Month: May 2024

Sunday, 19th May, 2024

Beautiful morning – warm and sunny. The garden looks and feels lovely …. which is more than can be said for me. My wife’s lifelong ambition – largely achieved – has been to humiliate me.

This morning she had another go. Now well into my 70s, as she regularly points out, this morning she showed me how much my hair is thinning on top and increasingly showing grey. In my defence, I haven’t had an easy year and my body has been under attack. My hair has reacted to that stress. That’s my defence. Anyway, if you look closely, she has a few flecks of grey in her hair now as well.

Off to France in a couple of days if you fancy joining us, Dear Reader. Be nice to get out and wave the passport about again. Driving through the tunnel is something we have done so many times over the past 30 years since it was opened. To think I was only 43 and had lots of hair when it started!

Yet another trip to the Plant Centre this morning. The final purchase of the Summer is Sweet Basil seedlings which we will pot up, grow on and turn into Pesto as well as use in salads. Should have grown it from seed myself but didn’t get round to it. Always magical that these little things grow into such huge plants.

Monday, 20th May, 2024

Gorgeous morning. Looking forward to France tomorrow. The philosopher, Kierkegaard, said:

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards …

I exemplify that observation. It is absolutely essential to understand and not deny one’s history even though we can only move forward in our lives. The trick is to integrate past, present and future so that we use our experience to progress. We cannot deny our past. We cannot airbrush it out not least because it lives indelibly inside us. My sister, Ruth, talks about not being interested in her past but you can bet she will celebrate her 77th birthday on Thursday just as she celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary and the birthdays of her children and grandchildren. These are signposts through her history and they are important calibrations of her lifetime.

The Blog helps me record and understand past, present and future. It is essentially me, my life in all its trivialities but it is informed by all the successes and tragedies that any 73 year old will have acquired and of all the people and places that have informed and intersected with my life.

Today, I had to go out and buy additional hosepiping so that I can now reach 200 meters as I water flowerbeds up and down my road. In my lifetime, we had a huge garden in my childhood home which Dad used to grow vegetables. When I married, I bought a house surrounded by an acre of garden in which I enjoyed growing vegetables. Clearly, I was using the experience of my childhood.

In our Greek home we had 4 acres of olive trees, fruit trees and vegetable growing areas. I loved the challenge of learning to grow things in that climate. We were taught to cultivate the shaded side of the house and create dust bowls which could be planted into and would hold the precious water rather than just let it evaporate in the intense sunshine.

Moving forward, it is time to look at the latest edition of the Apple iPads which were released last week. I have been dedicated to staying up to date, never becoming an old fogey and out of touch with the present future. I’ve had my iPad Pro for 5 years. We should not expect more than that of tablets or computers. It will cost me about £1500.00 and then I will have to buy a keyboard cover (£250.00) and a new iPad Air (£800.00) for Pauline. So, keeping up is expensive and yet £2,500.00 over 5 years is very reasonable.

Tuesday, 21st May, 2024

Up at 5.00 am on a warm and sunny morning. Out before 6.00 am and en route to the tunnel. Became increasingly overcast as we drove. The drive takes about 2 hours joining the M23, M25, M26, M20. At that time, it was all pretty quiet. The drive was relaxing and enjoyable. Listened to BBC R4 Today as usual. Before we knew it, we were there about 40 mins early.

The roads had been quiet and the Terminal was empty apart from a group of noisy school kids excitedly anticipating their trip day out.

We arrived in France about an hour earlier than expected. Off to Auchan and then Cité Europe where Pauline bought 3 pairs of shoes, some cooking pans and equipment and I bought £500.00 of wine to get me through June. We did a shop of things that are only done well en France: Saucisson, Fromages, Charcuterie, etc.. I bought pink Fizz for my friends and neighbours and we went outside to see the rain had begun to fall. It may have been wet but it was deliciously warm.

Drive back to the Tunnel Terminal. Our return time was confirmed and we sat in the car listening to political podcasts. Amazing how time flies when you’re occupied.

We were soon down to customs and Check-in in the rain. So few people doing the crossing. Not like full season. They check nothing nowadays. I was able to bring well over my allocation across without problem.

Home by 4.00 pm and I was restacking my wine racks while chef put together a lovely buffet supper of Confit Duck, Garlic Sausage, Cheese and biscuits plus salad. Going on a diet tomorrow. I’ve shared my wine with my friends. I always want to share my experiences with them too. Life is about sharing, isn’t it, Dear Reader?

Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024

Went to bed very tired last night. Probably more the wine tasting than the driving and the early start yesterday. Up at 7.00 am this morning to quite a grey start and it had obviously rained over night.

Racked my wine purchases. Each bottle costs about half the price it would be in the UK. It is better to buy quality wines under these circumstances. A £20.00 bottle of wine for £10.00 in France makes the journey well worth while. About 70 bottles each saving £10.00 per bottle is simple maths when you calculate the journey cost of around £150.00. Of course, I would have done it anyway just for the enjoyment and the quality food products we also bought like this delicious, white asparagus.

Driving back yesterday, the car provides me with lots of information like the speed limit and the speed I’m doing. I took this photo on my drive but, normally, the road speed sign will have been scanned and placed before me. My speed is set which is what (ACC) Adaptive Cruise Control means and whether I have Lane Keep Assist (LKAS) set, the miles I have to go, whether I’m driving on electric (EV) with the green line or petrol fuel.

