Wednesday 26th Revisited

The next week or so of entries are classed as "revisited", due to to the fact is actually Saturday 5th June. A lot has happened over the past week or so and I shall try my up-most to make my entries as accurate as possible as it has been a true roller-coaster of events! So here goes!

In the afternoon of last Wednesday I felt progressively worse, with my stomach pains increasing and generally feeling ill :-( I had made my mind up that after work I would go home, speak to K about it and go to A & E. On phoning K she, rightly, suggested meeting me at A & E rather than go home first, most definitely the right decision.

At the Royal I was seen quickly, bloods were taken and the prodding began. I was also diagnosed with being dehydrated which may account for the amount of urine I had passed over the last few days which I had commented on. As far as I remember I was put on a drip there and then?!

One thing must be added here and that is instead of donning a sensible pair of black or white underpants, I had my DJ headphones on, bloody typical eh?

I was given an anal probing by a young female doctor, not top of my list of things to be done but I guess an important way of diagnosis. My diagnosis at this stage was appendicitis,a correct diagnosis. A nurse  asked if he could have a prod about and virtually made my eyes pop out my head, as they say, he hit the nail on the head. Well done him!

Some X-Rays were performed and I was quickly admitted and to ward 8Y.

I have never been to hospital apart from a planned double knee arthrosopy carried out by the NHS in a private hospital, the Spire, in November last year, which I am still awaiting a follow up of 7 months later!

I was allowed to eat a sandwich that night and just drink fluids.

It was a very surreal situation and scary but K kept me in good spirits and was strong for both of us. I had a rough evening and night and was in lots of pain, at one point having one litre of fluids on a drip every 30 minutes.

Weekend Review

Had a fab weekend in Leeds :-) The weather was fantastic and eating alfresco style, playing with the G & L in the pool and chatting away was superb! On Sunday G's poem and singing was brilliant and the whole acting/singing and poems performed by all was great.

My stomach is still causing me grief and after 4 days of Gaviscon it has not improved, in fact, it has got worse. So much so we called  NHS Direct yesterday afternoon, but the best they could offer was to take pain-killers?! The one thing we think it could be, though it could be anything really, is my Appendix? I have an appointment at 17:30 so we shall see what is said then. I really want to get it sorted as I really want to get on with my keep-fit regime and go for a run but I don't think it is wise at the moment.

Oh to travel and live elsewhere................even just for a while?

After "one of those days" (and only half way through the day) I was just thinking how great it would be if we just disappeared for a few months, rent a hut or small apartment close to a beach somewhere in the world, live cheap and just be us, sunning our bodies, swimming and strolling. Is it possible? Is it worth racking another Credit Card Up and pay for it later, probably not but ..........................

Yesterday

Met K in town after work, which was great :-) Did a bit of shopping then headed home. Decided not to go for a run as we had been walking for a few hours and that was probably enough, I was a bit achy from my run yesterday (and been getting a pain in my upper stomach which just seems to come and go, will see how i feel today but maybe go to doctors if persists) and K was shattered, big day for her, Did a great job of starting a database for my vinyl database then came to town and shopped, that's a big thing for K at the moment. Very proud of her, she looked funky with her red and white blazer, skinny grey jeans, white vest top with Converse baseball boots on and, wait for it, fake eye lashes on, always proud to be stepping out with her :-) Later that evening we watched a great film called "State of Play", brilliant film, worth a watch! Planning on a run tonight and looking forward to seeing how the database is progressing :-) Oh, had an idea last night when I went to bed for a poem, not sure if it is a poem or an observation, I shall work on it today and see where it takes me, I think it it will be called "The River of Life".

Mohawk to Nohawk

My mohawk, which reappeared last year in Ibiza after about 25 years has, again, been removed. Let's be honest to carry off a mohawk properly you have to be confident in yourself and not be intimidated by others, or be bothered by people staring at you as that's what people do. I am not feeling confident enough to wear it and I wasn't doing it justice. K was doing a fab job of cutting it in and shaving my head but for now I am sporting a shaved head, which i have had for many years before. I am sure I will be sporting my mohawk again soon :-)

Emotional Roller coaster

Today I made a personal observation, not ground breaking stuff but here goes............................. My emotions through the day are like a roller-coaster, one minute I am confident and positive and the next I am fed up and can't see the point etc. Now here it comes ..................... I reckon everybody else is the same < The crowd gasp at how long it took him to get this, then give a standing ovation>.

I can't help feeling fed up sometimes and the more I try to rectify it the more I think about it and the worse it is?! So just letting happen in the moment, acknowledge the fact that is how I am feeling and just get on with it, I reckon I should return to positive thoughts quicker that way?!

If I could just solve the work situation and be happy with what I do, I reckon I have nailed it! I have a parter I love to bits, a great daughter, fab friends, just got to be happy with my work and all will be good. K being better would be great but me walking about being fed up with work ain't helping so I shall sort myself out!

As Ronan once said...........Life is a Roller-coaster, you just got to ride it!!!!

PMA! all the way!!!!!

