Worklights

From B&Q clamp tripod hook bright 1299 bought two from B&Q

RIP Auntie Pat

At 10am this mornin Pat me mums sister passed away in Whiston Hospital. She had not been in good health for years and has been in hospital since new years eve. I will miss her just over 12 months since her husband Billy passed away. My thoughts are with steve lorna alana steven and dean.

Happy Birthday to me from me

Thanks to everyone for cards presents and good wishes. I am 46. The website is four though as evidence of my senility I spent yesterday thinking it was three.

I shall list my presents when I have more time- currently waiting to go out to stockton heath for a meal - thats warrington to the unitiated. Long way for a meal - but hot diddley I dont mind driving in fact its a pleasure.

Fixed my radio

In a moment of strange machismo which involved disconnecting the battery. Don't know how I did it don't care radio works and car works. Met Ann the new woman who does. We had prepared for her for days. Top player really pro cleaner. Went through the kitchen liike a dose of salts. I felt uneasy and couldn't settle. She gave me a list of tools she needed. I got to allerton road and then realised I needed my wallet. Cursing I headed home.

Did some relecting last night

Lucky to be alive and blessed not to be too impaired following my SAH. Head still aches but I guess there are plenty of guys who wopuld swap places. Sitting in the opd at the neuro usually makes me grateful. Nipped into work saw colleagues and then saw the first patient for today. Get a nice compliment from Euan the anaesthetist about my work and book him for a support group gig. Arrive just in time for appt board shows a 30 min delay.

Monday Tuesday

Days off cold and dont do much. Consider many things work on Wednesday - Birthday Saturday getting old first time I havent had a party since I was 39.

Looking forward to Loch Fyne at Warrington though.

Saturday & Sunday

Mr Fence man came to assess the damage to the homestead - this will cost I suspect. He says a lot of things I dont understand like 7ft twobyfours - uprights versus horizontal. I assume my mentalist shit man I just need me a rabbit proof fence stance.

Then in the pm its off to see Auntie Pat in the building site that is Whiston Hospital. Mum recalls that she spent the first months of Daves life half living there.

The restaurant is shut - what a crap private place they could be making a bloody fortune selling the usual gnats pee and dinks I suspct that the shop (not run by the WRVS) has a sort of deal so they can make extra.

Robbin gets the lot of em.

Diagnosis with Auntie Pat remains unclear apparently she has had another MI so is back on coronorary care - she dont look good. Her colour aint right - she is having a transfusion via a central line - has TPN, morphine or insulin pump, a catheter a drain and a ng tube draining black bloody gunge.

She doesnt look good and mam doesnt seem to grab it - though I guess your younger sister isnt meant to go before you. Betty and John leave and we spend sometime with Pat. Mum dont like hospitals or the sick.

 

Sunday wake with a bad head do dinner for 7 and flake in th afternoon. Off to mums at night and a meeting in the pm.

 

Monday tired - but up at 8.45 working on website and chartiy stuff.

Junior DocSpot: Ward craziness

Junior DocSpot: Ward craziness Terrifying but all too true.

Loch Fyne - Loch Fyne Stockton Heath

Loch Fyne - Loch Fyne Stockton Heath going here for my birthday going here for my birthday next saturday

Friday

Up Mum pays bathroom men - it looks good - we put rest of dosh back in bank on Allerton road, where there is a strange picture representing the song Penny lane - if memory serves this used to be in Penny Lane in what is now  Penny Lane Surgery. Then it was along to home and bargain, over to Smiths for envelopes and then across to Sayers for Bavarian Slice naughtiness. Picked Mum up off to Charity post dineer in the Mission caff, only two eff words 2 buggers abd a shit (from me mam that is).

Took her home then did envelopes stuffing. Then carried it all up the post and spent 37quid posting it. The woman was sick of me (maureen) though Graham the postmaster was multi orgasmic about the range of weights I was presenting. He gave me a leaflet on weights and sizes (ooer missus) and gave me a homily on the benefits of first class over standard parcels. He seems to get on Maureens wick in a way which can only indicate they are married.

Then try to buy some notelets off the far too thin lady - all her notelets are far too pink and girly I have nearly run out of my macho lifeboat ones. End up with some black and white stuff.

Do some work on me expenses and feel goosed by Friday night

Thursday it was windy

So I slept in - only rising to get Ally from School. Missed my condition Management Programme appointment - I have trouble with dates I thought it was next week Doh.

