Just outside the hotel 

Northern Ireland Support Group first meeting 

Saturday Belfast bound.

Airport via Tesco for a butty. Flight on time and its a new 737-700 so the captain tells us. 6 abreast and 25 rows - surprisingly full. Up and away Stelios offers the easy kiosk - for drinks snacks and early christmas shopping. Land at The airport formerly known as Aldergrove and am met by Jimmy, Annes other half. A fine fella ex soldier and in the PSNI, Anne was an officer too but is now a social work student. Jimmy gives me a fine tour on the way in and we arrive in good time at the Days hotel. An excellent meeting - took place, for a first one there was an excellent turnout way better than Anne had expected.
After the meet Anne and Jimmy took me on a tour of belfast. I took in all the sites shankhill, falls road, holy cross school, crumlin road, sinn fein HQ,orange hall, and several paramilitary strongholds, city hall, cathedrals, queens(university) hospitals and the peace wall. The commentary that accompanied the tour was priceless. I really couldnt get the "troubles" at all, and the it really blew my mind seeing it all with my own eyes. It really shook me.
The we stopped at the back of the Europa blled as being Bill Clintons choice but more famous as the most bombed hotel in Europe. Then its over the road to the Crown Pub a fantastic boozer highly recommended to me.
Then along the road to this gaff. Where I partook of a tasty scallops and cashew nut in a birds nest.
Back to the airport where I get nervous again being at wrong gate or whatever. The flight was cracker 30 mins and back home again. Back of the net.
A good day.

Friday Busy Boy

Off to Sheilas (mums next door neighbour - a silver surfer) and fix her PC. She had lost sound and damned if I could work out why, I ended up fitting a cheap two channel PCI sound card and that worked fine.
Then its off to Franks for a haircut and beared(thats how he spells it) trim. Feels better swear its growing quicker too. Then down to the Richmond Tavern for Evelyns leaving doo. Always feel its a managers dooty to show up at gigs like this. I end up saying a few words and wishing her well.
Then Tesco for a few bits - home and sort a few flatpack storage solutions.....my inability with wood is depressing in extremis.
Then the inevitable trip to Beas ruth is pleased with her pioneer lager which I acquired in the ship the other night. Wonder if she was when she tasted it. still she puts lager innit - so.

Thursday out with ally

Off to the anglican cathedral for lunch - which wasnt impressive but being a christian gaff everyone just smiled. Into the bookshop picked up a new bible. Then down to the speke retail park argos, starbucks. Then off to me mams see mary there then up to tesco. Good day

Wednesday Night - my greasy lover

Thats his nickname given to him by Jean. I refer of course to John "Doctor" McCoy a fine chap with a taste for fine beer and fine whiskey. we hit the Ship and Mitre for a few pints of Yankee a brew from Roosters. Pick up some gluten free gear for Ruth as well. Top banana.What a good night we had talking grumpy old man stuff.

Wednesday Night - my greasy lover

Not me greasy lover - a nickname given to John "doc" mccoy off to the ship and mitre several pints of Roosters Yankee - a top light beer. we had a great time. Fantastic time.

midwife's muse:

midwife's muse: My home pagerecommended by grauniad.

New carpark at the royal

2 quid but very impressive. Slick gaff cunningly snuck in on the old blakes site next to the olf fort which will forever be the old fart to me. Scene of many a sunday lunchtime orangejuice for me. They used to gice out free bangers and roasties so was popular with us psychiatric nurses across the road. The general staff werent allowed out or in in uniform.
The clinic was packed a seething mass of haemophiliacs and other associated iacs. You have yer blood done then then wait an hour and the results print out on a trusty dot matrix in the corner. you are then called in to see a doc to be told either you a) need more test or b) the scores are ok come back in a year.
Mums platelets were 250 normal low end = 140 mine are low at 90. So its by bye and see you in a year heres a card, and a blood form to bring back wih you in 12 months. How crap is that - I would have lost it before I left the hospital. But thats me - mum will just spend all year looking at it worrying. Bingo at the sacred heart isnt till 1.30 so I plan to dine her at Tesco Old Swan - bad news the caff is shut for upgrade - Upgrade my **** I want to eat. So we are off to sainsburys where I eat cicken a few chips and mum is happy. Then a quick whizz round the store score some cheap last day low fat high protein for freezing. Nice one.

