Hairspray

What a fantastic movie. Its so "feel good" its off the scale. Brilliant cast, brilliant songs and fantastic choreography. And John Travolta is a star! Go and see it. J x P.S. And take me with you...

Its Out

The tube is gone. Well not completely gone. There's a bit of it that will remain with me a little while longer. But I shall not mourn its passing (if you see what I mean). Of course, this being the NHS I had to wait around for an hour (despite being the first person on the list this morning) for a procedure that took less than 3 minutes. there was no sedation and no kicking and screaming. The nurse simply cut the tube, threw the outside bit away and poked the stubby bit through into my tummy. She then fixed a dressing on the wound which I have too change for the next 2 days after I have a shower. Miss Denise was a star though. She remained with me through thick and thin. And missing work to do so. So now have the rest of the day off to finish the cleaning (is it ever really finished?) before the designers arrive at 1530. Today was quite a milestone for me nevertheless. It was the last thing linking me to the MRI and now that it has gone I only need to go back there to see the dentist from time to time. Of course I'll still have my check ups at Christies but that's a much nicer place... J x

Trip Out

Went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with Denise yesterday. Perfect weather (but got stuck in interminable traffic on the M62). Saw the Goldsworthy and the Deer Shelter and then I went and sat under the trees and read Vogue whilst Miss Denise tramped over the entire park looking at everything.

Hospital tomorrow morning. Miss Denise coming with me as apparently I have the option of being sedated. Apparently, although they only cut the tube, they need to put a camera (gastroscope?) down your throat to make sure that the bit inside detaches itself from the stomach wall and then can "pass naturally". Not looking forward to any part of this process although I am, of course, looking forward to no longer having the tube.

Then seeing my designers in the afternoon for final discussions on prices. Karen arrives from Brighton on Wednesday and it'll be really good to see her as haven't seen her for ages and ages... Fig has decided he's coming up for Pride so that'll be good too. Must start cleaning now... J x

Back Down...

...to 36.4. Phew. No idea what caused that. Feeling much better now though. J x

And On The Other Hand

Die Hard is v v cool. And Bruce Willis rocks. He even manages to crash a car into a helicopter whilst the helicopter is in flight. Cool or what?

Have temperature of 37.9 degrees. NHS Direct says I need to worry when I hit 38. Off to bed with all the windows open and hopefully will feel better tomorrow. J x

Brief Encounter

Went to see it at The Cornerhouse tonight. What a preposterous film. And yet aslo strangely moving. It was certainly good fun watching it in the cinema. Spent yesterday afternoon in Alderley edge with my designers looking at sound and light and electronic wizadry. Alderley Edge is pretty cool too and we had lunch there. Spent lunchtime today running round building societies wondering how I'm going to pay for all that electronic wizadry... J x

Blackpool

Skank city. Why would you? Why did I? Never again. j x

Going... Going...

...almost gone. Its coming out. The tube that is. On the morning of the 13th of the glorious August. The lovely lovely Debbie has waved her magic wand (and told a few fibs) and made it all happen for me. Oh wondrous day. Kaloo, kalay (not sure of the spelling on this last bit). My dad thinks that the contents of my stomach will be leaking all over the place (what, more weight loss?) and so I have to phone L L Debbie tomorrow so that I can reassure him that won't happen. Aged Ps, by the way, are mostly OK although it appears that my dad may have carpal tunnel syndrome. Not sure how he would have got that because I thought it was only typists that got it but what do I know?

Also saw the dental hygienist (private) today. And what a wonderful woman she is too. Told me lots of things and gave me lots of advice on caring for my teeth and gums. More than that moody bugger at the dental hospital ever did. From whom, incidentally, I had a letter today delaying my appointment by 2 weeks. No explanation. Not so much as a "by your leave". The NHS has such a long way to go in some areas before it can even hope to begin to provide a proper service. I know that explaining why appointments have been changed is not on a par with saving someone's life but it doesn't have to be one or the other. It would not have taken any longer to type a letter saying "and this is because..." than it did to type the letter saying the appointment was being postponed. When I think how "customer focussed" (awful phrase I know but handy shorthand nevertheless) parts of the rest of the civil service have become (and I include HMRC in this) it just shows you how behind the times organisations like the NHS and local councils are.

