So Retro Blogging - Monday in a view

Its Friday and I remember the blog. Grrr been too busy to pee.
Monday Occy Health - fitness to practice in my current job - Dr Hibbert is a top chappie.

Team brief planning meeting need to think about web and how we use that.

Monday night discussing changes at WLSINFO get there and star it moving.
10 meeting with Esteem least I think this is them. Slightly surreal at times talk of ginger groups and tiger teams always disturbs me. Then a working on proposals. Sarah
Support group - the excellent Jon Pinkney goes well though he is a brave geezer coming at all. I am always impressed with seriously clever people. Cock up (my fault and Jean takes my keys home) I end up leaving car and Louise drops me off.

Working hard on how I could work in the future. tough but starts to make sense.
Working from Home am lunch at neighbourhood salmon and spinach.
Thursday dietitians - Jenny is as ever excellent. work though my intake and expenditure. Need to move forward with the exercise.
Speak to JK- He has been in a crash.
Book in for a gig in Leicester.towards the end of May via Babs.
Not enough time.to do whats required.

Sunday

Jean goes to Tesco ally and I do little (nowt new there then). I prepare a fine repast ably assisted by jean. Salmon and prawn pasta ......nice. Then ally and I walk to me mums. Jean drives round with the dvd. Which I take little pleasure in installing. It goes better than I thought. Whether kathleen will be able to use it is a different matter. For some bizarre reason I end up going home in my sisters car. But it gives us the chance to talk about mum.

Saturday Am

Got to bed about 3.45, Breakfast with Tom and Dave

Attend a session on choice with some interesting points then a good session with Cary Cooper interesting stuff about work life balance. Then its away home.
Stop at Charnock richard take on some food. just relax greatly driving home. Arrive home and chill a bit. Then its pick mum up and off to B&Q, and WHS at Speke. Then Somerfield then chip shop. i have a piece of fish for tea. (plus a few chips), Tres bien we relax watchin Parky and chillin.

Friday the pressure builds

A good traffic flow only a minor prob going from the M58 to the M6 it was caused more by me talking to Rebecca. Manage to sort out a heap of business on the way up. Get to Blackpool in about a hour. Arrive ring Kim as prescribed, she is no where to be seen. Go and register can't check in. Bump into a few geezers. Sort of dawdle around. Lunch with Fran and Amanda. Meet more, planned tpo go into a session on GMS but people have it covered. The guy who was meant to deliver it didn't turn up. I hang about check out the conference exhibition. Then a walk along the promenade. Big match nerves build up. Cardboard Ken is smuggled in. Surprised to see stella with ann and kathy. Coffee break arrives and its in to the hall. A very good AVA man wires me up with a radio mike and pointer.

Coffee bit will be online soon too
reak ends and a DOF from Manchester chairs my session. Tony is a nice guy from Warrington who feeds me a couple of easy lines. I ease in and it goes fairly well quickly. Get the impression there are a lot of no-shows still Friday 4pm whaddya expect?
Still its a good session I over run a bit and I need to gallop the last few furlongs. A couple of issues overlooked but the laffs and serious message formulaic approach seem to work. Some good questions and a few people come up and make very kind spontaneous comments. Afterwards its up to the bar for a pint with tony and some other finance people. Then back to the room chill phone the girls put CK away get a bath get the penguin suit on. Decide to jib the reception with the mayor and meet amanda and fran in the bar. Into the dinner on table one with Kim Sue and the comittee gang. Inbetween Dave and Tom two St Helens lads - both accountants. I think of it as missionary work. Decent geezers - who like their sherbert. OK meal asparugus and leek soup steak and fancy veg followed by profiteroles. Then its up and down stairs bars nightclub dancin drinkin too late. Several very bevvied people telling me they appreciated my talk. I stay up far too late.

Blackpool friday

Start the day in fine fettle fluids food and the other f word all happen in the correct order. Girls get off out and I contemplate the day ahead. Jean has packed CK for his day out and I sort the rest of the car. In a moment of insanity I sort both the dishwasher and the bin. I look at emails, medicate then its off to Franks (barber) not hair dresser. Frank is still in bed so peter performs. He is on good form with a loud account of his recent kidney infection. He proudly proclaims the viagra like side effects of said drug. Back home and fiddling about. Finally set off about 10.15 via the works and pick up the cable.

Thursday lunch

Nannies bday into the works ferret about sorting some essentials. Tedious but required. Then lunchtime off to see me mam. She is still coping well so a quick butty and I whip her off to the post office in copperas hill. The queue centre of the world.

Get a few mails then take me mum back home. Back to the works for a delayed though very useful meetng with Val. Then its off to Broadoak for Rob Pooles leaving doo. Not recognised by 75% of the room. Who give me strange looks. Gordon is there sheila Ann Criisell Aileen and loads of other names from the past. Get home and chill presentation bxed will be online later.

Gmail - Inbox

Gmail - Inbox I sign up for gmail - interesting.