Tuesday DIY

An obvious follow up to yesterdays flatpack shenanigans. It is not good the first bit is badly scratched right a the front and has to go back. Then my own innate inability to deal with wood never ceases to amaze me. OK with PC's and screws but wood freaks me. Still replacing the knobs on the built in wardrobes is a task even within my abilities. Ally is off out and we go for a brief walk afore bringing home a high protein take away home. hen its off a very good cell group at Mals. Powerful stuff.

Monday Half term

So like any self respecting middle class family too skint to get away we are off to speke retail park to sort our "storage solutions." Deep joy, get there in the end but its tiring we revive ourselves with coffee in Starbucks. Ally seems to have dissapeared but thats cool. We eventually all end up together for the journey home. Knowing now expense I whisk Jean to Greenbank where we partake of some mighty fine kebabs. Spooks harmless escapist telly that pokes a stick at the government (I think).

MOT

News
Interesting 1.

Carrots?

News

Sunday

Quiet start lie in and then after lunch off to the marie curie hopsice to see our next door neighbour poor lady is very confused though physically looks loads better. Jean drives back and I take the opportunity to walk afore the rain sets in.
After tea its off to The Parish for Allys confirmation. This man does the confirming. Nice bloke good talk and feel very proud of Ally who had challenged me mind this afternoon, in a minor theological discussion.

Saturday report

Jean was out with the girls so I let her kip in a bit shes off to the hairdressers then Ally gets dropped off by Heather. Jean took Ally after dinner for her hair cut some shopping and dropped Ally in Town I walked briskly down to Penny Lane sauntered along Allerton Road and then stopped for a natter to the big Ish seller outside the Iceland. The quick walk up Green Lane gets the colour back in me cheeks. Natter to an old lady at the end of our road.
Back in Tea from M&S Jean off out to a wedding and Ally and I chill.

Diary of a Fast Food Life

Diary of a Fast Food Life Interesting one perhaps I feel sorry for him after reading first post.

Friday lazy day

Spend a lot of time on the phone Rebecca from London, Fi from Jockland and Vineeta from northampton. Charidee stuff but they is all top mates too.
Mess with my Ipaq which is actually a Dell if you dont mind.
All to not much joy. Goosed me thinks. Girls come home Ally pleased its half term.
Drop her at Hannah B's, she is of to a frenzy. So presented with an opportunity Jean and I were off to the local Greek me with a psiton kleftiko in mind. (slow roast marinaded shank).
Alas the gaff had closed down (was it coz I aint been in 2 years)?
So across the road to the local french fusion sort of place. The Ambassador
Me to start Lambs kidneys and bacon in chilli spicy gravy in filo.
Followed by lambs liver panfried with caramelised onions in a rich chianti gravy, mustard mash and veg.
I didnt even finish the liver tried a bit of it all - including the aubergine fritter stuffed pepper and weird looking cauli.
It was offally good.
BTW someone asked me the other day how I live on baby food.

Its thursday it must be st helens.

Looking for somewhere to take me mam after an eternity, I decide on the saints home. An ehausting 30mins in traffic kinda made me mind up. So expressway 57 62 st helens link and we are there. Coolio.
In to some caff gaff and mum enjoys it. Top stuff. Round saint helens which has changed but is a fairly compact little town centre. Rob of robs pet supplies in the market aint there. He is a chappie I met at the quiz. Dont actually know many market traders.
Get a battery for my Ipaq which I think is ill. Keeps saying back up battery is full. Then over to more shops and worryingly mum gets tired before it becomes unbearable for me. Home then off to Greenbank for tea. Nice Kebab good support group and hold the AGM.
Off home.

Markets North West England

Markets North West EnglandUseful for mother entertaining in the future.

Tuesday - Womens hospital.

Jean had a referral under the two week rule. Quck call and we are in. Tuesday 10am. Good parking nice gaff. Outpatients - book in then ultra sound. Two camps in here delighted new parents and worried 30plussers. One bloke getting an ultrasound too - he goes red. You have to turn up full bladered and not pass water. Helps visual the stuctures apparently. Fine if yer in on time not so good when its running one hour 20 behind. Shortage of ultrasonographers apparently. Then its into clinic a confusing warren lacking clear instruction in nice lady doc and med student. Nothing real bad (good news) then more tests (not so good) and back in three. (I missed out a lot of detail.
Off to the other place restaurant to celebrate.
Top stuff. Home and Jean kips. I mess about.
Lly comes home - relieved and all seems good. Off to cell top stuff.

