Now this seems to be a throwback. Up at ridiculously early hour because of a wandering child. At least I have a DVD player to watch my favourite recuperative programmes.
It's 5am so it must be time for an episode of Star Trek. How can I stay awake while watching Kirk, Spock and the gang.
Maybe the child has nothing to do with it. It could be a side effect. The first pill has been taken - four more to go. There's an ointment to rub all over my gammy right hand. I am wondering how an ointment can help a hand.
The pills are supposed to be anti inflammatory but the pharmacist told me I had to take it in the middle of a meal otherwise there would be rumblings in my stomach.
I thought a gammy tummy to remedy a gammy hand. What kind of choice is that. And besides I can't take pills to stop pain. We have to get to the source.
So the radiogramme later on Friday and then the neurologue after the holidays.
I was a bit tearful earlier as my dad had to take lots of stuff which had horrible side effects like a gammy tummy. He spoke about the difficulty of it all. It made me sad to recall it. Still does.
But he was battling cancer and gammy legs. At the moment I'm fighting a dicky hand and a boy who does not be too keen to sleep.
He has a siesta at school which renders him buoyant of an evening. Perhaps when the siestas stop he will be more malleable and tired at night time.
Auxiliary controls as some characters would say on a 1960s sci-fi series.
Thursday 22 October 2009
The Course
The trip to the doctor was its ever drawn out self. The appointment was for 10.20am. But we've been going for years and we know that 10.20 means some time after 11.
This relaxed approach to the time vortex has knock-on effects.
I spent the prelude to the visit showing the middle child Sex Pistols videos on YouTube.
Then the big child came into the kitchen and we watched a few numbers from the Specials. By the time the boy came in we were onto Madness.
Apt really. Because that's what I thought had enveloped me when I sat at 1050 waiting for my 1020.
Exasperation hit at gone 11 when I realised that the trip down nostalgia lane had ramifications.
I had not taken my cheque book nor my health card.
Sat in the waiting room without the vital pieces. I declared my incompetence to the doctor immediately and said I would come back immediately after the appointment.
She said I'm not moving from the surgery.
The point of the visit is a gammy hand. I cannot grasp anything with my right hand.
Is it repetitive strain injury? Is it a trapped nerve?
Well I'm on the merry-go-round. Off for a radiogramme thang on Friday morning and then I'm seeing a neurologue in early November.
Following my visit to the cardiologue in September, I'm feeling very integrated.
As middle age and its attendant crises take a hold, I am going to try and see if I can pass off a mistress as a sexologue.
This relaxed approach to the time vortex has knock-on effects.
I spent the prelude to the visit showing the middle child Sex Pistols videos on YouTube.
Then the big child came into the kitchen and we watched a few numbers from the Specials. By the time the boy came in we were onto Madness.
Apt really. Because that's what I thought had enveloped me when I sat at 1050 waiting for my 1020.
Exasperation hit at gone 11 when I realised that the trip down nostalgia lane had ramifications.
I had not taken my cheque book nor my health card.
Sat in the waiting room without the vital pieces. I declared my incompetence to the doctor immediately and said I would come back immediately after the appointment.
She said I'm not moving from the surgery.
The point of the visit is a gammy hand. I cannot grasp anything with my right hand.
Is it repetitive strain injury? Is it a trapped nerve?
Well I'm on the merry-go-round. Off for a radiogramme thang on Friday morning and then I'm seeing a neurologue in early November.
Following my visit to the cardiologue in September, I'm feeling very integrated.
As middle age and its attendant crises take a hold, I am going to try and see if I can pass off a mistress as a sexologue.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
The Cafe
This is what we love. A quick entry while waiting for the eldest who's at her tennis lesson. I am recovering at a cafe after a hard day of administration. Methinks there should be more to a Tuesday than sorting out bank statements but actually no. I did my time in London and now I'm back in Paris the whole thing has to be sorted out. Such a shame I felt so ropey this morning. Must be the sheer joy of being with my family. Am literally going to make a splash later. It's children and parents at the swimming lesson. Perhaps that will help my gammy hand.
Tuesday 13 October 2009
The Long Weekend
Good grief it doesn't seem that long ago that I was cycling along the Regent's Canal from Kings Cross to get to London Zoo. That was a pleasant journey. Marred only by the fact that I had to get off the bike and wheel it through Camden Lock market.
There didn't seem to be anywhere else to go. But once through that it was tranquil cycling. I thought it would be an interesting piece to write on the different buildings lining the canal.
the industrial buildings and then the canalside residential developments. Some of them obviously brushed aluminum interiors while others were clearly not so plush.
I would simply settle for the regency type extravaganzas near Regents Park.
They must be cheap nowadays.
There didn't seem to be anywhere else to go. But once through that it was tranquil cycling. I thought it would be an interesting piece to write on the different buildings lining the canal.
the industrial buildings and then the canalside residential developments. Some of them obviously brushed aluminum interiors while others were clearly not so plush.
