The Prescription Chase - Part 2

Fast action. Adrenaline. Pressure. High Speed. Almost as if I was doing my old job again. This was nothing important, just a prescription collection. I mean, what could go wrong?
Hows about everything?

Okay, everything went to plan, at first. Left home at 5pm, giving me 15 minutes to divert off my normal route, go to the doctors, pick up the prescription, then drive back to the starting point and straight to work, getting there for about ten to, maybe five to 6.

Turned off the A148 to go to Massingham, where the surgery is. About half to three quarters of a mile away from the surgery, the road was closed off. Diverted right.

A furious drive along the diversion, bringing me out at Hillington. Turn off left, heading to Grimston. A road I'd never been on before. Followed this diversion for about 9 miles, eventually arriving at the surgery at 5.35pm.

Went in to get the prescription, which I'd ordered three days ago (repeat prescription). Joined the back of a queue of three people. Eventually got to the counter.

The prescription wasn't ready.

Left the doctors without the prescription at 5.40pm. rejoined the diversionary route. Another 9 miles back to Hillington, using every bit of advanced driving, roadcraft, and the Volvo's turbo.
Back on my normal route from Hillington, joined the now increasing stream of rush hour traffic. Pensioners doing 38-44 mph in a 60 zone.

Got held up by some poor excuse of a human being in a grey, four wheel drive, armoured personnel carrier who decided at this point in time, his ultimate, important mission was to pick up some home grown strawberries from Knights Hill Farm Shop, holding up 6 or 7 cars behind him, mine included, for five minutes until some kind soul let him turn right into the farm shop car park.

Drove past an accident just past the farm shop. 3 car collision, on the other side of the road, fortunately.

Got to work at 4 minutes past six, extremely peed off and stressed out. Wonderful start to an early nightshift, wasn't it?

And, as the saying goes, it could only happen to me. Twice. I've got to go through this again on Monday when the prescription, alledgely (spelling) will be ready.

Just like it was supposed to have this time.

Oh, and did I say that the prescription's for the anti depressants as well?

Paul

Friday 29th June - Dark Angel Of Cancer Calls In My World Again

I thought it was all over and done with, now, but the Angel of Cancer has again appeared in my world.This time it's my friend John at work, whose wife had the confirmation yesterday afternoon.

This Dark Angel keeps hovering around my world, refusing to go away until he collects someone to go with Him.

It seems as if I've escaped so He's picked someone else. So, over the last 7 - 8 weeks, that's one death, one escape, and now, another case.

Isn't life fragile? Obviously, I hope John's wife pulls through OK, but at the moment, we're just outside the first 24 hours of confirmation, so someone else's world is now starting to come to a sudden standstill.

I have learned over the last few weeks to appreciate life, and everyday, it seems as if Life itself is re-inforcing that statement.

Moving on. I'm starting work early tonight so I've got to leave at 5 and pick my prescription up on the way. So tonights going to be a really long one again. I've overslept today as well, having worked all day yesterday from 8am to 4pm decorating, then going to work for a 12 hour night shift.

Two pieces of good news though. Firstly, I missed the rain this morning, just getting in at 3.20am as it started. and I've started using the Nicotine inhaler as well, so we're now on the way in that respect as well.

I did do my revised budget last night as well, taking into account no cigarettes etc, so I'll start working on the details over the weekend.

Okay, got to go

Paul

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Thursday 28th June - Getting back to business again

These last two days off have been spent fulfilling one of the commands handed to me by the wife, otherwise known as the Wise One. I've literally just finished decorating the dining room.
Well, what bit I could afford to do, anyway. Still got the ceiling to do, so hopefully I'll be able to divert some money from next months wages to get some really heavy paper to cover up all the bumps!

And now, having allowed myself a brief period of celebration (heard that somewhere before) its back to business.

So, I'm redoing my household budget tonight and trying to balance the books again. I must admit, my mind hasn't been on work lately as much as it perhaps should have been, so now I'm re-focusing on the Finance (or, rather, lack of) and seeing if I can start pulling the situation around.

I've got the nicotine inhaler from Boots (half Price) so hopefully this will help me crack the smoking lark, and that starts, in earnest, at Midnight tonight.

Still having the debt letters come through the door every day almost. Good to see some things haven't changed over the last few weeks, isn't it? (!)

One thing has changed though lately - and this isn't for the better either. My foods starting to get stuck on the way down again - obviously the strictures starting sweling again. I'm out of prescription tabletsas well at the moment, so I'm relying on over the counter supplies until I can get to pick the prescription up.