Monday -

Off to work into matchworks then into hammyhouse to see Janet. Had lunch with the delightful sarah and veronica and then down to the library. Pop in and pick up the Jama meta-analysis on bariatrics. Delightful stuff somehard evidence on 22000 patients weight loss and effect on co-morbidities.
Off home chill a few drinks and a busy nervous day tomorrow. Off to The womens hospital with Jean in morning.

Flybe.com

Flybe.com Very good news for me and my Scots friends.

Sunday again a tad brief

well wake up later than I should deal with chicken having cooked pork last night - lunch a little late but excellent. A delight to see Catherine our niece from Manc Land. Then dishwashing of a major scale. Off for a walk to the woods and fields - gonna buy me some walking boots - tis a bit squishy down there. Enjoy it and feel a lot better for it. Reflect on NOF gig and feel good about the world. Come home chill have good talk with Ally - the dude is impressive and is getting famous bloggers commenting on her blog. I still havent read it by the way. Chill in the evening Jean is watching kill bill which is disturbing me.

Saturday in brief

Up computer - mums - somerfield - tescos (where we had lunch) she actually enjoyed it. Mine was suprisingly ok. Big shop crew round for lunch sunday. Home chill Ally in town. Do nowt Saturday night cept win a tenner in the idiot tax.

Friday

Work - Veronica - then a walk in the woods for me. Visit Beas, speak to Mary mum is fed up - needs to do more though her physical health seems better.

Conference Thursday.

Overslept - set up laptop at stand and then off to buffet breakfast. Top stuff. Come back refreshed. Decide to focus energy on stand and networking, and chilling. Morning sessions pass by, I am saving myself for the CMOs session. Someone said they had seen him earlier in the year and he was showing a slide of me. I am dubious.
Rachel from GMTV comes in after lunch and we have a chat about a forthcoming project - nope not me - more details to follow when sorted.
We toddle off together to see the Chief Medical Officers Presentation. I liked it and yup he showed a picture of me and talked about Bariatric Surgery and how medical professions should embrace it as a treatment a small group of obese patients. Top stuff he named me and mentioned we had spoken on the same bill at Telford. Cool nice to be remembered and even though he hadnt asked before good that he is passing out my image and the message. Ian tells me later he has seen him use it several times in the past. He talks about at least five a week which I need to read and implement in my life.
Then its Tony Underwood he tells his story and I admire his straightness and inspirational sort of stuff.
He gets slammed by the dietitians in the audience for advocating meal replacement. After swapping from rugy man to pilot his weight didnt increase but body fat went right up and his shape changed. I shall be dropping him an email.
Then its into a debate led by Dr Hilary who I dont know. He is off the telly and appears to be attractive to women of a certain age. He is leading a debate which is Proposed by this chap who is controversial but says a variety of things from moderately funny to offensive. I felt a tad uncomfortable at several points. Couldnt decide if he was taking the mickey.
He was opposed by tony and Ian from here he was supported by someone different to the program. Anyway it passed the last hour.
So then downstairs pack up (most of which the girls had done) goodbye to Jane then off to foyer where me and nell are stood sipping champagne with the NOF crew top stuff. Feel we have arrived.
Then we start getting stuff ready and pete arrives takes us to the airport. Check in snack pint and shop. On to the city of manchester flown by sandy browne of VLM drink, butty lot smoother flight and then land. Fine taxi home bad. A success. WLSinfo has arrived.

We won an award again. 