I would simply settle for the regency type extravaganzas near Regents Park.
They must be cheap nowadays.
Saturday 10 October 2009
The First Match 2009
Nice place Conflans st Honorine. There were tennis courts next to the football pitches and I felt more inclined to go and play tennis.
Well at least we got beaten on grass. That was a nice experience. They were better. But it still gets me when people start doing all that holding on stuff at corners. This is not professional football.
But clearly it makes people feel better.
One of their blokes kicked the ball away when it was our goal kick. It was a bizarre moment. They were 4-1 up with 10 or so minutes to go and he did that.
I can't get my head around that. And that's probably why we should be in division two rather than in division one with such idiots.
Well at least we got beaten on grass. That was a nice experience. They were better. But it still gets me when people start doing all that holding on stuff at corners. This is not professional football.
But clearly it makes people feel better.
One of their blokes kicked the ball away when it was our goal kick. It was a bizarre moment. They were 4-1 up with 10 or so minutes to go and he did that.
I can't get my head around that. And that's probably why we should be in division two rather than in division one with such idiots.
Friday 9 October 2009
The Peace Prize
Must say I was quite surprised that Barack Obama was handed the Nobel Peace Prize. It was clearly a slow news day because there were enough people on the box wondering whether he deserved it.
I visited the Nobel foundation place while in Stockholm a few summers back just to get a flavour of the whole thing. My attitude is: I'm never likely to win one so well done to anyone who does.
I visited the Nobel foundation place while in Stockholm a few summers back just to get a flavour of the whole thing. My attitude is: I'm never likely to win one so well done to anyone who does.
Matchday I 09
First taste of the big league in the morning. Preparation was hit by the cancellation of the yoga class. How can I be as one with the ball without my Hatha session from the night before.
Questions. Perhaps getting a decent night's sleep might help.
I was ousted from the sofa by the middle child after being shunted from the bed by the boy. Well at least it meant an early breakfast and an episode of Star Trek to keep me going.
Went back to bed after I'd taken them all to school and visited the town hall.
Had to do that to get the railway discount card. Proof that I am in a couple.
Would have thought the bags under the eyes was testament enough.
Questions. Perhaps getting a decent night's sleep might help.
I was ousted from the sofa by the middle child after being shunted from the bed by the boy. Well at least it meant an early breakfast and an episode of Star Trek to keep me going.
Went back to bed after I'd taken them all to school and visited the town hall.
Had to do that to get the railway discount card. Proof that I am in a couple.
Would have thought the bags under the eyes was testament enough.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
The Bee Book II
Have started the book about bees. First chapter tells the importance of bee imagery throughout the centuries, throughout the millennia.
Everyone has had a wise word about the insect and as for the work they do in pollinating crops. Ooh they're busy.
Everyone has had a wise word about the insect and as for the work they do in pollinating crops. Ooh they're busy.
The Fashion Crowd
I joined the fashion gang today. Lunching with the in crowd at the Palais Royal. Well it was an old friend of mine who was in town for the Paris fashion shows.
We ate and then I accompanied her to her next show at the Carré du Louvre. There was lots of flash photography and in she went into the melee.
What a life. I awaited the bus to take me to the radio station to find out the latest about the wide wonderful world of sports.
Before I got the bus I did notice a few of the late arrivals racing for the door. But they were all in these high heels and unable to advance very swiftly or gracefully.
Good looking girls in a hurry. Most unappetizing.
We ate and then I accompanied her to her next show at the Carré du Louvre. There was lots of flash photography and in she went into the melee.
What a life. I awaited the bus to take me to the radio station to find out the latest about the wide wonderful world of sports.
Before I got the bus I did notice a few of the late arrivals racing for the door. But they were all in these high heels and unable to advance very swiftly or gracefully.
Good looking girls in a hurry. Most unappetizing.
Tuesday 6 October 2009
The Next Book
After getting through Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August, I have moved onto something no less important.
It is written by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum and called A World Without Bees. Subtitled The Mysterious Decline of the Honeybee and What It Means For Us.
Well I know it won't mean blood drenched fields mutilation and rampant nationalism but I will dive in and learn and keep blog readers posted.
It is written by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum and called A World Without Bees. Subtitled The Mysterious Decline of the Honeybee and What It Means For Us.
Well I know it won't mean blood drenched fields mutilation and rampant nationalism but I will dive in and learn and keep blog readers posted.
The Retro Journey
There's been a calculated policy of avoiding politics in the blog - you don't want to put people off - but there comes a time when you just have to have a say.
My nanny - the lady who looked after me when I was a kid and mum was out at work - told me that thee were a couple of things I shouldn't do.
1 Don't smoke
2 Don't tell anyone your politics
Being an obedient kind of kid, I have followed her counsel to the letter.
Of course over the years there's a natural assumption that because I work for the Guardian that I must be some furrow browed liberal.
But I'm a complex chap and I have learned over the years that many a prejudice emerges from assumption.
