I'm Back!

Happy Xmas and Merry New Year to all of you that I didn't get to see before I left or the wilds of Wales. Had a good Xmas chez the folks but its also good to be back in the land of black pudding and civilisation. Hope you all had a good time too. We're coming up to the end of the Cranford voting so I'm open to offers on what you'd like to see me poll on next. Actually, I might do it on the Xmas Dr Who - wasn't it pants? Miss DD has a full itinerary lined up for me from tomorrow so watch this space since I'm sure my leisure time between now and going back to work will be jam packed! That's all. J x

Quick Update

Friday got blotto on VMs (I blame the trainees - they're all far too young and their constitutions too strong). Consequently was still drunk Saturday morning when I got up to catch the train to London. Sobered up by the time I arrived, thank God, met Fig and went to see Lord of the Rings (the musical). Not good. Although Fig enjoyed it. Then back to Brighton to see Fig's new kitchen (v nice). Sunday morning saw John for a bit and then up to Gatwick for flight back home. Monday morning off to Liverpool for meeting, Tuesday evening wrote Xmas cards, Wednesday lunch time went to civil service carol concert in St Anne's church (nice, haven't been to a carol concert for ages)and in evening got dragged out for a couple of VMs by Ms Drury (the one and only). Was supposed to have spent this evening wrapping Xmas presents but got distracted by computer instead. Will have to do them tomorrow now. Saturday its off to Swansea and therefore will be incommunicado for a week (unless I can wait for Dad's dial up to load so that I can blog - we'll see). That's all. J x

Fabulous

Just too too fabulous. Tears, laughter, death and railways. It just doesn't get better than that. That's all. J x

Stop Press

Just seen on CNN - Jodie Foster comes out. Fantastic. (Of course we in the gay community knew all along because we can always tell...), That's all. J x

Cranford

Not a whole lot of laughs this week it has to be said. And it looks like we're not going to get to meet the gay son. Still Francesca looked fab at the May Day festival. And Julia did raise a smile when she declared that she hadn't "had a goose in her garden" for a few weeks. I'm hoping it all turns out happily ever after next week. Especially for the poor (not very attractive) young doctor. That's all. J x P.S. John's brother is now doing fine thank goodness. Nanny Ogg's husband has had to go into hospital though so we're all rooting for her (and him) at the moment. Lots of love to you Nanny, give me a shout if you need anything.

Xmas cars?

Oh I wish... that should have been "cards" of course. J x

Good Session

3 calls, 2 really interesting and one quite unusual. Can't say more than that on account of confidentiality but suffice to say I felt like we'd helped which gives one a nice feeling. Xmas shopping, Xmas wrapping and Xmas cars today. Oh the joy... Put my Xmas decs up yesterday (Mrs T, your candlesticks are central to this year's display) and that was fun. That's all. J x

To Them That Have Shall Be Given...

...lots of lovely things. Armani phoned me up yesterday and invited me to visit their shop this week and they'll give me 30% off everything. 30%. Everything. Armani. Child and sweetshop are the words that spring to mind. Rest assured I will indeed be paying them a visit (not that I'm promising to buy anything!).

Helpline Xmas do was fun last night. Lots of enthusiasm for setting up a LGBT book group (not that I'll be ignoring my regular - first & best - book group). Out in the Village afterwards. Got home about 0100. The latest I've been for ages & ages. Also got told that I looked "dazzling". And that's the first time that's ever happened!

Doing my second helpline "listening in" session tonight with Jeff. Looking forward to it and hoping we have more calls than my first session (nil!).

Next weekend I'm off to London/Brighton to stay with the lovely lovely Figgy to see Lord of the Rings The Musical. Can only stay the Saturday night though as too much work on at the mo. That's all. J x

Kicking & Screaming

I didn't want to go (obviously - lets go to the gym I said) but she took me out for 4 (yes count them, 1, 2 , 3, 4) VMs. What's a boy to do? And we're out tomorrow for the (second tier) birthday celebrations and then its straight on to the Helpline Xmas Party on Friday. Other news - neighbours moved out today. They left their mobile number because they're after my bath when I have the refurb done. Cheapskates! Hope my new neighbour isn't a party girl. I like the quiet life... That's all. J x

Shock Horror Tippi Hedron a Lunatic

Who knew? Apparently she runs a sanctuary for tigers and the like in Los Angeles. One of the keepers just got bitten. And... she's the mother of Melanie Griffith. The actress. I didn't know that either.

In other news, Wayne's birthday tomorrow so we're ll going out for a meal. DD's birthday on Friday so we're all going out for a drink... on Thursday. Only the select few have been invited on Friday. And I'm not one of those. That's all J x

Have We Correct Time Now?

Just checking... That's all. J x

All New Look

And now with voting buttons! You can look forward to some interesting surveys dealing with the hottest political and social questions of our time in the future - and to start us off a really hot topic - what do we think of Cranford? Voting closes on 31/12 so use it or lose it.

I appear to have temporarily lost my site visit counter but rest assured we are working hard behind the scenes to get it restored. And I still haven't got the time right yet. That's all. J x

Can't Wait

Just one hour until Cranford!

Went to the vigil last night. Very moving despite the pouring rain. There were a couple of speeches. One from the chair of Manchester Body Positive. He is a haemophiliac who was diagnosed with HIV 25 years ago. At the time the doctors gave him 6 months to live (just time to sort out his affairs - he said that the doctors clearly hadn't reckoned with his lack of organisational skills because 25 years later he still hadn't sorted them out!). He also tested positive for hepatitis C at the same time but the doctors didn't tell him because they thought he'd be dead in 6 months. How appalling is that? Hopefully it wouldn't happen now. And then to cap it all he's recently tested positive for VCJD too. Makes you think... The choir were really good too. DD and I went for a drink in Malmaison afterwards (I know, I know we said we'd never go again but you try finding somewhere to have a drink that has seats available at 1900 on a Saturday night). And then she went off to the Xmas markets and I met Mark for a couple of beers around the Village.

Had a call from John today and his brother is really ill in hospital. My thoughts are with him and his family and I hope it all turns out alright for everyone concerned.

That's all. J x