Conference Wednesday

So into the conference - Doc Ian Campbell kicks off - top stuff. First session Philip James chair of IOTF. The Scale of the Epidemic. Clearly one clever man - who has been predicting all this for years. Ian tells later me this is the man who inspired him to take up the cause. Impressive mindblowing stuff and dissing the government.
Second session - Dr Julian Shield "Starting Early Childhood Obesity." Scary stuff.
Coffee time I am into the exhibition hall then and meet some old friends, Great start.
Then its in to a people carrier. Ian Campbell and These two across the mad traffic to London to This Gaff wow well impressive building . this feels well weird. A camp man leads us to a wee room where I am bricking it. A lady comes in and wires us for sound. Into the studio to be interviewed by Rob Butler for channel five news. No idea what time it is and I brick it but get through. My mother is as expected proud, other people say I did ok but when I saw it today I was my comple media self - ie cheesey smug old git. Then we recorded some stuff for Channel Five news on location in the location. Much to the mirth of munching ITN workers. Then we are off to the Green room of ITN News cable channel to be interviewed by Leyla Daybelge. That site is weird but well better than the channel five official stuff. Very beautiful people working in here. Again terrified but the professionalism of the team put you at rest.
Then its back across the town in the people carrier 20+ minutes. I am drained.
Ah well just in time for a quick bite of lunch. Two tuna steaks nicoise. Chatted with David Kerrigan - I should just explain he is the surgeon who did my gastric bypass. We have evolved into a double act where he presents the technical professional side and I do the patient perspective. We have done it a few times and it keeps getting better. It goes down well I guess. Well I enjoy it, and thats the main thing.
I get loads of positive stuff after the session. One or two interesting characters in the audience two. Some shallenging questions. We had planned a celebratory pint but David rushes off to Euston.
I catch Oliver James Who was in the audience for our gig. Good session on Obesity and Liver disease.
The its Peter KopelmanPeter Kopelman - very informative session on cardiovascular risks in obesity - heart changes (which was eye opening) reversible on weight loss. Enjoyed it.
Then Nell and Jane go off to the room to freshen up and change. I hang about, then they come down and I go change and athe etc call home.
Then its a launch of NOF training package Karen and Dympna - I will be buying one of them.
then its the award presentation. We are finalists - and we have won a special recognition award - top stuff. £500 quid good kudos better.
then its dinner smoked salmon mousse thing - v.good.
Then a top piece of fillet steak - (the affair was sponsored by the British Meat foundation after all). didnt do pud. Plenty of wine and some top people.
Then its off to the bar for a very late night - or should I say early morning.
So a couple of things that may put this into context.
The venue
The programme

Google Desktop Search Download

Google Desktop Search Download looks Incedibly useful...

Catch up from the smoke.

Got the laptop working. Seems somehow that the battery had drained and it worked first time on the mains in the room. I chilled in the room, and sleep came soon. Woke up in the middle of the night freezing the air con was mega efficient.
Started the day well with room service breakfast. Went down to the exhibition hall. People had started to arrive early, a few keen takers. Good stuff it passes quick. Nell and Jane arrive and man the pumps. The stand and publicity stuff looks great. We are the biz.. for sure ... if I say so myself.
2000 of these printed - nice leaflets
A display board ala this
festooned with a smattering of these a laptop with a rolling slideshow of people Like this. Also a liberal amount of site cards, and some BUPA booklets were passed out with an insert of NHS Surgery centre list. Top stuff - indeed.
Who else was in there with us -
Through the door on the right
Pauline from Cambridge nice lady.
Denise from gastric paing thingy this jury still out on that
Then us WLSinfo
Then DOM would like to see if websense blocks the name.
Then a mystery one -
Then World Cancer Research
Slimming world
Then Frazer and his gang
A couple of mysterys.
Then the yellow shirted - Food and drink federation.
Then some big boys :-
Abbott
Roche
Tanita
Slimfast
Sanofi-Aventis
Rosie
Appearance is by no means an endorsement or comment merely reportage.
Apols if I missed anyone
Oh yeah British meatmight challenge websense

Jurys hotel

So we flew the hairyplane. It was a wee scary propellor jobbie. Not good. Not impressed. Frightening for sure. Then it took off it was a bumpy ride, well I thought so at least. Then it was a quick meal of VAT and cheese roll and muffin. Then its down again. I am kept amused by private eye a darn good read. Land at the city airport then pick up a cab 28squid to the hotel. Nice gaff nell and pete are waiting we setup. Then retreat to the bar for a pint or two of newcy brown. They scoot I discover laptop is dead. Not the best news. Must ring ally/jean to ask nell/jane to bring laptop. Not worried - yet.

The estuary bar

Everything done getting there now. Interesting with pcts at aintree. Then home channel 5 news tomorrow. Live at noonish with ian campbell. Who knows what it wil be like. Sophie the producer spoke to me. Cool dude I am brickin it don't like flying for sure. Plus I forgot to ring me mam. Dogouse for that. Kims sister who booked me ticket has me booked in a strict vegatarian. Interesing. So its a pint of guinness and panic.

