Update

Mum has had to go into hospital for tests. Her breathing has been a little difficult for a couple of days and she has an acute pain in her side that won't go away.  I'm therefore going home to support her and my Dad. I'll leave in the morning because I have a CT scan this afternoon.  I'll be back on Monday because I have a clinic appointment on Tuesday to get the results of all my recent scans.  What happens after that depends pretty much on the results of everyone's tests.  I'll keep you updated though. Unfortunately it means I'll miss out on a lot of theatre stuff I'd booked but that can't be helped.  That's all. J x

How Long Have You Got?

This will be a big blog post to make up for the fact that I haven't blogged for a while.  First of all I just need to say that I feel fine.  In fact I feel better than I have in a long time.  No high temperatures, no significant breathing difficulties and very little pain.  So that's all good.  So what have I been up to? Well....

So Wicked wasn't as good as the West End.  Was never going to be but it was a pretty decent show nonetheless but I had to leave at the interval anyway.  It wasn't the show, it was the audience.  The woman next to me kept checking her mobile phone. I eventually told her to turn it off and then she spent the rest of the first act complaining about me to her companion.  There was a row of drunk, middle aged women sat behind us who didn't stop talking and the people in front of us had the noisiest bag of sweets I'd ever heard.  And then to top it all someone in one of the boxes was taking photographs using a flash during the performance.  Of course the management tackled them on this but that just added to the disruption.  I was so angry with it all that I just couldn't go back.  I've emailed the Palace Theatre to complain. Luckily Toby and Gill enjoyed the show and then joined me and Denise in Felicinis after the second act.

Saturday saw the three of us lazing about the flat in the morning (Gill and Toby in their onesies) watching Saturday Kitchen and then it was off out at lunchtime to meet the rest of the team: Richard, Mike, Daniel (with the lovely Sharon) and Liam. Had drinks in Kro Bar (Piccadilly) followed by lunch in Piccolinos. Thence to Alchemist (New York Street) and the bar at Doubletree by Hilton (formally City Inn) where we got into all sorts of arguments with the management about the contents of a "Rum Old Fashioned" cocktail (we eventually got them free).  No idea what time I got home.  Clearly I managed to cook myself some supper because the kitchen was a complete state when I woke up.  

Sunday was a recovery day and was joined by Ms Drury to watch the football. God we were terrible. That second goal by Chelsea was appalling.  Aguerro though remains a angel.  

Monday saw the official unveiling of the new kitchen chez Denise.  And very nice it is too.  I particularly 

Ike the back-lit glasses cabinet although it does mean that those glasses are going to have to be spotless and sparkling at all times.  Had some fizz and some nibbles but didn't go out for the subsequent Indian meal as had bad indigestion.  Have had it for a few days now and am hoping its to do with the antibiotics (which finished yesterday) and so will calm down.  I'll let you know.

Yesterday was lunch with the delightful Lesley and the delightful Jane Kendall (née Aspden) at San Carlo.  I had Fagggotini San Carlo. V nice filled pasta in a mushroom sauce followed by indigestion!

Last night saw me heading off to the Royal Northern College of Music (tout seul) for a concert by Michael Nyman. He was delayed coming on stage by 45 minutes (no explanation) which would normally annoy me so much that I wouldn't enjoy the show (I am turning into Victor Meldrew) but he completely won me over.  The show was sublime.  And I defy anyone to find a nicer piece of music than the theme to the Jane Campion movie, The Piano.

Today have been for a Macmillan meeting already and then I'm out to the cinema with Gill this evening to see Captain Phillips - the Tom Hanks movie about Somali pirates.  I'm not normally a Tom Hanks fan but the trailers look good and it's had some decent reviews.  I'll let you know.

And that's all for now.  Sorry for the long gap.  J x

Busy Day Yesterday

So it was off at crack of dawn for my MRI scan at The Christie. All went without a hitch.  Took about half an hour.  Then it was off to Buxton for drinks in The Palace Hotel (not very good), lunch at St Moritz (very nice) and then more drinks at Monk (fabulous, love this bar). And then the train back to Manchester. A good day.  Great to see Chris and Dave.

DD was very naughty and bought me a picture as a thank you for letting her stay whilst her kitchen was done.  Totally unnecessary as she is welcome to stay here whenever she likes for as long as she likes. Fab picture though, one I'd admired in Mr Thomas's a while ago (in their exhibition of local art students' final show works).  