So, I’m driving back on the M25 monitoring reasonably heavy traffic, all the information coming on three screens in the car and listening to a political podcast about the Tories chance of winning the upcoming election. And then the dreaded happened. A warning symbol popped up accompanied by a warning chime which meant a tyre or tyres’ pressure had fallen below the set rate.

Middle of the M25, rain starting to fall, 70mph with lots of spray from lorries in front was not a time I wanted to stop and check the tyres unless forced to. I monitored the balance of the car as I drove and it didn’t seem compromised so I completed the final 50 miles with this symbol dominating the display. Our tyres should be 35 psi – front and 32 psi – rear. This morning we checked the pressures and one tyre was just 0.5 psi down. In previous years we wouldn’t have even been aware of that for months. It dominated my mind throughout my drive back.

A calmer, more relaxed day today. PMQs to watch and the gripping dismantling of Paula Vennells, the former boss of the Post Office by a barrister in the Inquiry. I love it. Mind you, there are lots of weird things that I love. Still got to do my Gym routine. And now and at last ….a General Election on July 4th! WooHoo!!!

Thursday, 23rd May, 2024

Lovely, warm and sunny day. Good day for a birthday. Happy Birthday to my old sister, Ruth. Sunset Strip – 77 – today. We wish her a lovely day.

Up early to shop for garden products and to fill the car. Petrol has gone up again to 145.7 per litre or £6.63 per gallon. Can you imagine it? Inflation has generally come down but is predicted to rise again soon which is one reason why Sunak has called an early election. Things will definitely get worse as the year develops.

It was about the most inept presentation of a Prime Minister announcing a General Election that I have ever seen. He held all the cards. He could have presented from inside No 10. He could have presented outside this morning in the sunshine.

Instead, he chose to drown outside last night while being drowned out by protesters playing the Blair Election theme – Things Can Only Get Better. It’s going to be a fascinating 6 weeks. Got a Greek trip before that.

Thessaloniki is warming up. Walking in warm sunshine and hearing Greek voices, smelling Greek smells, being pampered by our hotel staff and eating Greek food – just bliss. Must contact my Northern friends and arrange a trip up there. Particularly, I must contact my friend in Royton who I haven’t spoken to for a while.

I wonder if this sort of thing affects you or is it just me, Dear Reader? I have no particular interest in competitive swimming in general or David Wilkie in particular but I remember him from the Olympics as a remarkably fit, young man. He died this week of cancer at the ripe old age of 70! Now 50 years ago, we would be thinking that he had lived a reasonable term but current expectations are that this is a life cut short. A man who has been super fit for much of his life is dead three years younger than me. As I say, it may only be me but I find such cases incredibly unsettling.

Friday, 24th May, 2024

Lovely, sunny morning. We are driving up to Surrey to see how P&C are. We have to be there in time to take them to a medical appointment for C. Yesterday I was horribly tired all day. Had to drag myself around and force myself to do things. I was so tired and had to beat myself up so hard that it made me emotional. It is something that has been happening to me since my cancer treatment.

I was so upset with myself yesterday that my wife did some research – something I’ve been avoiding. She found that it is quite normal for people who have undergone radiotherapy in general and men who have suffered prostate cancer in particular to suffer extreme fatigue during the treatment, increasing after the treatment and lasting up to a year before improving.

I hate the feeling of failure. It is my belligerent character which militates to fight it. I have reduced my exercise since the treatment. I still do my Gym routine but the 10 miles a day I was doing has ben reduced to 5 miles a day. Since the start of the year, I have only failed to achieve my target on an average of one day a month but it is still a big reduction. I was pleased to read that I am doing exactly what medics advise and forcing myself to continue exercising and walking in particular.

In Surrey, we are visiting P&C (aged 86 & 87) to take them to a doctor’s appointment. While they did, we visited a retirement development in the centre of West Byfleet. It is ideal for them – Independence with Community. Restaurants, shops, gymnasium and swimming pool all integrated. Easy access to trains to London plus buses and taxis anywhere they want to go. You can sell your house and then buy or rent an apartment. What’s not to like?

This afternoon, I ordered a new iPad Air and an iPad Pro from Apple UK. They tell us that they will be delivered ‘free’ by tomorrow afternoon. It won’t be ‘free’, of course. They have cost me £2447.00 but at least we will get new machines. We will next need to order new ones when we are 78, Dear Reader.

Saturday, 25th May, 2024

Glorious day which reached 22C/70F in the afternoon. I’m going to be doing I.T. and gardening. The new iPads are being delivered at Lunchtime – less than 24 hrs after they were ordered. Love it.

Now I’ve got to copy across everything from two, old machines to the two new ones. I then have to clean up the originals and return them to factory settings. Mine will then go off to Apple as a trade-in for about £300.00. The other will be taken up to Surrey to replace P’s broken iPad.

The warm sunshine will be replaced by rain over night both of which will be welcomed by the garden plants. The potatoes are doing really well and should be ready in July. The carrots and beetroot are looking fine and will be ready in the Autumn.

I took the risk of early planting with Green Beans and it is paying off. There is no chance of frost down here until November at the earliest so we can expect a good crop. I’ve got Basil seedlings in my cold frames and they will go out in mid-June. Looking forward to lots of sunshine to power them on. Just think, I will be harvesting all of this produce under a Labour Government …. a Labour Government. What Joy!!

