Sunday, 25th February, 2024
Lovely, Spring morning. Sunday papers are full of electioneering. You would be forgiven for thinking the Tories, running scared, will try to minimise their losses by announcing a ‘snap’ General Election to coincide with the Local Elections in May. I don’t think it will do them any good. Defeat is baked in but, we’ll see.
The local newspaper, Brighton & Worthing Argus ran a story this weekend of a huge whale that washed up on Littlehampton Beach a few days ago. Never seen a live / recently dead whale in the flesh. Would have liked to have witnessed this.
I am preparing our Lounge TV to be taken up to Surrey for P&C. It’s a 65″ Samsung Smart TV which will dominate their Lounge. They don’t use Sky TV at all but are content with a Freeview box even though viewing is quite high on their agenda as they are in later life. Everything for us goes through a Sky-Q box which makes life very simple but I’d forgotten so many of the facilities these smart TVs have incorporated like displaying pictures in downtime and making video calls with Google-Meet. I have ordered them a new Freeview box which will allow High definition pictures to go with their new set.
Going to have to get M all the way from Florida in BIG on our new, 75″ TV. Be able to see all her wrinkles! Unbelievable to think she’s going to be 60 next birthday.
Monday, 26th February, 2024
Bright but cold morning. Strong sea breeze. Amazed how light it was at 6.00 am. The dustbin men came early banging about in the street. I went out to collect ours (men’s work) and ended up retrieving about six others that seemed to have minds of their own in the wind. Good neighbour bit done for the day, I am settling down to a (self imposed) list of jobs.
I think I’m becoming an angry, old man. British Gas installed a smart meter in my Office and then text me regularly to submit readings. What’s the point of a smart meter if they don’t collect the data smartly? Tried speaking to someone. Failed. Tried an on-line chat. was sent round in ever decreasing circles of bot-chat boredom. Gave up. Tried to submit readings via the app and was told the System isn’t working at the moment. Try again later.
Thought I would contact Sainsburys about a missing product that we’ve been buying for years and has suddenly disappeared from local shelves and the national database. I have already spoken to the manufacturers – Unilever and their product company Walls who say their is no shortage in production. They gave me a Sainsburys number to phone. Try online or phoning Sainsburys and you are sent round in ever decreasing circles of bot-chat boredom
While I was indulging in a consumerist world of self-indulgence, I was talking to Kevin in Leeds, Dave in Bolton, Julie in Hull and others about the Tory Cabinet meeting being held in the North today to re-announce money for local development that they first announced in October 2023 and which they will be releasing in 2025 …. after they are out of Office. Another exercise in futility which leaves Towns from our past struggling in the cold and wet.
The MEN this morning features Bury Art Gallery that houses moderately important paintings by Turner and Landseer, et al, which are under threat from the inability of the council to afford repairs to the roof which is leaking down on to these treasures. It also features Oldham Council struggling to cover a shortfall of £30 million after having £200 million taken out of its budget over the years of Tory austerity.
Meanwhile, as they Tories pretend they are bringing barrowloads of cash to the North, the Hospitals, as the MEN features, are struggling to find cash to maintain buildings and services. This is a tired government on its last legs with a bunch of far right racists ruling the roost. Now is not the time to be living in impoverished areas struggling to survive.
Tuesday, 27th February, 2024
Lovely Spring morning. The sap is rising. Had to test my INR and report to the Hospital. I am back to normal or as close to normal as I will ever be. (Yes, I know, I will never be normal.) I have thanked the anticoagulation department for their help. Window cleaner has arrived. It is the same one we engaged when we arrived here 7 years ago and he is still charging £18.00 for a good job.
If you know me and/or you are a regular reader, you will know that I like facts, statistics and research. After completing a initial Honours Degree, I immediately embarked on a Research Masters Degree into the history of the Labour Party. I loved it. I knew instantly that I’d found my forte. I spent hours, days, weeks in Manchester Rotunda Library, the John Rylands Research Institute in Deansgate, in the bowels of the stacks of Huddersfield University Library. I accessed the amazing resources of Oxford and Cambridge Universities electronically. I travelled to Greece with armfuls of photocopies of Trade Union History, German Sociologists political commentaries, early Labour MPs biographies, etc..