New guests this evening - Toby and Gill - as we're off to see Wicked tonight.  Hope it's as good as the West End.... That's all. Need to get on with some cleaning.... J x

Feeling Good

No high temperature.  No neck pain (for two days now).  Back pain starting to ease.  It's all good at the moment.  Phew.  :-)

Had a busy day yesterday.  Met Lesley for coffee in town then it was off to meet two new volunteers for the Macmillan stuff I'm doing and to talk them through what they can expect.  Then took them to a meeting and gave them a debrief afterwards.  Following that I drove to Wythenshawe hospital to pick up some more antibiotics and saw the lovely nurse Lesley there (she enquired after my "mums"). Thence to Michele's to drop off some potatoes and then home.  Exhausted!  Luckily just have one trip to make today to B&Q with the kitchen queen (who is moving out today which is just as well as Toby & Gill are coming to stay on Friday when we're going to see Wicked).  Lesley didn't enjoy it but I'm dead excited. But knowing me I'll come out a afterwards vowing never to go and see touring West End productions again... :-)

Tomorrow is another busy day as I have an MRI scan in the morning and then me and DD are catching the train to Buxton to have lunch with the fabulous Chris & Dave. We've even got a voucher for a restaurant.  What were the chances?

Have started making plans to spend NYE in Cornwall with Michele at a spa hotel.  Sounds lovely.  All subject to health stuff of course.

Have also been sent links to the videos I made for Macmillan. I really like one of them and one of them is just OK. But I don't think I can put them up here as they're digitally protected/copyrighted or something.  If I can get permission I'll put them here.

That's all. J x

OK So I'm Fully Aware How Sad I Am....

.... but I love this and I want one!

http://youtu.be/xYsSiaBZmRk

Good Afternoon

Had a good nigth's sleep last night and feel well rested and comfortable today.  Still feel like I have a chest infection (I get out of breath easily) which worries me slightly as I would have expected the antibiotics to have had a greater effect by now.  But we'll wait and see when the seven days are up.

Back and neck pain is intermittent. I don't know what this means. I thought they were getting "better" but I'm not sure intermittent counts as "better" as opposed to the pain getting less.  We'll worry about that one after the MRI scan though.

In the meantime I continue to take things easy - a task I am well qualified to undertake. Watched the City match this morning which was very exciting (especially as we won) and various trash TV stuff I'd recorded once my live-in-carer-in-chief had departed.  

Went for a meal in Avalanche last night but it wasn't too good.  Although the company was excellent! 

Tonight it's a curry with some more excellent company and hopefully some great food and service. 

That's all. J x

We *Heart* Daniel Radcliffe

For many many reasons but also because he said this to The Sun:

Go Daniel :-) J x

Stoked

The Walking Dead series 4 starts tonight. Aaaaaaarghhhhhhh. #soexcited #loveandrewlincoln #dontreallylikezombies

Quick Update

For those who are worried.

I have been quite ill and in a lot of pain recently as well as feeling scarily breathless - hence no postings. In hindsight, Ibiza was a mistake and I should just have stayed at home.

It's been discovered that I have a chest infection which explains the feeling ill and breathlessness. I'm now on antibiotics for that so it will hopefully clear up soon.  Doctor Yvonne was slightly worried about the possibility of a pulmonary embolism but I was scanned for that today and I don't have any of those.

The pain in my back and neck continues to be troublesome - I had a dreadful night last night and was sick this morning - but I've been given some morphine which will allow me to finesse my painkillers a bit more cleverly to help hopefully.  Today has been, on the whole, relatively pain free. I will need an MRI scan of my spine to see if these pains are cancer-related or not. That is likely to happen next week.  I suspect the pains are not cancer related but let's see what the scan shows.

And that's about the long and the short of it so far.  Was at Wythenshawe hospital just after we landed on Tuesday, at The Christie all morning today and am at The Christie and Wythenshawe hospital tomorrow! Will resume normal service again soon I promise. And thanks for all your good wishes. J x

So Have Spoken To Nurse Jackie

And she's happy to support my decision to go full term in Ibiza. Which is a relief. Have had an OK day today on the whole. 

Ladies are back from Ibiza town and lunch and are now lounging on the sun loungers. 

And that's all so far. J x

Ventured into Ibiza Town Last Night

Expected all sorts of festivities celebrating the anniversary of the day Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492.  Didn't appear to be a lot going on though so we had a couple of drinks and, to my mind, a disappointing meal, tried in vain to locate the entrance to the Dalt Vila and then came home. I had another terrible night - pain, nausea, breathing difficulties etc Indeed, so much so that I was contemplating cutting short my visit and coming home a day early.  Feel a bit better this morning though. I may still come home early though as I've texted Nurse Jackie and Dr Yvonne with a list of my symptoms and I'll see what they say.

And that's all there is to report at the moment.  We'll see what today brings. :-) J x

Symptom City

So I have back pain. I have neck pain. I was sick last night. And I had diarrhoea this morning. All in all the perfect recipe for the perfect holiday. Having said that, better to experience all this in the mid to high twenties and the gorgeous sunshine than in cold, damp, dark Manchester :-) Will see Yvonne when I get back (Tuesday at no idea, but late morning-ish I think Unless the bloody French are on strike again) to find out what's going on and what, if anything, we need to do about it. That's all. J x

This Is The View...

