Friday and the weekend

To tell the truth I had been dreading it apologies had ben flowing in and a rather touching array of emails wishing me bon voyage. It was unclear who was organising it though plenty of people denied it. Could have been dissapointed with some notable no shows but the most important people without good excuses where there. Val Vernon delivered an excellent see ya speech including a touching piece from gary glitter lookalike Bob Steele. He couldn't be there so had sent an email. Good to see faces from mickey browne through to ann deane delia catilidge and sam howlin. Career summed up in four people. Nice gift of pc world vouchers some champers and some wine. Some nice cards and warm words. Went to pub afterwards Gordon Jones turned up got drunk went home much to Jeans surprise very early.
Woke up in good shape Saturday and made spoon for a pleasant lunch. Do some shopping and chill in our spartan living room.
Sunday up late rush breakfast cause indigestion miss church light lunch and hit patio for their price fixee. I go halves with scallops and white bait with Colin. Main course is fillet of sea bass on a pillow of prawns scampi and scallops. I halve a cinder toffe cheesecake with al. Top stuff.

Leaving do done

Went well vals speech good mine passable and within acceptable limits. OF to the atrium which is too loud.

Thursday

So its Thursday JK comes and does a few bits while I get ready. Then its off to the Swan and draw out a few bob to pay for the motor. Off to manc land and pick it up. Well pleased with my 1.9diesel scenic dynamique. Drive back home. Off to see Prof Morris at the Moss house. Speak to Suzanne who seems to be some sort of uber admin type.
Phil from cell is there waiting for his appt , have a quick natter before he goes in. I pass my time with the mersey care mag and the manuals for the new motor. It seems to have too many buttons and cubby holes. Still I feel certain I will get to find my way round in a year or too.
Prof and I pleased with progress and I am convinced that my sessions with peter kinderman are helping immensely. Continue with meds think about prozac reduction in spring. Need valproate levels doing and liver function and full blood count. Home via speke retall pick up fan heater and victuals from M+S. We have pork and veg selection. Ally has the most delicious oven chips and a steak slice. I know because I tried 4. We chill watch thing about lifeguards and little britain. We decide that it past its best and try to find something else. Thinking about speech and not short of ideas worried that I will shout Arse! At the top of my voice. Jean gives me a lengthy list of topics to avoid.

Wednesday work and a job broker.

Wor goes well but glad I am done, getting really nervous about Fridays doo. Kim says my nothing to lose speech is eagerly anticipated I have several themes running through my mind but will firm them up Friday AM.
Off to the job centre plus to see Vicki my job broker from the Shaw Trust. Sound woman and I enjoy the session think she says me as different to her bread and butter client but is willing to help none the less. Get home and the lack of furniture in the front rom is getting on the girls pip. I kinda dig the minimalist squat decor. Few beer tins and chip papers I would be well in.

Tuesday work and support group

First day at work and it flys. Louise and some others from the Sefton suite have scooted to Leeds for a course. I immerse myself in simple tasks. The hone doesnt stop and I quickly realise how hard Louise works. Lunch in the staff canteen was plop. 4.20's worth. Chicken and veg - butty tomorrow for sure. Back in the afternoon then off to St Pauls to get my eyes checked wait an hour and a half get seen by a thorough guy pupils dilated and Jean has to come and get me. Saw Dave and Maria. Jean Drops me off at Greenbank were a few members are already eating. Some great changes and some new faces. Felt v. positive. Home in cab and bed.

Monday bought a car scary.

Went to the 206 centre to buy a 406 they had sold already ended up with a renault scenic dynamique. Funky car and I am well pleased. Pick it up later in the week. Two sun rooves (roofs) and a 6 cd - see how car savvy I am.
Good natter with JK then run mum up to bank and to Tesco. Home and then nipped roundto Jacks with airwalkers for uruguay trip. Then home blooming cold. jean full of cold and didnt go to work.

FW: Ken Clare's Leaving Do

Sending you this for one of several reasons - Maybe
a) I happened across you in my now ended NHS career and wanted you to help
celebrate my early retirement
b) I thought you should know I no longer am in full time employment and I am
a hot property
c) I wanted to let you know I was lucky enough to escape early
d) I was worried you had not been invited through the formal invitation
system that has been established
e) Maybe you are adjacent to someone who meets one of these criteria in my
address book and I pressed the wrong button.