Went the Doctors Wednesday

Took mum she has to go to Rapid Access Chest Clinic - then ny turn Frank thinks I have lost weight - hmm - my body fat is heading South I think. Need to get BP monitored. Get a script sorted out. Frank gives me a copy of the neuropsychologists report. Drop them in and its off to do the rest of a couple of hours. Everyone in work seems light and cheerful. Home then Ally and I nip to Mums to see Auntie Mary  - or big sis. John is there too and the bathroom men aint finished much to my mums chagrin. We decide to nip to Speke to take tea and buy my birthday present - we en up in Damons which apart from the kids and the noise isnt as bad as I imagined. I go back home.

Dock road bridge on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Dock road bridge on Flickr - Photo Sharing! - part of Liverpool group

Eighties Liverpool - a photoset on Flickr

Eighties Liverpool - a photoset on Flickr what a set meant a lot to me - old memories, days gone by - I am thinking of reproducing some of them.

Liverpool Playhouse

IMG_271611, originally uploaded by kenclarewls.

The Flint Street Nativity December 2006

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Lousy nights sleep.

Remember looking at the clock at 4am. Feeling grot. Then next minute the alarm goes off, then my blackberry alarm goes off and I am up and outwardly mobile but near death myself inwardly. And I have to work today for nearly 3 hours.

Tuesday URTI

Had a crap nights sleep. Earache breathing and head ache. Obviously a serious malady. Ally off sick gut rot. Me goosed slept in. Then sorted myself out and got motivated. Picked mum up who pretended to want shopping but really just wqated to visit the bog in Tesco. Her bathroom upgrade is nearly done. Got appts for me and mum to see frank tomorrow and then visited adeles for a beard trim and head polish. Cooked tea then off to meeting. Home and straight up into the loft. No its not punishment its operation tidy up. Flake out a bit watching spooks dvd and realise I have no sleeping pills left. So its 2.45 I am drinking hot chocolate and reading love and other near death experiences by Mil Millington. Also browsing assorted magazines blogging and feeling peed off I can't kip. Have to work tomorrow too. And I have ear ache. Grrrrr.

Monday afternoon

Perplexed after a morning witn sweet momma I turn to my bed for the afternoon. Head aching and definitely coming down with man flu at least. Off to a meeting in the pm and motivated by having to pick someone up. On return home Jean has fcound the serial number for the car radio. Shakespeare disgraces himself (again).

Went for a cup of tea

Which may have been a mistake mum has enagaged a talkative man from Conway. Who after her name is called seems intent on yapping to me at every opportunity. My non verbals ( a large naff off sign with I aint interested written on it). After 10 mins of my extreme ignorance he gets he hint.

3 hours opd

Did a 3 hour stint at a new patient clinic. One cancellation so down to three. Straight on to a meeting then give a couple of folk a lift and its off to home. Cheerful and then to bed.
Up early to take me mum to pacing clinic at CTC. Part of the new development on the Broadgreen site this disabled parking is as usual inadequate. My mum is as talkative as ever I confess to being slightly adrift, the late to bed and early start doesn't help.

Saturday live from the sefton suite.

Doing my permitted work on the sefton suite. Todays business consists of two new patient clinics one NHS and the other private. Absolutely no difference from what I can see cept there are more butties for the NHS one. New patients tens to see the buttie situation as a bit of a test I think. Still relatives carers and friends tuck in. Got a letter from the condition management people today. Got an appointment. Just waiting for the last patient to be seen. Will then catch up with my colleagues and scoot home.

Schindlers Lift

Its all gone Kate Adie

Phyllis Rowe

As observed by Kathy Aston

Small Island Read 2007: Registration Form

Small Island Read 2007: Registration Form Kieran dude shouldn't a library dude like you be giving these out free to the proletariat like me.

Photographically poor

Not as many opportunities as I would have liked. Light poor had to fill in a photography permit and wear a sticky. Not allowed to use a tripod was a dissapointment. A bit too much Kate Adie for me.
Fine cake and coffee too many kids good shop.

IWM north

Late lunch in the watershard restaurant. Nice view over some dock type stuff. Weather is mad rain wind sun rainbows. All sorts.
Lunch is chicken breast wrapped in parma ham with spuds and veg.
Back to exhibition areas.

IWM north

Some excellent exhibits though a bit too interacive for me. Lots of multimedia peace and kids involvement going on. When I was a kid and went to the London branch all I wanted to do was clamber on board a main battle tank. I was also struck by how the world has moved on since WWII. There are new conflicts to be recorded.