... of our pool

Shall post more updates as my recovery takes hold (had an awful journey and an awful day yesterday because of it and it's taking me a bit of time to recover). J x

We're In Ibiza

No thanks to Ryanair and the fucking French though.  Three hours we were delayed at Manchester. After we'd boarded. My back is going to suffer for days from that. And all because the French air traffic controllers were on strike and Ryanair doesn't pay people what it owes them so we end up last in any queue for anything.

But we're here.  And the villa is lovely. But a bit quirky (and not in a good way) so the kettle doesn't work, we can't find an iron etc.  But I'm sure we'll have a lovely time once we all settle down. Expecting Sarah about 2130 all being well with the French of course.... My ladies are currently at the supermarket stocking up on booze. And food of course... :-)J

Just So You Know

I had no alcohol last night and now I have a temperature. Just saying. J x

Quiet Day On The Whole

Back pain still there. Whole new neck pain thing turned up (although I think I may have just slept awkwardly last night whilst in my drunken stupor.) It does seem to be easing somewhat now.  Have not touched a drop of drink all day.  Will be interesting to see if I manage to sleep tonight....

DD has been here there and everywhere today, as per, although we did manage to come together this evening for the Great British Bake Off which neither of us had seen before.  What a load of old nonsense it is (although I suspect we may watch it now up to the final as we're almost there). Other tha that, nothing to report. It's Ibiza on Thursday though. Yippee. 

Oh and talked to my lovely Manchester Mum this afternoon. They're back from Cornwall where they had a lovely time by all accounts.  And now it's back into the murky world of builders and developers and all the other things that drive you up the wall.  I wish them luck :-) J x

Sorry about last night...

... but I so need to share this with you from Twitter :-)

THIS GIRL IN FRONT OF ME IN MATH CALLED JUSTIN GAY SO I CUT HER HAIR OFF NOW IM SUSPENDED HAHA IT'S WORTH IT

Late Night Posting

So I'm rather drunk, it has to be said, but just watched The Master with DD. Very good film but I wuect impressed  that apple needed to watch it whilst sober or a

 !iaiterina et. 

 The nuances....

U need to watch it whilst I'm sober.  

Jason Is Gay?

"You are not like other men.  You will realise that soon enough". Thus spaketh the mad as a box of frogs Juliet Stevenson in Pants-Lantis (as we've renamed it here). Surely that means that he and Pythagoras are going to get it on? He is a mathematician after all and so was Alan Turing so I don't think its a leap too far to imagine, well, all sorts of things....

Medusa tipped up too this week like a bad penny (before her trend-setting snazzy haircut) and managed to get herself cursed.  I think we all guessed she didn't have a bright future....

Anyway, currently relaxing at home catching up on my recorded TV highlights. I'll keep you appraised of what happens.  That's all.  J x

P.S. Twitter is currently having a lot of fun with movie titles where you add one word and create an entirely different type of film.  So for instance - 

Schindler's Shopping List

Paris Hilton is Burning 

If I have time and am bored enough I may well inflict more on you.... :-)

Never Mind Though

I'll look pretty again when I get back from Ibiza - off on Thursday :-) J x

Operation Went Well

Although I don't look pretty now :-( 

  

On Way Back Oop North

Ready for operation at 0730 (yes really) tomorrow morning. J x

#unexpectedbonus

Choosing the right carriage anyway :-) J x

#firstworldproblems

Bring annoyed because you're on the tube platform and you forgot to consult  your tube app so that you know which carriage to get on so that you're right in front of the exit when you get off. 

More From Twitter

#GreaterManchesterMovies

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Hulme

No Country for Oldham

Wind in the Newton-Le-Willows

The Stretford Wives

Flash Gorton, and my current favourite 

Pulp Flixton :-) J x

Twitter Stream

What was the first rule of Amnesia Club again?

Thats what I went upstairs for.....

Always write the rules down? #AmnesiaClub

Which club?

The first rule of what?

Just Spat Peroni All Over Myself....

.... whilst reading this http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/international/overgrown-washington-dc-becomes-ape-habitat-2013100480098

Blogging Right At You

... from the bar of the Hilton Gatwick.  The conference is somewhat disappointing and I've left my Cavalli jacket somewhere and can't trace it for the moment.  So I'm in the bar with a Peroni, a double Absolut and you dear readers.

Back pain still not good and I also have a headache. But that's because I haven't slept properly for two nights.  DD is home on the ranch ensconced on my sofa in her pyjamas (she informs me). So I'm feeling a little sorry for myself and far from home.  But never mind, seeing the lovely Karen tomorrow.