I've been working on the politics website over the past couple of weeks and it's been party conference time in Britain.
The Labour one was full of fighting talk about the party not going lamely to the gallows of the next election.
The Lib Dems seemed to be saying we've got some very good ideas and on Monday the Tories seemed to be saying we will mess up our chances of a whopping victory by reminding people exactly why they voted for Labour back in 1997.
The election has to be held before June 2010 and so far there's been talk of chopping benefits, making the NHS more efficient by offering people a "post bureaucratic" landscape.
And then there's a kerfuffle over participation in Europe. A desire to maintain certain powers for the national government rather than have a European wide modus operandi.
I just love it. I said to one of my colleagues listening to the radio before I went to work made me feel I was back in 1993 when this was the talk on the airwaves.
No need for rejuvenating facelifts. Just bring on the timewarp Tories and feel as if you have not developed.
A very sharp contrast to The Tomorrow People.
My nanny - the lady who looked after me when I was a kid and mum was out at work - told me that thee were a couple of things I shouldn't do.
1 Don't smoke
2 Don't tell anyone your politics
Being an obedient kind of kid, I have followed her counsel to the letter.
Of course over the years there's a natural assumption that because I work for the Guardian that I must be some furrow browed liberal.
But I'm a complex chap and I have learned over the years that many a prejudice emerges from assumption.
I've been working on the politics website over the past couple of weeks and it's been party conference time in Britain.
The Labour one was full of fighting talk about the party not going lamely to the gallows of the next election.
The Lib Dems seemed to be saying we've got some very good ideas and on Monday the Tories seemed to be saying we will mess up our chances of a whopping victory by reminding people exactly why they voted for Labour back in 1997.
The election has to be held before June 2010 and so far there's been talk of chopping benefits, making the NHS more efficient by offering people a "post bureaucratic" landscape.
And then there's a kerfuffle over participation in Europe. A desire to maintain certain powers for the national government rather than have a European wide modus operandi.
I just love it. I said to one of my colleagues listening to the radio before I went to work made me feel I was back in 1993 when this was the talk on the airwaves.
No need for rejuvenating facelifts. Just bring on the timewarp Tories and feel as if you have not developed.
A very sharp contrast to The Tomorrow People.
Friday 2 October 2009
The Tomorrow People Not I
Well from the euphoria of watching two episodes of the Tomorrow People, I have some sort of meltdown in the software and could not watch episode 3.
Very discontented. Must not let it affect the performance in the first run out of the season. A cup match against a thoroughly unpleasant team whose saving grace is that they put on a lavish spread of bread, pate and wine after the match.
Shame that it is a home game and our hospitality in comparison is rather poor. But at least we're rich in spirit of fair play.
The question is do I potentially wreck my calm trying to get this website stuff to work or not. Maybe it is a con website in that it works for one evening only to torment poor nostalgia seeking saps like me.
Oh woe.
Very discontented. Must not let it affect the performance in the first run out of the season. A cup match against a thoroughly unpleasant team whose saving grace is that they put on a lavish spread of bread, pate and wine after the match.
Shame that it is a home game and our hospitality in comparison is rather poor. But at least we're rich in spirit of fair play.
The question is do I potentially wreck my calm trying to get this website stuff to work or not. Maybe it is a con website in that it works for one evening only to torment poor nostalgia seeking saps like me.
Oh woe.
Thursday 1 October 2009
The Tomorrow People
Just love the techno age. Have just got a hold of the software to watch The Tomorrow People, a series from my innocent youth. Never saw all of them because I think I had piano lessons or something like that.
This is all from the 1970s and the acting is as plonky as the sets.
Top nostalgia. Only eight seasons to catch up on. Doubt I'll be doing much sleeping over the next couple of weeks. Will have to show it to the children.
This is all from the 1970s and the acting is as plonky as the sets.
Top nostalgia. Only eight seasons to catch up on. Doubt I'll be doing much sleeping over the next couple of weeks. Will have to show it to the children.
The Vote
In Copenhagen they'll be deciding the venue of the next Olympic Games. Chicago, Tokyo, Rio or Madrid.
Well it's London in 2012. Where in 2016?
We will know on Friday. For the moment just concerned about going to Angola and South Africa to watch some football.
Did I say football? A the beautiful game. I am gearing up for the first appearance of the season. It's a cup game on Saturday and I am anxious about a left leg. Is this a tight hamstring I feel before me?
No need to get theatrical about this.
Maybe if I don't go, then it will be OK.
That's so intelligent.
Well it's London in 2012. Where in 2016?
We will know on Friday. For the moment just concerned about going to Angola and South Africa to watch some football.
Did I say football? A the beautiful game. I am gearing up for the first appearance of the season. It's a cup game on Saturday and I am anxious about a left leg. Is this a tight hamstring I feel before me?
No need to get theatrical about this.
Maybe if I don't go, then it will be OK.
That's so intelligent.
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