Anyway even though I have left the day job please keep in touch
If you can come on Friday that would be great
Ken Clare
-----Original Message-----
From: McNaught Kim [mailto:Kim.McNaught@southliverpoolpct.nhs.uk]
Sent: 21 November 2005 17:22
To: Ken Clare (E-mail); Ken Clare (E-mail)
Subject: FW: Ken Clare's Leaving Do
Importance: High

See below for my latest info bulletin.

Can you put something on your blog as well in case people don' t get my
message, please??

> Dear All,
> As you know Ken's presentation will be at 3.30 in Room 24 in Hamilton
House on friday 25th November. He is going to the Atrium Bar on Tithebarn
Street afterwards if anyone fancies a drink and/or if you can't make it to
the formal event. He's asked me to let everyone know but I suspect I am
failing badly in this role so please pass this on to anyone who might be
interested - I will, no doubt, have forgotten about people (early onset of
Alzheimer's and all that...).
>
> I've got a collection and card if anyone wants to contribute or sign the
card - if you haven't already done so.
>
> Many thanks!
> Kim
>
>
> Kim McNaught
> Assistant Director of Finance
>

Sunday come home Jean

Chill in the am pleasant breakfast with the papers. Clear out the rabbit with Ally. Then its off to get Bea and off to Ruth and Pauls for pleasant beef dinner. Back home after seeing Mum. Mooch round and sort Allys pc. Got washing sorted for Mr Mo the ironing man. Plenty to do before setting off to machester airport to pick Jean up. Frank rang he's got a busy week teaching at the university and I have an anxious moment with my formal retirement doo coming up. Don't like the idea of a party being thrown for me, and me having no control of the invites or

Saturday - good day

I whip Ally down to Neighbourhood for brunch. Tasty if pricey.Then its drop her in town and then off to the tip for me. Then pop into see Nanna she wants taking to Asda for a new pan - not a "shite one" presumably not Le Creuset though. She spends 13 notes which is a lot for her. I drop her at home and then the speke branch of PC world. To be onest I am dissapointed, poor selection though media pcs look an interesting concept. Then its off to M&S No Mercy branch. Could claim Kieran named that but Gordon penned the name for the North Mersey Community Trust.
Then home and out to buy hay for the boy. Then a domin pizza for tea, it was pants.

Its at this moment I realise I need a digital SLR

 
 

Friday the weekend starts here

Take mum out for a bit find plenty to do around the house mooching kind of day. New kit arrives Laptop for me, one for jean and a desktop for ally. Throw in a 19" Laptop for me and I am happy. Double specced the m,emry on the laptops.
The Vaio is a cute beast and the 3 year warranty was a clincher. Laptops.co.uk beat Dells sales line anyday of the week and the two 3g cards was worth a lot to me. Off to Beas in the evening.

Catford Support Grop Sunday 19th Nov

 
 

The Central London Group

 
 

Wednesday off to discuss a four letter word.

A meeting at 10 at Abbey Sefton to discuss work potential, and difficulties/options/solutions sounds workable. Very low level low committment stuff. Also concerned about how it affects me pension, earnings benfits etc and have a meeting at the jobcentre plus to discuss this on Thursday. Get home tired and feeling like its a go. JK has started decorating project.
Me on insurance for Jeans new car and its off to Manc airport for a flight to glasgow she is off for 2 2 day courses.

I cant believe its that long since I blogged type post

Journey home on Tuesday was an experience a combination of fear and prayer prayer won coz I got through it. The Walton to Waterloo was cool.
Then under Rebeccas careful instructions I had to go south on the the northern line then a via bank train to Moorgate. We met and had coffee and a brekfast buttie great to see her.Back on the less crowded thereful less frightening tube. the its Virgin 12.18 first class to Lime Street - crackin stuff great journey good wine good food. Home with presents necklace for Jean and lipstick notebooks and mobile phone for Ally.
Then its chill stuff.Do photos etc.