6400

monday

3983 pants

Holiday club

Ally has been ther so I am invited to see the service at All saints walked bk home bit of a panic over lunch but we got their.Me mum and Sue came. Goood time then I wlaked memum to allerton road mather avenue, allerton road,balantree and up to Caldys.get home and dissapointed on got to 6272 by 6pm did it 1028 me self so a low 7300.
More work on the presentation and its getting there.

Saturday night

10006 well in result goosed

Saturday LIDL what a shop

Up at 9 mess about off to copperas hill wait in Q for too long then its LIDL looking for cheap boots as advised by Doc McCoy - unlucky sold out. Then off to Tesco. Good shop in the Q behind Mp for Liverpool South which takes me to this inteersting place - whips makes me think of house of cards Her current job. Would it be an invasion of privacy to comment on her shopping?
Having been looking to up my pace total I lose the car. Reunited I get home eat lunch. Then get to work preparing talk for friday. Again seeking paces I trot to the top to spy out our potential venue for our treat. Then down to the fiveways upp to the Somerfield. Few things missed from Tescos and then back the long way. Good meal in the great wall Early evening - treat by mother in law. The drop her off and back home James Nesbit was on Parky. nice bottle or two of Golden Glory top taste of the mo.

Friday

So Friday AM the works in the morning lunch in Starbucks with Kim. She asks if I wanna run through my presentation for Friday I never done that before - she has me worried now. She tells me the room will be laid out cabaret style this worries me I prefer speaking to classroom style but being in an audience of cabaret style. Back to the works for a meet with the excellent Maurice Smith PEC Chair. Then its the arrival of the new 3G card cant wait to try this number. Home via mothers. Set up the 3G card it is steaming. Impressive. Jean is off out to the Childwall abbey and me and ally off to Beas. Back home RNY chat.



5878

Thursday

Into the works relatively early and then straignt on the phone to Surrinder from CHI who are now part of The Health Care Commission tough stuff. Then its in to a meet with Julia Wilson from INPS who is a top person. She has a fine product too. Then its a dart to Copperas Hill on the way to Hamilton House for the Health and Social Care. Bit dull but necessary and I speak to a few people I aint seen for a while. Including Professor Ruth Hussey The medical director of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority. Top doc. Then its back to the works.
Called in at me mums on the way home.Watched ER and did computer stuff.

Pedometer arrived put it on 8pm 2206.

Wednesday work

Arise Jean gets in to work Ally and I mess about getting ready. I cant find the bit of kit I put in a safe place last night. Grr I drop Ally at holiday club then shoot back no luck. See that I remember Jonathons holiday egg ( in a non-religious way). Get into work and get into the groove strangely quickly. Good meetin about EMIS and then into writing a paper on the Information Governance toolkitGood to our own in the top 5 from google. Have to say the NHSIA's website is poor in the area.
I go for a walk wih Andy over to the Speke retail Park. We look like a funny couple as we meander thro the electrical stores then into the new M&S. Spy a bargain in Comet and plan to go back later. Checkout the meal saver and then its back to the gaff and more stuff. meeting about phones and Then more IGT.
See Val and back home. Ally out at Lizzies, me and Jean quick turnaround. WLSINFO crashes andd the techno assures me it will be up in 15 minutes - pah. Jean off to Aunties Wyns - she lives in Billy liddell towers or somewhere. Ally and I shoot to Comet Score a Canon A70 for a stonking 179. Borders and Nannas. Mum had a good day out at the bingo. Get backand there asome very cheesed off members. I fiddle in there but cant get it working.
Grr

Rest of Tuesday Night

Jean says we shared an Easter egg but I aint. we watched Hawking I remember that. Hmmmm chocolate thieves at work??? I dunno.

Tuesday Last day of leave

I check in with Janet to ensure she thinks I am off. I bum about the house early AM and Jean goes for a training trot. I suspect she may have overtaken my fitness level. She is only off for the morning so she is scoots Ally is at holiday club. I ring the The Commish and get the good news that the charidee status is at long last complete. Shock. Ally comes home and I shoot to the post office box at copperas hill. Where I witness a poor postal worker besieged by people angry the office shuts at 2. People are pleading with hime to just get their "packet." He invites me to join I tell it aint his fault, and ho hum away having wasted the best part of an hour. I spent the afternoon playing soliciors and doing the probate gig.. Get home and Ally is off out to the flicks. 52nd State or something. Jean and I enjoy a curry tea, and I watch and follow neighbours.After tea Jean goes to get ally and the gang from the flicks I take probate gear to Nanna for checking signing etc.

Monday afternoon

Ally is off to sort the church hall and jean on a half day. Pick up Ally then Mum and its off to the Marys. Nice time game of cards with mummy and brother and his partner happy. Such a good result back home great lunch. Take a few tipples. I fart about'intrnet.

Lookers e-business my bum

I tried to book the car in for a service online. What you get is an email back saying some one will ring you trying to sell a car -pants or what.