Still No Time!!

And talking of time, I'm starting a set of 6 nights again at 7pm tonight. That means I'm working on my birthday again this year then as well (1st July).

I owe, I owe, its off to work I go...............

Paul

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Tuesday 26th - The Day After The Rules Were Broken

"... no man is useless while he has a friend." - Robert Louis Stevenson

I've read through all the comments from the blog I wrote last night after getting home. Thanks for all your comments guys.

Listen, the last thing I dreamt of doing was bringing conflict into the blog. Hazel Eyes, what you said about the ringleader is true. I am the ring leader here.

You see, I broke the rules. The whole point of a blog is that we can make friends without meeting people. Without going out, doing every thing from the comfort of home on our computers.

Obviously I was disappointed that no one could make it. I know everyone's busy, that's why I said it would just be an hour or so. But, I have been knocked over by the support I got from my friends here with my recent cancer scare. And I just wanted to say thanks in person.
No big deal guys. I broke the rules, and it didn't work out. Doesn't matter. so, apart from the disappointment, there's no hurt feelings. Really.

What DOES matter though, is that I did spend valuable time with my son, and that I'm going to live for a few more years. Please, lets not fall out over this and keep our friendship live.

Incidentally, I did know about Simon - he was covering a shift for a colleague who's just had a bereavement -something like that can never be planned for - thank God- but I found out too late about this though because the PM script still isn't working properly here and the alert didn't tell me I had a message waiting - again - so it wasn't until I got a text from him after getting to the pub that I knew what was going off.

There's always the future isn't there?

Best thing about last night - for me - and the worse for my son - besides only having me for company for an hour or two that is - was listening to me telling him I miss the quality time we used to spend together.

In the past, we've run businesses together, worked together, got up at 5am every Sunday morning for months in all weathers whilst we worked the Sunday markets in the West Midlands, repaired cars together, (nearly crushed him under a Granada Estate when he was 13 or 14), I taught him how to drive on private wasteland when he was only 15. He just informed me that I'm getting old. And boring!

See? There's good in everything isn't there? Talking of good, I hope you passed your test Lee - and well done to Jally for his community action in helping with the floods.

I can't even say the time was wasted yesterday - because I spent it with my son - although if I'd have known, we'd have gone to a local pub instead and saved on petrol.

But honestly guys, it really doesn't matter. Disappointment is a short lived emotion.
And, honestly, I do look forward to meeting everyone in the near future sometime.

Sorry for breaking the rules!!
Paul

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Meeting Adjourned!

I and my son went to the lounge at the Woolpack for just before seven, and we stayed there until 7.40pm - on our own!

Great plans as they say! Started out by the fact that we found ourselves in the bar, and had to give the bar man the drinks back whilst we walked around the corner to the proper door into the lounge.

As no one had appeared by 7.40 as I say, we decided to call it quits and went back home. Still had a valuable bonding session with my son though, but we did, eventually, run out of things to talk about.

I'm sorry no one made it. I guess we'll just have to stay figments of every bodys imagination for the time being!

BUT this is the first time, in absolute years, that I've purposefully made plans to socialise. See, I can still do it, can't I?

Maybe next time will be better - for everyone. Simon, perhaps you'll pass my regards onto the bar man for me - I did ask for you when we went in. I didn't get your PM because it didn't show up in the messages bit here again.

Paul

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Knightrider - A Shadowy Flight Into The Dangerous World Of A Man Who Does Not Exist

Well, all the arrangements are made, and I'm meeting Simon (Eddie2Socks) and we're walking up to the Famous Woolpack, and I'm leaving home at 6pm, so we should all be in the pub for 7pm.

Hopefully the weather will be a little kinder to us tonight, especially considering I got soaked through again last night. Absolutely drenched. Lets hope we have good luck on our side eh?

Really looking forward to meeting my new friends, and our first round will be dedicated to New Friends, Absent New Friends, Scan Results, and Giving Up Smoking. Welcome to my dangerous world!

And as I've said in earlier blogs, I promise I won't keep you too long, I know we're all busy. In case I forget tonight, I'd just like to say thanks for your time and incredible support I've had from each of you over the last, and most traumatic, 5 weeks of my life.

I just want you all to know that 've really appreciated all your support. An unbearable situation became tolerable knowing I had people routing for me. Thankyou.

