Sunday home

Left about 11.05 a very wet journey home. Lunch at anandale tea at westmoreland coffee and a wee at charnock richard. About an hours delay in total jean kips most of the way, Ally listens to zen mp3 thing I tune into radio 4. P45 waiting for me when I get in funny sensation. Beginning to feel real. Pie from Westmoreland for tea most delicious. Ring mum mick and get horrified by back log of mail and posts on wlsinfo. Loads to do, boy retirement is going to be busy. Bit peeved with the breaking news about Blunkett. To me he is either incompetent or dishonest either way strikes me he should be off. The labour government never cease to amaze me.

The theatre

Home from the bonnie banks we trot back to the room. Combination of reading surfing snoozing is done. Wake Jean change and in our finery (well anew shirt) we are off to Di Maggios who serve us well. The pre theatre doesn't suit so we ski off piste (the family expression for going ala carte). Then its round the cormer on to hope street for the Theatre Royal. Ok so this shakespeare freaks me a bit. Will I get it ? Bit intimated to be honest, feared of lookig a buffoon. It seems most people do a shakespeare play for english lit. I did CSE which was sort of an NvQ for thpose not bright enough to do GCE exams. Mind you I have a photographic recollection of the mucky bits in cider with rosie. The play was complicated but funny clever and well worth the dosh. We had a great night. Will do some more of the bard me thinks. And so to bed.
Saturday we rise late (well the girls do u me up with lark at 8pm). We separate Ally of to frip moneuy jean and I wander down to the merchant city see the city hall. Then along past the posh shops with bouncers armani versace etc. Spy the museum of modern art with wellington on a horse with a traffic cone on his head. The square around is lilke covent garden but more me to be onest. Meet Ally by chance and then renegotiate our plan off to the mussell inn for a lunch. The girls opt for the lunch special moules frites/salade bread and a drink for 6.95 excellent value in my book. Me I opt for for a more expansive stiry fried noodle ginger pak choi gig topped by half a dozen king scallops. Bloody marvellous. Then its a taxi ride to gartnavel hospital along a very busy great western road. Greeted by fi and monica and along to the boardroom. A great bunch and a good meet. Then a lift from mike and kay to walkabout. A aussie sports bar pants beer but great craic. We had a few grog!
s then the party broke up. Jean and I eat fish and chips in Sauchiehall street (a fish supper). Back to the hotel.

Jackmcfee done good.

I didn't like the look of his deep fried pizza though I have to say. But his brekky was good if a bit too much. We then headed out to Balloch for a nostalgic trip to Loch Lomond shores. A sort of gateway to the trossachs cum retail park.

Jjack mcphee

For brekkie - what's a cheesy beano. We are having two jacks special breakfasts 2 eggs bacon sqiuare sausage potato scone hash brown beans toast tea juice (free) 3.95 a head. Sounds promising.

Now where was I

After lunch we do the exhibition I was impressed - Jean more so I think. Then its off to find the bottom of Hope Street and a steady tramp to find the elusive but much sought Mussel Inn. Mission accomplished and we plan to take our evening meal there. The along Hope Street to Sauciehall Street left and then a further charlie experience at the willow tea rooms. I hit the darjeeling, jean the green stuff and ally ice cream milk shake lime flavour.Girls adjourn to the hotel I tramp along Sauciehall street toy with the fusiliers museum. Put off to be honest by the ex fusiliers who have been left to run the gaff, also seems heavily into recruiting. Worried that I'll be press ganged and wake up in three weeks in a chinook flying to Iraq - no Ta. I trot away up Bath street and enjoy the sights. Down to Buchanan Street and in to Sainsburs back to hotel. Nice trot ina very sunny day.
Girls ready we away to hope street for the mussell inn. I go for king scallops wrapped in Bacon and skewered served with creamed cabbage and crispy new spuds. Jean a mixed platter of of queenies and mussels, Ally does a kilo pot of mussels bloody marvellous, I was well impressed, we all were. Then its back to the car pass a wink at the pot still which comes recommended by uncle Johnnie, a look at the website reveals why. he is a malt whiskey monster. I may have to take a dram in there at some point. Then its off out on the M8 to Linwood to meet Fi and Auds at the Bobbin Inn. its a wacky shitehouse chain sort of place. Still we are with good friends and would have a good time in an empty house. Drive back stow the car and its back to the hotel. Ally sufs Jean and I take a couple in the bar and off to bed.
I awake early leave the girls kipping and nip down to breakfast. Well coffee juice and half a croissant. I book some tickets for the theatre, Twelfth night no less starring Matthew kelly, at the theatre royal.Looking for a review reveals this scared I am becoming a culture vulture.More scared when I trot out to ottakars to buy the rough guide to Shakespeare and a study guide.

