Bangor Blog

Another Mystery of Life

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

Here's another mystery of life that maybe one of you can explain logically. (by the way, welcome back but there will be more of that later)Whilst sitting in the glorious sunshine that we are experiencing at the moment I was pondering upon what to have for my lunch. It struck me. Cheese and biscuits, or crackers, or whatever. as i had nothing else to ponder about my mind went a wandering. What I came up with might astound you all but never the less it is quite a relevant point to be made. What side does one butter the biscuit on?

Is it the top side or the underside? I don't know. Has there ever been a study done on this matter? Indeed, what does ettiquette have to say on this matter? Then it struck me. Just as I was getting all worked up about this very issue I said to myself, who gives a feck! there are far more important things in life to be worrying about. Things like, 'When am i going to get my feckin' laptop back in FULL working order?'

Now there is a story and a half. So that i won't bore you too much with all the gory details I will try and give you the abridged version. Here goes. Heart attack / daughter finds me / thinks I'm dead / panics / hysterics / calls for ambulance / hospital / needles and tubes everywhere / monitored for a week / got home / find out I have smashed my laptop screen (my new laptop screen) / insurance won't pay / take it to repair shop / they have it for 3 weeks / collected yesterday / still not working, even though I paid them for a FULL service / took back to repair shop / phone call today to say it is in working order / we'll see! There, I reckon if Tolstoy had put his mind to it he could have written War and Peace like that.

The other down side thing to my last stay in hospital is that my cardiologist has told me I am not allowed to travel for a while, maybe anything up to 8 weeks. As a result I had to cancel our cruise that we were / are supposed to be on as I write this. I also had to cancel a trip to London for a get together with the lads. Friends arriving from all over the planet and I am going to miss it. Durn!

And things seem to only have got worse. While i was in hospital I was told about our web site going down. Sorry about that but it is up and running again thanks to my mate who knows more about techy things than the guy in the repair shop where my laptop is. Anyway, i thought that we had been hacked into, like what we had done to us before, but it turned out to be our host site. as a result of their stupidity and brainless activity my mate went about changing hosts and eventually got things up and running again. thanks to all those peeps who were so concerned about things that they e mailed me about it and even went on my Facebook to tell me about it. There wasn't a lot I could do about it as I didn't have the use of my laptop. (At the moment I am still using this old PC that sits in the house somewhere)

Still, the weather is glorious and I am going to go outside and sit somewhere nice in the garden and watch the plants grow or something as mundane as that. I might even doze off and dream about getting my laptop back in working order.

Nice comments only as I am still recouperating.

Ta Rah for now

Just Can?t Work It Out

Wed, 12 May 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

Here?s one for anyone of you who likes mathematical conundrums. I certainly can?t work it out (and me being an ex-shopkeeper). Right, here we go. I will try and explain it in basic English.

Yesterday we (wife and me) out for me to have an eye test. Went to this well known establishment that advertises a lot on the telly. Very good test by a very sexy looking blonde who gave me a real going over (for glasses you dirty minded people out there) and she recommended that I get a pair of glasses for reading and a pair for distance. My thoughts were, my gawd, how much is this going to cost? Now, here?s where the oddness comes in. I pick a pair for distance. As I won?t be using them very much I went for a cheapish style (?45.00) For my reading pair I went up market to the designer range and picked myself a really cool looking pair (in my opinion and that?s the only one that counts). I reckon I have to look good when I am reading my speech at my daughter's wedding. (?125.00) Then there was the cost of all the other little extras (?60.00) so, at the moment we have a total of ?230.00. I am entitled to some discounts due to my health problems but this takes the biscuit. When I paid for the whole shebang the total bill came to, wait for it, ?65.50!!! KERSPLASH BADOING KERPLUNK!!!! I was speechless. I looked at the receipt again and again. The girl said my glasses would be ready next week. We made a quick exit from the shop without saying anything. (Well, we said thank-you) So, what percentage discount did I get? I love a good bargain but this is a GREAT bargain. Even better don?t you think?

Another good experience whilst we?re on the good bargain front. I had to get our daughter?s engagement ring added on to the insurance policy. I phoned the insurers up and eventually got through to a human voice that had feelings and a brain. You know, the sort of voice that you can interact with not like those feckin? machines that only tell you to press button # whatever, NOW. Well, another pleasant surprise. I was expecting some hideous figure, but, To get insurance between today and policy renewal in July-----------a massive, unrealistic, fantastic ?7.50. That?s the cost of two pints or 30 ciggies. Seeing as I don?t drink or smoke anymore I think I can afford this massive sum, don?t you?

