Hey Guess Who????
Well you thought you'd seen the back of me did you? you're not that lucky!!! just come out of Hospital after another mamoth visit a few days ago but still feel quite tired and stuff. They did there usual thing and kindly gave me an infection that i did not have when i went in , this time it was a mouth and throat infection for a change. thanks for all your kind thoughts and best wishes and for those that asked about the poor little duckies, they're all fine and only time will tell if they are going to be permanantly scarred byt the lack of attention. Since i went in we've had another 2 visitors still in their camoflage outfits after spending time out in Iraq deffending the local ponds from further invasions. They seem to have settled down to retirement here quite well and are constantly being harrassed by the others for stories of their travel's. Right i'm off now hopefully i'll be able to resume a normal service soon when i feel up to it a bit more and let you know all about the usual dismal service i recieved at the hands of the Local Health Authority yet again and especially of the Nightmare come true of the Nurse From Hell!!!! See Ya !!!

BOO!!!

BOO!!!!! I’m still here waiting on the ring a ding of the phone to jump into action, well more like a stagger really, and head off to get my Lungs fixed. I just thought that I would come and annoy you all a little while I wait as I know you will all miss my wit and charm when I’m not around. Rang the Fat Controller, sorry, I mean the Bed Manager at Llandough this morning as instructed by my Consultant’s Secretary the other day and surprise, surprise for one, she’s never heard of me, and for two there are no beds available for today. I need to ring back after 1pm just to make sure and in the meantime she will make enquiries with the secretary as to what is happening. Fingers crossed I should be in Tomorrow at the latest, well put it this way I WILL BE IN BY THE END OF THE WEEK, because I will get my friendly GP to send me in as an Emergency if need be because I can’t go on like this for any longer.

I read with interest the other day about the Archaeologists that had found this Neolithic Settlement in Northumberland and more so the buildings on there. It’s amazing that up till now most Archaeologists have been adamant that Mr & Mrs Neolithic persons were Roamers and did not settle anywhere let alone Build Villages. It started me thinking, which as most of you know is not always a good idea, but really what do they actually know about History as such?? Is it not a case of get as many so called specialist to believe what you are saying and the masses will start to believe you often without question, with the attitude of “well they ought to know, they’re the experts”. It makes me wonder how much of our history is actually just made up and how much is factually accurate so to speak. A prime example is the Beginning of Time so to speak. There are many Opinions depending which camp you’re in as to whether there was this Big Bang or Neatly Created Planet etc etc… Did we in fact Develop from Apes??? If so why are there still apes around today?? It’s quite a frightening thought really how much of History can be accurately proven.

Jeeeez my head hurts after that burst of seriousness which as you all know is not a bit like me at all in fact that’s completely out of character, prob down to the lack of oxygen or maybe I’ve been taken over by some alien who mistakenly took me for someone of a higher inteligence. He’s sadly mistaken poor thing!!!!!

Right I’m off to start my own Archealogical Dig out the garden to see if I can find any Neolithic Breeze Blocks to prove they were here…

WARNING WARNING
Please Be Aware That The Opinions Stated On Here Are Not A Representation Of Anyone’s Opinions Other Than That Of A Deranged Madman With Far Too Much Time On His Hands. Read At You Own Risk !!!

Quack Quack!!

Still Here!!

Hi guys i'm still waiting to go in and to be honest with you i just want to get on with it now. Not like me wanting to go in i know, but it's got to the stage that my breathing and coughing are getting a lot worse and it's getting harder to stay at home. I went out for the first time today only to the day unit at the Hospital. It was the first time that i've needed to use the portable oxygen in the car since i got it a few weeks back, which to me is a sign that things are getting worse. I needed it most of the way to the hospital and back, it seems to help to settle the coughing a fair bit which is good as well as make me concentrate on my breathing too. I'm expecting a phone call tomorrow to go in which will be just right because in some ways i was hoping it would be after Weds as i get to pick up my new teeth in the morning which i doubt would have been possible if i had gone in earlier as they are are in different hospitals. Anyway i'm all packed and ready to go really just waiting on the phone call. I decided that the boys will have to take it in turns to come in and visit and they have all promised that they will behave whilst i'm gone and be on their best behaviour in the hospital or else i will never take them anywhere ever again. Bud's a bit concerned that the others might take this opportunity to gang up on him, seeing that he's the only foriegner but i assured him that he will be just fine and besides he's bigger than the rest of them so they should be scared of him anyhow.

Right i'd better get to sleep as i don't want a repeat of last weeks oversleep do i ???

He's Been Nobbled!!!

Went for my appointment to see the Chest Consultant today. It was up to the usual organised chaotic standard. Go here, wait for 30 mins then go there, wait a further 30 mins then go wait to see the Main Man. Well my 3pm appointment turned out to be 4.30 by the time i got in to see him. We exchanged the usual pleasantry's then i set about trying to make my point that we seem to be getting nowhere with sorting out my chest. I could sense there was something different about him and his attitude to all this, this time and it suddenly dawned on me that when i went to see my Transplant Consultant a month or so back, he was fuming at the lack of treatment i was receiving from the chest people and said that he would write to them and say so and to demand they pull their finger out. Well it looks like he was true to his word and had in fact nobbled the chest consultant. He was in agreement with me that we are not getting to the bottom of this at all and the only way to progress in his opinion is for me to come into hospital and to stay till they find out what it is that's causing me all these problems. He wanted me to come in straight away really but i managed to convince him to let me come in next week so i've got time to get ready and stuff. So i will be waiting for a phone call from his secretary next week to say to go in as there is a bed available, lets hope it's not before weds as i need to get my new gnashers!!! I'm in two minds whether its a good or bad thing really although i'm trying to look at it as a possitive thing, but i do have some feelings that it's a step back after being out for quite a while now and judging on past experience all the tests they've done have not been conclusive, but as he says i need to be in because they simply can't conduct a lot of the tests as an outpatient as quickly and they cant monitor me either. So i guess i'd better start packing up my stuff this weekend in readiness. I'll try and keep you posted whilst i'm gone somehow maybe i'll be able to tap into the mainframe at the hospital who knows, i like a good challenge. Oh No i just had a horrible thought...I haven't told the boys yet and there won't be room for them all to come, maybe i could work out some sort of rota so they each have a bit of a holiday...Yeah that sounds good I'll let them know tomorrow i'm sure they'll be excited. Right i better get some sleep because my nose is hurting now from banging the keyboard all the time when i nod off, so see ya tomorrow hopefully.

I'm Still Here!!!

Hiya peeps yes i'm still around although probably more in mind than body. I think i'm in for a winter of discontent with my chest because it's already giving me loads of grief and the bad weather's only just started. Still at least i got me pals to keep me company. "Well whats been happening then i hear you all shout", maybe not shout more like a whisper really with my hearing the way it is. I guess not a lot in the grand scheme of things along with world poverty and mass warfare etc etc but in Duckland little things tend to occupy my life like, do i really have to get up and walk out the kitchen to make a cuppa why can't i employ a maid to bring it to me and also why can't i have a lift installed to save me from having to make the daily treck upstairs to exercise the boys?? I guess they're the sorts of things that concern the people in power on a daily basis i don't know how they can cope with such serious decision making responsibilities.

I've come to the conclusion this week also that my recent ISP move over to PlusNet was a right royal disaster too. The speeds are horrific and try and download a file well, absolutely rubbish. 2 Hours later still waiting. I finally had enough after only 10 day and am on the move again this time to F2S which appears to be okay, but then again so did CrapNet. A very expensive lesson learnt i hope.

From a medical prospective things are very much ticking over quite normally, although i'm a bit p'd off today. All my own fault too i could kick myself but i ain't got the energy lol. Today was the day that the partner to my Bottom set of teeth was to make an appearance. I didn't have a very good night really and ended up completely sleeping through the alarm and woke up eventually 15 mins before my appointment time. Prob is i live about an hour away from the hospital so even if i were to go hijack a plane over the Raf Base i was not going to make it. Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! I'd set my heart on having them today as well. Gotta wait till next week now, back to the soup i suppose. Up to see the Chest Consultant tommorrow not that he will do much but it might be interesting to see what he makes of that killer Lung Function Test they did last week you know the one where they tried to kill me. I don't hold out much hope of him actually doing anything though he never does.

Right i better make a move upstairs to exercise the boys while i still got some energy left, that's a joke!!!!

See You Next Year????????

Stop Messing Around!!!

