Aarrgh!

Mum was due to go to the clinic yesterday for Accupuncture treatment. Results from her recent scan indicated her spine has crumbled even more- this treatment was not therefore appropriate at this time and had to be cancelled. Have to admit I was in two minds about whether this was going to be effective but it wasn't my call and it might have done some good; you never know.



So anyway they've booked her to go back to hospital today to restart the bone strengthening and also to discuss the possibility of injecting resin to provide additional support.



For no other reason than I like it, here's a very recent picture of Mum and Little Lad sharing a special quiet moment.

Getting Excited!

I have decided it's a sure sign I'm getting less young, that I get really excited that my potted Fig tree and baby Walnut tree (not pictured) are starting to grow. Just goes to show what a program of near neglect can do for plants sometimes!

Seriously the Fig is about 6 years old now; last year it produced 3 fruit, two more than the previous. So I'm hoping for good things this growing season. I just love the shape of those fat finger leaves as well. The Walnut truly is a baby standing at about 15-20cm having been grown from a fallen nut that was trying to root itself about 3 years back. I also have a 14 year old Oak in a pot, now standing at about 1.5 metres high, that's going fine as well. Just so you know.

Happy St George's Day

Today is the day us English are supposed to celebrate our Patron Saint, if we're not too embarrassed.

Yep St George- who was likely of Middle Eastern origin- is famed for doing battle with and defeating an evil dragon. Probably.

So how should mark this occasion? Perhaps with our favourite national culinary dish? Curry anyone? LOL

Guild

Took a trip out to see a show put on by the Sussex Guild this weekend. Check out their site: http://www.thesussexguild.co.uk/



The image is a piece of lustre-ware made by husband and wife team Atkinson-Jones (http://www.atkinsonjones.co.uk/) who I have known for a number of years and kindly sent me tickets. Never one to pass on freebies!











I'd also like to extend a big thanks to Aston Villa for keeping Reading FC out of the religation zone for a bit longer. Villa beat Birmingham yesterday 5-1.

Ood Have Thought It?

Haven't I been good: Three weeks in and I haven't once mentioned just how good the new series of Doctor Who is. Whoops!

The stories so far have been great and production values higher than ever. Weren't the Ood great on Saturday? That set at the studios in Rome were absolutely fantastic last week and put to great use, doubling as Pompeii.

David Tennant has been spot-on as ever, quite manic and full of energy yet at the same time you are aware how sad and lonely his character really is. Catherine Tate as Donna gets better and better. Perhaps an older and more mature traveling companion than Rose or Martha, a refreshing change. I only cringe a little when she seems to slip into one of her comedy alter-egos and I pray the writers have resisted a "bovvered" moment. Don't get me wrong, I love her own show and most of the characters she has created but I don't want to see them in my favourite sci-fi show.

Next episode: The return of the war obsessed Sontarans, UNIT and Martha Jones. Can't wait.

Shoot!

Clive Owen seems to be carving a nice career for himself playing hard men these days. Saw this film last night and laughed my socks off. Be warned I think it was an 18 certificate- there's lots of violence and blood everywhere but balanced with touches of well observed humour. Just watch out for those carrots.

Do I Feel Guilty?

It had been sat in my car overnight so was lovely and cold, just the way I like it. 100 grams of chocolate and peanut goodness. Would have been impolite to leave it LOL.

No doubt I'll pay later but do I feel guilty? Do I heck!

Good News Friday

The hospital has decided mum can come home tomorrow. Will be nice to have her back with us.

Time Team Digs America

According to Digital Spy http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a93258/time-team-to-be-remade-for-us.html Channel Four and PBS will be taking the popular Time Team format to the US for a six part series. The plan is to dig some major sites in the US and try to understand the history and what went on there- do the facts and finds agree with the myth and the story?






It's one of my favourite shows- required viewing you could say. Who'd have thought a series about a bunch of people digging up bits of rubble and fronted by the man who used to be Baldrick could be so popular. It's been on our screens since the 90's and as ever they "only have 3 days to find out..."

Seven in the Morning and the Phone Rings...

...And a little voice says "Wake up Daddy. It's snowing!"

Yep as promised earlier this week, just to prove we really are in British Summertime, I've been greeted by a reasonable layer of snow outside and the sound of a very excited Little Lad. You wait until I call his Grandma in hospital later- I'm going in this morning. Should I suggest we have a snowball fight, I wonder..? Mum loves the snow.

So what's happened to this Global Warming we've been told all about? LOL

Update: here's what happened next...

Higher, Higher!

Today I had my Workstation Health & Safety Assessment here in the office.

Like many, I'm sure, my pc was pushed to one corner of my desk at an angle so I had to turn and twist my spine to use it. Not good apparently. It's been moved to the centre of my desk so now if I want to write anything I have to twist round at an angle. If I want to speak to my co-worker I have to lean round my monitor.

Now I'm not a tall guy but apparently my chair was too low (although in fact it needs replacing ultimately). You need to have your knees bent at 90 degrees and your feet flat on the ground for correct posture.

Added to this my monitor was too low. I now have it raised using two lead-acid batteries from an electric scooter- sorted!

It was fine this morning so why does my back ache so much now? LOL

In The Summertime (Part II)

Just heard the weather forecast for the next few days. Snow on it's way to the South East. Brrrr!