Caroline (cmmathieson ) is a little unwell.

Following several days and weeks of problems with her tummy (well, years, but most recently just for several weeks) , we've been to the doc etc. (most impressed btw!) and she's asked her to rest. I'm looking after her for now.

Firstly, Stansted Transit ceased trading at short notice, in early June. The operator had lost some of their Essex CC routes on retendering anyway, but managed to cease before some of the contracts did. Excel took over most, a couple each to Burton's or Stephensons. Some of the new contracts have now started early, although not all have.

As we speak, Whippet Coaches are preparing to move out of their depot at Fenstanton (see the announcement) to a new site in Swavesewy. Stagecoach have closed the Huntingdon depot for demolition, and it was raised to the ground in a matter of days. Stagecoach are basing some of the buses at Lordgate Engineering (St Ives) for now, but will eventually move into the old Whippet premises.

Stagecoach Cambs area changes from early August include…
Service 15 group - evening service to Bar Hill Tesco maintained at hourly, with the 45's now running as fast 15's. Remainder of 15's also via Fenstanton. Extra morning and evening peak shorts to connect with other routes at St Ives.
Service 21 - three daytime journeys extends beyond Somersham to continue to/from Chatteris, replacing 35. Morning and evening peak buses run a little later.
New Service 29 - Bit from St Ives to Warboys replaces Service 35, but doubling the service frequency (back to) hourly.
Service 30 - Extra journeys between the bus stn and hospital in Huntingdon, doubling to 2bph, plus 2 from the 65/66 maintains 4 buses an hour between these points, slightly better spread. 07 [Service 30], 22 [Service 66], 37 [Service 30], 52 [Service 65] from the hospital to the bus stn, and back at 10 past [66], 25 [30], 40 [65] and 55 [30]. Connections from St Ives at Wyton on the 45 no longer possible, but see improved 29.

Service 31 - most journeys about 15 minutes later throughout. This, taken with the changes on the 30, mean it is possibile to go through once again Peterborough - Ramsey - Huntingdon on most journeys - currently only one in two. Afternoon school runs reduced from 2 to 1. Changes mean a bus every 20 mins from Whittlesey to Peterborough, and return.
Service 32 - no longer via Oakdale Avenue, 31 does. The Peterborough journeys mostly run to Whittlesey, through service to Benwick and Chatteris reduced to peaks, schools, and one shopping return journey (also see slightly better connections between 33 and X9 at March for alternatives). The Ramsey - Benwick - March service is replaced by 34 between Benwick and March only.
Service 33 - short journeys to Coates withdrawn, route now hourly. Changes in route around March. Now connects better with the X9 at March - going north, X9 arrives March xx25, 33 currently departs xx13, will now depart xx40. Going south, 33 arrives xx52, will now arrive xx12, X9 departs xx38. This will allievate the withdrawal of most of the Chatteris journeys of the 32.
Service 34 - "new" service replacing the March - Benwick bit of the 32, and the March - Manea bit of Service 35, both on a 2 hourly basis, combining to provide an hourly service from Wimblington to March via Elliot Road (plus the direct X9).

Service 35 - revised to only operate between Chatteris and Warboys only, for connections to/from Service 30.  St Ives - Warboys bits now on Service 29. Chatteris - Manea section appears to be withdrawn. Manea - March and local, see 34 (plus 33 as before). This is except for a Mon-Fri 0719 March Fountain - Chatteris - Warboys - Wyton - Huntingdon journey, and a 1807 return. The 1753 from Warboys to Chatteris extends to March, Monday to Saturday. March peak journeys do not run via Manea.
Service 35 Peterborough withdrawn, but see 38.
Service 37 Peterborough - Saturday service substantially upgraded, partially replacing Saturday 35 journeys.
Service 36 - Some off peak journeys replaced by the 38, except on Mondays and Thursdays. Saturday service is reduced to just the 0710 from Wisbech, 1545 from Peterbrough, with the rest running to/from Thorney only.