Sunday, 12th May, 2024

When am I going to get rid of this bloody Covid? I know I am rather immuno-compromised since radiotherapy but it’s starting to get me down. For the 9th consecutive day, I have tested strongly positive for Covid whereas my wife, who is obviously a much more resilient character is now clear. I do still feel under the weather – rasping cough, runny nose, tired all the time with aching limbs. At least I’m forcing myself to complete my Gym routine each day and only missed two days at the start of the infection.

Went to bed at 9.30 pm last night. It is unheard of but I was feeling exhausted. I slept as well. The temperature didn’t fall below 17C/63F last night and I slept on top of the bedclothes with the window open. During the day, the garden has reached a lovely 26C/79F.

When we woke, Pauline had been in a dream about a Gite in the Dordogne where we stayed for a month one July. But which July? Quite astonishing how time fades away in the memory …. but not with a Blog. First thing after Breakfast I was able to pinpoint a month driving around France & Italy in July 2017.

In July 2018, we rented a Gite in Saint-Sauveur, a quaint village outside Bergerac. When we got there, we found the girl who owned it was from Warrington and had worked in Oldham for years.

The weather was glorious throughout our month’s stay, we got to travel around and visit lots of local markets, visited my cousin who had a Gite business not far away and do lots of walking. Happy times before Covid.

Today, in spite of being terribly ill, Dear Reader, I am being roped into cleaning the stone lintels of our windows which have become rather stained over the last 8 years. Having seen how the magic potion can so successfully clean the patio, my Housekeeper has decided to use it on stone lintels prior to cleaning all the white windows and doors. Unfortunately, I am the only one stupid enough to go up a ladder and the only one who can reached the difficult bits. I’m going to have that as my epitaph, Dear Reader: He was the only one able to reach the difficult bits! Could be worse, I suppose.

Monday, 13th May, 2024

Suddenly garden time has arrived … about a week later than last year. I maintain the public lawns and beds of our street. I try to keep everything lush, green and striped and then plant out bright, repeating colours in the flower beds. I grow plants from seed and then buy some from local Nurseries. My own sowings will need another couple of weeks before they go out.

Today, I’ve bought huge batches of Marigolds and Osteospurmums. They are brightly coloured, hardy and flower all Summer with the minimum of attention.

I have used these plants for years and only learnt today that they are from the same genus – Calendula. These warm, bright colours will echo each other along each side of our street and give it a ‘corporate’ look.

It is just a month until we fly to Thessaloniki but I am so pleased to avoid this cattle market of the past. Over the decades, the hot, sweaty nights we have queued in Greek airports to Check-in while trying to guess which Gates it will go from only to find them switched at the last minute. Easyjet contacted me today to say I could Check-in online. We have Speedy Boarding with 1 x large carry-on cabin bag + 1 x small carry-on cabin bag each which is plenty for us. We just go straight through Security and down to our Executive Lounge before boarding. The whole process is relaxing. Boarding Passes are printed out. Life is comparatively so straightforward these days.

No sooner had I written that than I turned to the first story on the Daily Telegraph where all my confidence was punctured immediately. I don’t think that will affect June but we are using them again in August. Let’s hope they have settled by then.

Tuesday, 14th May, 2024

I’m still testing positive for Covid after two weeks. All Kissing is still banned, you’ll be devastated to hear, Dear Reader. Had to cancel my dentist appointment tomorrow. So, there is an upside. My friend, Kevin, is completing his Starvation/Purge prior to another colonoscopy this afternoon in Leeds. He ate his last meal yesterday lunchtime and had to wake up at 6.00 am this morning to take his next enema. I phoned him at 5.55 am this morning to his surprise. He’s not a morning person. He definitely isn’t now! He’s a very, very empty person.

We had a bit of rain over night and everything is fresh, clean and sweet-smelling this morning in the warm air. It reminds me of that morning feeling everyday on the island in Greece – walking out onto the terrace with the rising sun, the warm enveloping air, the sounds of a donkey braying away across the valley and the cockerel calling out to corral its hareem and all the time the orchestra of cicadas builds in the olive trees to the heat at the peak of the day. But the evening sun going down across the sea reflects the glory of the day and moderates the baking heat ready to start all over again the next morning.

In the garden today we are planting out blocks of seed grown carrots. Just for fun, we have chosen a rainbow coloured variety. In the end, they’re just carrots but the colours are attractive on the plate. Some beetroot, some lettuce – Red Little Gem is what we eat about three times a week -will also go in to join the early potatoes and the green beans.

I love this time in the garden – so full of optimism and promise. In about 8 weeks, we will be cutting lettuces and picking green beans, harvesting and freezing herbs and making pesto for the winter. The effort put in really does feel worth it.

Wednesday, 15th May, 2024

Half way through May already. I have been feeling absolutely awful since late April. At times I thought I was just being lazy. At other times I thought I was depressed. Yesterday, reading an article in a local newspaper, I suddenly realised that I was reading about things which were happening to me that I thought were totally unrelated.

I’ve been suffering with all-pervasive fatigue for over 3 weeks. My joints have been aching to the point of ‘cracking’. Every day I’ve had to set myself tasks to get through and then force myself to complete them. My Gym routine has been an absolute nightmare to get through. I’ve had to tell my head each day to get on with it, to get through it. I just thought I was being bone-idle.

