Sanders Blog

Sunday, 11th February, 2024

Gorgeously sunny and warm morning – just right for a birthday. Ironically, my friend Kevin in Leeds is flying to Alicante this morning from Manchester Airport which is enveloped in thick fog – so thick that you can’t see the planes on the runway. Let’s hope he takes off sometime today. If he gets there, the forecast is for a good week of sunshine. Should help with his persistent SAD syndrome side effects.

For me, totally grounded on the sunny South Coast, the process has well and truly begun. This is breakfast. I have to drink a litre of enema plus clear liquid. You know you’re jealous, Dear Reader. I’ve already tried to get my wife to drink it for me without success. I don’t know what happened to love, honour and obey but there is a distinct lack of it in our kitchen this morning.

The solution – a powder from a sachet diluted in 500 mls of tepid water – is supposed to be Mango flavour. That chemical mixture is about as far from a mango as Kevin currently is from Alicante. It’s horrible and it has to be followed by another 500 mls of a clear liquid and champagne is not allowed. My one meal of the day will be Beef Consommé …. Oh, what joy. Going to distract myself by going in the Gym – at least it’s close to the ‘Facilities’.

The second sachet – Fruit Punch flavour – is a 7.00 pm. Should be an interesting night. I’ve done my exercise routine of 90 mins in the Gym and now I have a cup of black tea to look forward to. Still, I requested this so this is what I will have to endure.

My wife says I am pushing it too hard in the Gym at the moment. When I come out, she says my lips have turned white as if all the blood has drained. I’ve always pushed things further than I should but, currently, I am trying to get my fitness back to my pre-cancer treatment level and it’s taking longer than I want. In the Gym, I’m watching yet another Cold War spy drama at the moment – Berlin Station. I have absolutely no idea why or where my taste for these comes from but I get absolutely hooked on them and the world of secrecy and mistrust.

Monday, 12th February, 2024

Up at 6.00 am after a difficult night. Outside it is clear but cold at 3C/37F. It is going to be a lovely, sunny day. Unfortunately, I am going to spend the morning in the Endoscopy section of the local hospital. This morning I have completed the Consent Form indicating that I won’t want sedation and on it I’ve recorded essential test stats that I did this morning over a cup of black tea.

My appointment is at 10.00 am but the warning is that it could be delayed by up to 4 hrs – a bit different to the one I paid for at the Nuffield a couple of years ago.

My friend, Kevin, who flew to Spain yesterday to avoid the snow and dark, winter days in Yorkshire finally got there 6 hours late after being delayed by dense fog that even the MEN referred to as highly unusual. He couldn’t have chosen a worse day to travel. I suspect quite a lot of alcohol was required to come down from that debacle. He will certainly be waking to a beautiful day even if he is in Benidorm.

What it must be to be 73! The thing about this colonoscopy is that it means facing one’s longevity starkly. As we all slip down the diurnal slide towards the inevitable, we all fight it in different ways. I just hope I will be able to complete my exercise routine this afternoon. I’m feeling so deliciously empty after a 24 hr fast that I don’t want to break the spell now. Can I go through the rest of my life without solid food? Perhaps not.

My visit to the hospital this morning was the most humbling and life affirming experience it is possible to have. I was in and out within an hour in which time I met the most wonderful people it is possible to know. The lady inserting the camera was a Grecophile who was reading Victoria Hislop’s latest novel set in Thessaloniki – The Thread. I didn’t bother with any sedation or air and gas. We just talked non-stop and watched the most wonderful pictures on the huge flat screen. I didn’t realise how beautiful I was on the inside.

Anyway, the result is that I am cancer-free although I have a sign of moderate diverticula. It is normal for my age. I don’t have to follow this up although I will. I will book a repeat in three years. I cannot get over the most wonderful people I have met in the last 24 hrs. I am going back tomorrow to take them a huge box of chocolates and a big thank-you card. It is the least I can do.

We left the hospital and went to Waitrose for a snack lunch – Italian meats and cheeses. Drove home via the coast road where lots of parents and children were walking / running in the Half Term sunshine.

At home, in delicious sunshine with the patio doors open, we ate our lunch with a bottle of champagne. I now have to settle down to an afternoon of exercise and a few months of work and dieting. Looking forward to surprising my friends in the North with visits they don’t expect.

Tuesday, 13th February, 2024

Walking on air this morning. Wishing everybody Happy everything even if they don’t deserve it. I am being reintroduced to my regime of anticoagulation slowly. I’ve no idea why because I wasn’t really cut yesterday. However, I am having to have twice daily injections of a substance called Fragmin. They are administered morning and night by my live-in nurse.

I have to have 20 of these along with my warfarin tablets. They don’t hurt but they sting a bit and who wants that at Breakfast time? So, I might not go through the full course. We’ll see. Even so, each injection is administered by a single-dose syringe which is then put into a plastic container which is, ultimately, collected by the Local Authority Hazardous Waste team. What a palaver!

The real joy of yesterday – other than being pronounced cancer-free – was meeting the people. They were absolutely delightful and they were all girls … well, women. Each one was kind, chatty, friendly but utterly professional from the girl checking me in to the team doing the procedure and then to the women in Recovery. I met a consultant who, like me, was a Grecophile, a lovely, young, American girl who lived in a house-share in Brighton with a houseful of medic lads. She was addicted to travelling which was why we talked so much. Wonderful to talk to someone young and full of ambition.

So, this morning, I have written them a letter of gratitude for yesterday’s experience and gone out to buy them some chocolates. I thought they could share them around. Going in this afternoon to leave them at Reception for them. I’m also writing a letter of Thanks to my GP, Martina, who was asked two years ago to get me on the list for a repeat colonoscopy for February 2024. On February 1st, I was phone and invited in. I couldn’t ask for better service. I love them. Today, I love everybody!

Wednesday, 14th February, 2024

Happy Valentine’s Day, Dear Reader. If only. It is grey, wet and uninviting outside. No Valentine’s for me. Too old! Depressing, isn’t it. Come to think of it, I’ve hardly ever had a Valentine’s card. It’s supposed to be anonymous isn’t it? Ah well. Life goes on.

Had a nice, long chat with JohnR yesterday. He is so content up in North Yorkshire. Kevin’s really enjoying his week in Spain. What am I doing? Got to get back to the fun of life. But first, I’ve got to get back to my best fitness and weight level. Can’t believe how much the travails of last year have knocked me back. So, going to spend an afternoon in the Gym. I’ll even get wet just walking across the garden to there.

Our car is exactly one year old today. This day last year was gorgeously sunny when we went round to Honda to collect it. What a contrast. We have driven just 5,250 miles in it this year although we did spend a bit of time away and driving rented cars. It is proving an enjoyable car to drive and the next one will be a plug-in hybrid.

I never watch the scatter’d fire
Of stars, or sun’s far-trailing train,
But all my heart is one desire,
And all in vain:

De Profundis – Christina Rossetti

It is 5.30 pm. Outside is dark, wet and depressing … still. I’ve done two hours in the Gym and I’m feeling shaky. Need to eat. Chef is making Cassoulet for supper. Looking forward to that. Hope tomorrow is a better day on every level. I’m really going to have to start being more proactive and not just let things happen to me. I need to make my own weather.

Thursday, 15th February, 2024

The rain has stopped. Breakfast is just liquid at the moment – a glass of two, freshly squeezed oranges, a large cup of Yorkshire tea and a large cup of freshly ground coffee. I’m currently really enjoying this Morning Ritual coffee bean pack. It makes the claim that it has notes of citrus, floral & caramel. I’m not sure about that but it is No.3 which is mild and not over roasted. My machine instantly draws beans from its hopper and grinds exactly the right amount at the coarseness I choose for a large cup of coffee. I drink it with frothed, skimmed milk.

Of course, currently, my Breakfast is interrupted by having a syringe stuck in my belly. I don’t feel the injection but the substance, Dalteparin Sodium, stings like a bee sting for a while. You wouldn’t choose that first thing in the morning.

Anyway, the sun is coming out and a new day of dieting, exercising and writing is opening up. The temperature is forecast to reach a balmy 16C/61F. We are still alive which is more than can be said for this lad. He was a world renowned Professor of Medical Science. I went to Burton upon Trent Grammar School in 1962. Adam Sillitoe was in the Upper Sixth as I arrived.

He died this week after suffering Bladder Cancer with which he was diagnosed at the age of 71. Like all intelligent people. he had a wide span of interests. He is pictured here at a Bridget Riley exhibition. He was a professor of Ophthalmology and he believed Riley’s art, which has disorientating optical effects – offers a window on how visual perception works and how what we “see” can be framed by the brain’s expectations.

We live in Littlehampton which is/was the site of the Body Shop‘s Head Office. Started in 1976 by Anita Roddick, so many girls of my generation were addicted to it for a while. But, those Boomers aged and moved on and Gen.Z have different priorities. Born in Littlehampton to Italian immigrant parents, Anita Roddick died in 2007 at the age of just 64 . Body Shop was sold. This week, it went into administration. We all have our time, fade and die don’t we Dear Reader?

The gorgeous, Spring weather enticed me out to the Garden Centre. It was all set out in anticipation of the Spring gardening season.

I was looking for seeds to sow – something brash and gaudy to brighten up the street. This year, I am going to grow my own in the cold frame rather than splash out on plants. It will need around 100 + plants so this will be much more cost effective and keep me in activity.

Friday, 16th February, 2024

Lovely day after a late night and a very early morning. Finished with politics just before midnight and started again with politics at 4.30 am. The Labour Party has destroyed the Tories in two historic by-elections with the biggest swing since the end of WW2. There are worse things to hear at that time and I got up with a spring in my step.

I contacted a few friends to share my joy and most felt the same. Politics is too much for some. They’d rather get their hair done but, for me, it is the stuff of life. Certainly, the Tories are doomed and the only question is, will the next election be an existential occasion for the Conservative party and how few seats will they win. Watched a bit of the England v India Test Match and we are doing so much better than expected.

It is my turn to cook again today so I am reprising the triumph I had a few weeks ago. I am cooking Boeuf Bourguignon and had to make sure I had all the ingredients. With 2kgs of skirt beef and a bottle of red wine, this dish will make three meals for two people on diets.

The day is so warm and sunny, we have to keep reminding ourselves that it is only mid-February. The birds, the flower bulbs and the shooting shrubs ought to be reminded as well because they are doing a great impression of mid March.

Saturday, 17th February, 2024

It’s raining again. That soft, fine, insistently soaking rain. We really do have to get rid of this government and change the weather. Ten years ago today, I was just 62, we were living in our duplex apartment at The Pinnacles in Surrey and we were enjoying warm, Spring sunshine as we prepared for our 15th drive to Greece.

Do you remember, Dear Reader, what you were doing a decade ago today, how young you were, how vigorous and optimistic? Remembering, reviewing can be quite scary. These times are only redeemable in the memory. I will never be 62 again.

On the upside and as a person who loves technology, it is so much better, easier, more available than it was back then. We had to work hard to get the Greek language. I was much better at reading it – at my own pace – than I was at speaking it and listening to it at a Greek’s pace. Our new smart phones will be on their way soon and they pack such facilities that we couldn’t even dream of 10 years ago.

Already, we can use Google Translate to do just that with static text and even be given audio hints on pronunciation. Now, our new phones include an AI-driven app which translates in real time so we will be able to talk to someone who speaks a foreign language and see/hear it translated as we do. Never again will we have to rely on shouting louder to make ourselves understood. Quite amazing, wonderful, exciting. I don’t know if it translates American or Lancashire but one day ….

Can you believe that it was just 3 years ago that we were being invited to have our first Covid vaccination. It was quite a momentous week for me. And yet, and yet it all seems so long ago, a major time-shift ago.

Sunday, 4th February, 2024

Sunday is Sunday is Sunday. It’s very samey isn’t it? Sunday papers. Sunday political discussions. Sunday sport. It is all a bit grey as the sky. Today I am thinking about how to stand out from the grey of life, how to appeal to others by standing out, looking good, sounding appealing. I was once phoned by a girl who put on full makeup for the conversation. Not for me, of course, but to make herself feel more confident.

Yesterday, I received my first canvasser for the upcoming General Election. In seven years, the only political party to appear here has been from the Tories … and they didn’t stay long. Yesterday, canvassers on behalf of the Labour Candidate rang the bell. They gave me a leaflet saying, Sorry we missed you today.