And yet another bargain on the shopping front. I, as in we, have just booked our holidays for the year. (yes, you guessed it, another cruise)(same ship but a different route this time)We needed travel insurance so rather than go through all the hassle of being so heavily loaded by all these insurance companies or worse still being told no I went for the company that I used last time. I looked out the previous policy and eventually got through to a human voice (see above paragraph). Upon telling them the dates and any changes in my health etc etc they came back with a figure that I had to ask them to repeat three times, digit by digit. It was nearly a full ?40.00 cheaper than two years ago, and this was for the two of us for a full year to boot.

As I am sitting here telling you about all this good fortune I sincerely hope that you are all having just as much good fortune. It has all been great for me. The downer on all this is, I had occasion to visit my GP the other day due to a lot of discomfort on my side. He took a look and had a bit of a poke and prod. He noticed that I had bruising all around my middle as well as my side. After the usual questions he informed me that I have a broken rib!!!. This happened a few weeks ago when I had occasion to lean into our recently emptied wheelie bin to retrieve some magazines belonging to my wife. It was all my fault as I was the guilty party when it was me who put them there in the first place. In doing this deed I ended up leaning on the edge of the said bin. I felt something go pop on my left inside. It was painful at the time but I thought no more about it. Then, the next day I found I could hardly move. The day after that all this bruising started to appear. Seeing as the pain eased with the aid of some mild painkillers I didn?t do any more about it. Then, a few days ago the pain became more unbearable so I went to the doctor. Result, broken rib. He prescribed stronger painkillers which made me violently ill (the retching was worse than the broken rib) so I am sitting here with my broken rib trying not to bend over, laugh too hard, cough, sneeze etc. As Gloria Gaynor once sang ?I Will Survive? I find myself in that position.

Don?t forget now, any comments at all, even weather reports, are all welcome. Just click on the title above and leave your gack as per usual. Looking forward to hearing from you all, anyone, someone

Cheers for now

The Problems I Have

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

Aye, the problems I have in life. They may be small niggly things but they still bug the hell out of me. Last week it was the hunt for the new Rolling Stones single release for the International Record Store Day event. It was a very limited release and in the whole of Northern Ireland there was only one store to get any copies. It was up in Derry/Londonderry and I just thought it was a wee bit far to go. It?s just as well I managed to get 4 copies off the internet then, wasn?t it. I won?t be selling them but I will maybe trade a couple of them for other such Stones rarities. Wait and see.

Another one of my niggly little problems was shaving soap. Where the hell does one purchase a tub of shaving soap in their home town? Nowhere apparently. I tried all the big and small chemists I could find. I even went to my Turkish Barber where I occasionally go as a treat to get a real wet shave and facial massage (well worth every penny including the tip I always give the guy) . He wasn?t able to help me either, but he did direct me to the Turkish Barber Wholesaler. I followed his directions but had no joy in locating said establishment. So no joy there. Then, I just happened to be in the next town over from here. A place called Newtownards (no doubt if you are from here at any time in your life you know where I mean) Guess what? The very first chemist I went into, BINGO, there it was sitting on the bottom shelf in plain view for everyone to see (especially short people). Another problem solved. I think though, that the next time I am up in Belfast I will get a few tubs from the store that I know sells it. Nothing can beat a hot wet shave with a beaver brush (can it Michael?)

Ongoing with the niggly things in my life. I have been decorating recently. The hall / stairs and landing are looking very well at the moment. Except for the space where there should be two pieces of wallpaper. No, I haven?t run out of paper. I just ran out of me. On Sunday past I was determined to get the papering finished and went hell for leather at it. I went a wee tad overboard with the leather bit and ended up not too well as a result. This meant that the rest of the day I had to sit / lie down and take things easy. Also the same thing the next day as things like this take their time to get out of my system. Then on Tuesday I had a hospital appointment (hence being in Newtownards) which took up most of my day . So, today I am feeling totally refreshed and I am going to attempt to get those two feckin? pieces of paper up even if it kills me!

