Getting somewhere at last - and not just the booster...

Well, it's been nearly a week since I started taking the Amitriptyline tablets.  These were originally designed to be an anti-depressant, but as so often happens, they (the pharmaceutical companies) found that it was not very good for the original issue, but it is really good for treating pain.  Specifically neuralgia (nerve pain) as well as migraine.

Now comes the "fun" part.  Like all prescription medication, there are side effects...  And the most common ones are some crackers...  Things like...

Feeling sleepy

Headache

Dry mouth

Nausea

And guess what - I got the lot.  The sleepy part isn't an issue (now) - but for the first few days, all it took was for me to get too comfortable in the bean bag, and bang.  Out cold.  I also found that I was waking up with a headache / dry mouth in the morning, but a bottle of water on my bedside table soon sorted that out.

The worst one was the nausea.  I felt like I'd eaten something (or someone) I didn't agree with, and it was quite unpleasant.  Luckily for me, it was only the one day (and that was the day after my COVID-19 booster - more on that later) but it did knock me for six.

So, at the moment, I won't say I am pain free - far from it.  This dratted medication can take upto 6 weeks to take effect - as my GP said - "don't expect this to work instantly".  I'm not that daft, but have to admit that things are getting slightly easier...  Especially when I use my Smokin' Joints Warming Shea Butter Skin Balm.  

This little miracle pot has really helped me, and I know when I haven't used it.  My back hurts (ok - more than it does normally with the slipped disc) and it seems to help with the pain in my leg.  I don't know if it was because I gave the leg a damned good massage rubbing this stuff in (my thigh muscles were twitching like they were wired to the mains) but it seemed to help and allowed me to get some sleep.

Now onto the booster.  I had already got this booked for January 6th at Walsgrave Hospital...  Ok, not an issue.  Then my GP practise sends me a text message to say that I can get jabbed closer to home - and a lot sooner.  Like a month earlier.  

Needless to say that was a no brainer - of course I was going to take the jab.  This new COVID-19 variant is scary, and blazing a trail through the population.  

So, Mum kindly took me to what I jokingly referred to as "jab central" on Saturday afternoon for my appointment with the needle.  Now my appointment was 15:40 - I was jabbed and escaped by then.

How did I manage?  Simple.  I got to the clinic early, and was pulled in early.  Medical history checked ("Are you allergic to anything?  Yes - work and injections")  Being serious though, I showed the team my medic alert and clarified that I knew what I was allergic to as I carried the epi-pen.  

I was then given the Pfizer jab as my first two jabs were the Astra-Zenica.  20 minutes later, and I am escaping for home, with a slightly sore arm.

As I write (ok type this) my arm still feels sore / slight lump where I had the jab, but to be honest, I am glad I had this done early, as it will hopefully reduce the severity of any infection...

Ah well, my kindle is calling me - I want to see what happens to Edwin Winthrop in Kim Newman's book  - The Bloody Red Baron 

Back when I get chance...

Karen

The future was planned and now we must crawl

Let justice be damned, they've taken it all

Now things that you read, you've seen it before

Like brothers we stand, they've fooled us once more

New variant COVID-19, and it's back to home working....

Well, Bo-jo has spoken,  Again.   We're back to home working as of Monday, unless you cannot work from home.

Which is pretty good going for me - I've been working at home since I damaged my back, so in reality, that change has meant nothing to me - it's my normal routine.  And, there have been more restrictions brought in - including wearing masks in more places, and the so-called vaccine passport to go into nightclubs.

Again, this won't make any real difference to me, as I do wear my mask on the rare occasions that I escape, and clubbing?  Can't remember the last time I went clubbing.  Think the closest I managed was going to see Magnum at the Parr Hall in 2019...  Before we even knew that Covid existed.

But, if I am honest, I can see the UK being back in another lockdown after Christmas / New Year, as people will have been mixing, and this dratted bug will have taken the  opportunity to spread even more.

Ah well, time to call this quits - my phone is beeping at me again.

Back when I get the inclination...

Karen

It's another rainy day
Talk of freedom got away
Time to get the message right
It's never black or white
So I'm walking in the rain
Found a reason to explain
No excuses, no regret
We all deserve respect

And the verdict is.......

Just had the call from the SWIMs team.  The verdict is in - I have dodged the scalpel.  

I'm to be put on the waiting list for the Lumbar radiculopathy aka Nerve root block / foraminal epidural injection as well as being referred to physiotherapy.

To say that I am relieved to avoid the surgery is an understatement.  The GP has also prescribed me the recommended tablets for nerve pain, but has told me that there may be side effects (as in I may feel drowsy - so take it before I crawl into my pit) and that the tablets may cause me to throw up.  If that happens, stop taking them and then call the surgery to see if there is a suitable alternative.

Equally, I have been told not to expect instant results.  That wasn't something I had considered - as far as I am concerned, I need to give the tablets time to kick in and see if they work - if they don't then I can talk to the GP and get a revision of the doseage..  As in it may have to go higher from the inital 10mg...

Ah well,time to call this quits - I want to get back to my kindle.