Anyway, enough complaining. The tube, she is coming out, no? Eez time for a fiesta. (And bugger only knows why I went all Mexican there). Nifght. J x

Tatton Spark

Off to Tatton tonight with Jane & Bill. Bill is looking and sounding good. You can tell he's been ill since he's lost a bit of weight (about 1 stone so far) but that's nothing to worry about. He'll start his chemotherapy soon and hopefully becuase he's on a low dose over a relatively long period of time he won't have too many side effects. Anyway, it was nice to be out with the 2 of them again. I've missed our cultural excursions together.

Tatton was cold and (a little)wet and the music was not up to previous years' standards but we enjoyed the stuff from Spartacus - the theme from the Onedin Line for all you oldies out there - and the Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet. The fireworks were, as ever, spectacular although the new innovation they tried with the swans didn't really work. Prioir to everything kicking off we happened to see about 7 or 8 stags swimming across the lake together. It was quite a sight. But the highlight of the evening (and how sad is this) is the fact that we felt as pleased as punch that we'd forked out an extra £20 for VIP parking. We left the park at gone 11 and I was in the flat by just after half past 11. Last year we hadn't even made it out of the park by this time. Definitely worth the money I think. We'd also all taken chairs to sit on this year which, given the weather, was much more comfortable. Anyway, I'm off to bed now as its way past my bedtime. Night all. J x

Gay & Depressed

Just watched Clapham Junction. Bloody hell its depressing being gay (apparently). Queer bashing, paedophilia, infidelity.. you name it, we're up to it. Mercifully hairderessers were thin on the ground but you couldn't have asked for a more stereotypical bunch if you'd lived in the 70s. Still, the one redeeming feature was the fact that none of the heterosexuals were happy either. Perhaps its just living in Brown's Britain that does it. Anyway, I'm happy. I know what happens in the end of Harry Potter. I'm off to Tatton on Saturday to watch the Halle Orchestra and fireworks (probably in the rain though) but we've got priority parking so it shouldn't take us as long getting home. And work's going well. Plus I had an e-mail from my manager today to say that he hadn't forgotten me. "That's nice" I thought. It remains to be seen what "not being forgotten" will lead to though. Watch this space gossip guzzlers. j x

And Now On The Page

The book group has decided to do the latest (and last) HP this month. I bought it Saturday morning and had finished it by this morning (albeit that it made me late for work). Wish I'd started them from the beginning now although not owrth going back now I know what happens in the end. Life otherwise OK. All quiet on the theatre front this week although I'm off to Tatton Park on Saturday night for the annual Halle Fireworks concert. I wonder if it will rain? J x

HP

Saw the latest Harry Potter last night and thought it wasn't a bad film (this, coming from someone who is not a natural HP fan, more a LOTR type person). Imelda Staunton was stunning though. Off to Book Group tonight (well it is my choice - Prime Levy, If This Is A Man).

Sean phoned me the other day and he is going to refer me to a back specialist that he's discovered for me which is jolly decent of him. If only everyone in the NHS was as nice (and as good) as him (and the lovely Debbie) we'd have no problems at all. Still no word from Charlotte on the tube removal date. I'll give her another week and then start chasing. Its just so annoying that you have to do these things. Its even worse when you're sat there and someone is telling you that they're going to do something and you know full well that they're not...

Hey ho. Another full day in HMRC to look forward to so better get cracking. Love to everyone. J x

Good Toase, Naughty Toase

(You had to be there).

Christies this morning and didn't see Sean but some young whippersnapper of a Doctor who gave me the once over. And very thorough he was too. Most impressed. No-one's had their finger that far down my throat for quite some time. My gag reflex almost kicked in. Almost.

The lovely Debbie was there and she's going to check up on Charlotte for me about getting the tube taken out. Charlotte insists she's put things in motion but I've yet to see the evidence. It'll all be sorted now Debbie's on the job though...