To keep on with these wee tiny annoying niggly things ongoing in my life. I read a lot and apart from being a member of the local library I also support the local charity shops by buying the odd book or six from them. I was in one of the better selection charity shops the other day and saw a book by a particular author that I enjoy. I had not read this particular book so I picked it up and went to pay for it. Upon getting to the till I noticed the price on the book dustcover. I was astounded. Normally I would pay between ?1.00 - ?2.50 for a hardback book. This one was priced at ?4.25. It was not in perfect condition but I paid for it anyway as it was for a charity that I would support anyway but in future I will look more carefully at the cost before I go to the till. I have noticed over the past couple of years that all the charity shops have increased their prices on all their product. Now they have done it with the books section as well. Maybe the answer is to be a meanie and stop going into the shops or to just keep on going in and never mind the cost. What does one think out there in the ether of net space? Eh

Changing tack to better things in my life. I attended the AGM of our bowling club recently. As it was the AGM there were elections to be held for the committee for next season. All current positions were duly vacated and the elections began. Chairman / Vice Chairman / Treasurer / Secretary etc etc. Out of the four positions listed above yours truly is now the proud holder of not one but two of them. Vice Chairman and Treasurer. I should be proud of the fact that I am the only member to hold two positions but maybe not. I don?t quite know yet how much work is involved but no doubt I will be finding out soon enough.

Last month was my birthday and I think I mentioned that I got a digital radio. Since I got this I have been listening to stations that I would not normally have listened. One of these channels is 6Music. Whist writing all this gack I was listening to said station and was pleasantly surprised to hear Frank Zappa being aired. Now there is an artist I would certainly love to hear more of on the radio. He has enough material out there to warrant a programme of Zappa / Mothers music. After all, you can take a degree in the Works of Frank Zappa?s Music (although you have to go to Italy do actually do the thing)

Enough, enough. No more mumbling gack for now. I think you have enough to be contending with for the moment. Should you wish to comment, as always, hit the title bar above. New commenters always welcome. If you don?t want to then you must have niggles of your own.

Byse Byse

Aaaaargh Disaster Strikes

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

Indeed. A mega disaster of hugemongus proportions has befallen me. This is the sort of disastrous thing that when it happens there is nothing else that could happen that would or could match the seriousness of said disaster. I will try and explain in words below, without smudging the words with tear stains.

It all happened in a fleeting moment of neglect on my part although I didn?t do it on purpose so don?t blame me. (ok blame me as I was the only one there and had no one else to blame it on or shout at at the time) (and there was a lot of shouting of the not good kind went on, believe me)I was at the top of my ladder trying to hang a very awkward piece of wallpaper. I had all the equipment I needed with me to hand, papering brush / damp cloth / paper smoothing tool / trimming knife. After a lot of grunting and groaning and sweating and heavy breathing I managed to get the piece of wallpaper in position. All smoothed out with the paper smoothing tool and the excess paste wiped off with the damp cloth and then brushed firm. All I needed to do was trim the paper. No problem, I had my trusty trimming knife at hand. I trimmed the paper and brushed it again just for good measure. Then it happened. Disaster. My knife fell off the ladder tool tray and hit the floor. I heard a crack but thought nothing of it. That is until I got down off the ladder and picked my knife up. Then I noticed that the blade was snapped. No problem, as this was one of those retractable knives with a snap off blade. It was just a question of sliding the blade up to expose a new one. Then I noticed a wee tiny piece of plastic lying on the floor. Upon inspection I realised that it was part of the slide mechanism for my knife. Double Disaster. Why? I will tell you in the next paragraph after I shed another tear and blow the snuffles away. This is really too hard for me to go on with but for the benefit of providing entertainment for you lot I feel that I must. Here goes.

The knife in question is no ordinary run of the mill trimming knife. This is a Stanley Gold Plated slim snap blade knife. Why Gold Plated? I hear you all ask. It is gold Plated for a very good reason. When I was in the retail tool trade many years ago I was presented with this Gold Plated knife to commemorate me selling so many Stanley Tools in my shop. I had just become a 5 Star Dealer (which was a big thing in those days) and the MD of Stanley tools presented me with this knife. It has been my favourite trimming knife ever since. It has helped me decorate two houses at least twice over. I have had it now for at least 25 years, maybe longer. And now it is broken. I am going to go out and see if I can purchase a knife similar to it so that I can rob the slide out of it. Yes, I do get very attached to inanimate objects especially one that has served me so well in the past.