Paul

ps - My son doesn't know about the blog - yet- I haven't told my family, but I haven't NOT told them either. I'll tell him on the way there tonight, so we'll all be free to talk properly!

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Sunday 24th June - Looking forward to tomorrow

Last night tonight, finishing at 7am tomorrow, and then I'm off for three nights. Looking forward to our get together at the Woolpack tomorrow night! Simon, I've replied to your PM, and sent you an email as well, just to make sure.

If I don't hear anything from Simon, I'll still be going down and finding somewhere to park. I don't know the Woolpack at all, but I'm assuming it's a pub with a lounge and a bar?

If that's the case, I'll start out in the lounge, so we'll be able to sit down. If that's not the normal thing to do, we can always move into the bar when we've all met up perhaps? If there is no lounge, then you'll find me in the bar somewhere.

Look forward to meeting you all. Its a shame that not everyone of us lives in Kings Lynn, there's a few more of us bloggers I'd like to meet as well, like Big Boy, who always makes me laugh, and of course, the reknown Pasty Muncher. Maybe one day. Soon.

Apart from getting wet on every one of my nightshifts this time around, there's nothing to report really, as the saying goes. Still grateful it's my last nightshift, still so tired.

On the smoking/non smoking front, I've put packing it up back until Tuesday, my second day off, IF I don't crack it before hand. Maybe I'll do better when I'm off. I've picked up the Quit Today pack from Tescos, thought I could make use of some of the coupons (and triple points) on some of the anti smoking stuff.

My biggest problem is the first drag of the first cigarette of the day - so I'm going to get an inhaler. This won't be as strong as the smoking, but at least I'll feel something going down my throat and, because it's nicotine as well, I should feel the same afterwards.

Then take it from there.

See you tomorrow,
Paul

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Thursday 21st June - Police Assistance Requested!

Thanks for all the replies yesterday my friends your support is really appreciated. Dewdrop and Letty, you're wonderful, and like Letty says, the ladies aren't for messing with.

Jally Peeno - you're quite right in the tobacco alternatives as well - though I'm not so sure that the banana trick would occupy me for long enough to be successful. I gather from that reply that you're a bit of a joker then?

Here's a good one for sweet revenge. I discovered this totally by accident. All you do is open your bathroom window, leave it open all night, leave your light on all night as well, and shut the door.

What happens? The first person to use the bathroom in the morning upsets hundreds of flying creatures, gnats, daddy long legs and so on and it takes ages to clear them all out. Wicked good fun - especially the screaming! LOL

Simon, I've replied to, (and found - more importantly) your PM and replied back to you. Thanks for offering to meet us, Monday promises to be an excellent meetup! Thats me, Simon, Dewdrop and Lee, along with my son - this promises to be an enlightening hour or so. Really looking forward to it! And that's really unusual for me - must be because of the reason for the celebrational drink. Letty, look forward to meeting you in the future.

You'll have to excuse my grey hair everyone - believe it or not - I only had a couple streaks of grey a few weeks ago - the greyness has really spread over the last 5 weeks or so. Back to the Grecian 2000 for me next payday then!

The no smoking bit

I'm having to start over again. Had a bit of an incident last night at work about 1am this morning when I found someone who shouldn't have been where he was - actually hiding up in bushes. I thought I'd better check my workplace out after I saw the police searching the immediate area five or six times, when I heard this rustling at my side and there he was. Not good.

Having rang Kings Lynn Police, I was waiting to meet up with them when the control room rang me back and said the man I'd seen was a policeman looking for someone seen running in my direction.

Even worse then! The police left and I had to check out my workplace which took over two hours. Don't know where the yob(s) went in the end - neither I nor the police found them.

Obviously adrenaline took over, and kicking the fags went through the window. Starting again.

From Now

Paul

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Wednesday 20th June - Really Struggling!

Thanks for your comments again yesterday Letty and Simon. Letty, your faith in me is beautiful, and Simon, you're right, we are alike in our respective battles. I sent you a personal message yesterday Simon, did you get it?

I said thanks for the offer of the car park and asked you for directions. The read receipt I asked for shows you haven't seen it yet.

Shouldn't really give out personal email addresses on blogs, but I'd like to get things sorted out if I can. It'll be interesting to see what other exciting offers I receive now through email as well! I'll let you know.

First night shift over and done with, for which I'm glad again. A quiet night all told, and, for the first time in a week, I missed getting soaked through with the rain, which in Kings Lynn, stopped at about 1am.

