Tranquil
The tranquil state one can slip in to watching the window cleaner cleaning the windows with the extendable poles and watching the water flow down the panes of glass below and turning from a stream to singular drops dripping to the floor.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
The Big Secret
Christmas morning we woke about eight and descended the stairs to open our presents with care. Who we kidding we ripped them open like mad as usual. There was three for me, two for Lady and one for Claire. I got three new computer games. Lady got a toy pack and a treat pack. Claire got a Disney Traditions Animal. Then Claire said where is my second present gone it was under the tree the other day. So I replied Santa must have taken it as you were not good enough.
So the rest of the morning was usual until we got ready and went to visit Mum & Amander for christmas lunch. Claire wore her lovely 60’s outfit I wore my suit. We arrived about eleven with the usual seasonal greetings. Got something to drink and sat down in the living room. Claire started to organised the presents into piles for who they where for. Mum, Amander, Claire, Me and Lady. They all started opening and Claire went straight for the missing present from home, no leave that one till last. I helped lady to open her presents then opened my own. Once Claire got to her last present I left the room to get her the Bouquet of Flowers that I had bought her and hid them behind my back. Watching her unwrap the large box to find it full of red and green confetti. She then had to dig to find the next parcel which was also wrapped. Oh o she couldn’t open it I wrapped it up to tight.
So I had to back out the room to get some scissors and then pass them to my sister to give to Claire. She opened the wrapping to find a white box, she then opened the white box to find the black and brown box. As she took the box out of the white one I move to just in front of her as she opened it I went down on one and said will you marry me and presented the flowers. Claire went silent for what seemed like forever. She said “I suppose so”, “That’s a yes then” I was still shaking and had trouble putting the ring on her finger. We then stood and hugged and kissed then my mum and sister dived on Claire with hugs and kisses.
Christmas Night Party
Christmas Night we had arranged to go visit my cousin John’s for a party. So we arranged to pick Mum and Amander up at 7pm as I was not drinking. Arrived at Mum and as usual she is not ready and neither was Amander. Amander didn’t feel well so she decided to stay at home. We arrived at John’s around 7:30pm bearing liquid gifts for the adults and sweets and money for the kids.
Dawn had preparied a lovely spread of food and it was a very good night chillen out with family. Lots of talking and catching up while people ate and drank. It was funny watching the kids play on the kinect challenging the adults to games. I wasn’t drinking as I had to be up at 5am to drive to Lincoln.
Me and Amander have been getting a bit over mum’s 50th on the 29th. Spoken to mum about this eailer she said she didn’t really wish to do anything, which is what we though. So spoken to uncle Gerard about it and it was decided that we were to have a 50th Bithday party. I know there was not much time to orgonise but it would be managable. All though we would not be able to do much until the 27th as the 26th we were off to Lincoln at 6am.
The rest of the night was great and we all had a really good time.
Boxing Day trip to Lincoln
Claire and I desided that since we didn’t get home until 1am that we would set the alarm to 6am instead of 5am. So getting up and pulling everything together that we were taking to Lincoln, presents and dog food, clothes etc… we packed the car and off we went. Lady needed a walk so we pulled into one of her favorite walking places by the resivour and gave her a walk. Then off we went heading down the East Lancashire road to meet the M60 then the M62 to the M1A, etc… Until we arrived at Lincoln and the door step of Bev & Dave at 9am. Would have been here quicker if it wasn’t for the four sets of road works which slowed me down to 50.
Claire knocked on the door and Dave opening it and Bev was on the phone in the hall way and burst out crying as we walked in and shouted suprise. Only David & Adam, Claires brothers knew we were coming up. We hugged and kissed and did all the usual merryment. Claire told them the good news and the congratulations started and Bev who had only just finished crying started all over again. We had a nice morning playing with baby Issobele and Elliot, talking with David, Emma, Bev & Dave. Then around 11 we set off for Adams (Claires Brother).
On the way to Adams we popped in to see Ray & Sue to wish them a happy christmas. Really good freinds of the family who we had down to Liverpool to stay a few months ago. Upon arriving at Adam’s we wished everyone a merry christmas and gave the children their presents. Then Claire showed everyone her ring and spread the good news. We then played with Jack and Jordan until dinner was ready.Adam worked hard and cooked a lovely boxing day lunch (roast dinner). The food was magnificent everyone enjoyed it. Then we just chilled out and chattered.