Glasgow part two

Met the girls and chugged into Virgin Megastores picked up some sad Yes CD's sods have started rereleasing the back catologue on DVD which strikes me as a rip off (but I will proably have to buy them. Then back to the hotel girls change and off down Buchanan Street for a walk. Ally finds Borders and thats her sorted we leave her there and wander down to the street and find the amazing Princes square
even I am impressed I have to say. Then carry on and down to argyll arcade more bling than you can shake a stick at, jean who knows about such things says it isnt bling. Down past central station and down to the river nice bridges. Narrower than I thought though. Back up the street pick up all and off to the glasgow lighthouse for immersion in the charlie stuff. Lunch at the pricey but impressive doocot. It is cool pate for me finan haddock for jean and beefburger for ally. I aint never eat in a design led cafe before.

Glasgae

We arrived after a wet journey north. Found tthe holiday inn express fairly painlessly and hit the mean streets. I found Sauchiehall Street a good place. We walked the length of it mooching in shops. Two things struck me - the number of "big" people and the number of smokers. I am completely unable to understand a word spoken by the people here. They speak so fast and I don't have time to receive process and respond. Its just like france I stare openmouthed at retailers.
We tramp the length and then it starts to rain and I mean pour. We head into Starbucks at the charing cross interchange. Its 5pm and the traffic seems gridlocked. Then its back along renfrew street after negotiating a bloody steep hill. I nip out for provisions to the Sainsbury equivalent of a metro store. Back to the hotel the girls get ready jean and I wait for ally in the bar. Then its next door to dimaggios pronto gaff. Jean and I start with chilli prawns and ally has good moules. Mains sees me with a seafood fusili, jean and ally have different sauces. Have to say the food was tops with a round of drinks and a bottle of house pinot grigio the bill comes in at a reasonable 60 notes. (Well 56 but I drop 4 notes tip). Service was crisp and cheerful food was piping hot and you could watch the boys cooking it. Back home and a good kip. Woke at 7.30 checked email bank account (been paid) but don't understand the amount. Girls woke down for a pants holiday inn express conti!
nental breakfast. Then hit the mean streets out onto west nile street left into Sauchiehall Street and then into the retail cathedral city that is the Buchanan Galleries. My car is parked somewhere here. The girls leave me and I find john lewis and get a suitable wallet. I then mooch before finding myself with a pot of classic twinings traditional English and a bottle of Highland spring still. Blogging for me then a mooch around the computer department and a few stores. Coolio.

Stuff for mac

Mach 3 razorblades, sure for sensitive skin roll on he gave me 20 notes.

On the road again

Saturday AM finds us on the road to East Midlands Airport for the AGM of the charidee. True to form I am last minute Freddie. Last night spent visiting Mac, Mary and Charl all charity members on Ward 2. Could see when Charl was asling what her protein and zinc levels were that the nurse wasn't a great lover of the empowered patient. Its a shame because approached with an open mind an empowered patient could be a great learning tool. Shame then drop JK off and down the M62 to Winwick for an appearance at Brenda Hendersons retirement do. A lively woman still as bubbly and energetic as 25 years ago. See plenty of old Winwick faces and enjoy a good catch up with jackie maguire who dismisses my bipolar as a mere personality aberation she recognised 20 odd years ago. One to discuss with prof peter there I think. So the third national meet Dudley, then East midlands then here again. I almost have my plan in place. Things went to pieces a bit last year when the powerpoint I had work!
ed on refused to open. Happy days. Got a couple of pictures in the show today.

