eric byrne
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Posts posted by eric byrne
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Good Afternoon Everyone,
Well its almost evening,its 5.00pm and just starting to get dark outside.Did my yoga and swimming this morning,dropped Sally off at the supermarket this afternoon,she is getting a taxi home,she has been gone nearly three hours,a bigger shop than I thought,unless she she has made a detour,to some bar?.
Bowling tonight,second session,8.30pm to 10.30pm not my favourite slot,particularly since its got so cold and frosty here this week,mind you England have had it much worse,ice and heavy snowfalls.Well I set my sat nav to the zip code for Radio Clyde yesterday,it took me to a huge shopping mall,could'nt see the radio station anywhere,I had to get some directions from shoppers to find the blooming place,think I had to ask different people on three separate occassions.At last,I get to the stations reception desk,I tell the young lady of my navigation probs,she said,yeah,all our visitors end up in that shopping mall,because we have the wrong zip code in all our publicity materials,doh!!.No one think of correcting it?I ask,she looks at me as if I have two heads.
Anyway my contact person Allan comes along to welcome me,offers me a refreshment,I say yes,he points me towards the water cooler and tells me to help myself,I mean I am not a diva,but come back BBC all is forgiven,at least they kept me continually busy with coffee and biccies.I am directed to a small studio to put on the provided headphones and directed to speak into the mic in front of me,Allan and I have to wait for Moira to join us,in the meantime,Allan and I have a conversation all about me,what better a subject,eh,I waste no time,think he enjoyed himself.Anyway,Moira,comes into my headphones,we dont meet she is elsewhere in the building,she welcomes me and opens with "Introduce yourself Eric,well with no further direction,I talk through my LC story,think I was a bit verbose,but I didnt really know what she was looking for,asked me about LC symptoms,wish I had written them down beforehand as I had forgotten one,unexplained
weight loss,after which she said,so Eric how would you advise someone presenting these symtoms,what swhould they do?.Well I described how important it was to visit your doctor as soon as,early diagnosis can save lives,since by the time LC is diagnosed in patients,for the marority it commes too late to be curative.Moira then thanked me for my attendance,wished me good luck,bye.I really felt a bit uncomfortable with my performance,so many things I had left unsaid or could have been put better,is mentioned my thoughts to Allan,his reply,Eric,you said a tremendous ammount about lung cancer,there was plenty of materials for the editors to use,very often we get guests in the studio,who end up with very little to say,you certainly dont have that problem.Well it cheered me up a wee bit,but I just wish Moira had given me a bit more direction,with what this recording was all about,I might have given her more focussed responses.
Hi JudyKW,I do read the forums every day,although I dont always post,noticing your comments about a lack of humour in the posts here,and while agreeing with you the absence of Becky and Annette,is seriously missed and cannot be replaced,I still get so much enjoyment reading yours and others posts,so dont downrate yourselves,the regulars here do a remarkable job.Got to go,the taxi's arrived with Sally and groceries,catchup with you later.Bye.
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The last one is a winner in my book.
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Hi Maggie,
Just dropping by,before going off to bed,its midnight here,wishing you all the very best for your up and coming surgery.I think with your positive attitude you are going to sail through this,goodnight.
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Hi Judy,
Sorry, I will not see the superbowl match,however lots of Brits in the UK will,its on some channel somewhere,one of my former work colleagues Linda Muir will be watching,talk about an expert on American football, she's so good,its a total mystery to me,I just dont have a clue whats going on.
In the UK the main sporting event currently,is the rugby union six nations competition between Scotland,England,Ireland,Wales,France and Italy,each nation tries to win the league,the Scotland and England game within this league has a separate trophy to compete for,its called the Calcutta Cup,this game is steeped in history,this is its 140th year,there's nothing greater in a Scotsmans ambition than to beat England at this game,in Scotlands National Statium at Murrayfield in Edinburgh,we all wait every two years for this event,since its venue each year rotates with Englands Twickingham Stadium.Well I sat down to watch this yesterday,Scotland were showing such promise,outclassing England keeping about 66% of the play,oh no,a stupid ,stupid,kick out clearance by a Scots defender is intercepted by an English forward,and drops it into the Scottish touch for a try,I cannot believe it,how can anyone make such a basic,grrr,mistake,its kindergarten stuff,unbelievable,I am now chewing the rug with frustration,Scotland are pushing forward again,surely they must get some reward for their efforts,but England are awarded a penalty kick for absolutely no sane reason,they score,the referee is obviously in the pocket of the English,the rascal,the game drifts on,England defenders block every creative move by the Scots forwards,we are getting beat 9-6 I cannot stand the tension anymore,I switch over to the Disney channel which has suddenly become more interesting to me,please dont mention sporting events again,I just cannot cope,now I have to wait for another two years.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Another beautiful sunny day here in Scotland,well, Janet does groundhog day count here also?think I can cope with another six weeks of this weather,not had much of winter at all this year.I am so glad you enjoyed watching the Corries on youtube,the link you sent for Crooked Still didnt work,but I googled them,you are right, I did enjoy their music.