At the same time, my favourite drink – coffee – was leaving a dead, dry taste in my mouth. My other favourite drink – wine – was tasting like acid. I actually poured some bottles away thinking they were ‘corked’. I have been feeling sick after eating. I have had a cold and continuous dry cough. I’ve had loss of appetite and changed bowel movements. I felt a bit reassured when the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme found I was clear because my changes had raised concerns.

Suddenly yesterday, I read of the new FLiRT variant which has come from America and is now surging across UK and all my symptoms are brought together in this infection. At least I know I am not going mad. Pleased to hear that my friend, Kevin, got the all-clear (to coin a phrase) from his colonoscopy yesterday and now won’t need another for 3 years.

Going to force myself to Valet the car this morning in this wonderfully warm sunshine. I need it to be looking and feeling good because I’ve just booked a short trip to France next week in the hope of giving myself a boost. Don’t have to isolate now after 5 days of infection although I still won’t be doing too much kissing.

Thursday, 16th May, 2024

Finally, Dear Reader, after almost three, consecutive weeks, I have tested Covid-free. 💋💋 I’ve already informed the neighbours that I am available for kissing again. I’ve asked them to form an orderly queue. Fortunately, I’ve already delivered my wife to the Beautician’s where she will spend the next couple of hours having a complete face renovation so I’m free for a while.

It’s warm and raining this morning so all the seedlings are being watered in. Perfect growing weather. The garden smells wonderful and the air is full of birdsong. We have a resident blackbird who fills the sky with the most beautiful music. The fresh, new growth of greens in many shades would do credit to the Garden of Eden.

One of my more intelligent girls who missed an extended education because of pregnancy and family problems Whatsapp‘d me last night to say she had just completed her Degree at Manchester Metropolitan Uni. I was the first person she’d told, which was nice of her. Isn’t it great when people get there in the end. She’s 45 with three kids and a career as a Teaching Assistant in Oldham but she didn’t give up.

I really believe you can achieve most ambitions if you are prepared to keep going. You do need a bit of personal obsession – something I know quite a bit about. Doggedness, never letting the bone go can get you to most ambitions. It can make you annoying at times but you have to shake that off, keep your head down and keep going.

As the season for European travel approaches, I am having to check we have enough Euros in our travel store. I don’t like to use my Credit or Debit card abroad if I can avoid it. I prefer to fix my exchange rate rather than leave it to the bank at a time of their choosing.

It is totally different in UK though. I never have any cash apart from a £1.00 coin in my key ring holder for a supermarket trolley. I don’t bother carrying physical credit/debit cards any more. I was reading this article the other day which was saying that about 50% of us now never carry a wallet anymore.

Everything is contained within my Google Digital Wallet on my phone. I can pay out anything from a £1.00 to £50,000.00 or more with a single swipe of my mobile and tell it which Credit or Bank card I want it to use. I don’t have to remember account or pin numbers. It does it all for me. My Digital Wallet also contains Store Cards and Travel Passes. My Executive Lounge Card and my Boarding Passes are in there as well.

I love this advance in digital technology. I want to live another 100 years to see how it advances. Do you get post? We never get anything worthwhile now. Medical communications come straight to apps on our phones. Appointment letters are the same. I can’t think of a single thing where the hard copy was not preceded by a digital one. As the old people die off, non-digital methods will become irrelevant. Someone should tell the European Billionaire who is bidding to buy the Post Office. His investment will have a very short life time unless, of course, he is buying Parcel Force. Did you know you can pay a cheque into your Bank Account without leaving your home – just scan it in on your Mobile through your Banking App. This is how it should be.

The rain has stopped. The sun is out. The Garden is warm and sunny. As Eliot, quoting Julian of Norwich, says:

And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be wellT.S. Eliot – Little Gidding – 1942

The nearest thing, Dear Reader, that I will ever get towards a religious spirit.

Friday, 17th May, 2024

Gorgeously sunny and warm morning. I’m celebrating by driving my wife to the Hairdresser’s. Parking is so difficult that it’s more reasonable for me to take her and pick her back up later. Beauty Clinic yesterday (£80.00) and Hairdresser today (£50.00). I’m keeping a close eye on her, Dear Reader. She says it is nothing compared to the hundreds I will spend on wine next week … and I’m finding that quite hard to argue against. Anybody got any good ideas?

After the hairdressers, the beautiful day has been given over to self-appointed public duties. All the lawns along the roadside are cut for the weekend and, today, we planted up all the cut-out flower beds in the lawns with plants I’ve been growing from seed in my coldframes.

After all the work of the day, I was out on my feet. It is a great feeling. When you’re retired, to find an activity to completely tire you out is a sign of success. Supper was Tuna Steaks griddled outside in the garden with green beans and a chilled glass of Bordeaux red. Hard to beat. Hope you are enjoying your Friday as much as me, Dear Reader.

Saturday, 18th May, 2024

One of those days when I had hoped for rain. I went to bed with forecasts guaranteeing substantial rain throughout Saturday and woke up to find everything had changed. It means I will be out with hosepipes and watering cans watering in all the carefully planted flowers from yesterday. Instead of sitting back and watching the rain, I will have to give over an hour or two to manual labour.

We have the most lovely neighbours. Lots of Whatsapp thanks from them this morning. One rang the bell this morning with a bunch of flowers. She said she came home from work last night and thought how wonderful the area looked.

