was so bright last night that the ensuite bathroom was floodlit in the middle of the night. I thought I’d misread the time. Gorgeous blue sky this morning.
I am writing this in India this morning. Weather’s quite good there as well. Actually, I’m in my Office watching the Test Match as Pope just fails to get 200 in his second innings. At the same time, I am talking to friends. Julie is a cricket freak and is very jealous that I can get the Test match. Kevin is more bothered about the big football match this afternoon on television – QPR v Huddersfield Town. JohnR couldn’t care less about either. He’s off to church. Poor, old lad!
I am so often amazed how far life has come since I lived with this lot. Here I am watching live, natural, close-up pictures of a cricket match 5000 miles away.
When Kevin and I shared a flat in 1971, we had a small, black & white set from Radio Rentals and we hardly watched it anyway. We certainly didn’t pay the rental for it and kept getting threatening letters. Now, I am watching cricket on a Sky TV platform through a BT Sport/TNT app for which I pay by subscription.
In the past weeks, I’ve been watching a drama called Criminal Record on AppleTV+, another app to which I subscribe and and a great political drama: The Politician’s Husband on Amazon Prime app which I also subscribe to.
If you add Netflix into the mix, you can see that the old habit of linear television is quickly dying in favour of subscription browsing.
Monday, 29th January, 2024
Very warm night and opening to the morning. Quite a shock to look outside at 7.00 am. It was the reverse of yesterday – grey and misty. Mind you Greater Manchester is really in a mood this morning.
Look at this on Manchester Street, Oldham and is it possible to do a day on the M62 without accidents holding up the journey? It is just unbelievable how bad it has got in the 15 years since we left. There were always accidents and it was getting increasingly more busy but it is almost impossible to get through a day without news flashes about problems.
So often it is in that high stretch between Ainley Top and Rishworth in horribly wet and misty conditions. This morning, it is exactly at the Ainley Top entrance/exit at almost the time we would have been travelling to work. I have to admit, I wouldn’t swap it. Doesn’t encourage you to go out walking, does it.
Amongst other things this morning, I’m looking forward to Spring/Summer. I maintain the lawns around our houses and plant some colour to make the entrance to the Development look smart and coordinated with colourful flower beds. Last year, I bought all the seedlings myself, all the lawn food, and weedkillers. This year, I’m going to grow about 300 flowering plants from seed so I’ve been considering what to go for.
The plants go in the lawn cut outs and under trees. As you drive in to the Development, a sort of ‘corporate’ colour really looks good and ‘united’. I think these will stand out enough. What do you think, Dear Reader? Any suggestions? This year, the residents will have to take over their own maintenance if we spend quite a bit of time travelling.
Been down to the beach for a walk. Thought I was in Greater Manchester for a while. At least it was warm. Now for the Gym. What has life become?
Tuesday, 30th January, 2024
It’s been a long week. Seems to be going on forever and it’s only Tuesday. Afraid I am returning to medical matters today. My wife, who doesn’t accept blemishes, found a wrinkle on her neck. Emergency trip to the Surgery. Referral to Dermatology at the Southlands Hospital for a check-up. I drove her there this morning and it was a good job I did. There was no parking space. Looked like I was going to be driving round while she was in. At the last moment, a lady in the best spot in the carpark returned, gave me her ticket with 90 mins left on it and vacated the space. There is a god …. well, actually, there isn’t.
The carpark may have been full but the hospital was deserted. It seems to be like that permanently now whenever I’ve been there since the pandemic. How do they do it? We were the only people in Dermatology.
The clinic was Day Surgery which suggested they were going to cut out or fill in the wrinkle. A full face lift was going too far, I thought. Actually, she was in and out in under 10 mins with a glowing report. Best skin the Dermatologist had seen on a woman her age. Apparently, some women of her age have lots of wrinkles. Just makes me sick!! Sounds like she’ll celebrate by buying more clothes. Life is so good.
A Health minister was talking on BBC-R4 this morning about the increased Internet-based systems being adopted by the Health Service and we have been using them for years. Our GP Surgeries in both Surrey and Sussex have used the online booking system which allows one to make an appointment, communicate with the GP, order prescriptions and be notified when they are ready for collection, book vaccinations, etc, without leaving the Office through smartphone, iPad or computer.
We also use our NHS app and Patients Know Best app for news of Hospital appointments, records of procedures, etc, going back to the 1970s, test results and medications. My Oncologist was shocked to find that I knew the results of the tests he had ordered for me before even he got to see them. I must admit, I like that sort of control the online system provides patients.
What you’re left wondering is how people possibly survive without internet and smartphone access. At the surgery it is used via QR-code for booking in. At the hospital today it is used by the ticket machine for the carpark.
Wednesday, 31st January, 2024
The end of January 2024 already. Well, Dear Reader, it’s not exactly a party day outside. Grey, cool, boring. Don’t expect the Chuckle Brothers to ride over the hill and rescue me. Looking for reasons to be cheerful. How about this:
Things are really looking good for the Labour Party. They have held a large and consistent lead for over a year now which bodes well for the General Election in November. These are the scenes we are hoping to see in the early hours of the morning of November 15th or 22nd.