Obviously, I was a real bundle of fun at that time. I was working to obliterate past failures. However, although I didn’t go on to complete the Doctorate because it would have taken up too much of my life, I remain intrinsically interested and involved in Labour Party politics. My interest comes from my research into the origins of Labour history and the precursor to the party was the Labour Representation Committee. On this day in 1900, Richard Bell was elected MP for a Derby constituency along with Keir Hardie.
During the day, I talk to lots of people from University days and from College days. We all review our relationships and actions from the past and these discussions often involve objective memories. One of the things which has recently become current is our Students’ Union Card. I had one from Ripon College, one from the Open University and one from Huddersfield University. Amazing how many have kept theirs. Have you, Dear Reader? I posted mine on-line today. I’ve already been contacted by 149 past students. You’ve either got it or …
Lovely evening in the garden full of bird song. Pauline cooked Calamari out there. Delicious!
Wednesday, 28th February, 2024
Not a good night. Up early. Feeling a bit low. Expecting a delivery from Curry’s of a new television. The time slot was 9.00 am until 1.00 pm. Not ideal and they arrived at 12.55 pm. Two lads who were allocated 10 mins to deliver, unpack, connect up and remove the packaging before moving on to their next delivery. Fortunately, I was able to make it easy for them. I did the setting up for a Bulgarian and a former BBC technician fallen on hard times.
They left with smiles on their faces. The Bulgarian swearing that he would meet me in Greece in the Summer. Meanwhile, we had to drive down to the beach to collect an order of sushi-quality Tuna which was being sold off cheaply. The Fishmongers told us that so many people couldn’t afford top quality fresh fish that there is a glut in the market at the moment and they were discounting things we buy regularly.
While we were there, we bought some freshly caught Torbay Soles which nearly killed us to skin when we got them home.
We drove on to the beach side where the sea was looking cold and uninviting. The pebble beach was hard and uninviting. The sky was grey and … uninviting. Drove home to do my exercise routine. I am fighting the fat, old, wrinkly persona of old people as much as I can. I am going to incorporate rowing into my regime immediately because I can’t afford to stand still.
Thursday, 29th February, 2024
The end of February 2024. Leap Year Day. I am still waiting for my proposal. My wife was reading about the current trend for couples holidaying separately. I think she’s trying to tell me something. Who will she get to carry her bags?
What I can tell you is that February has got to go down as the wettest on record. It is pouring with rain … AGAIN. This is supposed to be the sun centre of the UK. I think someone moved West Sussex to North Wales in the middle of the night. Had to shop at Sainsburys because the carpark is underground and dry.
I’ve rather caught Sainsburys out not telling the truth. A product that we’ve bought consistently over the past couple of years. They have stocked a Greek Yoghurt Ice Cream which is lovely and very low in calories. Suddenly the shelves are bare. When I enquired of Customer Service, I was told it was a supply problem. Having interrogated Unilever & Walls, they assure me they have plenty but haven’t been asked for them. I don’t take No for an answer. Guess where I’m going next. Is my life too exciting?
I am married to a Cook. She has always been passionate about cooking (not about me.) She has collected shelves of Cookery Books, Files of cuttings and Databases of recipes that she has been collecting for over 40 years and she watches everything she can to pick up ideas for new ingredients, dishes and menus. As a result, I have watched every TV chef known to man. In fact, I wanted to create a Cookery Blog that she could maintain and take up advertising on. I’m sure it would have been a money spinner. She didn’t show the interest and I dropped it.
You may be aware of a duo known as The Hairy Bikers – two men from the North East whose unique selling point is there bluff, Northern honesty. Today it was announced that Dave Myers – probably the more intelligent, educated one of the pair succumbed to the recurrence of a cancer which reappeared over the past three years. He was only 66 and once again underlines the brevity and fragility of life.
