The Unforgetable Fire

Sadly it will a long time before my family (as pictured Dad, Sister and Mum) will be able to repeat this photo. This was taken on the Pier at Weston-Super-Mare and today it caught fire and the Pavilion was completely destroyed.

Every time I go to stay with my sister, I always have a big bag of coin as we normally end up on the pier and the boys like to play the machines, housed in the Pavilion. This ritual, will for the foreseeable future, have to be put on hold. It's very sad to see a pier on fire, sadder still when you know it very well and can picture it as soon as you hear the first radio report.

For the people of Weston tonight will be a strange evening as part of the main focus of the town will be a smouldering wreck. I hope they have the fight to restore it to it's former state.

Daddy's home

...again! He's had two blood transfusions , some platelets (that's nothing to do with food) and has been fine since Monday. Hopefully this time he's home for keeps.

Doctor, doctor

...knew I spoke to soon! Dad, hospital, again, in...sort to create the correct sentence! First challenge of course is to find him.

Something's coming

There has been a severe lack of blogs recently but there is a good reason. My Dad has been in hospital for the last couple of weeks and my time has therefore been split between work and visiting him with my Mum (who doesn't drive).

He went in a week last Monday for a routine bladder operation, and was discharged two days later as planned...& re-admitted the next day...and discharged last Sunday....& re-admitted again on
Monday. He has (finally?) come home again today. In that time he been moved almost every day, which means you have to play "hunt the patient" when first you enter the ward. The fact that occasionally they have changed the ward (he was on ear, nose & throat for one night!) just adds to the fun! He did get the chance to ring us and give us a clue as to his whereabouts but a couple of times we had to consult the chart on the wall to find him! While overall the care was good ( and let's not forget - free) a few more nurses (both male and female) who had English as their first language would have helped. One evening a male nurse took Dad's temperature, blood pressure and emptied his bag without uttering one word!

Anyway...to the matter in hand. As the photo shows Ikea's arrival in Southampton is getting closer. This gives me mixed emotions. I'm excited on one hand as no more 120 mile (minimum) round trips to the home of all things pleasurable for furnishing your home ( and a good plate of meatballs).

What depresses me, however, is the location. This afternoon Will & I (Matt's up a mountain in Switzerland with the school) went in to Southampton at about 3pm to go shopping. The traffic was dreadful and what does the average Ikea do but attract cars, cars and yet more cars. I can't believe that the centre of Southampton won't be any thing but grid lock! Oh and add in football traffic as well just for good measure! It might still take as long to visit Ikea in Southampton as it does to drive to either Croyden or Bristol!

Once

If you have not seen this film then you have missed a real treat!

It's only 85 minutes long , was filmed mainly on handy cams and cost c£100k and the music won an Oscar!

It's a simple story, boy meets girl etc..., it's a musical in that it's full of songs. Songs which are beautifully written, well performed and give the film a real feeling of the hope the underpins it. Hope of a future as musicians, hope of love and hope of a fresh start.

You'd have to be mad to starting watching it and not finish it!