Well it was a busy week for me,gymming,swimming and yoga-ing,bowling and puppy watching,phew,lazy day today.Would you like to hear a fishy story?I promise you this is absolutely true,I was chatting to my friendly neighbourhood newsagent today,I just happened to mention I was going on Radio Clyde on Monday,well of course I would, I hear you all saying,well anyway,he said I was on the radio also a couple of years ago.I was driving on the motorway near Bellshill when something thumped onto my cars roof,suddenly sliding down my windshield was a large fish,it got caught up on my windshield wipers and bonnet(hood),I could'nt stop so I drove home with it still there in place,the fish was solid to touch,but not frozen,showing it off to my neighbour,he suggested this might be an interesting story for the newspapers.The national newspaper called the Sun sent a reporter and a photographer round to my house to interview me,and published the story.The following day BBC Radio4 phoned and asked me if I would like to be interviewed on radio about this story,there would also be a university professor in the studio to share in the programme.Well this professor went on to explain a theory about the fish falling on to my car,he explained the fish could have arrived from waters off Jamica caused by the recent passing of Hurricane Katrina,carried by the Jet Stream up to Scotland and dropped by the falling temperatures.About a week later,two biologists from the environment ministery turned up at his door and asked if he had kept the fish,yes its in the freezer,they took the fish away for a couple of days and returned it,confirming it was not a species from around the UK,I asked my newsagent what was the fishes species,he could'nt remember,I was thinking of Judy's mutton snappers or Buds crappies.Anyway he went on to say that an artist contacted him to make a strange request,could he borrow his fish,as he wanted to paint it,this was done and my newsagent is now the owner of a painting done on canvass of that fish,so I asked hime to bring it to the shop that I might take its pic,send it in here and just maybe one of you might tell us what its species is.
Well ABC tomorrow,Ross will be taking the service,for the first time in weeks(Ross 31,was dxd with a brain tumour six months ago)he still attends church and is remarkably upbeat. Dots in the afternoon,some fun and games with Jack and Emma.
Have a great weekend everyone.Bye.
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Hi Everyone,
I just thought I would share with you that I have been invited by Radio Clyde on Monday next to be a guest on a programme which is being sponsored by the Government as a public service broadcast on Lung Cancer.
I only have a rough outline of this programme,but from what I understand,its about early diagnosis,recognising Lung Cancer symptoms and getting to a doctor timeously,for a through check up, if such symptoms present themselves.
As you can imagine,I am really keen to participate in ths programme,since 80% of Lung Cancers are diagnosed far too late,anything that can be done to raise awareness of Lung Cancer symptoms could save lives.
I understand this programme will be fed out to other independent Radio Stations throughout the UK?..I am not at this stage sure if this will be a live broadcast or recorded,I will keep you udated when I receive more details.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Actually I should be saying good morning,since its almost tomorrow here,what day I am not certain,Thursday?.Special hello to my friends JudyKW and Stephanie,let me say right off,magic juice,spagetti,sausage and meatballs, sound just perfect for me just now.
What a beautiful day its been here today,I have enjoyed every moment,weather, well unbrocken sunny blue skies,who would believe this is supposed to be darkest mid winter.I missed the gyming and swimming today,its Stobhill Lung Cancer Support Group today,I pick Sheila up en-route,we had a great discussion ,everyone I think enjoyed themselves,I shared with them my USA pics I took and my Evening Times feature,hope I did'nt bore them too much.Its the first time I have met up with everyone,since before Christmas,so lots to talk about,Robert spent Christmas with his daughter in Phillidelphia and shared with us his pics,Sheila after driving her home,presented me with a wee prezzie of a special edition of Grants Whisky for running her to the support group over the last year,I have to confess in having sampled one of two of its delights tonight, so please ignore any comments I subsequently make,just as well I dont have work in the morning,LOL.
