Musing with Nell

we are both amazed how ones mood can vary throughout the day, i think they call it diurnal variation of mod, mines more than twice a day. Got a letter to ring a guy about setting up an appt for relapse identification - will do monday.

Saturday - Aintree and Bargains.

Jean and I drop Ally into town for her usual Saturday jaunt, then its off to get Jodie and Esme - news is good from the man with many names. Drop them at the Aintree conference centre door then a debate over where to lunch and shop we agree we need to do both. My new gym routine means I could do with some more gym togs - sort of cheap would be a top priority. So Tesco Old Swan where we lunch, and get a few things but Asda Sefton Park we strike gold big boys leisure clothing at a bargain price. Whahay.
Ally brings her young man home, not sure if I am allowed to mention his name or even acknowledge his presence. (better check).
Chicken salad andthe oddly named tiger bread for tea. Why tiger bread???
We fart about sorting paperwork in the dining room. I renew my subscription to MDF ah well my optimistic thought of in for a year and bog off was optimistic. Odd they dont offer a life membership - given its a disease for life. I want to write a happy and a sad emoticon on the envelope but Jean tells me this is not on. I hae reclaimed these terms for the Bi-polar sufferer is my retort but she aint impressed. Tired and bed.

Friday - hospital visit

Gym beckons, a little harder to motivate but I get there. Lunch is running late and I go to pick Jody and and Esme up to drop them at the hospital. Having a use when you feel useless is a bit of a lift. Jodys sister is there Barbara is there. I discover Jodie has two names like her husband (well he has four, John, Keith, JohnKeith and JK) five for the occaisional J i have heard dropped in.
Much mentioned as the main in my boilers life he is in dock a triple procedure involving tightening the stomach end of his BPD/DS, repairing the mother of all hernias and and ripping off some loose flesh.He was a big lad Jodie insists I go in to see him I dont feel surea) as I feel like an intruder and B) last time I was on ward 2 they whipped some of me bowel away.
To see a big hard man in obvious pain is tough but he is getting there. His humour shines through. Go home via Sainsbury and get something for tea, then off to Beas and Jean and I pick Jodie et al up.

Friday - hospital visit

Gym beckons, a little harder to motivate but I get there. Lunch is running late and I go to pick Jody and and Esme up to drop them at the hospital. Having a use when you feel useless is a bit of a lift. Jodys sister is there Barbara is there. I discover Jodie has two names like her husband (well he has four, John, Keith, JohnKeith and JK) five for the occaisional J i have heard dropped in.
Much mentioned as the main in my boilers life he is in dock a triple procedure involving tightening the stomach end of his BPD/DS, repairing the mother of all hernias and and ripping off some loose flesh.He was a big lad Jodie insists I go in to see him I dont feel surea) as I feel like an intruder and B) last time I was on ward 2 they whipped some of me bowel away.
To see a big hard man in obvious pain is tough but he is getting there. His humour shines through. Go home via Sainsbury and get something for tea, then off to Beas and Jean and I pick Jodie et al up.

diamond geezer

diamond geezer

Soap character to blog?

Who will be the first?
Bettys Hotpot chronicles?
Charlies doing no harm in Holby?
June living with an alky sleeping with a fascist from the Bill?
The Macbeth trio from east enders.
Pauline fowler tales of woe?
Come on you lot blog - you know Lofty would have.
Wonder if Nancy fancies a go - trouble is thats her day job. She would probably blog about working the Kwik save or summat.

Enjoyed this

Random Acts of Reality Man on radio 5 - blogging has become Mainstream - I been at it for 3 years i August - early adopter I guess. On Thursday I rise at 12.15 and feel a whole lot better for it.Mooch then stroll doen to Tesco's (welll trot its freezing) I engage two lollipop operatives in conversation. Home and pray for JK and Kieran who died, his funeral is Friday AM. Chill around try to sort Tommy and Ruths laptop - it isnt easy but get there in the end. Seems to be some sort of Bill fest on the telly.