Monday - back to the works

Up after a struggle and then its on to the works. Good frank meet with Val and sort a few things out. Was late to get to Hammy to see Tony W when I bumped into him in reception - good job I didntgo to Hammy. Good straight meeting with him too. Then its over to the Bucks for lunch with Kim. Off home to see the girls, Ally was having an extraction which had been cancelled due to the dentist having a sicky. Then its a chill rround the house for all. Ally had been called a disgrace - for only requesting her exit note today. Feel like writing in and saying - get it right head of year its the parents who are a disgrace. Jean off to doctors and we got out for a chinese for tea. V. nice and I am amazed what we dont eat. Which was web enabled donkeys years ago - top stuff.
Back home and making finishing touches to NOF stuff and Jean frantically packing.

Big Plans Little result.

Rise early - mess about as usual. Ally swoops into town. We spend quality time together washing dishes. I listen again to Peter Hain getting lambasted on Any questions. Cant stand any answers though full of daily mail readers. Jean goes out in the garden I procrastinate avoiding my presentation. Think there was a somerfield trip in here somewhere too.
Ally comes in we go off to Nannas and then to Borders - starbucks closing early due t unforeseen circs?
Back home chill.

Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About

Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued AboutMakes me smile

Friday

Annual leave today - top stuff. Exit the house about 11. Off to parcelforce at the end of the M62. Cardboard Ken heading for London pass him over the counter - lady says it is taller than 1.5m I look blankly - then rememeber bags of sugar is a kilo, and a litre of wine is a big bottle. A ruler is 30cm. Thats me and metric.
I grew up in a time when measurement knowledge was limited to Info from a red exercise book. I was a drachms reams and chains boy me. I remember filling the inkwells too for us poor sods who didnt have our own fountain pen - or if you was reet posh a cartridge pen.
Anyway I wander but inky blots and the smell of pumpbags, and stretch gusset pumps (couldnt do laces till secondary school still evoke happy feelngs. Sawdust and sick, the smell of TCP.
So i go into a mild fit of panic I ring Kieran the lad is the info king. I am mobile for Hammy House. Kieran is on the case. I'm into the library and Kieran has come up trumps. Mailboxes etc provide the solution. with help from DHL. I have a good meet with Adam. Then off to drop Ken on his was track his progess by entering 3919664700 in tracking. Stop of at franks for a haircut - hes on his dinner so I take a shandy in the old bank a dreadful gaff on the high street. Frank is in good form. Off home made a todo list and ticked all the boxes thats pleasing.
Ally in late from town so me and her miss Beas. Colin and Hannah pop round later and he seems on good form.

Thursday (from saturday)

Well worked, went home called at Ma's she was out hit Tesco then spent a while gassing to a fella from the NOF's publicity people about next week. Interesting stuff. Nell and Jane and me signed up as possible case studies (hmmm).
Despite what some think I find the media difficult. And I dont do standing in my old trouser shots.
Still we shall see what we shall see. JK delivers the diesel well sorted running sweet as a nut .. respect for that. Central heating on blink (timer methinks) and dishwasher dodgy bring on the marigolds.

Wednesday report

Into work for a late shift. Val had cancelled the appt long time ago but I didnt get it erased in my diary. Team meeting and then its snowing in the server room. I have a mild attack of the water electrickery panics but all is well. Home car probs still Jk aint happy with the Rice Lane Motors mechanics opinion. Still he comes round and vows to sort it. I take it round to his and its driving like a tank (thats failed its MOT). Jean and Ally off to M&S for winter coat and confirmation stuff. I'm off to Winwick for a jolly good laff at the quiz. Mickey and Adair good laffs as ever.

viksoe.dk - GMail Drive shell extension

viksoe.dk - GMail Drive shell extension

Jenny the dietitians

Always a bit like seeing a priest, bit confessional like. Nice lady never any sense of punishment or talking down. NOF presentation Hmmmm aint done that yet. She has a student with her - all for that, clinic held in clinic 9 breast screening clinic. Not sure about that fortunarely no other patients around. Back to the works sort out some stuff then ts off to the Bear and Staff for a good laff with Kim. Talk of an alternative Christmas Lunch - venue of course the comedy pub. Must float the idea with key players.
Back to the works then home.
Website woes take up a lot of time. Jean and Ally off to Beas - tis Tuesday.