Confound you car man

Seems like a straight choice the lack of car sets me day. I mope bitterly and do some work on charity stuff or I get proactive. I decide on the latter. I shall use a public transport journey to offset my long distance flight to new york late last year. I have studied the stuff on the web then printed it off and left it. Daft booger. Still I am guessing I can ask. I can remember piccadilly then tram to harbour something. Which reminds me I am in sokething of an M+S advert. Clad totally in their garb almost entirely blue lagoon apart from my coat which is collezionew and the zip is broke grrrr.
So I am a man of leisure sewmi retired on a bus pass. Good job because if I was rushing I would be up for violence. The bus seems to be taking every stop to collect people for the slow convention in slow town. Man I am tallking serious psychomotor retardation, the man next to me is in a cocoon. He was a caterpilar when he sat down. He looks like he be one of those scary moths with big eye shapes on the wing when we arrive. Two elephants were having sex when I got on
- the baby is due in lime street. I have gone minimal camera packing here. 350 with 18 to 55 zoom and powershot G5. I have no idea what sort of shots will be available so this is a recce. (See amateur photographer magazine the articles do sink in).
So the slow bus is exchanged for a fecking slow train. Though it is a minimal stopper going through st helens newton and then on to the land of manc. I see a tad of blue sky through the grey.
Arrived picadilly - big found metrolink scary. Missed tram to harbour city eccles. Seen note about www.noisefestival.com/ metrolink tram is a cool form of transport will look up when I get home. The imperial war museum is a distant view from the harbour city tram stop. The cold urban wind blows round the designer pads sort of like where Baldwin lives on Corrie. My hat blows off. I run to catch it.

Up early and busying myself

Going well till blackberry alarm tells me I need to be in Belle vale jobbie in 20 mins. Saw eddie - nice bloke even if he cant spell haemorrhage. I am being assesed as part of uncle tonys Pathways to work he doesnt want my broken brain festering on the slagheap with the other job seekers. He has appointed a nice NHS lady to have a chat for 6 meetings. IT IS ALL VOLUNTARY and I believe Eddies intent - Hedoesnt point out that to get access to any new goodies you have to be seeing the nice lady. Anyway I fill out the forms with eddie - we add in sub arachnoid haemorrhage - is that like a spider. I says yeah and we have a discourse on the arachnoid appearance of a brain layer. I explain coiling - just put brain surgery he says.

So I am barking half brained and no guts - strike me that I should apply to be information Tsar or head up home office database management. Shit I could leave files in desk drawers for england. In the dark my arse well actually he was out bombing when it all went down but surely it was top of his briefing when he moved into the home office. Tony Blair Says carry on flying he will offset his carbon footprint - tosser - he doesnt fool me. I offset by getting the bus back from the job centre.

Jean comes home I am off to Richer sounds to sort my dvd burner and the top people actually lend me a spare while mine is inthe menders. I will buy from there again. Meeting at Halewood. Still no car I aint happy bout that.

Car goosed again

Maybe starter (mebbe covered on warranty) car sucks. I want to whip it fawlty style. I get two long overdue letters done. Picked up the post and forward it on. Wonder if being organised is a sign of illness. was on the trevor mcdonald tonight show. It went better than I thought. Better than I hoped really. Ally was proud which made feel very good.

Michael Browne

Michael Browne I spy Mickey Browne my best man and drinking buddy for too long. Currently about to submit MPhil thesis entitled "Trust in Technology among Critical Care Nurses" made me laff.

Mooching round bold street

I have a wander then pop into two camera shops on bold street make the boy let me look at all the bags. He smells heavily of unwashed BO not a good sign on a monday morning. Then I nipped into a big oxfam shop then over to the mission caff to see auntie ann.

Up at dawns crack

With the girls out to get car. Ring Rac. An hour and quarter so nip to simply coffee for butty and tea. Back to car and the delightful mark same bloke as last time tries to jump start me. Unsuccessfully I get towed to childwall motors. Dave promises the electrician I don't think I am getting it b ack tonight. He does. Then its the 86C tbus formerly known as 80E 75a to town.