Most expensive car I been in for a while - Andrews courtesy car

 
 

Thursday

Well I thought I had posted this earlier so a bit cheesed off it disaapeared may well show later. Again up at Abbey discussing work but its a moot point till I see the jobcentre adviser - Eddie. He's a bit late and the atmossphere in Belle Valle jobbie is far from PLUS as the government would have me believe. One poor psychotic sod in front of me says he is considering MI5 as a career he has been inspired by spooks on the box.
Eddile gets me name wrong (de facto procedure for the Department Work Pensions). He is quite perplexed that I have made an appointment within one month of finishing work. Seems its a bit unusual he is also surprised at my willingness to do something. So he explains the rules of permitted work. It seems its 20hours and 81 quid a week. Seems cool to me all without affecting my incapacity benefit.
I enquire about the new deal for disabled people and he arranges an appointment with Vicki my job broker from the shaw trust. Meeting her next week at Belle Vale. Thursday night its home and a bit of browsing in Tesco Old Swan.

Pressed send instead of save.

Easily done so I continue.
Hit Portsmouth andrew cleverly avoids the pirate parking and we hit an Ncp run muti storey. Into the historic dockyards and we sign up for a 2 year season ticket each. I wasn't buying him flowers so I figure its a good gift. We hit the mary rose museum which was good and then a guided tour of HMS victory with a n old salt who reminded me of the chairman of a local trust. His delivery was initially poor but warmed up. The thing itself was stunning and it was difficult to imagine 850 men living aboard. Then we chugged along for our harbour tour which we both enjoyed saw plenty of naval ships which I was well into. I aint sure about boats but I managed ok. We had to rush for food and the selection for food was pants got two pies for 4.50. Eat them on the boat. The skipper was quite amusing and drop his mate a Quid tip on the the way out. Impressed by the spinnaker tower and landed at the shopping centre as the tide was low. Walked back to the museum and went in to see the Mary!
Rose my word it was impressive. I was dead impressed. Then we walked back to the shopping centre found a coffee shop then I went on the hunt for a pressie for Jean. Mission accomplished we went upstairs to the santa fe restaurant. A sort of tex mex gaff I opted for two starters shrimp fritter things and crab cakes the guy told me to add in some new spuds. They was good it was a bit hot. Then wander back along the coast to shoreham by Sea. Real nice pub and the group meets in the back room. Deeply moved by the warmth of welcome. Good for me in terms of feeling positive. Ann and Rick run a great group and full credit to them. I won't list people but its moving the changes to their lives that WLS has made. I won't single names out cos I am bound to miss people but met a reallife blogwatcher allison. I said I would mention you. She pointed out how much the blog focusses on food. I recall what a foodie I am at heart. Great meet rounded off by two pints of Greene King IPA. Then!
hours drive to andrew diverting to a 24 hour Tesco near where Jane li
ves. Get a few things then back home. Too late a night given the planned early start.

Monday Portsmouth and stuff.

So we left Andrews later than we planned and followed the sat nav to Portsmouth. Seemed a long journey but broken by a delightful stop at The Devils Punchbowl cafe. I must look it up but it seemed like a funky place. National Trust run caff gaff run by really nice people who clearly loved their job. The FEB was great and the locally sourced sausage was too delicious for words.

Sunday in London

We get up and hit the A3 for London we stop to take on gas and fuel for us ibhit a breakfast turnover. A strange piece of pastry with some sausage beans and a pice of bacon as well as something that was once an egg. How odd. Then into the ca again and hit London traffic we eventuyally park in somewhere near centrepoint. Walked a bit then found the cafe nero at 7 dials. Met suzannah, bobrob,trish, verity, and the londoner. A great bunch. Then its in to the merc for a sat nav journey across London to Catford to the support group. Good lively bunch led by Gill. I will throw a picture up here later. Touched by the appreciation of people for the site and what I have achieved, I leave with a warm feeling. Then its back to Andrews where we chill before eating in Si. A pleasant eatery where I do calamari and a prawn pasta thing. Back home.

Good Thai and chill

Enjoyed the food the George seemed loud and it boasts several national front members. Good pint of spitfire.Very pleasant evening just chilling and dinking wine. Feet are sore.