Want one

http://www.sterlet.com/

Charity Status through at last. Pleasing news.

[Listening to: In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett - Classic Rock 1965 (02:28)]

A bit of Jools in the mornin.

[Now playing: Track 1 - Unknown Artist - Unknown Album (7/17/2003 21:18:27) (03:41)]

well media player says its Jools onest volume 2. Good stuff.
I start an esoteric search of resources online which takes me up hill and down dale, in an informatics sense. I end up logged into Aditus and Sheffield University at the same time. Sad I know. Which reminds me I need to tell em at Sheffield where I am up to.
Get biting into Obesity Surgery and get a hint of hope with the promise of five articles free. i sign up through Emerald which is pants. It seems to contain links to all sorts but not the one I want. GRRRRRR.
Walter Pories gets me thinking, he is the american pres of their college of bariatric surgeons. He makes me think that by calling the site Weight Loss Surgery Info I may have shot meself in the foot. He expounds that its about much more than weight. Which talking to the "oldtimers" I have met it certainly is. reas it yourself in their
freebie

Ouch

I must have banged my head when I fell off the wagon.
Downsides hangover - very strange dreams.
Upsides Good bowels this am! Cheese helped, I am sure.
So under the influence what did I do Jean was spellbound watching the Masters I sat and surfed merrily. In a drunken blur I had a root around the updated Aditus site. Nice I wonder about the image stuff and using the pics in powerpoint presentations.
I wake up planning a presentation in Blackpool - must look for more pictures today. I also need to find some stuff about costs of ops.
I remember dreaming about party sevens I think it was watneys, they were big tins of beer in the 70's Google cant help much but I come up with Beer info which I of course have to read in full.

Digital Camera Search continues

I had a read of a magazine and a talk to Paul. Looking for a new camera under 200 squid compact flash compatible and a manual mode. A review search takes me here Five star and the Manufacturers website.
Just need to find it cheapest now. Lets see.

What did I do before I set up WLSINFO

I have remembered. I took perfectly functioning hardware and software and made them do things they were not designed todo. I would spend hours on end taking working systems and causing them not work.
I registered many aeons ago at Demon Internet I had a dial up 24000bps modem and loads of time. I used sit for hours typing kick smtp. I remember the internet before the world wide web. If you wanted to see a page you sent an email they would attach a copy and reply. I developed my own suite of GUI web internet tools they day before demon released there own. Still I had fun and learnt loads.

A fine lunch then guts kick off

Turkey and lamb went down well. Followed by sticky toffee pudding - delish. A fine repast too many easter eggs in evidence. I wonder if as an obesity ambassador//advocate whatever I can endorse easter eggs. Sod it I'll just have some, I guess they are OK for the average population but not for me. My bowels certainly aint right after lunch and a strong local wind is in evidence. The amphibians in Pauls pond object and I even frighten the goldfinches off. I stink. I walk alone to my mums it doesnt take long as I am self propelled ona acrid trump gas.
Jean and Ally drop Bea off then pick me up. in the sanctity of my own home the problem is solved I think. But the avid blogwatcher will recall I made that claim earlier today.
Mess about with PC's Grrrrrrr - laptop cant see anything past its own nose. Cant get files from there to desktop. Getting cross now. One benefit is I find Jools Holland CD trapped in docking station - one mystery solved.

Happy Easter

[Listening to: cornershop - brimful of asha - - (05:14)]

Get Easter movin. I have found a lot of tracks that have been hiding somewhere.

[Listening to: The Queen is Dead - 07 - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side -(03:19)]

Morrisey making Telly and media appearances again. Hmm.
Constipation is the theme of the day. Woken several times in the night with abdo pain and all is not well. I have increased exercise fluids fibre. Only change we can detect is reucing fat intake. Jane a good friend sent me some vitamind and warned they may cause said effect. But I suspect the fact I have ingested none clears them from suspicion.

[Listening to: Heaven's Love - Jon Anderson - The More You Know (04:18)]

Good news 11.10 the levee breaks success. Smiling now. I arrive back from the bathroom and the media player is playing

[Listening to: Water Music - Handel - (07:49)]

. That makes me smile though that gentlemans firework music may have been more appropriate.
I need to get into a serious groove now. Jean has gone out on a serious walk, Ally is cranking up some serious dance music in kitchen so I scour this list and come up with

[Now playing: Yes - Homeworld - Handel - (09:31)]

which though very late is passble.So Easter Sunday -off to Ruth and Pauls for Lunch walk to Mums quick check then back here for a chillin session. Need to go and remind Ally to start the bathing rota. Otherwise Jean wil get back in from her walk and I'll be battered. Tis done she aint impressed. Ach medication here is Jean - oops I predict batterings.

