Man At Work

Just to prove that I HAVE been working while I've been away! (If you call this work - ed)

Having a slow Working At Home day today.

No speeches.


( Photo: Courtesy: Trevor Smith)

Homeward Bound..

..although it's going to take a while. My train left Southampton about an hour ago and is due into Durham in another five! Ah well - at least I'm on my way.

That was the last of the series of regional events that have taken me all over the country for the last three weeks and I can't say I'm sorry! Particularly this week I've found it physically draining with the hernia really feeling quite sore. The op in three weeks will be very welcome.

I'm working at home for the rest of the week and then to Edinburgh with J for the weekend. Oh - and a massage tomorrow night!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Sunday Night

Gosh! A busy week and a busier weekend! But happy.

A lovely evening in with J last night watching the new Leonard Cohen Video and then a rush on Sunday morning (because we forgot that the clocks had gone forward...) to Hexham to see her get awarded a bursary from New Writing North.

Healthwise, things have been pretty much OK - not much soreness at all.

And I've now got the date confirmed for my hernia op - April 16th. Three weeks tomorrow.

But before that, a lot more travelling. London tomorrow night and then Southampton. Back on Wednesday night. Then it all goes tiny bit slower.

I can't say I'm sorry...

Emails

Just a note to those dear friends (you know who you are...) who've emailed recently and not got much of a response.

Sorry. It's hard enough to even blog occasionally at the moment - but I'll be in touch soon.

I promise.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Wolverhampton...

... And a long week draws to a close. I'm finally home tomorrow night and I really can't wait. I'm tired and sore and feel like I could sleep for England.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

London Bound

London...

I left the bitter cold and snow of Durham a couple of hours ago on the start of a four-city, four-day jaunt around the country with work. London tonight, Coventry tomorrow and then Bristol and Wolverhampton.

But it seems to be a fine sunny afternoon as I head south on the train.

In a way it's good to be away from my desk for a few days - everybody, whether clients or colleagues are stressed and overstretched (that's March in the public sector for you) and so there's a lot of tetchiness about.

Bound...

I think that the increase in my medication might be working - it's certainly slowed things down. And yes, maybe slightly less soreness. But extra strain on the hernia in return.

Who said that this was about winning...?
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Self Portrait

Self Portrait
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

Quite pleased with this one. Taken in the Projection Room at my Film Documentary Course this afternoon.

Medication

I talked to my Colorectal Nurse this morning about the problems I've been having. She still thinks it's basically because I've got in to a vicious cycle of going to the loo and getting sore. So I'm doubling up my medication to see if that works. ( From 4 a day to 8 a day - for those in the know...)

And so to my weekend. Alfie came home this morning - lovely to have him around again. ( Dogs are so forgiving!)

As those of you who monitor my Twittering will know, I'm currently developing a new obsession. Expect more of that this weekend.

But tonight it was my favourite film on the telly. As I've said before - almost a motif for this whole d*mn thing.

Battered Hero...

A successful week at work - I won more money for the firm and so I am the Hero Of The Hour - but it's also exhausting. I've just embarked on a series of regional consultation events with teenagers on the educational reforms that will soon affect them big time.

It's very hard work - apart from the travelling (Newcastle today and Sheffield tomorrow. Newcastle was easy anyway...) there's also the fronting events for 70 teenagers and their teachers, supporting my team, problem solving, schmoozing. And still seven more to go...

Not easy with a hernia - and Other Soreness. Yes - that's back again. I've tried everything this week - careful diet and no alcohol for five days. Hasn't made any difference. I'm going to have to go back to the doctor.

And as I'm really not at home much for the next fortnight, Alfie is in the kennels. He's with me at the weekend, but in again next week. I knew it would be like this month but that doesn't make it any easier.

It's Life, Gym....

I've just been to the gym for the first time in seventeen months! Because of the hernia I had to be ...er well-supported, but I managed 20 minutes on the running machine and felt pretty good after it. I was in two minds whether to go as I've been particularly sore recently but I decided that I had to give it a go. And I must admit that I feel pretty good now - a bit achy but that's to be expected. It hasn't made much differerence to the soreness really - and the hernia's fine. I'm going to make it a regular thing from now on.

A nice evening at home with J last night after a visit to see my former parents-in-law R and C in Doncaster on Friday. Somewhere in between I managed the second session of my Documentary Course (editing) and of course, Alfie. ( He had to go back to the kennels for a few days this afternoon as I'm away a lot with work next week.)

All in all, a pretty busy weekend! But fun.

Mobile Blog

I thought I'd have a go at doing this again. I'm on the train home from a day working in Leeds. Out tonight for a lovely Greek meal with J's daughter D.

Already it's feeling like a long week and there's still quite a bit more of it to go. The soreness is back again today too - I think it may have been triggered by something I ate yesterday but I'm not sure what. I'm glad I'm working from home for the rest of the week though!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Eclipsed

Eclipse
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

Someone texted me that this was about to happen this last night - and I'm glad they did! It was really good - even though this photo wasn't. (Particularly compared to this - also taken in the North East of England... )

A nice Saturday - a walk with Alfie in the morning and then up to the Tyneside Cinema for the first session of the "Introduction to Documentary Film Making" course that I enrolled for. I'm always a bit funny about going on courses ( arrogance - you think you can't be taught anything - ed) but this was great fun. The tutor had us using cameras straight away - my group got to go up and film the guy in the Projection Room. Next week - editing...

A long week at work but successful. Some big contract wins which mean that we can all pay the rent for the next few months and I have shown that they didn't employ a fraud... (Always a concern)

Today, just relaxing at home. Watching the day get greyer and greyer as I caught up with emails to friends and family. Almost like sleet out there now.

Next week is pretty much OK travelwise - just one day trip to Leeds. But after that it's awful for the next three weeks - I'm on the road for 4 days each week speaking at conferences. I think I'm going to have to learn how to mobile blog again!

Back Home

Just a brief note for anyone who might be concerned.

I got home last night after three long days away.

I'm fine - very tired and looking forward to my weekend.

More later.