Gawd bless the NHS

Up early, car running on vapour ages to get to the petrol station on the drive diesel in then amble along to Walton. The builders now charging a pound a throw for the carpark - nice.
Ok so I know withs 25 month but its near enough. Today was my formal 2 year follow up. Though i had to wait for my op longer than most I feel I have had pretty top monitoring and follow up. I am fortunate in having a top GP who has gone out of his way to learn about my op.
I have been seen at 6 weeks 3 months 6months 9mpnths 12 and 18 months. I have been weighed had several pints of blood taken and seen the dietitian quite a few times.
(All this excludes my hospitalisation for an unrelated condition).
So arrived today weighed on 2 scales - both showing I gained nobodys sure how much. Waited a long time, made less by the company of JK and Jody.
Saw Mr K he is happy with my weight (back he says to April 2004 level??). Health outcomes very positive.
Stocktake
Medication review
Solvazinc (Zn remains low)
Zoton (routine antiulceragent)
Forceval
Adcal
All bloods have been fine apart from vit D (which necessitated course of ADcal D3) and Zn
Bloods taken today today:-
All the usual marlarkey (u+e's), FBC (my platelets have been low), Liver studies, bone studies. VitA and Vit D now being monitored in long limb Roux-en-Yers.
Discussion about plastics do I wanna chance re-referral - no - I have lost some weight, not enough and to be honest cant afford time off and still scared of hospital. See yer in a year.
I was 208kg first time I met Mr K and went up to 216kgpre op I got down to nearly 100kg when I was ill, and I looked ghastly - now somewhere round 112-115 and I feel fine.
When I had my op I was determined to reach BMI25 it was the only target worthy of consideration. Now I am chuffed to be where I am - Jody (Mrs JK ) said I would look shocking with another 3 and half stone off me - and I feel OK with it. This body aint winning now beauty awards, but its gonna do its job for a lot longer.
It feels OK with itself, just got to let me head catch up now and I'll be fine.
Off to see WRVS ladies - with their I cant believe its not butter toast.
In toSainsburys, then home to rest. I am exhausted, more so since I seen the letter from Prof Moriss saying I may be over sedated. (not that I am suggestible) OK I am.
Idle around - tesco online arrives three bags missing -ring man in dundee who rings man in van who brings it 10 mins later.
Ally at confirmation class - I lie on couch looking like ballet star her and jean go off to a headmasters talk at St Hildas. The headline according to Jean is Feed your girls well. And a sheaf of propaganda saying how good they are.(the school).
I have enjoyed mastermind and university challenge. A very early night - oh dear I am in serious be healthy mode.

Sunday usual stuff

Woke late and chilled. Despite jeans best efforts ally and I manage to be late and annoy the life out of her. We go in jeans car to ruth and pauls on a diagnostic mission. Annoyingly it runs sweet as a nut. Arrive there and discover paul forget to swithc the oven on and the preacher overrun. Dinner running late. I nip off to tesco express. Must just say that one of the mornings tasks was tesco online shop. I was mightily impressed with improvements to the interface if you are reading this mr leahy.
Lunch was a fine beef and pineappleupside down cake combo. Not on the same plate. Good stuff. Bag home and get symptoms big time from car.That needs to go back then. Pick ally up from Jens and drop her in at church.

YES, I'm their number one fan

YES, I'm their number one fan well I would be up for that but Jeann advised me to whistle

Spirit of the Blitz | Liverpool in the Second World War

Spirit of the Blitz | Liverpool in the Second World War Nannies in this.

Saturday morning comes around.

Determined to do something just with jean today. They sleep in and I surface about 8. I mess about with FURL what a dude of a tool that is. After few false starts and a fone call from uncle george we are mobile. The plan is to hit what nanna calls the. Marmite museum. Maritime to you and I. Nannie banks (rest her soul) has a bit part in their spirit of the blitz exhibitin allegedly. So we hit thew dock and admire an unusually busy river. Yachtsn ferries anda few freighter and the inevitable ferry. Much is spouted about how clean it is these days. Granted there were no mersey goldfish that as children we enjoyed to pelt with stones. It still has the characteristic whiff, that takes me straight back there. Anyway lunch is our number 1 priority. Check out a couple of venues and settle in the blue bar part of some evil empire. A conglomerfate of night clubs bars at the dock. Beer is pants so I go safe and take a fosters. Tis as predcted. And doesn't dissapoint. I have a fine toothsome crab and shrimp salad. Jean settles for a greek sald and we split a side of lumberjack chips. Most enoyable. Then its off to get this museum squared wanted to see if nannie is actually there before discussing it with nanna. Third floor and a well done multimedia show does it tastefully. I really enjoyed it and the horror of it all is well transmitted. We found nans bit emily banks with a picture of her when she was young. Pick up the reciever, press the button and hear my dead grandmother talking about how the kids were evacuated whie she was in hospital and she went and got them back have you ever been to betws y coed its grim. Even now I am filling up and it had a surprising effect on me. I had to round a corner and dry my eyes. It did surprise me for sure. The resty of the gig was quite moving too. Luftwaffe recognition photographs. Liverpool police pics of bomb sites and most telling a map that pointed out were every bomb dropped. Interestingly the durning road shelter bombing which me dad always talked about was well documented. It was the single biggest incident of the blitz in lpool. Its a school now. Then off to the museum caff via the customs and excise stuff. that's pants that is. Off to buy a t shirt for ally and then we are away.