Hiya Pop Pickers. What a stressfull day i've had today, phew!! and all my own doing too. we've recently changed over ISP to Plusnet which seemed like a good deal at the time. Way cheaper than BT and a free Domain Name and some Web Space too. Well up till the last few days all's been well but when i started to try to download a few tunes from one of them nice friendly Share and Share alike Progs it was taking a lifetime to download just one tiny file. So no fear, Computer Wizard Here to the rescue!!! I started to investigate by playing around with the Firewalls on the pute's with no success then i tried re-installing the Share Prog and that didn't make a difference so the next port of call was the Router/Modem settings. So i set about changing just the odd setting here and there and then coming out and trying the prog again. No difference at all so i was begining to get really annoyed by now so i just pulled out all the stops and changed just about every setting on there. So i came out of the program and re started the router and lo and behold i had completely lost the internet connection all together, good move i thought. Well nothing to loose i thought so i had to totally reset the Modem/Router again. All seemed to well till i tried to get on the internet on the Laptop, it was having none of it although i could access the router from it but not the internet which left me scratching my bald head. After about 2 hours of further twiddling around i ended up restarting the Router again this time after disconecting all the other putes from it and Hey Presto it worked we have lift off as Bud would say ha ha ha!!! Once i had set up the other putes to be able to connect i went and tried to download some tunes again and the problem was still there. Damn, Damn, Damn!!!! After venturing on to Plusnet's web site more so the Forums it appears that the service we signed up to is not designed for downloading via these P2P type progs and as a result our best option is to Upgrade. OH NO YOU BLINKING DON'T!!! thankfully we are only on a Monthly Contract so should be able to move fairly swiftly although there may be a prob as I've promised Bud, Blue and Green their own new home which was part of the deal when we moved to Plusnet so I'm waiting to see what they have to say before i have to break the Good or Bad news to the boys. So please keep your fingers and toes and whatever crossed for me and Mum make sure that includes Jemma too!!!

By the way did i ever mention the fact that i take on Computer Repairs if anyone's interested? Anyone? Maybe? Well Guess Not Then.....

See Ya....

Muted Pleasure!!

It's been a day of Muted pleasure really today. I set off to the Dentist full of intrepedation about picking up my new Gnashers this morning. On the way i stopped at Tesco's to pick up some Fixadent to keep the things from ratling around. Got there in plenty of time in fact i made sure that i was there early as i had to make a mad dash afterwards to the other side of the city for my Lung Function test. Well things didn't start off too well. The dentist came out to the waiting room to let me know that they hadn't brought them down from the lab yet and that they should be there soon. Well 15 mins later they turned up. She called me in to see her and started to explain what the problem had been. Apparently the Head of the lab brought them down to explain to her that they had managed to somehow break the original mould for the top set when they were making them and they were not going to be ready till next week but the bottom set are ready and are in place as we speak. It's just my Luck or lack of it more like it, although i guess it gives me a chance to get used to the bottom set first which apparently are the ones most likely to cause problems.. Right back in the car and the mad dash over to Llandough Hospital some 6 or 7 miles away i guess accross town. Nigel Mansell eat your heart out!!! I arrived bang on 10am my appointment time and the buggers made me wait till 20 past till they called me in. They proceeded to connect me up to all this machinery and made me do various exercises and some walking up different gradients on the treadmill which nigh on killed me. I'm not too bad on the flat although i often get passed by Snails and Slugs but make me go up a ramp or any slight incline and i get in a right mess, puffing and panting not a pretty sight. I finally put up my hand to say thats enough torture and it all stoppped thank god. I need to wait till i see the doc next week for the results as such although they did say that as usual i was only using about 40% of my Lung Capacity. I was actually having a Good Chest Day Today so i wonder what the result would have been if they did it last week when i was strugling in fact it's quite scary to think that i might be only using 1/2 that again.....

On a brighter note i been exercising the boys tonight. they had a good old swim around, in fact i struggled to get them out and ended up pulling the plug out and they stayed in till the very last drop had gone. Making up for the other day i guess with the shower. I been trying to build them a new home the last few days and will hopefully be finishing it soon then you'll be able to have a rare look into their lives a sort of "Birds Eye View" so to speak.

Right back To It see ya later !!!!!

Taking It Easy!!

Well as they say Sunday is the day of rest i didn't want to dissapoint them so that's exactly what i've done all day is Rest. Well it's been a hard week after all, well okay just checking that you have been keeping up. It's almost like it's back to normal this week after a week off so to speak from Hospital Visits i've got 3 due this week. Tuesday Day Unit and Wednesday well i've got a Dental appointment in the Heath at 9am to hopefully pick up my new set of teeth yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!! then a 10am appointment the other side of Cardiff at Llandough Hospital for a Lung Function Test which i ain't looking forward to at all as it involves a Treadmill which i just know is going to be hard work and also involve lots of Coughing and Oxygen. I still haven't quite decided on what to do for my Anniversary so to speak next week-end either and am still open to suggestions.

Bud and the guys have been sulking this evening as i decided to have a shower instead of a bath and they just had to sit there and watch. If looks could kill!! I did fill the sink basin with water and let them paddle in there when i was in the shower but that wasn't good enough oh no.... I think it's the bath tomorrow because i can't take another night of this sulking. Not a quack to be heard.

Chest's a lot better today too which has helped a lot. I'm still coughing a bit but nowhere near as much as earlier in the week thankfully. I could Gaurantee that it would be better by the time i had to go for the Lung Function test as it always is. No matter how bad it can be every time i go to Hospital for anything to do with my chest whether it be a test or to see the consultant it always gets better the day i go. Ah that's given me a great idea, what if i arrange a Chest Hospital appointment for every day, that way it will always be a good day????? I'M JUST A GENIUS REALLY!!!

Right back to playing with the Badger, no before you think i've gone crazy not That type of Badger, This type of Badger. Nite!!!

Life On The Sofa!!

For about the last week now i've been living quite literally on the sofa downstairs in the Lounge. The reason being that my Chest has been so bad that the movement involved in getting up the stairs to bed etc has been out of the question as on the odd occation of doing so resulted in me strugling for breath by the time i got up there. It's quite a strange feeling not being able to get up there sometimes a feeling of Defeat and Dispair and also feelings that this Blinking Illness keeps reminding me that it's still here, like i need a constant reminder that this thing has invaded my life without invitation. It quite strange that at other times for example if you meet someone new, a friend say, you sub-consiously allow this person into certain parts of your life depending on what you want to share. But with an Illness such as Leukaemia it sort of invades every part of you no matter what you do to try and prevent it. I must admit it has got easier over the last few months compared to what it has been in the past and if anything it's passed over the responsibility of doing this to my Chest now. It seems to dictate to my body what it will or will not let it do although probably not to the extreme's that the Leukaemia did.

That's enough of all them negative thoughts for now as it does become quite depressing and also it's not really me as you might have guessed if you've been mad enough to read my rantings to date. By the way i can recommend a good shrink to anyone in this position. I am still wearing my Badge with pride though.

My hair is starting to grow back strangely as well. Since i started shaving it a while back due to it growing to about a centimeter then falling out, my heads obviously been nice and Bald and Shiny. I decided that as the weather was changing and the cold winds were arriving i would start to let it grow. It appears to be growing in the style of a Steriotypical Monk. Just like a ring around the edge and perfectly Bald and Shiny on top. The problem is i know that before, the sides were growing back curly which my dear hard working student (yeah right) Sister had kindly donated to me through her Stem Cells and i hated it. So i guess i'll probably end up shaving it again.

Quite a serious Blog today for a change and i do appologise to all those expecting my usual drivel, i promise a normal service will return tommorow.

Quack, Quack from the boys too!!

5 Gas Bottles Standing On The Wall!!!!

My Chest has been dreadfull this last week mainly due to the change in weather. I've needed a fair bit of Oxygen for a change and in fact i panicked a bit this morning when i discovered that i was down to my last 1 1/2 bottles. So rang the Doc's to arrange for them to let the Chemist know to order me some for Monday. The Main prob is they only have them delivered on a Monday so i didn't want to miss it or there would be problems. Not done a great deal today really as it seems even simple things like getting from the sofa starts my chest off and is really quite hard work. Sounds weird don't it just standing up makes me need oxygen but at least as the week's gone on it's got slightly easier. Looks like Bud's settling in quite well and thanks to my sister i've managed to order him some Space Food that he's used to like This so at least he won't feel so home sick. Blue & Green been showing him around today all the places of interest and they all seem to be getting on really well which suprise's me a bit as the boy's, Blue & Green have sort of had the run of the place for a while and i thought that maybe now Bud's turned up they might gang up on him, but they been great and besides i think Bud could give as good as he gets. Righty oh i better try get some sleep if i can. See you guys tommorow. Be Good!!