Service 38 - new route with two versions. The 390 from Wisbech at 0900 on Wednesdays is replaced with a 38, more or less the same route, but revised times at Thorney and Eye. The new Tuesday and Friday buses on the "other" 38 start from Stepau Stow via Whaplode Drive, Holbeach Drove, Gedney Hill, and Sutton St Edmund, sort of replacing the Saturday only Peterborough 35.
Service 39 - revised timetable. Short journeys within Wisbech removed. Last bus from Long Sutton now 1345, removing the journeys after that time in that direction. A new 1438 from Wisbech, Salters Way to Tydd St Mary only. Two additional journeys between Long Sutton and Wisbech early morning, returning mid-evening, as placing journeys for the X9 (removing the Wisbech - Long Sutton X9 extension at these times).
Service 45 - withdrawn.
Service 55 - reduced evening runnng time on journeys out of Cambridge.
Service 65/66 - short journeys Tesco to Brampton withdrawn. 66 extended to replace Service 45 to RAF Wyton, Houghton and St Ives. Connections to/from the 30 at Wyton no longer possible, but the bus does continue to Huntingdon via the hospital anyway (directly).

Most of these changes are understood to include more buses to St Ives, less to Huntingdon, for positioning and crew changes at the new premises, more than anything else.

Finally, if you didn't catch up with Stagecoach East's open top Bristol FLF Lodekka (19952) on Sunday at the Peterborough Bus Rally, you have one chance to sample it this summer.

"Stagecoach in Peterborough will be using one of its vintage Bristol FLF double deck buses in normal service on Saturday August 15th.

The vintage bus - with vintage driver and conductor - will operate two journeys between Peterborough and Oundle and return, taking in one of Stagecoach in Peterborough's most scenic routes. The use of the vintage bus is subject to availability and a modern bus may need to be substituted at short notice.

The anticlockwise service (23) will depart from Peterborough’s Queensgate Bus Station (Bay 15) at 09:50 and operate to Oundle (arrive 11:05) travelling through the villages of Stibbington, Wansford, Yarwell, Nassington, Apethorpe, Kings Cliffe, Woodnewton, Fotheringhay, Tansor and Cotterstock, returning to Peterborough on service 24 at 11:08 (arrive 11:47).

The afternoon clockwise circle  (Service 24) departs Peterborough (Bay 15) at 12:40 to Oundle Market Place (Stop A) at 13:20 and then continues as Service 23 to Peterborough Queensgate (arrive 14:35).

A Dayrider Plus ticket gives a day’s unlimited travel between Peterborough and Oundle and also allows travel  around Peterborough and Cambridge and further afield.
 
Dayrider Plus tickets are valid for travel in an area bordered by Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Long Sutton, Royston, Newmarket, Saffron Walden, Spalding, St. Neots or Thrapston. they can be bought on the bus from our drivers (and conductor).

Notes: The vintage bus is a Bristol FLF with bodywork by ECW. It dates from 1966 and the driver has his own self-contained cab, which is why a conductor is needed to collect fares. The bus, which is based in Peterborough went topless many years ago, when its roof was removed. It is also available for hire."

Found this thanks to thermalsatsuma  a litlle while ago!

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From Sunday 16th and Monday 17th, a network reshuffle by Travel Dundee, and some commercial (and tendered) changes by Stagecoach will occur. For the full list of Dundee stuff, click here to see the list (with links to scans of the registration docs), or click here for the printable booklet version of the list.

Some other developments that I forgot to mention that happened earlier this week...