Apart from this major disaster the decorating is coming to a home run now. I am just about to start papering the stairwell and landing. Job done. Although there was an incident the other day. My brother paid me a visit and he walked from the front door to the lounge and sat down. (I was taking a rest from hanging wallpaper at the time) I said to him ?Well what do you think of the paper?? He replied quite candidly, ?What paper?? I was taken aback at this comment. After all my hard work over the past couple of weeks he says this. I had to take him back out into the hall and point at the walls. He said it was nice. NICE! I want more than nice. I want wonderful, excellent, brilliant , fantastic, super and other such adjectives. Not just nice. Then again maybe I am expecting too much for my handiwork.

Other things that have happened this week. My next door neighbour (whom I don?t exactly see eye to eye with) got a skip delivered the other day. He was getting rid of his garden rubbish and other stuff. I went out and helped him fill it with my rubbish (although he wasn?t aware of this as it was done under cover of darkness) It saved me a trip to the dump anyway.

We, our family, are invited to a wedding this week. It is my sister in laws wedding and we are all wondering how the day will turn out. It is going to be a marriage ceremony at the Town Hall with the Registrar followed by a blessing at the Church followed by the best bit of any wedding. The reception. Now this reception is certainly going to be different to any other that we have ever attended. Why? Because it?s going to be held in a Chinese restaurant. One of those where you can eat as much as or as little as you wish. It doesn?t matter because you pay the same price anyway. I?m looking forward to it just for that if not anything else. (I am looking forward to the actual wedding as well just in case you were wondering) I will let you know in the next blog if there were any mishaps, family arguments / fights / drunkenness etc etc

Comments on any of the above always welcome. Should you have experienced something similar with an inanimate object that you have treasured for a long time please let us all know. All other gack please let us know by hitting the title bar above. Go on, don?t be shy.

Happy Easter Eggs

The Story So Far

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

The story so far is as follows. Up to today (Friday) I have stripped all the wallpaper and hung the lining paper on half of the walls. I need to hang lining paper as my walls are like orange peel so it makes things awkward when trying to re-decorate. The rate of hanging is quite slow. About 10 minutes to measure / cut and paste each piece of paper. About 10 swear words to hang said piece of paper. Then about 20 minutes to sit down and take a break before the next piece. At this rate I will be finished the job by about August, maybe. The good thing about it is I am enjoying myself doing it. All the time that I am working away I have my iPod blaring away at me from the dock. It?s like a guessing game sometimes trying to remember who this is coming on.

There was a break of 6 days in the decorating though. My Father in Law passed away last Friday very peacefully at home as were his wishes. There was a lot to arrange for the funeral as there usually is. Family members started arriving and this was done and that was done. Messages of sympathy started to arrive and in general everybody was very kind. There was a very light hearted funeral service followed by a committal at the crematorium. That was followed by having everyone who wanted to back at our house for a wake. Friends of my wife?s had been in and organised the food and there was other refreshments available. They did a wonderful job. I think I managed to get my hands on 1 sandwich and a cocktail sausage or 2. I missed everything else. My wife was the same. All in all everyone there had a good time and I know that if my Father in Law had been there he would have approved of everything. Many thanks for all the messages of sympathy from bloggers.

Yesterday we were up in Belfast as my wife had a hospital appointment. I thought it might be a good idea to do a bit of shopping so off to Victoria Square we went. House of Fraser was our 1st stop as they had a sale on. I like it when there is discount on everything. I managed to pick up some really nice casual shirts and trousers at a really reasonable price. I picked them out of loads of things as we intend on going on a cruise later this year and I have to look my best. After all, they need to see who I am as well as knowing who I am. Whilst in HoF this female voice called out to me. I looked up and saw this girl / woman who I used to work with some years ago. After introducing my wife and her I had a long chat with her and caught up on things. It was nice to know that she knew who I was. After doing the shopping thing we went and had a burger with our daughter, who just happened to be in the same building with her boyfriend. Eventually got home to 2 very hungry dogs.

Tomorrow I will have a bit of a lie in and maybe hang a few more bits of paper. Or maybe I will just sit and watch some DVD?s

Any comments just click on the title above and leave any gack that you have.

