Back In The Land Of Boddie

Well Xmas has gone and I have once more migrated North with the caribou looking for fresh pasture. Xmas was good, saw lots of people I haven't seen for ages and they're all fine and dandy which is nice. The Aged Ps are well and enjoyed their Xmas too. For Xmas lunch I had parsnips, roast potatoes, stuffing, bread sauce and cranberry sauce all mashed together and covered in gravy. It was like nectar of the Gods. Not easy to eat it must be said but it tasted divine. Also had bolognaise sauce whilst in Swansea so the week was a succession of "firsts". Had DVDs and CDs for Xmas along with National Trust membership and a bottle of Jack Daniels. Hurrah.

Off to the gym at 0900 tomorrow morning with DD so we'll see who faints first (I suspect it will be me!). Then to the casino on NYE. I'm fairly sure I'll have to go and find something new to wear in the sales. I'll report back once a purchase has been made. J x

Can One Tattoo Over A Scar?

Just a thought... J x

Its That Time Of Year

Christmas Competition

Ok this is for charity so pay attention. For every person who responds to this posting I will put £1 in a jam jar. Your response should include your favourite christmas(ish) quote and the details of your favourite charity. Come the New Year I'll read through all the quotes and decide which is my favourite (I'll also give my reasons and feedback for the unsuccessful quotes where required). All the money in the jam jar (once the jam has been hosed off- ho ho ho) will be donated to the winner's charity. Clear? Then get posting. For all you posting virgins out there who just read the blog and never comment this is your excuse to sign up and get blogging. Merry Christmas everybody. J x

Scarred For Life

Went to the scar clinic today. What a depressing place Wythenshawe hospital is. And the staff, don't get me started. However, the doctors were nice and, apparently, I saw two of the top plastic surgeons in the country. Unfortunately there isn't a great deal they can do for my scars. They do think, however, that they will get better and less obvious over time. So I had some photos done and they're going to leave me for 6 months during which I have to wear a tube bandage on my arm. This applies pressure to the scar which apparently makes it disappear. No but seriously, it does flatten the scar and cause the red colour to diminish. If there is not much change after 6 months they'll see what can be done with my arm although there would be disadvantages to having further surgery i.e. further scarring! So its a question of wait and see on the scars. Not done much else today. Had a lovely long sleep last night though. And don't forget, its only a couple more days before the year turns and the evenings and mornings start getting lighter again. That's me for you. Always looking on the bright side... J x

Party On Dude

So went to the party. Which was in Whalley Range (honestly, I didn't know such places existed). But in a nice part of Whalley Range. House was huge (three sitting rooms!). Packed to the rafters with gay men, most of whom I'd never met before. Sounds like heaven? And it would have been at one time except I found myself strangely self concious. Gay people are just so damn judgemental (and I include myself in this). At one point everyone gathered round the piano and sang carols. Only I couldn't join in because I had no idea what my singing voice would sound like. Do you realise I haven't sung along to anything (not even in the shower when I tend to be thinking about work - remember that Bob?) since the operation. Rest assured I have been singing today and it sounds OK - or at least as OK as it ever did. Gordon & Lizzie were there (as was Jim) and it was great to see them all again so I enjoyed myself actually. I was just surprised by my own reactions to a large crowd. Didn't get home until well after midnight. Dirty stop out!

Went to the gym this morning and did a workout which was cool. Now have my own programme to follow which I'm supposed to do 3 times a week but I don't suppose I'll fully get into it until after Xmas now.

Called round to DDs after the gym and then took her Christmas booze shopping (she filled 5 carrier bags) and then went back to bed this afternoon. Watched Hogfather (disappointing) and Lost (cliffhanger as per but we don't get to see any new episodes until February - bastards). Anyway, happy holidays everyone. J x

Hours & Hours

Did 5 and three quarter hours on Friday. My longets day since the op. Let me tell you about that day...

Wake up in morning take painkillers and nutrition. Walk through rain to work. Work. Walk through rain to go home at lunchtime. Painkillers and nutrition. Fall asleep on sofa for half an hour. Walk through rain back to work. Work. Walk through rain back home. Painkillers and nutrition. Walk through rain to gym. Do gym induction. Wlak through rain back home. Exhausted. And wet.

Off to a party tonight with Jim and Gordon & Lizzy. No idea who is throwing the party but they're obviously people after my own heart since they have a theme. Everyone has to take a Christmas decoration that is somehow related to Alice in Wonderland. What a good idea...

Back to gym Sunday morning to find out what sort of training programme they have worked out for me... J x

Casino Royale

The casino is to die for darlings. We'll be spending our NYE there for sure.

Met up with Jacky (newcastlewench) on Tuesday evening. Went to The Living Room for a drink and a catch up. She'd bought me a whistle thing with a plunger that makes noises like the clangers for Xmas. Just what I always wanted... Now where is that pesky soup dragon?

Then off to a director's meeting for the building. Walking through Manchester city centre at 1800 with all the hustle and bustle of people shopping and leaving work and going out for drinks took me right back to the good old days of leaving work at that time. I got quite nostalgic. Anyway, I'll soon be back there as did my first 6 hour day today (3 hours in the morning followed by a 2 hour lunch - snoozed for half an hour - and then 3 hours in the afternoon). I think it will work out OK.

