Film

Had a good night's sleep on Thursday night and felt better Friday morning but though that discretion was the better part of valour so didn't attempt work. Lounged around all day Friday (apart from a walk to the doctor's) and my temperature came right down to normal. Went to the cinema with Jim Saturday night - The Last King of Scotland. A film about Idi Amin. Have since looked him up on Wikipedia and a lot of the film it turns out is fictional. However the film is probably truthful when it deals with the brutality of the regime and the sheer scariness of Amin himself. Quite bloodthirsty in places. Then for a drink on Canal Street. Went to chemists this morning to pick up the prescription I'd left on Friday (they don't stock the quantities of drugs I need!) but it was closed. Will have to go tomorrow. Had 3 ginger nuts dunked in coffee this morning. Progress of sorts... J x

Cough Cough

Went to the gym last night but had to leave early as I felt unwell - dizzy and a bit groggy. Developed a temperature last night too (38.5). Denise called round after the gym (despite having hampers of ironing to do) to look after me. Dosed myself up on paracetomol and brufen though and managed to have a good night's sleep. Feel much better this morning but don't want to risk anything so will stay at home today (although will need to pop to the chemist and the doctor as I need a prescription filled). Hopefully will feel even better tomorrow as am supposed to be going to the cinema with Jim. Haven't decided what we're going to see yet. Will keep you updated on health position. J x

Catch Up

So where was I? Oh yes, went to London on Saturday to stay with my lovely friend Sarah. We met up with our lovely friend Donna and went shopping in all the posh shops on new Bond Street - Fahri, Burberry, Vuitton, Dolce, Armani (Collezioni obviously not Emporio) etc. Saw a lovely pair of Vuitton trainers but they didn't have my size unfortunately. Will either need to source them in Manchester or pay a visit next time I'm in London. Resolved to go and see Patrick Stewart in The Tempest in Stratford on Avon (which reminds me, I'm supposed to be sorting that out). In the evening went to see Avenue Q (a musical featuring muppets) which was a lot better than it sounds. Ever seen muppets having sex? Its not a pretty sight...

Sunday off to Brighton to stay with John and Conor. Didn't do a lot while I was there just sort of hung out and chilled (easy since it was very chilly) which was nice. Back to Manchester on Tuesday and then to see the speech therapist Wednesday morning. Didn't feel as upbeat as I normally do when I've seen Frances in the past but then I think I'm coming to the limits of what I am likely to be able to eat in the future i.e. I don't think I will ever fully recover my swallowing abilities. Which is a shame but at least I'm alive (which is the upside). Anyway will see what the dentist says (I've an appointment soon) and also Sean since the Aged Ps are demanding that I get a second opinion.

Thursday morning was spent in Stockport. Honestly you wouldn't believe the size of their desks. They're huge. Got back to Manchester about 10 minutes ago so I'm going to have some lunch now and its not really worth going back into work now so I'll just chill until Denise drags me to the gym tonight. J x

Gosh Its Windy

Came home for lunch and have decided not to go back. Nearly got blown off my feet walking home (I don't seem to have as much gravity as I once did). Plus with bits blowing off the office block opposite my building it could be a dangerous area to be in. So I'm home, doing paperwork and paying bills. J x

Full Time Is Exhausting

Was on a training course in Stockport today. This meant leaving the house at 0800 and not returning until 1700 plus I only got a half hour for lunch. I'm knackered so will not be going to beginners yoga tonight (in any case its Ashtanga which I believe is quite a vigorous yoga so perhaps not quite the sort I'm looking for -I want one that improves flexibility). The good thing about the trip to Stockport however was that it showed me that I can get through the day without a syringe by my side - drinking all painkillers and nutritional supplements. Perhaps I won't need to come home from work every lunchtime from now on which could mean that I'll be back on full time sooner than I thought (work won't be as intense as this training course - it was a 2 day course delivered in one day: Mrs T should be expecting a telephone call from me any day now since I understood very little of the course and she did it when you had 2 days!).

Anyway, got to get on booking Porgy & bess for the Aged Ps. TTFN. J x

How Long Have You Got?

Its been a while since I've updated this so I'd make a nice cup of tea and maybe treat myself to a biscuit if I were you while you settle down to read this entry. If you're reading this in work on a Monday morning I'd make sure the calendar was free until lunchtime... So pin back your lugholes, here we go.

Fig came up to stay last weekend. He arrived Friday lunchtime and Friday night we went to Leicester to see The Wizard of Oz. Who knew Leicester was so far away? We'd allowed ourselves pleanty of time to get there but since we ran out of petrol and had to stop to fill up and then got lost in Leicester city centre we only made it to the theatre with 5 minutes to spare - not even time to pre-order interval drinks! The show was very good though and Ceri (as the wicked witch of the west) was very good. Not green at all and very glamourous. Still managed to get booed by everyone though. So no change there from his normal shows... the rest of the cast were superb and, we thought, that the production was very good (but see later under Leeds). Had a few problems getting home as well since both Manchester slip roads off the M6 were closed for who knows what reason and we had to eventually go via the M62. Got home absolutley knackered about 0100.