Free Is Just Not Enough!!

The last few day's i've been attempting to look locally for a Computer shop or Repairer's where i can get some work experience to compliment the Course that i'm trying to study. I've called at a number of places to enquire about maybe spending 1 day a week sitting next to someone doing the work and helping where i can and all for no payment just to gain the experience. You would think that at least one of them would be interested as they all said they were quite busy and stuff but no, not one of them wanted to know. They were varied excuses from not covered on insurance to not enough time Huh that's where i would help ??? I guess then that to offer your services for Free is just maybe too cheap. Well on a brighter note the Space Duck who i've named Bud is settling into his new home and had a bit of a getting to know you session with the other 2 Green and Blue ( I know not very original) last night. they seemed to get on okay although Bud's got a real strong American sqweak which can be quite difficult to understand at times but i guess they'll learn to understand each other. He seemed to have settled into life in the Big Tub fairly quickly and was soon laughing at Blue's impression of a Submarine and was rolling around Quacking and Quacking. He must have been so worn out from his Travel's and the swim last night because he's been asleep most of the day. By the way does anyone know where i can get hold of Space rations as it seems that's what he likes to eat??. Right, back to my old mate Linux for some more fun, just downloaded an Emulator which will allow me to run lots of Windros Programs like Office and Messenger and Notepad and stuff so i gotta set that up yipeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Thanks A Million!!

Hi Peeps and what a wonderful day it is too although try telling my chest that. Its been 2 days of being awaken by the dullset sound of the Postie banging hell out the door, not that i'm complaining mind you. Then the scratching of the head to wonder what it is as i'm not expecting anything. Well you all know about the book that dear old mum sent me which i've now read from cover to cover and found it to be very educational indeed and the sound it makes when you push the button are cool. Thanks A Million Mum!!. Todays post was a much smaller parcel. what could it be i wondered as i was ripping the box to shreads. I was gobsmacked when inside i found another box all wrapped up neatly with some very fancy paper and a card which said "I thought you would like a fancy one not a boring yellow one", could it be what i've been longing for all this time. Should i wait and open it later ah what the hell i went at it like a bull in a china shop there were bits of paper flying in all directions. Eventually i came accross this wonderous site IT WAS A RUBBER DUCKY!!!!!!! but hey this was no ordinary rubber ducky this was an American Spaceman Rubber Ducky complete with Plastic Helmet and USA Badges. Its a beauty in the realms of Rubber ducks and it even quacks too i shall have hours of fun with this. It suddenly dawned on me i don't know who had sent it so i started rumaging through the shards of paper and cardboard spread out all over the floor and finally came accross the Tag that had been attached and it wasn't signed at all so i thought i know there's bound to be something on the invoice attached to the box so i ripped it off only to find that there was only my name Jonny and My address. So to the Mystery Sender of my new unfeathered friend thanks a million and rest assured he will love his new home and be very happy here. Right I'm off to play see ya later!!!!

Early Wake Up Call!!

I didn't have a very good night's sleep last night which seems to be the norm at the moment the way my chest is, anyhow about 7.30 the door bell rings. Who the heck calls at 7.30 in the morning around here the only one it could possibly be is the postie and she doesn't get here till around 10am so shes probably still tucked up in bed. Off I went and answered it and it was the postie but not just the usual one he was from the parcelforse division with a package for me. I haven't ordered anything i thought to myself well i couldn't wait to rip off the packaging to see what it was. You'll never gues what it was in a million years. It was a book entitled 10 Rubber Duckies complete with it's own sound effects too. My Mum sent it to brighten up my day which it surely did although it goes a bit soggy when you take it in the bath and the sound don't work then but you can still look at the pictures. It's loosely based on an event that happened a few years ago when a container of Bath Toys fell overboard from a ship that was carrying them. It spured me on to go find out what i could about this and come up with a few places here's one of them http://www.msnbc.com/news/940859.asp and there still offering a reward for anyone that sends them one they found so you better all go down the beach and start looking you never know. It's been a day of ducks today as i eventually managed to find a small Rubber Duck in Tesco's, maybe they did listen to me the other week when i complained that i couldn't find any of them. Only prob is got well and trully stuck into Linux this evening that didn't manage to have a bath and sort of try them out so it'll have to wait. linux has this sort of effect on people so it seems. Well all this excitement is making me race for the oxygen so i better go and leave you to it. But before i go there's just one thing "THANK YOU MOTHER"!!!!!! your an angel Nite Nite!!!

Jonny's Got A Brand New Toy!!

Sadly before you all breathe a sigh of relief, I haven't managed to find a Rubber Ducky YET!!! although I haven't totally given up hope either but if any of you mad people reading this and feeling sorry for me and want to brighten up my day you can always go try and find one for me and send it to me at Jonny5. 27,Livingstone Way, Eastvale, St Athan, South Wales United Kingdom. CF62 4JG I promise to give it a good home. Right back to the point my New Toy is actually Linux. Whats Linux I hear you ask well let me try and explain it too you. Linux is an Operating System the same as say Windows XP or Apples Mac. The main difference between them is the fact that Linux is actually Free to Download and play around with unlike Microsoft Windows which sells for around £80 and is tighter than a nun's knickers to get into. My only play around with Linux up till now was a few years back and then it was all having to type in commands to make it do anything, now however it is very much on a par with Windows very Grafically based and do everything with a mouse and not have to type in anything unless you want too. There are also Lots of different versions or Flavors as there known of linux so there will always be one to suit everybody from Buisness Person to School Children. They're soo much fun to play with which explains my New Toy Heading. Would you believe that the thing come with like 30 Games and no Sollitaire in sight and you get about 6 Web Browsers(Thats 6 Internet Explorer Type Programs) and heaps of other stuff and it's all free. there is also no such thing as a virus on Linux too which is pretty cool too. I been playing for hours and hours and still ain't had enough which is unlike me as my attention usually wanes quite quickly. Well thats the sales pitch over with try searching it out on Google if your interested and see what you think you might be suprised and decide to change over as well oh and one other thing you can actually have both Linux and Windows installed on the same computer which is super cool for those just wanting to try it out. Okay for those expecting the usual drivel i assure you that a normal service will resume again tomorrow once i've played myself out. I'm off to have my Duckless Bath see ya !!!

Wear It With Pride!!
Hello there peeps i am gonna let you know whats going through my mind today for a change. Before you all shout at me no i am not going to go on about Rubber Duckies although if you manage to find any be sure and pass them on. No this I think is much more deeper. I don't know why i'm thinking of this today of all days but there we go since when did I ever pretend to know whats going on in my head. It's all about the Disabled Badge, you know the Blue one which used to be the Orange one which most people will remember. I guess it can be seen by different people as maybe being another way of sort of pigeonholing you as some people do or maybe it could be seen by others as a sort of badge stating that "Hey I am Disabled and Proud of It". Most of the time i guess i tend to fall in the later group as you might have guessed although I have been known to be partial to a bit of pigeon in the past. I guess it could be seen as drawing attention to yourself which is not neccessasarily a bad thing is it?? Some people like to colour their hair strange colours and wear strange clothes maybe and what about the men who have the combover hair syle you know the one , that involves combing the one strand of hair over from one side to the other to hide up the bald patch unsussesfully most of the time. They always make me laugh though so maybe thats why they do it. I'll have to ask one of them one day just to see. Back to the point about Disability Badges I wouldn't say i'm particularly proud of being Disabled, and not quite sure if that is actually possible, but I am cetainly not ashamed of it either so I guess what i'm saying is "Wear your badge with pride people" but also never forget that because you got a magic badge that will let you park nearer the store than others doesn't mean you can abuse that privelage and park in the Mother & Baby spaces if there are no Disabled spaces available, unless of course you happen to have children with you of course and however much you hope that a Teenager constitutes a Baby you are not entitled to park there. Right i'm off to see if there are any Mother & Baby campaigners out there banging the same drum as me.

