eric byrne
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Posts posted by eric byrne
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Good Evening Everyone,
Not posted for 2/3 days now been so busy,its bank holiday weekend yeah,I get Friday and Monday off,more time to spend with my American friends.Weather this morning blue skies and sunny,degenerated into cloudy and rain this afternoon,however lovely and sunny this evening.
HMIe gone yippee,went quite well,report to follow,now for the big visit next term (hope they dont find me out)Moveplan been to see me yesterday about all my files to move to the new build over the summer vacation,I am so excited cannot wait to move into my new office,although sad to envisage my old office being demolished within the next four weeks,thats been my home for the last seventeen years,ah well I suppose thats progress,wonder what cel-eb is going to officially open the new build? probably some local politician or an obscure member of the royal family?
Anyway I am having a great time recently,everything going my way,my story is published in the Roy Castle Lung Foundation Org,thats the newsletter thats sent to every hospital in the UK,every lung nurse and cancer centre also.I am also in their internet website,you can find me there if you type in Eric Byrne.I have also received a letter from them asking me if I would be willing to be a media spokesperson for them and what type of media
would I be confident in,training available,couldnt possibly turn down that oppertunity an old extrovert like me,to reach out to a big audience and warn them about lung cancer.Also being shortlisted for a cultural three week visit to China including seeing the forbidden city,not quite there yet,but fingers crossed.
Lastly old big head is being interviewed on Wednesday by some Admin and IT students for a project they are doing on Healthy Working Lives,its being filmed and being put onto some website,its all the details I have at the moment,Ill keep you informed.
Oh nearly forgot,My wee sister Irene,has volenteered me to Hike and bike round the island of Cumbrae with her and her friends for several cancer charities next Saturday,they raised £29,000 last year and hope to improve on that this year,so I am currently going round my colleagues with my begging bowl,refusals are not an option.This lung cancer believe it or not is giving me so much fun..
See you all later,bye for now.
Eric.
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Hi Dave,
My being Scottish does often put me at a disadvantage in understanding what is meant in some postings,which is really fun for me in trying to surmise whats being said,but your posting really takes the biscuit,what on earth does "PFT and lost 30% capacity"mean?and as for a "3 sport 11 year old girl" has got me absolutely bambozzled,possibly she does long jump,100 metre dash and netball?,anyway pleased to meet you.Like your tatoo,but I hate needles,I would have had to have a general anaesthetic to have that done to me.
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SCLC
in SCLC GROUP
Hi Chris,
Welcome,sorry you have had to carry the additional burden of a vacuous remark by an uncaring oncologist,I have and I am sure many others here,have been subjected to similar,my lung nurse and my GP gave me a maximum of two years,nineteen months ago,cannot wait to see their faces this October.You may know the true story of the bumblebee,it is a well known fact that the ratio of its body mass is greater than its wingspan which means of course that it cannot fly,but since the bumblebee knows nothing about aerodynamics it just goes ahead and flies,live on Chris,one in the eye for your oncologist.Dawn-good to see you again,sorry I missed your talk in,you never waste a word,everyone here including Chris will benefit from your insight and experience,thanks for being you.
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Good Evening Everyone,
7.35pm just home,in Scotland sunny hot days are to be savoured so I have spent the weekend sunrise to sunset outdoors.Dont share the temperatures with you since we have gone all metric since 1971 and even yet telling you that to-day was 27C is as meaningful to you as is it to me,I wish they would go back to using farenheit,that I can understand.
Saturday invited to my young sister Irenes for a barbie,which was great fun,all the neighbours just casually arrive sporting their goodies for sharing the barbie,spent some time with the children playing chasies along with some of the other male adults,they were all to quick for me,though I did catch my nephew Max,but I dosnt really count since he is only three.In the evening all the men gathered in one house to watch the European Cup Final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan,(Inter won 2-0)then we went home.
Sunday,went into Glasgow to visit another of my sisters,Doris, we went to Springburn Park with her family and grandchildren to catch some baggy minnows in the ponds there,then on to the swing park and finally a game of soccer with the kids then home.Couldnt spend a better weekend anywhere.Now to prepare for tomorrow and these blooming HMIe,back down to earth with a bump.
See you to-morrow God willing.
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Hi Michelle,
Thanks, I dont think I have ever read anything as so moving before,think your husband was so lucky to have spent the time he had with you,just wish he had more.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Hooray weekend arrives again,weather really sunny and hot,work was so uncomfortable to-day,shirt was sticking to my body,great to come home and have a shower,feeling much better.Not been posting much this week,really busy at work,I have been preparing for a visit to the college by the HMIe (Her Majesties Inspectors) on Monday,who are staying for the day interviewing staff and checking all the quality systems are fully operational and being adhered to by all the different levels of staff.This is the forerunner to their weeks blanket coverage next term which includes class observations also.
My daughter has fallen out with her flatmate and has moved back home,I have been spending nights moving all her belongings back here,where on earth did she accumulate all this stuff,dont know how long she will stay,but it will be great company for my wife and I in the meantime.
