Oh What a Perfect Night

Forced into the bars (kicking and screaming) by DD. So had 2 VMs at Panacea followed by a third at the Hilton. I'd forgotten quite how stunning the views are from the 23rd floor, particularly at night. Still at least we've more or less decided where we're going to spend NYE. Havig considered San Fransisco, Florence and Marrakech we've settled on Panacea. As the barman told us tonight, at least you're known here and assured of a warm welcome. Whether we eat there or not has yet to be decided. We may also do the Hilton on the same night just for the sheer glamour of it all. Plus we'll be saving huge sums of money over what we would have spent on San Fran. That's all. J x

13 hours

Caught the train at 0615 this morning and got home at 1930. Its inhuman do you hear me? Inhuman. That's all. J x

Secondment Hell

Catching the 0617 from Manchester to Bristol tomorrow morning and not getting back to Manchester until 1920. Greater career aspirations hath no man that he lay down his sleep for his job... Actually, thinking about it, tomorrow has got nothing to do with the secondment, its just part of my normal job. Am I working for heartless taskmasters you're clearly asking yourselves at ths point. Go and ask Jane Murray is my reply... That's all. J x

Technology

I think I have now installed a visitor counter. So even though no-one appears to be leaving posts anymore (but I have heard from one person that there may be problems around this - let me know on jonathan95@mac.com if you're also having problems) I should still be able to see whether people are visiting me. Obviously of I'm getting half a visitor per week then I need to think about whether I should carry on with the thing... And, honestly, don't ever go and see Aspects of Love. That's all. J x

Just Don't

Ever. However tempted you might be. Just don't go and see Aspects of Love. Even if someone offers to buy you a ticket. Or if they had a friend who has dropped out at the last minute and therefore have a spae ticket. Even if they offer to pay you to go. However much. Even a million pounds. Don't do it because you will regret it for the rest of your life (and possibly the rest of the afterlife too). J x

A Quiet Night In

DD came round to watch the Grand Prix. Poor Lewis. And since she'd started on a bottle of wine she stayed to watch Dead Calm. Which was a good film once upon a time but is looking a little dated now. Back to work tomorrow. Hurrah! That's all. J x

Don't Stop The Train(ing)

Spent the day at LGF re-doing the training ready for me starting my volunteering again. As ever the LGF was warm and welcoming and staffed with lovely lovely people. Sometimes when you go down Canal Street you can feel that the whole gay community is shallow and heartless and interested in nothing more than their next drug fix or shag. But then you go to organisations like LGF and everyone is so nice and welcoming and can hold a conversation... But everyone goes to Canal Street (me included) so they can't all be bad. It just feels that way sometimes. Anyway, it was quite a tiring day (these things can exhaust you emotionally) so I just came home, watched Deep Impact on the telly (it always makes me cry) Chatted to John (he'd had a tiring day too). Also talked to Gill and tried to decide which film we're going to see next week and when (secondments leave you with very little free time - in London on Thursday and travelling First Class at the taxpayer's expense - only because I'm going with 2 other people who are travelling First Class and we have stuff to discuss on the way down, and doubtless on the way back too. I normally go Standard Class because I'm conscious of the expense and I don't see why I should have privileges - my salary apart - over other people in HMRC). Also exchanged text messages with Lesley and Jane concernig the sexuality of Dumbledore. Who knew? And now off to bed as have loads of cleaning washing and ironing to do tomorrow. What do we think the liklihood of those happening is? That's all. J x

Busy Day

10 hours in work and then an hour of helpline training this evening. Actually it was a day's helpline training squished into an hour. I'm re-doing the training because its been so long since I last answered the phone on the helpline. I should have started last Saturday but I was at Macbeth so Jim kindly agreed to do this refresher for me. He's so nice. I'll be doing "Day 2" on Saturday. Out drinking tomorrow afternoon with my old boss Bob. It'll be great to see him because I haven't seen him since July and we'll have a lot to catch up on - well I will, he reads the blog apparently so he'll know everything I've done. Sould be nice and relaxig anyway after this bloody secondment which is driving me scatty. Had a "feedback" e-mail today from one of the trainees I've mentored this year. She's emigrating to Australia (I'm guessing its nothing to do with my mentoring) but the e-mail was so nice I barely recognised myself. She said the sweetest things. Anyway I forwarded it to my boss so he can see how good I am too. That's all. J x

Its "Just" Fashion

Had a shitty day. Saw Frances this morning (speech therapist). She's signed me of because there's nothing more she can do for me. At least its one less appointment to keep but it does mean that I'll never chew again... Afternoon was spent in a dreary meeting that decided nothing and which doesn't make any difference in the scheme of things anyway. Pointless. Still, at least there were enough chairs (if no Jane Murray - where were you my dear?). And I got to sit next to the rather delicious Dan.

It all perked up after work when I met DD for a coupe of VMs and then off to HN for the fashion show. Which was really good. Some top fashion and some top totty. But My God. The women in the audience. Quelle horreur. Still I needed some Clinique and got the £30 back that we'd spent on the tickets. Result!

