Yesterday was the funeral of a dear friend and colleague, Mike Roberts.
A warm hearted, funny and loyal man, taken ridiculously early. He had wavered from his more regular self over the last few years and was finding things difficult after having to stop working. Some lovely tributes were read at the church in Earls Barton and I will never forget him for the love and affection he found time to share my way.
I will take myself off to the vast expanse of sands at Stiffkey in the next few days where I will remember Mike at his natural best, in company of friends, joshing the kids along and genuinely chuffed at finding a Stewkey Blue.
There is a light that will never go out.
Friday, 21 December 2012
Sunday, 2 December 2012
2nd December 2012
And so Happy Christmas
3 more points for the Canaries - made an easy win look difficult. I couldn't go as I am laid low with a sickness bug I have picked up - probably from poor old mum who has been sent back to Sheringham after about 15 days in hospital. She has been sick and is in a bad old way. Shouldn't have been allowed home really as she is at a very low ebb right now. The bug has been rife locally - but hopefully I'll be back on my feet in a day or so.
Most of our time since I last posted has been full on with to-ing and fro-ing from hospital and then making sure mum has some company now she is back in her home. We have managed a few social interactions here and there. Nan's 70th birthday brought a reunion with her brother and sister - great to see them all together again - and a meal out for Nan at the Wheatsheaf.
Also had a lovely trip along the coast to Brancaster, Burnham Market and then lunch at Brancaster Staithe with the girls and Jenny's b/f Rhys.
The football has continued to surprise us as Norwich extend their unbeaten run and Luton have made it to the 3rd round of the cup. The match against Wolves is a no-lose game.
My fall into a state of slumber has come at the end of a mini-marathon of a weekend. Friday was spent travelling to London to see Ben Howard in Brixton (excellent) - got home about 3am. DG's alarm woke us at 6:30am. Spent the day in Norwich with Graham - in the expectation of a pub-crawl - however, tiredness took over and by the time I got home I was really not feeling too good - resulting in early night, sickness and missing today's game.
Work is mega busy for me at the moment too so a couple of duvet days may be a good thing (though catching up may be a bit hectic).
3 more points for the Canaries - made an easy win look difficult. I couldn't go as I am laid low with a sickness bug I have picked up - probably from poor old mum who has been sent back to Sheringham after about 15 days in hospital. She has been sick and is in a bad old way. Shouldn't have been allowed home really as she is at a very low ebb right now. The bug has been rife locally - but hopefully I'll be back on my feet in a day or so.
Most of our time since I last posted has been full on with to-ing and fro-ing from hospital and then making sure mum has some company now she is back in her home. We have managed a few social interactions here and there. Nan's 70th birthday brought a reunion with her brother and sister - great to see them all together again - and a meal out for Nan at the Wheatsheaf.
Also had a lovely trip along the coast to Brancaster, Burnham Market and then lunch at Brancaster Staithe with the girls and Jenny's b/f Rhys.
The football has continued to surprise us as Norwich extend their unbeaten run and Luton have made it to the 3rd round of the cup. The match against Wolves is a no-lose game.
My fall into a state of slumber has come at the end of a mini-marathon of a weekend. Friday was spent travelling to London to see Ben Howard in Brixton (excellent) - got home about 3am. DG's alarm woke us at 6:30am. Spent the day in Norwich with Graham - in the expectation of a pub-crawl - however, tiredness took over and by the time I got home I was really not feeling too good - resulting in early night, sickness and missing today's game.
Work is mega busy for me at the moment too so a couple of duvet days may be a good thing (though catching up may be a bit hectic).
Monday, 19 November 2012
19th November 2012
Though I'd jot some notes down on how mum is at the moment.
Since being taken poorly last weekend (on the 10th) she has been a guest of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. In truth she had shown signs of taking a bit of a slump in form for the a week or so before the Dr was called. The staff at Sheringham were particularly concerned that she had maybe suffered a stroke. She was breathless and unresponsive. The doctor called an ambulance straight away - though it took 3 hrs to arrive!
