spailpinfanac.com

25 February 2012

The virus is still lurking and I’m still very lethargic; I’ve had two days off which is very unlike me and I have a feeling that I’ll be needing another two so I may not be back at work till Monday. Being the kind of person I am to sit doing nothing is not an option and so I keep flitting from one thing to another. The problem is because I feel debilitated I can’t really do much that requires a lot of thought. So instead of doing a bit of Diploma work I find myself folding up the washing. More paracetamol.

I got my pension forecast yesterday which is really good and has put Carol’s mind at rest. With about three years to go we can put our minds to deciding where we will buy our last house although I know we favour Wales. I suppose it depends on work opportunities because although I will retire and take my benefits I have no intention of not working; in an ideal world I will have finished my studies and be in a position to do 3 or 4 days a week in a job I like (with children).

The visa office tell me my passport is on it’s way back to me and should arrive today; I’ll be interested to see if they have granted me a 12 month visa – or just a 6 month visa; the whole process has been such an arsehole. Fingers crossed.

Don’t forget to call in on Philip’s website if you get the chance, the link is on my page here.

23 February 2012

So yesterday I finally dragged myself into the dentist; I’d been anxious about it for days. Mia, my dentist, asked if I had eaten and I said I hadn’t. Apparently if your having anaesthetic you need to have eaten something. Anyway she gave me one dose which turned out to be enough for the front tooth filling and in fairness I didn’t feel a thing. It’s such a relief not having that dull pain that’s been around since December. to celebrate I went out for a liver dinner at my local.

On the Diploma front I was quite worried that I had fallen behind somehow but it turned out I hadn’t which is a big relief. Still a long way to go but I’m starting to feel confident now; I’ve done 5 units out of 21.

My daughter Tracey and grand daughter Bubbles have been with us for the past few days and it’s been really lovely having them to stay. They’re going back to Newcastle in about 10 minutes so I’ll be shipping out in a minute.

Today I’m having a day off sick with a virus. It’s the first time I’ve been sick in years and it’s really knocked me out. I think I’ll be taking tomorrow as well so if I’m not as available as I usually am at least you know why.

The sun has finally come out today so I may sit in the garden for a while; it’s just so nice not to be freezing. x

20 January 2012

Just a quick welcome to new readers/subscribers. I’m always told when new people sign up – although not told who or any of their details. The only time I know who is reading is when they write a comment on one of my posts or send me an email directly. To those who have written comments, thank you; I always reply. To those who sign up anonymously may I bid you welcome and hope you enjoy your visit(s).

Back at the ranch I’m really looking forward to my eldest daughter Trace and grand daughter Bubbles arriving today from Newcastle for a few days, it’ll be great to see them. Number two daughter Sam is still in India for another week and has been announcing my impending arrival to friends and folks who know me. I am so looking forward to feeling a bit of sunshine on my back. Number three daughter Benita is still well ensconced in her cottage down there in Wales and I’m hoping to see her in May. Jai Ho to a busy year

18 February 2012

Hoping readers like my new post on the home page ‘counting the days to going home’. I’m really starting to get excited now. Still got a few ‘biggies’ to claw through before then; the dentist on the 22 february and a few more units for my Diploma. But hey I can do that. I just can’t wait to put my feet back on Indian soil that words fail me. Sorry if I’m boring but today I just want to wallow

In the long term I’ve just had confirmation that I CAN retire at 60 so I’ll be counting those days down before long; from today I have 1170 days left to work I think my plan will be to retire, take my dues and then go back into working as a music therapist part time. That might give me time to carry on with my ‘paused’ biography?

07 February 2012

Typically tyhe visa applications were returned unapproved but I almost expected that anyway knowing how the Indian Embassy works. My last visa was a business one and because I’m applying for a one-year tourist visa they want a written statement to say I won’t be engaged in work or business. So they are once again back in the post with said letter enclosed (watch this space). On the bright side my International Driving Licence arrived today and is valid for five years; I don’t think I’ll want to be gallivanting behind the wheel of some foreign car after the age of 62 so that works for me.