Back when I get the inclination...

Karen

Like a broken wheel stops turning

You ain't going nowhere

Now you've got to heal that burning

Or you ain't got a prayer

Like a broken wheel

Waiting for the Surgeon’s decision

Well, I’ve had the examination, and it’s been confirmed that there is damage to my back, as well as nerve damage – which explains the feeling of super-heated barbed wire running down the outside of my leg, as well as the lack of feeling in my shin.  This tied in with the scan results, meaning that I now have to await the surgeon’s verdict.  The SWIMS team (South Warwickshire Integrated Muscular Skeletal team) have a good relationship with the surgeon who is based at Walsgrave and will discuss the findings of my examination with him at the next meeting.

OK – so in a way I am a little further forward, but in a way, I am still stuck.  I still can’t drive and am still in pain.  I just wish that someone had thought to look at the referral before now and realise that I was *not* improving from the initial injury / incident and pulled things forward.  But I know the excuse – COVID-19.  Which is a wonderful (if overused) excuse in my eyes.  Yes, I know that this virus has had an impact on the NHS – I am the last person to knock them, but it annoys the hell out of me when I get told that I should have gone straight to A&E when this happened.

Congratulations.  They would have done an x-ray (which wouldn’t have shown anything) and then sent me home with a load of pain killers and instructions to rest.  Disc prolapse does not show on an X-ray, and the symptoms could have been caused by a back strain.

But, done is done, and there’s no point getting depressed about it.  Yes – I am down – because I am in pain, and am seriously frustrated, but at least I know things are moving in the right direction.  Now all I have to do is wait for the surgeon to decide what needs to happen, and take it from there.

Ah well, time to call this quits, my poor little phone is making pathetic beeping noises as the battery is almost flat.  Again.

Back when I get chance.

Karen

When things never happen like you wanted

Dark nights always keep you in the shade

Some words would be better left unspoken

No joke there's a price that must be paid

Waiting for the hospital appointment

As I type this, I am just about 17 hours away from finding out just what I am going to have to do to get my life back.  I still can’t drive (which is *really* pissing me off now) and it looks like I have three options:

1. Physiotherapy
2. Steroid injections in my back
3. Surgery to shave the offending disc

But I will freely admit that I am scared.

Needless to say I don’t like options 2 / 3 – I hate needles and surgery?  Having my knee operated on was one thing – if it went wrong, I limped.  But my back?  That has the potential to do real damage to me.  But, I am not ruling anything out, especially if it means that I get my life back – and I can drive.

 Time to call this quits – my kindle is calling to me, and I want to lose myself in my book.

 Back tomorrow when I know what’s going on (I hope)

Karen

Now I’ll tell you how I feel
I’m lost, feeling second-hand
Do you treasure what you steal?
Can you tell me where you stand?

The verdict is in - my back is screwed

Well, I've had the results of the MRI scan....  And I have really done a number on my back.  

I have a prolapsed disc between the L3 / L4 vertebrae, and now have the scary prospect of going to the hospital for further discussions about my treatment.

At the moment, it looks like I may be referred to the spinal surgeon in Coventry, and this could mean I either have injections to reduce the inflammation, or worse case scenario (in my eyes) I have surgery to shave the offending disc.

To say I am scared / relieved is an understatement.  Scared, because I don't want to have surgery if I can help it, but relieved to know finally, what the hell I have done.  

Ah well, time to call this quits - I need to get away from a screen.

Back when I get chance

Karen

Now I’ll tell you how I feel

I’m lost, feeling second-hand

Do you treasure what you steal?

Can you tell me where you stand?

Glowing in the dark

Well, I’ve had the MRI scan on my back.  Now all I have to do is wait for the results – which should (with a following wind for the carrier pigeon) be with the GP in about 2 weeks or so.

Trying to get booked in was something of a farce.  The letter sent to me from Stratford hospital said that I had to report to Building 2, 20 minutes before the scan.  OK – not an issue.  Well – not until I walked (or in my case hobbled) into the reception.  Which had a sign on it saying that the X-Ray reception had been moved to Building 1.  So I grumbled and hobbled across to the other building.  

Only for the X-Ray reception to be closed.  I wasn’t the only patient who had this same issue – another patient was there, as their scan was at 08:00 (and this was now 08:10).  Luckily for both of us, a very kind member of staff from the X-ray department booked us both in, and told us that we should report to Building 2, as there was someone now manning the reception.

The first patient (who was due to be scanned at 08:00) was booked in, and whisked off to have the scan.  That wasn’t a problem, but I did wish that I had my kindle with me, but luckily for me, I had my phone with me and that has the kindle app on it.  So I was happily buried in my book (poor choice of words I guess as I was reading Wensley Clarkson’s book on Harold Shipman – Evil Beyond Belief) when I was called into discuss the brief form that I had to fill in before the scan.

This had questions about my general health (did I have any metallic implants – yes – in my left knee, but as this was done 25+ years ago, this wasn’t an issue), questions about tattoos (no chance – I’m scared of needles!) and one that wasn’t on the form.  Did I have asthma.  Yes.  Ok – not an issue – was it under control?  Yes.  