Cheers

Putting It In A Nutshell

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

Putting things in a nutshell. This week has been quite adventurous for me. I have been out every day and I have even gone out with my wife and had lunch on more than one occasion. I took myself, and an Aunt of my wife?s, to the pictures to see the opening showing of Alice In Wonderland. We went ot the afternoon showing to avoid the kids but guess what? There were kids there anyway making there usual noises and running about the auditorium. Bring back the Torchie is what I say. The film itself I thought was brilliant. I really enjoyed the storyline and the dialogue was great. The FX were really good. Now don?t get me wrong here but I am not a professional fim critic, I am just an ordinary bloke at the flicks. But do go and see this classic, I don?t think you will be disappointed . Honest!

Other things happening in my life this week. We, my wife and I that is, went out yesterday to look at wallpaper. It has got to the stage in our houses life where it needs a total makeover, so starting with the hall, stairs and landing we have picked out a nice paper that we didn?t argue about. We both liked it at the same time. We took a sample home with us and pinned it on the wall to see just what it would look like. Really nice, really bold, really making a statement. Even our daughter likes it. So, today we are going out to buy said paper and any other bits and pieces that we need. This means only one thing folks, my rest and recuperation period is over (although I do have visitors arriving on Thursday so that will give me a bit of grace) There is another reason for buying the paper today of course. It?s on offer. It is reduced from ?9.99 a roll to ?7.99 a roll with another 15% off on top of that and we also get a 1000 Nectar points as well. I like shopping when it?s in my favour. The only down point is we have to go up to Belfast to get it as we need so much of the stuff and our local store doesn?t have the stock required. Never mind, another day out for me.

While I was out yesterday with my wife and Mother in Law I went into the mobile phone shop to inquire about why my monthly bill was so high. The guy was very good and he looked everything up on the computer for me. Doh! Dumkopfh! And other names to call myself. The reason my bills were so high is because I am making so many calls abroad. No I?m not says I. Yes you are says he. Where says I. To the Republic of Ireland says he. I have never in my life considered The Republic as being abroad. A different country but never abroad. Spain and America and Australia are abroad. But Ireland. I live in Ireland, how can it be abroad? Lesson learnt. Any calls to the Republic will be made on my landline as I have a special weekend rate that only charges local rates. The good nrews there is I can upgrade my phone in May to an iPhone if I want. I will give this much thought. My daughter has one so I will consult with her the pros and cons of having one.

On Friday night I was able to use a knife for the first time since coming out of hospital (they left me with nerve damage you might remember on my right side) It felt great being able to eat my dinner without having to ask someone to cut it up for me. Great innit!

On a bit of a downer. My Father in Law is still hanging in there. He is a strong man and for the moment he is still mentally aware of everything. It?s a waiting game and everyone is just hoping that when the time comes he won?t suffer.

As per usual any comments just click on the title above. New people always welcome

TaRah

The Way I Remember It

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

The way I remember it was that I had just got home from hospital on the Thursday and was relaxing by the fire. Come Friday I thought I would inspect the toilet system by sticking my head down the toilet. As I was doing this all my previous meals appeared out of nowhere and went into the toilet. As this took an awful lot out of me I went and lay down on the bed for a while. BIG mistake. No sooner had I got comfortable did I feel the urge to purge all over again. I made it to the toilet just in time. (funny thing is, I don?t remember eating that) This toing and froing went on for a number of hours. At 2.45AM Saturday my wife is getting really worried (bless her) and calls for an ambulance. Then????.

The ambulance arrives and it is decided that I should go with them. Why I don?t know. I don?t even know their names or where they live. Anyway, I am helped down the stairs , in my jammies and slippers and dressing gown, and put into the ambulance. It is after 3.00AM by this time. We arrive at the Ulster Hospital shortly afterwards and I think, for the first time ever in my life, the A&E is virtually empty. Maybe this was my imagination. After all, whoever heard of an empty A&E? Put straight into Resuss ward and there for sure I was the only patient (apart for the old dear in the bed next to me. I start to look around me and I notice my name on the admissions board. I am #1 admission. They must know who I am. Then the fun really begins.