[Now playing: Stand By Me - John Lennon - (03:24)]

[Now playing: John Lee Hooker - Mr. Lucky (with The Robert Cray Band) - - (04:41)]

Listen out for the thud this evening as Jean and I fall off the wagon

[Now playing: Streams Of Whiskey - The Pogues - The Best Of The Pogues (02:33)]

everything seems to talk about drink. I am reminded about U2 days and this grabs the fire

[Now playing: U2 - War - 01 - Sunday Bloody Sunday - - (04:40)]

good album and excellent docudrama as I recall.

[Now playing: (The Smiths) - cemetary gates - MUSICMATCH - (02:41)]

bit more manc. Groovin now setting up firewire between laptop and main server - dont ask

[Now playing: In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett - Classic Rock 1965 (02:28)]

quick follow up

[Now playing: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Double Trouble - (02:52)]

Its grooving now I cant get the two bighters to see each other let alone speak .

[Now playing: Champs - Tequila - - (02:13)]

[Now playing: Big Joe Turner - Shake, Rattle and Roll - - (02:55)]

further frustration they can see connections now but not each other

[Now playing: Heart Attack and Vine - Waits, (04:51)]

Compost corner

This came in the Merseymart who says romance is dead I order one immediatly for Jean. Easter eggs are full of calories. I get a pedometer from Move4Health

Saturday Afternoon - serious stuff starts

Jean is off to Tesco so my computer fun continues. Jean returns and then its lunch and she and Ally are off to the Crem (Her Dad not my Nan or Dad). I fiddle on the PC and write my new biography for conference blurbs.
T|hen I set off for the gym The delightful team of Kath and George in situ. I seek advice from Kath regarding my 5k plans. Extend to 4k and aim for sub 10 minute kilometres. Last year I was aiming for 5k in an hour in the gym so I am doing better. The presence of Tony on the adjacent treadmill gives me encouragement and I jog along almost slipstreaming. Feel knakkered by the end, but good. 40 mins 4.1k that'll do me. I jib the rest of my cardio and do a bit more work on the top of my legs. Have a good chat with Tony who works in youth justice and he delivers some sound insight to deprivation in the Wirral. Most people think of delightful villages but some of it as socially deprived as Liverpool.
Pop into Mums on the way home she is in good form and has been to Crosby shopping with Mary. I go home via Somerfield and then its Chinese takeaway for tea.

Saturday Morning

Easy morning looking at the corporate cup stuff. It hits with a jolt the first one is 26th May 2004.
Here they are.

St Helens 26/05/04 7pm

Oldham 30/05/4 11am

Wirral 06/06/04 11am

Knowsley 04/07/04 11am

Sefton 14/07/04 7 am

Liverpool 12/09/04 11am

Cheshire 03/10/04 11am

And 2 more I dont know about - yet.

Oh dearie me! Jean and I plan to do all seven mebbe all nine. With just the Liverpool one sponsored for the charidee
Spend the rest of the time listening to Rossy and reading the Grauniad

[Listening to: Let's Stay Together / Al Green - Pulp Fiction - Music from the Motion Picture (03:17)]

Media Player cntinues to mystify me.

[Listening to: (Pogues) - Streams of Whiskey - Pulp Fiction - Music from the Motion Picture (02:33)]

Big regret never seeing Shane and the Boys live in 1988 I had tickets too.

[Listening to: Let's Stick Together - Bryan Ferry - Street Life: 20 Greatest Hits (02:59)]

Media Player cleverly loads track data fot the album. That is clever. Saw him live in Tatton.
Never saw angus and the boys but used to loce this track for air guitar

[Listening to: ACDC - Highway to Hell (5) - (03:59)]

I remember this gig 1975 1.20 blown away

[Listening to: The Lamb Lays Down on Broadway - Genesis -

So before I go

[Listening to: 747 (Strangers in The Night) - Saxon - The Ultimate Collection (03:44)]

A John Dicks memory - we loved denim and leather.
and the very last

[Listening to: Prince - Kiss - (03:45)]

Back of the net

Got it working Am I a soft old git or what took me far too long.
But as ever got there in the end. Just need to get Lila off the site involved and get her running the gaff.
Get this sorted. At long last here it is Obesitynews

Friday PM

Mum was doing Ok she is still tearful but what is to be expeceted. We are taking her to Marys on Monday and we are at Ruth and Pauls on Sunday Lunch. Mary Poppins is on and Ally and I are still wowed by the fantasy scene with the penguins. Oh Happy days when DVD meant Dick Van Dyke - he gets on me pip for sure. We shoot to Beas we are the only ones in residence Ruth and Paul had taken her put for lunch and Colin and the girls were out for a full trip somewhere. Back home and enjoy No Angels which was moderately amusing if farcical. Jools Holland was top on Jonny Ross.
I ess about with blogger and blogspot plus to get my obesity news site setup still aint working. GRRRRRR.

Arnold Palmer's Pro Shot Golf.

Arnold Palmer's Pro Shot Golf. Watching the golf drew me straight to this, boy I was glad I found it. Minded me of another Johnny seven I always wanted one.

Is it coz Billy Gates wants us all to use Front Page

Oh dear last time I felt like this I learnt .asp I am a sad old chappie. Think I might learn raw coding and get into some bonza html like Kieran but he really is sad. In the nicest possible sense of the word.