That's all. J x

Pain in the Back

I have a dry disc apparently and ther's nothing that can be done about it. That's the bad news. The good news is that I don't have a great big fat tumour sat on my spine. Neurologist was just what you'd expect really - mid 50s, smartly dressed, male... He was very nice though even though my heart sank when after listening to all my symptoms he uttered the immortal line "I've got just the same thing"! Luckily though we didn't spend the entire consultation talking about him. He showed me my scan results and it was very easy to see the one disc that was dry (and hence painful). He says my back is strong enough for me to go skiing if I want (not that I've ever been skiing before - nearly went once but that's a long long story) but I'm not to go bungee jumping. Phew.

He recommends going to the gym (so just as well I haven't let my membeship lapse even though I hsven't been for ages - Denise's fault) and maybe acupuncture (although that didn't work before) but not osteopathy but I coulod try massage or chiropractic. We'll see. There's a chiropracter who shares my dentist's premises so perhaps I'll try and arrange an initial consultation to see what they offer. And I'm sure massage will be fun!

Then off to book group in Didsbury (Jem & I) - very nice. We talked quite a lot about the book but none of us felt that it was particularly resonant that we were eating in a restaurant mentioned in the book.

Hospital in the morning (Frances, speech therapist - not expecting much) and then fashion show at HN i the evening after cocktails at Panacea with DD. That's all. J x

Magnificent Macbeth

It was stunning. Patrick Stewart was mesmerising and the staging was just to my taste - the weird sisters were, in fact, nursing sisters. Those of you familiar with my views on nurses will know how appropriate this seemed to me. Lady Macbeth was adequate without being instantly a classic (in my humble view). You have to work quite hard I think to do something new with the character after all this time. The witches actually were really sisnister and well done. There's also a really clever bit concerning Banquo's arrival at the feast (as a ghost for those of you unfamiliar with the text). This happens just prior to the end of act one with Banquo turning up covered in blood. The exact same scene is played at the start of act two but this time only Macbeth can see the ghost. It gives the audience an idea of how the other guests at the banquet must have reacted to Macbeth's actions. Very clever. The "eye of newt/pricking of my thumbs" bit is done as a "rap" which actually works rather well although you can't distinctly hear all the language at this point.

The Crack (or Shibboleth to give it the correct name) is also rather good. It works on loads of levels and I won't wax lyrical on them all here for fear of boring you. But if you get a chance to go and see it then do.

Journey home on dear dear Virgin was fine - I upgraded to 1st class for £15 and had a whole table to myself al the way. This meant I was able to get to the hospital on time for the MRI scan which went without a hitch. I'l get the results on Tuesday when I see the neurologist so I'l let you know how it works out.

Hope you're doing OK Bill. I heard that you had to miss your chemo this week because of a low platelet count. Not that I know, but I don't think this should be anything to worry about since it shows the chemo is working - it f***s all your cells, not just the cancer. Lets hope its equally effective on the cancer cells. As ever, if you need anything or if there's anything I can do then give me a shout.

Aged Ps are off round the Mediteranean on a boat for 15 days from Monday so I'l miss them. Although I understand that said boat does have ship to shore so they shouldn't be out of touch for too long.

That's al. J x

Designer Update

We're making progress! Saw designers and builder today which was useful. Builder knows what is and isn't possible. I think we're agreed on most things now. We're going to have a "walk through" on Monday to decide on lights and sockets and stuff. Also I think the guy will be there to discuss the shutters on the windows at the same time. Watch this space... J x

Cutting It Fine

Typical. Off to London on Saturday to see the Scottish Play starring Captain Jean Luc Picard and, hopefully, taking a gander at The Crack if we have time, and then I get a phonecall today to say that I'm required to attend Hope Hospital for a scan on Sunday at 1400. There is a train from Euston at 0834 Sunday morning that gets me into Piccadilly at 1249. But its a Virgin train. And its Sunday. What are the chances of an uneventful journey arriving in Manchester on time? Hey ho. I can't miss the Captain though. Will just have to explain to the consultant on Tuesday how good high culture is for back pain... Seeing designers tomorrow. Wonder where we'll be on refurb after that? Not holding my breath. That's all for now. J x

An Old Friend

Just dropped Mrs T off in the wilds of Bolton. It was great to see her and she's looking and sounding good. She arrived bearing photos (from the evil sister) of my last party. My God. I was huge. I must say that (if it doesn't come back) the cancer may end up actualy prolonging my life because looking at the size I was I must have been a prime candidate for a heart attack. Wouldn't that be ironic?

Went to see Michael Clayton with Gill last night. Really good film and George Clooney is excellent in it. He's also still gorgeous.

Off to cinema in the week to to see the new Jodie Foster film which looks really good. And then next Saturday its down to London to see Patrick Stewart in Macbeth. The reviewer from The Times didn't seem to enjoy the production but I think it sounds great. Its set in a hospital apparently which seems ideal. As we know, most nurses (apart from the lovely Debbie) are witches...

Seeing DD tomorrow for coffee (I think she's found me a chink in her hugely hectic social life for which I am, as ever, extremely grateful....

Seeing the designers this week to so I'll let you have an update on the refurb as soon as I know anything. J x