Sparse. Blogs

I am in some sort of cyber solitary. First of all my blueyonder Pop3 account dies (along with eveyone elses in the UK). Then my wlsinfo account gets the hee bee gee bees. JK has suffered in the way and like a true IT pro I put it down to user error without further evidence. So am I being punished for the lack of blog seems so to me. NOF was a top gig wwhich saw the charioty come of age third year there and lots of good stuff especially discussion about joint collaboration with Louise and Ian from TOAST. Geoff Hurst started off well but didn't score the hattrick for me. Also I ended up a bit peeved abouit the even less than tokenistic attempt at user involvement. Still we got there in the end. Lots of good people met. Highlights for me being good recognition from an RAF doctor. The Glasgow team and a hoot of a man from a herbal company.
Still october is the busiest month and this is the busiest week. Things are falling to bits but I am relaxed strangely.

Fessing up

Ashamed to say I have been to blog. October is a busy month for the charity the national obesity forum was a kicking time. That seems like an age ago and now we are off to Manchester to see the League of Gentleman in panto. I am blogging in the car to stop me panicking.

what a week

So Saturday last week getting ready for National Obesity Forum gig went down on virgin Train on Sunday after Church. The journey scheduled to take a marathon 5 hours seems a complete disaster in the making. Turns into a delight and an education sat next to a professional fundraiser for NSPCCwill write soon.

CiteULike: A free online service to organise your academic papers

Thanks Loopyboy.
Blog thin on ground since last weekend.

Reader

ReaderInteresting

In the Royal again.

I am sitting in the coffee shop of the Royal Liverpoll Hospital. Jeans gone to visit her mum in the obs ward. She was admitted with some of infection in her left leg. I have been elected to read the grauniad drink coffee and blog. I picked up the paper in the hospital WHSmith. Read it thoroughly and enjoy an excellent piece of invective about the current state of the NHS by Polly Toynbee. Also a great piece in the comic about living on the Tesco world.
Thursday was a funny old day started well with lunch at the Tai Pan with Kim who is looking well. The Dim Sum was excellent. Then it was home to the discovery that bea (jans ma) had been admitted. Then its off to Regatta Place for my meeting with Phil Wadeson Joe Hill and Maria Bryant - Jean comes too.
The comedy starts with the embryonic security guard who says Maria Bryant isn't in the building. It turns into a comedy sketch brian rix security services. Big Ron Morley saves the day. Then Joe Hill arrives. Maria jean and I have a pre-meet. Then we have a pre-meet with Joe and then we meet with Phil. Both Phil and Joe are good guys and do me proud. Terminating a senior manager could be awkward for both of them but they do the job well. Have to confess I either didn't take it or understand what exactly is happening. It seems that as of tomorrow I am back on full pay on holiday and then my contract will run out on 7th November. Pension starts the next day. Good result M+S voucher to boot. Happy days. Weird feeling though I pop into library on way.

Prof II

Prof K is a top bloke really like his style like me he doesn't believe in the medical model. He challenges why I comply with the med then. I suppose the real answer is compiance is yet another example of my desire to please others. I do think they help. What he really is not into is the DSM-IV rigid criteria type stuff. My view is that approach is good for a lot of physical illness but people have a uniqueness that whilst making them individual and a delight makes them difficult to "treat. " Or even "diagnose" this fella reminds me of stuff I learnt ages ago. Top bloke seeing him again.

One prof to another

Just looked at my blog. Haven't been good at keeping it up though the cursed comment bots have been busy. I say prof morris last thursday he was cool about me dna'ing. No big shakes. Everytime I see him he reveals a bit more about bipolart and me. He asks me how the pensions letter made me feel. I joked said I felt sorry for the poor git. He made me feel I don't take it seriously enuff which of course is true. He laid the severity and poor prognosis out on the line. He pointed out I had put on weight asked me why seemed genuinely concerned. We talked about addiction he told me to get off me bum I think. I felt pants cheers doc.
So now its wednesday and I am waiting to see prof kinderman I am of course early so I am sitting in the wrvs caff at the royal. The 85p coffee is pants.
I shall try and recall what happened.
Between then and now.
Friday nothing much cept a meeting at aintree with a man from a company wants to help the charity.
Saturday tidying frenzy and lunched at the auberge on allerton road.
Sunday quiet. Playing with Joomla!
Monday ditto then JK came to fix the mirror.