Friday - chill day

I want to chill today I contact JK he comes round we have a bloody good laff and go for lunch at the greenbank. Tops stuff sorted few things out lunched with Norm and as a support group venue its comin together. Crackin stuff. Home light tea. off to Beas. quiet day. Good plan to hit town today. (or parts of it anyway).

Thursday Report

Up and into work - still tired but kipped lots better. At the desk and getting stuck in - situated within shouting distance of the delightful Alison Butt - Top Pharmacist. Ploughing thro emails and sorting stuff. Getting there slowly is the answer. Understimated completely how goosed I could get. Escape to Starbucks for lunch with Kim, panini - full of fat for sure. They have an instruction book for ordering your drink - I kid you not. Mind you think their resources would be better employed on staff training manual.
Then I am bowled over with 110% customer service fandabbydoze. New blokey who will obviously be sacked ASAP for his shaming the others up attitude.Then its off to Garston , the one and only SAJMH. A search for info on Alf leads to the comic pile of poo site a) merseycare aint based there. b)it was called Sefton not Thefton and c) Sefton was knocked down a few years back. Apart from all that its pretty darn accurate.
Bloods done I head of to the cobblers in Garston - St Marys road. Those streets aint pretty.
Job secured its off to me mums where no mum is to be found. Sister is there tough and we have a sibling interaction undisturbed by parental distraction. Brother rings and its nearly like a family. Mum arrives and all hell breaks out. 4 conversations start before she enters the house. Tunnel crash, causing gridlock, ram raiders = general disgust, st pauls hospital something about a brewery, and sore feet. Her pupils are as big as bin lids. Off home and girls in. I cheat some corned beef hash off jean - an M&S ready meal which is delish. Supplemented with cheese on toast.
Off to The Dispensary it aint as good as it should be. As a boy I was weaned on Higsons and miss it terribly. Cains just doesnt do it for me. Dissapointing beer but I still manage to engage in a few.
Still what it lacks in quality beer - it more than makes up for in company - so lets go round the room and observe.
Baron Jones shooting fishing earl of Hale - his minor fiefdom. He has a brother - are they twins? I dont remember - Gareth is a cheeky chap who likes his liquor. Whats more I can make him laff by looking at him. Dr Shilcock former employee who jumped ship to south sefton - wavertree living good lad. Frank- drinks guinness writes templates for a living (interesting). Sneddo south tech married life has sorted him out. Similar for mick the head thwaite - hairdressing wind and organ player.
Then round to Johnny Mc - who jean calls my greasy lover. We have so many similar sad interests its unreal. He has brought Di his wife in too - but she cant stay.
Standing up South seftons finest Davie "Is that you Dave....Is Dave there" Graham who has replaced Ann Miney in Netherley, Andy who works with Johnny Mc, Paul Smith - who is looking ore like David Brents dad everyday. Ray Lewis from Gateacre practice cunningly pronounced gattaker to confuse non scousers. Ray lives outside the city - scandinavia I think as he seems to think a bumbag is de rigueur for a night out. last but not least its everyones fave Dave B the smiling squaddie. Good craic then off to the master chef there seems to be to many primary care staff in there and they are clearly more uncomfortable about it than us. Lots of central PCTs single handers and their practice managers/wives who are often the same. Plus the delightful sue (this will cost you mccoy) riley from dovecot and her nice doctor friend.
We have a bloody good laff it is a crackin night. Mc Coy shilcock and jones share repartee at the end of a table. Paps, onion bhaji and some tikka thats me done.
Top night taxi home shared with boys.
Good stuff.