Not only did they not miss me but they found it hard to get away. For the first time in decades, Labour stand a chance of taking the seat away from Tory, Peter Bottomley. Even neighbours around here, business owners, who have always tended to vote Tory, are considering moving to Labour. I am encouraging them.

This morning, I have made suggestions to the local party machine for Dr. Cooper to consider in her campaign to take the seat. They are all examples of political lipstick to increase her appeal. I’m going out to buy celebratory fireworks this week. There will be a run on them later in the year.

It is little James’ birthday today. We have watched him from the naughty step to the age of 23. He’ll do alright in the end although I think his rugby playing days are over already. We wish him a happy day. Can you imagine being 23, Dear Reader?

Looks like I’ve drunk the national production line dry of Asda’s Sparkling White Grape Juice – my alternative to alcohol. I’ve gone off Shloer because it’s too sweet. Fortunately, I bought a month’s supply in advance but the shelves have never been refilled and the Head Office say they have a supply problem – something to do with Brexit. We’re going to hear that increasingly over the next few months. As border controls are increasingly tightened, fresh produce especially will become increasingly scarce or more expensive.

This afternoon, while I was in the Gym watching Man. Utd. murder West Ham, two posters arrived. We don’t mess about in the Labour Party you know. I’m going to display one here and put one up in a vacant property in West Byfleet. Well, they’ll never see it from Florida!

Monday, 5th February, 2024

Didn’t sleep well at all. I watched Antiques Roadshow last night and it ran through my mind all night – a night of old fossils. Consequently, I am tired this morning but I have to prepare for a telephone consultation prior to a colonoscopy next week. I weigh myself every morning and I was buoyed by my weight loss over the past week. It is largely down to increasing my exercise and cutting out alcohol. I am a man of addictive personality as you will probably know, Dear Reader. I am teaching myself to get re-addicted to non-alcoholic drinks.

Out of the weekend news leapt the stark and shocking report of the death of another of my boyhood rugby heroes – Barry John. I remembering sitting in my Bleddyn Williams rugby boots at Burton upon Trent Grammar School watching Barry John play for Wales and it was utterly sublime. Just a month after J.P.R. Williams died in his 70s, Barry John died aged 79. He died peacefully in his sleep, they reported but I’m left thinking who the hell dies peacefully at that young age? I’m not going to.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

But if you are considering the fragility of life, you might be interested in this man. He is Professor John Hyatt who taught at Rochdale College of Art in the 1980s and then Art & Design at Manchester Met. for many years. He had a parallel musical career, notably as the lead singer and songwriter of the Three Johns, a post-punk band.

He died this week of recurrent neck and head cancer at the tender age of just 65. Really makes you feel optimistic, doesn’t it? Mind you, there are one or two things I am pledged to do before it’s my turn and …. I will do them! Today we’ve learnt that the stupid boy has died. Ian Lavender who was the last surviving member of the cast of Dad’s Army has died aged 77. Who will be next?

Just 15 years ago today, having been diagnosed with a heart murmur, a BUPA heart specialist gave my heart a clean bill of health. It was quite a relief. All the recent studies show that cardio vascular work that I do is not the best for my age. All the things that ‘thin’ in our 70s – hair, skin, muscle – are much improved by Resistance exercise.

Pauline uses dumb bells every morning in her routine. I’ve got to get back into the rowing. I like it but it hurts – which I suppose suggests it is working.

Tuesday, 6th February, 2024

Received a phone call from Gastroenterology at Lunchtime yesterday to let me know the time next Monday I will have my colonoscopy. I have decided not to have the sedation so I won’t be groggy for the following 24 hrs. First I had to go to the Anti-coagulation Clinic to get my schedule for withdrawal from warfarin and re-entry afterwards. The regime has changed now and made much safer with a series of self-administered injections of Dalteparin Sodium to reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack.

On the other end of the hospital, I went to Gastroenterology to collect that little joy – an enema. This has also improved since last time and has been especially targeted at the middle class patient. It comes in two sachets:

1. Mango Flavour
2. Fruit Punch Flavour

This is accompanied by a detailed plan of when to abstain from warfarin, what not to eat and drink and when to administer the injections. The lovely girl who brought my bag of items asked about my current INR which is 2.4 tested by me on Friday. When I told her I tested every Friday and had recorded every test result on a spreadsheet since 2008, her face lit up and and she said, At last, a man after my own heart. The injections are to be administered into the stomach, twice a day for six days. That, of course, will be done by my Social Secretary. I will have my eyes shut!

This morning, another detailed plan arrived. I was observing to myself both that the address label had been hand written not printed and that the process was being wastefully duplicated when I realised they had sent me another man’s plan. This speaks to the stress these lovely people are working under. I had been told originally they needed two clear weeks to write a plan for me and I was asking them to do one in two days. They broke their rules to do it for me.

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky …

The beach was quite cold and lonely this morning. Interesting how 11C/52F can feel cool in a strong, sea breeze. The beach huts looked warmer than the beach this morning. Didn’t stay long and then drove home for coffee and the Gym.

Wednesday, 7th February, 2024

I don’t want to move time, waste time, spend time, lose time, wish time away but ….. again, it’s been a hell of a long week. Only Wednesday. Is it just me, Dear Reader, or has time been slowed down? Activities are so mundane and repetitive according to the calendar of grey. Wednesday, as you will probably know, is John’s day to strip the bedlinen when he gets up, roll it into a ball and bring it down to the Laundry woman to deal with. At least he doesn’t have to remake the bed. That would never get done. He has a Housemaid for that. This is a normal week.

Up early on a warm, damp, grey morning. I am taking my wife to the Beauty Clinic for a facial. She found a black hair yesterday and made a panic appointment on the spot. I find them every morning and don’t rush off for a facial. Well, at least it makes her happier which, being married to me, is important.

Everybody has a book in them. Getting it out is the difficult thing. I’ve been tossing ideas around for a couple of years, keeping records, making notes, recording conversations, thinking ideas through. I am not a natural story teller. I am more inclined to the blunt, unvarnished truth.

At the age of almost 73, I want to write out of experience, to write out my experience, to expiate it. I have wanted to do this for a few years but struggled to find a vehicle that suits my style. I am not a natural novel writer but it is a novel form I will need.

I have been watching a four part drama called What Remains. The plot revolves around a decaying body found in the loft of a house-share property by some new comers. What follows is an attempt to regain the past, to understand the present in terms of the actions in the past. The body from the past may be thoroughly decayed but what it invokes through memory is very real and alive. The symbolism in the atrophied body in the attic is a useful image to pin my ideas on.

Thursday, 8th February, 2024

A grey, wet, cool day. A day to crave sunshine and warmth. A day to fly away? South Tenerife looks great at the moment – 25C and sun. Instead, I’m going to Sainsburys – not a good alternative. I am about to go on a liquid diet in preparation for Monday morning. Even so, I’m continuing my exercise programme. Isn’t life fun? At least the South Coast is coasting around 11C/52F night and day for the next few days. It isn’t very exciting. Is it?

I asked my wife, yesterday, how she was. She said, Old & Dowdy! My immediate thought was, That’s going to be expensive. This morning, I am driving her to H&M in Worthing to collect an order of clothes. I have never heard of the shop or seen it before and having been this once, I doubt I’ll be going again. It is quite cheap and down market, unbefitting my wife. Not that I’m snobbish or anything but one has to set standards! Of course, my wife has one basic rule about shopping. Never leave empty handed. We left clutching a new tee-shirt and cardigan. I felt I had got away quite lightly.

I researched H&M before we went and found out that it was founded in 1947 in Sweden. H&M stands for Hennes Mauritz. The girl at the checkout was a vivacious young thing so I thought I would test her. When was your company started? I asked her. Without a pause, she came back with all three pieces of information I had found out – when, where, who? All with a smile. I learnt them for my interview, she said.

I have to eat lightly at the moment and nothing with nuts and seeds in them. From Saturday, I can only drink liquids and on Sunday, only clear liquids. So, the weekend will be soup, soup and more soup.

It is one of the few occasions when we will have bought, pre-prepared food. Actually, our fishmonger has supplied us with Fish Soup and Lobster Bisque from Le Touquet. I’ve tried the lobster already and it is delicious. It immediately brought back memories of a lovely winter week we spent on the French coast and a lunch of griddled Sea Bass outside under a huge patio heater at a fish restaurant in Le Touquet about 25 years ago. It was magical.

Friday, 9th February, 2024

A glorious, Spring morning of warmth and sunshine. There are signs of the season to come with early daffodils in bloom set against the backdrop of the Winter’s detritus.

It couldn’t come a day too soon as my mind has been turning to Tenerife where the temperature is almost double ours. Today we are 13C/56F and southern Tenerife is 25C/77F. I wonder if there are any takers.

Just 8 years ago, we were coming to the end of an 8 week stay in Los Gigantes, on the south west coast of Tenerife while we waited for our new house to be completed. It was our first time there and the weather contrasted wonderfully with the UK winter. We appreciated the warmth so much, we returned for two more months the following years but chosen to rent villas with pools in Adeje instead of hotel living. Oh, to be there now!

Friday, 10th February, 2024

A pleasantly warm morning. The house is a hive of industry. The washing machine is whirring, the tumble dryer is … tumbling, the laundry lady is even putting clothes outside on a drying, framework thing in the sunshine. The food processor is preparing bread dough for the chef to shape and prove. My manager is organising my preparation for the colonoscopy including when to stop some medication and start other medication, what to eat and what not to eat and she has additional duties this weekend because our next door neighbours are going away.

They are going up to London to visit friends and go to Twickenham to watch the England v Wales match tomorrow afternoon. Of course England will win but they certainly need to play better than they did against Italy. I must admit, I would like to be there but I can’t stray too far from the ‘facilities’ this weekend. Actually, I haven’t been to Twickenham since 1967. I was still sane then!

My records threw up this planning chart I produced on this day in 2010. This is the return journey we did 15 consecutive years although it spanned only a 6 week period in the early days and then 6 months when we retired. This one was while we were still in Yorkshire and travelled to Hull Docks for the first leg of our journey to take the Hull-Zeebrugge ferry over night. Later, after moving down here, we drove through the Tunnel which was quicker and cheaper but not as enjoyable.

I loved the travel as much as anything and I particularly looked forward to the driving although it did provide us with some hairy moments. Once, we got stuck in the middle of Milan city centre with mad Italians honking at us on all sides. On another occasion our sat nav sent us round and round the Arc de Triomphe before we found our route and the scariest of the lot was when we had just done a 15 hr non-stop drive, come through the tunnel and our sat nav told us to divert because of an accident on the M25. We ended up in the centre of the city of London. Only luck got us out. Happy Days.

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.

Sunday, 21st January, 2024

Didn’t sleep well last night. Dreamt about a friend in trouble and I wasn’t there to help. Had the radio on at 4.30 am to shut it out. It didn’t do the job entirely. It was about the Gaza War. Not exactly sleep-inducing.

Grey and warm this morning. It’s going to be 11C -12C / 52F -54F all day and over tonight as well but the wind is getting up.

In 2016, we were waiting for this house to be ready to move into. As we waited, we spent a couple of months in Tenerife, enjoying the sun. It was unusually hot, we were told. Lovely to avoid the UK Winter. We had sold our Surrey apartment and all the furniture with it. Starting again with a clean slate is great. A couple of months in the sun researching and ordering furniture over the net for our new home felt really indulgent.

I found this Kitchen Table and leather chairs in … Housing Units in Oldham/Failsworth of all places. We thought we had left all that behind. Of course, the reality is that you can never leave your past behind. It lives on in us and jumps up to bite us when we least expect it. We found our Lounge furniture while we were abroad as well. Sofology, I think that was in Farnborough, Surrey.

As soon as we got home, we drove up to Manchester and ordered the Kitchen stuff, out to Surrey and ordered the Lounge stuff, to Bensons in Byfleet for 4 beds and sheets and pillows and then we found a company online who made to measure and to our design fitted furniture for each bedroom. We knew nothing about them and couldn’t believe when I looked them up that they were a long established Oldham company called Betta Living. I phoned them up and got one of my former pupils on the switchboard. I was persuaded. They did the job.

The problem with all this is … everything is 7 years older. We start to get itchy feet. We start to look at our furniture & fittings and ask each other if they need refreshing. I don’t ask too loudly because I know what the answer will be. The Housekeeper loves refurnishing and especially loves spending money.

Monday, 22nd January, 2024

Lovely, bright and sunny morning. Here, it has felt as if the whole ‘storm’ thing has been overblown – to coin a phrase. It was a bit breezy last night but nothing unusual and certainly not causing any damage. Got quite a few tasks to complete today so starting early.