DG and I went to visit the next day and saw a quite content, though clearly weak mum. No hint of Saturday mornings ailments though the assessment unit put her on oxygen and sent her to Dunstan ward where she still is some 8 days later. I did visit again on Wednesday after mum had been sick during the night. Again she seemed ok when I was there - a bit sleepy, but still with-it. I kind of expected that she would be quickly back in Sheringham but the Hospital won't send her back while they think she needs assistance of oxygen to help her through the day.
Cousin Margret visited on Friday but it seems that mum was a bit confused, rude even. Seems she's not too sure why or where she is. They say she's on her regular medication but her behaviour is a bit erratic. Billy visited her yesterday and had a similar experience. I do hope she is ok. I was hoping to get along to visit tonight but...... It's always easier not to - we've been so busy with work and sorting the girls out and I was expecting to hear that she was on her way home. Today they said again that as there has been little change, she is likely to stay for a day or so more. I'll try and get to Norwich in the next few days and post again - hopefully with better news
Since being taken poorly last weekend (on the 10th) she has been a guest of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. In truth she had shown signs of taking a bit of a slump in form for the a week or so before the Dr was called. The staff at Sheringham were particularly concerned that she had maybe suffered a stroke. She was breathless and unresponsive. The doctor called an ambulance straight away - though it took 3 hrs to arrive!
DG and I went to visit the next day and saw a quite content, though clearly weak mum. No hint of Saturday mornings ailments though the assessment unit put her on oxygen and sent her to Dunstan ward where she still is some 8 days later. I did visit again on Wednesday after mum had been sick during the night. Again she seemed ok when I was there - a bit sleepy, but still with-it. I kind of expected that she would be quickly back in Sheringham but the Hospital won't send her back while they think she needs assistance of oxygen to help her through the day.
Cousin Margret visited on Friday but it seems that mum was a bit confused, rude even. Seems she's not too sure why or where she is. They say she's on her regular medication but her behaviour is a bit erratic. Billy visited her yesterday and had a similar experience. I do hope she is ok. I was hoping to get along to visit tonight but...... It's always easier not to - we've been so busy with work and sorting the girls out and I was expecting to hear that she was on her way home. Today they said again that as there has been little change, she is likely to stay for a day or so more. I'll try and get to Norwich in the next few days and post again - hopefully with better news
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
14 Nov again
The best line from my dictated post from earlier today is that Jenny has gone to nipple club. I hope that the other net ballers don't mind!
14 November 2012
mail I just can't believe how busy we seem to be the day I hardly get 5 minutes to myself which is why these posts get further and further apart I am trying to be clever and use this little 10 tablet to dictate this post in a bid to save a bit of time 2 day is a typically busy day jenny harris had a taster day for sixth form rosie has had a regular school day followed by a running club but won't be at brownies tonight as they are swimming again d g jazz been in school and then a training event in norwich now she has taken gentoo netball and is off to her book club I spent the day working in norridge and then visited mum who is sadly in hospital againlater I have to go and get jenny from her nipple club and hope to watch some of the england gamepoor old man was taken police on saturday so went by ambulance to the norfolk and norwich where she is still waiting to come back to sheringham hopefully she will get over a bout of sickness and will be back by the week end but she will really need to pick up soon my old dad has finished his key mo farah p treatment and balls he is very poorly at the moment we hope he will start to improve quite quickly now billy is visiting this week end so we will have a meal together and try and cheer the old boys up a bithad a good day at the races with jim and some friends yesterday 1 of the friends with us appeared on pointless on tv today goto he didn't win any money at the races or the tellynot sure if any of this is making sense I'd better published now and be damned and I will write with more clarity and sense at the week end goodbye tool pictures
Sunday, 28 October 2012
28th October 2012 - Clocks go Back
Well I have decided to put my extra hour to good use/stupid use this morning. I was laying in bed feeling a bit down because the long winter nights have now begun and thinking what a summer it has been and remembered that I haven't posted an update for a while.
So as the rest of the house wisely sleeps through the bonus hour I have been up around the house re-setting clocks (why so many god damned clocks?) I am wide awake and getting creative. That and the fact that the local animal life aren't aware that it is really only just past 6am. The farm up the road has beef cattle in a barn being fattened for the plate and the poor buggers have been singing their heads off this morning. Our chimney has become a top spot for the owls to sit and twit-twoo as well. A lovely sound but not this early on a Sunday.