Well, I have just booked my flights to the US of A today as from the 2nd of May until the 17th,I know LUNGevity's Hope Summit is only at the tentative stage booked for the 4th to the 6th 0f May,but what the heck,I am coming anyway,still to book my visa and hotels,thinking about one week in WashingtonDC and one week in New York.Funny thing is,I tried (too early)to fill in my Visa application,it asks you to name your USA destination,and address,well I dont know my hotel yet,but I did know I am arriving in WashintonDC,the next question on the form is which state?,well I am not a dummy I know its not Washington,thats over in the West coast,since I have met the Senator Andy Hill,Stephanie and Sara,for goodness sake, in Seattle,well what state is it then?,I check my Oxford Dictionary,surely WashingtonDC is the capitol of its state?,no way, just to confuse me further it seems its called Maryland,I think?,well thats what I put in my application form.Having completed my app form,I get the message back, that my visa I got last year,still has another 30 days to run,so I erase my app,re-read last years app form it says it expires on the end of Feb.Oh well,think I will leave this until closer to my departure date.
Well Thusday looms,its bedtime for me,goodnight everyone,enjoy the rest of today.Bye.
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Good Morning Jessica,
I am looking out at world outside my study window,its a beautiful sunny day,blue skies not a cloud to be seen,which at this time of the year in Scotland you just got to embrace,boy I feel good.
Welcome to LCSC,its a pleasure to meet you,thanks for your post,I also spent the time to read your website,so much of life there,underlying it all there is an intelligent articulate,warm human being,who writes a great story,thank you I so enjoyed reading it.
I am so sorry to read of course of your dx,the great news is you have tested positive for ALK,not that I know much about targetted therapies,but I do know Senator Andy Hill was also ALK positive and is doing just great on the drug.
I am really pleased you have found us so quickly,it took me over a year,perhaps because I live on the other side of the pond?.The support and friendships I have gained from this site has been wonderful,finding this site earlier,would have made my cancer journey so much easier to cope with,better late than never I always say.
The other buddies will be along shortly,to introduce themselves,what a great bunch they are,I just know you are going to have a lot of fun,getting to know everyone,as we are going to in getting know you.Can I recommend our just for fun forum?,this is very laid back daily exchange of chat about whats going on in our lives.
I am really keen on photography,so can I plug my pics in the members photo album?,lots of interesting ones of Scotland(just flying the flag).
Looking forward to getting to know you,bye for now.
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Hi Sapna,
Welcome to LCSC,its a pleasure to meet you,I am sorry to hear of your Dads dx,particularly the revising from stage 1 to stage 4,following his surgery.
The outset of the lung cancer journey by the patient, family and friends is at its most difficult to come to terms with,everything comes with such a unexpected shock,coping with the dx,is just unbelievabley difficult,there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
I have gone through this experience,as all the buddies here have,there are many survivors here,with many different forms of lung cancer and stages who have fought this disease far beyond in time scales what their doctors originally predicted.Doctors can only guestimate,only God knows actually.I have a friend Robert Lowe,who in 1993,was dxd with SCLC, was given only two months to survive,during his chemo regime,was hospitalised,during which on more than one occassion,his family were called to his bedside,since his doctors did'nt think he would see the next day,but Robert had other plans,he made a full recovery to the amazement of his doctors,then in 2007,he was dxd with NSCLC,had surgery and chemo,made a full recovery,I am meeting Robert tomorrow at the Stobhill Hospital Lung Cancer Supprt Group,which he helped set up.Robert is now 72 and enjoying life to the fullest.
Please believe me,with the passage of time as your Dad goes through his treatments,his, and all the families anxieties will begin to subside,it may be in the meantime he will require some drugs to help him get a proper nights sleep,even anti-depressents if required,use them,its not a sign of weakness,and they will be only temporary.Your Dad does have a future,please keep up a positive attitude,it may not be a cure,but I believe it helps.God Bless,please keep in touch.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Hi Judy,thanks for posting today,its a shame on weekends,when we should have more time to do so,but so few do?I guess everyone is having fun elsewhere?.Wishing you a early Happy Birthday on Thursday,I really hope you have a super day,god, you so deserve it.