Didn’t realise there were so many relics residing in Middleton, Manchester but the M.E.N. brought me this news item this morning. Fascinating stuff worthy of research and it is held at Manchester Central Library. I spent a great deal of happy time researching in the Rotunda Building in central Manchester in the 1980s and I’ve often toyed with going back to it.

This week is going to focus on Life & Death, on Wills & Funerals. It will be up to my readers’ predispositions how they view it. Is thinking about Death macabre or sensible? Is making a Will rational or tempting fate? You can decide. My wife has always held to the view that she would never die and with a mother who lived to 96, she may be in with a chance. I am naturally pessimistic. My father died at 49.

We had wills drawn up 36 years ago after we had finally received a financial settlement from a serious road accident in 1980. An experience like that brings one to face one’s mortality. We made a codicil 10 years later and then a separate, Greek will in early 2000. The Greek will is now cancelled but we haven’t revisited our main wills for 25 years. It is time to revisit them.

When my Mother-in-Law died, she had taken out a pre-paid funeral plan which made life so simple. It was almost totally handed over to the Funeral Director with a few, minor additions by us. I thought then what a good idea but I couldn’t bring myself to think about it too closely at the time. I have no intention of dying for another 30 years but I am at the stage where I wouldn’t want to be a burden on others and thinking of taking out a pre-paid funeral plan is worth re-visiting too.

Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024

A grey, rather depressing day. My mind is seeking sunshine. It is ten years this July that we sold our house in Greece and left. We haven’t been back to the island but intend to this year.

At the same time, I’ve decided I had to move our Northern trip – for reasons I won’t go into here. Sometimes you just have to sort things out. I contacted our hotel – the Holiday Inn, Brighouse – and they immediately made the change for me without charge.

They are lovely people who I have known for years – some for 30 years – and I knew I could rely on them. The grounds are gorgeous but I accept that I may not see too much sunshine. There are more important things on the agenda.

In the meantime, I am going to spend a riveting couple of hours re-reading and preparing amendments to our wills. It’s one of the interesting/difficult things to consider for childless couples, Dear Reader. Do you want to leave your wealth to others – more distant relatives – or can you make the most of it before you die? How long do you maintain/increase your wealth in anticipation of future need and what proportion can you afford to blow on just enjoying life as this investment company puts it?

If you are 72, you will know the dilemma. Do you want to die with a huge sum tied up in a property that is far too big for you? Can you face downsizing and, if so, when? How long can you put it off? Can you spend your savings, investments, assets on enjoying life and how do you insure yourself for the inevitable times to come when you need care, medical treatment, social care – maybe when you are alone?

The one thing you can be sure of is that you’re getting nothing. I can tell you that now! But, you are welcome to some of my Chicken Chasseur which I’ve lovingly cooked tonight. You really are welcome, Dear Reader, and it will be good. Come on down … if you’re not too windy!

Wednesday, 24th January, 2024

Gorgeous morning. Super warm and sunny like Summer in January. Going into town to buy a load of bras. Well, not strictly true. My wife is and I’m just tagging along to make sure they fit and she doesn’t spend too much money.

Talking about spending too much, look at this from the DVLA. Unannounced, the Tory government has sneaked in a ridiculous tax on all cars with a list price new of more than £40,000. For the first 6 years of their car’s life, owners have to pay a tax of £560.00 per annum. If they spent it on repairing roads, I might consider it worth it but they just give it to their cronies. You’ll notice they even admit that they are Investors in People …. like Michelle Mone (Can’t get away from bras.) but not investors in roads.

I am in danger of becoming a Grumpy Old Man. I had to reapply for my Driving Licence last week. I had to declare I was fit to drive. My wife doesn’t think I’m fit to stack the dishwasher never mind drive but I just filled out the online form and a new licence arrived today. It’s like asking a refugee to the country, Are you a terrorist? An exercise in futility. I always swore I wouldn’t get like this. I blame you, Dear Reader!

Little M is 59 Today. I used to play Hopscotch with her. Now, she’s almost grown up! She’s in America at the moment so I made her a card and it’s been Whatsapped to her. Let’s hope she has a lovely day in Florida. Hope she’s not missing Oldham too much!

Thursday, 25th January, 2024

Grey day. Warm day. Sainsburys shopping day. Fresh fish buying day. Very special day. Sainsburys presented us with a Reward coupon. Can you contain yourself, Dear Reader?

I can. Can’t decide whether it is worth congratulations or opprobrium. We have made the equivalent of 2 trips to Sainsburys every week for a year. How bad is that? The reward? 350 Nectar points worth £1.75. It’s all been worth it!

Today, Chef’s project is to make fish cakes for the freezer. To do this, she bought a kilo of Whiting from the fishmongers near the beach. The sea looked dark, sludgy and uninviting this morning.

I am continuing to read the Wills from 1988 – 36 years ago. Amazing how many people have died since then. Within the next 36 years, we will certainly have died. The conveyor belt is unstoppable. Fortunately, our chosen Executors are still alive although they’re both knocking on a bit themselves. They both have copies of our wills and have had for all these years. Will they remember where they stored them? They both don’t still live in the same homes. Life moves on.

I have to do my Gym work soon but I’m not looking forward to it today. I’ve pulled a muscle in my stomach and even walking was agony this morning. I’m quite embarrassed at the moment because I get out of the car and take minutes to straighten up. My first paces are those of a really old, infirm man bent double in pain. Gradually, I mange to straighten and stand upright but I can’t put up with this. Anyway, I’m going to work through the pain and see if I can ignore my way out of it. Subtlety, Dear Reader, as you know, is my watchword.

Friday, 26th January, 2024

Gorgeous, sunny morning. I’m pleased to say that my stomach strain appears to be improving although I am still open to offers of massage if anyone is available. Had to do our latest tests for the O.N.S. Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study this morning followed by a 10 mins online questionnaire.

I should be outside in this sunshine but the time has been allocated to going over our Last Will & Testament amendments. Our Wills were written in 1988 by a Huddersfield solicitor and remain the primary documents. We appointed executors from each side of the families and they remain in place … well, still breathing. In 2002, we and the solicitor wrote a Codicil for each of us to exempt the Greek property and land because Greek law requires that. We used a Greek solicitor to produce an equivalent document as well.

Now, I am going to produce Codicils for each of us myself and get our next door neighbours to witness them. They will represent fairly minor changes of Beneficiaries according to some named individuals having slipped off the conveyor belt of life in the mean time and changing some addresses of existing executors.

Fifteen years ago today, we were coming to the end of our last ever Ofsted Inspection. We had been through about six inspections and continual monitoring over periods of Special Measures/Requires Improvement monitoring. It has always been a nonsense. We were the same school before and after. On this occasion, we were damned with feint praise, Satisfactory which the world called Failing.

Saturday, 27th January, 2024

Dramatic start to the morning. The world was bathed in colour. Don’t know what it means for the rest of the day. It was cold over night but is warming up quickly this morning.

My Housekeeper is going to the hairdressers … again. It is about every couple of months at the moment. Still, it’s not the old, Northern way of having your hair done every Friday for the weekend and coming home in curlers and head scarf. Times were so different and we’ve come a long way since then.

Thinking about that this morning, led me to think about Launderettes. How popular they were if you couldn’t afford your own washing machine or didn’t have the space for it at home. It was no social stigma to go to a neighbourhood launderette once a week. Nowadays, I would struggle to find a launderette never mind bring myself to use one.

There must be one, though, because Michelle across the road came back with a washing basket of clean clothes this morning. They have the builders in removing their 7 year old kitchen and making the ground floor totally open plan by knocking out the walls and starting again. Must be like living in the chaos of a bomb site at the moment and a launderette will have felt like a clean and calm oasis. No curlers in sight though. Obviously maintaining standards!

Virtually completed the changes to the Wills. Just got to type up in a Pro Forma, print out, sign and have witnessed. Copies will go to our executors and to our solicitors. Next, we are going to talk about funerals. I stress that it will only be talk. We probably won’t do much other than make each other aware of what our preferences would be. I am going to store a couple of extra strong bin bags for me. There is nothing else I particularly want. There are things I definitely don’t want – for example, any religious content, any expensive accoutrements and ceremony and I certainly don’t want some party. Hate parties in life. I’m not going to change in death … apart from the obvious.

My photo Memory Box threw up a photo from December 1979 – Christmas Dinner party – attended, obviously by James Bond. It is 45 years ago. Do you remember what you were doing then, Dear Reader? All photographic evidence welcome.

I’m going in the Gym now in a vain attempt to reclaim my Youth other than in photographic form.

Sunday, 14th January, 2024

Lovely, bright and sunny day. Much warmer (relatively) than forecast. Got the car to clean but I’m finding it difficult to motivate myself. Feeling lethargically nondescript. In need of TCL. Think I might buy a new car.

Got to take our car in for service at the end of the month. Embarrassingly, it will only have done just over 5,000 miles. I’ve been asking for a plug-in hybrid for quite a while and I am annoyed that I wasn’t told 12 months ago that one was soon on the way. I would have waited.

Our current one is a self-charge hybrid but so much of our driving is short journeys that I would like it to be done on electrical charge with only long journeys requiring the petrol engine. The new model is a plug in providing around 50 miles capacity which is more than enough for a large proportion of our journeys. When I drive to Manchester or Leeds or through Europe, I won’t be limited because the petrol will come into play.

Apart from plug-in facility, it has lots of nice features including self-park at the click of a button which will be very helpful. About £52,000 is the price so it will depend on what they offer for our car but it’s definitely a possibility. You see, I’m feeling a bit better already.

Alternative Playlist for Builders

Bob Dylan	–	Don’t think twice. It’s alright.
Leonard Cohen	–	Marianne
James Taylor	–	You’ve got a friend.
Amy Wadge	–	Faith’s Song
Bizet	–	Pearl Fishers
Puccini	–	O mio babbino caro
Bocelli	–	Con te partiro
Allegri	–	Miserere Mei, Deus

Went round to talk to our builder next door neighbour. He’s a sad kid. Loves ‘House’ music whatever that really is. Makes me feel old. I sent him an alternative Playlist this morning just to wind him up.

Monday, 15th January, 2024

Beautiful morning with a lovely sunrise. Not hot but delightful. Good to be outside in the air. Going to some tile shops to confirm or change our choice of flooring.

Tiler rang to say he would come on Friday so we are going into overdrive to complete our choice of tiles beforehand. Drove to B&Q in Worthing. Haven’t been to a DIY place for so long. When we were buying properties and developing them, we almost lived in B&Q. New houses more or less mean other people do it for us. Thought it would be worth looking at their tiles section.

It wasn’t worth it. The choice was spectacularly poor. The store was extremely quiet and we could see why. Little had changed since I was last in one years ago. Anyway, we decided to stick with the specialist suppliers.

Tuesday, 16th January, 2024

Mediterranean Sky of piercing blue and strong sun after our coldest night of the year. We reached -4C/25F last night and the central heating went on this morning for an hour around breakfast.

Most of my friends are in the North of England and I know in the past we would have gone to bed last night in trepidation of the journey we would be attempting across the Pennines to work this morning. We always tried to be the first ones there to start up the school but the M62 entrance and exit were always a nightmare for drivers.

Today I’ve received photos of the morning from friends in Bolton, Huddersfield, Oldham and Middleton. I’ve checked the school’s website and it appears to be open although it is so much easier to reach compared with our old school which was on the top of a hill. The number of times that I had to get out of our car which was failing to move on the tops of the moors in freezing and snowbound conditions I shudder to recall. Dressed in a suit for school, I was trying to unblock wheels.

According to a study by the British Heart Foundation, the risk of heart attack and stroke in the over-60s doubles during cold periods lasting at least four days, with the rise in heart attacks occurring from day one, while strokes tend to lag by up to a week. Data from NHS England shows that heart problems account for about 40 per cent of the excess deaths that typically occur during the winter months.

There are lots of reasons for the link. Lower temperatures in the periphery (arms and legs) can make blood “stickier”, increasing the risk of blockages forming in the small arteries supplying the heart and brain. And any exercise in cold conditions tends to put more demands on the heart

We 72 year olds have to take more care than the young things we once were. I am so grateful, on days like today, to be mooching through my retirement without snow. The Gym is heated and I can exercise without danger.