Later it was back to Bevs and some more chillen out until it was time to leave about 8pm it was a long day and we got home about 11pm as we needed to stop a couple of times for Lady.
Mums 50th
27th was spend chillen mostly but also ringing round and texting people about mums 50th.
28th Pay Day yippee, I could go and buy the food for the party. Claire and I spend just over £100 on food and went to put it in mums fridge and freezer to find they were full. So we had to transport it home quickly. Amander told mum we were having a party for her.
29th Party day, Cooking started eairly on the Thrusday with me running food from one house to the next. Then Mum and me went and got the beverages for the evening and a few bits of meat. This came to just over £200.
That night even though it was very short notice their was a great turnout and mum was happy with thouse that had turned up. The improtant this was that mum had a good time and she didn’t she had a great time and that was all that mattered.
Thanks to everyone who made it a special night.
New Years Eve Party
We were all invited to a New Years Eve party at Anuty Kathy and Uncle Mike’s house. It was fantastic. Not driving for once I could have a drink. Claire was a bit under the weather but she managed a smile and was introduce to everyone and they all got to see the ring. It was great catching up with cousins and anuties and uncles that I have not seen some of the 10 to 20 years.
Their was drink, food, jokes and riddles. It was a fantastic evening everyone loved it.
Good Night Dad sleep well
Hi Everyone sorry for not posting blogs for a while but its been a bit busy with me and this is the first time I have felt like blogging lately. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride for two months now with everything that has been going on with dad.
So what has been going on well,
My Dad as you may have seen in some of my earlier posts was diagnosed with cancer back in January and unfortunately we lost him on November 16th @ 8:45 am 2011. He will be missed by use all and anyone that knew him. We organised the funeral for Thursday 24th November 10am at Anfield Crematorium. It was a nice day as they go for these sort of events but there was a lot of people who turned out to say good-bye to him.
We arranged for him to come home before hand and he was in the house for three days and two nights. Lots of people called round to pay their respects and some to even have a last drink with him. We held a rosary performed by my aunty. Family and friends got to spend some time with him and say goodbye as all of them could not be with him during his last few days in the hospice.
What happened?
Well I have been asking that my self as we constantly were getting good results from Clatterbridge and the specialist that the treatment was working. It was until he contracted pneumonia, he was admitted to Fazakerley hospital and they kept him in for a week and we had him on IV’s, for fluids and meds. They let him leave the hospital too soon he was not cured but we didn’t know that we thought the pneumonia had gone but it hadn’t as we would not have taken him for his cemo the following Wednesday. He went for it slept through nearly all of it then we went home. Then things went bad and he got worse and worse over the days. To the point where he was dehydrated through not eating and drinking and the phenomena. We had doctors out but their was nothing they could do as he refused to go back to hospital. He was also getting more and more aggressive towards everyone. This went on until the following Wednesday when his next appointment when he was taken in and immediately had a load of nurses and doctors around him and they rushed him off to a ward. They ran tests and made him comfortable, put him on a drips for meds, liquids and morphine for the pain.
Yep he still had the pneumonia he should have never been discharged from Fazakerley and defiantly should not have had the cemo. We took it in turns to sit and stay with him due to his illness he was moved to a side ward. We could come and go as we pleased and stayed with him 24/7 he was never alone. We were his nurses we did almost everything we could for the nurses to take some pressure of them. Clatterbridge managed to get ride of the pneumonia with two weeks of antibiotics but he was not strong enough to continue with the cemo. Not having any imu system. We couldn’t get him to eat or drink so all him food was through drips but it was just enough. Then at the end of the week Clatterbridge said we had to move him to a hospice as there was nothing they could do anymore. He was dying.
We called everyone in to see him as he was expected not to live through the weekend family from far and wide came to see him and spend some time with him. He seemed to be making an improvement, slight it may be but it was an improvement. But he was still very ill. We made arrangements for him to be moved to a hospice but could only get one in Woolton not Fazakerley still it was only 15 mins away from home. Again he had his own room and again we were there 24/7 looking after him sitting with him talking to him. He had good days and bad days. Then we had a meeting with the head doc and nurse and they told us everything. Yes everything even the bad stuff. It was not good they where giving him three weeks at the most to live. They were right about the number it was three but it was days.
So how I am I doing?
The only thing getting me through this atm is thinking of the happy time. I have good days and bad days, not that you could tell by looking at me but most of the time I’m fine. Until someone asks about my dad or like now that I’m writing about him my eyes are filling with tears.