Our neighbour in the house behind ours unexpectedly dropped in yesterday. He retired recently from a London City property developers and has moved to his villa just North of Alicante with his wife and son. Their house here has been Sold Subject to Contract for months but it will finally go through in the next couple of months. Wonder who will be arriving.

After 8 years here, the trees along our street are finally starting to grow into their looks. I have to confess that, until today, I wasn’t sure what trees they were. Today, using the Google Lens app on my phone, I established that they are Tilia Cordata better known as small-leaved Lime trees or Linden Trees.

In their new season’s growth, they are delicious and have been chosen to not grow too high. Unfortunately, they develop quite a thick canopy which stops rain and sunlight reaching the flower bed below which makes growing rather more challenging.

It is my littlest sister, Caroline’s 62 birthday today. I can’t believe it. When I left home, she was just 7 years old and tiny. She lives in Ireland and messaged me today that she is celebrating by hiking down the Derrynane mass path along the peninsula by the sea. She is a football fanatic and a Derby County supporter so she is already celebrating their promotion.

Sunday, 5th May, 2024

I was feeling better yesterday although Pauline is not feeling at all well. Did another Covid test after the one two days ago and I genuinely though I might be clear. Absolutely not. Starkly infected so confined to the garden. Had lovely, sympathetic and supportive Whatsapps from Kevin, Julie and John.

I am part of the Left Wing family and have been since teenage days – my reaction to Daily Telegraph, Tory voting parents. My reaction to Roman Catholicism. My academic life has been informed by left wing analysis based in Marxist Dialectical Materialism, a method for the empirical study of social processes in terms of interrelations, development, and transformation. In the 1980s, it was the dominant analytical tool of Historical analysis.

Convention seems to hold that we move Right as we age. I have fought convention like so many educated Boomers and have held true to the Left Wing view of politics and the world. Although we were happy to take a Labour Government – an absence of Tories – the Blair Government never quite did it for us.

Now, after 14 years of the most horrendous Right Wingery, we are on the cusp of a return to sanity and socially directed policies. Policies which serve all the people not just a few. This weekend is a time to celebrate before getting on with the fight to ensure victory later in the year. If that victory comes, it is unlikely to be for one term of 5 years. The Tories are going to be in the wilderness for 10 years at least after this debacle – maybe 15. I could be 88 by the time I let a Tory back in.

It’s not been the most brilliant weekend in Greece but today is Easter Sunday and we wish our Greek friends, Καλό Πάσχα – Happy Easter. They will have been singing and dancing and feasting on spit roast lamb. We will be joining up with them soon to relax in the sun and drink in the culture and atmosphere we have loved for the past 45 years.

Feeling quite emotional tonight as I review the loss of the years. So many things loved and lost over the years. I always believe they can be regained if I am determined enough. We have to go back to Sifnos.

Monday, 6th May, 2024

Talk about things lost over the years, I thought Covid was one of them and isolation was another. I have them both at the moment and I don’t like it.

Today it is cool and …. raining but I just had to get out for a while or I would have gone mad. As you can see, the beach was packed out as it always is on a sunny, Bank Holiday Monday. Back home for porridge and then a Gym session. I know, I’m just so rocknroll.

Talking to College friends this morning, I am constantly amazed how many have or have had cancer and how much older than me so many are – something I didn’t realise at the time. Just as Keith Lowery was buried at the weekend after dying of prostate cancer, I learnt today that DaveW from Bolton – who I’m shocked to find is 75 – has cancer and DaveRoberts from Rochdale has been treated for cancer. My old friend, John R is 76 this year I think. I really was the baby at College.

Tuesday, 7th May, 2024

Gorgeous morning …. and I’ve still got Covid. Tested positive again this morning and so did my co-pilot. Grounded for a while longer. Don’t actually feel too bad just a light, flu-like condition but I’m obviously such a poor specimen that I haven’t thrown it off yet. As we move into the afternoon and work in the garden, the temperature has already hit 22C/70F and feels delicious.

Just heard from my Greek friend, Martini, that she has Covid now. I think we all must have just been unlucky to hit a new wave of infection. On the plus side, we’ve both heard from the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme that all is fine and neither needs a follow up.

Labour will win the next election and one of my political heroes, Professor John Curtice, tells us that the large majority of Labour voters and particularly those returning to Labour from the Tories want to re-enter European membership. They realise at last that Leaving was lunacy and harmful to their welfare and the welfare of UK.Prof. John Curtice addressing UK in a Changing Europe conference.

I have long been a Euro enthusiast. I’m one of the few people who watches the Euro News channel on Sky. I have always believed that the Leave vote was mindless nonsense and so it is being revealed.

It is so easy to appeal to the mindless, xenophobic minority who like to trot out the racist, lunatic phrases. Stop the Boats! / We’re Full! / Migrants Out / No Asylum Seekers. You’d be amazed how many of those people profess to be Christians and believe in the parable of the Good Samaritan. And yet they can’t see the connection. Little Englanders have to be reminded of their European heritage. They will go to a European country for their holidays and some will complain about all the foreigners there. We are a very dim people.

Wednesday, 8th May, 2024

A warm but grey start to the day but we know the sun isn’t far off. Tested positive for covid again this morning. It’s going to be a long week. The order of the day will include gardening. My cold frames are bursting at the seams with seedlings pushing up towards the sun.