It also meant I got to listen to the excellent Non-League Football show on Radio5. Not much about Luton but great that the minnows of the Footy world get a chance for debate/review/report
So wh'appen since the start of term?
Norwich's season really started to kick off - been stop start because of the international games and only a few home games for us to go to. A poor start under Hughton (Hootun as they say up here) but signs of recovery and better play - which culminated in a fantastic win over Arsenal. Everyone says how poor Arsenal were but Narge played them off the park. We went en-mass (en mass?) to Villa Park yesterday to see another great performance that should have been a win but for a sloppy goal and poor crossing into the box. This was Rosie's 1st away match (and the 1st for DG for years). A long drive for a game of football but that's part of the fun of living on the edge of the country - every where is a long way a way. Norwich's local derby is now West Ham!
We also took in the England U21's at Carrow Road. A lot less "lively" affair than the return match in Serbia a few days later.
Rosie and DG had a great day in Cambridge with Gdad and Valerie, Jim and Hayley. Rosie was very worried about Chris's attempts at punting and was relieved to reach dry land. A slap up lunch at Browns and a tour of John Lewis's made up for everything though. Their trip home was a nightmare though - cancelled trains, missed connections and a call out to me to collect them from Norwich to get them back. Would have been a 5 hour journey and it's only 80 miles away. Must get DG to drive more often. Being away from proper roads for so long has dented her confidence of busier places.
We've had a few visits from Billy and Lynn as they were hoping to get their own gaff locally. The plan was to get a bolt hole for weekends till they can be up here more permanently. After a few highs and lows and let downs - it now seems that it is out of the question for now. Though they will try and get up and around as often as possible, not least because it means they can visit poor old mum and poor old dad more regularly - which will take a bit of pressure off me. Mum is fairly stable though frail in her Sheringham home. She managed a visit to Bessingham for lunch last week which we all enjoyed though it is difficult to cater for her needs while away from the home. Now that winter is well on the way she struggles more as she can't get out in the garden and there are fewer visitors generally. The phone calls have started to ramp up and demands for visits get a bit difficult to handle.
Dad is coming to the end of a 2nd year of very intensive treatment for cancer. We won't know how successful the treatment has been for a few months and he is rather poorly just now due to the culmination of everything the poor old bugger has been through these last few months. Everything piles on top of everything else and at the moment he is struggling to wander about home. An intense zap of radiography last week is expected to help him back on his feet soon - but he has to get over the zapping effect 1st. Having been with him many times when we've seen the specialist at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital, I am confident that he will be fine (in time).
Talking ailments - I had an MRI scan on my back on Friday. I hope to get a diagnoses once and for all and then start treatment for a more stable condition. I really want to be able to get back running - but if it means biking and swimming, I can live with that. The MRI scan has now ranked No 3 in the most horrible thing I have ever had to endure. No1 was a lumber puncture and 2 was having wisdom teeth out. Being in such a confined space for the best part of an hour nearly freaked me out. If I ever get asked to go for another one, I think I will say I'm doing my hair instead.
Other high points of the last few weeks? Rosie had a great birthday - including a mas sleepover and a roller-disco. Yup roller-disco's have arrived in Norfolk, 50 years after they went out of fashion in the real world. Jenny was a star pupil again at the awards night at Sheringham High School. She is the Queen of English. We've been planning for Jen's 6th form years (starting next September). looks more likely that she will be moving schools to a college in North Walsham (Nazza Wazza as the youf say). DG and me have thrown our selves into our work. Her school work seems never ending. I am now surveying everything from Wisbech to Horsey and Cromer to Norwich, an area equating to about 4 surveyors workload. Could absolutely work 24/7 and only scratch the surface. On the plus side, I am in the throws of choosing a new car for the next 4 years. I've decided that I need fat tyres and a high driving position so I can see over the hedges.
Well that was a cathartic hour (never written that word before). Apologies to my readers for going on a bit. That will teach me for leaving big gaps between posts.
Here's to a jolly winter. I'm off out with Rosie later this morning with no greater intention than catching leaves.
So as the rest of the house wisely sleeps through the bonus hour I have been up around the house re-setting clocks (why so many god damned clocks?) I am wide awake and getting creative. That and the fact that the local animal life aren't aware that it is really only just past 6am. The farm up the road has beef cattle in a barn being fattened for the plate and the poor buggers have been singing their heads off this morning. Our chimney has become a top spot for the owls to sit and twit-twoo as well. A lovely sound but not this early on a Sunday.