One interesting (and unexpected) keynote speech today was by the CEO of Skype.  Who shared with us his own personal cancer journey.  Turns out even he had to battle to get the treatment he needed when he needed it.  He did piss a few people off because his journey involved private healthcare and being flown to New York to see the world's number one specialist for his particular form of cancer (only 10 cases in the UK every year - and guess what, there was someone in the audience with the same cancer: what were the chances?). But it was a familiar story nevertheless.  There were a number of things he said that I disagreed with although I knew where he was coming from.  He said that "cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me" and "cancer is a gift". I understand what he means because cancer has transformed my life too in ways that are sometimes better than before but he needs to find a better way to express that.  It's not a gift nor would anyone choose to have it in order to enhance their life.

He was also a big believer in positive thinking and alternative therapies (so why fly to New York?) which, as you all know, is a viewpoint I fervently disagree with.

Anyway, going to catch up on emails and Twitter now so that's all.  J x

Crime & Punishment

This was a really interesting production that actually included some humour (I hadn't expected that but then I wasn't at all sure what to expect). The cast and staging were good and whilst there is no getting away from the philosophising of Dostoyevsky there was also a story to be told.  On the whole I enjoyed it.  And it was my first experience of the Liverpool Playhouse which, through reading the timeline on the wall of the bar, has had a chequered and troubled history.  

It was also great to catch up with Ronda who I haven't seen since my party.

Arrived home about 2330 but then had quite a bad night due to back pain.  I had hoped it would be getting better by now but not on the evidence of last night. But that may have been down to the train journeys and sitting in the theatre. Will take things relatively quietly today and see how I go on tonight.

That's all. J x

Filming

This is what it looks like.

Have just briefly seen my roomie before she jetted off somewhere else.  I'm just back from lunch with the lovely Lucy.  San Carlo. It's "our" restaurant....!  We're having our Christmas do there :-) Now getting ready to travel to Liverpool i.e. I'm hiding all my valuables..... J x

Fuck Me

Mark Lester? Really? He still looks shaggable though... He was voiced by the producer's daughter (yes really) on Where Is Love in Oliver. Fuck me. Is nothing real in Hollywood? Apparently she cried whilst singing when he cries on screen. It won 6 Oscars. 

OMG

Christopher Plummer doesn't sing Edelweiss in The Sound of Music. Unbelievably BBC4 has both versions - the ghost singer and Plummer's own version. He sounds terrible. Apparently he hated the fact that he was dubbed and referred to the film as The Sound of Mucus ever afterwards....

Interestingly (OK so I'm a geek) it's the one film where Marnie Nixon (ghost singer extraordinaire - she did them all) actually appears as herself. Sister Sophia on Climb Every Mountain. 

We're now looking at more obscure stuff. I've never even seen Camelot.... J x

Incidentally...

.... Rush is a really good film. Chris Hemsworth is so shaggable. But it's an interesting story too and the Niki Lauder medical scenes following the crash are really graphic and painful to watch. But absolutely right to have in the film. 

The new Tom Hanks (I normally hate anything with him in) looks really good. As does the new Judi Dench, Philomena. J x

OMG

Joan Crawford in Torch Song. Orange and black dress (watching a BBC4 documentary on singers dubbed for the stars). I love BBC4 too :-) J x

Steroids Made Me Fat

And gave me a tongue ulcer. Just saying. 

Oh, and I love The Newsroom. Written by Aaron Sorkin (West Wing). Love it. Sky Atlantic is pretty much the best TV channel at the moment... J x

Especially for Mrs T

Nobody puts baby in the sauna.

Nobody puts baby in the korma.

Nobody puts little Jack Horner in the c..... Oh wait!

Heavy Filming Schedule

So the production team have just left (they arrived at 1330). They've shot two pieces plus some "walking around and making cups of coffee shots" that they can edit in later.  The first piece we filmed is a general one "this is my story" piece that Macmillan can use for various fundraising purposes.  The second piece was specifically about the Cancer Improvement Programme which will be shown at the fundraising thing at Manchester Airport on 26/10.  To 800 people apparently!  Including people from Coronation Street and Emerdale.  Do you think I'll be recognised from my previous roles? :-)

Saw the hygienist first thing.  She's happy with all that Lance has done with my veneers so I'm happy too.  She's fab Nina.  She pointed out that I have an ulcer on my tongue that I wasn't aware of so I should just keep an eye on that.  I reckon it will have been caused by the steroids (took my last one this morning) so hopefully it will just go of its own accord now.

Off to see Rush this evening with Gill. Should be good. Not seen my flat mate all day but then she is a very busy and important person as we all know.  No doubt will catch up wi her later.  That's all. 

Busy day tomorrow too.  Lunch with the lovely Lucy followed by Crime and Punishment (oh the irony) in Liverpool with Ronda.  J x

Per Twitter....

.... Iain Duncan Smith urges delegates not to look at the wheelchair when talking to the disabled. "Look at the scrounger sat in It," he says