XML fun

will this pleasure never cease....I know how to have fun....
Sad innit

Graph Test

I can't get this to workgraph And whats funnier is I dont know why.
Dont like that

Blogger FTP sweats

I mess with my blog this customisation in extremis deep headaching joy. Jeans asleep so I cant even tell what I am listening too but I am tryiing to put a link from my blogger to an interactive web graph of my weight.
FTP gets me down but Blogger recommends this Librarystuff which leads me to this Rare gem. But doesnt further m cause at all.

Good Friday

Mess about tarte Normand for brekkkie which is always good. A few phone calls couple of posts and I am off on me holidays. So what does a jolly webmaster do on his stay at home hols.
Catch up with Blog essential gear. learn how to put pics in blog cool stuff. Then lunch, smoked salmon and Prawns I am in the catholic groove then Ally and I take a stroll in the rain to Nannas its about 3 miles last time I walked that far in anger was about 1977. Get back from Nannas and its serious internet fun. By which I mean no outlook and no wlsinfo. Mebbe no obesity though whilst at me mams I scan some photos of my early childhood to scan in for the blackpool gig.
Billy Gates media player OK it maybe so easy you dont need help but can I work out how to do playlists can I nothing. There seems little or no online help. I always knew I was a Winamp boy at heart. It makes me mad.

Thursday

The morning after - feels a bit funny to be onest and after a lie in we chill. Ally shoots to town with her mate. We get rash and go the gym together. I think Jean enjoys it.

[Listening to: Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes - - (03:40)]

It goes well and we lunch together after followed by a trip to ASDA sefton Park. We have a good time. Back home Jean has a deserved kip me and All chill then off to Nannas via Borders. We purchase some John Lennon, Some rober Palmer and I indulge myself with Children of the Stones DVD. Nanna is fine Mary has retreated home, I go to the shop over the road from mums and realise how poor the area is becoming. Back home frozen chilli and telly planned but business drags me back to The Site. Sleep on it and things will look beter - done what I can.

[Listening to: Working On The Highway - Springsteen, Bruce - Born In The U.S.A. (03:15)]

Wednesday 7th April Nannie Banks Funeral.

The day starts with the post. A touching letter from a woman who suffers with Bipolar and read my piece in the Standard and is unable to come out at work. Not sure how to respond.
Then its a quick dash up to CPA to see Sam and 3 bacon butties from the coffee shop on the way back.
Get ready at home then its down to Nans after dropping my car at the Devonshire. There is a crowd on the pavement and mum is distraught. To be honest I just say hellos and sort the cars then wait outside. Mum is wandering up and down the drive wailing - not good. I am one minute away from calling the undertakers when the hearse appears at the end of the drive. I had feared that they had gone to my home address and we striking fear into the hearts of our neighbours by asking for the customer. The hearse and the three limos then take a left and motor into the next street before reversing into the drive in perfect if slow formation. A sort of slo - mo red arrows of the funereal worls I was impressed.
The undertakers is sixty something with a fine grey tash with a yellow smear that can be only be a sign of too many rollies smoked too close to the bone. Me mum is bad and gets worse when they open the back of the hearse I bundle her into the care and its off to Sacred heart - in the third row of thumbnails for the mass. I see Mickey outside the church. We are off we stand as they carry the box out, Father fitz approaches us and identifies himself to me mam. Nice guy into the church, plenty enuf there. I sit at the front next to me mum preoccupied with how to get ot for deliverey of Eulogy. They cover her mersey coffin in a white cloth a "pall" to represent her baptism. And place on a photo a cross and a knitted doll. Jean reads from scriptures. Good service quite unlike any mass I have heard. The children including my mum help get the offertory together. This is in fact the communion kit. I resort to my trus rootsand give take the sacrament. Also seeing it as a god send to relocate at the end of the pew so I can dart out. I get up and deliver my talk. Heres the notes though i must admit to reading far more than I usually did.

[Listening to: All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan - Best Of (02:32)]

Not sure if I prefer this or James Hendrix version.

My Nannie Banks.

Everyone here will have their own memories of me nan, to some she will be Emily, Mam, Mrs Banks, or something else. To me she always has been and always will be my nannie banks.

Born in 1912 lived though two wars and had a hard time bringing up five children she was a woman with a sharp wit and a tenacious character. I only knew for less than half of her life, but she has always been a part of mine.
I can remember earliest thoughts of Jubilee drive and presents and always getting "mugged" by me nannie every time I saw her there would something for me. She always wanted to give me a drink a biscuit or something else to eat. I remember helping her in the shops and her astute sense of business and a deal. She always liked a bargain, and clearly her early struggle for cash had made her very aware of the value of money.

I remember tales from the blitz about when the bombs were dropping, and a bomb dropped at the back of the house and the family had to move out., and it scared me as a child to imagine the horror. She was proud to be interviewed for the Spirit of the Blitz exhibition at the maritime museum.

