Darragh

 Darragh woke me around 3am. 

I’ve lost one slate from the roof so far.

South of the village , at Mia Hall several large trees had been felled, almost closing the main road.

I cooked sausages for lunch, giving Mary and Roger one each as a treat 

And before going to bed ( I’m on split nights this week which is a bugger) I lifted my Christmas Wreath from the wall and brought it in. 

My sister made it and if you look closely you can see two black kittens plating in the foliage 

Storm Darragh

 Leaving work, there was an ominous red sky in the morning view across the bay towards Trelawnyd ( far in the distance ) 

I replaced Bluebell’s windscreen wipers ( served by a snide workman from Halfords ) then drove to meet and old friend for brunch at Chester’s Grosvenor Garden centre which was a bit of a nightmare at times as it felt packed with focused grey hairs fighting for table space. We held our ground at a small table and had a lovely talk and an average fish and chip brunch.

Tonight I’m writing Christmas Cards 

Storm Darragh approaches

Going Gently Christmas Card

The first one is an AI wish

The second is an I remember 

 Going Gently

Namely John, Mary, Roger, Weaver and bouncy Bun 

Sends blogland 

Our Christmas Greetings 

For 2024

Thank you for cards received 

I’m hanging them in an effort to surround the living room as per!

Conclave

 If you want to see an intelligent, tense and enjoyable thriller go and see Edward Berger’s Vatican based drama Conclave.

It’s a great ride.

Conclave is the claustrophobic Sistine Chapel based event where some 160 cardinals vote in the next Pope, often over a much protracted period of time .Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence a loyal and principled manager of the Conclave. Although eligible to be Pope himself , he oversees the run for promotion with diligence and fairness only questioning all of the top delegates when troubling information alights some of it from the dead Pope himself. 

This “ whodunnit” features some cracking scene stealing characters. The African Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) confident in his continent’s support, the fiercely ambitious liberal Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), the flamboyantly traditional Italian Cardinal Tedesco ( Sergio Castellitto ) who steals one scene by puffing on a vape! and the obsequious American Cardinal Trembray ( John Lithgow) all want the Papal position but each are thwarted by the twists and turns of a plot which is satisfyingly advocated and superbly played by Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence. 

It’s a wonderful performance , one of Fiennes’ very best in fact and the whole film is beautifully choreographed and shot by Stéphane Fontaine , who makes the most of the Papal uniforms and wonderful Vatican City backdrop.

I loved it. 

Bunlove

 

Last night Bun did the cottage proud 

As I was watching I’m a celebrity .Mary slowly walked in front of fire to warm her old bones 

And Bun walked with her, her paw swatting Mary’s tail as it dragged on the floor.

Mary drew her teeth, for a moment then Bun let go conceding defeat 

And the sisters sat together for a while, side by side

Quietly and gently 

Assisted Dying

 I’ve been asked several times now about my thoughts of the assisted dying bill which was debated so eloquently in the commons recently 

I am clear in my response to it

I am against it

And I will tell you for why

Dying is a normal progress, but it can illicit difficult symptoms which can be a challenge to live with. 

Good and proper palliative care can rectify most if not all of these symptoms, but this care is at best patchy and at worst non existent so it a lottery for many that they receive prudent end of life care.

The government needs to fund hospice care properly for this to start to happen.

Everyone should have access to the hospices’ ability to control pain, and breathlessness, delirium and agitation and fear and anxiety 

And that has to be done before we enter into the minefield of giving end of life patients medication they have to take themselves

The paralysed, the Motor neurone, the CVA patients , who it could be argued all need this bill passing more than anyone else , will at the moment never “ benefit” from it so let’s bench mark care to a good standard universally before we set a standard for those who’ve had enough

Chasing The Day

 

Jane and I went to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Lyceum which proved to be a night of pure energy. Jason Donovan played Dr Frank ‘n Furter ( with a surprisingly good voice) and The Head Of Steam pub was nose to nipple with Yorkshire brutes dressed as transvestites before kick off time. 

The energy was electric , great fun ,and a panacea for Jane as things for her has been somewhat rough recently.

The Lyceum , wisely , let the audience rule the evening, and although I would have been happy with just one half of the musical, it was worth the visit for the real fans’ reactions.

Today I met my old neighbour and friend John for breakfast and a gossip in the Hillsborough Coach house cafe ( v v impressed) then had a full roast dinner in Banner Cross’s Turnip and Thyme with Mike, Bev and daughter Maisie, which was Warm and normal and funny and comfortable 

There’s nothing like meeting old friends, and I even coped with zigzagging across Sheffield in Bluebell , braving the congested roads and remembering with some nostalgia , a city I knew well.

These guys have kept me afloat , for years

We finished our long lunch around 3 pm and after big hugs, I was on my way home through Broomhill , chasing the day westward as the light faded into evening