A Dangerous and Irresistible Pastime

Month: December 2024

  • Have yourself a merry little Christmas

    Have yourself a merry little Christmas

    Son David and wife Heather with the new headlights for their Crocs, courtesy of grandson Nick.

    We’re having a lovely time in Stainton. We had a beautiful Christmas lunch courtesy of Sarah. We walked yesterday morning onto Askham Fell to overlook Ullswater and the Helvellyn range and then dozed through the afternoon and today we’ve been out replenishing the food stocks.

    We’ve attempted to learn how to play poker with varying degrees of success, and, on a personal note, I’ve got Richard (landlord at The Kings Arms) to call me Peter. Hopefully he will remember tonight!

    The turkey was still really good for lunch today and I think there’s a bit left for tomorrow.

    As well as croc headlights we have:

    Molly looking a bit disgruntled as a penguin

    And

    Milo as a reindeer.

    Heather and I have had a fab time so far, and the rest of the family arrive, for the weekend, tomorrow. AND Liverpool won again!!!!

    https://youtu.be/roiZ8CD_FAs?si=nIUuTo6IA7a9Ib8o

    We all wish everyone who this reaches a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year

    From Askham Fell. Hallin Fell in the middle ground, Helvellyn Ridge in the bacjground, then moving around to Great Mell Fell in the middle ground and Sharp Edge on Blaencathra peeping out of the clouds.

  • Strictly Blogging

    Strictly Blogging

    After only 7 months we have finally reached the final!! What are they going to do with all the small children who have been in the audience all this time?

    So, given all the news from friends in the Lytham Mens’ Health Group, I’ve been thinking about how I react to my medical problems. I do this by setting targets. Not always big ones, and I try to make them attainable. I don’t try to make them easily attainable, but I’m not going to set myself a target of climbing Everest, cos I’m never going to be able to achieve this.

    Unusually, I found my next but one target (after the walking one in January in the news. Yes, I’m going to stand as an MP!!!!!………………………… No I’m not. But I AM aiming to be alive in 2034, because I want to be able to boycott the World Cup in Saudi Arabia. I’m fairly often disgusted with the FA, but this put the top hat on it. What a stitch up. That the FA can support this without a whimper leaves me speechless…….. nearly. And as for that lady from the FA to come out and tell us how Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has impproved and will improve further………. well please!!

    Anyway, its nice to have an aim in life.

    So, after 5.5 hours, Strictly is still droning on, so it’s back to the coffee and brandy (Carlos 1 Solera Gran Reserva from Amontillado Casks)

    Tenuous link I know, but I loved Kirsty MacColl

  • Just Keep Walking!!

    For those of you who don’t see my Facebook posts or aren’t part of various WhatsApp groups of which I’m a member, in January 2025 I’m taking on the Run the Month Marathon Edition for Prostate Cancer. Unfortunately, I won’t be running this, but I will be walking quite briskly and I’m aiming to do as great a distance as I am able, rather than just the 26.2 miles.

    I have a Just Giving Page if you would like to help me raise money for research into Prostate Cancer

    Those of you who have followed the blog will know that I’m on various medications to delay the spread of my cancer and I’m sure many of you will have seen the programme on TV that Chris Hoy did.

    Chris Hoy chose to describe his experiences as a battle. I prefer a quote from one of my favourite footballers, Gianlucca Vialli, who died from pancreatic cancer. He said: “I could not battle against cancer, because I think it is a far stronger opponent than I am,” he told RAI Sport.

    “I consider cancer to be a travelling companion, albeit an unwanted one that got on the train and sat by my side, and we’ll carry on together for as long as needs be.

    “Hopefully, it’ll eventually get tired and go away.”

    I know mine won’t go away, but hopefully we’ll go to some exciting places over the next few years. Vialli and Mancini at Sampdoria were different class. Anyone else remember Serie A on Channel 4 on a Sunday afternoon?

  • Everybody’s Gone Surfing

    Everybody’s Gone Surfing

    Had a nice, if short, walk this morning. The sun was shining, the tide was in, but it must have rained really hard in the night cos everywhere was very wet! The walk was 2.5 (flat) miles, taken at stroll pace. I don’t think my energy levels are improving, but, generally feeling OK.

    Had my second attempt at ramen last night and it was a huge improvement on the first try. The recipe I sort of followed was prawn and chicken, but I subbed tofu for the chicken and, astonishingly, I enjoyed it. The broth was great. Chicken stock, mirin and soy with some ginger and garlic added.

    My new Porsche 918 Spyder. This is what happens when you have a Dacia Duster. You build models!

    I’m slightly worried as the sports pages are full of reports of Man City’s decline. I can’t help thinking that Monday’s papers might be full of Liverpool’s decline because they couldn’t beat a poor Man City team. Is this just scouse pessimism or due to the absence of Ibou at the centre of our defence?

    The reason for the post title is the appearance on my Facebook feed of an advert for the Beach Boys who are playing somewhere near Reading next July. Could be tempted except that supporting them is David Essex!!

    I feel like this has been a bit of a ‘nothing’ post, but the news is so uniformly depressing that I dont feel like commenting. See you all next time!