I can remember going on Holiday with Nannie Banks and her liking a night out, she was a great person for company right up to the end of her life.

I remember going to Jubilee drive on Christmas day or boxing day picking up presents and going for a drink afterwards, on Kenny.

I remember her and Pat coming to me mums on a Tuesday then going off to Garston Market, searching for bargains.

Since me Dad died her and mum became closer and visits become more regular her ability to get out, went down but they still enjoyed a visit to McDonalds or wetherspoons.

My nan was frustrated with her being almost housebound and proudly maintained her independence to the last. Though always cheerful and making jokes, telling stories she was in almost constant pain. Her joints, leg ulcers and other illnesses gave her a terrible time from which she is now relieved and at peace. My faith tells me she is at peace in heaven, and last night someone told me that faith doesn't offer a bridge over troubled waters but helps you find a path through them.

As I have been sorting out Nannie Banks affairs I feel I have got to know more about her and about my aunties, uncles and even my Mum.

I can remember several times listing her grandchildren and great grand children she was keen that they all got remembered. And it would make her proud to know that several of them are all over the world at the moment, serving their queen or taking a holiday.


In the echo advertisement I put Mother of Kathleen Pat, Betty George and Ronnie, and grandmother and great mother and didn't list the names. I didn't have the space in the paper there are too many of us.

She would have been pleased to see all the faces her and the lovely flowers and I am sure you will all have your own memories of my Nan. Please remember her as I do with a smile.

On behalf of all the family I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for coming today and for all the kind thoughts and wishes. I would also like to thank Father Fitzgerald for saying mass today. Thanks to the doctors and the nurses who looked after Nan and for Doreen and the other carers, who were all greatly appreciated.

Thank you all.

God Bless you Nannie Banks



Nannies 90th Birthday party April 2002

That was at the Knotty Ash, located near the legendary home of Jam butty Mines made famous by Ken Dodd and his diminutive buddies.. They tortured me in my early youth. They live actors were mmostly girls and there was a comic each week it was utter drivel. More amusing is on the Liverpool A to Z the place nearby is known as Little Bongs which always makes me smile.
Anyway back to the mass the gig goes well and the incense and water is there I think my mum seems palpably better afterwards. Then its off to the crem I looked for a link for springwood crem but Google brought me back here. OOer spooky iterative loop???
We take a circuitous route to avoid traffic I guess and pass Moscow State Circus. which are camped in Sefton Park. Arrive at the Crem there are two chapels several people at the wrong one. They are called parsley and sage I think or two herb names anyway. In to the crem few extra faces there. Five seats on the front so I retreat to the second row and support me mam. She is ok ish till her brothers break down then she realises that the coffin has gone and she is better. We had chosen My way by Frankie for the final music. i was a bit unsure it could go either way. But its a success and Nannie always did things her way.

[Listening to: My Brother Jake - Free - Ultimate Rock 2 - Disc 1 (02:56)]

Then its in the cars after a fag break and back to the devonshire very quickly. I am hungry and dry. I need the toilet too. i guzzle about 3 pints of water. and then start on the fine buffet.

[Listening to: Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode A - - (02:47)]

The room was a bit tight but right, the other room available was far too big. I struggle with the food as people are chasing me. Ended up getting a piece of chicken stuck but should have known - my own fault. It goes well Uncle george raises a toast and all works out well.

[Listening to: Alright Now - Free - (05:33)]

[Listening to: Skating Away On The Thin Ice O - Jethro Tull - (03:27)]

SO there I am blogging away and the phone rings and I get ddistracted. Media player shuffle groove as taken me to

[Listening to: Miracles - Hot Chocolate - (04:04)]

Errol Brown hes taking some elixir of life I am sure.
Anyway doo goes well mum scoots off about 4.15. Jean and Ally scoot at the same time. I pay and hang round a bit longer. the drinkers have gone to shorts so I am off. Get home and collapse into bed two hours kip. Feel refreshed, tagliatelle. Mickey rings then its off out for the Winwick quiz. Inwhich we come second. A great night with Mickey and Adair as ever.

[Listening to: At Seventeen - Janis Ian - (03:55)]

They are showing a history of Winwick Asylum written by Ken Lewis which I must get a cread of Kieran will have access I am sure.