Enough's Enough!!
Well it's begining to wind me up now , the fact that i can't find a Rubber Ducky anywhere. I can't believe that they dont sell these anymore, do people not bath their kids anymore or what. Maybe they just take them in the shower i suppose not a good place for a duck to hang out as he might get stepped on and hurt. I may end up having to resort to Ebay at this rate however much i'm trying to stay away from that highly addictive place. I will get one somewhere somehow, i know maybe thats a good way to celebrate my BMT Birthday my lovely Donor who i know has soo much spare time on her hands now, can spend some of it trawling round the shops to find and present me with one as like a present, yeah that sound like a great idea. I will suggest it when i speak to her next i'm sure she'll be amused. Talking about my BMT Birthday I got a confession to make. You know i said that it was on the 23rd Oct, well i was talking about it to Judith and she is always great at remembering dates and she was convinced it was the 22nd Oct, so when i went up the Day Unit i asked the lovely Una to have a look in the notes for me and to my Horror we were both wrong it is in fact the 21st Oct. You'd think such a momentous date like that we would remember but obviously not, so all you people from all over the world planning to come and celebrate with us on the 23rd i hope you can get a refund on your air tickets and stuff and do accept my sincere appologies for the confusion. Well not much else to report then apart from the fact that i do believe that i am becoming addicted to Linux oh yes and i should be having my new set of teeth in 2 weeks after going for a final fitting yesterday, sounds like i'm going for a wedding dress fitting doesn't it. ha ha ha. Right time for some more Linux Fun see ya later!!!!

Hiya Peeps!!
I seem to owe you lot another appology for not writing in sooner but in all honesty i haven't been too well. Nothing Serious just a bit of a sore throat and tight chest and generally felling under the weather not that i'm complaining. It beats Leukaemia any day !! A couple of visits up the Hospital over already this week. Monday as I said was the Lung Function Tests, sort of blow in this tube at different times and strenths and so on really exciting stuff. It always makes me cough my heart out which i think they get some sort of Sadistic pleasure out of as they keep asking me to do just one more. So I couldn't wait to get back home for a rest and an early night as i really felt yuk!!! Up bright and early on Tuesday morning, well early anyway I don't know about bright and up for the usual waiting session at the Day Unit. They were actually quite quick taking my Blood for a change and i thought that it might be a quick in and out today for a change. No such luck, about 45 mins after they had taken my Blood the doctor still had no results so she rang to find out where they were and she was told that where they'de sent them up in a pod( through like this little air tunnel device between depatments) mine went up with a few others and apparently my blood samples smashed on the way up, It could only happen to me. So i had to have another set of bloods done and wait another hour for the results. Anyhow it gave me chance to catch up with a pal who I haven't seen in about a year it must be. I remember him coming in just as he'd been diagnosed and we seemed to hit it off right away. He's doing really well and unlike me has managed to stay out of hospital for nearly a year now apart from the usual check ups. He was in to donate his stem cells ready for a stem cell transplant, he'll do well he's a good man and a fighter too which you need to be really to get through the bad times. Right i'm supprised i lasted this long on here today, i'm gonna go have a lay down for a while. Been up the Dentist today new teeth in Fortnight hopefully but i'll let you know all about maybe later of tommorow. See ya !!!

I'm Still Here Honest!!

Let me appologise for not updating this over the last few days but I been soo busy since the New stuff arrived that I just didn't have to time. Let me fill you in on all thats been happening then in case your interested that is well if your not now's the time to go pluck your eyebrows or sit on the loo for an hour contemplating lifes great mysteries. For those of you still here, hello...HELLO.... well what the hell someone might come browsing past and read this tripe so i better carry on. Since I last posted I have managed to wipe and re-install 3 Computers compete with programs etc etc and even managed to turn my Laptop into a Dual Boot System which means that I can now choose between loading Windows XP or Linux which is quite cool although its a bit hard to say the least to set up it's all good fun and experience. I quite like the idea of Linux in that your not tied down to what one person thinks (Namely Mr Bill Gates ) you should have on your Computer as you can play around with it to your hearts content, which I plan to do. One of the best things about it is "THERE'S NO WINDOWS MESSENGER ON HERE" Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God I hate that program with avengence. Looking forward to my week of Hospital visits of course as usual and expect to be a changed man by friday with all this attention.

One final note, for those of you that know and I guess thats all of about 3 of you dear listeners I suppose, it will be exactly 1 Year on the 23rd of this month since I had my Bone Marrow Transplant and I am looking for suggestions as to how to celebrate this momentous day. Any idea's would be appreciated as long as they don't involve Bungee jumping or such like!! And also bear in mind i ain't got Bill Gates Diposable Income either.

See Ya Later!!!

I Made A Bo Bo

I Made A Bo Bo!!
The long awaited parcel arrived at the door today, you know the one that I said was
going To include my Legal Copy of Windows XP. I couldn't wait to tear open the
package, it was Like Christmas had come early but I had to restrain myself as I had
to go shopping otherwise We wouldn't be eating today. By the time I had done that
and picked up the daughter From college it was getting on for mid afternoon and still
I wasn't allowed to play with my new Toys as Judith came home from work needing
nourishment. Please can I go play now I was Pleading with the inner john, the one
who just loves nothing better than pulling things to bits and putting them back
together, which usually involves being left with a few screws and Bits and bobs
which seem to just appear from somewhere. You see what didn't help matters was
that during the morning I had a couple of chats with my Sister (She who giveth Curly
Hair), and me Cousin Jaclyn who both added fuel to my fire by talking about
Computers. So you see it ain't all my fault is it? So eventually Judith said something
like,” Shall we get on with it then?", well my response I think was quite clear and
precise. I legged it upstairs quicker than Lynford Christie doing the 100 Metres.
Well the new computer for next door was first job. I set about installing Windows
and in the mean time went to check on something from the site I bought the Copy
of windows from. To my Horror I discovered that the version that I had decided to
pay half towards (£30) was in fact only for 1 Computer and not the 5 I was
convinced it was for meaning that once it was loaded on the new Computer for
next door it was as useless to me in a legal way of speaking as the copy I was
currently using. So I’ve now paid £30 for something that I could have copied for
about 30p for a blank cd. I'm not a happy bunny at all now. So off in search of a
new Activation Crack I suppose then as the computers need to be wiped as they
are in a bit of a mess. I guess the moral of this tale is Make sure you read the
Article desciption and small print before you agree to spend out. See Ya!!

Dial-Up Ha Ha Ha!!!

I’m so glad I’m not on Dial-Up because there’s been no stopping me.  Making the most of my Freebie cheers BT.  To be honest with you I’ve not done a lot of anything all day.  There are some that would say well ain’t that just a normal day for you and my reply would be no sometimes I get up at 9am instead of 8am.  Only when I gotta get to the hospital early mind you but it’s a change I guess.  I’ve been spending most of yesterday and Today Moving a load of stuff from one pute to another so that I can copy it all to DVD.  Things like Music and stuff that are spread out all over the place and duplicated like you won’t believe.  It’s all in aid of the fact I got a Legal Copy of Windows XP arriving tomorrow and I will be putting it on the computers over the next few days so they will have to be wiped which is going to be a nightmare as there’s loads of stuff to try and keep and invariably you forget something and it’s usually quite important or hard to get again.  So in a lot of ways I ain’t looking forward to it although I quite enjoy it really.  His Computer has turned up next door as well so soon as the stuff arrives I better get on with so I’ll be fed up with blinking Windows installs over the next few days.  
I hope all you lovely people will excuse me for not writing this a bit sooner but as you can see I been up to my eyes.  Well you wait till next week when I’m up the Hospital Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday I’ll be sure and let you all have a piece of my mind that’s for sure. See Ya!!!

My Winter Coat!!

Well looks like winters on it's way well and trully now. Heatings been on a few times already and it blowing a gale out there at the moment. I thinks it's time that I started to let my hair try at least to Re-Grow. Since I had the Chemo the first time and it all fell out it hasn't been the same. What didn't help either was the Graft Versus Host Discease which knackered up my Hair Folicles so that when it actually Re-Grows there's no strength in the hair so it just falls back out. The problem is that it is starting to get a bit cold on the old bonce and i'f i'm honest I want to see if it still falls out. I could have made a few rugs out of the hair i've lost over the last couple of years. My Sister has a lot to answer for because prior to having her Bone marrow my hair was Blonde and Straight, well alright Blonde with lots of Grey bits in it and now thanks to her it is more Brown but blinking CURLY!!! I hate Curly hair!! so keeping it short i suppose i haven't had to look at it. The one blessing is that it takes so long to grow just a centimeter that it'll probably be time to shave it all off again for the Summer next year.
Also today i contacted our ISP, BT to try to get a Migration Code from them as our 12month contract with them is up this week and we are looking to go to another supplier for a better deal obviously. Well after explaining to about 5 different people in 5 different departments what it was that I wanted I finally got the right person. He did the usual thing Why are you leaving? blah blah blah then he offered me a free month to make up my mind. Well I know that I am going to change regardless but hey a free month is a free month so cheekily I said, "How about the Migration Code and a Free Month"? yes no problem he said as long as you use the code within 30 days that will be fine. So Download city here i come for about a fortnight, then off to a new supplier. It's a mine feild this Broadband thingy. So many different options and packages to choose from it's just a case of pull a name out the hat I think.
Right I got a date with a File Sharing Program see ya later !!!