Thanks for your recent message Big Boy, I didn't know you lived outside Kings Lynn, well, outside the area really! Thanks for your good wishes though. Much appreciated!

The smoking battle continues and I've only had two cigarettes today up to yet, hopefully, they'll be the last two. I've enquired about the cessation clinics at the doctors, picked up the "Don't give up giving up" booklet, but because of my shifts its difficult to fit them in as they're run at 3pm Wednesday afternoons at my surgery. I only have one Wednesday off in 3 and the meetings are weekly.

I had 7 cigarettes yesterday - down from 30 or 40, but still not good enough. I'll just keep on keeping on, but I'm disappointed and angry with myself, but the urges are so strong.

Besides improving my health, I'm going to spend my cigarette money on re-establishing the business, getting it back to where it was before.So I've got the incentive. But that doesn't kill the griping, urgent urges much.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Paul

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Tuesday 19th June - Battle commences, Day 2

Day 2 of the Giving Up Smoking Battle. So hard! Why do I have to give up? God, don't I know I'm hooked!

Okay, I started yesterday as planned. I ended up having 5 fags in between getting up and going back to bed. A rotten day off all told really.

Today, I woke up with the Teenage Ones alarm call from her mother at 7am, had two fags and went back to bed as I'm incredibly tired at the moment because, I suspect, of the Anti Depressant tablets. Besides, no-one else in the family stays up 26 hours before going back to bed, so why should I?

Got back up at 11 and lasted 3 hours without a single cigarette, but I think I've blown it again for today now.

Don't give up giving up the advert tells me. I just wish I could carry on carrying on!

But with The Family on my back, even to the point of counting thebutts in an ashtray this morning when they did'nt know I was awake listening to them, the pressure to pack in is immense.

But, at the moment, the pressure to carry on keeps winning. Although I've cut down from 40 a day to between 5 and 7 it's still not good enough.

One more, then I'll see how long I can do without another one. First nightshift back on tonight as well, todays going to be a really really long day.

Okay, starting over again from now. I just wish I could convert the need to a want and I'd be Ok wouldn't I?

Fathers Day

AS regular readers will know, following recent circumstances, this Fathers Day was special to all involved. especially in light of the fact that it's not my last ever one. Everyone was here and I'm still really grateful to have all the family in one place at the same time. Ended up with garden plants this year instead of cigarettes and The Teenage One brought me a Wallace & Grommitt DVD (My Heroes!!).

A brilliant day all round spolit only by the fact that I had to go to work for 7pm. The wife put on a brilliant buffet for us all. So lucky aren't I? Even my son stayed in for the day.

That's why I must win the smoking battle.

Paul

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Ladies & Gentlemen, The Teenage One Has Left The Premises!

The photo on this blog shows the state of our front room as the Teenage One left it on Friday when she went to school, and I found it at 2pm in the afternoon when I got up.

When I was at school, it was the boys who were dishevelled, disorganised and untidy where as the girls were prim and proper,and OH SO clean and tidy.

Whats gone wrong, I wonder? Or is it that the Clean and Tidy thing doesn't kick in until after the teenage years with the young ladies today?

Answers on a postcard please!

Paul

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Friday 15th June - First Night Shift Over!

The first night shift is always a killer shift for me and last night was no exception, so I'm glad its over. And didn't it rain? Hard!

No prizes then, for guessing who was caught up in it! Started at 1am ish, and with only about two 15 minute breaks between the showers all night there was little chance I could escape it really. Got soaked through, the rain soaked through my waterproof (?) coat, soaked my jumper on my shoulders and now I've woken up with a blocked nose as I couldn't get dry again properly all night!

Three more nights to do, then off on Monday night, then start nights again on Tuesday for another 6 nights. No rest for the wicked, well, not until the 25th anyway!

Lee, thanks for telling us you're Okay for Monday 25th, and good luck with the test! Simon and Dewdrop, are you okay for 7pm that day? Sorry you can't make it Letty, maybe next time perhaps?

I've never been to the Woolpack before, so, Simon, where do I park? Having worked at the college previously in my life, I know the Woolpack patrons shouldn't park on the college car park. Don't want to get clamped!

Anyone else who's coming, look out for a green N reg Volvo saloon and you know I'm there! Really looking forward to meeting you all!