Lack of checks often is at the root of these problems. However persuasive one is, it can be very difficult to get full examinations. We are already discussing having regular, private provision Whole Body MRI scans perhaps every 2-3 years so that problems can be detected early and referred for action quickly. It isn’t cheap but, what is the point in having money if we die with it?
Friday, 1st March, 2024
Happy March, Dear Reader. Up early to load the car with a 65″ Smart TV to take up to Surrey. It is the first day of meteorological Spring and it felt nice. Daffodils line the streets, nice temperature and some sunshine. What more could you want? You could have come with me but that’s your loss.
Missing out the M25, we negotiated the Porches, Aston Martins and Ferraris of the Chelsea set in Cobham and moved on to West Byfleet. The first two cars in front of us were worth around £300,000.
As we drove, I listened to my favourite Political Podcast – The Newsagents which I streamed from my phone and through my car speakers. It is a great way to pass the time. I hardly notice the drive.
P&C were waiting. I am not very familiar with Freeview so it was a tricky installation time. Still, we took their 55″ TV up to the Ironing Room and sorted that out. and installed their new 65″ TV in the Lounge with their Freeview box. Life seemed to be almost restored to normal. The one hitch was their Netflix account which wasn’t working. I’ve had to give them access to mine for now. P&C are not so mobile now and the TV selection is increasingly important to them.
By 1.00 pm we were driving home. It takes about an hour and a quarter. The M25 was kind to us today. A lovely morning of warm sunny weather was replaced by yet more rain this afternoon. It felt like a bit of an anti climax. Actually ate cheese & biscuits for Lunch. Immediately regretted it but have to move on.
Heard from Julie who is working hard on her fitness with a personal trainer and down in the allotment with her vegetables. Kevin is browsing the political cartoons and John R who is preparing the next lecture. I can usually drive non-stop for 15 hours across Europe without much fatigue. At the moment, I am out of training and a three hour round trip to Surrey leaves me tired and aching. More training needed! Might actually have a day off from the Gym today.
Saturday, 2nd March, 2024
Another day and more rain. This has been the warmest and wettest February on record down here. It’s a bit depressing.
We are just going to have to get some sun soon … well, after we’ve lost some weight, regained some more fitness and been signed off formally by Oncology.
It all makes me feel old. I remember, as a lad at home being told to get my haircut and resolving that I would never have my haircut again when I left home. It didn’t last, of course. These days, I’m pleased to have hair at all. I remember seeing old people being weak limbed, unsteady in their balance and generally feeble and thinking, I’m never going to get like that. Now, after an hour at my desk, I get up and can barely walk. My limbs and muscles take ages to assert their authority over my body and propel me forward. You wouldn’t think I was in the Gym for two hours every day.
I must admit that I concentrate almost almost entirely on cardio work and it has vastly improved my heart rate, blood pressure and stamina. I do know I have to start working on strength and muscle building as well as stretching, suppleness and balance. I can feel my body losing some of those aspects. I know there are some things you can’t legislate for.
This girl above could have taught me a lot about muscle retention. She was from my home town in Derby and had a stellar career but died at the ridiculously young of 74. Much good her scientific knowledge did for her. Like my wife, she had been Head Girl of her school and Captain of the Netball Team.
I don’t know how my own body works, don’t know where most bits are. Don’t know even if I’ve still got some bits or what to do with them if I have. I just keep plugging on and panicking on a regular basis.
The aim, of course, is not just to live a long time but to live a healthy, long life. Not only that, it is important to not shutdown and restrict life because of age. My little sister, Liz, has worked with the elderly for years. Now she’s elderly herself. She has done all sorts of little jobs like Manchester Strategic Director Social Services, Executive director of Adult Social Care for the tri-borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster in London and other things.
You would think she would retire into something comfortable and normal but she’s chosen to live on a …. House Boat on the Grand Union Canal. Can you believe it? But, at the age of 66, this little hippy chick thinks she’s so cool but she’s still got a lot of growing up to do. In maturity, she’ll look back on these rebel years and laugh.
Pleased to report that, once again, the sun has come out and it is bright and warm. Time for a trip to the Gym.