The Weekend Reviewed:

Had a fabulous weekend :-) From shopping on Friday with a Morissons Curry for two, gardening Saturday, Sunday and Monday (due to my 4x day week). Been knackered every night due to gardening for over 6 hours a day, but as K would say "Good, honest tiredness" due to hard labour in the garden. It was great to spend time together laughing and chatting while doing the garden. On Saturday we removed the little garden area under the kitchen window ready for grey slate to go down, tidied the garage, planted plants. K cut down the rose bush by the blossom tree and we removed the root. I also removed a big old shrub from the bottom right hand side of the garden and removed the rotten old root too! K planted some plants round in the front garden while I removed some weeds from the front path. Then, oh yes there is more, we popped round Aunty Mary's put a handle up by her back door and tidied her garden a bit too! Sunday was also spent gardening including cutting down a rotten stump from the cherry tree and screwing a corner shelf I found in the garage on it to create a "bird plateau" haha :-) Aunty Mary had a doctors visit on Monday morning, we then made a quick trip to the shops then home to continue working in the garden, don't want to waste God's good sunshine now! Really enjoyed the weekend of good times; good food and better company.There is also an important point i need to make and that is < cue fanfare from trumpts> We didn't drink any alcohol at all, in fact we haven't had any alcohol since Wednesday last week!

The need to sort my life out! PMA all the way!

I have decided this Friday lunchtime that enough is enough and a good dose of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) is required for both me and K! We should concentrate on the positive things in life how good it is to be alive. If we want something to happen - it is up to us to change it! Don't dwell on shit - make shit better or not worry about the shit at all!!

I am really chuckling at this now, I had a moment of PMA and enlightenment, then phoned K and passed my enthusiasm on, which she embraced and is on the roller-coaster with me and and it all starts when I get home We will release the break and go on this PMA journey together!! Bring it on!! Obviously in the back of my mind there is this nagging doubt and we will slip back in to our ways, but I shall put that out of my mind again < pushes nagging doubt to side of head using special powers, out the ear and hears it go "thud" on the floor> . I can't wait to get home to the love of my life and brace for the PMA ride :-) woo hoo! Strap us in, we are going on the ride of our life!!! :-))

Eco-Warriors RAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! Oh, and Dementia

As we have been doing so much work in the garden after years of just letting it look after itself maybe we should do just a lit bit more for the environment and get a compost bin and a water butt. I know money is tight but it wouldn't cost that much and the deal from the council using their website is pretty good, http://www.liverpool.getcomposting.com/  .

We have done dug over the centre rockery bit, well K has done most of the digging 'cos as she says' "I like digging, I do!". She finds it therapeutic in the fresh air and doing something physical which I think will help her recovery from depression. YEAH!!!

The garden looks better than ever since we got rid of our gardener, I have been mowing the lawn, and even out the front where our garden meets our neighbours I have been mowing right across instead of going half way. We don't talk much except for polite passing the time of the day, but Kit ha reciprocated, so that is good for neighbourly bridge-building.

I shall put some photos up to show our good work, we are both enjoying it and I am looking forward to a "sensible weekend" spending time with K and getting out in the fresh air. There are so many jobs to do but it is good to do things for the property.

Aunty Mary hasn't been so much recently but we are managing the situation differently since we came back from Feurteventura. We don't answer the door every time she knocks, she is fine and I think by pandering to her needs we are creating the problem. On Sunday just gone we didn't answer the door all day woooo hoooo! Presently there is no door knocking in the night or generally early morning so it seems the dementia tablets are working :-)

Hung Parliament

Well, today the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have become one and are now putting their team together. I reckon this has done Labour a favour and they were wise not to get involved in the end as I reckon after 4 years of mixed opinions and the Cons and the Libs start blaming each other, Labour will get voted in next time, not that I think that is great news but I shall just have to wait and see!

This hung-parliament is the first our generation has ever seen (well I was a small boy then anyway. It will be interesting to see if a coalition can work together to sort the mess this country is in, let alone Europe and the rest of world.

K is away tonight

Feeling a bit fed up right now as K is away for the night with work, I always feel a bit down when she is not around, she is my rock, my light, my world. They are all good positive things and even just writing those words I feel more upbeat. The power of writing or even just saying positive things is amazing and should not be forgotten. I will get back to my work feeling much better now :-)

I have published my poems....

.... I have opened a Scribd account and uploaded  the 6 poems I have put on my blog so far. OMG they have been read by people, somewhere in the world. I am so excited! I have neved considered other people reading my poems. I really am excited and can't wait to tell Kirsten.

All future poems will be published direct to Scribd and I will use this blog for my life!

http://www.scribd.com/NickBest

My Heart

I have just calculated my heart age using the Flora Heart Age Calculator and for a 43 year to have his heart age calculated at 55 may not be good. So I know I should not smoke but I am getting ready to quit, state of mind and will power is important, and I am not just using that as an excuse to put it off. I have smoked now for 30 years and am aware of the damage it does and keen to kick the habit.  I am 6' 3", weigh 14st 10lb which gives me a bmi of about 25 which is high but not only borderline off healthy.