Rehearsals for Irish Night are going well, we have twenty songs, all quality and from the best Irish bands around. I’m really enjoying music again it’s a great relief from Diploma work – speaking of which I have some catching up to do.

The freezer and the log sheds are full so given the weather I don’t give a monkeys if I get boxed in; there’s actually something comforting about that in an odd sort of way. Love to all x

02 February 2012

Thursday teatime and a three day weekend off in front; that works for me! One of the beauties of shift work is that I get lumps of time off regularly which is quite nice particularly with Carol being unwell.

India is on my mind a lot right now so I’m really going to have to concentrate to get some course work done – I don’t want to go away thinking I’m behind. I’ve posted off the visa applications which can be very tricky to fill in and it’s not unusual for them to be sent back time and time again. I’ve also renewed my International Driving Licence for another 5 years which takes a lot of pressure off.

Back at the ranch UK readers will know how cold it’s starting to get (often -4 degrees) and so some of my time off will be stocking up the old log shed; being cold is not an option, I hate it. Funnily enough I Googled the coldest place on earth and it came up with some place in Siberia where the community often function very well in minus 50 degrees! The thought!

27 January 2012

So finally got most of my teeth sorted out with a bit of grinding and drilling and whatever else they do; I switch off and either go cross-eyed at the bright light or look for inspiration up the dentists nose. Anyway I came out of there with my front deck back intact and ‘look forward’ to Feb 22 (not) when the real stuff happens at the back of my mouth. At least I can eat again

Meanwhile, back at the college, I’ve somehow managed to complete 4 units (out of 20) and am digging into number 5. The thought of getting behind gives me the creeps so it will be nose to the grind often till August. Apart from during my sabbatical to India when everything can go jump.

Carol has been really unwell this past week; she’s been off with a bad back for weeks and much of it has been either in pain or bombed out on pain killers. I think the back is manageable now though because she’s planning to go back to work next Friday IF her new chair is there! She’s also stopped smoking and is doing really well although because she’s gone ‘cold turkey’ she has a few difficult moments.

Mowgli is phab and because Carol is home so much he’s got company 24/7 at the moment. As Carol has started to improve she’s also been taking Mowgli out more for walks and so there’s a healthy thing going on in here right now. Not sure why but in the last 10 minutes Mowgli boffed up all over my tax disc application – excellent – I wish I’d thought of that myself

18 January 2012

First time in a dentists chair for yonks and almost wet meself. On top of that it was a female dentist so I had to look cool. No doubt about it she saw straight through me. Anyways whatever is going on in my mouth is a work-in-progress because I came out of there with two more appointments. Turns out today was nowt short of an inspection and the real deal starts a week on Thursday Don’t know much about their terminology but ‘root canal’ didn’t pass me by. OOooo. What’s worse is I missed a tutorial at college and the second appointment (22 Feb) lands on college day too. I think I need to keep me head down from my assessor for a while.

16 January 2012

Just before Christmas I was having some rough-and-tumble with Mowgli and he accidentally knocked a crowned tooth out at the front. When I phoned the dentist they said they couldn’t see me till January (and they still haven’t. In the meantime my other teeth seem to have been trying to fill the gap and left me with appalling tooth ache so I’m going to try and get in today or tomorrow. If one thing makes me totally disfunctional it’s tooth ache on top of which it seriously affects my capacity to eat the copious amounts I usually enjoy. Wish me luck.

11 January 2012

On a long run of shifts through the weekend now but I’m cool with that because I have a three day weekend off next week. Had quite a lot going on with my Diploma in the last couple of days (observations, assignments etc) but they’ve all gone well so I’m dancing about that. I’m a little bit behind so I need to pull in some work to make sure I’m in front before I go to India in March. I’m so looking forward to ‘going home’ that I want to go with a clear mind and not have to even think about the UK; apart from my beloved four legged friend of course. And I’m delighted that our best friends Sheelee and Joseffi are looking after him – at our house if he doesn’t settle at theirs; I’m just so relieved about that ) Particularly since over the past few weeks he’s not been 100% since pulling a tendon in his leg.