Retail Therapy!!

It was going to be one of them peacefull relaxing days today, you know the one's i'm on about where you don't plan to do anything or go anywhere just the basics like eating and stuff. Sort of like a normal day for me. I got up ready to spend most of the day on the computer and just generally doing nothing, that is until Judith came back from next door after finishing repairing his computer, she getting a right little Techie !! and she said that he wants me to look for a new base unit for him as he's finally realised that his has had it really. I love spending other peoples money and i was never one to turn down a challenge. So Laptop on my Lap,( Where else would it be?) i delved into the World Wide Web to see what bargains I could find. 1st stop on my list the wonderfull Ebay. I love this site, more so the E Shops. Within about 5 mins I found a perfect match to the requirements, so after printing the item page out I went in search of a better deal. After about 2 hours of searching i could not beat the Price for that spec computer. So he came over in a short while and we set about paying for it with his money of course. We then went looking for a Keyboard and mouse which was found easily and very very cheaply on Ebuyer, it was only just over £7 inc vat for a Keyboard, Mouse and Speakers so we just had to have it for that price. When he went i felt quite drained like i'd actually been trawling the streets looking for a bargain not sat on my bum at home. We managed to jointly buy a Legal Copy of Windows XP Home as well which is a first for me as I don't think I have ever had a Legal Copy before. No more dodgy Updates and stuff.

Here's a bit of totally useless information for you. I bought a jar of gorgeous Beetroot In Vinegar you know the one i mean. You buy it for christmas and end up chucking it out about April when you rediscover it at the back of the fridge. Well I really fancied it with some salad on the weekend and Judith likes it too. I thought when I got home on Friday I would have a little taster and you know what, i couldn't open the blinking jar it was rock solid. Judith had a go when she came home and since then a few people have tried but to no avail. I'm going to take it back tommorow and exchange it, I prob won't want to eat it then though Ha ha!! Right off to bed to watch the rest of the Delia Week-end on UK TV Food Nite!!

Do I, Don't I ??

All the way through my treatment I have been on and off Steroids in one form or another but never off them for long though.  The usual suspect is Prednisalone which has been used mostly in conjunction with firstly Chemotherapy then the Anti Rejection drugs like Cyclosporin (My Favourite) but most recently it was the Chest Consultant who said “Oh just put him on a retaining dose of 5mg” to one of his minions.  There are a number of side effects to these Steroids some good and some bad. The main Bad one for me is really dreadful Water Retention which is very painful at times and the main Good one is it really gives me an appetite which I need as I’m not eating much otherwise at all.  My dilemma is this; the maintenance dose they put me on has little or no effect to my Treatment or condition apart from the Water Retention, on a positive side it is making me eat which I need.  I’m looking to stop taking it for a number of reasons namely, it doesn’t seem to be doing anything, I’m really fed up with the Water Retention yet if I stop I know my appetite will go too, so WHAT DO I DO????? I am on medication for the Water Retention although they only work sometimes and they also bring down my Blood Pressure which is not a good idea as it is naturally on the low side anyway.  One other strange thing is that they make such a point of making sure you take the Steroids in the morning as you’ll be up all night otherwise when in fact they actually make me want to sleep.  Well it’s been a slow news day so to speak today.  Not done much at all except help Judith finish off wiping our next door neighbour’s computer after he managed to pick up a nasty from somewhere which refused to budge from it’s hiding place.  The wiping is quite fun as you wave goodbye to someone else’s stuff its just the re-installing that takes forever and I lost track of the number of times it had be rebooted.  Well anyhow that’s quite enough excitement for one day I’m off.  

Oh I did do something exciting, well some people might think so I went to Tesco’s at 9.30 tonight for a few odds and ends.  They were announcing every 5 mins the store is about to close in a minute which sort of gets on your nerves after a while.  Right I am going now see ya !!!!

I Must Be A Sadist!!

Time has come for my weekly dose of Torture and Pain at the local Tesco’s store. I thought to myself I know the Tesco’s in Talbot Green has been done up and I know it’s finished so I’ll go there for a change, at least there won’t be the problem with cramped isles because of the shop fitting. Well off I set for the 6 or 7 mile journey and I got about half way and the heavens opened so I guess I was destined to get soaked walking into the store from the car park. I finally got there and set about looking for that elusive Empty Disabled Parking Space, you know the one that’s never there till you come out the store with your shopping trolley full then there’s blinking hundreds of them. Well I drove up and down the car park looking for the nearest place to the shop as all the Disabled bays were full and managed to get not too far away from the store but not quite close enough. So I made my weary way to the store in the rain and strangely for Tesco’s anyhow I passed a couple of Parking Attendants checking all the cars parked in the Disabled and Mother & Toddler spaces were genuine. I thought good for you at bloody long last. I had my usual look at every windscreen on the way through the bay just to make sure they were doing there job properly. There’s just no pleasing some people I suppose. The main difference I think with this particular car park and it seems the main one in Cardiff is the same in that the Car park’s are owned by a Private Company and so as a result they can make that bit more from it by Clamping people etc. Well I’m all in favour of that if it frees up the spaces for other people who actually need them. Anyway I digress which is highly unusual for me as you know. This store is absolutely huge and on two floors too. As usual in a new store you have the problem of finding things although they are set up pretty much the same. I had to stop a couple of time around for a breather but I’m quite sad to say that it was not an unpleasant trip as it usually is so “Thank You Tesco’s”, there that wasn’t too hard was it, Yes!!!! Well I did wake up this morning with a bit more energy than yesterday although it hasn’t lasted too long and I’m blinking knackered now. Red Bull I think with maybe a small touch of Vodka purely medicinal you understand. I’m always open to suggestions if you know a sure fire way of getting some energy as long as it doesn’t involve dealing with a dodgy looking bloke on a street corner somewhere. Right off for a soak, which reminds me I still haven’t bought a Submarine or a Rubber Ducky for the bath yet I’ve got a memory like a sieve.

One Of Those Days!!

Do you ever have one of them days, you know the ones I mean when the alarm clock goes off just as you’re getting to sleep and you haven’t even got the energy to turn over and switch it off so you just bury yourself under the quilt and hope that it will just go away.  Well today’s one of them days and I think if I didn’t have to go the see the Chest Consultant I wouldn’t have got up at all.  So I tore myself out of bed and off to the hospital.  They were they’re usual well organised selves NOT!!! Waiting for this, waiting for that.  I finally got to tell the Consultant that I had stopped taking the wonder drug he put me on which does nothing for my Chest Condition but makes me quite sick.  I told him I stopped taking it about two weeks ago and there has been no change in my condition whatsoever and he was fine with that to my surprise.  I actually haven’t taken them for about 3 months with no effects at all.  He along with many others is totally baffled by my Chest Problems. One minute he’s saying,” well it definitely Asthma” and the next which is the new one,”you have a condition which doesn’t allow the fluid in your lungs to drain away correctly”, in other words he hasn’t got a clue and fair do’s to the chap he has thrown his hands up in the past and said that he really hasn’t a clue what’s causing it, honest if not helpful I guess.  Well after my nearly 3 hours up there I came away with the usual 3 appointments for various tests that he wants done before he see’s me again in a month.  It’s getting that I need a secretary to keep control of all these appointments what with the Chest People, The Dentist, The Hearing Clinic, The Councillor as well as the Day Unit, good job I ain’t working at the moment and even better now I can claim back my travelling expenses otherwise I’d be scint.  Do you know even driving the some 10 miles back home I really just wanted to let go of the wheel and lie down for a sleep and had to force myself to not pull into the various Lay-by’s on the way home.  I’ve not done a thing since I got home apart from a couple of pee’s and making a Pot Noodle and writing this of course and don’t intend to do anything either except rest and maybe get some sleep.  Hopefully I might get up with a bit more energy tomorrow hopefully enough for the Self Inflicted Torture which I try to put myself through each week, you probably know it by its other name, Food Shopping!! In my most favourite, favourite shop Tesco’s where you can always get a Disabled Parking Space because they keep an eye on them to stop people parking there who shouldn’t NOT!!!!!!!! And they seem to be doing up most of there stores at the moment so everything has been moved around and they’ve crammed the same amount of stock in about half the size of store so the isles are really narrow and stuff really annoying.

Right, back to being tired and sleepy see you guys later xxx

Yes It Is Me!!!