To the Museum of Science & Industry tonight (after a vodka martini at Numero with Denise and chums followed by a Peroni at Dimitris with Jane, Lesley & Andrew)to see Neil Bartlett's The Pianist. And what a special night it was. The building/venue was marvellous, the actor telling the story was vaguely famous (The Bill but not Casualty) and the guy playing the piano was stupendous. I shall certainly be adding some Chopin to my collection now - stating with the Nocturne in C Minor (and no Fig, that's not the Donna Summer one).

Dentist in the morning and gym (apparently) in the evening tomorrow and then Leeds on saturday to see Sarah, Sarah & Donna. It just never slows down... J x

Oh I Don't Know

I know I said I'd keep this thing up to date but I'm so busy having a social life that I've got no time to actually write about it! I've done a gazillion things over the last few days and I've got a gazillion more coming up over the next week or so. Which means I'm afraid that I won't have much time to blog. However, things should calm down a bit after that once the festival is over. But then its just a slippery slope straight into Pride (and Figgy may be coming back up t'road for that). Anyway, to cut a long story short, I'm feeling well. I'm seeing Sean on Thursday morning and hopefully he'll have the name of a good back consultant for me and Charlotte will have an appointment lined up for the removal of my tube (its been 8 weeks since I saw her last so I'm sure the appointment must be just round the corner... actually, I'm guessing that she's forgotten all about it but I'm prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt for now. Caroline would definitely have forgotten about it but I'd have been chasing her up every week because I'd have expected her to forget about it. She got away with it through her natural charm though and being unashamed to say that she'd cocked up - always a good trait in a medical person I feel). I've then got the dentist on Friday (not the hospital one who I don't like, but a regular one). Hopefully he can suggest a replacement gel for the one recommended by the hospital dentist since Colgate aren't manufacturing that one at the moment but you can't get through to the hospital dentist on the phone since his reception number is either constantly engaged or just not answered. Got the dietician on Tuesday next week and I'll have to ask her if one can survive for the rest of one's (hopefully long) life on Ensure Plus since I don't think solid food is ever really going to happen again. She's followed by the Scar Clinic later the same day and I've decided to give them another try but if they keep me waiting over an hour again then I'll just not bother. So there we go. You're up to date on my medical but not my social history. And its taken hours just to type all this. How on earth can I be expected to keep up with the social side of things? TTFN J x

Ocean's 13

Not very good. And isn't Brad Pitt looking old?

Anyway, One Man Star Wars Trilogy on Thursday which should be fun. Gym tonight (with or without Denise who may or may not have a gammy leg). After a delicious bowl of my home made red pepper and chilli soup that is (which is delicious and red - once I'd worked out that you need red peppers for it rather than green...) J x

Thinking Of You Bill (and thinking of you jane)

For those of you who know Jane's husband, Bill -

I spoke to Jane last night and Bill came through the operation well. The cancer had spread a little farther than the doctors had initially thought but they got it all during the operation. The thinking is that he will now have chemotherapy (I told her that if he's offered it he should take it because no matter how shit it makes you feel at the time you get over it and its better than the alternative). The doctors also don't think that he'll need a colostomy which is good news. Yay. J x

Not So Impressed

Rigoletto was a little ho hum. Not sure if it was the opera or the cast that were at fault though. One imagines that Verdi could write an OK tune (there's the "elephant's ear" song in Act III for example). But there didn't seem to be any others in this opera. But then I found the sopranos rather shrill. Acts II & III were definitely better than Act I though. Perhaps I should go and see it performed by a better company than Opera North. I'm sure it'd be fairly impressive at the ROH. I'll keep my eyes peeled. I've always wanted to go there anyway. Can one have too much culture (Miss Fig)? I don't think so. High brow, low brow, no brow. Bring it on I say.

