"Oh you shouldn't have".....and other stuff

Last week, I heard the worrying news that my Uncle Malcolm had suffered an acute stroke.  He'd not been well for probably the best part of 18 months, and friends and family have been rallying around and visiting him frequently in hospital.  The latest is that he's slowly recovering.  Apparently he's aware of what's going on around him, but it's a case of two steps forward, one step back at the moment.  Thoughts and prayers go to him and the family at this time of anguish.

Pops birthday & "old faces" meet-up

Last Saturday it was my Dad's 65th birthday, so he's now able to collect his pension and enjoy all the other trappings and benefits being "old" brings.  Mind you he's been using a bus pass for a while now - anything to save the pennies eh Dad?!  The whole family tribe got together on Sunday at a big family pub near Swindon.  Catering for everybody's needs, even for the tiniest members of any given family with grubby looking high chairs that had frankly seen better days.  Sunday being Carvery day, me and the wife had to be awkward and choose something off the regular menu.  A huge plate of Beef and Guiness Pie with veg and tatties.  The pie crust almost covered the surface area of the plate with a whole load of meat underneath, so well worth the £8.50 I paid.  Good food, nice company and then back to my sisters for homemade calorie laden cream cake!  

Prior to this, on my radio show I'd been asking for the listener (being the perfect search engine audience) to submit their suggestions for birthday gift ideas for my Dad.  In the past I've always asked him what he'd like, and I duly buy him what he wants, and there's no element of surprise or excitement.  Last year I seem to remember contributing towards the cost of a blood pressure testing monitor.  Sexy!  Not the obvious gift idea that springs to mind.  Practical!! -  it's what he wanted, so that's what he got.  I can always rely on the creative juices flowing from the co-workers at Ikea during my radio show.  I had suggestions for:-

• Skydiving voucher
• Viagra tablets  (both of these ideas giving a "rush", but in vastly different ways.)
• Bigger medicine cabinet
• Box of drugs

Sadly in the end, as amusing as the suggestions were, I don't think he would have appreciated them, so in the end I gave him money.  He couldn't decide what he wanted, so an envelope was handed to him during our pub lunch.  Bet he wishes he was a kid again when birthdays were so much more fun!

Out of the blue the other day, I had an email from a friend of mine wanting to meet up. I've not seen him in about ten years I think.  Andy's living in Glasgow now working for a drinks company, and gets to enjoy the obvious benefits that go with the territory.  Nice work if you can get it.  Every now and then, he has to sample new drinks which must be a real burden!  He's been trying to meet up with some "old faces", me being one of those old faces.

Very nice to meet up with him, and his kids, Rachel and David who I've not met before. Pub lunch was the order of the day, and a walkabout near Salisbury Cathedral.  Decided not to go inside as we saw the prices on the door!  Quite happy to admire the view from the outside.  I think the kids enjoyed their little tour of the City, although I'm not so sure about David...