From Monday 6th July 2009, Stagecoach Strathtay will be introducing a number of service changes. Services 13/13A, 74 and 76 will be withdrawn. A revised timetable for Service 39 will apply, and this will serve Dundee Bus Station. Service 39A is revised too, and will terminate at Ninewells Hospital during the main part of the day on Sundays. Services 73/73A will oprate to a revised timetable, with Broomhill Drive journeys extended to Ashludie Hospital, with one bus an hour continuing to Ethiebeaton Park. Service 73B is a new service (included in the 73/73A timetable) that replaces the evening and Sunday service to Monifieth previously provided by the 77 group. Addiitonally on Sundays, 73B will provide hourly links direct along Perth Road to/from Invergowrie and/or Kingoodie. Service 75 is a new hourly Monday to Saturday daytime service from Dundee City Centre to Ethiebeaton Park via Dundee Road and Grange Road, whereas Service 77-77C are revised to no longer include Monifieth (see 73, 73B and 75). Instead, parts of the main Service 77 will follow the 13 route west of the city centre to Ninewells Hospital, and Invergowrie/Kingoodie. 77A/77B will operate between Wormit and Dundee City Centre loop only. Service 88 will have a revised timetable, losing the late afernoon service.

An additional late notice change from the same date is the diversion of the 1850 and 2000 Stagecoach Fife "express city connect" X54 journeys from Dundee to Glenrothes, to run via all bus stops in Newport and Wormit, replacing some withdrawn journeys on the 77 group. Download the new timetable here.

Outside Dundee, Arbroath Town Services got tweaked. The 27 (Arbroath Cliffburn - Forfar - Kirriemuir) was rerouted to miss out Kirkton, thus reverting to a more direct route. As a result of the 73 changes, a second bus an hour was extended into Arbroath and Cliffburn, this when adding the second 73/73A, most of the daytime short 45's were replaced. Additionally, the buses working the 41 to Timmergreens and 43 to Kirkton now extend to the new Arbroath Post Office in the High Street - not far from where it used to be, before moving into the Abbeygate.

Forthcoming changes in August are school service changes in Forfar and Kirriemuir areas. Stagecoach have lost arouynd 75% of the work at Kirriemuir depot, and Strathmore Travel have ceased their school runs. JP, James Donald, County Travel, and Fishers Tours have all picked up mainstream school work as a result.

As ever, full timetables for all the Dundee stuff can be had from DundeeBuses.info, while Angus Council's transport site includes timetables and maps for all local bus services in Angus.

Updated Free Fleetlists on ScotBus.com

To update you with all recent developments and happenings, I have uploaded some new June 2009 fleetlists, to ScotBus.com.

As ever, huge massive thanks to Chris Forbes who has allowed these fleetlists to be shared with the world. These lists are free of charge, and come to you with our compliments.

These fleetlists constitute the majority of large Scottish bus operators, and include details of fleet numbers, registration numbers, chassis numbers, body numbers, seating capacity, former registrations, and details of previous owners - each vehicle is on a separate horizontal line.

These lists are abbreviated, using standard PSV Circle abbreviations, and come in Microsoft Excel (XLS) or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) formats. If you aren’t sure about any of those, guidance links are now on the webpage!

All 23 different lists are now uploaded to ScotBus – go to http://scotbus.com (no need for www dot, unless it makes you feel better!), then click Fleetlists, then click June 2009 in the format of your choice.

Bus operators covered by these lists are Arriva Scotland West, Bluebird Buses (t/a Stagecoach Bluebird and Stagecoach Inverness), City Sightseeing Edinburgh, Edinburgh Shuttle, Edinburgh Tours, Fife Scottish (t/a Stagecoach in Fife), First Aberdeen, First Scotland East (formerly First Edinburgh), First Glasgow (No.1), First Glasgow (No.2), Highland Country, Lothian Buses, Mac Tours, Mair’s, Majestic Tours, Midland Bluebird (t/a First), Orkney Coaches, Rennies, Stagecoach Scotland Ltd (t/a Stagecoach Perth), Stagecoach Glasgow, Strathtay (t/a Stagecoach Strathtay), Tayside (t/a Travel Dundee), and Western Buses (t/a Stagecoach Western etc.).

Once again, many thanks to Chris, and I hope you enjoy his work, and find these useful!

It’s been a busy little while. In a discussion with carolinetoo, I said that we’d not stopped doing things – just I have less time to write them up. Bits appear on Facebook, Fotopic, etc., but the diary remains – as much for my benefit as everyone else!