Lambasted for non mention of Ally

Rightfully so as it happened. Ally tripped and fell down the stairs last week. (Wednesday I think). She somersaulted and scraped her leg and badly bruised her thigh. It looked bloody sore. She told me off yesterday for not mentioning this sooner.
So weekend - got up late both days. Not clear why but trying to remedy this monday. Saturday took calls re tonight on Monday (8pm). Messing with canon G5 and realise that ISO400 is a very noisy setting. Took me 2 days sans book to work out how to change it. Sunday afternoon took ma to whiston to see pat. Ask nice lady at front door where pat is shitty computer says coronary care. They direct us to hdu who direct us to D3. Ma has an angina attack (need to get her some spray). Don't know what's wrong with auntie pat. Facts abdo op under local. MI post transfusion catheterised on O2 PCA and two IV's. She looks surprisingly well. Shock of the week heard from dave.
Oh and car goosed again saturday Morning.

Doctored information on celebrity nutritionist | Science | Guardian Unlimited

Doctored information on celebrity nutritionist Science Guardian Unlimited Kieran pointed this out and it rang some bells - Fuel PR did the National obesity forum conferences in 2004/5. Good memory Ken - and the name of the man you dealt with Steven larke - Clarkeola in the article I think.

TASCHEN Books: Photography - All Titles - 20th Century Photography - Facts

TASCHEN Books: Photography - All Titles - 20th Century Photography - Facts The third of the trio of books I bought thought I need some serious background and inspiration. In Borders I found a whole new section where I can sit and read photography (art not science) books.

TASCHEN Books: Pop Culture - All Titles - Signs - Facts

TASCHEN Books: Pop Culture - All Titles - Signs - Facts Bought this it appeals to my love of signs.

PostSecret

PostSecret Bought the book of this in Borders half price 8.99 hard back

Goodbye Mr Noodle

BBC NEWS World Asia-Pacific Inventor of instant noodles dies I had those glasses in the 70's.

Trick-cycling For Beginners

Trick-cycling For Beginners Hearty laffs and true tragi-comedy from a fellow bipolar sufferer.

Friday night from bed

Been a funny week. Only been into work thursday and friday and I am feeling quite miserable. Things that don't usually bother me are getting on me wick. I have a mountain of paperwork to sort and motivation is less than zero.
Car is back, my sump is goosed and he needed to pump my sump and change my battery. For this and the other service stuff if get to hand in 211. Still Daves a nice guy and we are in this for the long road.
I want more time to play with images and take pages and I especially like collecting EOS related gadgets. Final filming done for tonight with trevor mcdonald, few query phone messages to sort but now wait. Am shagged out. Auntie part getting better.

Wednesday 3rd january

Body clock up the swanee again. Some discussion with ally in the middle of the night. Led gto me being comatose till 11.30 and in bed till one. Got my appointment for Walton headache clinic. Few emails from folks jane down under with the barmy army. Picked ally up from school and went to mums then on to speke. Sat in borders. Bought season one of the shield with my HMV voucher. Eying up photography books in borders now.

A Roman Holiday

http://www.hotelbrasile.com/en/ Booked this gaff for February half term, courtesy of Lailla at Co-op travel who take the hassle out of it.

A Roman Holiday

http://www.hotelbrasile.com/en/ Booked this gaff for February half term, courtesy of Lailla at Co-op travel who take the hassle out of it.

2nd January

New years day wasn't easy. Stayed sober and drove. Felt a bit uncomfortable but the lack of port drys the social gears. Went to Ruth and Pauls felt a bit miserable when I got home. Started looking for somewhere for a break for half term. Both tempted by Rome I think. I find the booking and decision

This Life

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6191407.stm This life + 10 guaranteed as a bit of quality telly. Jean was a big fan when it first came out and its up there for me in my top telly. Groundbreaking stuff.

Always at the festive time

RIP Auntie Tilly - no relation but a part of my life for 40 years. Pleasant irreverent old lady who used to give me money and tell me I was growing up at the christmas fair. All this stopped when I reached 35 of course. (I lie). She was my brother in laws auntie (his mums sister I think) she had been ill and in residential care for ages. Fractured her hip just before chrimbo and tired on Sunday morning.

Auntie Pat - me mums sister isnt well initial sketch reports vary. The Kathy scrambler seems to be working overdrive and we await more news. A lazy day here and out to visit me mam at teatime prior to a meeting. She looks shook up by her younger sisters serious illness. Ally is out for the night. We watch Spooks DVD's and are bed for 11.50.

Happy new year one and all - fireworks klaxons and partying were loud last night.