Tuesday

Happy Birthday brother David - I left a card with some token for beer in you at mums. Given this week I realise next time we catxh up maybe the funeral. How old is Dave? well Mary is 10 years older than me and cunningly looks younger than me.
Dave was born in 1968 my mathemtics is poop but does that make him 36? Hmmm I dunno still I still think of myself as 22 so he cannot be 36.
The day starts with the Heads of Informatics meeting at Hammy House I surprise myself by arriving on time for a 9.30, better still it starts at 10 so I make some calls. Funeral planning looms large. Heads goes well No Nick No Fran but double Bob on top form and Adamski D with an HR geezer talking about Agenda for change. Being a union activist I find UNISONS take.
Surprisingly ASSIST "a professional association for those working in ICT and informatics in healthcare and social care. "seem to say littl about it, and their web site is pants BTW. (I claim an interest as I was a corporate member and am speaking at their gig in Blackpool). The toddler org UKCHIP doesnt seem to say much more though I aint fully delved its long list of pdf's.
Off to the Bridge chapel for an HR organised event on employment law. Its great to see loads of people I havent seen for ages. The lunch is good and as a veteran of organising events I sense all is not good. The two organisers are staring out of the window and look anxious. An estate car screams into the car park and a harrased looking chappie scoots in dragging the hugest lookng bag on wheels I have ever seen. He is emlyn from Mace and Jones. He hands out a load of packs and its make oor break time. He does well and engages the sudience in a potentially dire subject. His style is different and he plays the local boy card a lot. Still managed to keep me going till the first break and the session was way too long.
Back to the works and signing of papers. back to Mothers check things are ok there. Make final calls and securing music for crem is sorted.
Home - quick tea. NHS net broandband link workin well. (Non Techies wander) Only prob is PS/2 USB keyboard mouse KVM switching probs (non techies come back).
Off to cell - its a good one. I could have been really geeky there and wrote XML tags round that -I'd show what that would look like cept a most of you wored be bored and this software accepts XML tags.
We discuss my plan for tomorrow and I need to mention my faith. Scary stuff.

Monday AM

Start the day at the works Janet is back from the sick. Sam needs a word so I drop her at CPA. My 11.30 venue is uncertain so I wander till 3 mins past 11. Janet announces its at 3TC and its about N3. Well that's clear then. N3 is the upgrade to NHS net and it means bigger pipes. The expert tells us the first wave will be known as wave one. Top stuff. I learn about voice/data convergence though it would seem I am something of an expert. One keeps making a noise like a whelp pronounced VOYP!VOYP! I later learned it stood for voice over internet protocol. Acronyms bastion of the lazy which is why they appeal to me. Everyone keeps saying a new word NOVATION nobody seems unsure but I don't know what it means. I look the verb up in a dictionary but it isn't there. DOH!
I then work from home and after 5 our new TV andvideo monseter pack has arrived. Good stuff. Monday night as ever is moderators meeting on WLSINFO and times ait the best. I begin to realise the fatigue that we all feel putting so much effort into the place.

Sunday

Its Maundy Thursday now and a lot seems to have happened since then. I think Ally and I started the day with a visit to me mums. Uncle George and and Auntie Dot had been to see Nannie Banks at Leadbetter and Murphys. I made myself available to support my mum and eat cream cakes as required. George and Dot went off to Ormskirk and I left Ally at Nannas. Auntie Mary was arriving later and the prospect of a shopping trip appealed more than coming home with me. Me and Jean chilled, Jean went for a kip and I was about to walk down to Bettys to drop off my eulogy for the priest. Then the heavens opened, Ally arrived and I went down in the motor. Went through arrangements with Betty and john , read my "eulogy " about emily out - it made me upset to see how it affected here. We sorted cars music and lots of other tuff
Then it was off home for chilling.

Easy Blogging

An email sitting in my in box since feb, from Paul B partner of Dawn the gastron nurse queen.
I paste reply for reference.
Alright geezer keep these positive vibes coming. You can be my roadie manager groupie agent whatever. I have some gigs booked/ done
Windermere gig did that last week with me surgeon mate we done a stan and ollie double act.
At this is in April Blackpool Live
This in May Harrogate

This in June Liverpool
and this in october London

See I is a busy boy but I wanna do more. If they involve taking a day off I need some dosh. Lady Clare gets cheesed if I dont bring home the bacon. The fees range from kiss me bum to a few bob more for the blackpool gig.
Will dawn be wanting me to tart it at the gastro gig in November.
ANything she needs doing tell her to let you/me know.
I have also taken up the pen
NOF journal page 15 and page 27 of this weeks nursing standard.
I also have come out about my Bipolar illness so i can get gigs talking about that - just in cause some booger cures obesity with a pill.

On a personal note health is good but grandmother died suddenly earlier in the week so its cream cakes and mother sitting for me - take care and love to Dawn from Jean and I.
BTW we gave up booze for lent and its killing me - less than a week to go take care
ken

Get the tshirts and button badges printed.

Low Wood Hotel - Windermere Hotels

Low Wood Hotel - Windermere Hotels This was where I went last week - cool gaff.

A note to Kieran

Right Loopyboy I need some help. I want to gather some soft info, I guess you would call it grey lit and its multimedia too. So its stuff like articles from mags, I want to gather it together then catalogue it and make it available. Of course this is all across the net and I need some help.
I also have some multimedia stuff audio files and video files. We also need some way of collating and distributing news of forthcoming tv and radio progs. Anyway have a think and give us a shout maybe a pint after Lent.