I do, however, have to question how they can make that calculation with minimum information and they didn't ask me any food questions, I don't eat ready meals, very rarely eat take-aways, Ok the drinking had started to creep up but we have even decided to give that up too; 1. because of money and 2. we felt better not drinking. We don't have a car so do a lot of walking. We are starting to go running again tonight because we know we should be fitter and this sudden surge activity isn't to do with some heart age calculator.

Maybe I am not given this piece of software justice and it is accurate so I will look at my heart age of 55 being a positive and good thing.....

My heart is legendary and has matured beyond it's natural age

It is full of love, and the experiences it encountered through my life

 has made it grow and become mature. 

It is a wise heart who can not be fooled or given the run around. 

If my heart had glasses they would be half ones and my heart would peer over them in a knowing confident way. 

Young hearts would look up to it and they would all gather round to listen to its stories and tales with open eyes.

 My heart has been in battles and has been hurt on many occasions, 

but it is strong and keen to live on! 

I love you Kirsten! xx

The White Isle Beckons

I find myself taking a cigarette break at work and stand outside the back door on a cold, rainy day, typical of this time of year, thinking of that White Isle and how great it would be to live there! An urgent plan is required. Maybe if we clear those plastic cards as we promised to do, a holiday there this year at least. It is the one place we really come alive and it's not just about the partying, it's about being the real us. We both feel like we belong there and we settle in to the way of life, dressing down in flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts all day long, that is how I am meant to dress. not long trousers, jumpers and coats.

We were born to be in Ibiza and Ibiza was born for us!

No Facebook - I'm free!

Well it has been about a month since I deleted my Facebook account and I feel free!!! It became an issue when I was planning my day around playing Mafia Wars and that was the time to just say no!

I also got sick of being drawn in to friends leading and miserable status bars! There is a lot wrong with Social Networks and I hope their demise will come sooner rather than later. People's social skills are being eroded away by this anti-social self gratification type website! I guess it's a good thing to use if you don't have any social skills and no friends but apart from that people should interact with others in a social environment!

Tana Ramsey a celebrity?

Eating lunch and reading the BBC website I stumble across the headline "Tana Ramsey out of Dancing on Ice  - Gordon Ramsey's wife Tana has become the latest celebrity to be voted off ITV1's Dancing On Ice show".

Since when has the partner of a celebrity (I use the word celebrity loosely) been a celebrity?

Fax to the Prime Minster 19/01/10 re: Haiti

Fax Message re: Haiti

To: The Prime Minister (fax) 020 7925 0918

Date: Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Cc (by email):

Nick Clegg

David Cameron

Sam Daws 

José Manuel Barroso

President Barack Obama

From:

(Info removed for public publishing!)

Dear Mr Brown

I, like many others, are saddened by the events in Haiti and wish the country a speedy recovery though I feel it will be a long and painful one. 

Nature is a powerful force and I believe that natural disasters such as this will be on the increase around the world including our own Country. Are there adequate contingencies in place to deal with a disaster such as this considering our days of being a self-sufficient island are long gone?

The relief effort organised by many countries is commendable but I am dismayed at the time it is taking to get it to the outer-lying regions. I also understand that security measures must be put in place for the safety of everyone in Haiti as people become hungry, frustrated and martial law begins to take over.

However I am extremely concerned with the Agenda of America in this relief effort especially taking in to consideration its position to Cuba. An aircraft carrier was quick to assist and now we hear that aid is being delayed getting in to Haiti due to the volume of US military aircraft flying in to the country as well as America taking over control of the airports.

To be honest this is beginning to sound like a military take over and I am hopeful that the UK, The United Nations, European Union will be strong enough to maintain some control of the situation and ensure the people of Haiti and the rebuilding of the country remains the main priority.

I would welcome comments and assurances from all recipients of this email.

Yours sincerely

Last Night I Ate a Scorpion!

Yesterday evening we drank a couple of bottle of nice Shiraz wine and then emptied the dregs from the drinks cupboard (not a good idea). About 4 or 5 years ago Max and Glen bought me a small bottle of Vodka for in a secret-santa I think, inside the bottle was a scorpion which had been prepared for human consumption and last night I ate it (K has the photos on her phone to prove it).

Definitely going to stop drinking for a while now, I felt so much better for the 2x weeks after new year I abstained!

Stressful Times

There seem to be so much going on in our lives at the moment and it puts added pressure on us! Aunty Mary next door with her dementia, knocking at the front door many times a day, I know she can't help it but when you have to go in to just turn the telly down or change channels it can get a bit annoying, K's nan being in hospital who is not well and not eating is upsetting to see.

Caring for people is a good thing but we have to live our lives too.

Am I being selfish with that last comment?

Another year another attempt at blogging!

Well here  I am again, attempting to do another blog! I think I managed about 7x posts last time after bigging the idea up to my friends and saying what a great thing it was and how I found it therapeutic to empty my head in a blog! haha. Well this is post one and if I make it past post 7 I guess it has been a success!