Well I went along with Bill to my bowling club last night,we were driven there by Bill's wife May,she would also come and pick us up at the end of our evening,isnt she an angel?.I didnt know what to expect on arrival,it turns out there are 14 guys from Bills outdoor bowling club there we are divided into teams of twos and threes,I am paired with a guy called Mike,its a knockout competion until a team wins the final,despite both Mike and I playing really well,we were knocked out in the latter stages in the last bowl played by the luckiest,jammiest,pair of players ever,grrrr.It was a great night out ,we finished of course with a wee celebration drinky or two,with the winners.
A wee bit of gossip now,coming out of ABC this morning,is was taken aside by Margaret,one of our parishioners,making sure we were out of earshot of everyone there,she tells me a little story.Margaret attends my health club,she does aqua-robics every Mon and Thurs,I come down to the pool at 11.45am just as her class finishes,she reminded me that on Thursday last,I gave her a little friendly wave as she was leaving the pool,the lady next to her said,about me,"Thats Mary's new boyfriend",I really am puzzled to hear this and ask Margaret,who's Mary?,well says Margaret,when you go to the yoga Eric you always lay your yoga mat next to Mary,still at a loss since my mat is placed between Jim and Janet,what does she look like I ask?she a blonde with short hair and profoundly deaf she replies,profoundly blind also methinks,so I cannot wait until Tuesday to find out who is my mystery girlfriend is?,mind you I will have to be careful not to cause anyone upset or embarrassment,women, you are such blethers,getting a innocent guy into trouble,wonder if she's attractive?.
I have developed a real stinker of a cold on Friday,was thinking about not going to ABC today,but I pick up Betty en route,I did cancel my sister Dot visit though,I bought some lemsips to take when I got home,feeling really low,I suggest to Sally I am going for a wee lie down,she's really annoyed,wants some groceries,I give her my card and taxi fare,I make her swear she wont buy any drink,I know,brains of a newt,I fell asleep for two hours,come downstairs,she's in her chair,no groceries,you know the rest.
Hi Stephanie,I was so sad reading your post yesterday,what can I say?,I dont think there is anyone here that has'nt considered your situation,and how they would cope,I have to say,you have always been an inspiration to me and will always remain to be so,you have an inate courage I have always admired,do you remember your observational comments on a disabled man walking in a local park,how you empathised with his condition.My best wishes to you and Michael,I do wish we can meet up again in Washington in May for the LUNGevity Hope Summit.God Bless.Bye for now.
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Oops again,speedy recovery Stephanie not seedy recovery,when will I learn to reread my post properly before clicking the submit button?
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Good Afternoon Everyone,
Just looking out my study window,its a beautiful winters day,brilliant blue skies,and the sun now beginning to set,its 4.30pm now still light,the long dark nights of winter are now beginning to disappear,Hoorah,not long until the spring.
Well not really a lot to tell you,continuing daily with my exercises,bowling Tues and Thurs,both occassions we were trounced,however,my own game on Thurs was my best performance ever,but to no avail when the other team are so good,and my three team buddies were well below par,thinks we will need to meet up prior to games and get in a hour or two practice.
I took a run up to Jennifers yesterday,I gave Chris a little contribution,towards paying for the recording studio hire,they dont really have much of an income,both only working part time.Chris was a bit reluctant to accept,but I talked him round,well if they make it big,maybe I will get that holiday villa in Spain I have always dreamed about LOL.
Saturday night,Bill has organised a mens night out at my bowling club,which for Bill is pretty unusual,he dislikes indoor bowling,he only plays outdoor in the summer,so i am really looking forward to this,hope my Thurday nights performance was'nt a one off?.
I dropped Sally off at her Monklands Hospital Arts and Crafts class en route to my yoga class,this class has been running for weeks now,organised by Sally's councillor,glad to say she attends it and actually enjoys it.Downside today,as she has to get a taxi ride home,since my class runs for much longer,I forgot to get change,I had to give her a £20 note,I warned her about not buying drink with the change,she promised not to,I will leave you to guess my homecoming,well on the plus side I can spend more time here without feeling guilty.