Good Night Dad sleep well, The pain has gone, You can rest at peace now, You have closed your eyes one last time, You are now in the arms of loved ones we have lost before you.
Sickness
I hate being off sick it’s so boring and it’s no picnic not being able to breath, as well as coughing up fluid and mucious the consistency of a macdonalds milk shake every five minutes.
Asthma issues big time not been this bad in years. Nearly had to go to hospital twice this week due to not being able to breath luckily just got it under control in time. Chest infection not helping. It’s one step forward and two steps back everyday.
Thank god i don’t talk to people on our estate if they found out how many drugs im on and which ones they would be queing at the door and down the street.
Sleepless nights are the worse even with being dosesed up with powerful pain killers being so tired but not going to sleep. The high temperature don’t help either and i dont mean the weather i mean mine. The paracetamol is meant to help but it has no effect.
I could not get an appointment at the doctors this morning so going to they again in morning as the steroids and antibiotics all ran out today. Still got loads of pain killers might get some more thought.
Really worries about being off work so much. With all new policies and procedures and job losses its hard not to think about it. But i could go in atm can just about walk from the living onto the kitchen and to the loo without collapsing on the floor.
I should have been in hospital last week but i can’t face all the extra procedures plus being around sick people.
Doctors never listen to you. Told home two weeks ago i was getting a bad Chestinfection back and sides always hurt like been kicked by a mule. But they won’t give you the antibiotics until tour Flem turns green. So that’s three days of coughing my guts up and gttting worse before they help. Means more sick leave for me, leaves me not being happy.
Why don’t they listen? I suffer from a chronic illness which i have been managing for 30 years shouldn’t they listen to me i know from my experienced with my body what’s happening. It’s so frustrating. Now i may be stuck at home for a third week. Not even abel to take the dog for a walk. I hate not being able to do anything. Even hanging the wet washing out or bring the dry in will render me out of it for 30 mins.
Sorry everyone for the rant im just going staire crazy a bit.
Why don’t people just leave me alone!!!!!
Why can’t people just let me come into work, do my job and leave. This is not a vocation for me it’s just a job. Once I walk out the doors at going home time, I have an other 1,000,000,001 things to thing about and think about I don’t eat, sleep and shit this place.
I know my job, as a matter of fact, I know quite a few of the people’s jobs around me, well having done them all at one stage of my career or another. Yet there are people who will throw a spanner in the works or interfere where it’s not wanted just because they can’t do their own job.
Then you have people going round talking about other people behind their backs, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOME CONFRONT THEM!!!!
Rant Over
It takes you by suprise!
There you go traveling along, stuck in the daily routine, then like a car crash just out of know where you get with the news and then everyday routine and feelings change.
February 2011 my dad was diagnosed with Cancer. Yep everyone has been their well this is the third time I’ve been here in and a lot more times with good friends and their families. Dad has always been a smoker and we knew one day it would happen but no matter how prepared you are you are never ready.
So Feb was lots of tests and scans to find out what was wrong. He was diagnosed with Secondary Lung Cancer and Adenocarcinoma which is under the skin. There was a lot of poking and probing and lots of blood test, x-rays and scans. Talk about different kinds of treatment and different trials. When mum and dad told us the news first words out off our moths was “No there’s a surprise” It was not that we did not care, far from it, it’s just even though it was a surprise it wasn’t. It was defiantly up setting it didn’t happen straight away but it threw me couldn’t concentrate much became a bit withdrawn from work life and friends. Started to keep to myself and staying away from every as much as possible.
End of Feb and in to March saw the Radiotherapy treatment take place it was tiring and painful for dad at times. The hardest times during this is not being able to give him a hug or when I was away with work and only able to contact him by phone but he was never awake. We could not hug him as he had injured is arm falling down the stairs as well as the pain he was in from the treatment and the needles etc… This was all going so well he was having more test and scans towards the end of the month and at the end of the radio treatment.
End of March saw Dad going for his first Kimo treatment. This takes all day. You start by having your bloods taken then you get to sit in a chair all day with a drip in your arm while they give you 5 bags of medication. 4 large and 1 or 2 small. The large bags take up to 1h-30mins each and the smalls ones take 10 mins. You can unplug the drip machine and go for a walk or the loo. You get given special cardboard toilet to monitor your fluid levels. The meds make you sleepy and you have lazy boy recliners to chill out in. Dad is getting his treatment at one of the best and leading hospital in the north-west for cancer, Clatterbridge Hospital on the Wirral. He is so impatient as soon as he get’s there he is asking can he go home yet. His first treatment went well so we thought.