Anyway it was fantastic to see Mrs T (even though she didn't like my new shirt...). And dropped her off in Bolton this morning ready for her 21st birthday barbecue tonight (not her 21st obviously!). Have had the call (from DD natch) and am off shopping this afternoon. There's a whole world of sales out there for us to explore... J x

Just A Quickie

Thank you Linda for the card and the clipping about Caroline. It was a lovely piece. And please do keep me up to date about the "get together" of the old Crawleys. If I can make it I will.

The Tempest last night was superb. A brilliant staging and Pete Postlethwaite was fantastic. A very talented man. Ariel in his tight white pants was not bad either. And don't even get me started on Ferdinand. Just imagine a younger prettier version of Ben Fogle with a superb body and you're half way there...

Anyway, back to the cleaning now, 24 hours until Mrs T arrives and there just aren't enough hours in the day. Thank God today is longer than any other! J x

It Just Never Stops

Just back from the Flute with DD. It was fantastic. The Queen of the Night (you'll be glad to hear) hit all her top notes. And what spectacular notes they were. Pamina was the real star though. To The Tempest tomorrow with Nanny and assorted others (not sure who but I'm sure they're all very nice). Jane has already seen it and says its fab. Thursday night off (cleaning for the arrival of La T). And then Friday is Rigoletto. Which I don't know so should be quite interesting.

Oh and almost forgot, attended the scar clinic this afternoon. I had an appointment for 1440 but after an hour and a half of waiting (and given there were still 3 in front of me) I left. Its only a follow up appointment anyway so I'll just write them a letter of complaint. There were about 4 nurses standing round just gossiping the whole time I was there. And then when I enquired how much longer one might have to wait I was given a filthy look and told "we have got 2 doctors on you know". Yes dear, but they're seeing patients together so there's no f***ing point (I didn't actually say this bit - I might just put it in the letter).

Little Babes, it would be fabtastic (that's a typo, I'd meant to type "fantastic" but I think fabtastic sounds so much better that I'm going to leave it as it is)to meet up next time I'm in London or whenever its convenient. Lets synchronise our diaries next time a London trip is in the offing. J x

Reporting In

So, to a conference (the first National Direct Tax Confeerence)at the British Library on Wednesday. Went down on Tuesday afternoon and stayed with Sarah Tuesday night. We got stuck on the Victoria Line when there were signalling problems which was quite unpleasant in the heat but not too bad as Brixton (where she lives) is the last stop on the line so we didn't have to fight our way through crowds to get off. Incidentally, if you buy an Oyster card all the fares on the tube are a lot cheaper (its £4 from Euston to Brixton without one!) so its worth investing I think next time I go down. The conference was interesting for the most part - apart from the message that we're becoming friendlier and more customer focussed so we all have to hug a taxpayer from now on...

I had an hour to kill after the conference so I went into the Library itself (which I've never visited before) and went to their Treasures room. And what a mind-blowing experience that was. I saw the Magna Carta - yes, the actual Magna Carta. In fact, I saw 2 of them (there were 4 originally apparently). And if that wasn't enough I saw pages from the notebook of Leonardo da Vinci, the first ever Shakespeare publication, a letter from Queen Elizabet I. Amazing stuff. In fact I was so distracted that once I'd got on the train (and turfed the interloper out of my reserved seat - he had some choice words to say on the subject I can tell you)I poured my coffee all over the woman who sat next to me. She wasn't very happy. But she just sulked for the rest of the journey.

Wento to see Pirates of the Carribean on Friday night. It is very long but not too long I don't think. I enjoyed it. Saturday morning was the gym - the first time in about 2 months but since I'm now over 12 stone and looking a little chunkier it was about time. Saturday evening was Kiss of the Spiderwoman at The Lowry which was brilliant. I'd never seen the film (or the musical, or read the book) so it was all new to me. Not terribly sure if it had a point to make but it was interesting with some unexpected twists and turns.

Sunday afternoon round the shops with DD. Ostensibly to buy her a rug, a coffee table and a curtain pole. Needless to say she didn't buy any of these things but I bought a suit! 2 operas this week - The Magic Flute with DD and then Rigoletto with Mrs T on Friday. What fun! J x