Good day in the smoke

Got the train in from Walton after a good breakfast. In to Waterloo then Jubilee line to Baker Street and we 3e off tio find a music shop for a reed for Andrew sax. Then into selfridges get Allys pessie then walk along and then jump a bus to a place near British Museum for lunch. Then into museum we book ito a 90 minute highlights tour with a delightful old lady. We see the rosetta stone some call stuff from assyria and the elgin marbles. There was loads to see a real wow place. I kept seeing things off the telly waht blew me away was the last room of the tour the sutton hoo finds top stuff. Backk home on the trains and I am blogging in the George wich is busy and serves a range of shepherd neame stuff so I started on a spitfire and may have a bishops finger or a master brew next. We have ordered a thai take away from the gaff next door andrew is doing his sax practice.

Walton

Andrew picks me up in his rented Mercedes SLK 350 which has a 3.5 litre engine and goes like the wind. He takes me to the thames which is 2 minutes from his really nice house. His living room is cool with more gadgets than is decent in one house. Big plasma screen and wireless media streaming. All sorts of stuff. We chill then its off to Oatlands hotel a very posh gaff indeed. Had a bar snack and a great old conversation.
Back to Andrews in the fast car then its natter watch have I got news for you and drink wine for too long. London is calling.

Didn't get any more refreshments

Still it was deffo worth the upgrade. Sat opposite two welsh speakers. Off the train at Euston northern line charing cross branch southbound to waterloo. Coolio. Up to the main concourse and 3.50 ticket to Walton on Thames. Speak to nice lady with own business who helps people set up their own business over the internet. Then its the 14.42 stopping train to basingstoke delayed due to a small fire at the side of the track. Leaves 3 minutes late. In touch with Andrew via Blackberry PIN messenger.

Didn't get any more refreshments

Still it was deffo worth the upgrade. Sat opposite two welsh speakers. Off the train at Euston northern line charing cross branch southbound to waterloo. Coolio. Up to the main concourse and 3.50 ticket to Walton on Thames. Speak to nice lady with own business who helps people set up their own business over the internet. Then its the 14.42 stopping train to basingstoke delayed due to a small fire at the side of the track. Leaves 3 minutes late. In touch with Andrew via Blackberry PIN messenger.

London bound

I forgot to mention that have been invited to address the all party parliamentary group on mens health in December cool I have always wanted to go the houses of p. Bit terrified and tjhe gig is only five minutes to standing members. (Sorry couldn't resist). As usual in a panic about getting out and probably have forgotten my meds or something. Don't think so.
Get confirmation of my pension and lump sum and its officially happy days believe me I am blessed.
Will be pleased to get car sorted out now looking at 406 estate to facilitate transport of our kid.
Christmas looks better all of a sudden. Deciding which gadget to empower myself with in Londinium. Choosing is two thirds of the fun.
Taxi to Lime street and hit Boots and WHSmith. Pick up a poppy of a royal marine and stare at it in contemplation during the poorly observed 2 minute silence.
On to the 11.15 to Euston Pendolino 1st class coach G 13A. Coffee almost straight away and then wine and water and lunch served by crewe.
A copy of the Times and free headphones. Lunch was cheddar, camembert, carrot salad and pate brown roll tangerine and shortbread. Plenty of tea and coffee one more alcohol round and still an hour to go. Well worth the 17 noted do far (and 4 seats to me self). Happy days.

Thursday doctors jack and aintree

Up with the lark and out to pick up the script. Bit of a hiccough means it aint available for about 10 minutes. Coolio I sit and blog. Then up to craigs pharmacy drop in the script and wait in hampers where I partake of breakfast. Back then pick up script see jack for an houir and a half. Top man Jack. Then pick up JK to go see sarah and elaine in the sefton suite. Most pleasant then back via the furniture outlet villlage. In the pm jk comes round to size up the decorating and stays for a brew. Discuss details with Andrew after JK goes.

This appeared on an Informatics mailing list to which I subscribe and was taken from a Doctors mailing list I think

Made me smile in a David Brent type way. Its headed Nice Lady Doctors

 

1) To save time, please remove knickers before entering the consulting room. No more than one layer of loose fitting clothing should be worn.