Talking about meetings, the Birthday event last Sunday didn't happen in the end. Eldest daughter and her boyfriend are coming over this Sunday for Fathers Day so this Sunday IS the big family gathering. Everyone's going to be here, so we'll have a packed house Sunday afternoon and I'm getting up earlier than normal then and being the cenre of attention for a few hours before having to leave at 6.15pm for work again.

And my first non smoking day starts at 7.30 am, Monday. Now, thats something I'm really not looking forward to!!

Paul

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Wednesday 13th June - It's A Date!

After everything that's happened lately, I'm slowly getting back to normal. thanks for all your replies gang, hows about Monday 25th June for our quick get together? I can be at the Woolpack for 7pm, is that Okay for everyone?

I'm really looking forward to meeting all my new friends from IMM. I promise I'll only keep you for an hour or so! Simon, Lee and Dewdrop thanks for your acceptances. Letty and Big Boy, I'd love to meet you too if you can make it.

We'll have to name the group for this one off meeting to conform with the Woolpack tradition. The Grumpy Old Men group already exists, and as we'll be seeing a couple of ladies as well, I thought we could be the Grumpy Old Bloggers, or GOBs for short!

On the day to day basis, the QE cancelled my results appointment today as they say it's not needed. I've had the official letter now as well, so I'm officially clear of Cancer. Letty, you'll be pleased to hear that we've told middle daughter now that everythings over and done with. The only one we haven't told now is the baby daughter, AKA The Teenage One. As she's coming up for her big exams, and as two of her best friends have recently lost parents to Cancer as well, we're not going to tell her.

I'm still grateful the last three or four weeks are over. I never want to go through that again.

Ever.

I've just got to go for a review meeting now with my GP to discuss options when she gets back off her holiday, so that's going to be about two weeks time.

Now, I'm going to start to enjoy life again. Starting with getting the business up and running (I'll tell everyone the business name at the pub) properly and of course, the old battle resumes, getting enough money in every month.

That one starts again tomorrow.

And, just to close, and hopefully without getting boring, can I just say, once again, thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement over the last few weeks. You have all helped to make an impossible situation a lot more bearable. Thank you. And, I promise, that's the last time the C-Incident will be mentioned here.

Paul

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Monday 11th June- Results are through

My new doctors secretary rang up the home phone today whilst me and the wife were at work and left a message.

Its not Cancer.

Thank God. we are all so relieved obviously, and there have been heartfelt tears occasionally, and there's still a strange silence at the moment, almost as if we can't believe the fairy tale ending. Almost as if the whole things so fragile that a sudden noise will destroy it.

The shadow is there, and does exist, and it's caused by me having emphasema (I think that's how it's spelt). That's lung damage caused through smoking. I've already made plans to pack up smoking as regular readers will know, and now the results are in, as it were, my last fags going to be on Sunday night, just before I go to bed.

The condition is "mild" in medical terms, but obviously it will get worse as I get older if I continue to smoke. So I have no choice. I certainly don't want to have to go through all this again.

Ever.

So, once again everyone, thanks millions for your support. You are all briliant friends.

Simon, if you're reading this, I'd like to organise an hour at the woolpack and invite all those people who have been so good to me for a celebrationary drink with me - just for an hour or so, sometime over the next fortnight or so. Think we can get this sorted out somehow mate?

I'd love to meet you all. I'll work out when I can be there over the next couple of days and see when people can get there. I'll bring my son with me, but other than that, it'll just be me.
Anyone up for it?

And, once again everyone, thank you for being there. My heart, and my head, is heavy with relief at the moment, and I'm still waiting for the confirmation letter to come through which was posted first class today.

But the phone call, that single recorded message, has changed my life - forever.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Paul

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Sunday 10th June- Ready for back to work

The last few days have flown by, and today is my last day of freedom before returning to work again at 7am tomorrow morning. Back to normal then.Thanks for your good wishes Letty and Dewdrop. Really welcome!

Working days Monday and Tuesday, off Wednesday (Scan Result Day), then back on nights Thursday through to Sunday. Roll on 7am Monday morning!

Life's pretty much the same here. The Teenage One is still having the occasional tantrum, the loud music (I believe that's what these young people call their racket) as well as the occasional door slam.

But it's First Daughters Birthday tomorrow, so we're expecting a family gathering here this afternoon. After writing this, we're off to Focus at Fakenham to get a few more decorating supplies ready for my next lot of days off, and then we'll get ready for this afternoon.