Wednesday, 17th January, 2024

Grey and cold start – just 3C/37F. Not inviting. Our tiler came round before 9.00 am and measured up for retiling the downstairs toilet and the cloakroom. Now, we can go ahead and order the tiles. Nice lad. First time we had met him. He used to live in Greece so we had plenty of common experiences to share. He is only 40 with young children and a mortgage and immediately made me feel old. He Whatsapp-ed me later to say he could start next Tuesday if I can get the tiles in time. Be nice to just get it done. The whole thing will cost about £1,200.00.

Time and Aging is an insidious process. I was reminded of that yesterday when Michelle, our neighbour contacted me to warn me that her daughter had just passed her driving test. Thiiren (Very trendy name.) was only 10 and still at Primary School when we moved into our new house. Now she is a young woman driving her own car.

She is lucky. Her parents have bought her a small, starter car in a world where BMWs, Mercedes and Audis all sit gleaming on the drives and often in pairs. Actually, round here, most couples have two cars and then work largely from home. On our Development, we are not supposed to park on the road outside our houses which is why drives were allocated with enough room for the cars.

I don’t know what you think about Assisted Dying, Dear Reader, but for years I’ve believed it was an affront to personal freedom not to be able to choose the time, place and method of one’s own death and to receive assistance in that. Recently, my belief has wavered because I began to see the move that way in the Health service as doctors can be inclined to get elderly and sick patients to sign DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders. I have personally experienced elderly patients in hospital have their deaths accelerated for whatever reason. I have seen some dangers which have made me think again. Then I watched Truelove which I streamed from Channel 4. I recommend it to you.

Last Friday, I reported that Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, was suffering from terminal blood cancer. This evening we had the sad news that terminal was a lot closer than we thought. Today, Tony died. He hadn’t even been home for a week. Hug those you love while you can.

This afternoon, Dave Roberts posted this from Norden in Rochdale. Makes me shudder with the sense of cold rising from it. I bet Tony Lloyd would give anything to enjoy one more day for a snowy walk.

Thursday, 18th January, 2024

One of those, cold, bright days with clear, blue sky and long, low sunshine. Wonderful sunrise down on the beach.

My phone monitors weather in lots of places of interest and reports in real time what is happening. This was the position of some of them at 8.00 am and it can’t have been too enticing. You certainly wouldn’t be running out in your bikini for a quick swim this morning ….. well, I wouldn’t.

West Byfleet, Surrey	-8C
Middleton, Manchester	-7C
Leeds, Yorkshire	-4C
Bridlington, Yorkshire	-1C
Worthing, Sussex	-1C
Rhyl, North Wales	1C
Coquelles, France	2C
Spring Hill, Florida	6C
Thessaloniki, Greece	12C
Athens, Greece	17C

I do have to go out, though. Going to Wickes for building materials and Sainsburys for ‘stuff’. Whatever you do, Dear Reader, take care. Particularly M, P&C who are flying to Florida this morning. We wish them well and hope their flight is ice-free and on time. It’s long enough as it is.

The Tory Party is in near terminal decline. Even as they were trying to distract the electorate with their Rwanda circus, voters were hurriedly deserting them. The latest YouGove Poll of voting intentions illustrates this starkly. Just as the fringe loonies are moving to the extremist Reform Party, so the majority of disillusioned, former Tory voters are falling in behind Labour. In those aged under 50, the swing is even more marked. We are looking to live under a Labour Government until we are well into our 80s.

Friday, 19th January, 2024

A cold night here. My friend, Nigel in Bridlington, sent these from the beach yesterday. It’s not usual to have snow on the beach. The sea is one of the warmer things in the world and mostly should raise land temperatures on the beach edges.

I think I prefer cold, dry and bright to grey, warm and wet. Apparently that’s coming so got jobs to do while it is dry. Today’s highlight is a trip to the local tip. It’s becoming a regular outing recently. Oh, Dear Reader, see what delights you’re missing out on!

We have ordered the tiles for our downstairs Cloakroom and Toilet. They will take about 4 weeks to arrive so we’ve got time to organise things. Because I have no practical skills, although I can see the end I want to get to – a wooden floor replaced by a tiled one – I don’t know the full implications. I do now.

The tiler came to quote a price and told me I would need to employ a plumber to remove the sink, pedestal and toilet which I now know were fitted after the Amtico wooden floor had been laid. I was also told I would need a carpenter to shorten and rehang the doors because the tiled floor would be higher. Good job I’ve got 4 weeks to organise.

I don’t know if you are as mad as me, Dear Reader, (What am I saying? Of course you’re not.) but I’ve started calibrating contracts, agreements, promises according to how old I’ll be when something happens. When I saw this report in The Telegraph this morning, my first thought was that I’d be 93 by the time war began. At least, I wouldn’t get called up. I’m being offered a new, 3 year mobile phone deal which will take me to 76 and my Driving Licence renewal has just arrived to be repeated at the age of 76, 79, 82 …. At least I can do it online now … until Dementia strikes!

A wonderful trip out for Old People …. to the Local Tip. At leat the house heaved a sigh of relief as it got lighter.

Saturday, 20th January, 2024

Good Morning, Dear Reader. Another day into Retirement. I was reading yesterday of a retired girl I knew in the past who was saying (ironically, I think) that:

You know you’re getting old when you barely do anything all day, but you still need a nap so you can continue to do barely anything for the rest of the day.

I can’t bear that approach. Apathy breeds apathy. I have to be doing things, achieving things, changing things, moving forward, embracing new experiences. Can you imagine barely doing anything and then needing to sleep? It may be because she lives alone but it seems a dreadful waste of time. You can do all that when you’re dead. The sun may be sinking down but the moon is slowly rising.

Talking about being dead. I’m not. I’m definitely coming back to life and thinking of travelling, visiting people, looking old friends up and making new experiences. My Patients Know Best account which links with my Hospital and Doctors Surgery account informed me yesterday of my recent blood test analysis which shows an above level Testosterone reading (Not surprised at that.) and a very low level PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level. My PSA has come down from 7.0 when my cancer was diagnosed to 0.29 now.

I was checking my records and it was 10 years ago this week that saw the death of a lad who taught Geography in my school. He was only 60. His wife, also a teacher in my school, had died of cancer at the age of 55. His Austro-Bavarian parents were dead and he was a single child. A lonely person. He certainly wasn’t someone who I related to at all. He was a difficult character. He gave his life outside teaching to Scouting. We attended his funeral which was attended by colleagues but not many friends.

I had forgotten all about him. Who will remember him? With no close family and those who touched his life tangentially getting on with their lives, who will remember him? I will be honest with you. I didn’t like him but I remember him and his life. There, but for the grace of Fate, go I.

Who will remember me? Will you remember me, Dear Reader? The Nearly Man. Maybe, even the Not Nearly Man.

Sunday, 7th January, 2024

Glorious morning of clear blue sky and sunshine. My friend, Kevin, in North Yorkshire is excitedly expecting his football team, Huddersfield Town, to thrash Manchester City in the Cup this afternoon. I’m not quite as confident of that. I tried to tell him but he hasn’t taken the hint. I think I’m just too subtle for him.

Here, Chef is excitedly expecting her second Ninja cooker in a week. This one is particularly suited to air roasting. Where to put it? Well that has been/is being solved. I move my wine racks. Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? Actually, it’s not a problem. I’ve got plenty of room to move them but it takes time and effort. I’m making room for a new, stainless steel, catering preparation table to be added to the catering cupboards outside in the Gym/Kitchen/Garage.

The afternoon has turned quite bitter as the sun has fallen. I’m feeling disappointingly lethargic. I’ve done a Gym session but have still got 30 mins more to complete before I can relax. I’m annoyed with myself for not achieving more today. I’m not doing as well as I hoped at the moment. Must try harder!

I’m aware I can be pathetically introverted and self-indulgent. When I was diagnosed with Cancer, it hit me like a ton of bricks both emotionally and psychologically. The word Cancer alone has such resonance in the modern world that it seems automatically existential. The treatment – hormones and loss of testosterone increasingly added to that. It populated my Blog just as it populated my head. I constantly told myself that I was being wimpish, that stiff upper lip was what I should adopt and that I shouldn’t publish it on my Blog.

I’m afraid I failed all those tests and I wasn’t really ashamed of it. Describing things, using words to define feelings enables me to measure, define, understand the world. Words are my tools of life. It taught me who cared and clearly who didn’t. Other than my wife who was unbelievably long suffering, some friends showed amazing support while others faded away. And I have come through it with a greater understanding of myself and them. And I am not alone in my journey. Lord Watson says,

The anxiety was as bad as the treatment. That word CANCER – it truly did me in. I grappled with fears of dying, sexual dysfunction, and even the prospect of wearing nappies before turning 60.

I know exactly what he means. It was never out of my head. It stopped me sleeping and relaxing. It made me crave reassurance. Tom Watson has been declared cancer-free as I have although I am still finding it hard to accept.

Monday, 8th January, 2024

Bitterly cold down here this morning – just 3C/37F and overcast. Actually put the central heating on for half an hour before getting up to give the downstairs a boost. Porridge for Breakfast really feels appropriate today.

These are difficult days if you’re working and going out in the cold and dark but they are equally difficult if you’re retired to motivate yourself and get going. To avoid the malaise, there are some things you can do:

• Get up at the same time each day including the weekends.
• Set yourself some goals for the day and the week.
• Get outside in the fresh air early on.
• Do a quick burst of cardio early on.

If I don’t have a list of tasks to achieve when I get up, I am a nightmare all day. Actually, I am a nightmare all day anyway but, if I’m busy, I’m more manageable. The tasks don’t have to be monumental and they do have to be achievable. Judge for yourself, Dear Reader.

1. Put the bins out.
2. Unstack the dishwasher
3. Read Newspapers
4. Contact friends & wish one Happy 74th Birthday.
5. Start the day’s Blog.
6. Rearrange the cardio equipment for the new table.
7. Arrange for the cleaner to clean the Gym.
8. Receive the new table delivered by FedEx.
9. Do my 2hr exercise routine.
10. Complete the Blog

Obviously, I could do a lot more but getting up with that list in my head gives me a reason to get out of bed before 7.00 am and to get going. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the days are already lengthening with extra daylight. The Summer is coming.

Tuesday, 9th January, 2024

Gorgeous morning. I’m helping the Cleaner finish the work in the Gym. New work table installed, cooking equipment set out, Gym equipment oiled and cleaned, floors cleaned. Now, all I’ve got to do is use it.

Actually, the Blog today deals with Life and Death. I will start at the end. Yesterday, my friend, Kevin, was 74. I almost wince saying the words but on the same day, it was announced that one of my boyhood heroes had died …. aged 74. He was one of the fittest men you could imagine.

J.P.R. Williams was a Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales in international rugby at the highest level. He also played Tennis in his early career at Wimbledon. He went on to have a sparkling career as an Orthopaedic Surgeon. He played rugby right into his early 50s. He died from bacterial meningitis. And so easily, Life can be taken away.

People who have been with me a long time know I have an ambivalent feeling about babies. I won’t rake over that again but I was told yesterday that I am going to be a Gruncle. No, I’d never heard of it before and I’m not sure I want to hear too much about it now. It looks too much like responsibility. Even so, I do go a bit gooey when I see babies even if they’re not Rebecca-Jane.

The Gym has been moved around and extra Kitchen furniture installed. The cleaner has been in and worked her magic. She’s even oiled the treadmill for me. I’m not practical. All I’ve got to do now is get out there and use it. I’m certainly glad I had the radiator installed. It’s quite bitter here today. Might be looking for extra sources of warmth.

Wednesday, 10th January, 2024

Beautiful but cold morning. Got some Office work to do this morning. Brain in the morning and body in the afternoon so I’ll be going out to my newly cleaned Gym. First, Statistics:

I feature quite a few supermarket trips in my daily Blog because … I visit quite a few supermarkets in my daily life. My Housekeeper has followed the recent shopping trend of researching things she wants/needs and decides on price/availability which supermarket to visit. Virtually every supermarket known to man (person) is within easy driving distance of our house – Sainsburys, Asda, Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl – and we visit all at some time in the year. Probably, Sainsburys is our shop of choice.

Today, they sent me this. Now I love statistics and I am delighted to know that I visited Sainsburys 89 times last year and bought 2,619 portions of Veg or 7 portions every day and 3,943 portions of fruit which is circa 11 portions a day. Healthy or what?

Apparently, I was their No.1 customer for Kippers. Can you believe it? Such healthy, oily fish! I’m going to live forever. Oh, hard luck, Dear Reader! You’ve got me for life.