My internet connection has been really pants for months until in the end I finally rang up and gave them a rocket. It seems now that they’ve ‘cleared the line’ which was earthing out somewhere – so far so good; fingers crossed it’s great right now. The lousy connection is one of the main reasons my biography has been on hold for so long (excuses, excuses).

Thanks to those have sent support about my upcoming appearance at the Southwell Folk Festival, it’s a real tonic because come the hour I’ll probably be cr*pping myself x

06 January 2012

Weekend off and I’m liking that although I need to get stuck in to my Diploma. On the bright side my India flights are booked, I fly 24 March and that really uplifts me. Love to all.

05 January 2012

A lovely service today for my old friend who arrived to the strains of Cilla Black’s ‘Your my world’. And such a wonderful turn out. Makes you wonder about your own big day, what they will play, what they will say.

I’ve requested, in line with my faith, that my ashes are scattered on my three favourite rivers so that people who know me will all get a chance to wave me off or make a vee sign.

For those who want to do the needful you just need to pick a river and turn up.River Tyne (Newcastle), River Trent (Nottingham) or River Mandovi (India). For those who can’t make it to any of the venues I’ll try and organise U-tube; that also gives those who had no intention of turning up the opportunity to send me off with a piece of their minds. Oooo!? Good song material that; reading musicians get off it’s mine! 

04 January 2012

Just had a couple of Night Wakes shifts and they really pole-axe me; I slept till about 1pm and then took my little four-legged friend for a gentle walk around Kelham Park. I have tomorrow off thank Heavens although it’s a sad day really. I’m going to the funeral of a guy I’ve known for many years and I’ll really miss him.

On the musical front I’m getting quite excited about the Southwell Folk Festival even though it’s not till June. You have the option of singing standards or your own compositions so I’ve decided to take the plunge and do my own stuff. It’s really great rehearsing my own songs again although strangely I don’t need written lyrics, I think I must have impaled myself with them when I wrote them; it’s the arrangements I need to concentrate on. Bring on the harmonicas.

02 January 2012

Mowgli is still ‘excused boots’ to rest his leg (he damaged a tendon chasing rabbits) but I think he’s on the mend. His limp is less noticeable now and so I’ve started taking him on short walks out of the garden. Although he has a massive garden he isn’t a dog who likes to be confined and so we’ve been up the lane to see the cows a couple of times. I love seeing him with the cows, they have a bizarre relationship which includes the mutual licking of noses.

Carol is still off work with back problems and is on very strong pain killers. I think it may be a long job; sleeping is very difficult for her and the more pain she is in the more pills she needs to take. I think at this time in life I’m very fortunate to be working shifts and having my work base 2 miles away. Here’s to hope that she improves in the not-too-distant.

I think in terms of multi-tasking I’m going to have to seriously focus over the next few weeks. Whilst balancing looking after my family with my Diploma work and other work related stuff, I still have a strong desire to develop my folk music. I can see the time coming when I have to put my beloved Takemine in it’s box to reduce the temptation of picking it up; that doesn’t bode well with me in the creative mood I’m in.

01 January 2012

So here we are again at the start of a brand new year and the first thing I wanted to do was to say thank you to my readers here, I really appreciate your support and your comments and I hope that you continue to stay with me through the next 12 months as you have with the last 12 months.

Whatever resolutions you’ve made may I wish you the best of luck and whatever dreams you have I sincerely hope you realise them.

For me I guess I’m past making promises on New Year’s day but like everyone else I do have hopes, plans and dreams for 2012, not least of which is to visit in India in March/April and to finish my Diploma by August. I also hope to regenerate my folk singing career and hope to perform at the Southwell Folk Festival in June – watch this space for that one.

For now though (having just come off shift) I’m off to bed, but love and warmest wishes to all as you step out into 2012 xx Alan xx