It also meant I got to listen to the excellent Non-League Football show on Radio5. Not much about Luton but great that the minnows of the Footy world get a chance for debate/review/report
So wh'appen since the start of term?
Norwich's season really started to kick off - been stop start because of the international games and only a few home games for us to go to. A poor start under Hughton (Hootun as they say up here) but signs of recovery and better play - which culminated in a fantastic win over Arsenal. Everyone says how poor Arsenal were but Narge played them off the park. We went en-mass (en mass?) to Villa Park yesterday to see another great performance that should have been a win but for a sloppy goal and poor crossing into the box. This was Rosie's 1st away match (and the 1st for DG for years). A long drive for a game of football but that's part of the fun of living on the edge of the country - every where is a long way a way. Norwich's local derby is now West Ham!
We also took in the England U21's at Carrow Road. A lot less "lively" affair than the return match in Serbia a few days later.
Rosie and DG had a great day in Cambridge with Gdad and Valerie, Jim and Hayley. Rosie was very worried about Chris's attempts at punting and was relieved to reach dry land. A slap up lunch at Browns and a tour of John Lewis's made up for everything though. Their trip home was a nightmare though - cancelled trains, missed connections and a call out to me to collect them from Norwich to get them back. Would have been a 5 hour journey and it's only 80 miles away. Must get DG to drive more often. Being away from proper roads for so long has dented her confidence of busier places.
We've had a few visits from Billy and Lynn as they were hoping to get their own gaff locally. The plan was to get a bolt hole for weekends till they can be up here more permanently. After a few highs and lows and let downs - it now seems that it is out of the question for now. Though they will try and get up and around as often as possible, not least because it means they can visit poor old mum and poor old dad more regularly - which will take a bit of pressure off me. Mum is fairly stable though frail in her Sheringham home. She managed a visit to Bessingham for lunch last week which we all enjoyed though it is difficult to cater for her needs while away from the home. Now that winter is well on the way she struggles more as she can't get out in the garden and there are fewer visitors generally. The phone calls have started to ramp up and demands for visits get a bit difficult to handle.
Dad is coming to the end of a 2nd year of very intensive treatment for cancer. We won't know how successful the treatment has been for a few months and he is rather poorly just now due to the culmination of everything the poor old bugger has been through these last few months. Everything piles on top of everything else and at the moment he is struggling to wander about home. An intense zap of radiography last week is expected to help him back on his feet soon - but he has to get over the zapping effect 1st. Having been with him many times when we've seen the specialist at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital, I am confident that he will be fine (in time).
Talking ailments - I had an MRI scan on my back on Friday. I hope to get a diagnoses once and for all and then start treatment for a more stable condition. I really want to be able to get back running - but if it means biking and swimming, I can live with that. The MRI scan has now ranked No 3 in the most horrible thing I have ever had to endure. No1 was a lumber puncture and 2 was having wisdom teeth out. Being in such a confined space for the best part of an hour nearly freaked me out. If I ever get asked to go for another one, I think I will say I'm doing my hair instead.
Other high points of the last few weeks? Rosie had a great birthday - including a mas sleepover and a roller-disco. Yup roller-disco's have arrived in Norfolk, 50 years after they went out of fashion in the real world. Jenny was a star pupil again at the awards night at Sheringham High School. She is the Queen of English. We've been planning for Jen's 6th form years (starting next September). looks more likely that she will be moving schools to a college in North Walsham (Nazza Wazza as the youf say). DG and me have thrown our selves into our work. Her school work seems never ending. I am now surveying everything from Wisbech to Horsey and Cromer to Norwich, an area equating to about 4 surveyors workload. Could absolutely work 24/7 and only scratch the surface. On the plus side, I am in the throws of choosing a new car for the next 4 years. I've decided that I need fat tyres and a high driving position so I can see over the hedges.
Well that was a cathartic hour (never written that word before). Apologies to my readers for going on a bit. That will teach me for leaving big gaps between posts.
Here's to a jolly winter. I'm off out with Rosie later this morning with no greater intention than catching leaves.
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