I pride myself on finding people, places and things that others often can’t. I wrote on a Blog in December that I was looking for an ex-colleague whose cousin was formerly drummer with The Clash and Black Sabbath. Just over 4 weeks ago, I got an address and wrote to him. I’ve heard nothing. I hate failing but I was doing this for a girl in Manchester not for myself.
This morning, I was about to contact her and admit failure when …. an email popped into my inbox from the very lad I was tracing. He lives in Bangor, Northern Ireland and in Edinburgh where he and his wife have flats to be close to their grandchildren. I wrote to Northern Ireland and he has been in Edinburgh for the past two months. He hadn’t joined a monastic community and I’d achieved my contact.
Another reason to be cheerful. We don’t have winter weather and especially SNOW. The Greek island where we lived have had to close the schools … because of SNOW. Incredible!
Thursday, 1st February, 2024
It has seemed a long two weeks although I’m being told I should be happy at time stretching out. Hmmm. It might have felt the days are going slowly but I am still shocked that February has arrived. Dear Reader, you will never see January 2024 again other than in your memory.
I am up early having cleaned the car yesterday. Going to Honda for its first service. It’s only done 5,500 miles. I’m not allowed to take a dirty car in for service even though it gets a full valet by Honda at the end of their work. My wife would have the house looking utterly pristine if she had a cleaner coming. The service takes about an hour and is completely ‘free’ for the first 5 years although I’ve never got beyond two. Going to have a look at the new model while I wait for the service to be done.
It turned out to be quite an enjoyable hour or so on this gorgeous, sunny morning, browsing the new models and comparing with what we have now. I was quite taken with the all-electric but it wouldn’t be practical for us. I’d have to stop to recharge before I got to Manchester and I can’t be doing with that. It will have to be the plug-in hybrid when I change but there aren’t many in the country at the moment.
Two years ago this month, I had a colonoscopy at the Nuffield Hospital. The consultant gastroenterologist told me I should have a repeat procedure every two years. I asked my doctor to put me forward for one on through the NHS. This morning, as I drove home, the hospital phoned to invite me for a coloscopy on February 12th. What a wonderful service! What wonderful people! Hopefully, nothing has had too long to develop over just two years. Anyway, wish me luck, Dear Reader!
Friday, 2nd February, 2024
Here we are in February with no need for central heating. If this is Global Warming, give me more. After quite a hectic day yesterday, perhaps this will be a bit more relaxed.
The offer of a colonoscopy in 10 days put me into overdrive because the hospital didn’t know I am a warfarin user which means I have to have a withdrawal plan prior to the procedure in case they accidentally or deliberately cut me. The afternoon was spent on the phone to the Coagulation Clinic and the Gastroenterology Department coordinating the times and dates for action. By early evening, I had negotiated a plan with the former to allow the latter to do the procedure on February 12th. I am delighted with that.
Actually, I love planning, statistics and management. You couldn’t live with me for long without accepting that. The first of the month means recording the previous month’s statistics. Gas & Electricity consumption goes on the spreadsheet. I was mortified to see I forgot yesterday and had to do it this morning. Bank accounts, savings and investment accounts are all checked and recorded. Blood pressure, INR and weight are all recorded. Exercise data is recorded. The spreadsheet is king. I’m even excited in the morning when my smartphone tells me my shaving technique was 95% Ninja …. whatever that means.
Of course these are the really important statistics. Did you know that Life Expectancy is going down at the moment even as this appalling government increases pension age. The discrepancies between North and South are even more shocking. Life expectancy for women was 7 years more in southern England compared to a woman in Wales. A man on the south coast can expect to live a stunning decade longer than a man in Blackpool. Mind you, that might be a real relief. Who could live in Blackpool?
These statistics might improve the situation. At least Labour will address the NHS crisis and make a difference just as Blair did over more than a decade. If we can get more of these lunatics standing, I can believe the predicted wipeout.
The National Front/UKIP/Reform Party vehicle which is seeking a reverse takeover of the Tory Party is showing signs of seriously splitting the right wing. Danczuk, who was the Labour MP for Rochdale from 2010 until 2017, was suspended from the party in 2015 after sending explicit messages to a 17 year-old girl. The Reform Party aren’t that fussy and, Danczuk obviously isn’t either. I suspect even the people of Rochdale won’t go for that.
Saturday, 3rd February, 2024
A grey, grey day. Well, I am dieting and exercising hard. I’m trying to lose the weight I gained during 8 months of hormone treatment. It seems to get harder and harder especially in the long, lonely, winter months. It seems to be going on for ever and I am travelling through a long, dark tunnel to some distant light.
Been chatting to my next door neighbour …. on Whatsapp. They were going to watch England Rugby play Italy in Rome but had to cancel. I tried to cheer her up with examples of the state of British education.
Today is a Sport day: Test Match from India, Rugby from Twickenham and Football from Everton. Fantastic rugby match in Paris last night where (a united) Ireland destroyed the French. Been talking to friends in the North this morning. David Roberts is abroad again – this time in Kathmandu. He really must hate Rochdale!
I must admit, this wouldn’t be my idea of an exciting place to travel. I think my age means Europe feels so much more enticing and enriching. I am more attuned to the language and culture of European countries and, particularly, Mediterranean ones. I like the romance languages of French, Italian and Spanish and, of course, the challenge of Greek. I absolutely hate spicy food and particularly chilli, curry and coriander.