A Lighter Note

Whilst my focus has been on the CT Scan and the meeting with the surgeon in the last week, it is worth saying that there has plenty of other stuff going on.

Because the blog is about my health it is easy to assume that occupies most of what goes on, but the last week is a perfect illustration that life goes on.

On Monday we had another day out at the local theme park with Notoplip and Sushi but on this occasion there was a twist as "Acwaman" (so called because he sells scuba diving equipment) was over from the US of A with his wife and children.

Acwaman went to school with Notoplip, Billy the Fish and D.A. Decorator and moved to the US in his teens.  He is usually over here every year, but the last time we saw him was when Notoplip, Billy the Fish and I joined him in the States for the Ricky Hatton vs Floyd Mayweather fight in Las Vegas two and a half years ago.

We had  a great weekend over there though it was all a bit topsy turvy as our short stay was fragmented by the time differential and our choice of staying out all night on the first night (US time) having travelled all day UK time.

There were some good moments on the trip and I have a couple of videos from mobile phones, which I thought I would share.

We stayed in the MGM hotel where the fight was based.  If you haven't been to Las Vegas, like Kitten :-), it is difficult to comprehend the scale of these hotels.  To put things into perspective, whilst we stayed at the MGM they had Tom Jones performing in one auditorium within the hotel, the Circque du Soleil in another and the boxing in yet another arena that held 16,000 people.

The video below is only remarkable for the fact that, whilst filming, Notoplip gets the words wrong to the simplest chant in the world (listen closely).

You can get a taste of what the atmosphere was like over there in what was the biggest influx of Brits since the days of the Beatles.

The Americans are always good hosts but don't take too kindly to having their national anthem roundly booed, especially on their own soil by people who they consider to be their friends. To be honest that element was embarrassing and it wasn't a minority either.   You have to realise that about three quarters of the 16,000 capacity were from our shores.  The incident was front page both here and there but it was more in keeping with the cartoon style wrestling atmosphere that came with the hype of the fight rather than being malicious.  Some might say that it is about time they yanks had their bubble burst a little, naturally I wouldn't subscribe to that theory :-).

Anyway, I digress but before moving back to my week it is worth mentioning that there was another funny video moment.

I was sharing a room with Billy the Fish whilst Acwaman shared with Notoplip.  On one morning Acwaman decided that it would be funny to through a cup of water of  the sleeping Notoplip.  Now there is a saying that "revenge is a dish best served cold", so Notoplip took it on himself to up the karma stakes.

After Acwaman had retired from a lengthy drinking session Notoplip filled up a bath full of freezing cold water, carefully removed Acwaman's laptop, mobile phone and any other materials that might not recover from a damned good soaking and got hold of a nice big bucket.  The results are only astonishing for the depth of sleep that Acwaman must have been in.  Either that or Acwaman's business means that he has built up a natural resistance.  Not the greatest quality video, but you get the picture (even if you do have to look at it sideways).

The last video is topical because at the end of the day at the local theme park last Monday, I persuaded Notoplip, Acwaman and his son to go on a spinning cradle ride where it stops mid-air and you get soaked with water.

We sat centre ride where you get the biggest soaking and Notoplip was relieved that he was removed because the safety mechanism would not close over his Desperate Dan style shoulders.  He was offered another berth towards the side, but politely declined whilst laughing his way back up at us to the safety of his family.  The last time we went on this ride he had glanced sideways at me half way through (looking decidedly green) and declared that he was unlikely to make it the whole way through without dispensing with his Kentucky style chicken.

Anyway, a good day was had by all and, despite the fact that I have know Acwaman since the mid 90's I had not yet met his family.  So that was a pleasure.

The rest of the week was mundane but normal. I worked in the office Tuesday and Thursday and worked from home Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning to allow for the hospital appointments.

After the trials of Friday we had a jolly BBQ with the missing top lips and also spent Saturday around the pool with them at their local health club.  Saturday's also involve me taking the Huffty to football in the morning and today he has been for a trial for an under sevens' side (no prizes for guessing who is running it).  We are loafing around this afternoon and I have been playing darts with him as Kitten has taken Boogle to a cheer leading competition in Bournemouth where she is taking part.

As an update, it is the first time that her team competed and they came second.  Boogle has just come home with the team's trophy, so she is very pleased.

All this and gym visits show that life is as normal as it can be at the moment and is a welcome "Night Porter Scene" (a reference to Macbeth for the Shakespeare buffs).