On Saturday we went shopping in the morning. Quite successfully since Fig bought a pair of jeans, some shoes and a watch and I bought a pair of Prada trainers. Saturday afternoon we went to The Lowry to see Acorn Antiques which was just about the funniest thing I've seen on stage in a long time. The cast were excellent and the really good thing was that they'd changed the show quite radically from its West End debut (where Fig had already seen it, without inviting me but that's another story and I'm not bitter at all) so it was like seeing a new show for Fig too. Later on Saturday night we met up with Jim and went drinking in the Village ending up in everyone's favourite tranny bar, Napoleon's. Got home, no idea what time but quite late.

Sunday saw us meeting up with Jim again and trooping off to The Opera House to see Snow White. A more traditional pantomime. The sets and costumes were fantastic although some of the cast left a bit to be desired. The dwarves were wonderful though. Then it was back home for a late lunch and out again to the Village ending up in everyone's favourite tranny bar, Napoleon's.

Fig went home Monday and then it was back to work for me Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday averaging around 6 and a half hours a day. Also went to the gym on Tuesday and Wednesday nights with Denise. Which made me feel very virtuous.

This Friday I met up with Jim, Patrick, Paul, David, Gordon & Lizzie after they'd had a meal in Villagio for Jim's birthday and we all went out drinking in the Village ending up in everyone's favourite tranny bar, Napoleon's. Didn't get home until 0230.

Then was up dead early to catch a train to Leeds to meet Sarah. We went for a coffee and a natter and then did the sales - Westwood (you were right Gordon, its not as big as Manchester) etc ending up in Harvey Nichols (natch) where I bought a Prada belt and jacket. Back to Sarah's for lunch which is when I discovered that I'd forgotten to bring a syringe with me so had to drink my Ensure Pluses which I hadn't been able to manage before because they're quite thick (its all those vitamins and nutrients) and tends to just clag (is that a word?) round my mouth. Luckily though I've now discovered that I can drink them with not too much trouble. This allied with the fact that I can drink soluble painkillers means, in theory, that I can now get rid of the tube in my stomach. Hurrah. I won't be doing it anytime soon though as its like a comfort blanket for me at the moment. After watching some rugby with Huw (Sarah's partner) which is interesting mainly because the players wear shorter shorts than footballers we went to The West Yorkshire Playhouse (via some cocktails in a nearby hostelery) to see the Wixard of Oz. This production knocked Leicester into a cocked hat (sorry Fig). It was superb as were the cast (apart, perhaps, from the cowardly lion who was perhaps not as strong as Leicester's). Caught the tarin back to Manchester afterwards and got home about midnight.

Then had Sue & Kev round this morning for a coffee. They're both well and looking mighty fine (Mrs T is losing weight) and enjoying themselves in the barren wastelands of the North East. It doesn't look as though I'll be persuading them to move back to Manchester anytime soon. They've already started looking at properties and have seen a couple that they like and are within their price range. Boo hoo. They send their regards to everyone they know.

Have just spoken to DD and we're off to the gym this afternoon. This evening I shall be collapsing on the sofa and not answering the phone. And that's your lot. Phew. What a busy time I've been having. Hope its not so long next time between posts. TTFN. J x

Christies visit

Saw Young Sean this morning. Also saw the lovely lovely Debbie (albeit briefly). News from the antipodes is that Caroline has arrived safely but has yet to build her house. No-one seemed to know whether or not she was watching the cricket. YS said that everything was fine and nothing to worry about. He thanked me for the Xmas hamper and said that no other patient had sent him a gift like this in the past. What is wrong with these people? YS and his team save lives. Perhaps I should have done a present to the team? I'm sure he shared it with them anyway... Also saw Mr (Dr?) Ho and his indecently tight trousers. Ho by name...

Missed the start of CBB last night (gasp) but this was because I was engrossed in Series 3 of Six Feet Under (I had the DVD for Xmas). Have had to quickly visit Amazon and order Series 4 and 5 now as its so good. Will catch up on CBB tonight. Apparently H from Steps has come out. I was so surprised I nearly turned straight...! J x

Happy New 2007

The casino was fun. Lost £60 (but since this was less than I'd won on the lottery - £68 - it wasn't too bad). The place was quite busy with lots of people who looked like they might be clients of HMRC and yet would sit across a desk from you and tell you that they never smoked or drank or went out much less gambled... the amounts of money being gambled were obscene. I apparently sat next to Tyrone from Coronation Street whilst playing blackjack but had no idea who he was. Got home about 0130 which wasn't too bad. Had a text from DD saying she was home at 0400....!

Might go out for a drink on Canal Street tonight. Don't know yet. And then its down to some serious cleaning for the arrival of Madame La Fig.

Just heard from DD. She's just got up (I know!) and is now off to the match (Everton apparently). Will meet her later for a drink as well. J x