I've been wanting to change this thing for a while and as a celebration of yesterday's hospital visit i decided to change it today. Well that's not quite the truth i was actually playing around with the code behind the thing and made a big bo bo so had to start again but it means the same thing really, doesn't it?

The next bit of good news for you all i also thought it was time to come out of the closet and show you my real identity.

**WARNING FOR THOSE OF A SQUEEMISH NATURE AND YOUNG CHILDREN AND OLD PEOPLE WITH A HEART CONDITION, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE PHOTOGRAPH TO FOLLOW AS I CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENT OR DEATH REALATED TO SUCH AN ACTION**





DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!!!!

A Tale Of Two Half's!!

Well as the heading says it’s been a tale of two half’s today.  I went on my usual weekly visit to the Hospital which as you’ve probably read is somewhat of an unknown entity.  I arrived the usual 15 mins early and as per usual I had to wait for a good 20-25 past my appointment time before the lovely Emma sucked me dry of blood once again.  Then the hour of will I won’t I have to stay all day starts.  I felt fine if not a bit tired not that it means anything because at one time whilst in hospital my blood pressure dropped as low as 55 over 40 and there was doctors running from all over the place panicking and pumping me full of this jelly stuff and I felt absolutely fine in fact I probably hadn’t felt that well for quite some time.  So as you can work out I’m not always the best judge of what’s going on with my body.  Well after the walk back to the car to have a spot of lunch I made my way back into the abyss also known as The Day Unit to see Dr Una.  She was as happy and radiant as ever today and after a chat I thought I’d drop the suggestion that as things were going well and I needed no blood products and things maybe I could make it every 2 weeks instead of every week??  Well I held my breath in anticipation will she won’t she?  That would be absolutely fine she says, well I could have kissed her as to me that’s another big milestone on my way to full recovery.  I came out of her consulting room and cheered Yippee fairly quietly well it sounded quiet to me but then my hearings knackered and Cath one of the nurses was walking past and she said did you just shout yippee then and I said yes I’ve just been put on 2 weekly visits instead of one and she was pleased for me.  I sort of had a spring in my step on the way back to the car and a big massive grin too; people must have thought I was going mad.  I went straight up to my mums for a coffee afterwards and a natter and to see the dog obviously.  They just had a new carpet put down on the weekend and I feels nice under your feet and there’s the smell of a new carpet you know the one there’s nothing quite the same.  When I finally got home I was a bit tired so I had a bit of a snooze before going over to our friends Sharon.  She’s our Godsons granny and we always catch up on what there doing from her which is nice as they’re growing up quickly now.
  
Well the heading “A Tale Of Two Half’s” your thinking what’s there about two half’s then? Well think no more here we go.

When we got back I run the bath ready for a nice soak and incidentally I forgot about it, good job the overflow was working okay otherwise this Blog would be a whole lot different let me tell you.  Well I finally got in and was having a soak  I suddenly thought hold on I want a rubber ducky to play with and a submarine and stuff in the bath, I quite miss them actually although I haven’t had them for I would guess about 28 years or so.  I used to spend hours in the bath and only get out when I was freezing cos the water had gone cold and step out looking like a wrinkly old man, there are some who would argue that I am one of them already but don’t listen to them they’re all telling lies I’m a mere spring chicken in disguise.  So sometime this week I’m going to go and buy myself some toys to play with in the bath and if I don’t like them I can always give them to the Godsons.  I’ll let you all know how I get on if I ever get back out the bath that is!!

A Special Treat!!

Well for all you late night Bloggers out there you’ve got a treat 2 blogs in one day and for those of you lazybones who have gone to bed early well lets just say you probably will have to wait for the next Millennium before this phenomenon happens again.  I was surfing away and I thought to myself “I might as well write my Blog for today now as I’m up the hospital tomorrow and not sure how long I will be”.  So hear I am!!!
It’s actually been quite a non-eventful day all in all really, just been trying in vain mostly to catch up on some sleep from the weekend.  That’s a strange thing don’t you think, that when you are used to having say 8 hours sleep a night (I Wish!!) and for whatever reason one night you only get 5 hours you quite often try to “Catch Up” the lost sleep.  WHY??? If you didn’t need it then what makes you think you need it now??  And you also know that when you try to lie in bed catching up on them 3 hours of precious sleep you will probably be staring at the ceiling for at least 2½ of them thus making the whole process totally useless.  So I guess I was just trying to test out my theory all day then today and as always I was right, spent most of the day TRYING to catch up on some sleep and failed miserably now I’m more knackered than I would have been anyway.  
Up for my weekly hospital visit tomorrow and there’s always this anticipation of what’s going to happen.  You know that your going to have the usual stuff like waiting till at least 20 mins or so after your appointment time before being seen (because they’re so busy), Having your Blood taken, then a wait of usually around 1 ½ hours till your seen by the wonderful doctor Una she really is a good doctor and a great personality as well.  Then you’re into the realms of the unknown.  It all depends on your Blood Counts really.  It maybe that you need an infusion of say Potassium or Magnesium which is quite often a 4 hour drip plus time to canulate and stuff so your looking at more like 5 hours which is no fun, but on the other hand there have been times when I’ve been in and out in less than an hour so as they say it’s swings and roundabouts.  
Right I’d better try and get my 8 hours sleep in or I’ll only be trying to catch up all week other wise.  Ha ha ha!!!  See Ya Tomorrow.  

The Day Of Rest!!

Ah Sunday the day of rest. I'd love to meet the guy or gal for that matter who came up with the idea of having a day of rest and shake him or her by the hand. Oh yeah wasn't it something to do with Jesus and the Bible on the seventh day, not that it matters too much to me. Why is it i tend to think of some like passing remark to write about i always get carried away and tend to write for ages about it. I must stop doing that it's blinking annoying. Well what can i say about Sunday, Ummmm, got up, ate, went to bed. Thats it then See Ya !!!



You think you can get away without listening to my Rants that easily, you better think again!!!!
I spent much of the day playing around with the computer you know clicking this and that and generally looking like i know what i'm doing. Yeah right!!! I did manage to sort out the network though in that all 3 Computers can now see each other and can share files and stuff which is quite cool. Next step is trying to make the printer a shared network printer which should be fun and i know you all just dying to know how and when i have done it. Don't worry you will be the first to know. Who thought of that saying "You'll be the first to know", what a load of rubish, how can someone else be the first to know when you will be yourself????? See what i mean passing comments again. Right I'm off to try fix this game see ya all tommorow

A Sad Day For Rallying!!

I just sat down to write all about my exciting day at the Wales Rally GB when the news came through that the Rally had been Stopped and cancelled following the Tragic Death of one of the Co-Drivers involved in a Fatal accident whilst competing in the Rally.  Marco Martin’s Peugeot co-driver Mike “Beefy” Park was pronounced dead at the scene following a crash where they had apparently left the road at great speed and hit a tree.  He had been involved in rallying for a long time and was one of the nice guys you could say.  Always cheerful and generally a great ambassador for the sport and will be greatly missed.  
It doesn’t feel quite right somehow writing about my great day out with my brother to watch the rally sort of puts things into perspective really.  I hope you appreciate that as my way of paying my respects I will not be publishing my daily rantings today and as they say normal service will resume tomorrow.  Thank you all for your understanding in this matter.

Got That Friday Feeling!!