Saturday Pm

The walrus of love has broken out

[Listening to: You're the First, the Last, My Everything - Barry White - The Best of Barry White (03:29)]

then Shane and the boys turn out

[Listening to: Sally Maclennane - The Pogues - The Best Of The Pogues (02:45)]

all of which reminds me we need some funeral music for the crem I picked this for me Dad

[Listening to: Canon in D major - Pachelbel (04:52)]

Good tune and may get an airing on on wednesday.
I like this one

[Listening to: cornershop - brimful of asha - (05:14)]

but it would need to be the Gerry St Clair mix from the phoenix nights show
Nice tune this but no funeral potential

[Listening to: Dancing in The Moonlight - Toploader - (03:53)]

Wednesday Thursday Friday

[Listening to: Bob Marley - I shot the Sherif - - (04:40)]

A bit of a mess really all blurring into one on reflection.
Major memories seem matters funereal - it would appear that the affair is fuelled by tea nicotine and cream cakes. We sort of go into grass roots survival stuff. I keep in touch worth workwandering in each day I feel ok on a personal basis but worried about me mam. She aint doing well. The Arrangements are made 12 noon mass at sacred Heart hall lane by father fitz and then 1.15 cremation at springwood. Then back to the Devonshire for Buffet A. Nice doo. The Echo ads work out well and things seem to be going well. Nursing standard hits the shelves and I have a piece published. Mental Health a practioner turned patient tells his story. I decided to come out .... we it might help someone it helped me and B.A.D. is chronically misunderstood. Its Saturday Am and the girls are away getting hair cuts so i crank the volume up

[Listening to: Bob Marley - One Love - - (02:48)]

do a bit of easy skanking.
All is not well on WLSINFO but we can live with that.
I ring the probate office cool dudes packs in the post
I get off to the banks tofreeze nans accounts I experience the full range of financial institutions bereavement services from the Loyds - Miss Scotland to the abbey chewing gum clone. Guess which was best. I have to say the internet/telephone banking aint cool if yer bereaved though there is clearly a script. Telephone bankin post mortem may catch on Dan the Man tells me increasing numbers of geezers are wanting to pack off mobiles with there loved ones. (Oh dear - still it takes us all in different ways).
Mood music changin here

[Listening to: Working On The Highway - Springsteen, Bruce - Born In The U.S.A. (03:15)]

20 odd years old but still makes me dance. Bought a kettle and toaster anew dressing gown and Bill Grundys (rhyming slang) from ASDA my word its cheap.
see relatives a lot. Avoid going to see the priest and then volunteer to say a few words about nannie at the gig. Jean is doing a reading.
Nell and Kieran us the comments feature which is apprecated and should be acknowledged.
I hit lunch at Greenbank with Kim at Greenbank - usual stuff lentil and veg soup(odd) special mention to her little sister who has start the dimmock factor at mcnaught towers. I look forward to the full opening to the public which at current forecasts will be 2007. Just to see if either of them stil drop by here.
Organise some Jools Holland tickets for Mike and Jane Me and Jane ruth - paul is away again. Friday ends with a trip to beas.

[Listening to: Virginia Plain - Brian Ferry & Roxy Music - More Than This - The Best Of B (02:57)]

Bit of class that - remember the Whistle Test

[Listening to: Let's Stick Together - Brian Ferry & Roxy Music - More Than This (03:00)]

Now ferry I wouldnt describe myself as a fan but this is a rocker. And I have always been a sucker for anything with a bit of harmonica in - cept Wally Whyton I saw ferry in an open air gig a few years ago at tatton park knutsford - top stuff.
The shuffle button is going doolally now

[Listening to: BTO - You Aint Seen Nothin Yet - Bryan Ferry - Street Life: 20 Greatest Hits (03:30)]

as smashey and nicey dive in. I actually was in to BTO before they had this out. How sad a confession is that.

[Listening to: It's So Easy - Buddy Holly - Classic Rock 1958 (02:09)]

What would he be doing now??
The shuffle journey then takes me here

[Listening to: Siberian Khatru - Yes - Chicago of Heaven 1-2 (10:32)]

which will make one loopyboy smile.
Here you go sing along a YES

Sing, bird of prey;
Beauty begins at the foot of you. Do you believe the manner?
Gold stainless nail,
Torn through the distance of man
As they regard the summit.

Turgid or what found it at Yes Lyrics Still a helluva bass line.
Back to earth with a thud

[Listening to: Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode A - Yes - Chicago of Heaven 1-2 (02:47)]

strange to find this on a yes bootleg?

[Listening to: Banjo Guys - Dueling Banjos - (03:23)]

Makes me smiel and think of Rob O'Shea nad Burt Reynolds.

[Listening to: Beach Boys - California Girls - - (02:31)]

From there to more harp

[Listening to: All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan - Best Of (02:32)]

Leonard tries to bring me down with me

[Listening to: Suzanne - Leonard Cohen - The Best of (03:50)]

But Van the man makes me smile

[Listening to: Cleaning Windows - Van Morrison - Best Of (04:41)]