Have had to postpone my gym induction until Friday as its the social club Xmas do tomorrow and I can't miss that (even though the buffet will be beyond my reach - oh for the days when I was first in the queue...). J x

Joined The Gym

Which means Denise gets £20 or something. Anyway, we're treating it as an excuse to go to Manchester's newest casino for cocktails on Wednesday.

So Long, Farewell, Auf veidersein (sp?) Goodbye

The Aged Ps have departed the banks of the Medlock and set sail for sunny Wales. It'll only be 12 days before I see them again so the farewells were not too tearful. We spent yesterday morning at The Lowry (theatre not hotel). The current exhibitions are good (if you like Lowry the painter, which I don't) and excellent if you like football (which I do a bit but I thought the 2 exhibitions - photographs from the World Cup and general "art" on the subject of football for some competition or other were out of this world and well worth a visit). Then a quick mince round the mall before hopping on a tram and back to the executive suite at the Hilton. Honestly you needed to prise them out of there with a crowbar and, indeed, most of yesterday afternoon was spent there. Considering the weather yesterday though this was no bad thing. They went off to Choice for their evening meal last night but were disappointed by the "small and ordinary" menu. I stayed home and watched Lost. Not the most exciting episode ever (is anyone remotely interested in Africa?) but it sets Jack up for an exciting op in the future. Do we believe that woman who looks like his ex-wife? Hmmm....

Hoping to join the gym this afternoon and then its back to work tomorrow. J x

P.P.P.S

Seeing newcastlewench on Tuesday (she's packed her gun and headed off for manchesterford on the slow train) so if anyone wants me to give her a hug or anything then just let me know (although I'll be giving her a hug anyway whether you want me to or not). J x

Shopped & Dropped

Harvey Nicks and Selfridges (natch). Boots on account of my father managing to lose his glasses last night despite having them firmly tied round his neck. And then the Christmas market which (and I've no idea how it happened) completely underwhelmed my parents. I think its all that high living (and high drinking) in the executive lounge. It's gone to their heads.

So they've all buggered off to Albert's Shed leaving me to fend for myself (lentil curry puree followed by black cherry yoghurt followed by ibuprofen) and so it's an early night for me.

Off to The Lowry tomorrow (the theatre not the an hotel) and I'll let y'all know how it goes. Nighty nighty. J x

Updating...

Thursday night: to Dimitris (where else?) to celebrate la DD's birthday. She was there, resplendant as ever along with her posse (does she ever travel without them?). Including a new model type. Very pretty. Although I notice we only got his box in the newspaper... (answers on a postcard to Keith Chegwin...)

Friday and the physiotherapy reassessment went very well (although exhausting). I'd improved in all categories (did you doubt it even for a minute?) and even broke a few records. Must have been helped by the very attractive young intern from Stoke who was just along to help out!

Friday also and the Aged P's et leurs amis sont arrivent. Their rooms (or should I give them their proper titles, their executive suites) are tres belles (they were on offer though). Since they are staying in executive suites they have access to the executive lounge which is on the 23rd floor next to the bar. Except you don't have to queue. Nor do you have to suffer the hoi polloi. And pre dinner drinks from 5 till 8 are free. Yes, you read it here first. Free alcohol. Needless to say the Aged Ps are in seventh heaven and vowing never to stay with me again. Took them on a walking tour of Manchester's Xmas lights (v impressed natch) and then dropped them off at Livebait for their dinner. Everyone had had an exhausting day so I didn't come back into town to meet them after dinner (mine was pureed bombay potatoes - yum, followed by vanilla youghurt and a paracetomol). Watched unanimous (what a bunch of bastards they all are) and then went to bed. Having taken my ibuprofen at 2130 last night I slept until 0730 this morning. 10 hours without painkillers. That's the longest I've been for about a year which was very encouraging.

Shopping today but I'll update you on that tomorrow... J x

Here I Am

Had a quiet (on the whole) weekend with John. We did some Xmas shopping - I bought myself an Armani jacket and he bought me a book (Wintersmith since you ask). He also bought himself some pants. D & G though darling...

Went to see the new Bond which is terrific. Really enjoyed it and I'm not at all a Bond fan normally. Also watched some DVDs - Pirates of the Carribean (II being better than I in my opinion), Sin City (fantastic photography if a little gory) and something else that I've forgotten about already. No late night partying at all I'm afraid.

Saw DD tonight in the Fat Cat. She's fine and dandy and looking forward to being ** years old on Thursday. Spoke to Mrs T (like the new "Mine's a wine" name though) and she's fine and dandy too as is the redoubtable Mr T. Apparently he's about to buy a kilt.

Aged P's arrive on Friday with their friends from Swansea. They're all staying in the Hilton (on upper floors apparently) and I can't wait to see what the rooms are like. They've already booked restaurants for the 3 nights they're here so I'll only be seeing them during daylight hours.... J x

See, Not Very Exciting

Yesterday. Went to work, came home, fell asleep on sofa, watched "...Celebrity..." went to bed. How exciting is that? Which is why I no longer post every day.

Off to a conference though this morning (oooh, very exciting) all about Risk. And now you've all fallen asleep again...

John arrives this afternoon for the weekend. It'll be good to see him again. Not decided what we're going to do yet (well, not all the time anyway). Might go and see the new Bond film. Might do some Xmas shopping. Might get drunk (although this latter is likely to take a long time at the rate of one bottle of beer per hour).

Have decided to send Young Sean a hamper from Harvey Nicks for Xmas to thank him for keeping me alive this year. J x