A Christmas Smile

Blog comments

Three in last 5 posts thats impressive - find it touching to know that some people are enjoying the chronicle and and find it stimulating. Will write more in 2007 - but only if people comment more. Tonight I am tesco shoppping blogging and doing some photographs. Guts are sore through eating chocolate. Chocolate makes me fart.

I am totally disrientated too my calender tells me it is saturday 30th December sure as hell dont feel that way.

Happy Christmas from Sue

Nannas Dog

Rabbits in the dog house.

Since the fence blew down we have taken to bringing the rabbit into the house to warm him give him a change of air and get him used to being held etc.

Regular readers will know of the boys enthusiasm in the hip department. But last night he excelled himself. Sat on my lap mostly innocently (ie no thrusting of any type) he seemed content. After I put him back in the hutch - I should have been suspicious when the first thing he did was light a fag but no.

I strolled into the living room whats that on the floor says I, looks like cold tea. Odd cause I was drinking diet coke. In a moment I had whipped out some quilted kitchen roll (extra absorbent) and scooped the offending stain up - as I proffered to my nose I realised this was a mistake it was pungent and had an animal air. Obviously Shakespeares boy juice. Interesting I thought how did he transmit it there whilst leaving me unsullied. It was at that point that my wife and I noticed what can only be described as bilateral soiling on my legs just below the knee. I removed my kecks in a thrice andthe rest of my togs on the way up the stairs. All bundled into a pile and given the straight in the washer treatment. Dirty little fecker - not impressed.

Bloggers gone to sleep

Or is it the blackberry. I wanted to check where I am up to but can't get on. Today is me dads birthday he would have been 85. I would usually mark it with a glass of something. For now I will celebrate 4 months sobriety (29th August).
Yesterday george and ann (niece and goddaughter) came up from the smoke. We had a larf at me mams. Top stuff brother was missing (get in touch if you read this).
Played a chocolate deal or no deal game. Hampered by george (the banker) never having seen it. Still a hoot. Went to tesco then enjoyed Dracula on beeb 1.

Boxing Day

Sod all traditionally in the am, ally gets up real late I have disturbed sleep. i the evening off for Tea at Ruth and Pauls. Good family evening.

Christmas Day

Started way to soon - hand up a birds bum armed only with a lemon and an onion. It cooked well and tasted good as did the beef.

Nipped to Ruth and Pauls for some pre dinner drinks and present exchange.

Dinner was a success I think and mum kept still and seemed to enjoy it

she was chuffed with the pressies.

Me mam

May end up being posted twice

Merry Christmas from me

In the toon army Christmas hat.

So here it is.....

Merry Christmas to both of my readers. What a year - I cant remember half of it but I am still here and I have some coils in my noggin. I have made a lifestyle choice to be sober and for today I have achieved it (since end of August). Christmas seems a challenging time to me - but will an interesting one not stuffing the turkeys bum with a hangover (think I will use paxo this year).

Been a rollercoaster year with real peaks and troughs - but the medication has kept me fairly stable and the self management and lifestyle stuff has helped.

Heres to a good 2007 - and if anybody does read this - feel free to comment - it would be an encouragement to the author. Lord knows I need it as I have a book to write this year (thats a 1000 words a week). Still the blog has been flowing more and my plan is written and the idea sold to a publisher which is a big issue for a lot of wordsmiths. I have a lot of sorting to do in the coming year and making progress towards contentment.

Anyway all the best and an apple in your ear (as my father in law used to say.

Twas Christmas Eve in the Workhouse

A peaceful day and the back ache which had troubled me has subsided. Most preparations underway for calorie fest tomorrow. Beef and Turkey forming the protein with spuds for carbs, carrots sprouts and peas and winter roast veg. Pavlova and christmas pud for afters. Tonic water for me.

Watch the end of apollo 13 on the box. Jean goes visiting cousins I wrap pressies Ally out with her cousin Hannah at Damons in speke.  Not my sort of gaff but I stay in and feel guilty that I havent bought Jean enough presents - Ally made the feeling worse by telling me Jean had got me loads. Off to a meeting tonight gonna pop into me mas on the way. Got some M&S belgian chocolate biccies off Eleanor and eat too many. Check out the christmas cards - good news from Sandra and Mike (and Orlaith) she is expecting again. She pops in the blog now and again. I shall where my toonarmy christmas hat tomorrow in her honour.