Well what a day Friday was.  It was planned to be a nice peaceful day, although still being out for most of the day there was no pressure just getting things done.  All I had to do really was to drive into Cardiff Town Centre to put a form in the bank and then pop into the sales office outside the Millennium Stadium and purchase two tickets for me and my Brother for one of Rally Stages on Saturday.  Well the drive in was nice and relaxing listening to bit of AC/DC and some Opera, I think it was from Rigoletto if I remember, well you know my taste in music and if you don’t well basically I DON’T HAVE NONE!!  Anything and Everything in Moderation is my motto.  Well back to my day.  After the relaxing drive in is where it started to go wrong.  I had to drive round and round the block in town about 3 times before I could get a space to pull in and get the tickets and when I did eventually I had a long walk as well so I was none too pleased when after having to queue as well, I was told “I’m sorry all the single stage tickets are sold out and you’ll have to buy them on the day”, well blinking thank you I thought, well maybe not them precise words.  So back to the car and a short drive to the other side of town to the bank which after the last fiasco went without a hitch parked easily was in and out in a jiffy and managed to buy a nice warm Chicken & Stuffing Baguette on the way back to the car.  It was gorgeous apart from the Top half of the Baguette was too hard for me to eat and the bottom half which was a lot softer still managed to cut my mouth to pieces, but the stuffing was nice oh and the chicken..  Well next stop on my whirlwind tour is up to see my Mum & Dad and Jemma too.  Would you know it after the messing around in Town I lost my concentration for a split second at probably the most critical road junction on the route and ended up having to drive through the country lanes instead of nice big main roads.  I like to think of it more like “Taking the Scenic Route” though like I planned it already.  Who am I kidding!!  Well after being greeted by the welcome party namely Jemma I sat and caught up on all the latest gossip.  Hey I do believe my Dad has got the hang of this strong coffee at last he got it spot on, cheers butty!!  Well eventually I started to have a clean up on Mum’s Computer.  Dear oh dear oh dear.  No Firewall apart from the Windows In built one, No Anti-Spy ware, well I tell a lie she did have Anti-Spy ware but it wasn’t working and enough Temp files and cookies to fill a couple of CD’s.  She also had umpteen programs that were set to start up with windows that were never used or need.  Well Downloaded Spybot an excellent FREE Anti-Spy ware tool and installed and run it and it found around 130 odd spy ware files straight away.  Next stop was to download a Firewall and install and run that too.  Then sort the rest of the other bits and pieces which was not that straight forward as some of the windows files and folders were saved in some really odd locations.  Well by the time I finished it was all singing and dancing and I was knackered.  Eventually after another fine cup of coffee I headed off home to get ready for the Rally on Saturday morning as it was going to be a case of early to bed early to rise.  I didn’t do a great deal in the evening really apart from having a bath and gathering up all my bit ready for the morning including making my sanni’s. I found this absolutely delicious strong Cheddar Cheese in Tesco’s called Black Bomber it is out of this world and it’s made in Wales too which is a bonus you ought to try it if you like strong cheese.  Right off to bed see you guys tomorrow.  

All Washed Out

All Washed Out!!

Well the day has finally arrived and the Wales Rally GB starts today. Well in fact if officially starts this evening but the Shakedown they call it starts this morning.  This is where the drivers get the chance to complete a stage going flat out to see if there are any problems with the car before the big start.  I set the alarm for about 5.15am when I went to bed really early abut 10 o’clock, as it was going to be an early start to get down to the Forrest stage in time for the first cars through which I think were due around 8am.  Well what do you know I was still wide awake at 1.30 and even after that I kept waking up every half an hour or so.  So by the time the alarm went off I was in no mood to get up but it thought to myself it’s only here for a couple of days a year so get up and go man.  I scrawled out of bed and looked out the window and it was chucking it down.  Well that’s put an end to that I thought, if I go out into the forest with wind and rain like that I’ll be straight back in hospital with a temperature, I know what I’m like.  So somewhat pee’d off I got back into bed and cuddled back up to my most favourite of water bottles Judith.  I think I finally tore myself out of bed at about 10am, well I need all the beauty sleep I can get let me tell you and went and took my morning pills and caffeine.  I put on the Rally Radio station on Sky and basically fell back asleep on the sofa to the dullset sounds of a Subaru Blasting it’s way through the forest.  Ahhh nothing like peace and quiet is there.  Really the rest of the day has been spent wishing I had gone this morning followed by some surfing and listening to the Rally Radio Coverage on the internet which so far has been quite good.
Well I do believe I haven’t had a moan yet today well it ain’t blinking good enough is it.  So what shall I think to man about, let me see,  Ahhh I know  Online Grocery Shopping, you know the sort click here and click there and tomorrow a van arrives from the local retailer with your food.  Well what’s wrong with that I hear you all cry out, well let me tell you.  Why is it no matter how hard you try and even when it records and tells you what you have purchased before, do you always blinking forget something, usually and everyday item like Milk or Sugar.  Why is that, is it because no matter how hard they try they cant show you like a virtual shop so you physically walk up the isles getting the stuff off the shelves or more likely your just forgetful like me.  Probably the latter..  Well then peeps I guess I’d better get my head down as it’s been a very stressful day all in all ha ha.  Off to Mums tomorrow to sort out her pute and see Dad and Jemma of course.  See Ya!!!

My Own Network!!

Well my new Wireless Modem/Router turned up yesterday morning which sort of put pay to what i was going to do all day. Nothing exciting in fact i probably would have slept most of the day so at least it gave me something to do. Just like being a child all over again i can't wait to get it out the box and have a look what i got, but i already know what it is and how much it costs but its still exciting none the less. I learnt from past experience "READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST" other wise you have all sorts of problems. So into the dark cavern i go which is also known as under the desk, in search of one or two cables that i need to change in order to set up this new toy. It's like an alladins cave under there. There's bits of computer and monitors and old printers and cables, jeeeeez there must be hundreds of them all shouting it's me, it's me. I finally manage to find the ones i'm after and set off back into the land of the living. So i followed the instructions word for word and connected it all up as decribed then came the do or die moment switching the computer back on. I hate this part and quite often i'll turn away from the screen for a couple of minutes or go out the room even till i think it has had enough time to start. So i pressed the on button at arms length and waited. Tick Tock, Tick Tock i could here the clock in my mind as i watched the screen flicker into life and slowly but surely all the start up programs begin to load then nothing happened. Oh hold on a window pops up and i look at it through squinted eyes in case its bad news, it say's found new hardware then it dissapears, so i think to myself cross all your fingers and toes and pray that it works.... All this tension is making me a nervous wreck. There's another window just popped up. Dare I look at it i thought to myself. Well I thought pull yourself together, what are you a man or a mouse, Mmmmm trick questions hey?? Oh what the hell i just looked straight at it bugger the concequenses. It said "Your Hardware Is Now Installed And Working Correctly". I swear i could hear Handels Halleluyah Chorrus singing away. I'll just try it out now i thought so i Clicked on Firefox ( A web Browser like Internet Explorer but much better and FREE and it's not Microsoft) and it connected straight away no set up needed at all. I don't know what all the fuss was about before hand it was plain sailing. Now i can go sit out the back garden with the laptop and surf away without wires running all over the place, only one slight problem though, it's been sunny and dry for the last 3 weeks and now i can use the laptop out there it's chucking it down and it's set to last for at least a few days, typical !! Guess what i was doing for the rest of the day. Pretty obvious really playing with my new toy well you got to use it once you paid for it haven't you!!

Might I take this opportunity to thank all you lovely people who are not only mad enough to read this load of old tripe but then actually go on and give me comments and feedback as well which is always welcome and appreciated. This just emphasises to me that i'm not the only mad one around here.

p.s TRIPE can you still buy that stuff anywhere i used to love it?????

Sorry Sorry Sorry!!

I need to applogise for not updating this the last few days but i do have a good excuse believe me. I picked up a couple of right nasty little virus's from somewhere a few days ago and they been causing me lots of grief so much so that i've had to completely wipe my Computer and start all over again,a job i really hate having to do as there always seems to be problems. If its not missing files or wrong settings its something else. Well really thats taken up all my time for the last couple of days which i guess beats whacking yourself over the head with a wet kipper, but only just!! Each time i've had to re install my pute i always have problems with the Motherboard Drivers and they were the ones shipped with the blinking thing and i always make sure there the first thing installed after Windows. Argggg i'm begining to wonder if i've chosen the wrong proffession to go into. I just want to whizz through the Techie phase then its straight on to Feet up on the desk and have staff to do your job, long expenses paid lunches at fancy eateries etc etc. Earth Calling John !!! Ahhh is it time to wake up yet ?
I had a welcome break from all the Computer mahem for a couple of hours today so i could go to the hospital for my weekly check up. All's well thankfully and slowly but surely most things are getting back to some sort of normality. The one problem that has seemed to have got worse over the last year or so is my Hearing. Everything sounds Dull like when your ears need to pop to clear them,but permanantly like it. I mentioned to the Doctor again about it today and she arranged for me to see the Hearing Consultant just an hour later which was pretty damn good service i thought. Well he examined my ears and removed some wax which wasn't helping and strangely enough my hearing seemed to be a bit worse after that which was co incidental i think. They went ahead and did variou noise and pressure tests etc then i went back in to see the Consultant. It appears that i have lost 90% of the High Pitch Hearing in both ears and 20% of the Low Pitch Hearing in both ears which would explain the way its been feeling. This is almost deffinately down to the Chemotherapy Treatment that i've had as all them toxic treatments can't be all good. There will always be side effects both long and short term i suppose. So from what he said its not treatable appart from having to wear 2 Hearing Aids for the rest of my life to try and compensate for my hearing loss that is along with my False Teeth i'm waitning for and my new lungs which would be nice all because of Chemotherapy. But Hell It Was Worth It Though!! a small price to pay really in the scheme of things dont you think?
Well i hope you accept my appologies especially you Ruth cos i knows you likes to keep up with the gossip and i promise i will try to keep up from now on. Cub Scouts Honour!!!