Breast lumps should be clearly marked. Before you ask, the reason your stomach is swollen is that you are fat.

(2) Nice Lady Doctors (NLD) are trained to completely ignore inflammatory terms such as " constant projectile vomiting", "hair falling out in handfuls" and "I feel like a ninety year old". So don't bother using them.

(3) Please consider bringing the NLD a gift of some extra strength air freshener or pot pourri. It really pisses us off that we have to buy our own. It isn't us who stink.

(4) Nice Lady Doctors have no additional training in period problems. We have our own periods, of course, but consider periods to be a strictly private matter of absolutely no interest whatsoever to anyone else, and we wouldn't dream of boring you with the details.

(5) Don't consult the NLD to discuss your concerns about the health and habits of your beer-swilling, couch-potato, half-witted husband. We can assure you that you are the only female on this planet concerned with his welfare

(6) The NLD may appear tired, frazzled or even suicidal to you. This is because she may have problems of her own. If you wish to see a doctor who can devote their entire attention to your numerous worries, make an appointment with a male doctor.

(7) Do not make the mistake of believing we know just what you are talking about. Our lives are not like yours. For example, we do not have time to consult our GP.

(8) It may astonish you to learn that no cures exist for feeling tired all the time, farting noisily, or a pain in your right ear which occurs once every 200 years. Nice Lady Doctors do not, in actual fact, have a magic wand in their desk. Weak kittens should be treated by a vet.

(9) NLDs greatly appreciate your expensive gifts and public expressions of gratitude However, offering to loan the doctor your size 22 purple chiffon Marquee style evening dress will result in your removal from our list

(10) Men should not consult Nice Lady Doctors. We will think you are a wimp or a pervert. We will laugh hilariously at your inadequate physique when we meet up with other NLDs

(11) Only use approved laboratory containers for urine specimens. Using a Bacardi miniature can put us off our favourite tipple for life.

(12) Lists should be legibly written on clean paper. Please show the doctor the entire list to increase our amusement. Expect to have at least half of what you have written ignored. We haven't got all day.

(13) Nice Lady Doctors are not born with a special slimness gene. If your NLD is a size 10 it is because she does not gorge herself on fish and chips whilst watching Australian soaps all day, and nor should you. If the NLD is generously proportioned, she probably has a medical problem with her glands

(14) Nice Lady Doctors are not clairvoyants. We do not know exactly when your baby will be born, nor do we know when your menopause will be. We do not know how long you will continue to suffer terribly, or when they will finally invent a cure for your red cheeks or sweaty feet.

(15) Nice Lady Doctors do not know for certain why your husband doesn't listen to you, or why he ran off with a neighbour, or why he never remembers your Wedding Anniversary. We can, however, hazard a reasonable guess

(16) Nice Lady Doctors will often have children of their own. Such children, will, of course, never be bed-wetters, fussy eaters, drug addicts or obese slobs because we are the founts of all knowledge, blessed with perfect lives.

 

On the road again.

After town slugged around the bed room sorting a few things. Mary rang good discussion about mum. Sorted out Christmas day I think. Then its off to new mersey retail looking for food - pizza hut and then a 3 piece suite. Our desire for a 3 and 2 chairs sets us apart and its a no joy. Blast need to go to a place on Long Lane tomorrow.

Job offers and stuff

Well I always planned to return to some form of employment but I didn't have next week in mind. The speed is scary, but as Nell said be careful what you pray for. You just might get it. Spend sometime trying to understand New Deal for the Disabled, which is more than the guy on the New Deal help Line had done. He hadn't even read the one page pdf on all you need to know about NDD. Basically uncle tone doesn't want us sickly scroungers hanging about when we could be out selling matches or summat. He will help us regain our self esteem by getting a job broker to help us polish our cv's. We will be helped to identify our marketable skills and helped on the road to recovery. Whilst conveniently reducing his numbers happy days. Ah well my first day of retirement seems to have coincided with the launch of a shop a scrounger initiative. In true self form I contemplate shopping my self. Call from caroline about the formal egg and cress retirement which it would appear will be on fri!
day 25th November and we plan a more informal celebration on 2nd december venue tbc. Pick. Mum up off to postie and then to tjs for lunch and I am in to see prof k. Good stuff. He is based ine old royal excellent use of buildings.