So, we are now 25 months and 8 days together. I’ve caught up a bit with OU stuff, the TMA03 for T175 went in last night (bit late I know, but already discussed). Intend to have a look at the TMA for M150 tomorrow. LiveJournal caught up with, transport stuff to follow. Deliveries for today, everything from food to timetable books, all delivered, with more for later in the week. We were out briefly last night – on the way home from PB on Sunday, we stopped at Baldock Services on the A1[M] and Caroline liked the look of the mini pizza and unique seasoned fries from Pizza Hut Express – to have another, and get an armful of M&S stuff from the small adjacent food store. We’re in the midst of some changes – reducing a little of what we buy, plus a few other ideas to try and reduce other problems like upset tummies and stuff (stuff like buying smaller milk jugs instead of larger ones). There will be some “fairly ground breaking” stuff in weeks to come (albeit by my standards) so keep an eye out for all that.

One notable snippet – I was very tired on Monday, went to bed for a lie-down about 1900, but just lay on the bed. Energy came back, couldn’t sleep until after 0100. Very productive Tuesday. Turns out that I’d forgotten all my night pills…

It’s been a busy time since my last blog post! Here’s a catch up of the last little while, taking up to last Friday.

Tuesday 23rd June – My Day In The Cities
This was a hot day, enjoyable, but also my first out alone (except for work) for some time. Caroline dropped me at Melbourn at my request, and I went for a bash on a Stagecoach DayRiderPlus on a day trip around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with some shades of similarity to my previous Peterborough trip – and yes, Broadway was closed this time too!
16023 26 Melbourn opp Car Park to Cambridge Bus Stn Met several ABF members!
21225 45 Cambridge Bus Stn – Huntingdon Bus Station
Took this one (in preference to the faster 55) so I had the option of getting off at RAF Wyton, but didn’t see the 30 anywhere, sp stayed on to the bus station for pics. This was my first passenger trip on one of the new high specification buses currently on the 15/45/55, with leather seats, WiFi, power points, and air conditioning – which all worked well on the hot day!
16130 46 Huntingdon Bus Stn – Peterborough Rivergate
Walked via pedestrian area, bought a few things and picked up stuff for the forthcoming ABF trip. I’d stopped into WH Smith, and had a look at their clearance stuff. I was reviewing whether or not to stick with my Moleskine diary that I’ve used for the last year or so (it was an 18 month one) and went for a reduced £5.99 fabric Filofax Mistral, Personal Size (the original 6 holes) in a white, turquoise, green, pink pattern. I had the Pocket and Mini before this, for as long as I can recall, back to when I first went south to London in 1999 and intermittently before this.
33696 citi5 Midgate House – Peterborough Bus Station
20849 32 Peterborough Bus Stn – Chatteris, opp police stn
16588 X9 Chatteris opp Police Stn – Cambridge Drummer St
16026 26 Cambridge Bus stn – Royston Queens Road.
See all the pictures here!


Wednesday 24th June – home for deliveries
A variety of stuff came and went, including our first delivery of food from Riverford Home Delivery from Riverford’s Sacrewell Farm, near Peterborough. Following rave reviews from shullie  and others locally, we decided to giver it a try – a mix of this, less supermarket stuff, to be combined with other changes that we’ll talk more about later.


Thursday 25th June – Evening at work
An evening out for a work meeting, and I spotted traffic backed up all the way along the other carriageway of the A14. As it transpires, the traffic was stuck following a hit & run, where the driver drover the wrong way up the A14…


Friday 26th June – More of the same
Train to Cambridge, and I managed to get one of the ‘new’ green/blue 321 trains now at First Capital Connect. Afternoon at work – and another smash on the A14! (heard the latter on the bus on the way home!) Even the former MP for Huntingdon is also adding weight to the campaign…
... anyway, you can see all the pics I took here.