I must have looked puzzled by this question, and it turned out that certain types of asthma are aggravated by lying flat.  Mine isn’t so it was then off to the trailer where the scanner was located.  The last time I saw this, it was located at Warwick hospital…

The scan itself wasn’t too bad – I got put into what looked like a plastic tube, on a mechanical sliding bed.  I was given ear plugs (which were not much use at all, as I couldn’t get the damned things to fit) and then had the positioning pads to keep my head in one place.  I was also given what looked like a partially inflated balloon to hold in my right hand.  

This was the so-called “panic button” – the idea being that I could squeeze it and someone would come and pop me out of the scanner.  This is because it is somewhat claustrophobic in the scanner.  Me?  I decided to use my meditation practice, and spent the entire time quietly meditating and ignoring the strange clunking noises that the scanner was making.

Before I knew it, the scan was over and done with, and the radiographer was amazed that I was able to stay so still.  Apparently most patients did wriggle about at bit, so me staying still was something of a surprise.  But I did ask one question about the scanner – the different noises that I heard whilst I was being scanned.  It turned out that this was something to do with the different images that were required.

Once this was done, I was able to head for home, and I will admit that I was looking forward to getting home and sitting in a comfortable chair.  Or in my case, a bean bag.

I ordered one in navy from Amazon, and freely admit it is really comfortable.  OK - getting out of the thing isn't exactly elegant (you sort of roll out onto your knees), but to be honest, I really don't care as it's comfortable.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits - my bean bag is calling, and my poor little phone is making pathetic beeping noises.

Back whenever,

Karen

The Moonking is waiting again

And maybe he'll welcome you in

To ride on a warm solar wind

Back where your dreams can begin

The Moonking is calling again

But never a sound to be heard

So up through a bright silver sky

Waiting but never deterred

 

More Triffids

Those rare people who know me, know I absolutely love my carnivorous plants.  So, when I got a text from an old friend asking if I was at home today, I have to admit that I didn’t suspect a thing.  As I’m working from home at the moment due to my back injury, I wasn’t going anywhere – apart from the dining room to work.

So, when I was on lunch, the doorbell rang.  Now as I was expecting a delivery (from Amazon – my San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa – a real treat) I thought it was that.  Only the box was the wrong shape.  It should have been flatter and larger – more like a crate than a true box shape.

It was only when I saw who the sender was, that I realised what it was.  It was from Wack’s Wicked Plants – a specialist carnivorous plant nursery.  So, I opened it with some wonder…  And it was two very well wrapped packages – with labels on the outside.

One was Sarracenia hybrid (Italian selection) Clone 5 (aka Golden Lime):

The other was Sarracenia oreophillia vigorous form:

Both of these are plants that have been on my wish list for quite a while. (Yes – I have a wish list for carnivorous plants), and have been keeping an eye on my wish list, so that I could see when these plants became available.

I seem to have the right growing conditions for these plants – I have quite a few outside at the moment (all of them being the big Sarracenias) as they are hardy in my local climate, and have done their bit to reduce the wasp population (I live in prime wasp habitat apparently!)

So, these two little gems have joined the clan:

And yes - these are outside.  They're in a growbag tray that I decided to use for my little monsters - standing in rain water.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits - my poor little phone is beeping with the usual battery warning...  

Back when I get chance.

Karen

The Moonking is waiting again
And maybe he'll welcome you in
To ride on a warm solar wind
Back where your dreams can begin
The Moonking is calling again
But never a sound to be heard
So up through a bright silver sky
Waiting but never deterred

Finally getting somewhere

At last.  I have a date for an MRI scan on my back…  Only 5 months after I’ve suffered the injury.  And to add insult to injury I have been given a physiotherapy appointment the end of November.  Which is pretty good going – but I just hope that they (the physio department) has the scan results…  Otherwise they won’t know what the hell they are treating me for, and it’s another waste of time and money.  I get the impression that the NHS trust was hoping that I would call them and say that I don’t need the scan (or the physio), as my back has improved.  

I flaming wish.  I’m in as much pain as I was when I suffered the injury and have not been able to do what I want in the garden, and more to the point – I still can’t drive.  And it’s this point that is causing mayhem.  I’m having to rely on other people (especially my family) to take me to different places – a trip to the local supermarket is now exotic, and something to really look forward to.

As for going anywhere else?  No chance.  I can’t blasted sit in the car long enough without pain, so escaping anywhere too far from home is a non-starter for me at the moment.

So as you can tell, I am not feeling terribly happy at the moment.

Time to call this quits – my phone is making pathetic little beeping noises, so I guess I should put it on charge.

Back whenever.

Karen

How can you feel at ease?
Look at the things you’ve done
You always will deceive
But then your day will come

Diagnosing an injury.... Over the telephone.

I know that things are different in these COVID19 times, but honestly - what idiot tries to diagnose a back injury - over the telephone.

My local hospital trust - that's who.  I had a telephone "consultation" on Tuesday.  Which basically wasted 30 minutes of my time, as the person who called me was following a script, and my answers kept throwing the call.