I thought I'd leave you with a joke that made me smile. Here goes:

Four friends, who hadn't seen each other in 30 years, reunited ata party. After several drinks, one of the men had to use the bathroom.
Those who remained talked about their kids. The first guy said, "My son is my pride and joy. He started working at a successful company at thebottom of the barrel. He studied Economics and Business Administration,and soon began to climb the corporate ladder. He's the president of the company. He became so rich that he gave his best friend a top of theline Mercedes for his birthday."

The second guy said, "Hey, that's terrific! My son is also my pride and joy. He started working for a big airline, then went to flight school to become a pilot. Eventually he became a partner in the company, where he owns the majority of its assets. He's so rich that he gave his best friend a brand new jet for his birthday."

The third man said:"Well, that's terrific! My son studied in The best universities and became an engineer. Then he started his own construction company and is now a multimillionaire. He also gave awaysomething very nice and expensive to his best friend for his birthday: A30,000 square foot mansion."

The three friends congratulated each other just as the fourth returned from the bathroom and asked: "What are all the Congratulations for?" One of the three said: "We were talking about the pride we feel for thesuccesses of our sons.... What about your son?"

The fourth man replied: "My son is gay and makes a living Dancing as astripper at a nightclub."

The three friends said: "What a shame... What a disappointment."The fourth man replied: "No, I'm not ashamed. He's my son and I love him. And he hasn't done too badly either.

His birthday was two weeks ago and he received a beautiful 30,000 square foot mansion, a brand new jet,and a top of the line Mercedes from his three boyfriends."

Boom Boom!
Paul

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Friday 8th June- Hospital Checks Now Complete

That's it then. All done. Just got to wait until Wednesday now to get the results. Now, everythings in the hand of the Gods.

The wife had another day off work, booked it as an holiday day to come with me. Again, we were at the QE for just turned half eight, I was seen at 9am, and we were leaving the hospital just after half nine.

Today it was the lung function test. This is where you blow into a mouth piece, similar to a peak flow meter, and I had to do this 12 times, with a clip over my nose forcing me to breathe through my mouth. The air I was breathing in was hot and dry and I soon got really thirsty through it. Apparently, my oxygen absorbtion rate by my lungs is lower than expected.

So that's it then. Nothing more can be done now.

Just the big waiting game now.

After that, I and the wife invaded Farmland Foods, did a load of shopping and we're now back home.

Paul

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Thursday 7th June - Scanned!

Today's the day. I went to QE Hospital with the wife and got scanned. Now, it's just a case of waiting until next Wednesday for the results.

We got to the hospital early this morning, as my wife had to her blood tests at the doctors, and rather than have her come home from the doctors, then go out again half hour later, I elected to go with her to the doctors, then go straight to the hospital from there.

So we ended up waiting there about an hour and half until my appointment time. I ended up having a CT Scan in the end.

This is the one where you lay on a bed, and the bed moves back and forth through a half donut thing where the scans are made. You don't have to undresss, except for taking a jumper off, and I had to take my belt off as well because of the metal buckle.

They then put one of those things in your arm ready for an injection and slide you through the donut with your hands and arms above your head and connect you up to the injection. This injects a dye into you that highlights your bloodlines and organs.

That injection gives you a warm feeling down your back, through your groin and into your legs. Feels like you've peed yourself at one stage!

After you've had your injection, the nurse scurries off into her office and they talk to you through a mike on the donut. I think, all told, I went through the scanner 4 times. The whole process took about 15-20 minutes and it was finished.

But I'm not finished yet. Not sure what happened, but I was supposed to have a couple more lung function checks today as well, but I think the hospital forgot about them. I've got to go back to the hospital at 9am tomorrow morning again.

Then, it should be finished until results day next Wednesday. That's the day I want out of the way. Forever. Although the doctor told me yesterday he's not too concerned about the scan, the worry still keeps invading my mind and thoughts. There's no chance of stopping smoking yet - not until this whole things over and done with.

Paul

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D Day Tribute

Although it cannot ever be right to celebrate war, I feel disappointed that the D Day Anniversary Landings have been consigned to silence and with exception to the Paul O Grady Show and Radio 4 Yesterday, they haven't even been mentioned.

On June 6, 1944, a date known ever since as D-Day, a mighty armada crossed a narrow strip of sea from England to Normandy, France, and cracked the Nazi grip on western Europe.
The landings on 5 beaches namely Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold and Juno resulted in 9,000 British and Allies deaths.

Isn't it bad that such an important, historical event should be largely forgotten today?