Was it Smashey or Nicey who said ....Wise Words

RangelMD.com

Monday Thro Wednesday

Feels odd, dont like not being at workbut head in a mess. Unable to concentrate, nervous of what I post here. Retreat from Website and charity stuff, unable to face that. Creative piece about wretchedness of depression is emerging inside me but the numbness of the sensations that accompany the mood stifle escape.
Ironically it seems I feel at my worst when Euthymic, the thought of a swing (either way) is in itself depressing. I gym,walk, and try to feel healthy. I strangely fully comply with medication.
Cell group on Tuesday brings comfort and support.
Take all day sorting one tiny job out.
See Km for lunch Wednesday - she understands what I am like in this mood and is very supportive. So by wednesday two workouts two lunches a cell group and a quiz. I feel a burden on Jean and wonder how to be better.???

[Now playing: Life's Too Short - Tom Jones & Jools Holland - Tom Jones And Jools Holland [UK] (04:01)]

Dr. Grohol's Psych Central - Get Help for Procrastination

Dr. Grohol's Psych Central - Get Help for Procrastination Need this

Dr. Grohol's Psych Central - Learn About Procrastination

Dr. Grohol's Psych Central - Learn About ProcrastinationGot that

Sick Leave again

I saw Frank Last Thursday and agreed sick leave is the way forward. Blogging suspended. Wen back to gym yesterday and trying to concentrate on getting healthy.

Protect Bloggers

Where do days go

Was busy at work then it was the weekend. Monday sees start of leave and Tuesday Normas funeral. I feel for her family and wish I had words of comfort. The Christian emphasis of a touching service on a beautiful clear days gives me hope, though things must sting bitter for them.
The website is pants our host are pants I get emais which I cannot believe from their tech support. I get conflicting advice. Maria still in and mum and dave clearly up the wall.

Thursday

Forgot to mention I had been talking to jilly and she is having her op today. Other mates in or worrying about hospital too.

Tuesday lets go round again

A significantly better kip but morning comes round too soon. Skip the first session which is Dietary Strategies for the Prevention of Obesity
Susan Jebb, MRC Nutrition Research, Cambridge dive into the second which is The Prevention of Obesity at the Primary Care Level Colin Waine O.B.E, University of Sunderland I like prof he is sound as a pound. He is strongly pessimistic about the white paper and the prognosis. A top man who is pleasant as hell - and who says a good attitude and empathetic approach from GP's is key to obesity management. Top stuff then its on to Physical Activity and Weight Management Ken Fox, University of Bristol a cracking talk. Scares the crap out of me with the revelation that to maintain a steady state after weight loss the five times a week 30 mins goes up 90 mins - but I need to source that in "five a week" before I really start flapping. He relates some excellent views on PE teachers and sport - top man. Excellent discussion and panel debate then its coffee time. Meet John Wilding over coffee a great bloke who wants flyers and cards for the aintree weight management clinic. Then meet Mr Patel mentioned here from kings. We have a brief exchange of views, and arrange to meet after the next session. More to follow.
Well Mr P does a good session - far too little time but he gets the message we get a good plug too wlsinfo. Which we like.
Then a lady from counterweight talks about her trial results primary care based stuff. I met a nurse from this project in aberdeen some time ago she was top.
Then John Wilding did a good sess on pharmaceuticals. Enjoyed it. Then the panel discussion got hairy.
I knew it was a bad sign when the chair a nice guy asked about jaw wiring. Oh dear so then the lively lad from yessterdays go at Denise jumped on with a negative vibe. Said there was no evidence for bariatric surgery. Mr Patel stood his ground quoted the SOS (swedish obesity study)and several others. JW jumped in and it got quite heated.
Wasn't the best. The geezer collared me at lunch. I wolfed a steam chicken and tuna combo.. Had a good lunchtime session the adverts hadnt hurt then had a good natter to Mr P and Vineeta shot off.
Skip all the last bits
14.05 Commercial Slimming Culture
Tessa Prior, Slimfast
14.25 Partnership Working with the Commercial Slimming Sector – A Practical and Feasible Way Forward
Amanda Avery, Slimming World
14.45 Tea/Coffee/Water break – Weston Room 1
15.00 Popular Diets – The BBC “Diet Trials” Study
Joe Millward, Center for Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Surrey
15.20 Managing Obesity: A Corporate Initiative
Mike Croghan, National Starch (ICI PLC)
15.40 Maintaining Weight Loss
Graham Foster, British Dietetic Association
Use it to network with other exhibitors
including
clive from
pauline from cambridge
the gang from sanofi
the nice lady from slimfast
nice pens at we laff when someone says are you new, and they answer no we are ICI
DSL
nice peeps from roche
the magical?? slimming world
us
diabetes uk
and last but not least denise
a few pints with jk and then home.
pancakes and chill.