If you don’t like hot weather. This world is not for you. It is definitely getting hotter and last year was the hottest on record. We were mainly in UK last year and a large chunk of that was lovely. I love hot weather. I’ve often speculated on the Mediterranean countries’ over reliance on tourism and it is possible that they may become insufferably hot in the Summers to come. A heatwave in Greece is uncomfortable enough for the young and could prove deadly for the old. Of course, it was ironic to find this data released in the coldest week of the year.

Because I love data so much, I have signed up to work for the polling organisation, Ipsos Mori. No point in sitting around. Need to earn some money. Why not indulge my passion and make a profit? You have to admit, I am opinionated and reasonably articulate, motivated and I love data. I am a pollster’s dream. Well worth paying for! Why didn’t I do this before? I’ve missed my way. Too busy obsessing about other things, eh, Dear Reader.

Thursday, 11th January, 2024

Glorious, glorious morning. Couldn’t wait to get outside in the sunshine, Went down to the beach. It was all a bit fishy. Well, that was one reason for going.

We had ordered a joint of Sushimi-Grade Fresh Tuna and thought it would be nice to pick it up ourselves this morning. There were men on the jetty fishing for their Supper, with a trawler returning quite late to replenish the fish shop and the lovely suppliers who always have good things to eat.

My friend, Kevin, responded to yesterday’s Blog with a photo of his week’s shop from Aldi. I told him I was shocked how much wine he bought and that he actually ate shop-bought bread. He found that very funny. Who has ever heard of Cheese Curls or Kellogs Winders? Anyway, he has got tomatoes, beans and green vegetables but I suspect most of that is for Christine who is a vegetarian. He challenged me to provide a total price. My Housekeeper guessed £65.00 (What do you think, Dear Reader?) which was the same as our 2kg joint of fresh Tuna. Haven’t heard back yet other than his laughter at the idea of shop-bought bread being remarkable.

Friday, 12th January, 2024

The forecast said that we would be freezing last night. Almost guaranteed we didn’t fall below 7C/45F. Even so, it was grey and overcast this morning and I had to work hard to get myself out of bed. Something is definitely missing at the moment and I’ve got to find it again.

After one failed try, we are going back to the retiling of the downstairs cloakroom project. I mentioned before Christmas that we have a wooden floor and I have singularly failed to train my wife to aim accurately. The wood has to come up. As she is to blame, she is allowed to choose the replacement …. as long as it is BEIGE. We don’t want any wildly bright colours! I’ve told her, she can choose any colour she likes as long as it matches this ‘test’ sample.

We went out to another tile suppliers and I gave her free reign to choose this tile which she did … eventually. The biggest problem is getting a tiler to do the work. Fortunately, we have a builder friend who is giving us the number of one of his trusty tilers. The tile shop say the ordering time is 3 – 4 weeks so we hope we can marry the two up together.

Cancer Kills! It kills many people. It kills people whether they think they are fighting it or bemoaning their plight. It kills young and old. It kills those who think they have beaten it and those who don’t know they have it. Cancer is a killer. So many people around my age have been reported to be suffering and dying from cancer in the past few months and I have become increasingly sensitive to the reports.

Yesterday we learnt that Sven-Goran Eriksson, former England Manager, is reported to have less than 12 months to live because of pancreatic cancer.

Today, I read that a lovely man, the Rochdale, Labour MP, Tony Lloyd, is suffering from terminal Leukaemia after being in intensive care for Covid and being diagnosed with cancer a decade ago and declared cancer-free in 2020. Cancer-free is just a resting house en route to terminal cancer for many.

Saturday, 13th January, 2024

Keep receiving texts from my Surgery exhorting me to book my Annual Review. Obviously I’m far too busy for that! What will they find this time? My friend, Kevin, who only drinks 5 bottles of wine a week and a few pints of beer was told he was drinking too much. Can you imagine that? Whenever I’m asked by a medic, I always turn the tables and ask how much they drink before I lie to them.

Unfortunately, my Carer has booked me an appointment and, before that, I have to submit a record of my blood pressure taken twice a day for a week. Exercise has definitely improved my blood pressure but I also have to take a urine sample which will be pure alcohol. Actually, I have been instructed to stop drinking so I can say when asked how much I drink that I don’t drink at all. Works for me. Do you think I’m missing the point of a Medical?

This Summer, it will be 10 years since we sold our Greek home and left Sifnos. On this day in 2011, I booked the Anek ferry to take us and our car from Ancona down the Adriatic to Patras on the Greek Peloponnese. Couldn’t believe it when I checked this morning but the whole return 24hr sailing with Luxury cabin cost just £500.00 back 13 yrs ago. Today, it would cost about £1,200.00 which sounds cheap today.

It is incredible and quite frightening how time goes on. For a decade or more I have held mobile phone contracts with EE who are owned by BT and are almost certainly the best provider. Before that, I was with Three, T-Mobile and BT. I take a contract for two, 5G mobiles and each has unlimited data, calls and texts. They give me the ‘free’ add-on of free roaming across Europe and America in spite of Brexit. The contract for two phones and numbers cost £160 per month and last 24 months.

Each time I renew the contract, I am offered new phones. The contract is up in May but they are getting worried about customer churn and have contacted me today to offer me an early upgrade to new phones if I sign another two year contract. It will cost a bit more – £200.00 per month but I will certainly sign it. My mobile has become more important to me than my iPad nowadays. We currently both have Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultras and I will probably just go on to the S23 upgrade. The other little person who lives here has a hankering for a large phone but one that folds and fits into a handbag. Got to check them out in the flesh next week.

Sunday, 31st December, 2023

The dying of the old year and the birth of a new one is an exciting time …. for young people. If you’re young and desperate to be inducted into the next stage of Life – Secondary School, University, Car Driving, Drinking Alcohol, Getting a Job, Getting Married, Buying a House – then a new year could bring that aspiration closer. When you are older, the advancement of Time is less attractive and aspirations are harder to find. We have to work at it and control our expectations.

I will be setting my goals for the new year – some I will share with you and others I won’t. I will first and foremost aim to get rid of the excess weight I’ve accumulated during the 8 months of Hormone Treatment. I will get back to my best fitness and even stretch it a bit. I will travel abroad and in UK and visit friends and family. I will continue to manage my investments and add to them on the basis that we have a future to protect.

Down here the weather is perfect – dry & bright but breezy. The old year is being blown away by the new. Up in Yorkshire floods are closing roads and my old friend John R has had to abandon his picnic in Catterick. Most wonderful of all is how warm it is. Here we are at the year’s end and no central heating being used although I went down to the beach this morning and nearly froze my face in the stiff breeze.

Going in the Gym to end the old year the way I intend to start the new. I can feel the determination surging back to improve and do better than before, to achieve things I failed to do this year. It’s coming …. See you in the New Year, Dear Reader.

Monday, 1st January, 2024

Ah, there you are. Welcome to another year of trivia. We welcomed in the New Year with quite heavy rain but this morning is reasonably bright and warm. Went down to the beach but it was so popular that we didn’t stay.

I told you about some of my resolutions for the New Year yesterday. I have others and this morning’s Times pictured one of them. Just as lunatics post images of Jesus or the prophet Mohammed that they think they can see in a bowl of custard or a cup of coffee, so Tory diehards see a face of Sunak in their toast and see it as a sign. The Brexit mug steams grubbily away and the ‘jam tomorrow’ promise sits temptingly on the side. Look at the robin of hope in the real world outside.

In the real world, I’m going back in the Gym.

Tuesday, 2nd January, 2024

Happy Tuesday. Well, we have to generate our own ‘happy’ today because it’s raining outside. I’m working on self-improvement! Diet and exercise is formally re-engaged with self determination. It is so warm down here at the moment that I’m thinking of moving back into tee shirt & shorts. Thinking.

What I can tell you is that this warm winter is definitely showing in our power readings. If you are a regular reader, you will know that I maintain a spreadsheet of our power consumption which I record at the start of a new month. Last month, we used 30% less Gas compared with the equivalent month last year and a staggering 50% less Electricity. At this rate, the suppliers are going to be paying me to stay with them. The other ritual which is performed annually is the Home Accounts print out. This year it came to a staggering 38 pages which will be committed to file in case digital copies get lost.

The South Coast has traditionally had an older and more prosperous demographic. The climate makes it more amenable to retirees. Because of that, it has always voted Tory … since 1841 when Sir Robert Peel was Prime Minister to be precise. Currently, it has two, Tory MPs who were first elected here in 1997. They have had comfortable majorities for 26 years.

Peter Bottomley has been an MP over six decades, first being elected in Woolwich West, before becoming the representative in Worthing West in 1997. He is so old that he is currently Father of the House. Many will remember his wife, Virginia Bottomley, as Secretary of State for Health under John Major in 1992. That’s how old our MP is.

His neighbouring Tory MP is Tim Loughton who blames People from Brighton coming to Shoreham and Worthing, people with university degrees who think Jeremy Corbyn is brilliant. Can you imagine educated people being a threat to an MP. Well, of course you can if you are constantly getting re-elected by pulling the wool over the eyes of the uneducated. These Tory MPs have become so blasé about their positions that they are known as absentee landlords. Loughton is an exponent of the bonkers and immoral Rwanda Plan which tells you all you need to know about him.

Often you will hear the older inhabitants around here bemoaning the new houses being built and the younger people moving in. I suppose I am older but I welcome them and particularly if they are educated, bright, lively, demanding of better services and seeing through the Tory’s paucity of provision. They are the source of regeneration and I welcome that.

Wednesday, 3rd January, 2024

Almost forgotten we ever went through 2023 by now. The new year is already the current, the now. Nice, bright and breezy but warm morning. They can be difficult days these darker, wetter, colder days – particularly for the retired. My friend in North Yorkshire was so fed up with constant rain and wind yesterday that he was watching a 1956 film, The Ten Commandments with his wife. I can’t imagine watching the film anyway but WITH YOUR WIFE? Actually, he did say, Life must get better!

I assured him it had to. He should drink the wine I sent him for Christmas and book a trip to Spain. Do not grow old! Grow Life. There is so much more to life than fairy tales. If you are a regular reader, you will know that I see all religious belief as sure sign of madness. As I grow older, I become more sure of that position. I am not looking for a fantasy insurance policy of eternal life which is why I have to get everything done while I am actually alive. As my carer constantly says, You’re a long time dead. She is a happy little soul.

I have always been happier in facts than fictions and if the two can be blended, all the better. In the Gym, I am still watching the 10 series, 88 episode, MI5 drama called Spooks. What I like about it is the fact that it is rooted in current affairs. Series 7, which was first aired in 2008, opened with an Israeli bombing of Gaza killing 80 innocent Palestinians. I was absolutely gripped by its topicality. Another Series was centred around Russian assassins seeking out and eliminating enemies of Russia in UK about the time of the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and long before Boris Berezovsky was found ‘hanged’ in Berkshire in 2013 just as his associate was found impaled on the iron fence below his apartment.

Although I like to feel centred in reality, I don’t want to go as far as this lunatic. He keeps me up to date with developments in the area where he lives and his travel but this is just going a bit too off-grid. Cold, wet, dull …. not for me. Where is the sun?

I suppose it takes all sorts. Life would be boring if we were all the same. If you can believe it, some people even go to Wales.

As I walk across the garden to start my work in the Gym, I am reminded by post through the door that it is almost 4 years since we left David Lloyd and set up our own facility. Regularly, I receive emails and flyers beseeching me to return. I looked up the cost this morning and our joint membership would be just under £3000.00 per year. We didn’t pay a great deal more than that to set up our own and we’ve already had 4 years out of it. Plus it is so convenient.

Thursday, 4th January, 2024

Drove down to the beach to buy fish. It wasn’t sunbathing weather but very warm and without wind. The tide was out and the beach was empty.

We drove on to the Fishermen’s Shop where locally caught, fresh fish is always available. They are lovely people who appreciate our loyalty.

Back just in time before the skies opened and rain poured down. Managed to catch Keir Starmer’s New Year’s speech and then get out to the Gym.

Meanwhile, Chef has been making soup, dehydrating fruit slices and making fish cakes and homemade baked beans for Supper. Really living the High Life down here!

Friday, 5th January, 2024

A cooler, brighter morning but not cold and only weakly sunny. Out early to have a blood test and then take the little diva to the Beauticians. She keeps telling me it is ‘free’ because she bought a course of treatments. How that is free is only known in her facialised head but I don’t argue … much. Between these two appointments, we had time to nip down to the beach to check the sea is still there. Beach was lonely and all the activity happening far out on the horizon.