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Paul

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Blog Titles Changed

Just to say, I've just realised that today is the 60th anniversary of the D Day landings. I didn't realise this when I've blogged over the last couple of days or so and as my battle is nothing compared to those landings, I've changed the headings My blogs reading D Day have now been changed to scan day

Paul

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Wednesday 6th June Scan Day

Just got back from hospital. No scan today, that, as it turns out, is tomorrow at 11.55 am. But I did have a consultation with my new doctor

So, what can I say? Well, the end result of the consultation was that the doctor said he wasn't particularily concerned about the shadow, BUT I'd still have to go back tomorrow for the scan to confirm.

Today it was a battery of tests. First off was my oxygen count at my fingertips which was 99%. Then my wee was tested and "theres nothing in it" according to the nurse. Then I had two lung function tests where you blow long and hard into this reader. Height and weight were checked.Finally, a blood sample was taken.

Then I went into the doctor who asked me lots of questions and listened to my lungs & heart. My breathing is down slightly because of the smoking, but at this point, everythings fairly normal to good.

And I'm so grateful.

I know its not over yet, by a long shot. I'm still waiting for Wednesday 13th when I collect the results,and hopefully, I'll be discharged and I can put this sorry, frightening case behind me.

Thanks for your good luck wishes this morning Simon, believe me, at that point, they were really welcome. And thanks as well to all my IMM friends for all your support as well. You've all helped make this more bearable. Thank you all. I'll post an update tomorrow after the scan.

Paul

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Tuesday 5th June Scan Day Minus 1

Finished work at 7am this morning and I've now got 6 days off before returning to work next Monday, on the new shift, on days. I've taken 2 days off as well as my normal 4 days rest to get ready for Scan day tomorrow.

So, I'll be glad when tomorrows over, obviously. I and my wife, The Wise One, are planning on hitting QE at 8.30 am tomorrow morning. If you're around QE, and see an M reg Green Volvo in the car park, we're there! Then, its waiting for DDay Plus 7 when I get the results.

What else to tell? Well, I think the Teenage One may have got us in a bit of bother yesterday. The Wise One went into work early at 6.30am, and when this happens, she rings the Teenage One to get her up for school.

This went to plan. At 7.30, the phone rang, woke me up as well, I heard the Teenage One talking on the phone, and then general noises as she started mooching around.So I went back to sleep.
Then the phone went again. This was followed by frantic rushing around, some general teenage comments, and some furious activity. The next thing I know she was waking me up, asking me to take her and her friend to school!

Problems! The Wise One had the car at work. My Nissan is still poorly on the drive, neglected, mot-less, and without a battery. School bus missed. A friend stuck at her house witing for her friend, my daughter, to call for her. One Missed school bus.

No school for my daughter and her friend. Rules broken because at her school, the parents have to ring up if the kids don't go to school. I didn't ring because I was still in bed. So the school rang here yesterday, and the Teenage One answered the phone. Oh dear!

Bad Dad!

But, for my defence, I will say that my increased Anti Depressant dosage is making me sleep like I haven't done for years. The tablets are making me totally carefree about most things. I don't even bother about going to work anymore (Now that, in itself, is a miracle). Thankyou Big Boy and Letty - I wish I'd known you years ago before things got so bad.

Two Miracles, sort of, this last week to tell you about. Firstly, that incredible pain on my left side I've had for weeks, has suddenly vanished, without treatment. Now that's strange. This pain resulted me in going to the doctors, being sent for a chest xray, and then suddenly goes after the xray shows up problems. Was that a miracle, forcing me to investigate further, then disappearing when I'd got myself checked out? Maybe someone's looking after me up there after all.

And the second one? Well, I was in a quiet period in one of my night shifts, feeling sorry for myself admittedly and having a quick cigarette at the back door of the office I work in. Must have been about 2am. I was on my own, and I heard this rustling from the side of the building.
Then this baby deer came into sight, not noticing me at first. He came to within 2 or 3 feet of me before he noticed me. He didn't run away straight off, we had eye contact for a couple of minutes before he turned and fled.

A baby deer in an industrial area where there's no woods, not for a couple of miles anyway? I've never seen this before, neither has anyone else to my knowledge. Is this a meaning for me? And why didn't he flee straight away when he saw me?

See, miracles do happen, even in my normal, chaotic, stressed out and debt ridden life.