Just another another Manc Monday (sic)

Here in the Manchester conference centre for obesity and health gig Vineeta and I have taken two days annual leave. and are manning the stall and attending bits we fancy.
So the highlights - breakfast good.
Into the opening John Ashton had laryngitis so it was Rod Thompson ex of sefton health. Followed by another sub - should have been Obesity and its Effect on Society
Fiona Adshead, Deputy Chief Medical Offer, Department of Health but was a nutritionist whos name I didnt write down. Then it was dr chen bing from UHA with some interesting stuff about genetics. Yellow fat mice interesting stuff.
Then a session Diet, Behaviour and Obesity Risk Stephen Whybrow,Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen clever bloke good talk. Then dive into coffee. Good to see Kathryn Thomas ex GP of speke who moved into the valleys of south wales as a GP who is now in public health. Stand looks good but the gig is smaller than we hoped and we get a minimum of interest. I opt againt the next two sesions - so we can be ready for the lunch rush.
12.00 Diabetes and Obesity
Hisham Maksoud, Kings Mill Hospital, Nottinghamshire
12.25 Obesity and Health: Why do people have heart attacks and strokes?
Henry Purcell, Royal Brompton Hospital, London

We are served lunch at 12 25 Vineeta is shaping up well as an exhibitor despite her obvious pain. Lunch is a high protein seafood mix and salmon steak - good stuff. Getting some interest at the stand and its good to see Vineeta getting the is that you look. Meet some really interesting people and generate a lot of interest.
More people arrive and we have a busy lunch - then its enter thopsy turvy world of exhibitors - The delegates swoop in to lectures and we chill - relatively.
Miss
14.00 Childhood Obesity
Angie Page, University of Bristol
14.30 Challenging the Paradigms – what the EarlyBird Study is telling us
Linda Voss, EarlyBird Research Centre, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Coffee sees us busy again and I confirm a room is available good news and then we jog into - Psychological Aspects of Obesity
Andrew Hill, University of Leeds He is truly impressive he makes me reflect on the whole thing about obesity self esteem and me. He talks about the eat less do more message and how we?I have trouble interpreting it. I resolve that the direction of my future plans are resolved.
Top stuff - Vineeta scoots out and I stay in for Satellite Symposium: Obesity and holistic health: from complementary / integrated medicine to surgical intervention
Denise Rankin-Box Company Development Manager, Harehill Park Ltd An interesting combination and denise is a sound person. Her holistic vibe takes me back to halcyon days as a student nurse in Winwick, and principles I was brought up on. I realise the emptiness of a professional career without patient contact.
The gastric stimulation stuff is interesting read more at her website. She gives a broad overview on bariatric surgery and gets some flak for it later in the panel discussion I get irritated a little by the flak for her. But Andrew Hill intervenes and talks about a pragmatic approach and surgery helping people now. Yup I believe we need a 10 year multicentre RCT in the UK with a 10 year longitudinal view - but I would have been dead whilst they did it. I am with De Bono in doing this best we can till something better comes along.
Back to man the stand and on duty for the Welcome reception and exhibition. Red and white wine and water and juice. Pauline from Cambridge bemoans the lack of snax though given the topic of the conference I aint surprised. We arrange to take dinner with Pauline she is a good sort (and suspects we may be able to tap some revenue).
So we chill out I shower then down to the wireless tinternet in the lounge. An 802.11b number on the ground floor provided by Canova for £5 for 24 hours. Then its drinks in the bar with the girls at 7pm.Chilly in there and then into dinner. A strange pythonesque affair - which ends up with me having the crab followed by the hotpot and cheese and bics - v. nice. ( well it was ok for a tenner).
Into the bar which is now heaving with conference delegates and open university MBA residential course peeps. Hmm
Find a space chill then a fairly early but relaxed night. Wired ethernet connection still not working in room. Grr.

Last week in brief

was busy very busy

Monday project getting near

drawing in strands and I start delivering the goods its hard and up hill but the strands are getting there. Lunch a quick soup at Greenbank - the news on Maria seems worse.

Sunday working and a partying

I am working remotely and Ally is a partying Jean exiled to dining room. Front room full of young people.