Along the beach path are those characteristic, seaside shelters for people to sit out of the rain/wind/sun. Good idea but, they are rarely cleaned and maintained and soon begin to look shabby, dirty and uninviting. Sands and salt spray blow in from the beach and make the whole area uninviting. I wouldn’t sit in one.

I’ve had some weird relationships with people in my life and many of them long distance. I think the pandemic encouraged them more than ever. In retirement, they have increased rather than anything else but reaching out and sharing each day is so important. Did you know that relationships with friends are very important to our health. The Alzheimer’s Society’s research found:

Social isolation can greatly increase a person’s risk of dementia. Engaging in social activities helps to build up your brain’s ability to relieve stress and improve your mood.

I have made it harder by moving South but I will persist if only for my long term health. I knew there was a reason for Whatsapp. It really makes sharing the events of your life so easy. I even talk to the next door neighbours through it.

I don’t know about you. Dear Reader, but I love flowers. I love cut flowers in the house. Had a tall, fluted vase in the hall for ages and rarely find flowers tall enough to showcase it. Found some today and I love them.

I got the flowers. My Chef has gone Ninja-mad. Last week she started to test one air-fryer / pressure cooker / multi-cooker. Today, she has ordered a second one which can cook a whole chicken. Don’t ask.

Saturday, 6th January, 2024

A lovely morning after a beautiful sunset last night. A little cooler but nothing of significance. Still haven’t got the central heating on although the radiator will go on outside in the Gym today.

When you’re not practical …. and I’m nothing if not practical, it can be a nightmare finding people to do the work that inevitably crops up. As soon as we move to a new home, we try to establish a network of of tradespeople who we can call on and rely on. Even in Greece, it was an important thing to do. We have a wonderful, odd-job man for all those little things that normal men can do for themselves but my incompetence means I’m prepared to pay for.

We try to wait until we’ve got a list and then bring him in from Brighton to make the travel worth his while. My job today is to photograph all the things we want him to do and email them to him. Today I’ve got 7 smallish jobs on the list.

Meanwhile, back in the Kitchen, Chef is introducing me to Buttermilk. I knew of it but I think this is the first time I’ve tasted it. It is really just milk with lemon juice which will tenderise chicken thighs prior to air-frying coated in flour. There’s nothing quite like tender thighs. Even at 72, we can all learn new things. I love it.

It’s Saturday. A day for talking. So far I’ve spoken to Kevin, Tolley and Derek France. It’s good to talk.

Sunday, 24th December, 2023

A dark and dismal day … but incredibly warm. We have been 14C/57F all night. It is the day before Christmas and the time to bring out all the timeworn topics that seem to populate our culture. A programme about mistletoe, holly & ivy and wassailing, the Christian ‘story’, singing carols and about belief. I have to be honest and say, I don’t buy in to any of this.

This morning at 6.00 am, I heard the main reason why I don’t have faith. The central tenet of the philosophical theme this morning: To believe, first you’ve got to want to believe. This is the first principle of the snake oil salesman. Sell them something they want to believe and you will get them eating out of your hand. It is how brainwashing works. You have to get people to suspend their disbelief, their scepticism, their rationality.

Once you’ve done that, almost anything is possible. Virgin birth? No problem. Happens all the time. God made human? They’re talking about me! Water into wine? Have you tasted some supermarket wine? Today’s programme addressed exactly that problem. It addressed it head on. There are two types of truth, it asserted. There is empirical truth like to say, I had Breakfast this morning. But then, there is eternal truth which goes so much deeper and requires …. faith to believe it. And I don’t. So you see, Dear Reader, You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

A postcard from our village circa 1955, a time when the world was less questioning of Faith and Authority and the connection between the two.

This from 1968 at Grammar School when faith in God and service to Country were still the principle currency even though Wilson was in power with a campaign to harness the white heat of technology. The world was once populated with Beautiful People.

There is a tendency for people, as they get towards the end of their lives to turn (back) to Faith. Like some insurance policy, they begin to hope for a Life after Death. I was particularly proud of my Mother-in-Law who, even though she was 96, didn’t succumb to fairy tales in which to seek comfort. She was a realist and a fighter to the end.

It is gratifying for me to see church attendances plummet, those identifying as Christian fall into the minority and the monarchy under question more than at any other time. The last series of The Crown on Netflix finished with the royal family themselves believing that they would not survive much longer. I’m planning for President Corbyn!

Monday, 25th December, 2023

Happy Christmas to all my readers. I have to admit, I don’t really feel too celebratory this year. Is it age and loss? Who knows. I know Pauline woke up thinking about her Dad who died 62 years ago. Amazing how things are triggered. I just woke up thinking.

Onward and upward. Got the M25 to enjoy this morning. Just about to load the car up with enough food to feed the 5000, wonderfully wrapped presents for the family and the Kitchen General’s instruction sheet.

I will spend the day as dogsbody … so no change there. Just had Christmas greetings from most of the neighbourhood, from lots of family members and friends around the country. All has a sad sense of remoteness, distance, loss.

See you on the other side ….

Lovely drive up to Surrey. Even the M25 was deserted. Chef had done so much preparation and everything that could be prepared in advance had been and packed into boxes and the car’s fridge so, when we arrived, we were greeted with glasses of Buck’s Fizz and bacon sandwiches for breakfast.

M&K are lovely company to be with and envelope us in their family scene for the day. M, looking lovely in her Christmas Onesie, K on his mobile checking his pension scheme, David making Buck’s Fizz and James eating all the sausages and that just leaves C&P to adorn the furniture.

The meal was absolutely the best chef has made in the last 45 Christmases. The menu …

• Mushroom Gratin with Garlic Bread
  
• Turkey with Sausage-meat & Apricot Stuffing
  Bacon wrapped Sausages
  Roast King Edward Potatoes
  Parsnips roasted in Sherry & Honey
  Green Beans with Garlic
  Herby Baked Carrots
  Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Cinnamon
  
• Christmas Pudding with Double Cream Custard
  Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberry Glaze
  Tarte aux Pommes with Cream

It was simple but Chef did a magnificent job of organising, sourcing, preparing, cooking and presenting the meal and was roundly applauded. Because I was allowed to drink wine, chef had to drive us home on a dark, wet night. She was tired after that so, to reward her, I opened and poured the champagne as we came down from the day.

Tuesday, 26th December, 2023

Nice bright and warm morning. Actually got up quite late. Don’t know why. Just managed a glass of fresh orange juice and a cup of Yorkshire tea.

Chef never rests. Already the remains of yesterday’s turkey carcass are being put to good use as stock is being made outside in the pressure cooker.

Boxing Day is always a bit of a non-day. Traditionally, we would spend it at the beach. Even in Yorkshire, we would either go to Scarborough/Whitby or across the Pennines to Formby or Fleetwood. Now we visit the beach so regularly, the urge is not quite there today. I’m going in the Gym instead. Before that, I have been trying to decide where to put a present from M&K yesterday which they brought, ironically, from America.

I’ve decided that I’m going to find space for it in the Office next to the sale sign for our Greek House. Seems appropriate.

Before anything else, Lunch is served. I’m having cold Christmas Pudding with cold custard … mmmm.

Wednesday, 27th December, 2023

It’s Wednesday! Strange, I was wondering. Don’t you just hate the break in normality? I do. It was weird having no newspapers on Monday. No political programmes yesterday. What to do today on a Wednesday? Well, my big job today is …. cleaning the Gym. I’m not big on cleaning but you have to help out, don’t you?

For a year or two as a teacher, I used to take Assembly every day. When I started, I would sit at home the night before and think for ever about what subject I could talk on the next morning as I presented some little homily of morality or self-improvement to start the kids’ day. I can clearly remember panicking some nights in the early years because nothing would come to me.

Experience changes everything doesn’t it, Dear Reader? Soon, I became so relaxed that I wouldn’t even think about it until I was in the car driving to school. Later still it would be over a cup of coffee in my Office before school started that I turned my mind to the subject. In the end, it was as I walked up the steps onto the stage from which I delivered the address. The job I did eventually just generated the topic to the point where I had too much to talk about. I really got to enjoy it.

In just the same way, I wondered if I would ever have enough material to maintain a daily Blog. At first, under the strain of work at work, it felt like a struggle which I could only address occasionally. Soon I began to see it as an outlet for the internalisation of life. In Retirement, it has just formed a vehicle for reflection and self management. Rarely do I get up and think about what to write. It just presents itself naturally. Yes, I know, it comes over like that.

Of course, I designed my own Blog with its own Links to please me. If others read it, they have to take it in that spirit. Often people contact me and tell me I should write something like a book or submit articles for a magazine. There are certainly lots of people out there who think they can make money through their Blogs although I’m not sure if they actually do. I think I’m going to have to attract some advertisers. To do that, I’ll have to make it a lot more juicy, salacious, provocative. I’m sure I can do that. The past made present and projected into the future. The Blog of a Time Traveller. Now that sounds like a niche that could be monetised.

Thursday, 28th December, 2023

Beautiful morning – warm and bright. British Gas must think we’re abroad because we’re not using the heating at all. The Cleaner woke me up to announce that Spring Cleaning would start to day. I have decided to hide in the Gym.

Cook is getting very excited. She has always wanted a food dehydrator and often toyed with buying a dedicated one. Now her new pressure cooker / steamer / air fryer / yoghurt maker / grill & roast /dehydrator has opened up so many new possibilities. Last night, fruit slices were dried over 8 hrs and came out like …. dried fruit. Oh, we did have fun!

First thing on the radio at 5.00 am was an item about the weather in Greater Manchester last night. A mini tornado with roofs being torn off houses and trees blown over. Stalybridge was the epicentre apparently. Lots of friends live near and I’ve been contacting some of them this morning. Kevin sent me a picture of how I feel and Little Viv sent me a photo to reassure me she was still alright.

North Yorkshire is cold with floods. My friend, JohnR, posted a video of the floods in Catterick this morning. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it. North Wales & North West England has gales. When M&K were up in Oldham last week, they couldn’t believe how cold it was. Mind you, they were just back from Florida and now they’re off skiing.

As Chef drove me home from Surrey in dark and dashing rain, she had the joy of a warning symbol popping onto the screen with a chime alert. I have to say that I never check anything on the car apart from washer bottle and fuel. Tyres are monitored automatically.

It says a tyre has fallen below optimal pressure. Chef immediately started to worry and was preparing to pull over and get out into the rain to check the tyres. I told her not to even consider it unless the steering felt wrong but to get us home and we would deal with it next day. It didn’t help her confidence but we got home safely. Yesterday, we checked every tyre and found one had lost just 2psi on default. That’s all it takes.

Friday, 29th December, 2023

Big day today. Appointment with the oncologist to get the results of my cancer treatment. Well, it was a big day in my mind at the outset of this process but it has been going on so long and things have happened on the way that I am rather giving up the will to live or that’s how it feels at the moment.

Changing the subject completely, have you heard of The Clash or Black Sabbath. I didn’t know of the first and I’d hazily heard of the second. A girl from Manchester who I knew in a former life and who is going through a very difficult time, contacted me and asked me if I knew how to get in contact with a former colleague. I didn’t but I learned that he had a famous cousin who was the drummer with a Punk band called The Clash and had also played with Black Sabbath for a few years. He had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

I did some research …. because that is what I do. Nobody escapes if I want them. I contacted the former Clash/Black Sabbath drummer who is now a Chiropractor in Essex. I will hear from him in the next couple of days or I will be phoning.

At 10.00 am I was with the Oncologist. It turned out to be a substitute and she was Sri Lankan but on the South Coast via Manchester and Oldham. She had family in Oldham but had worked at Christies in Manchester.

She was a lovely girl but I found her quite hard to understand. I discovered that my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) was just 0.29 set against 7.5 prior to the treatment. I also learnt that I would be checked every 6 months throughout my life with PSA tests just as I will be tested every two years with colonoscopies. How lucky am I?

The number of people who have checked in with me since I got my results is quite humbling. It took me an hour to reply to everybody when I got home. Friends, relatives and neighbours showed touching concern and mutual delight. And yet, I have a strange sense of anti-climax. I remember the last day of a school year when the car would be packed ready for travel. We would close school about 1.00 pm. get in the car and drive to Hull Docks. Drive on board the P&O Hull – Zeebrugge ferry and go to our cabin where we would order a drink. Just when you would expect relaxation and anticipation of 6 weeks freedom to kick in, I would be bathed in a wave of anti-climax. Not until the next morning when we drove off into Europe did I feel like life had re-started.