Isn't life Wonderful?
Paul

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Political Correctness is killing our country

According to the new rules and regulations, I shouldn't be alive today because I'm a sixties child
We grew up in cots painted in lead based paint which was promptly chewed and licked.
We had no child proof lids on medicine bottles, or latches or catches on doors and cabinets and it was fine to play with the pots and pans.

When we rode our bikes, we did so without helmets and other body protection, just sandals on our feet, and more often than not, wearing just a tee shirt and shorts.

As children, providing mum and dad were rich enough to own a car, we rode in them without seatbelts, air bags or side impact protection systems.

We drank the dew from the grass in the fields, and water from the garden hosepipes and not from a bottle - and it tasted the same.

We ate sandwiches made from the cold fat left in the pan after cooking meat - called dripping in the Midlands- and followed it by drinking sugar rich pop. We were never overweight because cars, computer games and televisions were not as prolific as they are now, so we were always playing outside.

We didn`t have hundreds of television channels, video tapes, DVD’s, surround sound, mobile phones, Computers, and internet chatrooms. We used to have real friends and used to have to go out to find them.

We used to walk to school every day instead of expecting mum to take us in the big four wheel drive armoured personnel carriers they use today, clogging up all the roads.

We shared one drink between four or five friends and no one died from doing so.We would spend hours building carts from scrap wood, and after crashing into stinging nettles so many times, we learned how to cure the blisters without the medication creams we`re taught to use today. We would play out all day, in all weathers, getting back before dark. No one was able to reach us all day and no one minded.

We played street games and cricket without helmets. Sometimes the ball did really hurt.
We fell out of trees, got cuts and bruises and broken teeth and there were no lawsuits. We just learned not to do the same thing again. We rode our bikes in packs of six or seven and wore our coats only by the hoods. We made our things last for ever, or as long as possible anyway. The idea of our parents baling us out if we got in trouble with the police was unheard of. We learned our actions were our own and consequences were expected.

This freedom has produced some of the best risk takers, inventors and problem solvers ever. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility and we learned how to deal with it ourselves before Governments started to interfere and regulate our lives for `Our own good`.

We were not cocooned in cotton wool and grew up knowing that we had responsibility for our own lives. Exercise was the natural order of the day. We did not grow up like todays children.
If you had a childhood like mine, congratulations. It won't happen again. Government regulations will make sure of that.

Paul

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Saturday 2nd June - New Month, New Start?

I'm glad May's over and done with. I don't like May at the best of times and, well, this year it's just been exceptionally bad

Anyway, on to better things (ish), and looking forward.My baby girl approaches growed upness today as she starts her first ever paid job, working as a helper in a hairdressing salon in Hunstanton. I managed to sneak a photo of her on her way out on my phone for prosterity.She thinks I'm sad. I think I'm old! Where does time go, and why does it go so fast?

Back to the scan, quickly. I was deeply touched on Thursday when my line manager waited for almost two hours after he'd finished work just to see me (I'd emailed him that morning telling him I needed time off and why). He told me not to worry, that he'd had a friend who gone through the same thing and he was OK after a long course of tablets. But he then told me that if I needed time off, or anything else, I was to ring him personally.Wasn't that good of him?

Otherwise, behind the scenes, everything continues as normal. I finished work at 7am this morning, and back at work 7am tomorrow, then nights again on Monday. I'm having Tuesday and Wednesday off in addition to my days off Thursday to Sunday. When I get home tomorrow afternoon, I'm in the garden again for 3 hours cutting the front & back grass. That'll be Sunday over and done with then.

I'm not doing very well on the smoking front, so I'm going to give it another go when I've been for the scan, before I go back to work, so now, Wednesday night is my day for the Last Fag.

I've reformatted my main business format and it's ready to go. I'll be restarting it the day after I get the scan results back, so that makes it a week on Thursday. I've gone from internet publishing and advertising to magazine publishing, and the first magazines just been finished.

If any of you would like a copy, send me an email at knightrider45atbtinternet.com and I'll send you a PDF copy back by email with pleasure, Monday onwards. It'll be good to get some feedback before it goes to press, so to speak. It's not all about business, there's some other things in there too, like an article on getting your PC ready for Vista, protecting your PC against viruses, an article on depression amonsgt others. Its basically a general interest mag based around business.

I'm hoping to start advertising again by the end of this month, and starting over from scratch again, so I'll be really busy soon again.

Just have to get rid of some of my black clouds in my life first, then I can concentrate on getting money in again!

Paul

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