"So your right shin is numb"

"No - it's the left shin.  The pain is in the right side of my lower back, but my left leg has been affected"

"So your right leg keeps giving way?"

"No.  My LEFT leg keeps trying to give way".

I honestly felt like the person on the end of the phone wasn't listening to me (or more to the point was following a script which I kept messing up.)  The final straw was being asked what I wanted to happen.  

What the hell???  What I want to happen is to get someone to look at my back, say "oh - you've done this / that and this is what you need to get back to a normal life".

Needless to say that was pretty much what I said - I pointed out that I wanted to know what the hell I have done to my back, and what I have to do to get my life back to where it was before this happened.  

I can't drive (which is really pissing me off, and means that I am having to rely on Mum to take me anywhere - a trip to the local supermarket is now a real treat!)  I can't do all the things that I took for granted - like sorting the garden out, and planting the spring bulbs that I still have to go in, not to mention jumping in the car and going off to meet up with my friends / heading into work.

Now comes the insult to injury.  I have a face to face meeting with someone at the hospital...  25th November.  And then I will have to wait and see what they decide to do.  Which, considering I suffered this injury 6th June is diabolical - and my GP referred me to the muscular skeletal department the middle of July.

So, all I can do is keep doing the little bit of physio that I can, and keep taking the pain killers.  

Time to call this quits - my phone is beeping at me - means I need to charge the dratted thing.

Back when I can..

Karen

I gave no thought to wisdom
It all but vanished in the haze
This fragile hand of fortune
Had changed and turned it all to grey

Listening to an audiobook

 I’ve signed up to Audible whilst I was off with a back problem (still have the back problem, but at least I can work…)  So, whilst I am doing my physio, I can listen to the book.  Some are better than others – one of the best that I have listened to was The Hobbit, narrated by Andy Serkis.  But, one of the ones that I am regretting getting is Gerald’s Game by Stephen King. 

Don’t get me wrong – it’s a good story.  But I cannot get with the narrator – Lindsey Crouse.  I’m sure that there are people who think she is a brilliant narrator – I’m afraid that I am not one of them.  She seems to have the same tone of voice no matter where the story is leading.  And unfortunately, this is making it a real struggle to listen to it..  To the extent that I have read about 8 kindle / tree books in the time that I have gotten to the end of chapter 6.

But, as I have used an Audible credit on this, I am very reluctant to give up on the story, so will have to persevere with the narrator.

Ah well, time to call this quits – more physio calls.

Back when I get the chance.

Karen

So
Here we stand
Distant dreams
Torn apart
Don’t
Cry for help
It might break
Your heart

Finding inner peace – with an aromatherapy balm

 I’ve been an aromatherapy fan for years – ever since an aromatherapist cleared a raging sinus infection that not even antibiotics had much success in clearing.  I’ve used various oil blends / pure oils / balms over the years to help with stress / lack of sleep, but I have found one blend that has knocked everything else that I have used in the past into a water filled ditch.

It’s by a small UK firm called Scentered, and they do some wonderful blends in a balm form.  My favourite is Sleep Well – a gentle mix of Palmarosa, Lavender and Ylang Ylang (at least that’s the three main scents listed on the cardboard tube that’s sitting on my table!)  It’s supposed to be used for sleep, but I have to admit that I find it really helpful when I am wound up to hell and about to explode.  I also have the Focus balm, and the Be Happy balm – both of which I find really good, and not over powering – unlike some blends that I have tried in the past.

Plus, they have the added bonus of being solid blends, meaning that I can put them in my bag and not worry about them leaking everywhere and making a mess in my handbag / laptop bag.  And, if I use them out, the scent is not overpowering, and I don’t have to worry about an oily residue on my clothes – or anything that I might touch.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits – my kindle is calling me….  And it’s the new Stephen King novel – Billy Summers….

Back when I get chance.

Karen

Now every day I fall apart
The sky is full of emptiness
I'll take the blame, the burning heart
It brings me down, I must confess

Another day, another joke

It's not often that a golf joke has me howling with laughter - but this one managed it...  And I make no apologies for posting this.

The Rugged Outdoor Woman

During her physical examination, a doctor asked a retired woman about her physical activity level.  

The woman said she spent 3 days a week, every week in the outdoors

"Well, yesterday afternoon was typical;

I took a five hour walk about 7 miles through some pretty rough terrain.

I waded along the edge of a lake.

I pushed my way through 2 miles of brambles.

I got sand in my shoes and my eyes.

I barely avoided stepping on a snake.

I climbed several rocky hills. 

I went to the bathroom behind some big trees.  

The mental stress of it all left me shattered. At the end of it all I drank a scotch and three glasses of wine.

Amazed by the story, the doctor said, "You must be one hell of an outdoor woman!"

"No," the woman replied, "I'm just a really shitty golfer"

Karen

Write in dust all you say
Look for the answers you know you can trust
One day they might blow away

My new mouse mat

I'll be honest, working at home has made me realise that it's about time that I replaced my mouse mat.  I've had it...  Well, let's just say that it's old.