Been a strange day all round. Drove to Sainsburys via the coast to get a snack for a celebration Lunch along with a bottle of Fizz. Bit of a shock at checkout when the bill came out at £263.93. When I checked, it included a slice of Peppered Steak costing £211.11. When I pointed that out to the cashier, she just laughed and said that was happening regularly. She removed the steak item and all was well.

Saturday, 30th December, 2023

Just gone down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky …. We are celebrating our 45th Wedding Anniversary and there is no better way to do it than to walk in the sunshine with the sound of the waves crashing on the pebble beach. Quite astonishing to think it is 45 years since that day and to review everything that has followed from it, the things we have done over that time, the happiness and sadness of that span of time and there has been plenty of both.

On reflection, yesterday was a good day, a releasing day that will allow us to plan to travel, to meet people to revisit past times and forge new friendships with new places. That is what life is ultimately about. This morning I have heard from dozens of ex-pupils, 40 friends and relatives who don’t mention me but say Pauline looks just the same as ever and taken a phone call from my past in North Wales.

David Beasley was widowed 3 years ago and sounded terribly lonely. Now, at the age of 82, he has a new girlfriend and and sounds as if he’s 32! It was delightful to hear him keen to talk about new love for an old girlfriend and the plans he hoped would come to pass. Hope springs eternal just like the sea offers eternity!

As a present to each other, we are going to order DNA test kits from the Ancestry organisation to trace our origins.

To finish the day, we are going to watch a movie – Sheridan Smith in The Castaways and binge on a homemade, seafood pizza from Pauline’s new, pizza oven.

The Black Sabbath drummer has come good with the address of my ex-colleague and everybody is happy. Didn’t even need a DNA Kit for this.

Sunday, 17th December, 2023

A mild, windless but grey day. Looks like we’ve got a dry week ahead. Our electrician is coming round tomorrow to work on our garden lighting so dry weather is important. We have a relatively quiet week ahead although I will be giving pints of blood on Friday from which my PSA and Testosterone levels will be assessed prior to my summary diagnosis at a meeting a week later with the Oncologist.

Of course, there will be lots of trips to Sainsburys and Waitrose this week as Chef ensures everything is ready for her catering experience in Surrey in a week. It seems impossible to go through the doors in the supermarket and emerge without spending £150.00 at least 3 times a week at the moment. How we do it I don’t know. Where we put it I don’t know.

Well, chef wasn’t satisfied with her Christmas cakes so they had to be produced all over again. A ‘trial’ Turkey had to be cooked to produce the perfect stock for sauce on the day. Stuffing had to be ‘trialled’ in order to decide which one would be served on the day. So, I suppose, Christmas is being funded twice this year but, it gives chef pleasure to experiment and get things right so why should I complain.

Someone in our village drew our attention to this local advert which rather puts us to shame in our self-indulgence. How wonderful, though, if you are hard up, to have this opportunity although I would like to see what you get for it. Our ‘trial turkey’ cost £28.00 on its own.

Christmas is always an awkward time when there is no politics to be involved in and I am scabbling around for things to entertain me. In the Gym, I’m only about half way through the Spy Drama series, Spooks. I am absolutely hooked and don’t notice the exercise at all as soon as the drama comes on. In fact, I get so absorbed, I am in danger of falling off the treadmill at times.

In the evenings, we try to watch some things together in the Lounge. Currently, we have two things on the go. On Netflix, we are watching the last series of The Crown. As a republican, I was shocked to find I love this. After all, it is our history and it does rather bring the Royal family’s dirty linen into view. Unfortunately, I was shocked how moved I was in the latest episode and I almost felt sorry for Charles. I must be going gaga!

Actually, it was the drama of any parent with their obnoxious and recalcitrant teenage child. Just a phase to be borne. No one escapes growing up just as none of us escapes growing old … and wrinkly.

If you can get a subscription into Apple TV app on your television if only for a month, one of the best drama series I’ve seen for a long time which is suddenly being raved about all over the media is available. Slow Horses is the most unlikely Spy Thriller starring a scruffy, unkempt, unhygienic Gary Oldman.

It is brilliantly and a little alternatively acted although it takes an episode or two to get really involved. It is well worth the effort. Series Three is just in the process of being released but there are two, earlier and essential series to watch now. I recommend it to you.

You may notice that I am also starting to assemble a list of podcasts on the right hand column of the Blog. They are all political discussions but I find them absorbing to listen to.

Monday, 18th December, 2023

Two workers here this morning – window cleaner and electrician. Windows cleaned for Christmas (What am I saying?) and the garden lighting has shorted after a bout of rain. Looks like some has got in to one of the fifteen junction boxes on the fences. Both lads are really lovely people trying genuinely hard to do a good job. I don’t begrudge them anything they charge me for the work. Actually, our window cleaner has charged us the same fee of £18.00 since we arrived in this house 7 years ago. Little Daryl, the electrician, hasn’t billed us for any of the last three jobs. I think he views himself as an agent of Help the Aged.

I’m really lucky to have lovely, generous friends. They have helped get me through the past year. We are all similar ages. Many of us talk most days – just chit-chat, daily detail, inconsequential stuff but what has come out more than anything else is that so many things affect us all. The ‘freedom’ of Retirement can soon and so easily become the ‘desert’ of freedom from work.

Although I don’t know what the verdict will be at the end of the month, the symptoms of the treatment are suddenly showing signs of improvement. It suddenly dawned on me over the weekend when I read an article about a new drug called Veozah being formally approved to prevent menopausal hot flushes. Typical, I thought after I’ve suffered them for months. Then I suddenly realised, I hadn’t experienced a bad episode for days.

Also, and I hesitate to observe it publicly but, there are hints of my libido returning. When I was tested a couple of months ago, my PSA had fallen from 7.5 to 0.23. My Testosterone level should normally be in the teens but was reduced to 0.89. I will be interested to learn the result in a couple of weeks because my body says it will be getting back to normal.

The electrician told me he didn’t want paying but he would like a couple of bottles of champagne from my wine racks. We wished each other Happy Christmas and he went off singing. Lovely lad – well, he’s 48. He Home-Schools three kids, is renovating a big, old house and is doing music A Level Music at Worthing College in his spare time. You have to admire someone so committed.

Quite a few newsletters arrive in cards at this time of year and it’s always good to catch up. Unfortunately, one shock announced the untimely death of one of Pauline’s Assistants when she managed the School’s Pastoral system. We haven’t seen Trevor who was a couple of years older than us and from Rawtenstall in Lancashire since 2007 although we usually got a card from him each year. Today, we heard that he had died which, at 74, is something of a shock.

Tuesday, 19th December, 2023

Depressingly dark and very wet day. Really gets to me. Need people and and contact to keep me sane. Christmas is a time when the jungle drums of news bring contact with friends across my timeline of life. I don’t let people go however much they want to hide. Yesterday, I wrote about about Trevor, one of Pauline’s workers, who died a couple of weeks ago

If you know me, you will not be surprised that I followed up this news with some research. It is what I do. Nobody’s secrets are safe. Nobody hides for long. Trevor, was borne in 1950 and was almost exactly a year older than me my web information tells me. He hit the local news headlines last year when he went to a football match and collapsed. It was reported in the Lancashire Telegraph.

Trevor had obviously suffered a heart attack in about the safest place – a football ground staffed with medical specialists. I then found this from just over a month later and Trevor, looking extremely ill to those who knew him, was back at the football club.

I shared this information in the jungle of ex-school workers and, in doing so, received lots of interesting and sad news. Julie from Dukinfield told me about her husband, Steve, who is 73 and was an PE teacher in my school and is now in a Dementia Care Home. That change has happened over the past 12 months. Steve had been a Man. Utd apprentice but failed to make the first team and struggled to cope with rejection. I know how he felt. Julie’s Mum is also in Dementia Care and her Daughter-in-Law has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of the spine. She is in her mid-30s and has two, small children.

Must admit, I suddenly started to think how lucky I was and how important it is to embrace the ones I love more closely. Hard luck ones I love!

Wednesday, 20th December, 2023

The year is drawing rapidly to a close. As I said yesterday, lives are slowly fading into the West. At 4.00 am this morning, I learnt that the Japanese revere the ornamental Blossom of trees because it reminds them of the transience of human lives.

I often said, I wouldn’t plant a Japanese Flowering Cherry because most of the year it was boringly plain and blossom was so short lived. Now, I understand.

Yesterday the fields were only grey with scattered snow,
And now the longest grass-leaves hardly emerge;
Yet her deep footsteps mark the snow, and go
On towards the pines at the hills’ white verge.

I cannot see her, since the mist’s white scarf
Obscures the dark wood and the dull orange sky;
But she’s waiting, I know, impatient and cold, half
Sobs struggling into her frosty sigh.

Why does she come so promptly, when she must know
That she’s only the nearer to the inevitable farewell;
The hill is steep, on the snow my steps are slow –
Why does she come, when she knows what I have to tell?

A Winter’s Tale – D. H. Lawrence

Went down to the Fish Market this morning. The beach was rather cool and unforgiving. The sea had run away and the beach was largely deserted. There is a raw edge in the wind although the temperature has not gone below 10C/50F for three days and nights. Quite remarkable for the last week of December. Beginning to wonder when we will need to put the central heating on.

Out for a walk this afternoon, the breeze is freshening and the 11C feels colder. Walked faster to compensate. Going to finish off in the Gym where it’s a lot warmer.

Thursday, 21st December, 2023

A lovely warm and sunny day. Celebrated by visiting the local tip. The house and garden is heaving a huge sight of relief at ridding themselves of so many items surplus to our requirements – an old sewing machine, an old kitchen bin, a rarely used barbecue, huge boxes in which their replacements arrived, etc..

I love a good clear-out with the potential for starting again. The people who staff our tip are lovely and go out of their way to help. This morning a Romanian girl in Council uniform but with make-up as if she was going out Clubbing leapt up to help me by carrying boxes of stuff to the appropriate bins. Made me feel old, Dear Reader.

When I got home, I found a letter had arrived from the Department for Gastroenterology at Worthing Hospital confirming that they would invite me for a colonoscopy in February. Just shows that if you are prepared to write to people and make a cogent case then the NHS takes you seriously and provides what’s required. I now have the Consultant’s phone number and email and he can’t escape. I will use this link for the next 30 years. I never let go.

As a result of hearing about the sad death of one of our former collegues and the decline into Dementia of another, I have been banging the jungle drums and, already, the network has risen up in support. I have been contacted by wives this morning reporting the waves of support they are being offered and thanking me for raising the news in the community.

Apparently, there is something called Storm Pia hitting the North of England today. The local newspapers featured this in Sheffield and this in Manchester. Flights were being cancelled in Manchester and advice was not to travel.

So often it is the coasts that get high winds. It is nice to be the exception this time. Before using the Gym, I am cleaning it this afternoon while my chef is curing a side of salmon for smoked salmon salad at Christmas – Stage 1 wrapped in coat of salt, sugar and dill, wrapped in cling film and weighted down on a tray in the fridge for 24 hrs. This will removed a lot of moisture from the fish. Meanwhile, my seamstress is turning up 4 pairs of trousers for me. I think I’m shrinking!

Thursday, 22nd December, 2023

After the longest night of the Year, a gorgeous day of blue sky and long, low, sunshine. Had to go to Sainsburys. Mistake! It was very busy. I love people …. but I don’t love them that much.

I had a dear friend who died about 25 years ago. He was a teacher in my school. He taught me so much about the job and about life. Sam was a wonderful human being. He was also an international Rugby League referee. He helped me from the early 1970s when, as his Assistant, I was going through very difficult times. It is something I will never forget. Sam’s wife, Pat, was a P.E. teacher at Bluecoat School. Today I learnt that she is in a Care Home. Sam’s daughter teaches at Hulme Grammar and contacted me this morning.

People are important. Pat is clearly very unwell. I must get up to the North to see her. I have contacted her at the Care Home this morning. Sam would be so proud of his son who trained as an accountant but who I have traced on Linkedin. He has obviously become a business leader. Until recently, he was Chief Exec. of Homeserve.

My friend, Julie, in North Yorkshire, lives alone but is with her family for Christmas and looks so much happier to be with others. She is with her son and daughter-in-Law.

Christmas, as a religious event, means absolutely nothing to me. In fact, the whole thing means very little but, the whole people-thing really gets to me and underlines our timelines, our distance, our value and our loss. It has taught me so much in recent times about how much I need that contact after decades of telling myself that I don’t.