Sunday 28th June – Out & About
We went into Cambridge, had lunch in Pizza Express Jesus Lane, but I was rather worried about C’s tummy. In any case, C wanted pics of the poppies growing around Foxton, so I grabbed a few.


Monday 29th June – Royston to West London [Charing X GIC] without a train
Well, my appointment at the Charing Cross GIC (Fulham Palace Road/Greyhound Road) and the first day of new GreenLine Service 712 saw a dual need. After talking to Caroline about travelling south, I explained we’d probably have to pay peak fares to go back on a busy FCC train back to Royston in the evening crush hour… but there was only £2 in it to go via St Albans. So, started with Charter Travel’s 127 service to take us to Royston Bus Station on Mercedes P490 TGA, then Arriva The Shires Optare Versa 3403 on the 331 to Ware/Hertford, changing at Ware College to Arriva GreenLine Citaro 3403 on the 724 to St Albans Peahen, walked around to St Albans St Peters Street, a bite to eat at Weatherspoon’s (The Watermead Barn) before talking Arriva GreenLine coach 3906 on the Service 712 to London Victoria. Off-peak returns were going to be £2 cheaper each than returns, evening though we could not come back this way. While waiting for a Travel London 211 (two previous ones were turned short at Chelsea, Worlds End), Caroline’s bottle of sparkling water managed to overflow onto her and the person beside in the shelter! Eventually, Trident 9786 of the newly sold Travel London took us to Fulham Palace Road/Greyhound Road. Appointment was a little late, but no biggie, we had time. I was seen by Dr James Bellringer, but as it turned out, there was not a lot to do (see Brighton post the previous week or before). So, why go all this way? Well they did give me an appointment quickly, so I wanted to make the best of it. We discussed them taking over our trans care (in my case from Scotland, and in Caroline’s case, the private sector, following our findings from the PCT etc.) Quickly out again, drinks from Sainsbury’s below, then similar 9790 back to Victoria mainline station. We stopped for KrispyKreme’s before walking out via the first weekday of the C2 extension to Victoria [in favour of the 8/N8], before walking onto Victoria/Grovesnor Gardens to get Richmond’s newish VDL coach 593 FGF on commuter service 796 back to Royston Tesco. We had air conditioned comfort, and plenty of space to stretch out. It was a busy day, and you can see the pictures here.


In Other News…
Remember I mentioned the new pills? Well, I do feel they are starting to work, but I did find out the hard way that I can’t have alcohol with them – one glass of rose and I was feeling rather woozy!

I am a little behind on the OU stuff (plus many other things in life) so I am trying my best to catch up!

The next posts will cover our weekend manoeuvres.

Following my post on Monday night, I had a busy Tuesday morning preparing. We missed the DHL delivery driver (for a collection – despite putting a note for after 1300 on Monday, came and went at 1100!), so I sweet-talked Caroline into going north to Bar Hill first, to drop it off at the DHL delivery depot.

Then, straight onto the A14, M11 (where I did this post on the road, using the new o2 USB Modem stick), M25, A282 Dartford Crossing, before stopping at Bluewater Shopping Centre. Can’t believe that it’s ten years old this year! As you will see from these two pictures, Bluewater is in a very scenic part of the Kent Thameside!

After stopping for drinks, we continued – although I was a little lost (usually in and out of the bus stance – sorry, Bluewater Transit Centre they call it there - not the car park) so in panic, inadvertently had us turn the other way. We managed to get back on the last turn before the Dartford Crossings again, and we were able to go south once more. However, C did manage to upset me a little with the driving, although when we talked (and resolved things) later, it was down to the fact that she was trying to get us there in time. (If anyone sees a copy of that ‘M25 and around’ map, let me know – saw one on the window of a clearance store, but they had none for sale last time I asked).