How do I know that it's old?  Well, put it like this..  It's old.  The matching pencil case is starting to degrade on the corners, and the pad has an annoying lump in it, that my mouse "jumps" over when I am using it.

So, I decided to have a look for a replacement - one that made me smile..  There were several that I liked, but the winner was the one that I ordered:

I know that it's not one that I could use in the office... I've got a different one with a matching coaster for office use:

 But the monkey one made me smile...

Ah well, guess I'd better get back to work...

Back whenever.

Karen

Situation's never ending

And the pages few

But it's always worth defending

If the story's true

Sleep gently, to discover

What's in your heart

No vengeance, all together

That's worlds apart

Springing my back

I haven’t had as much pain as this since I shattered my knee joint more years ago than I care to remember.  I’ve done something to my back – just by walking down the stairs.

I wouldn’t have objected as much if I had done something stupid – like catch my foot on the stairs or even lifted something wrong.  But I haven’t, so I am currently laid up off sick with my back.  I know that there will be people thinking this is faked – I wish to God that it was.  

As it stands, I feel like I have super heated barbed wire running down the outside of my leg, my shin has gone numb and as for trying to sit / stand / lie down…  Don’t even go there.

Eight hours of sleep is a luxury that is denied to me at the moment – so the doctor has prescribed diazepam (2mg), Naproxen and paracetamol.  I don’t mind the Naproxen and the paracetamol (even though the paracetamol always makes me feel sick when I take it) – but the diazepam…  That’s a chemical cosh.  How on earth people can enjoy feeling…  That woolly is beyond me.  

And to add insult to injury, I can’t even enjoy a cup (or in my case a mug) of regular coffee.  Simply because the caffeine will interfere with the diazepam, which is hopefully reducing the spasms in my back so I can try and get some sleep.  

So I am resorting to decaff.  It’s not too bad – the coffee bags from the Real Coffee Bag co. are quite drinkable, so it’s not as bad as it could be – but I still miss my “proper” coffee.  

So, whilst I am crocked – I have done something that I thought I would never do.  Signed up for Audible.  Simply because I can plug my headphones in, and listen to a book whilst I am doing my physio, and also listen to it whilst I am trying to walk during the night in a vain attempt to get some feeling back in my leg and allow me to get back to sleep.  

At the moment, I am listening to Hail Mary by Andy Weir – it’s really good (got to admit that I had my reservations at first) and am really getting into this.   It’s the sort of book that does lend itself to being an audio book, as the sound effects for Rocky really help with the character.

But there is one thing that has made me laugh (even though it hurts) – it’s the Garfield cartoon for today:

Ah well, better call this quits - I need to do my physio..

Back when I get chance.

Karen

I gave no thought to wisdom

It all but vanished in the haze

This fragile hand of fortune

Had changed and turned it all to grey

Banning books again....

I don't normally post things from the Daily Mail, but this was something that caught my eye.  It's written by Amanda Platell, and it resonated with me....

Back in Australia in the late 1960s, my teacher introduced us to a book called To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

 

 

She told us it would change our lives for ever, revealing a world to us far removed from our own: deepest Alabama during the Great Depression, a society torn apart by racism.

Looking around my class of all-white kids, I couldn't see the relevance at first, until I read the book and fell in love with the characters — Tom Robinson, the innocent black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, and Tom's lawyer Atticus Finch fighting to save his life — all revealed through the eyes of Atticus's unforgettably courageous six-year-old daughter, Scout.

Little wonder it captivated our class, or that it had become an instant classic on publication. 

Its messages about prejudice and justice resonate with anyone who reads it; so beautifully written — and so unbearably sad — it can break the hardest heart.

No one could come away with anything less than a burning sense of the evil and cruelty of racism.

So how bewildering that, as part of its mission to 'decolonise' its curriculum, James Gillespie's High School in Edinburgh has banned this masterpiece from the Scottish equivalent of GCSE study, claiming it plays into an outdated 'white saviour' narrative, contains the N-word and that its representations of black people are 'dated'. 

Well, in the book the 'white saviour' Atticus is vilified for even trying to defend Tom.

Yes, the book contains racist language: precisely to expose the racism of its society. Teenagers don't need to be protected from offensive language in great literature: they are old enough to see these words for what they are.

And as for 'dated' — are we now to ban any book written or set in the past? 

Perhaps I'm too busy basking in my unconscious 'white privilege', but I know that had it not been for Harper Lee, this white kid from the Perth suburbs would never have had her eyes opened to the hideous reality of racial prejudice — nor become so acutely aware of early white Australians' shameful treatment of Aborigines.

Perhaps teachers at James Gillespie's High School might reflect on their own history before rushing to cancel others. Gillespie was a very rich 18th-century merchant who is believed not only to have owned slaves himself but to have traded with the slave-owning tobacco plantations of Virginia.

The hypocrisy of banning Harper Lee's text, while keeping his name above the school gates, is a sin to make poor Tom Robinson weep. 