Hi JudyKW,thankfully another bout of chemo over with,I do hope thats the last forever and ever.Ouch,$1100 for a car repair?goodness me,hope they give you easy terms in paying it.
Hi JudyMI,Hoorah, homeword bound,reminds me of a song?,lets singalong,sorry to hear about the pain you are suffering,wishing you the full benefit of your new pain relief regime,maybe it just takes a wee while to kick in.Yes I can imagine the reception you will receive from your fur babies,Randy too,no doubt wondering,how long until you are well enough to fetch his tea and biccies.
Hi Bud,gosh it seems like ages since I have heard from you,good to hear with all your recent rainfall your lakes are beginning to recover,we have so many lochs in Scotland,I wish I could send some of our water to you,we would'nt miss it.
Ooops I hope I have'nt left anyone out?my apolgies if I have,it was,nt intentional.I agreee with you regarding our missing regulars,hopefully they are having a great time and will return soon as.I will have to visit cancergrace to read up on Stephanie,seems she is having a rough time of it recently,best wishes to her for a seedy recovery.
Well thats all folks,hope everyone has a great weekend.Bye for now.
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Hi,
Welcome to LCSC,phew,I did read every word of your post,I have to say,most of it went right over my head,think I am going to have to read it a few times and then consult a medical dictionary,LOL.My experience is really limited to my cancer journey,you'll be pleased to hear,I am one of the least educated of survivors here on lung cancer,I am sure your post will make perfect sense to the other buddies here.
I am sorry to hear of your dx,I do know at this moment in time how you are feeling,all of us here have gone through the same at the outset of our cancer journey.
I am sure as you read of the buddies here stories you will begin to realise,that your situation is not the end of your world,that there is light at the end of the tunnel,with the passage of time,your anxieties will begin to subside,and your confidence will develope that you can regain the person you were prior to your dx.
I can remember my attitude just post dx,each morning I woke the first thing that came into my head,was that I have lung cancer,its going to kill me and in the not too distant future.I never thought that I would ever overcome this gloomy thought,but with the help of family and friends,posting here,gradually my anxieties disapeared.I discovered a whole world of lung cancer survivors,covering a hugh range of lung cancer types and stages,that are surviving this disease and getting on with their lives.In other words they have the attitude,that I may have cancer,but it dos'nt have me.
I have a friend,Robert Lowe,briefly,dxd in 1993 with SCLC given two months to live,had other plans,made a full recovery,then in 2007,dxd with NSCLC,has treatment,today,at 72,is enjoying great health,having a lust for life of a 21 year old.
I wish you all the very best as your medical team put together an action plan,for the best course of treatments for you.I had chemo and a upper right lobectomy,I really sailed through the lot with only the slightest of discomfort.
Looking forward to getting to know you,bye for now.
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Hi Maggie,
Just like Bruce a fine Scottish name.Welcome to LCSC,sorry to read of your dx,I know how anxious you will be feeling at this moment in time,the start of this journey is always at its most difficult from the outset.You are so lucky finding here so quickly,it took me over a year from my dx to get here,maybe I took longer as I live on the other side of the pond?.I think had I got here earlier,with the quality of support and information I received,my journey would have been so much easier.
As your medical team complete all your tests,they will evaluate the best course of treatments for you,I know personally,I was so apprehensive when they told me about receiving chemo followed up by surgery or radio therapy depending on how my tumour reacted to the chemo,as it turned out,the chemo worked very well on me and I had a upper right lobectomy in January in 2009.What was I so scared about my up and coming treatments?well will the chemo make me violently sick,will my hair fall out(I didnt mind the losing the gray ones)will my surgery be excessively painful,will it leave my a breathless invalid,think if to name it I dreamed up many other unpleasent scenarios.Well I have to tell you,nothing of my worst fears were realised,honestly,I sailed through the lot,one episode of constipation during chemo,which if i had been here earlier the buddues would have advised me beforehand to drink lots of fluids,my post surgery,was best described a bit uncomfortable,but not painful,thats too strong a word.
I do wish you all the very best as your treatment plan gets underway,I promise you, that with the passage of time all your anxieties will begin to subside,particularly with the support of your family and friends around you,also us cheering you on from the sidelines,you are not facing this alone.
