Vicar's Homepage

Climbing back!

I was advised a few weeks ago to watch out for a touch of depression post treatment, and not being prone to such things thought myself pretty immune. However post the treatment it is certainly true that I have become listless, which is one thing, but when the kids are involved it becomes noticed. I was out for a family meal this week and certainly wasn't the life and soul of the party, and that's putting it mildly.

Drastic action required then! Thus I decided to find my way to Gelsenkirchen for a long weekend to watch the end of the Bundesliga (German football) season. I have long been a distant admirer of FC Schalke 04, and have watched with alarm as their 7 point lead at the top of the table has been eroded. They have not won the league for 49 years, and are one of the most popular teams in Germany. I managed to track down a ticket at a rather inflated price and was present as once again it all ended in tears. We have had to finish second after being piped at the post by Stuttgart, having done ourselves no favours in the last few weeks by losing at both Bochum and 'The Ticks' (Dortmund, the local rivals.)

With the street parties all booked weeks ago I was imagining it was going to be a rather morbid evening, but on walking into the Hibernia (the only brewhouse in Gelsenkirchen) found 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing' by the Scissor Sisters blasting away at full volume, and soon everyone was up and dancing. Next year then.

  Schalke Nordkurve

I spent the rest of the evening 45 minutes away in Dusseldorf, which is a very much a party city with stag and hen groups from all over Germany on the loose, and some really fine bars and restaurants to choose from. By the end of Saturday night not only was the disappointment of the day being forgotten, but I also felt my old self returning. It was a really good evening and I am glad I made the effort.

Having felt in a kind of protective lethargic bubble in recent weeks, perhaps the time has come to get out in the real world again.

 

  

All quiet on the Western Front

Back from a very rainy caravan park. In all honesty only two days were seriously effected by the rain, and I was able to get out and about during the rest. The week was a total tonic and finished far too soon. I was based in West Wittering, which was very quiet with just one restaurant, two very useful shops, a genuine loony (who used to greet each bus passenger personally when they climbed on), and an oddly high quality butcher (Do you sell game? Let me know what you want Sir and I can get it in 24 hours!! Now thats what I call fresh.) . The one pub has a smart dining area and a not so smart sports bar, not the village local I was expecting. East Wittering is a rather ugly village, ruined by unimaginative 60's style flats all over the place but does have some decent food shops. More to do, but lacking in atmosphere. I preferred the P and Q of the west village. The site had no facilities which meant it was perfectly quiet, I liked that.

Ros came over on the last night and we found a lovely village local (the Lamb) two miles up the road where we were treated to an array of really nice complimentary bar snacks, by a number of over enthusiastic locals.

I did a trip to Emsworth one evening to check on their pubs (wonderful) and finished with a very fine curry. Then spent 10 minutes in driving rain waiting for the last bus home. Yak! My walks along the beach were entertained by a full film crew in action, apparently filming Ewan Mc Gregors' new blockbuster Incediary. 

It was a lovely area and I wish I could afford to site a van there full time. 

 

Sunset over the Spinnaker Tower 

See my new gallery Out and About for images of the lovely Witterings! 

 

Must be my fault then!

Well its off to the Witterings on Sunday, and I can't but fail to notice the weather forecast. thus when the rain and winds arrive Sunday its my stupid fault for booking a UK break on a bank holiday. The cags and boots are packed and a load of food set aside. I am still looking forward to it and it will be test to see if I like the caravan life, as I may consider investing in one as a holiday home in later years. Lets see what happens.

All treatments are now finished and it is predicted that the few symptoms I have post treatment will increase for a couple of weeks and then die down. It feels odd now being post radiotherapy. During treatment there was a set order to life and I felt secure in the hands of the hospital. I am now back out in the big wide world waiting to see how the tumor responds to the treatment and I feel a little less secure. I am sure I will adjust with time.

Will update on my return

Captain Corelli Rides Again!

Just three treatments to go! I am now feeling mild side effects, but nothing that has caused concern. I will still be grateful to reach an ending (for now!) and kick back for a while. I have a consultants meeting later this week to discuss how we will monitor the outcome. I imagine we will be closely reviewing for at least a couple of years, and we will then be able to gauge the outcome.

 

On a lighter note I am considering mandolin lessons after having contacted a teacher via the internet, it will be a new direction for me after guitar lessons fell by the wayside due to cost and the inability to convert to Dobro playing as I could not find anyone to take that direction forward. I will give it a try and see what happens now I have some spare time.

 

Our office had their staff do this week. Based loosely on the Oscars ceremony, annual awards are handed out and nominations given. (I actually got a nomination last year, but was unable to go, Yes our department was the only one working that night!) It is a very well planned do, and it does make us feel special. The Champagne flowed and as this was the first time I had seen some of my colleagues for a couple of months we were able to catch up. Some surprises though, some of my more regular colleagues seemed to shy away, not quite knowing what to say, whilst others whom I hardly know made a real fuss.

 

I had to leave at midnight as I get very tired late into the evenings and am sure I missed a lot of the fun. Maybe we should have awards for some of the schangens that usually take place later if the first event was anything to go by.

 

Onwards and upwards, despite better judgement I found my way to Swansea the next day to watch the Albion go down 2-1 at their impressive new ground. I was able to meet up with a Welsh friend who is also a devoted Albion fan. (Oddly Ros met him and his charming wife on her recent African expedition. Thus proving poor Ros cannot get away from the Albion even in the middle of the Serengeti.) It did also mean I had to give up the Welsh chants during the game. Actually we seem to have a lot of fans in Wales, having assisted Wrexham with their problems.