Feeling kind of Humbug

I know its me, I feel unable to enter into any of the faux merriment that is all pervading at this time of year. I will confess to getting secondary gratification from Allys delight when she was small and small kids wonderment in general. But for me - Christmas Sucks. I am sick of Oliver Ramsay Lawson and even Gary Rhodes having their hand up a turkeys arse. I am sick of Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys et al telling me to be finest, taste the difference or whatever crap. Ally wants cheese on toast for christmas lunch. I am kind of heading that way. Still not sure how many we are having though by my shopping if a company of Gurkha rifles turn up I should be able to feed them till August.
I am essentially an ungrateful miserable lazy sod, blessed with a face the resting posture of which is abject misery, I abhor the Christmas doo. Work closed yesterday and I shouted bye with the minimum of fuss. I dropped Lesley off in Crosby and scooted to Formby Tesco - one posh gaff that. The yoof on the coffee till proffered a mince pie I said i dont like Christmas ......I was going to say fayre but the tosser cut me offand barefacedly accused me of not liking Christmas -I confessed said I liked him even less. Tosspot. Still the blow was softened by a vienesse butter finger.
Overwhelmed by the politeness of the people in Formby if you bumped into them they said sorry smiled and wished you merry christmas. This just did for me I started driving my trolley like Ayrton Senna on speed. The grumpier I got the nicer they got - smug gits. Interetingly a range of products not available in our local stores just in case we thought we were worthy. Which of course we are not.
Bah Humbug
Cheered my self up reading this My Miserable Christmas

New Blogger

They heard me beefing yesterday and as a result I am on the new blogger. I dont know if I am ready to change my template etc but I am headed that way.

Chanukah

I forgot to say the post was prompted by picking up a leaflet in Tesco. It explained about the Maccabites and the Menorah and how to "do"Chanukah. Me its Friday Morrning I am off into work to sort a few loose end telephone calls etc.

From a roof in Queens New York

Up on the roof 

Eeyore and friend

I feel like Eeyore some times 

Happy chanukah

Thursday am spent waiting for the Telewest. He eventually arrives and swaps out thr box. 4th one he has had to do sinced the national problems on Saturday. I nip to take hannahb's present round and end up picking ally up and dropping her off. Hen its off to take me mam for a day out. I opt for new brighton. Imagine morecambe with the beating heart and pizzaz ripped out. One arcade a chippy and a cafe cling to the promenade in defiance of the developers. It is undoubtedly shit. It would be better as a Morrisons toilet as well as smelling better and being better cared for. Anyway its cheap even if its not cheerful. Big crash and traffic jam at the fiveways and busy town centre make me choose a dodgy cabby route home. Once again I am gutted that I haven't got a camera with me. The gulls, the caff the girls serving with santa hats and lacking christmas spirit. Best of all was a beautifully warm sunset.
Bad news playing with my camera last night. I have a dusty sensor. It says its easy if you are steady handed. I may ask David to do mine. As an enthusiast he probably has dusted his own and his hand is steadier than mine. Even if he hasn't I am sure he would have a go. So now, sat in tesco bit of blogging a,d a coffee. Girls out shopping I shall arse with camera after a bit of shopping.

I notice Kieran has been upgraded to the new blogger which is good but I aint. Grrrrrr.

SPAM the official UK web site

SPAM the official UK web site SPAM fritters - yes I know I shouldnt have but I did - I have this urge to try one with brown sauce - odd coz I dont like brown sauce.

Wednesday

Monday didn't do much tuesday went to work and had christmas dinner. Embarrassed by christmas cards. Done three meetings. Inspired as ever and realisation about childhood comes home. Been to see peter k my psychologist this am. Top bloke says I am doing well. Feel like I have made progress on the bipolar front this year. Settled on meds coped with crap and only a couple of blips. The challenge of sobriety at christmas looms large. I feel certain it will be helped by the driving licence. I suspect this may be my first christmasw sans booze since about the age of 6. I can remember how in the monochrome 60's colour was injected at christmas. Babycham pony calypso snowballs glace cherry watneys red and bullseye brown. Even the tot glasses my mum served the booze in were swirling patterns of orqange and violet and blue and yellow. I think ruby port and lemon was my first drink. We had a decanter. More for visual effect than port sieving reasons. Other names that were evocative of the season cherry B whiskey mac green ginger wine then there was all the weird coloured drinks that now form the basis of cocktails. Blue curacao, green creme de menthe (as favoured by the pope). My mum has always sought a liquer that she enjoyed de kuyper ammaretto tia maria drambuie shandy,

Online/Telephone Meetings

Online/Telephone Meetings Look at the bird image - someone once sent it to me on a card (or something very similar) I must try to find a better copy.