I have to admit that I have never read the book - yes - I know that it's a classic - but this opinion piece in today's paper struck a chord with me.

Those few rare people who know me, know that I am a big reader - a bookworm.  I'm happiest when I can curl up on the sofa with a decent mug of coffee and my kindle, and read in peace.

I admit that there are some books that I wonder how the hell they managed to get published (the 50 Shades series instantly springs to mind) but it's because I had the opportunity to read it and draw my own conclusions about the book.  I know that there are people who think it's a really good series, and that's fine with me.  It would be a boring world if we all liked the same thing.

But banning a book because you don't approve of it?  Not if I can help it.  Salman Rushdie summed up my feelings on banning books with this wonderful comment:

If you don't want to read a book, don't read it. If you start reading a book and you don't like it, you always have the option of shutting it and at this point it loses its capacity to offend you.

Again, another author I have tried (and failed) to get with his writing style, but he sums up my feelings on banning books perfectly.

It would be one hell of a boring world if we all read / liked the same things....  Republic of Gilead anyone?

Back when I can tear myself away from my kindle...

Karen

In these days of no trust

Evermore hostility

We're all living

Under the same old sky

'Cause we're all living

We're telling the same old lie

In these days

In these days

In these days of no trust

Another postponment

Should have guessed that things were not going to go smoothly this year...  I've just recived this email from the Magnum mailing list....

It is with sincere regret that Magnum are postponing their autumn 2021 shows until next year. With the uncertainty of some European country’s management of the Covid pandemic and numerous other logistical problems the band and promoters alike have decided it is in the best interest to reschedule again to 2022, the band’s 50th anniversary year.

The band’s prime interest is fans health and safety, as well as their own of course. We all hope that by the end of the year the worldwide pandemic will be under control and we can all move freely about and go to full capacity shows. The test events that have been going on recently are good news indeed for the entertainment business but, we all feel that we still have a way to go yet before we can have an all clear. 

The shows are being rescheduled as below and there will be further announcements in due course. 

All tickets remain valid, and will be transferred over to the new dates.'

In the meantime the band are carrying on with the recording of their next, as yet untitled, album which should be released in early 2022

Monday 28 March 2022 Cambridge Junction

Tuesday 29 March 2022 Norwich Waterfront

Wednesday 30 March 2022 London Islington Assembly Hall

Thursday 31 March 2022 Birmingham Symphony Hall

Sunday 3 April 2022 Southampton Engine Rooms

Monday 4 April 2022 Cardiff Tramshed

Tuesday 10 May 2022 Goteborg Pustervik

Wednesday 11 May 2022 Oslo Vulkan

Thursday 12 May 2022 Huskvarna Folkets Park

Friday 13 May 2022 Stockholm Fryhuset Klubben

Saturday 14 May 2022 Karlstad Nojesfabriken

Monday 16 May 2022 Malmo Babel

Friday 09 September  2022 Belfast Limelight 1

Saturday 10 September  2022 Dublin Voodoo Lounge

Sunday 11 September 2022

Monday 12 September 2022 Glasgow Garage

Tuesday 13 September 2022 Sheffield Leadmill

Wednesday 14 September 2022 Nottingham Rock City

Thursday 15 September 2022

Friday 16 September 2022 Holmfirth Picture Drome

Saturday 17 September 2022 Manchester Academy 2

At least I have something to look forward to - apart from the second damned COVID-19 jab.

Ah well, time to call this quits - I need a break from the computer.

Back whenever...

Karen

No sign of the morning coming

You've been left on your own

Like a rainbow in the dark

A rainbow in the dark

Stunned by a film

Just watched The Greatest Showman.  I have got to admit that I wasn't sure if it was the sort of film that I would enjoy...  But I have not only enjoyed it - I've done something that I don't normally do..

I've bought the soundtrack.  Normally, I enjoy a film, and don't think any more of it.  But the soundtrack just hooked me from the first track.

If you've not watched it - put doubts aside and enjoy.  Hugh Jackman makes it a really easy film to watch and the rest of the cast help make this a feel good film.

And yes - I did shed a few years in places.

Ah well, time to wipe the tears away and go and help prepare dinner.

Back when I get the chance....

Karen

Cause every night I lie in bed

The brightest colours fill my head

A million dreams are keeping me awake

I think of what the world could be

A vision of the one I see

A million dreams is all it's gonna take

Oh a million dreams for the world we're gonna make

Getting the Jab

Yep – I’ve had my first dose of the Covid-19 jab.  I’ve had the AZ (Astra Zeneca) variant.  The jab itself was painless – the nurse who did it was very professional, as was the entire team who were administering the jabs.  

I did like the way that the staff went out of their way to reassure those of us who are less than keen on needles, and also made sure that I was aware of the possible side effects.  

The only thing that I will say (more of an observation that anything else) was that the staff trusted people to stay put for the length of time specified.  The gentleman who was telling me about the possible side effects, and things to watch out for, spotted my medic alert, and when when I was asked about it, instantly instructed me to wait 20 minutes after my jab before I could escape.  Thank god for the kindle – I would have gone nuts.

