Matthew

I'm writing this for Matthew (mum) - he has had a stroke caused by a blocked, collapsed carotid artery. The collapse of the artery is thought to have been caused by the radiotherapy all those years ago (which also caused 2 meningiomas and dozens of skin cancers on his face and head).

He is in the Royal London Hospital where his care is minimal and what little care he does get is atrocious. He has had several falls through receiving no help when we haven't been with him.

After note

Matthew was attacked in the night two weeks later by the patient in the next bed who had a nurse 'minder' Beside him. Unfortunately at night it was a young slightly built woman who couldn't stop him. Matthew was very upset and rang us to come and get him. The tunnel was closed overnight though, so we couldn't get there until early next morning.

The nurse in charge said Matthew was a bit upset!!! No apologies...

The Moon?

I have just taken this picture as it looks so much like the moon, but is really a very large bubble which is forming at the the bottom of my lava lamp.

1940's fayre

A few weeks ago I was at a 1940's themed fayre held locally. It was jolly good fun and everyone really joined in the spirit of the event. I had a lovely day.

Terrapins in with fish

We went to Hall Place on Friday and although we go there regularly I was surprised to discover that there are now Terrapins in with the fish in the heated greenhouse! I thought Terrapins ate fish and meat!

There is nothing like Ice cream!

Light and dark

I took these photos in the conservatory.

The butterflies are here!

This isn't the first butterfly we have seen in our garden this year, but The Peacock is always so nice to see. It is warm and sunny today which obviously encouraged it out.

Fleetwood Mac - Monday morning

This is one of my favourite songs and it always reminds me of summer.

Youtube had lots of videos of their 2009 tour but unless you like flashy lights and shaky recording (not saying I could do better!) then it's easier to listen to the one with the best sound.

Pathe News excerpts from youtube for Herne Bay and Reculver

The embedding has been disabled but if you click the links you should get to see them. An interesting look at how the places used to be.

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Foxes and Chickens

Yesterday afternoon dad let the chickens out and stood with them as usual, then from nowhere came a fox, grabbed one and made off with it!

When you keep chickens you start to hate foxes. Over the years, despite all our care, they have even broken in and taken hens and chicks.

They kill plants in the garden and foul everywhere - which stinks!

Stupid neighbours think they are lovely - mange and all - and STILL feed and encourage them. I am against foxhunting but I think foxes are vermin. We have more in the towns than the country now I think.

Freezing cold in Greenwich Park

I think this squirrel was as cold as I was! he was certainly more friendly than the evil one who visits our garden.

Shopping can be tiring!

After a hard afternoon's shopping at Bluewater dad and I had to sit down and have something to eat and drink - before starting again!

Herne Bay Clocktower in the snow

Snow

I took these photos this afternoon. The ones on the left of the photos are of the River Thames near us and on the right our local woods.

There were hundreds of birds on the shoreline of the Thames. The collage does enlarge quite big if you click on it.

Happy 2010 everyone!

Twice before Christmas we had heavy snow, but it has melted again. It is still very cold though and every day the bird baths freeze over. As well as the birds drinking from them they have even been having baths when it has been icy cold

We are putting loads of food out for the birds and yesterday I bought a tub of 55 fat balls.

These are some of the birds which are feeding here - Crows, Starlings, Sparrows, Hedge sparrows, Robins, a Wren, Blue tits, Great tits, Long tailed tits, Blackbirds, Redwings, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Wood pigeons, Collared Doves and yesterday 2 fat Parakeets were trying to hang onto the same fatball. One kept pecking the other ones tail to try and make it go elsewhere.

The squirrel takes a lot of food, but most things we put out are in special containers now. The squirrel is a nuisance but I do enjoy seeing him! - won't tell dad that though!!!!!

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.

Snowmen

I took these photos of snowmen a few years ago. They are a lot better than any of mine turn out!

Christmas

I really enjoy Christmas! Hope you have all put your decorations up?

I hope today we can say goodbye to Ken

Ken Livingstone may have done some beneficial things for London, but he has also changed the community in which we live.

I have lived in a mixed race community all my life and we all live well together - but because of Ken's policies I am now becoming the outsider. Cultural differences mean that this is almost inevitable.

Realistically, it has gone too far now to reverse and if it wasn't for my health problems I would move well away from London - how sad is that - because it is a fine City!


LATER - Thank goodness! We now have Boris Johnson - my favourite

Isle of Sheppey Yesterday

Do you want to revisit memories of the 1960's?

If you want to read about the pirate radio stations on the sea forts , then link on here:http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/Home/Home.html