I thought I would place on record for friends to access the young people – now all in their 70s – who were in my College Year. I just regret those who were missing on the day.

Friday, 23rd December, 2023

Why does the world go mad for the sake of a couple of days? I was up exceptionally early – too early to face anything apart from a glass of orange juice. It was so dark outside I had to put the garden lights on. Fortunately, they have been ‘repaired’ by our electrician recently.

Before 7.00 am, I was driving Chef to Sainsburys ‘to beat the crowds’. All the produce for a Christmas meal has to be ‘the freshest possible’. Shiitake mushrooms are on the Starter menu. Anyway, I won’t trouble you with this nonsense other than to say, the shelves were very sparsely stocked – hardly any Lettuces, absolutely no Skimmed Milk. What is the world coming to?

Received a lovely Hamper of produce from a farm shop about 5 minutes away from where we lived in Huddersfield. Bolster Moor Farm Shop was a regular for us 20 years ago and memories of our former life flooded back.

Our lovely next door neighbour, Dee, stopped by as she went out on her walk. She has just flown back from a few days in Germany visiting her parents. It was nice to hear her say that they couldn’t be bothered about Christmas. They aren’t going to do anything special although she would like to spend it in the sunshine in Dubai where her daughter is. I could quite happily join her but my wife will not go to a country where women are considered second class citizens.

I’ve been driving Hondas for almost 40 years. We bought a new, Honda Accord in 1984. It cost £7,500.00. I remember being delighted to have an automatic gearing and air conditioning for the first time although certainly the best thing of all was anti-lock brakes.

We have been buying new, Honda CRVs every couple of years for just over 25 years. Every new model brings new facilities and new procedures. I always start off with the best of intentions when I drive the new car home. I take the 500 page Users Manual into the house and sit down to read it. After 20 mins, I just want to get going and expect the cars accessories and procedures to be intuitive. They are not always and, by the time I am trading the car in, I am getting to grips with some of the least obvious changes.

We’ve had this latest model almost 10 months and I feel quite confident that I know everything about it …. well I did until yesterday when I spotted a a Headlight Symbol with an ‘A’ in it on the dashboard. ‘A’ for Automatic? Well, yes. ‘A’ is for Automatic High Beam – Well, yes – but it is also for Active Cornering Lights.

Apparently, the car’s camera takes the view of on-coming traffic and automatically dips the lights at the correct point but also the lights read the turning of the steering wheel and actively focus the lights on the corner the car is turning into. Well, I didn’t know that.

Sunday, 10th December, 2023

If there is an illustration of my strength to persist, refusal to give in, to not let go, to not be rebuffed, this is it! The Blog is now opening its 16th year. It has surprised me. If you stick with it, Dear Reader, this year will reveal much of past and present, of interest and embarrassment, of pain and pleasure, of sadness and happiness, of loss, betrayal and retribution. What have I got to lose? At the age of nearly 73, there is little to lose. Tell the truth and tell it like it is. This will be the motto informing Year 16 of the Blog.

In that vein, my book, which has been rumbling along in the background, is going to be a dramatised autobiography. I have quite an interesting, romantic, dramatic story to tell. At last, I feel able to tell it openly and explicitly. I am going to spend the next few months working that theme up. It will benefit from history which is my forte. Going back to the 1950s, at last, I feel I have thrown the shackles off enough to take risks with the narrative.

I do spend a large chunk of my time in two places on my own – the Office and the Gym. My Chef/Housekeeper spends her time in the Kitchen, the Utility Room and the Ironing Room. When we analyse it, we spend more time apart than we do together. No wonder she’s so happy!

The conservatory doors have been open a lot recently as Spring has arrived. The song thrushes have delighted us with their shrill songs as they anticipate breeding season. Shrubs are bursting back into flower and bees were optimistically exploring the garden this morning.

Greece and Northern England have been experiencing Winter conditions. Two past lives that seem so far away and yet still so close. Backdrops for a story.

Monday, 11th December, 2023

A beautiful, warm day of blue sky and sunshine. Outside in the garden, chef is making turkey stock to tantalise the local cats and save our house being permeated with the smells for the next week. Well she managed to do one batch and then the pressure cooker, which is about 20 years old, finally stopped performing. We have to collect a new one this afternoon so work can continue.

Well, I thought that would be it. It came with a 10 year warranty. Pauline would be 82 before she needs a new one. Unfortunately, Chef got it home and decided it was rubbish. It’s going back tomorrow and the search is on for a replacement. I’m in the Office, monitoring the Covid Inquiry and writing my Christmas Newsletter which involves reviewing the year of the Blog as an aide memoire.

Lovely Margaret in Marsden, West Yorkshire has sent us Christmas presents – a hamper of wines and cheeses and biscuits from a local farm shop and a book especially for me.

It’s certainly nice to have got rid of him. The colour comic readers have moved on to ‘small boats’ and Nigel Farage in the jungle and other serious, political issues.

Tuesday, 12th December, 2023

So warm today. I’m going to have to go back to shorts. The neighbours are sick of me going out naked anyway. Had to take my wife to the Beauty Clinic first thing. She’s having a ‘Facial’ and not before time.

I am just the chauffeur. Parking is so difficult because the service is so popular. I just don’t understand it. Can you imagine having this done to you, Dear Reader, …. how ever much you might need it!

Fresh from her hydradermie, or whatever they call it nowadays, Chef has chosen a replacement pressure cooker which is going to cost me £250.00!! Let’s hope it is worth it.

Apart from exercise my instructions are to print the Newsletter and print the labels for Christmas Cards. I can’t even write my own name nowadays never mind write Happy Christmas. It is weird but I never use a pen only a keyboard. I am exposed as an idiot immediately I try anything normal.

Chatted to JohnR this morning. He never stops and is constantly doing good works with disparate groups of people around the North of England. At the weekend, he was organising a carol concert at Fountains Abbey and the next day entertaining a disabled member of our College men’s group in Morecambe. He puts me to shame.

A couple of days ago, he was entertaining a couple of old girls from 50 years ago. I don’t know where he gets his energy from.

Well, I’ve hit the jackpot with the latest pressure cooker as I might have hoped from its cost. It is really so much more because it steams, dry roasts, bakes, dehydrates and even makes yoghurt. My chef is positively orgasmic with its facilities. There’s always a way!

Wednesday, 13th December, 2023

Very mild but grey day. Our diaries are completely empty although we didn’t manage to get the Christmas cards completed yesterday so that is the main job. I love doing Christmas cards. Well, that’s not quite true. I love communicating with people and getting things back but I do employ a writer to … write the cards and I do employ a licker to …. lick the envelopes. I employ a stamper to … put the stamps on and give me alcohol to get over the shock of the price of postage.

My job … man’s work is to produce the address labels. I merge a database of names and addresses into two, separate printers. I use a laser printer with label sheets for the majority and a separate label printer for individual ones. Of course, the production process is a thing of beauty as you would expect.

The world is rather bleak at the moment. The shoreline is empty and forbidding. Even the gulls are flying solo. Can you imagine the desperation required to launch out in a rubber dinghy on this sort of day and this sort of sea? Even the Good Samaritan would blanch and yet there are so many, ‘so-called’, Christians screaming, “We’re full!”

Thursday, 14th December, 2023

A grey morning and not warm. We actually went down to 3C/37F. What is happening? At least we didn’t need central heating. If anything, the house is too warm. Got a series of Office jobs to do today and expecting a phone consultation from a Worthing Gastroenterologist. It is almost two years since I had a colonoscopy and the consultant advised me to repeat it after two years.

I copied in my GP and she obviously followed that up because I was walking through Sainsburys on Monday when I received a call to arrange this consultation. I thought it was a scam at first because I am getting so many of those at the moment. There’s nothing worse than being pestered with texts and calls is there? I’ve had so many, I’ve developed quite a hostile response. I was about to launch into one of those when I suddenly joined up the dots and put on my natural charm. Rather than pay for a private procedure, I am going to push for one on the NHS which I’ve paid for already and spend the £2500.00 on something more enjoyable than a camera up the bum!

Chatted to Kevin this morning about how old we are. He’s as obsessed as I am. Julie sent me a homemade card which she said featured the Boat of Garten. I couldn’t see a boat so I had to Google it. Turns out Boat of Garten is a Scottish village. Weird people the Scots!

I am now just two weeks away from hearing the results of my cancer treatment. Getting a little nervous. Perhaps it will mark the end of a chapter and Health Bulletins can be abandoned. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Had a card from my doctor in Yorkshire who bought our house in the delightful conservation area village of Helme. He still lives in Slade House 23 years after we left it but one of his sons has become a doctor and he tells me he is working just a few miles away from us in Hove. Have to look him up. Never know when you might need a doctor.

Looks like I’m £2,500.00 better off tonight. Received a phone call from Gastroenterology to say I could have an NHS colonoscopy in February after all. Really good people.

Friday, 15th December, 2023

People or places? What is important to you? Be surprised if the majority didn’t go for people but I’m always surprised how strongly people express pride in place. I was listening to a discussion on the radio this morning about people’s pride in Great Britain, in the Monarchy, in the Union Jack and in the National Anthem. I take no pride in any of these things. They are complete anathema to me. They are jingoistic symbols. They also betray any understanding of the English language.

Pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements. Nationality and symbols of nationhood are no achievement of mine. If they are an achievement of anything, it would be populist jingoism and insular self-interest. For me, it is people who make the difference even though I love places, different places, exploring places. I will leave the nationalist symbols to the Mail/Express readers of a fading generation.

I have no idea why I live in Worthing. I just turned up here and settled down 7 years ago and I love it. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to experience other places. I do but I love being here. I was fascinated to find my preference confirmed in a recent newspaper article which found that Worthing was statistically the best place in UK for longevity. We have more centenarians than anywhere else. I want to live to 100 and I’m staying here … for now.

I was interested and a little surprised to find that the city of Chester had been voted the Most Beautiful in the World ahead of Venice. Chester is lovely and I have nice memories of it but I wouldn’t have thought it would ever challenge somewhere as spectacular as Venice. That would take my vote every time. You would have to go a long way for me to beat Bologna or the gorgeous Lucca.

Maybe I am attracted to the unfamiliar, the sound of a foreign language and the challenge of a foreign culture. Maybe I am too familiar with the stereotypical Elizabethan architecture that begins to look a little too ‘tourist plastic’ to be true.

If I was to choose a photo of Chester, there are many things other than the shopping area that I would go to like the banks of the River Dee. But none of these places mean anything without people and nowhere is more important.

It’s 3.00 pm on a grey, wintry afternoon and I’ve still got my Gym work to do. Going to force myself now … well, after I’ve cleared a backlog of 377 emails. That’s nothing. I had 465 yesterday.

Saturday, 16th December, 2023

A grey and rather damp morning. Finding it hard to motivate myself. Suddenly the post bursts through the letterbox and I jump into life. I open all post, like some demented secretary, whoever it’s addressed to. There is no privacy in our house. I like hearing from people. Before the post arrived, I had contacted 11 friends and family on Whatsapp and another in France on Messenger, one in America on email and one in Lancashire by text.

Before all that, I had chauffeured my Housekeeper to the hairdressers and returned to my Office. Most people contact me almost instantly although some are not quite awake and some don’t know what to say. Some think they need something clever to respond and take there time over it. I just like the back and forth of communication.

That’s why I like Christmas cards. I like sending them around the country and around the world – to America, to Australia, to Greece, France, to Scotland, to Wales, to Ireland and, of course around England.

This morning I heard from Boston, Masachusetts, from my boyhood friend, Jonathan who has lived there since 1971. He is mad keen on boats which is one reason why Boston appealed to him. He tried to get me interested in Sailing. He was entirely unsuccessful, I’m afraid. I nearly sank us just as I did on the River Dee in a row boat with another friend. I also heard from my old Grammar School friend, Jonny, who has lived in Arras, France 1970.

We have exchanged the same card with our friends who have lived in Edinburgh and lectured in Art at the University there since 1976. One of them is retired an the other is still working in 3D design and printing of jewellery. We last saw them when we went up there about 5 years ago.

Christmas is one of those events that links people and places, activities and memories across the years. This morning, with hair newly cut, Housekeeper has been finishing the cakes. She has only made three but the main two are for members of the family.

These cakes will be taken up to Surrey. One will be eaten there and the other may last long enough to make it across the Atlantic to Florida. These Christmas preparations have punctuated my Decembers for the past 45 years.