“You’re entirely bonkers, but I’ll tell you a secret, all the best people are.”

 

Wow, the last blog post I published was in September 2021 just after Carol and I had returned from a short break in Cornwall with the medium sized ginger dog. Blogspot sent me a message earlier this month advising that unless I posted some new content that the blog would be deleted. After over 250,000 words it seemed a shame to lose all that writing.

Last month we went back to our beloved Cornwall and had a great few days of walking on the beaches and eating our bodyweight in seafood, either in local restaurants or from the fishmonger in Wadebridge. We were incredibly lucky with the weather for late March, no rain at all and generally clear blue skies. A combination of an on shore wind and spring tides meant the seas were big, some of the best waves I’ve seen for ages, I couldn’t resist taking a few (hundred) photos whilst I had the chance.

 Neville was in doggy heaven, running up and down the beaches, digging holes in the sand, generally being a dog.

We were surprised just how deserted the beaches were, often it would just be the three of us with possible two or three other couples spread over the vast expanse of sands.   Whilst in Cornwall Mrs C. pointed out the house prices, which if you were frugal, weren’t that bad and perhaps we should just pack our bags and up sticks. Wadebridge has a rugby club, a decent butchers and a first class fishmongers, what more could we ask for? We met up with Nev’s big brother Sidney which we were down. His Assistants live on the edge of Wadebridge so we asked for a “Warts ‘n all” low down on the town. Other than it’s busy in the summer months there were very few warts. Watch this space, I suspect by this time in 2023 we’ll have left Berkshire for good. We’re thinking of a one bed cottage so as to stop the influx of visitors, family and friends.

Life is all a little bit strange for me at the moment. It’s unlikely I’ll get another full time job, I still get very tired and often have a “Dad Nap” in the afternoon, usually being cuddled by Nev whilst some film plays on Netflix. I think it’s a combination of being an old git, the Lary surgery, RT and Chemo creating the perfect storm that makes me so tired.

Monday to Thursday are pretty regimented for the two of us (Carol is at work). We’ll have a morning walk in the park, trying to avoid young and bouncy dogs who Nev won’t get on with. I get really pissed off when other dog walkers say “But he / she is friendly and just wants to play”… in which case don’t let your dog blindside mine and bounce on him, if you do don’t be surprised if Nev gets reactive. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being bounced by strangers in the park.

After our park walk we’ll normally (every weekday) make our way up to Mad Hatters Coffee shop in the village. I’ve written about Mad Hatters before, but they really do deserve their own post on my blog. During the dark days of 2020 / 21 Lockdowns we’d often walk past the shop and Nev would pull towards the door hoping for ear ruffles, tummy tickles and most importantly dog treats. He’d look up at me when the shutters were pulled down as if to say “What’s going on?”

Mad Hatters is a community hub, if your name begins with an “L” you’ve a good chance of working there, Lisa, Lou, Lizzy, Lianne. Add in Aston, Julie, Chole, Amber and Owner Fiona and you’ve got a dream team. (I may have missed some staff off). In the mornings often I’ll see Sonia who is even more of a regular than I am. She helps out by clearing up tables if the staff are pushed. I reckon Sonia is one of the good ones. She’s happy to speak to anyone and everyone. Sonia knew I’m into my photography and kindly passed on a book of photographs from Tilehurst in the early 1900’s, it was a fascinating read once I’d prised it away from Carol. There’s Tom, who arrives in an electric wheelchair, he’d love for Nev to be his mate, but I think Nev is a bit frightened of the chair. If we arrive after 9’ish we’ll often bump into a mother and daughter combo who have fallen in love with the medium sized ginger one. Nev won the Pride of Reading photographic competition back in December, well actually I won the competition, Nev was the subject. The ladies asked for a copy of Nev’s pic which I was happy to provide.

 They always ask if they can give Nev a treat from the treat jar, he knows the ladies and is happy to sit and look pathetic, knowing he’ll get a treat. There are a couple of chaps who come in most days when we’re there, a case of “Hello, how’s it going?” A couple who bring their dog in, he and Nev didn’t originally get on, but now they tolerate each other. A friend from a local rugby club drops in now and then with her baby son. One of Carol’s ex colleagues is sometimes there. The Dr. who put me on the 14 Day pathway back in December 2015 shows up once a month or so with his new dog, about the only time I see my GP face to face these days – more to follow later in this post.

Earlier this week we had a normal day for Nev and I. We arrived at Mad Hatters after our park walk about 9.15am, I had a small cappuccino, Nev had a couple of biscuits, we made our way home. In the afternoon we went back for a second visit, Nev had a couple of biscuits and I had a small cappuccino. I tend to surf my phone and possibly earwig a bit on other conversations, today was no different. There was a disabled chap who was sitting near to us, I’d seen him in before. The staff made a point of making sure he was ok and had everything he wanted. The couple with the small rescue dog were also in. Nev was happy to sit at my feet ignoring all that was going on and concentrating on the two biscuits that I’d got for him. Opposite were two ladies who were probably in their early 70’s. They’d commented on how handsome Neville was looking (they may have said how scruffy, but Nev is taking editor rites on this post and he insists they said handsome). I’ll be 60 later on this year, after the last few years fun ‘n games with cancer I’m beginning to feel my age and think about my mortality. I was half listening to the two ladies, after a while it became obvious that they were both fairly recent widows. They were discussing the challenges of cooking for one, both agreed that cooking enough for two and eating the remainder the next day was the way to go. Then they described how they both slept on either side of the bed on alternative nights so as not to create a dip in the bed. One asked the other if she’d like another coffee or did she have to get back home. The other lady said “I’ve nothing at home and the people here are so nice, let’s have another coffee” I spend a fair amount of time by myself with Nev whilst Carol is away at work. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be by yourself in your later years, I do however know that a place like Mad Hatters would be a godsend. You could walk in, sit down and feel like part of the family. Tilehurst village now has three coffee shops all within a fairly close proximity of each other. There was some discussion on a local Facebook page when a Costa opened up as to whether Mad Hatters would be able to survive. I’m pleased to say that it would seem that all three shops are doing ok. Perhaps catering for different demographics is the key to success.

