I'm Turning Japanese...

...who are these strange people with their strange hieroglyphs. And why are they so interested in me and my goings on? I understand why you, dear reader, hang on my every word. Indeed I often do it myself. But the Japanese? I wonder if there is a way to instantly translate what I type in English into hieroglyphs? That would be fun.

Anyway. So what is news? Am currently sat at home awaiting a man to come and measure me up for some shutters. A man called round yesterday and did very little and yet charged me £175 for it. I'd left DD in charge. Say no more. DD and a tradesman in an enclosed space. Doesn't bear thinking about. I bet he was wearing overalls too. They do that up here.

So what else? Went to see Corrie last night (50 years of Coronation Street in 2 hours, live on a stage narrated by Jim McDonald and written by Jonathan Harvey). It should have been pure comedy gold and so it proved. Not the original actors of course but we had 5 people (2 men and 3 women not including Jim McDonald) playing about 50 different characters and they were fantastic. We saw Gail get married 4 times (each time declaring that this time it would be different because she could sense it - naturally it never was). We saw Deirdre and Ken, Deirdre & Mike, Deirdre & Ray as her hair got shorter and shorter. There was a barge, a tram, the ghosts of Elsie and Ena, Hilda and her little brown parcel back from Stan's funeral. We laughed, we cried, we had a stonking good time. If you get a chance, get a ticket.

What else? Went to see the touring production of Les Miserables and was happily surprised. Really enjoyed it. Only bad bit was Eponine who appeared to think she was auditioning for X Factor rather than playing a street urchin.

What else? Went to Swansea, saw the Aged Ps, had fun, got wet, saw lots of cricket and tennis. Ageds are doing fine though you'll all be glad to hear.

Otherwise all quiet on the North Western front. Work is good. Flat will be good once I get shutters installed and get round to ordering a new wardrobe from Ikea. And then its the party - don't ask me, DD is in charge. But before that we have Pride this weekend followed by a weekend in London with the Figster and tickets to Legally Blond. Hurrah. So that's all. J x

Holiday Hey Hey Yeah Holiday

Is that a song? No idea. Do I care? No I don't. Now have a week off work and really looking forward to it. Those who know me may find this fact surprising given my avowed love for my job - but its all been getting a bit on top of me recently. So I'm looking forward to a week off - 2 days in Manchester sorting stuff (as my good friend and party organiser DD would put it) followed by 3 days in Swansea (at least one of which will be spent on a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales) followed by a trip to Les Miserables at The Lowry with my good friend Jim. Now those who know me (you know who you are) may well express surprise at these plans since you will have heard me say on many an occasion that I'll never go and see a touring West End show in the provinces again (unless I haven't seen it in the West End first). But I thought "what the hey" how can they ruin a show like The Glums even if they don't have fancy barricades? The songs are so strong that it should be a good show anyway. Well, watch this space, famous last words and all that. I'll let you know. Have to go now and do stuff so that's all. J x

Antiqueing

Is that a word? Should be since its what I did yesterday in Lancaster (nice) and Morecambe (not so nice) with DD & Bryn & Michelle. I bought an old 1940s suitcase. Shall fill it full of old theatre programmes. May start a collection of old suitcase since I have a lot of old theatre programmes. We also had lunch at The Midland in Morecambe and navigated its bizarre rules and regulations regarding the taking of refreshment (times and locations - there are all sorts of rules). Cool place though. Old hotel updated by Urban Splash. Pity they don't run it. Then back to The Midland in Manchester for cocktails. A very nice day.

On leave next week. Back to Swansea on Wednesday and then back up to Manchester on Saturday. That's all. J x

Spring (?) Cleaning

Have spent the entire day cleaning out cupboards. Let no-one tell you I don't lead an exciting life. I did go to Canal Street last night though. That was fun. Well at least it was once we moved off the main drag and away from the hen parties and stag dos. Discovered a new bar down a back street - all very sleazy but it does one good to have a little sleaze in one's life from time to time! That's all. J x

Jokes

Oh, give over. It could be worse, I could be sending these to your mobile phone...

Sign outside an Australian gym (apparently): Fat and ugly? Want to be just ugly?"

Also, on twitter:" Gutted. This bird invited me to a party but I forgot to RSPB".

Thank you, my name's Jonathan and I'm on here for the rest of my life.... J x

50,004

Whoo hoo. Curates egg week. One exam pass. Three (count them) new trainees. Very happy with all that. One (expanded) Leadership Team meeting where everyone behaved like Civil Servants and didn't want to change anything and in any case spent most of the meeting arguing about First Class Travel and how they should be entitled to it. Didn't get half of the stuff done that I should have. Not so happy about these. So there you go. Curates egg. Managed to see DD a great deal which is also good. And went to Toy Story III with Gill & Sara. Not so enamoured with the film but lovely to see the ladies. Party planning carries on apace... That's all. J x

P.S.

DD rained all over my parade on the "really exciting idea for the party" front so its going to be dead boring. Sorry. J x

49790

Not that I'm one to boast but 210 more hits on the blog and we'll have 50,000. That is pretty phenomenal. And I just want to thank you all - including our regular Japanese contributers -for sticking with me for four years. I have now passed the four years since diagnosis point and the four years since the end of treatment point. I think that calls for a vodka martini or four. I'll see what I can rustle up - although obviously not on a school night (my job is precarious enough in this age of austerity). Thank you everyone. I'm not sure I could have done it without you. Here's to four more years (now where have I heard that phrase before?) That's all. J x

Tatton Park

Bloody ace. Was the Halle firework concert tonight. Went with Jane and Bill (as per) and had a fantastic night (as per). Not too many people talking through the music tonight. And even Myleen Klass wasn't too annoying. Have also had an idea for my party which is really exciting. Watch this space... J x