I freely admit that I felt decidedly off on Friday – to the extent where I didn’t think I would be safe enough to drive on Friday night.  That put a dampener on my weekend plans, but my partner was sweet, and said that he didn’t want me driving, as it’s not a short drive to see him.  Ok – it’s not that far (about 40 miles) but it’s on some nasty roads (or I use the M6).  Either way, it meant a weekend at home.

And yes – it was the right thing to do.  I spent yesterday dozing, and was barely able to move my arm (I felt like I had done 15+ rounds with a certain M. Tyson…) And I will admit to being very grateful for the kindle – it meant I could read without having to hold a heavy book in my right hand.    

Today?  I feel brighter than I did – but it still hurts to lie on my left arm, and I am still tired.  But, if it’s a sore / bruised feeling arm, or risking catching this dratted virus…  Give me the sore arm any day.

Ah well, time to call this quits – my eyes are tired and I can hardly stop yawning.

Back when I get the inclination… (or my arm stops hurting!)

Karen

You try, yeah, you do your best
But nothing seems to work
You're not like all the rest
When you're the one who hurts
Oh, what a day

Recall sorted and Exhaust Gas Regulator....

Well, the Monster is back, and the recall has been done.  But that didn't clear the error.  No - the annoying little monster did that as I was driving to Arbury this morning.

When I started the car, I got the ping and the warning message (as well as the engine management light on the dashboard.)  OK - I knew about that - it was going to be sorted out.  What I didn't expect was for the damned thing to disappear as I was driving!

So, muttering all sorts of things about the error, I dropped it off to be dealt with by the capable engineers at Arbury, and went shopping with Mum (I'd been smart, and booked the morning off, so I didn't have to rush about like a headless chicken to try to get back to the dining table!)

As we're still in lockdown, it wasn't as if we could head off to Solihull for some retail therapy (to be honest - I've not missed that!)  Instead, it was wildy exotic - off to Morrisons to do the food shopping.  There were some things that we couldn't get, so we headed to Warwick to Tesco to finish off (and I was able to get the obligatory coffee - can't resist Costa coffee...)

We still had time to kill, so we were able to go to a couple of garden centres, and as we were heading back to Leamington, my phone rang.  It was Molly, calling me to let me know that the Monster was out on a road test, and should be ready to collect.

That suited me fine, so Mum and I headed to Arbury, so she could drop me off and head for home with the shopping....  I went in and spoke to Molly who told me the news....  The recall was sorted (software only) but the bad news....  The EGR valve (aka exhaust solenoid) was playing up again.  

Despite the car clearing the error, it had left a record in the ECU so that they could have a look and see what it had recorded.  (Always said the car was plug and pray!)  It turned out that the EGR valve was playing up, so they took it out, cleaned it up and reinstalled in.  

If it throws the same error again (and doesn't go into limp mode - where a snail can overtake you shaking it's little fist at you as it goes past you) - then I have to call Arbury to get it booked in and they will have to sort the EGR.

But, at the end of the day, as long as the little monster runs, I don't mind.  

And time to call it quits - I am fed up with staring at the computer screen.

Back when I get chance...

Karen

Write in dust all you say
Look for the answers you know you can trust
One day they might blow away

Car check

Well, I've checked the car, and at least the battery hasn't drained overnight.  That's one good thing. The bad thing?  Still got the engine management light (and ping). 

Now all I have to do is speak to Arbury to see if I can get the Monster in earlier than Thursday, as I don't really want to risk having to wait for the car over the weekend, when I have plans made.

That, and the fact that this puts added stress on Mum's car with mine being unreliable at the moment.  All I can hope is this is something stupid, because I really *don't* want to have to change the Monster...

Time to call Arbury and see if I can get the car in earlier.

Back when I've spoken to the service team.

*****Update - 08:40 - Spoken to Molly at Arbury Leamington.  The earliest I can get the Monster in is Thursday.  But, they will do the recall work before starting to look at the diagnostics for me, as the issue may be something to do with that, and they don't want to charge me unnecessarily for the diagnostics if the issue is cleared with the recall.  

At least I know that the car is OK to drive, as I didn't experience any loss of power - but it was had to tell as I was only ½ mile away from home when this error triggered.  So, all I can do is pray this issue is sorted, otherwise there is another bill landing on my feet courtesy of the expensive little Monster.

Karen

Oh it gets harder to decide
Fingers crossed there's no time to celebrate

Who are you saying maybe it's our fate?

And when you said you've never lied

Another set of warning lights

Great.  Just what I *didn't* need to get.  Coming home last night, I got a "ping" from the car, then the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, and the dreaded "Engine fault - have vehicle repaired" message came up.

I know there is a recall on the Monster (hell, the car is booked in for Thursday morning) but this is now starting to get annoying.  I need a car that is reliable, and much as I love the Monster, it's becoming a nuisance.

If this is another problem, I may well have to start looking for a replacement car.  Which, with the current lock-down is not really viable as I need to test drive the new 208, to see if I like it...  And if I don't?

I've got no idea what to look for.  