Second week of May is always the sort of time that gardeners start to feel the itch. On the edge of early because of the weather but on the edge of late because we want things to plant out and establish quickly.

The South Coast does us some favours because it almost guarantees an absence of frost which is the gardener’s mortal enemy. I am going to plant out Green Bean plants this morning. They are pushing against the glass frame tops. It is probably about a week early but I should get away with it. My friend, Julie, in North Yorkshire will need to wait at least two more weeks before hers go outside.

I will sow a succession of Green Bean plants because we eat so many of them. Picking them fresh from the bush in your garden is so much nicer than flying them over from Kenya and it is so easy to do. If you were to cut a cross-section of me, I would probably be made up of Green Beans and Tomatoes.

It’s 10.00 am and the sun is out. It’s going to be a good day. Outside, BT Openreach are installing additional fibre cable to serve superfast broadband to new customers. I’ve had it virtually since the day we moved in 8 years ago. Before we came from Surrey, I had written to BT and to our Builders to suggest that the ducting infrastructure was built in to the design. Initially, I had a polite brush-off but soon after we moved in, I found that the require piping had been installed and the cabling came soon after.

My broadband speed went from 32 mbps to 1000 mbps over an afternoon. Nowadays, everything loads instantly even though everything from TVs, iPads, Computers, watches, Gym equipment, Security Cameras, Car apps connects to the net and makes demands on it. Even our House Phone comes over the net now. All copper wires from the last century are gone. I’ve always believed that it is important to fully embrace change. I have to have the latest. Apple is releasing new iPads next week and I will be looking to upgrade ours soon after. I’m hoping this edition will become far closer to a laptop than it currently is. I’d like to get an emulator to put my MS Windows software on it.

Really feeling out of sorts with my body today. Everything is too much effort. I can’t eat or drink. Everything tastes weird. I haven’t been able to drink coffee for a few days now because it tastes dry and lifeless. Wine has tasted like battery acid. As soon as I start to eat, I feel full. I’m having to beat myself up to get my Gym routine done and it is hurting. And at 1.00 pm this afternoon, the sky is cloudless blue and the sun is hot. I should be out in the garden enjoying it. Can you tell I’m feeling sorry for myself? Well, thanks for your sympathy!

Thursday, 9th May, 2024

Gorgeous morning. A morning to celebrate being alive. I received an In Memoriam card from my friend up in Leeds remembering our College, football team friend from 50 years ago who died recently of Prostate Cancer. It is a shock every time I hear such news. There but for the grace of fate go I. It is something of a Titanic moment … the heart will go on. I, certainly, will not go quietly. I am definitely a trouble maker.

Testing again tomorrow but don’t feel brilliant. Still, lots to do and can’t afford to waste such a lovely day. I was going get a company in to clean the patio. I’m not a very practical person and I like watching people work for me but, conscience got the better of me and I ordered enough cleaning fluid to cover 150 sq. mtrs. plus a pump sprayer and set my wife on using it. She has managed quite well and the stone is coming up like new.

The stone flags are York stone quarried not far from where I used to live in the North and the cleaning fluid comes from a small company just 10 miles away from my current home even though I bought it on Amazon. I like that sort of thing – items with relevance and meaning. After 4 hrs, I will spray off the cleaner (not my wife) and all should be good.

I can touch, taste, smell 50 years ago with amazing clarity. I can hear the raucous, naive laughter of my Geordie football friend reaching down across those years. In just the same way, I am shocked that it is 15 years to the day since we sat down and selected 3 estate agents to come and value our Huddersfield house as we prepared to put it up for sale and to look for a property in the South of England. That span of 15 years both feels very short and incredibly packed with life events. Time is a strange thing, Dear Reader.

Friday, 10th May, 2024

The 10th of May could have been a wonderful day, Dear Reader, but all things are still on hold because I’m still testing positive for Covid. When will it end? All kissing is off … for now.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oONl977H8rg?feature=oembedThe 10th of May – Peter Levy

Still, the weather is rather nice. We’re touching 24C/75F, the sun is out and I am still alive. I’m going to cut all the lawns in our street, plant out some green bean plants and sow more. My patio cleaner has done such a good job that I am thinking of keeping her on for a while.

It turned out to be such a simple, cost effective plan that I won’t need a contractor for a few years to come.

I love this time of year when everything is rushing ahead like mad. No time to lose. This morning, the Green Bean plants are just luxuriating in the sunshine. The ground is warm and moist, the sunshine is hot and overhead. What more could they want? They haven’t got Covid! My friends Kevin and Julie are both feeling rather down about life. They’re going to have to taste my Green Beans.

Saturday, 11th May, 2024

Oh, what a perfect day. I wish you could spend it with me, Dear Reader. Chef is making Bread. The sun is shining warmly outside. There is no hint of a breeze. The French Beans are standing erect to the sky. The day is promising everything.

This was last night as the Northern Lights visited our garden. This is not something you see very often on the South Coast. A harbinger of good things to come.

Mind you, in just over a month, we are going back to sunny Thessaloniki in Northern Greece. This was Thessaloniki centre yesterday as bad weather sweeps across Greece. I notice Jet2 have cancelled flights from Manchester to the Greek Islands today because of the weather. Almost unprecedented.

The garden is a delight. As we reach 27C/81F this afternoon, it is beginning to feel like my sort of climate. Someone said the other day that they could cope with hot weather less as they became older. When I say that, take me out and shoot me.