So, M25, M23, A23, A27 Brighton by-pass to Sussex University, down Falmer Road to Woodingdean, for my 1900 appointment at the Sussex Nuffield Hospital. Before arriving, we (naturally) got stuck at the Downs Hotel traffic lights. As you may recall from previous visits, many passengers and staff are emblazoned high on the sides of Brighton & Hove Buses double deck fleet. So, which one was it waiting? Naturally, the bus was Scania 608, featuring none other than B&H mechanic Gethin Donaldson on the offside. I found him by chance on Bebo, after seeing this vehicle several times on the 2/2A through Woodingdean!

After booking in, and following the directions to go down the corridor after the second door on the left, we’d gone the wrong way – apparently they’d moved him to a room which was basically just by the entrance. (Unfortunately, no-one told the receptionist, which is why I ignored the large sign asking Phil’s patients to come this way!) We sat in the waiting area, he was running a little behind, but was still quite eager to see what could be done.

Physical time – and he defied logic, and was, shall we say, successfully able to position his fingers to make a diagnosis (I can still feel it now, which is probably TMI but what the hell!) It IS a cyst, and he’s able to resolve it. Yes, the PCT are able to fund it – and I am looking at a one-day procedure, probably staying in that night because of distance, but just the one. This is probably 2-3 months away, at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath.

(Maybe a little OT here but I recognised it from a bus timing point and destination (amongst others, Countyliner’s Service 40X runs hourly to/from hospitals in Brighton, using MAN/MCV Evolutions. The service operates with Trust funding allowing patients and staff to travel for free).

AFAIK there will be no need for any other changes in the run-up to the surgery, and (thankfully) no extended stay therein – has to be a good thing!

While I was a little shaken up following the journey and the consultation, I was starting to relax. This was helped by dinner at the local takeaway (I didn’t fancy more than a few bites before going in), before (at my request) we drove down Falmer Road to Rottingdean (pronounced Ro’dean apparently), and then along the coast before turning up West Street, past the railway station, and up Dyke Road and Dyke Road Avenue (avoiding the bus lanes and gates!) We stopped at the traffic lights at the Dyke Tavern, which (given the local residents) might sound a slightly unfortunate choice of words. However, we continued along through Devil’s Dyke back to the A23.

It was then that we deviated off to go through Haywards Heath, and I realised that my trips through here had been by train. Aah well. Now I had to negotiate our way through with the atlas, but did manage to get us to the PRH. Looks nice enough anyway. Back to the A23 via the filling station for a quick drink and chocolate, before back to the A23, M23, M25, A282 Dartford Tunnel this way, M25, M11 to Duxford, A505, and back to Royston. We got back around midnight, and it still took me a while to sleep…

… until about 0720 this [Wednesday] morning, when Caroline woke me for the second time (with coffee!) We had to leave at 0830 to allow for traffic for my appointment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Forvie Site Brain Repair Centre for the HD clinic appointment previously booked. Slightly shorter than last time (Dr Barker is away, so it was Dr Wright), just a few tests, and lots of discussion and questions. Following this, the doc has asked my doctor to prescribe me Olanzapie (at a low 2.5mg to start with) to try and level things out, and building this up. If this is helpful, then it may eventually replace some of the other meds I’m on. It does make you more tired (although it may help with the sleep deprivation issues), and can make you put on weight – just like the rest of my meds – but, surprisingly, I was actually about five kilos less than the last time I weighed myself at home. Maybe it’s just the tolerance range, but it was something else to add.

Now at home, and having unpacked finally (we left most things in the car last night), tidied up, checked bank and other things, and now able to relax. Lets hope this is the start of the beginning, not the beginning of the end.

We are on the M11 heading south.
Keep watching!

With a busy time of it, I trust that I’m forgiven for overlooking the journal!

Today was a busy one too – after C’s two appointments this morning (and wait for blood tests afterwards), I’ve been trying to catch up since. Tomorrow, of course, is an evening appointment at Sussex Nuffield Hospital, Brighton, at 1900, then back in time for Wednesday morning 0930 at the Forvie/HD clinic at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge! Thursday, not just a CMA due in, then a discussion with the woman from ICAS in regards to the doctor who got us in this mess in the first place!