Christmas Night out - a photoset on Flickr

Christmas Night out - a photoset on Flickr

Canon PowerShot G5 Digital Camera Review: Intro and Highlights

Canon PowerShot G5 Digital Camera Review: Intro and Highlights Another review of the adorably funky Canon G5

Sat in the vet

While shakey boy gets seen. I have just hoofed it to the iceland and the pharmacy for me chrimbo pills. Let me explain how paranoid I can be. On the way out of iceland I remember there is a script for jean for which I pay. I think that I have taken her pills away from the chemist without paying in the past. I sweat and get palpitations I feel the need to confess to the ppa in newcastle. Then I get to craig and erics and I am relieved they have separated the pills and ashe has a little bag with money owing written on it. I have a binbag with mad man season ticket written on it. Nice. :-).
Lunched at abbey sefton with lesley extremely pleasant. I enjoy driving.

Thursday night Friday morning.

Turned up at support group expecting not many and pleasantly surprised. Small numbers but mighty strong positive vibes. A new member always good to see. A christmas gift from someone too - I was touched. Home sees us sitting down in front of the telly me with chilled tonic and lemon and the girls with some pink fizz.
Off to bed and I wake up late. Ring mum lesley mary and off for lunch with lesley. See noreen and ann. Then off for motorway drive to speke. See new morrisons getting built. Or Speke district centre as its called. Will bring long overdue produce to people of speke. Into wh smith and Borders. Sit reading mags and supping triple americano with a nice relaxed feeling.

PowerShot G5 Index

PowerShot G5 Index will need this soon. By the way I can legaly drive from midnight - hee hee. DVLA gave me the thumbs up result.

Wednesday filming

Did some stuff for Trevor McDonalds Tonight programme to go out on the 8th jan or there abouts. Presenter was Ricky Grover a top bloke stand up comedian actor and writer will look his website up. Got home and was v tired had a kip rang dvla licence received. Then it was off to St Hildas to watch Daisy pulls it off. Ally and Jess were doing stage management and had put heaps of work into it. It was good.

Edvard Munch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edvard Munch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Happy Birthday Eddie - fellow Bipolar Boy

Thought I had posted this already

Musn't have worked. 

Back in the saddle

Well very part time - protected work - 8 hours per week. Did thursday and friday was whacked did next to nothing at the weekend. Worked on Monday - Elm Hall drive meeting in the pm. Tuesday bus to town pasty on cold cathedral crypt steps. A classic building in its own right the crypt is recommended for anyone interested in brickwork. Nice bit of the cathedral Here . Always had a soft spot for the wigwam and crypt - I remember the tower cranes when they were building it ( I must have been  around 4-5).

After the meeting over to the Whelan building number 11 on the precinct plan. A brisk cold walk back to the 86 bus top by the Phil and then a bus to Penny Lane pop in to see Adele at Tony Salivas airdressers. Seems to be too many tourists at Penny lane - these lads look south american.

Scary House by Jeans Mums

 

Adobe Photoshop CS2 Classroom in a Book - $34.99

Adobe Photoshop CS2 Classroom in a Book - $34.99 What I am working through at the minute to be a better post image manipulator.

Canon PowerShot G5 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Canon PowerShot G5 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review Eventually snapped up one of these on e-bay. Needed a compact that was versatile - this is the dude - 5 meg full manual and RAW settings. Coolio

Adobe Bridge and Fickr

DesignGeek 51: New Source for Bridge Tips, Use Flickr for Off-Site Image Archiving, Find Fonts Used in InDesign Style Sheets; InCopy/InDesign Workshop in May
May not look very sexy but its important to me (sad I know).

exactitude.nl

exactitude.nl

Festive Cheer

At the German market 

Wednesday morning

Great group in North East. I wasn't sure if I was in wqashington sunderland gateshead or newcastle but I arrived. It was newcastle caught a meal at rthe taipan. Shanghai fried dumplings (3) and some duck and rice. Duck cooked go perfection I thought. Got a taxi with the maddest hackney driver in the toon. He installed a sat nav as he was driving and somehow we found our way to bupa washington. Joanne does sterling there and full respect for that. I was latebut I did my best. At the end of my talk they gave me a toon army hat with bells on which I believe is the local team. I got a lift of a lovely lady called ursula to my billet at the A1(M) northbound washington services travellodge. Got my key wewnt to garage and watched ramsay transforming morgans in woolton. Night night

Blogger by email

Not working it would seem. A train and coffee post extolling the virtues of head moisturiser and yorkshire goes adrift in cyberspace. Though it can't be my blackberry because several catch ups get thro. I text jane dva and commisserate that she is off to join the barmy army next week.