After Frank

I wouldn't be my mums GP for a gold clock, she is a classic "poor historian" and her bizarre communication makes it bloody hard for the lad. But he does a champion job as ever. Upshot is shes got probable anaemia and angina both contributing to her continued breathless. Also bunged up and wicked cramps. Take her to the bank, drop her script into the ghood man craig who delivers it later and call in to Tesco for a rest and a cup of tea.Get a fone call at 4.30 the pills are cocked up so i'll go and sort em tommorrow. Happy days. Will combine with a trip to the post offie and TJ's (I need a suitcase) before dropping her off at sacred heart bingo and heading for Peter Kinderman at 1pm. I go to take mince out the freezer for tea and discover that there isnt any there. So in the blue torture machine (fiesta) to Somerfield at the Clock. Decide to drop the car and scoot down to Frank. It is fearsome wet but hey who minds the rain.
peter does the deed and its back to the shops via look round wavertree car centre it scares me the man looks so nice. But he would, 5-600 for the torture car and a discount for cash know what I mean. Minded of Alexei Sayle Ello John got a new motor. I liked him, hell I even looked like at times.I have never bought me a car, always had lease things, no risk. Jeans fiesta (said torture vehicle) Was a freakin rip off from Rice Lane Motors. All classic 2nd hand car cons were pulled. Go on boys try suing me.
When I flog it Rumsfeld wants it for Guantanemo bay - it demoralises from the first glance. Let me annotate some of its design features.
It has an intermittent locking faul on the drivers door. Sometimes if its dry and sunny it opens first time. If its lashing it down it refuses to open and wont let the key out until you are wet through. You then have to round the car open the passenger door return to the drivers side remember it aint central lock and return to the passenger side. Contort way down andd lean through to the drivers door exposing yer bum crackto the rain. By now you aint in the best mood.
The you get in sit on the moist Guardian which is soaking up the latest sunroof leak Insert the key wait three days for the diesel pre warming routine malarkey to work hear three pathetic atttempts to start, just when it seems certain today it kicks in you need to rev it like mad. The cacophany of noise sounds like the deaths head hussars panzer division all starting up in a dutch town square. Then you stall and repeat.
When you get going it progresses nervously at 27 miles an hour you are rewarded with a bone shaking vibration.
It shouls be a site of special scientific interest it has its own micro climate. The inherent dampness means as soon as you start it becomes like a Amazonian rain forest. Showers occur internally. There is a piece of NHS blue roll hanging from the interior light (soaking up another leak).The heating system is the top hat - the controls are nothing to do with it. When its hot outside the heater works top whack, when its cold, yes it refuses to work. Reversing lights work intermittently.
So When I got home after cell last night with a numb damp bum wet scalp and irritable the final indignation I parked next to Jeans new C3 which towers above like a huge 4X4 - and thats a noddy car. Not happy with my motoring experience.

When we were young 

The Yes Album - Nice 

Doh!

I retired from work on ill health grounds yesterday. Everyone says I look younger/healthier  than ever, well the thought of escaping one grind is liberating. Here I am at my desk when I happen across this from the management blog. That cheered me up - not. The Management issues blog is a place I have bookmarked. Todays entry made me smile - moaning at work is a sackable offence.
I knew something was going to go wrong today after four successive interactions with customer services helplines - it was too good to be true. Which brings to mind an old favourite of mine call centre confidential sadly now defunct but still there if you need a chuckle.

Mum to docs.

Tuesday take mum to see Frank. She needs to get results of her blood tests and get something for her reflux. Her breathlessness has improved but she is still worried about her cramps in her hands.