In the meantime, yes, it’s been hectic all around. Many things happening. Most important for me  being new phones (the last cordless phones were cutting out after less than five minutes, after four years of use), and a new Apple aluminium thin keyboard, which is useful for having all the keys in the right places (versus a PC one) and having a visible Caps Lock light (useful for when trying to TAB and hitting it inadvertently!) Sound simple, but it’s the things that I spend most time with. Also, lots of purchases, one leaving the flat – we’ve sold the colour laser printer via eBay, and replaced it with a mono one. No major problems, just an issue with cost of refilling it every few months working out more than we had hoped. The sale has helped pay for it’s replacement. Also, on Friday and Sunday, we had stops at Lush Cambridge for several armfuls of items.

Transport – meh, lots to talk about. I’ll come back to that.

So, I’m kind of in two minds, but then again, maybe that’s inevitable. (If you’ve just started reading my journal, you may wish to go back over the lump/bulge/bigger issues since November 2008). As to how I’ve ended up with two referrals for one set of work, well, that’s something else. Just hope that one way or another, this can be looked at, and diagnosed with whatever.

I had kind of hoped to say something thoughtful and monumental. It’s almost like being at the beginning again. Remember back to March 30/31 and April 1 2007, when I first came down for an appointment at the hospital – and ended up falling in love with Caroline. Many thoughts through my head that day – but the main reason for going was, of course, a prequel to surgery. As for everything that happened between those two things, well, what is done is done. In the meantime, I’ve became a better person for being in love, but that might still be skirting the situation. The reason for going down, is, of course, going to lead (eventually, more than likely) to some further surgical work. I shall take one day at a time on that score.

In the meantime, Wednesday morning, and it’s the Genetics thing again. Now, I’ve got this, like it or not. I’ve been trying to split bad feelings to between what should normally be expected (hormonal ups and downs), feelings of anxiety/depression (I’ve begun to think that it is mostly anxiety, but depression perhaps at certain times), and potentially explosive reactions that I’d seen before from my father. Of course, he couldn’t control the latter, and it’s not easy to watch. Especially when I didn’t know why, at that time. However, it does allow me to know what to watch out for – hope that doesn’t sound bad, but I frequently have to take the best of bad situations! Over the last few months, stability/walking has been an issue. Okay, I did have a fairly bad fall (well two of them one evening peak in central London) and that didn’t help – physically or mentally. It’s not a good thing to be walking and falling face-first. Especially when it’s not the first time. I am trying to take things a little easier for now. It’s kind of just as well that we’ve settled in where we are, for now, but never say never. So, how can I work around this? By putting the experience of bad days behind me, and vowing to live for the good ones. However, there’s a slight drawback in having to reveal all my personal problems in the last six months, in the space of several hours… and hopefully, some sleep.

I’ve done many things more than once in my life. Is this going to be the start of another journey, through the remaining months and years of my life? Trying to make the best of life as I can, as we are, and surviving through the bad times. I’d like to give it a go.

You may recall two years ago that I was singing along to a certain Bananarama track, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.

Now, maybe by chance, but just in time for my own two referrals, another remix. Having heard competely by chance, a woman I'd never heard of before - Kristina Debarge - has remixed this. Now, she's about to perform live tonight (as I speak) as part of 98PXY Rochester (NY, USA)'s Summer Jam as I type this (with the benefit of the time difference!) The only version of this track that I could find on YouTube is a simple music-over-still-image one. The lyrics have changed, but are still rather impressive.


However, just to show nothing lies still for long - and that indeed nothing is sacred - someone else has remixed her lyrics.... the Chipmunks...

I had an afternoon in Letchworth shopping for a few items, including at Morrisons, and Arena Stationers (a little independent down the side of Broadway towards the pedestrian area). I grabbed a few pictures of how I look – and these were my favourite three of the lot (following conclusion of the last bits of my hair colouring on Tuesday night);

( Cut for images )

Further to my post at the weekend, I alluded to a week that starts two weeks today, and C has two appointments on the Monday at Addenbrooke's, followed by my genetics on Wednesday morning at 0930, plus more other events later in the week.