His first treatment was on the Friday and he lost all apatite over the weekend and got sick as well as not sleeping so, on Monday Mum took him to the Doctors and he was admitted to Clatterbridge where he was put on a ward. He had an infection on his chest and also in his throat so he could not 
eat or drink and he was in a lot of pain. As usual we don’t find out about things like this until late on in the day and well yes I received a phone call in work. Well that was the end of my day. Two weeks he spend on the ward and for the most of it he looked like a corpse he was so grey, in pain but asleep. He was on Morphine and total out of. Seeing him for the first time on the ward shook me and claire as he looked like Pete did before he passed not more that two years ago this month.
Pete was Claire’s dad, he was great, he welcomed me in to the family and I cherish the time that I had with him but wish it had been more. We lost him three years ago the other week to a rare dormant form of TB. As well as the infection he also had cancer. The TB was just laying dormant in his body and it came to surface when he caught a cold. The hospital in Lincoln managed to get the TB under control but there was nothing they could do about the cancer. So once well enough he came home where he lived out his remaining time with his family around him. Pete was so active and as the title of this says “It takes you by surprise!” It came from no where again. He was going to work everyday and to his allotment then all of a sudden. Gone but not forgotten, a gentil and kind person with the biggest bushy beard.
Dad spend two weeks in hospital and as on his day visit every time he was awake he asked could he go home. He got ratty some times and even kicked everyone out an hour early on visiting one night. The thing I hated doing the most was telling people not just colleagues and friends but also family being the one who has to inform them. Aunty Julie came over from the Ilse of Man to see him, while she was here she bought him a new football shirt which he loves.
Well it was time for dad second kimo last Friday but i
t was cancelled. They ran some more test on the Thursday and some scans and they found out that the cancer has spread to his head. The kimo was moved to the Monday and I took time off from work to go and sit with him I didn’t get to spend as much of the day with him as I wanted due to Claire’s shift at work she finished at 5:30am so was just dead to the world till midday. We sat and talked and he fell asleep, he got grouchy and shout, he had a laugh and he was ok. He got some bad news that he can’t have lady back to live with them yet so she is on permanent vacation until the kimo is fully over. This is Lady our family dog, she is a Lhasa Apso and as you can see she is polishing off Claire’s spaghetti bolognese.
The lumps that are present seem to be getting smaller so hopefuly everything is going ok and the medication is working. Dad has got a little chest infection again but nothing to bad. I’ve booked the day off for his next appointment so I can spend the day with him. One good thing is that dad has reconnected with some of his family which is good as he has been happy seeing them and spending time with them.
A Tribute
To a lost friend.
It’s March 1st and it’s been 10 months since we lost Stu, our dear friend and colleague.
The season is starting to change from winter to autumn. The daffodils and snowdrops are growing strong, the grass is a vibrant green and thick, the sun is bright and high in the sky.
Stu’s dad Frank bought us a tree to remember him by. The tree is a Japanese acer, which will produce red-leaves. There was a tree planting the other week, a nice place has been chosen in the garden behind Paula’s Bench. I can see it now through the window from the counter where I am sat.
My thoughts often stray to Stu during the working day. When I think of something good to talk to him about or a joke that I know he would like and even to turn to him for help and advice with a problem at work.
From the Crosby Herald
Tree tribute at JMU to a special son
Feb 24 2011 by Mark Johnson, Crosby Herald
FAMILY, friends and work colleagues appeared at a special tree planting ceremony which honoured a much-loved son.
Stuart Kirk was 43 when he died of a heart attack at his home on Newborough Avenue in Crosby in May last year.
On Friday tribute was paid to him with the planting of a Japanese acer tree and unveiling of a plaque.
The tree was positioned near his favourite spot at work where he would read his books in the summer months.
At John Moore’s University’s (JMU) Avril Roberts building a 20 minute ceremony took place, where Stuart’s dad Frank thanked the university for allowing the service to take place.
Frank, 70, said: “Stuart was a loving, gentle and an unassuming man.
“He loved his nieces and nephews to bits and he loved our grand children too.
“He lived at home with us and we loved him so much.
