Children in need 2009. BBC Newsreaders & Diversity

This is more my mum's sort of music really!!!!! but it is jolly good fun to watch. I stayed tuned in until about 1.00am. Give something if you can, it all helps.

Please Sir

I have always enjoyed this film - and the series. Good fun!

Jigsaws and puzzles

I expect most of you out there are good at jigsaw puzzles. Apart from the simple ones I did as a young child, I've always found them difficult.

Tried a number of times over the years but just gave up! a lot of brain surgery and having to take thirteen pills a day means that sometimes it's hard to concentrate.

A couple of days ago though I bought this puzzle at out local Hobbycraft store - and not only completed it, but enjoyed it too.

Use it or lose it they say and I've always tried to keep the brain cells functioning. Apart from my other hobbies I do word searches and simple sudoku and watch general knowledge quizzes and political programmes. That way I try to improve my general knowledge.

This are all simple pleasures but worthwhile in my opinion. When your life has limitations you need get on with it in the best way as you can.

Guru Nanak

I enjoyed this procession today. It was a celebration of Guru Nanak. they were banging a lot of drums and some of them were sweeping in front of the procession - i think it was symbolic.

We saw it last year but didn't like to take photos. This time I saw others were, so I did too. Some of the older men smiled and waved at us and they brought us over some fruit.

They had a lot of police with them, but I don't think they were in danger from anyone so I expect it was just procedure.

Having a moan

This isn't really a moan as I'm glad to still be alive - but sometimes life is quite hard. I'm a cheerful bloke but even I find things hard going at times.

Over about the last seven years ( apart from 2 major surgeries for more brain tumours)I've had several dozen skin cancers on my face and head treated They have been cut out, burnt, frozen and even treated witha special cream which explodes the cancer cells. The cream is particularly nasty and never works anyway.

The skin cancers were caused through radiotherapy given to me 32 years ago. At that time the dose wasn't controlled and the few of us that have survived this long are paying the price.

At my last skin clinic appointment I was told they had a new form of light treatment, not laser, and I had another 5 to treat. Some were to be cut out and some done with light.

When I went this morning they cut out SEVEN! and I still have more to be done with light.

I've had so many injections my face and neck are numb and I have plasters all over me! I went to bed after after I came home and had lunch but I feel a bit better now though

What with brain tumours and kidney disease too, I wonder what it must be like to be ABLE BODIED AND HEALTHY? I'll never know that, so if you are then look after yourself and don't take anything for granted.

Glad I've got it off my chest. now I'm smiling again.

Our local woods

The map above is produced by our local council, who I hope don't mind me using it
I took these photos a couple of days ago. The top photo shows the road which runs between our woods and leads down to where we live. If you look carefully a baby squirrel is rushing across the road

Martin Kemp & my Neurosurgeon, Mr Sabin

Potato man?

I found this potato on the ground today. it must have been left behind when all the others were harvested weeks ago. It has been there so long it has started to sprout again.

If you look closely it looks like it has sprouted arms and legs and is about to run off into the bushes for safety - you have to use your imagination.

Autumn colours have started to show in our garden

This is a bit of our garden. I think autumn is definitely here, the leaves are changing colour quicker now the nights are colder

Boats at Whitstable

We went here last week. It was such a grey cold day that few people were about, but it was rather nice to be almost alone on the beach front.

Me and Tris at the bus stop

My mate Tristan came round this afternoon and Dad took a photo of us beside the bus stop I've just bought.

Tris and I have been friends for about 30 years now, which is a long time.

There is more to me than you imagine

Broadstairs Folk Festival

This rather embarrassing photo above was taken in 2005. I hadn't been feeling very well and some months later I needed more brain surgery.




I filmed this in 2007 - it was a great day. I often play this video clip if I feel a bit down as it always makes me cheerful again





The second video I recorded in 2008

Atomic me

I got this stool for my birthday at the weekend.

Saturday

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

At TheTheatre

I went to the theatre about six weeks ago - this was the show. It was very enjoyable, apart from the fact it was a very hot day and there was no air conditioning!

I seemed to be the youngest member of the audience, but it was good to sing along with the songs and join in with the jokes.

Enjoy each day

I saw my neuro surgeon today to get the results of my brain scan and the results were not good.

But I am still going to live my life to the full as best as I can, which is why I want to shout out loud to you all - ENJOY EACH DAY

Summer!

Christmas tree graveyard

Christmas is definitely over - the tree graveyard is filling up!

2009

It is now 2009 and the start of a new year. I hope that even with the problems of the credit crunch we can still help people who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Boris Johnson, who is our London mayor has given a very good message to us Londoners and the world.

Good on you Boris!

http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/videos/nearyearmessage2008.jsp


Before becoming our latest Mayor, Boris was on a lot of television programmes He has a great sense of humour and is able to laugh at himself.