I originally started this blog back in January 2016 as an easy way of keeping family and friends updated as what was happening regarding the cancer treatment I was facing. Often it’s easier to write things down than to say them face to face for me. At the moment health wise things seem ok. I’m still having my speech valve changed every 8 to 10 weeks by the brilliant SALT team at RBH. The dark days of COVID where I had to wait over 6 weeks for a leaking valve to be replaced are thankfully over, that really was a miserable time for me. My GP surgery are however a totally different kettle of fish. I’ve been unable to see, face to face, a GP since prior to COVID. It’s tough enough trying to get a telephone consultation without giving the Receptionist your life history. In the past couple of months I’ve been having blood tests for a potential thyroid issue, not uncommon for Lary’s I’ve been told. The GP who I’ve had the misfortune to deal with has been frankly awful. The first time she called she constantly spoke over me and even hung up on me whilst I was trying to speak. Talking over / anticipating / ignoring a Lary are possibly the worst things a person can do. It’s an effort to make a voice, to have a healthcare professional do the exact things that make me so low is unacceptable. The second time she called she did exactly the same thing to me, constantly interrupting me, talking over me or just ignoring what I was saying. I LET RIP AT HER. I ranted for at least a couple of minutes, every time she tried to “But” I suggested, without swearing, that she just listened to me. To be fair to her at the end of my rant she did apologise, whether she meant it, or will act upon my words remains to be seen. I’m aware that the pressure on the NHS is immense, I see it first hand each day when Carol comes home from work, however common courtesy takes no time at all. I’m currently building up a file to make a formal complaint to the Practise Manager, not just for the way I’ve been treated of late, but also for the not signing off my monthly prescriptions in a timely manner, again a task that takes no time at all, and improves the quality of my life.

My last blog in September 2021 mentioned that league rugby was back. Rams were starting their second season in the dizzy heights of National League 1. At the time of writing it looks like we’ll finish up in the top third of the league. The club is really going from strength to strength, on and off the field. The new stand has proven to be a great hit with the supporters at home matches. The new floodlights are “TV Broadcast” standard and mean we can happily host evening matches or still kick off at 3pm in the winter months. Whilst being great for the TV they still make it a challenge for us poor still photographers. There’s an old saying that a photographer is never happy with the light, yep 😊 Too dark, too bright, too many shadows, not enough contrast, you name it, we’ll complain about it.

I’m pleased to say that Max has continued to play rugby now that he’s living down in Portsmouth, he plays for a side called Southsea Nomads who I went to watch a few weeks back. His age group at Rams was one of the largest at the time, as far as I’m aware from those 30+ players Max is one of only three who are still playing. Both of the kids are now teaching. Anna is well set in her life up in Leeds with Tom, she’s even beginning to develop a bit of a Yorkshire accent.

This is Oscar from Is It Contagious?   

He’s the handsome one. Oscar and his family joined me at OBR for a Rams match against Birmingham and Mosely, Rams losing out by a single point in a highly entertaining match. Oscar set up a Bucket List earlier this year after learning that his cancer wasn’t curable. His family were overwhelmed by the number of offers which flooded in for him. His initial list was of 10 things he wished to do, number 9 on the list was to watch a Rams match. I was so pleased to be able to help grant that wish. I was an honour to meet Oscar and his family for the first time after corresponding for perhaps three years.

Finally for this short blog I need to pay tribute to the Current Mrs C. We first met in April 1981 when I was on Hunter Ward of the RBH having had my left kneecap removed following a motorbike accident. Carol was still a student nurse at the time. She came onto the ward, slipped on some fluid that had been spilt on the floor, went arse over tit displaying a rather shapely pair of stocking clad legs, it was lust at first sight. Carol qualified well as a nurse and specialised in sleep and respiratory illness’. For the last 34 years she’s been working in the Respiratory Medicine Dept. at Royal Berkshire Hospital. On 7^th April 2022 she worked her final shift. She’ll be starting a new role at West Berkshire Hospital after a weekend of eating and drinking. This will almost certainly be her final role for the NHS before hanging up her uniform for good, hopefully in the next 12 months, then it’s “Cornwall Baby”. I’ve been through a whole bunch of medical shoite over the past six years or so, without the support, love, care and occasional kick up the backside from Carol it’s unlikely I’d still be here.

That’s about it for now, no idea when or indeed if I’ll blog again.

As always, thanks for reading. Please support your local retailer, be it a coffee shop, a butcher, a fishmonger, greengrocer etc.

#Shoulder2Shoulder