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Hi Muriel,
Congratulations on 8 years plus,music to my ears,so much so I am going to copy you.May you continue in posting in here for years and years and years.
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Hi Span,
Welcome,so glad you have found us,I dont think you could have come to a better place for friendship and support.I am so sorry to hear about your Dad,there are so many here that can share with you their experiences that will certainly help you in your search for information and support.
Does chemo work?well your Dad and I do share similar experiences,I had neo-adjuvant chemo to shrink my tumour,which if successful would,reduce its size to allow it to be operable,well happy to tell you, this chemo certainly worked, which led me to having a upper right lobectomy in January 2009.
Since my surgery,I have required no further treatment,my oncologist told me to expect 15-20 years if not a cure.It is my hope that my oncologist's prediction for me turns out to be accurate.Unfortunately I was'nt given a diploma of guarantee about having many years in front of me,who does get such a diploma,with cancer or not?.
The staging of your Dads cancer,as with mine,is early,and he has every chance of a having many years cancer free.Please pass on to your Dad my very best wishes,along with an invite to join us here.In my experience,the start of my cancer journey was most difficult to cope with psychologically,I found it difficult to sleep at night,seemingly not having any light at the end of the tunnel,but gradually,with the passage of time,support of my family and friends,my jangled nerves began to settle,arriving here,I began to realise,maybe I do have a future after all?.Today I have found my old pre dx self,and enjoying my life to the full.Sorry if my post seems to be a bit disjointed,its just gone 3.30am here,I' ve just woke up for a bathroom visit and could'nt resist a wee peek at the posts here.Goodnight,God Bless.
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Good Afternoon Everyone,
Good to see our Judy's back,glad you enjoyed the Jersey Boys JudyKW,and JudyMI,hoping you are feeling well,with minimum discomfort from your surgery.I am still a bit in the dark about your op,last I had actually read was about the Friday of your planned surgery being cancelled,next you're done and dusted?.Wishing you an excellent response and recovery.
Well, missed my yoga class today,Jennifer phoned last night,change of plans for her and Chris today,Chris was in the recording studio last night with his group,well instead of coming home this morning,they are staying today in the studio also.Since Jennifer was teaching this morning, could I come and puppysit Dodger,no problem,he is a lovely friend to play with,unfortunately Jennifer and Chris,are having some problems with him being so demanding of attention constantly,also they cannot leave him in the house for a moment,since he begins to howl the place down,they are concerned about upsetting their neighbours.
I had a most enjoyable evening with the Morgan Lee Band on Saturday,Ann the violinist,invited me to her house for a party,what she didnt tell me was it was her 50th birthday party,I felt a bit bad since other than the wine and beer I had brought,I did'nt get her a prezzie,not even a card.Lots of musicians there,what a talented lot they were,Ann had asked me to bring my guitar along,I did'nt,just as well these guys were so good.One guy,was playing bass guitar,swops it for the next song for acoustic,next he moves to the keyboard,asks me for a song,several times in fact,didnt matter which song I mentioned he could play it perfectly on the keyboard with any written music,how do they do it?.Best moment?,lead singer Emma asks me to duet a Johnny Cash song with her,I got to sing all night in between conversations,I did have an advantage,I was the only one there that seemed to know all the words to the songs being played.I left my car at Jennifer's,she ran me to the party,I asked her for her door key,since I didnt expect to return to her home until the wee small hours,Dad, I will wait up for you,didnt get home until 4 am,makes a change for all the times I had to wait up for her coming home from a disco when she was younger.
Think I had more to share with you,but its gone out my head?never mind,I'll give you a break and close now,enjoy the rest of your day everyone,Bye.
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Hi Nicole,
I totally endorse your post,thanks for sharing,best wishes.
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Hi Janet,
Thank you for taking my joke in the spirit to which it was intended.I really understand why a description of the contents of a haggis may sound unappetising,but as my Mum used to say "Taste and try before you deny",I have mostly eaten Haggis at a Burns Supper,which is held on his birthday on the 25th of January,or there abouts.Imagine the scene,you are at a table,with maybe about a hundred others,a bagpiper enters the room,playing something like Scotland the Brave,followed by a chef,in full gear,carrying with arms outstretched,a hugh Haggis on a silver platter,they arrive at a table,the haggis is placed on it,the piper is given a large glass of the amber nectar,which by tradition he downs in one gulp.Then the evenings speaker,approaches the haggis and recites Burns famous piece of poetry,written just after the American Declaration of Independance,The address to a Haggis,-"So fair your honest sonsie face,great chieftain o' the puddin race etc,you are then served a portion of the haggis as a starter,with potatoes and mashed turnip,this being followed by usually Steak pie and all the trimmings.