We’ve nipped out to the Garden Centre The pots are being planted up this afternoon by the under-gardener and the garden should be brighter for it.

A glass of chilled white wine with Supper under the stars – griddled chicken and salad. Life could be worse although, of course, it could be better. Making it better is in our own hands. I will do that. Trust me, Dear Reader.

Sunday, 28th April, 2024

It’s raining. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. On this day a decade ago, I had two tasks. We were in our Greek home and I was going through the complex of routines in preparation for selling it – speaking to the Notary and visiting our Accountant, cultivating our Bank officials and having coffee with people who could potentially smooth our path.

I loved whiling away the hours drinking and talking problems/tactics through. After coffee on this day in 2014, we drove up to our favourite Supermarket in Apollonia – you can see it below. It doesn’t get much more rock-n-roll than that. The island Tesco – I’m sure you can see it Dear Reader. We were shopping for chicken, bell-peppers, onions and mushrooms.

I am cooking again today. It just happens to be … chicken, bell-peppers, onions and mushrooms. The circularity of life’s events always interests and amuses me with some, notable exceptions. Up in the North on Friday, one of my College associates is being buried. It seems to be happening with worrying frequency now. One year below me, he was always an ebullient Geordie. Like so many, he stayed to live and work around Ripon. My friend has told me that wearing College ties is the order of the day. That won’t be happening. Never had one anyway.

Monday, 29th April, 2024

Nearly the end of April already. Absolutely gorgeous morning. A morning to die for …. but I won’t. In fact, I’m doing all I can to avoid it. And I know you want to hear this, Dear Reader: this morning is National Bowel Screening Test.

I love the instruction to Squeeze to Open. Seems a bit personal. Anyway, my bowel has always been one of my best features. I will have to request the next one because I will be too old for an automatic one. Always a bit of a shock when I forward book appointments. This morning, I recorded today’s event on my online calendar and asked it to repeat the same event every two years into the future. I also told it to alert me 2 months before every second year so I can apply for the test. Whizzing across the calendar years to check it has recorded correctly, I stop at April 2026 (I will be 75.) and April 2028 (I will be 77.) and life rushes on.

Purely by chance, I was sent a photo of my favourite café that I featured yesterday but which was photographed last night. How magical a Greek island can seem at night time! Must go back. It is one of the two things I have to see again.

I know it is pathetic but I am still suffering the after effects of my cancer treatment and it is driving me mad. It has lowered my immunity and I am constantly sniffling on the edge of a cold. I am also tired all the time. Although I am still doing a couple of hours in the Gym each day, every minute of it is an effort whereas it used to be a joy. I am really struggling to do all the other activities I would normally do.

It has been worrying me for quite a while but help may be at hand. I had a scan recently and I have blood tests coming up – all things to quieten the worried well – but it appears that I have a low red blood cell count which is a consequence of radiotherapy and a symptom of Anaemia. I hope that’s all it is because it should then be easily treatable.

Tuesday, 30th April, 2024

April is dying but … it’s only Tuesday. This is turning out to be a very long week. M flew back to Tampa yesterday. She was upgraded to Business Class which, normally, would be a good move but she found herself sitting next to Nigel Farage. That’s enough to upset anyone although M is a very calm, people-person. Anyway, she got through the ordeal in time to be reunited with K who is celebrating a scary birthday.

Today, he is 59. Yes, I know he looks a lot older and that was years ago but we can’t all look young, can we Dear Reader?

I am struggling at the moment. I wrote about feeling tired all the time well, last night, Man-Flu hit me. Haven’t had anything like that for years. I really am a typical man when I do get it. Going to need a lot of TLC over the next 24 hrs. We’ve been discussing it and have come to the conclusion it might be as a result of my covid booster. I had SpikeVax (formally Moderna) and side effects do include shivering, chills, fatigue, joint pain. I really don’t know if I will manage my Gym session today. I will be furious with myself if I fail.

I was asked by one of my little sisters if I could provide some photos of our Grandparents – Mum’s parents. While I was going through my archive – where I keep the incriminating evidence on anyone I have ever met – I found this photo of our family home in the village of Repton taken in the big snow of 1955. Haven’t seen weather like that since. The house was built by my Grandfather and Great Grandfather in their burgeoning builders’ business, Sanders & Son.

My Dad died when I was 14 and Mum was left to juggle a family of 7 kids alone. Her one real joy was to go out ‘dancing’ and I was press ganged to be her +1. Haven’t seen this photo from 1967 since it was taken although I do remember how excruciating I found the experience. I never danced again.

Wednesday, 1st May, 2024

May again! Happy new month, Dear Reader. Don’t look back. April 2024 is sliding away on the conveyor belt of time. Sorry to whinge but I’m still feeling lifeless and terrible. I didn’t manage my Gym routine yesterday. Even my head was struggling to say I wanted to. Anyway, a higher power banned me from exercise and I was grateful for the excuse.

Whatever has suddenly hit me is extremely powerful and has not only sapped all my energy and made my muscles feel like they have given up but it given me a terrible headache, sore mouth, aching ears, feeling of overheating alternating with shivering. As I do my morning tasks, I think it is better than yesterday but still quite a long way to go. Hopefully back to normal by Friday.