Holiday Inn Express

Thats why it was cold , the vent was taped over. 

Saturday and Sunday

Committee meeting so I am off to nottingham central trains. Uneventual journey. Arrived in good time to a barely unrecognised Jackie. My how people change in this game. Useful meet sort out some practical stuff. Steak sandwich for lunch and surreal experience of christmas dinner on a night when the mgowners club seem to be having their annual bash. 300 couples in evening dress me in boots and scruffy kecks. Trot home to holiday inn express where we are staying. I manage to walk through a mile of mud and vegetation -n pitch black and howling wind. When I arrive I discover I have been walking paralell to a gravelled path. Doh. Lousy sleep turning things over. No heating in hotel bad wind outside and in. Late almost missed breakfast amid other residents complaining. Get nice volvo taxi to nottingham grab americano then train home. Girls are out for lunch. I will pick up a pie at m+s at the station.

On return from docs

Ally and I have a serious father daughter conversation. That'll do for this year we resolve. Nannas christmas gift arrives and we are impressed. Out to Beas and home to prep for tomorrows meet. Fall asleep watching nigella lawson last memory is her chopping a chorizio in her dressing gown.

Friday reflection

I cruise along to see Frank. As ever he dispenses wise words good medicines pills and sicknotes. Hope I mentioned I am back on the benefit. My self employed plan was pie in the sky. It was getting too stressful in october Lord help me by year end. I resolve to return to permitted work at a very gradual exposure. After Franks I trip to see Nanna who seems on good form. The dog too now on super vits seems lively. Frank tells me tramodol is a mood suppressant maybe why I feel like pants at the moment. Resolve to cut down tramdol substituting the codeine where required. Need to tart back at the gym too.

On the way

After picking up tickets from the fastticket machines (hiddenaway in the virgin office on platform 7 I am away onn the 8.52 to nottingham on time jolly dee.

jamesjlee

jamesjlee Some breathtaking reportage from the warzone from this embedded photojournalist.

County Asylums

County Asylums Some memories on these pages. Really where I grew up - 18-22 the catholic chapel ws the view from my bedroom window.

Me helping the constabulary

On Broadway actually 

Its Actually a service centre

Not a post office 

Copperas Hill Post Office Car Park

Where mail to the charity comes - and I or me mam colect it.

PS

Forgot to mention on Thursday I scored the charity post and a bowl of scouse in the mission cafe.
Notes must write to college, publisher, do some e christmas cards and get my B12 done. Also got some photos from yesterday to load.

PS

Forgot to mention on Thursday I scored the charity post and a bowl of scouse in the mission cafe.
Notes must write to college, publisher, do some e christmas cards and get my B12 done. Also got some photos from yesterday to load.

Wednesday Thursday Friday

Headaches no licence low mood. Thursday sees some productivity and I bang out the annual report of the charity. Also spend the afternoon in a back and forth with an interesting bloke from the website. Real youngster and highly skilled in photoshop. He thinks some of my photos are really good. Friday I arrive slightly late to see Frank (buses) he is sporting a new hair gel look. He advises me to cut the tramodol and together we knock together a plan he wants to see me in 2 weeks. Settle myself into not getting licence back till new year and coping with sobriety in that period. Tough but not as tough as some have it at this time of year. Got some prep to do for Saturdays meeting and I am planning to head off to Newcastle on Tuesday for their meet. Hoping the social will let me start some permitted work ASAP as I am missing the social element.

Tis the seaon to make money

Humbug. The local tesco has its marquee on the car park a sign that mr leahy and his helpers will help us part with pounds. I have 35 squid in vouchers so may use them tonight for starting the traditional christmas stash of goodies. All highly calorific, intoxicating or both. Need to get my flue swept as well (the chimney). Santa will struggle in the current passage.
Top news - singing jimmy the trolley stacker at tesco has done away with his combover. It was so good I never realised he was bald. Why do bloks bother with a combover especially where their occupation involves working in the wind. Bobby chqarlton what did you start?