Robert Burns was a great guy with the lassies,but initially a batchelor that enjoyed his nights out with his male friends at the pub,on marrying,he had to relinquish the batchelor club night outs,but we still celebrate this tradition today.Burns nights are a male night out today,although for the tourists to Scotland,females are accepted now.A Burns tradition night will include,a good meal,some reciting of his poetry,usually Tam O' Shanter and Holy Willies Prayer,which to me is music to my ears,this is followed up by further speakers telling anecdotes from their lives,which are memourable,insightful or downright rude.One tradition which is always kept is a male reader reading Burns famous, Address to the Lassies.The night also includes songs written by Burns,accompanied by the bagpipes.I do hope that sometime in your life you can attend a Burns Supper.
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Thanks Judy for posting,there is a gap in my understanding of what has happened with you since last Friday.I know you have gone through surgery,my very best wishes that everything has gone well and that your full recovery is underway.
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Janet,
I was only pulling your leg about the haggis,this kind of tomfoolery is actually directed at our English cousins,they have such little knowledge ot interest in things Scottish,we love to take advantage or their ignorance.In my teens I was invited to a party in Manchester,the English guys asked me why I didnt bring a bottle of Scotch with me,well deadpan I explain that I had indeed brought a case of Scotch with me for this party,however when the train reached the border between Scotland and England,the Scottish border guard boarded the train,searched my coach,found the Scotch and confiscated it.There is no border guard of course,neither would Scotch be confiscated either if there were such.The English guys are astonished,and full of sympathy for my loss,same party later,chatting to an English girl,I swear this is the absolute truth,she mentions her favourite TV prog is Top of the Pops,mine too I reply,she looks at me,and asks "Do you have televisions in Scotland?"(obviously she has not heard of a Scot called John Logie Baird,inventor of television)well not like the ones you have in England says I,why what type do you have in Scotland?,she enquires,well in Scotland we dont have that thing you call elect,,,pause,while I think further,-electricity,she looks at me,well then how does your televisions work in Scotland?.Staight faced I reply "Gas",she is amazed and shares this with her friends.Its all good fun for Scots,harmless really,its still a common habit of Scots today.
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Hi Everyone,
I appreciate my post previous showing the Evening Times story the print was unreadable,so I have typed it out verbatim to allow you to read it.-
He’s a former smoker who knows how lucky he is to have beaten lung cancer.
And now Eric Byrne has become a member of a government body which is updating clinical guidelines for the NHS on treatment for the killer illness.
The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is the government body responsible for ensuring that all cancer patients get the same quality of treatment.
Its just the latest in a long list of things Eric’s doing for the cause.
Eric from Airdrie,said:”Everybody in Scotland that gets lung cancer will have the same quality of treatment”.
“Its made up of oncologists,surgeons,pharmicists and a medical psychologist,they’ve asked me what I think shoul go in the report,which wont be completed until next December”.
Eric attends meetings every two months.
Eric,who is married to Sarah,58,only became aware of his illness when plagued by a persistant cough and his daughter,Jennifer,27,persuaded him to see a doctor.
He was initially sent away with antibiotics.But the cough continued and in October 2008 an X-ray finally comfirmed he had a tumour in his right lung-and it had caused the organ to collapse.
He said”I discovered a tumour had grown and blocked off the airway”.
That day Eric,who had smoked cigars for 40 years,cleared the house of his habit.
He started chemotherapy which defied doctors expectations by shrinking the tumour by the largest extent they’d ever seen.
He later had successful surgery to remove the growth.
That was three years ago and Eric knows how lucky he is.
He said:If it hadn’t been for Jennifer’s insistence I would have probably carried on for some months and it would have been too late.
“Eighty per cent of people with lung cancer die in the first year”
“There’s only 7% of us manage five years,my doctor gave me two years.
The retired Anniesland College lecturer is now an ambassador for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation charity and has also been involved with Cancer Research UK.
And while he was on holiday in America last year he even spread the word for US cancer organisation LUNGevity.