Come On England??

Well Saturdays here already and I was up with the lark as they say, only because I didn’t really get to sleep at all Friday night.  I thought I’d spoil myself and have a cuppa before taking my Tablets just for a change, like a special treat seeing as it’s the weekend why not live dangerously I thought.  Yes before you all shout it out, I know I’m sad.  It nearly backfired actually because I usually do things the other way around I nearly forgot to take my blinking Tablets.  Serves me right for spoiling myself.  Well I settled in to the sofa to watch a whole day of Cricket just for a change, just getting up for the odd drink or two and to make something to eat too.  It was heaven just not doing anything.  I was also looking forward to the Evenings entertainment in the form of The Last Night Of The Proms.  You would think that I was quite a patriotic Englishman what with watching and hoping England would win at the Cricket and with all the Pomp and Circumstance of the Last Night but you wouldn’t be further from the truth.  I am quite patriotic but WELSH!! Through and through especially when it comes to 30 men chasing an odd shaped ball around a field, 15 of which happen to be English.  Not that I’m a great Rugby fan although we did win “The Grand Slam & The Triple Crown” this year which involved totally demoralising the English, ha ha ha!!  I guess my liking of rugby stems from my childhood when I actually went to the trouble of joining the St Albans Band and learning to play the Trombone just so that I could get into the Matches free.  You see they used to play at all the Cardiff and Welsh International Matches so you’d have to play for a while which was no price to pay really then you would quite often have the best seat in the house to watch the Match.  Ahhh those were the days not like today having to fork out £50 a ticket only to be sat so far away from the field you might as well be watching the flee circus.  Well the proms has started and out comes all the flags and the glass of sherry, well maybe not quite sherry orange juice will have to do.  Singing away at the top of my voice to all the old favourites Land Of Hope And Glory & Jerusalem and also the obligatory humming along to the Fantasy On Sea Songs, I love that piece of music always gives me Goosebumps.  Even the Traditional 2 versus of the National Anthem are worth listening to, and I always say the same thing to myself I’ll have to try and learn that second verse by next year as you don’t learn that at school oddly enough.  Well I ended up shattered after all that fun and excitement of the day and went to bed fairly early well after I did a spot of bidding on Ebay, I must stay off that site it always ends up costing me money.  Nitey Nite..

Call Me Mr Fixit!!

Well just call me Mr Fix It!!! That Network stuff’s a walk in the park it only took me about 10 mins to sort out and then it was off surfing as usual.  You know you can find some good stuff by just shutting your eyes sometimes and just keep clicking the mouse whilst moving it around a bit on the screen.  You want to try it one day and see where you end up.
Well my first full day back home today and my intention was to have an easy chill out day, you know the kind I mean where you don’t get out of your PJ’s and just lounge around doing nothing.  I nearly managed it till my sister in law turned up with a problem she wanted me to try and sort out by looking at some sites on the web.  It appears she has fallen for some Holiday Club Scam whilst on holiday in Turkey I think they went.  Anyhow they’ve promised the earth as in cheap almost free holidays and you even get your money back (£7,500) in 3 years.  Well just a quick Google Search threw up all sorts of nasties about people that have been ripped off by them and even the Office of Fair Trading have been quite heavily involved with them.  So I printed off a load off information for her to take home to her partner who at the time was just going to go through with it and hope that it would be okay and she left quite stunned I suppose although she now had some ammo that she could probably use to get out of the contract hopefully.
Well a short breather then my mate Sharon came over for a cuppa and a catch up session as I ain’t seen her for a couple of weeks.  It was great finding out all about one of our God son’s  who started in Infants School this week whilst his brother another of our God Son’s started in Junior School.  She said they looked so cute in there new uniforms and there growing up really quickly and they’re “Big Boys” now.  We had a good old natter and a couple of cuppas and then really just had a quiet night in for a change and in fact I didn’t really go on the Computer which is not like me at all.
So all in all it was a bit of an up and down day maybe tomorrow I’ll get to chill out?  Yeah Right!!!  
Cricket and the Last Night Of The Proms all on in one day I think the TV’s going to get a bashing tomorrow.   See Ya!!

Home Sweet Home

Well today’s the day I get to go home at last after my enforced Road Trip.  I actually managed to stay in bed a little bit longer for a change today well only by about ½ an hour.  It feels quite strange as it’s been 2 weeks now since I was ceremoniously kicked out me own home by the Shrek or should I say Tara in her other disguise.  She looked funny mind you with her glands in her throat all swollen and stuff hard not to laugh at her.  Well packing sort of started then stopped then started then stopped throughout the morning until I guess it was all done by lunchtime. Then it was trying to reconnect the modem and stuff back to my mum’s computer as I’d hijacked it for the last few days. Thankfully this all went smoothly which is always a bonus as I hate problems with internet connections at the best of times especially ones I have caused myself. Mum & Dad eventually helped me get all my stuff in the car.  It will be really strange leaving there as you sort of get used to fitting in with other peoples timings and things and suddenly it’s going to be get yourself up and sort out your own food and things.  I will miss them a lot as I think we have all learnt a lot about each other and I really will miss little Jemma the dog she was my little friend, following me everywhere and always after cuddles and stuff Awww I am missing her already.  Come on now pull yourself together man!!!  Well after all the good byes it was off home.  I stopped in tesco’s on the way home for a few bits and pieces then finally got home at last to an empty house. Thinking on it I haven’t been in an empty house more than about twice since I moved out now it’s going to be virtually every day as Judith is in work and Tara has started back in College poor lonely old me. I think you lot will probably suffer for that though as my blogs will no dought get longer just because it passes more time away in the day.  Ha ha ha serves you right for being addicted doesn’t it?  Judith came home a while later and managed to unpack the car for me, she is an angel, and then I set about catching up on some sleep again like you do.  Later I thought I would get some serious surfing done only to remember that Judith had swapped the Internet connection over to her computer because there had been probs with mine whilst I was away so I’m just about to start trying to fix that hence writing this now because I may be some time sorting this out and will only end up falling asleep without writing it and then get an ear bashing from you lot so there!!  Right if you here a scream don’t worry its only me pulling my hair out, well if I had some I would pull it out, trying to fix this blinking connection.
Buy the way if anyone has a good alternative to pulling your hair out please let me know cos I ain’t found one yet that has the same effect!!  See Ya

A New Smile!!

Well here it is, the time had finally come when I would be presented with my new set of Gnashers.  I’ve been waiting for them for a long long time since they brutally ripped out all but 8 of my teeth prior to having my Transplant last year, due to infection risk they said I recon they just wanted some extra practice myself the bloody sadists.  I’ve been excited about this day for some time and always said that I was going to go out and have a nice juicy steak when I had them.  So I arrived at the Dentist at the hospital bright and early.  They’ve altered the car park at long last and added another 4 Disabled parking bays which is right cool because there is always a queue to get in this car park and I just drove around them and straight into one of the 3 empty bays ha ha ha !!!  Still had to pay my £2.10 parking fee though which really winds me up even though I can now claim it back later.  Well in I finally went only to be presented with a Wax Set. Oh No !!! Apparently I got to have a couple of what they call “Try” sessions which involve a lot of it and out and shave a bit of her and there and add a bit here and there, before I get to have a real set so I’ll have to wait another month or so before I get the real thing, so the Steak will have to wait I suppose.  I went over to meet Judith at Newport for a cuppa before we went to lunch.  It was pretty good as I met up with a couple of guys I used to work with as well as a couple of new ones. After a while we drove off to Asda for a bite to eat well I had something Judith just had a cuppa.  We had a good old chin wag and a look around the store. I don’t know what it is but every day we seem to have bought something there which is not like us at all, well not like Judith anyway because she’s the sensible one with spending money usually while I tend to just spend spend spend, Well it’s no use to you when your gone is it?
When Judith went home and left me I went back to Mum & Dads and had to have a snooze I was knackered again.  I finally got up at about 5ish and was still tired so I didn’t help at all in the end.  I spent the evening again in front of the TV with Mum & Dad as well as talking to a few mates and Judith on MSN and generally making a nuisance of myself with them. Well I’ve got my reputation to think off haven’t I?  After the busy day I’ve had I went up to bed fairly early and pretty much fell asleep straight away to sweet dreams of my new Gnashers to come.   Ahhhhhh Nice Juicy Steak lets hope the new teeth can cope with it!!!