“The tree is a Japanese acer tree which will produce red-leaves and it will stand out against all of the green-coloured leafed trees.
“He was totally content with his life and he never had one day off work sick. He was loved so much.”
He added: “He know something about everything and he knew everything about computing.
“His knowledge and his memory was amazing.”
Stuart had worked at the learning resource at JMU centre for almost 25 years.
His Crosby life included attending Forefield Lane school and later Chesterfield High School. He graduated with a degree in computing from Wolverhampton University.
The 43-year-old suffered a heart attack while at home and he was discovered by his dad who had just got back from a trip to Scotland where he had been visiting his other son Graham, 35, with wife Andrea.
Maxine Melling, director of libraries and student support thanked the gathering for attending the celebration of Stuart’s life and she said: “His colleagues remember him with a great deal of happiness.
“He came from a special family. The tree is accepted with our love.”
Stuart’s friend and work colleague Ray Burns said: “Stuart was a fantastic person to work with. He loved reading books such as The Lord of the Rings, and Terry Pratchett, and he enjoyed watching DVDs – Leon was his favourite film.
“He also liked the Lord of The Rings movies.”
A plaque was also placed next to the tree and its inscription read: “In memory of our dear friend and colleague Stuart Kirk (Stu). A gentle and unassuming man who knew something about everything and everything about computing. 1966-2010.”
The Gadget Show
Woo hoo!
A couple of months ago on Twitter, Karen O’Donovan aka @O_Donut was advertising tickets for a live recording of the Gadget Show in Manchester. Having been a long time fan and watcher of the show could not afford to pass this opportunity so logged into a site called “Lost in TV” registered and signed up for the tickets. Not being greedy I re tweeted the link and information that @O_Donut had sent out as I know a few other people who would live to go as well. With 24 hours I had an email confirmation and a link to download and print the tickets.
I have been like a child at christmas with anticipation waiting for the day to arrive when I can open the presents under the christmas tree or in this case have a day of work and venture up the M62 and the M602 into the heart of Manchester for the recording. That day is now 48 hours away.
I have just found out that three of my friends are also going Si @SCTurner73, Frank @frankolad & Nick, it should be a great day out.
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After the event.
——————-
Well I was right it was a great day, long but great.
It was lucky that we decided to go early as we were some of the few early birds. As an hour later the que was right down the road and round the corner of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (MOIS).
While we we queued up a camera man came out and took some crowed shots.
Then around 2 o’clock we were let in the hall where the show was to be recorded.
The set was really bright and that was before the camera lights were turned on. While we were waiting Jason & Ortis came out cracked a few jokes and welcomed everyone.
Then we had a warm up guy called Paul who was really quite funny. He kept the audience going all day.
While Jason & Ortis went off to finish getting ready Paul told jokes and played a bit of music and we went through different levels of applauding. unfortunately the level 5 & 4 applauding was too loud for the recordings, so we had to do level 3 mostly.
The Ortis & Polly challenge with Jon being the ref as usual. They had to go to Africa and get a 360 degree panoramic shot, and also extreme video footage.
Then a group of photography students marked the stills and the audience with the aid of a decibel meter chose the video.
Jon getting ready to do his solo report on mp3 & mp4 players for sports use.
The hard-working crew of the Gadget Show on the road.
Who wants to win this amount of GAGE “I DO!”
Jon, Ortis & Polly chilln in between shooting and resets.
Polly & Ortis Chilln
Suzi’s & Jason’s work bench for the challenge
they have to make waterproof, smash proof and fire proof covers and then stick their own phone in and test to destruction.
Jason potentially tweeting his last tweet texting his last text.
before the water challenge make up needs touching up
Before the boom
Me and the gage team what a wonderful day. Thank you very much.
The Haircut
This story landed in my mail folder last week and I thought it was funny and that I would share it with you all.
Enjoy!
The Haircut
BOTH POLITICIANS AND NAPPIES NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON! |
Birthdays
Why do people get all in a tizz about their birthday.
What do you want? Nothing!
Where do you wanna go? No where!
Who do you wanna see? No One!
That’s what you get off people then you go and trawl the shops looking for a gift easier said than done for some people, but you find it then you wrap it then you organise a night out with friends. Then it’s a big subterfuge from everyone involved until the day or night.
Then when you get them their and they are surprised and love every minuet of the experience.
So why all the strop in the first place.
TTFN Ray.
R77B 