 

A rather drunken trip home, (though sadly not for me!) Ably assisted by some Swindon Town fans, who having been greeted immediately by a chorus of “There’s only one Tommy Mooney” (An old Swindon Town centre forward) were led to a chant of “Hit the Post, Hit the Post, Hit the Post” Which we were chanting at him during his vital penalty shot against us three years ago in the play offs. He duly did just that and sent us on our way to the final!

 

Back into London in time to just miss last orders in the Curry house I had been aiming for, leaving me at the mercy of Weathspoons late night menu. I was at that point fit to curl up for the night, and the last two hours home were shall we say excessive.

Poetry site has begun!

I have now started adding work to my poetry site. Not from me you will relieved to know. I am trying to persuade Ros to start writing again. There is a work in progress. Some of her oldies will be up shortly. Go to my pages to view.

From the Falconry

Although unable to work at the moment I have been back to the Falconry, camera in hand to capture some rather nice new images. 

  See some more: Follow Photos/Birdlife/16 July 06 (at the bottom) for more.

Happy Easter Bunnies!

Happy Easter Bunnies to you all! Ros and I are still sleeping on the floor but we are nearly at the end of our bedroom redecoration and much looking forward to normality soon. Or at least what passes for normality in this household. We are also installing a Summerhouse in the garden in the space that used to be the lean too. Guests - We may even allow you to smoke in there. Maybe!

 

The treatment has finally caught up with me and I haven’t felt well for the last few days. The hot flushes are stronger, and tiredness more prolific. Sometimes I just want to curl up and sleep. Only three weeks to go, how time flies.

 

On the positive side I had a visitor from London this week, and was able to introduce her to the Roaster and then to Kitty (pub dog at the Welly in Shoreham) and thus take her for walkies. (The dog that is.) Not without adventure though first, we broke down in Kemptown. My friend was left to play the role of helpless girlee and beg some jump leads whilst I watched from a distance (knowing nothing about cars) to make sure she was OK. Lots of help and we were soon on the road.

 

I am having some nice offers for my recuperation period, and may go away for a while post treatment to chill out.

 

It is also of course half term so Ros and I have been shopping a la North Laine and Owen has been introduced to Falconry and made a fine start dropping Gandalph the Owl headfirst. It could not have happened to a finer bird and almost knocked some sense into him. Not supposed to laugh but well…….

  Owen and friend

The Nanny State

Are we drowning in enough red tape yet? A few stories to share, and most of course involve drinking, surprise, surprise!!

 

In Barnham, Daphne, the landlady of the Murrell Arms, has been told she has failed her pub licensing test despite having been landlady for 43 years. She is thus demoted to barmaid in her own pub. The Murrell is one of Sussex’s prize and most treasured pubs. The landlord died recently at age 90, and this is the thanks she gets.

The lovely Murrell

 

 

In Lewes the much beloved Lewes Arms, another true classic has been taken over by Greene King, who are refusing to serve the local ale on its premises. Thus there is a boycott by the town’s fair citizans, and a few unfair ones to boot, and this fine establishment is now deserted.

 

At home and wearing my Landlord hat, I am now advised that taking deposits from tenants is now illegal, doubtless leaving landlords high and dry with unpaid rent will soon become a government sponsored scheme. The upshot is now tenancies must effectively be vetted and insured against loss, ruling out 95% of applicants, who will be left on the street. AAArgh!   

 

Itchy Bitchy Scratchy

Officially halfway through the therapy. I am itchy, bruised and bloated but otherwise still on my feet. Just over three weeks left. The house is in chaos as we have builders and decorators in and no bedroom. Consequently we are sleeping on the floor, but hopefully the bedroom will be finished end of next week and I can kick back and enjoy it..

 

My quest for new music took a very different turn last night, on a whim I went to see Faithless, who although were excellent and clearly on top of their game, are not my kind of thing. I was still glad I went and it was a good evening all round.

 

The photography is drawing some attention, on doing a random photo shoot around the Red Roaster Café, (see previous) I had a number of people challenge me. Surprisingly they were all encouraging and I am sending off copies of ‘my work’ as requested.

Always a smile at the Roaster

 

My Hero!

A legend of his time. we salute you!!!

 

The cricket is throwing up some stories, Freddie Flintoff, what a star, a man of his time, we love you. Being hauled paralytic from a pedalo at 4am during the World Cup won't do his advertising career any harm. Preston must be so proud. Then Ireland beat Pakistan, what a shame it wasn't Bangladesh, that would have made St Paddies night something in the local curry house.  

I am now in week three of treatment and starting to feel some effects slightly, but with the considerable reduction in alcohol, better diet, and no work concerns I am in in good spirits. I am having to limit my boozing as I have found my natural limit on the consumption front after Hove Beer Festival, when I was a little unwell the next day.

Specialist to me: I told you to drink moderately, how many did you have?

Self: Five pints.

Specialist: That's not moderate.

Self: It is where I come from.

The most disturbing feature of treatment was being left on the table for treatment with James Blunt playing in the background. Issue now resolved as they say. 

Current life has an unusual timetable. I am first on the list each day for treatment ( 9.00am) which means I am up at 6am, but have the rest of the day to myself. Thus I get to wander the streets of Kemptown, or the North Laine. A late breakfast in a coffee shop and I am set up for the day. Spending a fortune. I did manage to link with a friend for a game of Subbuteo, remember that? What a game. Lost 2-0 but would like some more practice, may even buy my own set up!

There is a quote from the 1930s' "Brighton's streets are full of actors and fantasists, drunkards and writers, chancers and manaics. Nothing has changed in Kemptown then."