So, what popped through the door this morning? Yes, an appointment to see Phil Thomas at the Sussex Nuffield Hospital, on the Tuesday between those three appointments, at 1930! Well, Woodingdean to Forvie (Addenbrookes BRC) in 12 and a half hours is doable...

...You wait forever, and then... you've guessed it - two surgery appointments at once, not to mention (between the two of us) four appointments in 48 hrs 10 mins...

... is their a bidding war on my fanny at the moment?

OK, so I’ve been running around a little this week, but I was exceptionally tired on Friday and Saturday. I had feelings before of hoping and getting out of the slump, but unfortunately not.

Highlights of the week…
* Getting 82% on TMA02 on Open Uni course M150. This was especially good, as the evening of the deadline saw a number of problems, including me inadvertently destroying the USB drive with the work on it, after I raised my knee into the edge of Caroline’s Mac PowerBook. Then, losing the pictures and formatting from within the document… anyway, as can be seen, a good recovery was made!
* Some good and bad moments. Lack of energy and pain is affecting my mood, as well as other issues. I’ve been trying not to get too badly upset.
* Appointment confirmed with the GIC in west London in little over four weeks time. It did look like it was going to be in the same week as my next genetics appointment, but the latter has been brought forward at my request (she said that they would if they had a cancellation). Thankfully not the same week, but also, it’s the same week at Caroline’s two appointments in the same morning at Addenbrooke’s, the cut-off date for the second CMA for T175, the BABUS AGM, as well as Fathers Day, which I have a gift to parcel up and send off in due course.
* Friday, oh dear. After getting the letter re the GIC appointment, was about ready to go out for the train to Cambridge. No, someone was on the track at London Kings Cross, so everything on the way out was at a standstill. So, I went for the bus… had to get cash, did so, managed to make it around, and it was a unexpected surprise, Stagecoach Trident 17078 on the 26! Took that into Cambridge, then onto work. After work, on the way home, my shoes managed to split at the top (canvas summer type that C somehow didn’t like after all…) and as a result, it came off my foot in the middle of Cambridge Emmanuel Street, with just a few minutes to go before the bus back to Royston. So, limped around to Drummer Street with one shoe on…
* Saturday, almost equal fun. After getting a forwarded election communication that Scottish Labour sent to my old address, asking locals not to vote SNP (not long after they’ve taken control of the City Council), I wondered what chance a Scottish Nationalist would stand if up for election in North Hertfordshire… not me, but just the chances of… anyway, we went out to Cambridge to the Lucky Star buffet followed by the cinema next door, C wanted to watch Angels And Demons, which she had also been reading. More shoe problems… mind you, following the previous day’s incident, purchase of a book on the history of footwear was an inspired purchase (perhaps) at the booksale earlier – along with a large Spanish dictionary, with attached USB drive. We’ll see.
* About to make lunch for the both of us – it is our 26 month anniversary today.

Finally.... following many requests to my doctor (when it transpired he'd sat on it for some time, before blaming the PCT - complaint ongoing), appointment for CX (well, their clinic off the Fulham Palace Road) for 29/06 has arrived!

Also, many thanks to the lovely shullie  for a lovely long black goth style skirt purchased via eBay - doesn't look too huge on me, but then again, there is an obvious size difference... now, off to work in a bit!

We've been back for an hour or two now. We went out for the afternoon, driving south from Royston via Hare Street, Hay Street, Puckeridge, then onto the A120 to Bishops Stortford (lunch at Pizza Express) before continuing on a trip via Hatfield Forrest (not in Hatfield!), Thaxted, Saffron Walden, Chrishall, and then back to Royston. We're now relaxing...

Found, thanks to Dougie K on Scotlandbus...this popular website and book have now made it into a radio show.

The first episode of several will be on iPlayer for the next six days.

Found via auntysarah