We chose to major on herbs in cooking to cut down on salt which raises the blood pressure. It’s like all these changes, difficult at first but soon becomes the new routine. Now, if something is over seasoned, I can’t eat it. A lot of the herbs we use are of Mediterranean origin and particularly, Oregano, Basil, Sage, Thyme, Rosemary. Even Parsley came from Greece. The wet Winter has not helped them and I’ve had to replace quite a few. If I can stir myself, I am going out to the Garden Centre for a collection of replacement plants.

It’s been a difficult start to the year for Garden Centres with a very wet Spring. They have been receiving deliveries of plants from Holland and are visibly straining at the leash to sell them. Suddenly, the warm, dry weather has arrived and you can feel the release.

All is not well in the garden for plant sellers and buyers. As we drove in, a huge pantechnicon from Holland had parked up loaded with plants for the Centre to stock up and sell on. It is probably the last one to make it before today’s changes. Starting today, all fresh European plant and animal products being imported to the UK must be checked directly for diseases at the British border. This includes milk, meat – and flowers. Dutch flower and plant exporters expect days-long delays and believe that British consumers will soon have to pay more. These are some more of the benefits of Brexit.

We had 19C/66F yesterday in the garden and already at 10.30 am it is reading 20C/68F. We might break the magic 22C/70F barrier today.

Thursday, 2nd May, 2024

Oh what a night. It really was. Four hours of pyrotechnics. I never go to bed early but yesterday was an exception because I was feeling so awful. Lemsip and bed at 10.00 pm. Of course, I would choose the one night when the weather made sleep difficult. From Midnight until 4 in the morning, the bedroom was repeatedly lit up by huge flashes of lightning followed by rolling claps of thunder and intense bursts of rain. It was impossible to sleep through – although it was pointed out that I missed the first two hours being dead to the world. Well, I don’t know if I’ve told you but I’ve not been well.

When I got up, I found that the storm had really been quite severe but confined to the south. Damaged buildings on the beach side. Trains out of service because lines were down. Local media and even Sky featured stories and pictures about it. Outside our house, the world looked wonderfully fresh and clean with no damage at all. The sky was still grey.

The first duty after Breakfast was to go out and vote. We only had a Police & Crime Commissioner to elect today. We drove down to the Community Centre which was also being used for an exercise class and a Mother & Baby meeting. In fact, as we went in, I did have a chat with one baby about which way he was going to vote but he hadn’t decided. Sainsburys shopping and Fish Shop visit. Going to try to get a Gym session done today. Could be a big day tomorrow.

Friday, 3rd May, 2024

Didn’t sleep well, listened to the post election results/analysis which BBC R4 do so well. The results were pure humiliation of the Tories although there is no real sense that Sunak will be moved against. I was interested to find what effect the lunatic fringe led by Galloway would have in Rochdale. It was minimal with the barmy, WPB Party taking 2 seats off Labour who still held a huge overall control.

In our Town, Labour gained control of Adur and held Worthing. Up in North Yorkshire where Sunak’s own seat is, the new Mayor was taken by Labour which sends out an uncomfortable message to the little chap. Is it me or are Mayors looking younger?

It is ironic that just as I am beginning to feel a bit better, Pauline has woken feeling unwell and decided to test for Covid. Of course I did the same and ….. we both have Covid. Having gone all these years without a sign of it, we both tested positive this morning. Now, I understand why I felt like I’d hit a brick wall.

This rather changes plans. Pauline did a covid test because she was having a blood test this morning – now cancelled. I tested because … I did as I was told. Kevin wanted me to be in Leeds this afternoon for a funeral of one of our College friends. I certainly wasn’t well enough for that before this test.

Saturday, 4th May, 2024

Absolutely glorious day on which I really feel better … or at least better until I start doing things. My wife is really unwell today so, clearly, I infected her and she is on a recovery lag. Her reward is to have things that are prohibited normally but will cheer her up.

She is permanently skinny and doesn’t weigh much more than when we got married which is annoying. She loves carbohydrates but doesn’t indulge herself in order to help me. Today, she will have her forbidden favourites to cheer her up. Crumpets with morning coffee – or, in her case, water because that’s all she drinks and then Jacket Potato for Supper. For her, nirvana on a plate!

Hot sunshine and blue sky is just right for being outside in the garden. The beach will be far too busy and there is a rugby tournament going on at the Sports ground down the road with cars parked everywhere. When you’re free to go out every day, why would you choose a Bank Holiday weekend? I’ve been to the garden centre again this morning but most bedding plants are still being held back because of this unusual start to the season. I’m going to do some preparation work today because we can’t wait much longer.

My old friend, JohnR, is out in South Korea again with his wife visiting an Andy Warhol exhibition. You couldn’t get much more not Yorkshire than that. So admirable!

Spent a wonderful day in the garden in really hot sunshine. Lunch outside was just a bowl of the very best, Greek olive oil and homemade ‘dipping’ bread with an ice cold bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. What more could any man ask for? Oh, what a perfect day. I wish I could spend it with you, Dear Reader.

Supper in the garden this evening – Kalamari & Salad with Garlic Sauce. Dream on, Dear Reader. You should have been here. My joy would have beeen transmitted to you. It was magnified as we followed the local elections. First Andy Burnham in Manchester was given a 3rd term and then Sadiq Khan in London was given the same. Finally, against all the odds, Andy Street, totemic Tory mayor in the West Midlands, has been defeated by Labour. The Tories are totally gone. Praise the Lord … if you believe in him/her.