I'm free

26 years in the NHS and they are letting me out. Ill health reitrement and my last day "in service." A weird day and I decide to grasp the nettle by calling in the matchworks for my effects. Sarah the trainered receptionist had boxed them up and she was the only soul I knew in the lifeless place. It was kinda like picking up a dead mans kit, I have emptied plenty of lockers of dead men in my time and managed to lose porn, and other shady stuff which I thought widows best not see. Sort of boring reflection that my only incriminating stuff is a collection of staples hey ho.
Then its off to Aintree for a meeting with Louise of the Sefton suite we catch well and she needs to talk. A meeting with David Kerrigan who nips down in between cases for effect. Good jangle about the charity and future prospects. Drive home and feel a sense of relief after 5.
then its off to Woolies on the bus and get some frippery. Ally and Jean get two CDs wach I get trivial pursuit and a star wars book. Then off to the ark for a mondqay night special. I do prawns and lamb steak, jean veggie filo and pork, ally mussels and seafood linguine. 15.95 two courses and a bottle of house - each - way too much wine. Oh dear and we didnt drink it all.

Weekend

Did lunch Saturday at Neighbourhood, I had a delightful if weird sounding salad. Tuna, mixed bean , macadamia and coriander may not be a classic combination but it was a textural delight.
Had a bit of a wobbly in the pm to be truthful the enormity of Monday began to hit and Shakespeare and I are frightened of the firework noises. We also witnessed a two pump incident at the back of the halfway, the area was awash with community support officers. Off to Tesco at night and picked up some bargains in hardware chuckout corner. Ally went to Sefton park to see the fireworks.
Sunday was busy making lunch did a fine job as usual varied it this week by doing a mixture of conventional and jacketed roast spuds. Par boiled maris pip[er and lobbed in small desiree for the record.
Freezer stuff made up the rest and a strawberry and rhubarb M&S cheesecake went down well. popped round to see me ma while Jean kipped.
Quiet evening.

Goodbye Zafira Goodbye sobriety

Spent most of the morning working on the PC lots to do. Useful time filled waiting for the man from Appleyards. Nice geezer wanted a chat but no tea hes a type two diabetic and had a bypass last year get his medical history in a minute. Sad to see the big blue bus go. Jean comes home, Ally gets home. Tea off to Beas Friday night. Colin comes round bearing wine oh dear, still I didnt need much persuasion. Bad lad.

Home Tired and Sober

Have decided to stay dry for November a kind of I can do it if I really want to type feeling. Feels hard but truth is alcohol cost money is unused calories and makes my moods more unreliable. I like it though - too much so a months abstinence is planned. I find abstinence easier than control - something else about my binary personality. I pick 1st November for several reasons - a) its not a Monday and b)Tuesday is a cell night easy to avoid the devils buttermilk and c) Wednesday is a winwick quiz night. As ever I feel strangely more hungover but definitely by Friday morning the smug satisfaction is creeping in. There are two tins of stella in the fridge and I open the door to laff at them. I do lunch Thursday at short notice with Kim as enjoyable as ever. She has had a 15 day stint recently so thwacking her performance is my first target. I feel more organised and able to achieve more of an evening mid afternoons finds me well goosed though wonder what that's about.
Jeans new car arrives Thursday PM. Citroen C3 Desire in Iron Grey she's made up and it is pleasing. Friday morning nice Yorkshire man takes Zafira home and I am Mr Fiesta till me money comes through. Not looking forward to buying a car.

Girls outside Mussel Inn

 
Scene of two great meals. 

Museum of Modern Art

 
Cool Gaff 

Pedestrian Glasgae

 
One spends a long time staring at the little red man here. 

Email catch up

Inbox is lookin fearsome. I make heavy inroads and deal with some stuff that's been in there so long its festered. Relieved to heard that the magical AW8 which triggers my pension has arrived and will be processed by 8th November. Ring the social about my p45 and given duff gen sort it at the customs and excise website. How anyone without internet access can sort this out is beyond. Wake Tuesday and discuss with some jerk from telewest upgrading my package. At 8.15 I ask you. Git.

Monday - slow start

Sluggish start exercise the boy shakespeare who seems to have gained some pounds. Stick out some washing and whip Ally the docs. Bit unsure what to do re shopping and menu planning. Going to try to contact pension mission control at Fleetwood a ring see what's going down there. Need to let the social no I am finishing work as well. The form looked complicated with a series of scenarios. None of which fit me. On the way home from the Docs we see a struggling old lady who turns out to be nanna. We bundle her in the car and its off to tesco then bingo at Kensington fields.

LibraryThing | Catalog your books online

Ally check this from kieran.