In Seattle’s Lincoln Park he took part in a 6km walk with the Washington State Senator Andy Hill,who has lung cancer,and oncologist Jack West, to raise awareness.
Eric has backed our Clear the Air campaign to persuade people to stop smoking.
He said:”I commend you for it.If I could have met myself 30 years ago and said,”Eric don’t do that its a mugs game”,I would have.
A spokeman for Healthcare Improvement Scotland,which runs SIGN,said:”Patients and the public bring an important voice to our work.In the development of SIGN guidelines,they help to bring a patients perspective to the development of new guidelines.
“They also help identify areas where services and patient pathways could be improved,and ensure that patient issues are taken into account throughout the guideline development process.
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Hi Janet,
I have just spent some time in You Tube,watching Corries videos,can I further recommend Lochnagar,click on the video thats had 110,470 views,its written by Lord Byron,beautiful piece of music,it also allows you to follow up with more Corries videos.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Well actually,good morning its gone midnight now in Scotland so its really Friday am,its nice to read all your posts today(or yesterday) ahem,.JudyMI its good to hear you are still with us and as cheery as ever,dont get high on that oxygen.Wishing you all the very best for a full recovery.
Hi Janet,I just love the Beach Boys,I have seen them twice at the Odeon in Renfield St in Glasgow in the sixties,same theatre my wife seen the Beatles from the front row,they were brill.
Hi Janet,you really have to get up to speed in all things Scottish,White and Mackays,also known as the amber nectar,centuries old,a distillation of the finest malt whiskies into one bottle.Now the Haggis,a game bird,relative of the grouse family,larger than the red grouse but smaller than the capercaillie,it has one leg shorter than the other to allow it to remain level,running clockwise around the mountains in Scotland, the female of the species has the opposite leg shorter to enable her to run level counterclockwise around the mountains,so they can meet up and mate.Pots was just my way of abbreviating the word Potatoes,and Neeps is the Scottish word for Turnip,this is mashed when served with the Haggis.The Corries,what can I say?,They were a duo of former art teachers,who became the best loved folk musicians in Scotland,Ronnie Brown and Roy Williamson.I used to see them regularly in the sixties and the seventies when they appeared in Glasgow in the City halls,they also appeared regularly on Scottish TV,they composed many popular songs in Scotland,one of course became our national Anthem "Flower of Scotland",unfortunately,Roy developed a brain tumour and died,so ended the duo that was most loved by Scots,in tribute to the musical genius of Roy,Ronnie said the angels in heaven must look to their laurals,now that Roy has arrived.If you go into You Tube you can see them perform on numberous occasions,I particularly recommend,The Glencoe Massacre,Willie McBride,Macphersons Rant,The Braes o'Killenkrankie O and many others.Gosh just thinking about them has brought a tear to my eye,memories of seeing them on stage,trying to get off the stage at the end of their show,they had to do at least 3 encores.I hope you like them.
Tuesday's Air
in JUST FOR FUN
Posted
Good Evening Everyone,
Would you believe its 1.50am,I am still up,watched some TV after I got home from the bowling,I really have to say guys,this is not ten pin bowling,its something on a higher level,where do I start? gosh think I really need a bit of video film to explain,this game can be played outside on grass,Sir Francis Drake in the 15th century,was repudiated to have said when the Spanish Armada was approaching the UK,let me first finish my game of bowls,before responding to them.I have been playing indoor bowls as is required in winter,this is played on a rink,where a small ball(a jack) is rolled out onto a rink,each player is required to bowl a ball which has a weight on one side of it,which means its path follows a curve,the idea is to place you bowl as close to the jack as possible,good players can dislodge your bowl already placed by the jack,to occupy the position you had once held,I hope thats makes sense to you?.The game concludes by counting the teams bowls that finish closest to the jack.
Hi Judy KW,there are times,where abbreviations or expressions are used here, which are outside my understanding,due to cultural differences,which make it difficult for me to understand,for example "I went to the office max and bought an all in one",well in Scotland we call a all in one, a baby grow,which is an article of clothing for a baby which competely covers their arms,legs and body,which is put on them going to bed at night,but on reading further I understand its something about computers.LOL.Good night everyone,its bedtime for me,see you tomorrow,fuguratively speaking.Bye.