Ah well, I'll have to see if the battery is dead this morning, and if it is...  Then Peugeot can fix the issue at their own expense.

Back later (when I have checked the Monster)

Karen

When things never happen like you wanted

Dark nights always keep you in the shade

Some words would be better left unspoken

No joke there's a price that must be paid

Recall on the Monster

Not the sort of letter that I really wanted to receive – especially on a Friday afternoon.  An envelope from Peugeot with the words “THIS IS NOT A CIRCULAR – SAFETY RECALL INFORMATION”

Great.  Now what’s gone wrong?  So, I open the envelope, and the following was revealed….

As part of our quality monitoring programme, we have identified that your vehicle requires a software update to prevent a potential reduction or loss of braking assistance.  This software update will improve the diagnosis capabilities of the braking assistance system.  This will prevent any risk of reduction or loss of braking assistance.

Your vehicle is equipped with a three cylinder 1.2 Puretech petrol engine, recognised for its dynamic performance as well as for its low fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.  To improve the efficiency of the internal engine components, this engine is fitted with a timing belt, which operates inside the engine lubricated by the engine oil.  If your annual mileage is greater than 9,000 miles and your usual trips are shorter than 6 miles, we recommend arduous service intervals which include replacing the timing belt very 62,500 miles or after 6 years, to help ensure the reliability and durability of the engine.  Combined with using the recommended engine oils, adhering to the servicing intervals and refraining from adding other products (e.g. additives) to the engine oil, will ensure the durability of the timing belt.

This safety recall consists of updating the software and a check of the condition of the brake vacuum pump and the timing belt.

This precautionary work is considered essential and will of course be completed free of charge.

Please contact your chosen dealer, quoting safety recall code xxx, who will be able to book an appointment to carry out the safety recall and give you further information if required.

So, the little monster is booked in for the work – the only charge to me will be the sanitizer (nuclear warfare for bugs) – a whole £4.75.  I don’t mind that at all – and cannot fault my dealership for the service that they have given.  They gave me the first slot (at a time and date that suited me) so that I can drop the little monster off and let the engineers work their magic. 

Time to call this quits – I’m being summoned for dinner.

Back when I get chance.

 

Karen

Hold on, there’s a new way a-coming
Looks like it’s arriving tonight
There’s no more hiding or running
There’s no more walking on ice

Listening to Podcasts

 Something that I have gotten into whilst I have been in lockdown.  Podcasts.  Not the sort of thing that I would usually do, as I find most podcasts a waste of time (and space on my phone).  

However, on the recommendation of a friend, I downloaded a podcast called Black Box Down.  This is a pair of amateur plane enthusiasts discussing some well known (and not so well known) air crashes – ones such as the Concorde crash, and the British Airways flight that crashed just short of the runway at Heathrow, as well as crashes such as the so-called "Gimli Glider".

I know that I've seen quite a few of these investigations on Nat Geo - Air Crash Investigation - but this is an interesting take on the investigations.

I've also been listening to quite a gentle series - Paws and Claws.  This is an interview series fronted by Bill Turnbull, and he's talking to various people in the news (and celebrities such as Johnny Vaughn) about their pets.

It's really funny (and touching) and you can tell that Bill is a trained journalist - the questions are not boring and he manages to extract funny little anecdotes from his guests about their pets.

Ah well - time to call this quits.  Another podcast is calling...  And this one promises to be a real cracker...  Power the Maxwells...

Back when I get finished with my podcasts...

Karen

There's a chill wind at your back door
And the fire cracks on the damp floor
You hear footsteps but you're not sure
On a storyteller's night

 

Snow

Not something that I really wanted to see this morning...

Snow joke.

Karen

Hold on, there's a new way a-coming

Looks like it's arriving tonight

There's no more hiding or running

There's no more walking on ice

National lockdown

BoJo has spoken.  National lockdown.  To be honest, reading the information about it (see National lockdown guidance) it's no different to being in Tier 4 - unless you're school age or at university. Then it's on line learning unless your degree requires practical elements.

Because of this, masks are compulsory, and people are starting to find different versions to express their personal style... And I am no different - this is one of my masks....

It's from a company called Smmash X-Wear.  Yes, I admit it's not cheap, but at least I can breathe in it, and don't feel like I am suffocating.

I don't like wearing a mask.  It's uncomfortable (and hot) but if it reduces the risk of me catching (and more to the point passing on) this damned virus, I will continue to wear one.

But until people start taking this damned virus seriously, we're going to be bouncing from lockdown to lockdown.  

And I am getting slightly fed up with the idiots who refuse to wear a mask and adhere to the restrictions.  

Before people start blasting me, I am fully aware that there are people with valid reasons for not wearing a mask.  I understand that.  My gripe is with the selfish idiots who refuse wear any mask - reusable or disposable.

Ah well, time to call it quits.  My kindle is calling me.

Back whenever...

Karen

Now the villain, he may prosper

And the thief might do as well

With amusement, their crimes they dispel

The promises they've broken

And the hearts they have betrayed

End to end they are carefully laid