If my memory is anyway correct, I can?t be too certain as I kept blacking out, I saw all these very young children in white coats and blue and green scrubs. Why is everyone so young? Like, have they no homes to go to? Then it dawns on me, these people are the doctors. They are sticking these things into me and I am telling them not to. Or maybe I?m telling them to politely go away. Not sure about that , I will need to check that one out with my wife who by this time is beside me holding a part of my body which feels like my hand. Next thing I am upstairs on the ward. More fun. I think my wife loses it with one of the kids in scrubs because she can?t get the needle in properly. She politely asks the doctor to get someone who can do the job if she can?t. I think I blacked out at this moment(again) Next thing this nice doctor appears and takes control of everything. I can?t remember his name but he reminded me of Dr Kildare. So there we all are up in the ward. Nurses, doctors, Wife and Dr Kildare. After a number of hours have gone by it is decided to move me to the Belfast City Hospital as the Ulster didn?t have the necessary something that was required for me. More fun

Another ambulance ride, with escort, and I arrive at the BCH. The staff are all there awaiting my arrival and as soon as I am on the ward in a private room (note the private, they really know who I am) and they get to work. This is the horrible bit. They need to get lines in so that they can pump stuff into me. I have very poor veins at this stage and they have great difficulty in getting these feckers in. Eventually they are successful and that was that, or so I thought. They need to put a catheter in as well. This is probably the most undignified thing that ever a man could have done to him. By this time I am not really bothered as I am more out of it than in. So, there?s me lying on my hospital bed looking something like Doctor Octopus after doing battle with Spiderman and then I am told I am going to theatre for another procedure. Do I give up now folks or fight on? Neither. I seem to remember looking at everyone and just smiling. Why I don?t know. I have a feeling the drugs were probably responsible.

On the Sunday I had a visit from my family and the Curate from our church. On the Monday I had a visit from my family and the Rector from our church. On the Tuesday I had a visit from my family. On the Tuesday night I got a BIG TIME shock when I got a visit from The Bishop. Now the strange thing about this is, apart from it being such an honour, he had to phone the Rector (who works for the Bishop) and ask for permission to visit me. Now I am not a religious type, but I will support the Church on the Social side of things, but this was very weird indeed. I had a prayer said for me at my bedside by three tiers of the Church and also in the Church itself. Do you think they know who I am or something? The Bishop left me a personal gift of his own. He put it in my hand as I lay there in my bed and he said a prayer for me. He left me holding this thing. It felt really nice holding it and no matter what way I held it there didn?t seem to be any difference . I looked at it and saw that it was an offset cross made from wood. He called it a holding cross. As I have said before I am not a religious type but this object just felt right at the time.

I am now home after more treatment and hospital food. Hopefully that?s me and hospitals finished for the foreseeable future.

Any comments from any of you just click on the title above. New peeps always insulted very gently at first

All the best for now

Not One, Not Two, But Three

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

Guess where I?ve been for the last few days? Hospital of course. Only this time it was planned. I went out on Monday morning for my daily walk and shortly after setting off from the house my mobile rang. Upon answering it I was asked could I come into hospital on Wednesday morning as there was a slot for me for my procedure to be done. Procedure, procedure, what procedure? I asked. Oh Mr McD your cardiologist has decided to go ahead with the procedure that he discussed with you blah blah way back when. As I had nothing booked for that day I agreed. I had to be on the ward by 7.30AM, that meant me getting up at 5.30AM so that I could get the train up to the hospital.

Once in everything seemed to just go whizzing by. All time went so quickly it was hardly worth bringing my book in with me. I had no time to read it. I was taken down at 11.30AM (after being prepared in a theatre gown etc) and popped onto the operating table. Local anaesthetic etc and TV screens so that I could watch (no thanks matey, I get a wee bit squeamish at things like that) At the end of it all (2 hours instead of 1 hour) The doctors were all happy with what they had achieved. They explained to me what they had done and as per usual it went in one ear and out the other (no doubt due to the anaesthetic) Anyway, upon asking again up on the ward what they did I found out that I had not one, not two, but three stents put into my heart. So far so good, except that my right hand and forearm are killing me. That?s where they put the stents in from. Not only that but my other arm is rather sore as well due to the fact that they had to try 13 times to get a line in. As I?ve got older my veins have collapsed and they are not as good as what they used to be.

So there you are Avid, you now know the reason as to why I haven?t been around. Of course, prior to all of this I had my Brother in Law home from Seattle to see his Dad before it?s too late. (see previous blogs) It was good to see him as I haven?t seen him since 2003. I have been given a couple of weeks off doing housework and exercises so that gives me more time to watch my CSI DVD?s all over agin. Series 1 Part 1 here I come. Then after that it?s onto CSI Miami Series 1 Part 1

Keep all your comments coming. You know I really enjoy reading them

Byse Byse