Oh one interesting item was emailed to the staff in the college this week was an open invitation to complete a questionaire for a educational cultural visit to China for three weeks at the end of July early August,which includes sightseeing to the major tourist sights including the Forbidden City,all expenses paid excluding insurance and visas,well I completed the questionaire and quite unexpectedly I received from the organisers news that I have been shortlisted as a candidate and to complete some more detailed questions along with a request for a reference which has been fully supported by my Assistant Principal.So I might be asking for a hall pass shortly?.Well China just had to be on my bucket list,and has brought everthing forward rather than waiting till after I have retired.
See you to-morrow.
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Hi Michelle,
Read your posting and something compels me to respond,I am probably the least equipped to offer you words that I could use to lighten your burden,I wont even try ,they would read contrived,shallow and hollow,there are buddies here more able than I.
I can however pray for you, that can pick up the strands and find new adventures and ambitions to pursue ,to begin and enjoy a fullfilled life again,which I am sure your husband would wish.Be patient with yourself,you have coped well so far and I do pray that time will become a great healer for you.
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Hi Debbie,
Welcome to LCSC,you really are off to a flier in finding this site so quickly,took me over a year,dont know how I would have managed to cope otherwise,I have so many new supportive friends here who put up with my long winded postings,which are therapy to me,keeping my brain active on something positive,I also get so much reading the postings of others a real kaleidoscope of topics that are funny,sad,thoughtful and informative.
Absolutely great you have handled your dx so well,dont waste your time trying to anyalise your reaction,accept the fact you are blessed,and the fact that your cancer is contained in the lung with no spread certainly gives you an edge.I am looking forward to getting to know you,so post away its great fun.
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Hey Robert,
Iam back,just noticed you are my one hundreth post,hooray I think Its time for a wee celebration with a wee dram of Messers Whyte and MacKay,American Ginger Ale and some ice.
Slainte,
Eric.
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Hi Robert,
Welcome to LCSC,like you style,staight to the point,facing your situation with a determined courage.I really am ignorant about the technical sides of new treatments,save my own experience,which was the more traditional chemo and surgery,I certainly will pray for you that you will be accepted into the ALK4? clinical study by Pfizer.I have a friend Robert Lowe-Lung Cancer Advocate for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation,youll find him by Googling?(I am also there in this months Newsletter)Anyway Robert was given two months to live by his doctors seventeen years ago,so dont be making any plans for departure yet.
I cannot wait to blow a raspberry at my doctor in the 14th of October,since that is the maximum date of my lifespan he predicted for me,so go on Robert prove all the "Experts" wrong.
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Hi,
Glad you found us,welcome to LCSC.So sorry to hear your dads story,it must give him a great deal of comfort in having such a loving and caring daughter in his corner,I know everyone here can well understand the emotional turmoil you are going through,we all do at times carers and patients alike feel tired and drained,particularly careers having to bear the frustration of being on the sidelines and being unable to do more to help.Sharing your feelings with this group will provide you with the support you need.I have gained so much here sharing,reading others stories has given me such a lift I dont know how I would have managed otherwise.
What about you?I think it is important to take some time out for yourself,to think about looking after yourself better,seems to me from your description of yourself,you are slowly being overwhelmed by the stress of coping,that it is having an effect on your day to day life.You have done so well,why not contemplate some expert councilling advice,to help improving your emotional side,I think this could also add to the support you can provide for your family.Dont let a brick wall come up and hit you unexpectedly.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Boy, only missed posting yesterday,and I feel I have fallen so far behind I am now racing to catch up.Weather to-day couldnt be better,looking out the window to a lovely sunny and warm evening the sun is just beginning to set.
Bud,first let me say I am so pleased that Rose received such wonderful news,that shes now cancer free,I always thought it was a bit much for both of you to have been affected by cancer,think God agrees and has re-addressed the situation.You certainly are doing well on all levels,good fishing trip with Rose and her sister and finding good success with your baiting ideas,long may it continue.
Judy loved your story of the sofa on the tractor,are you obliged by law in the States to wear a crash helmet when using a tractor for this method of transport,relax I wont tell on you.Hope you are shifting your heavy cold.
Dawn,where have you been hiding?missed you,regarding ceiling fans,isnt there a feather duster type thingy on a pole you can use from floor level?.
Donny,great to hear you are getting such pleasure out of the new blue truck,wishing many more years of such enjoyment.
Oh Judy,Iam so sorry about my haggis story I didnt mean to mislead you,I use it only to tease English friends of mine,and it is only in the spirit of good fun.I am most reluctant to provide the menu for haggis,until after you have tried it,but suffice to say it dosnt have any connection to birds.I share your taste buds dislike of mashed potatoes with turnip,but when it is served with the haggis they just compliment each other.
Picture the scene,a large dining room full of guests attending a Burns Night on the 25th of January,a bagpiper in full highland dress playing in the arrival of the haggis,carried on a large silver platter by a tradionally dressed cook who carries it to the top table,the piper is given as a reward a large glass of whisky which is custom to down on one gulp.Then an invited speaker
will recite- no act out-Robert Burns poem "Address to the Haggis"
"So fair your honest sonsie face great chieftain o the puddin race"etc,etc
The haggis is cut open and shared out to all present along with Tatties and Neeps(neeps being the old Scottish word for turnips).After dinner the invited speaker will act out one of Burns poems such as Holy Willies Prayer of the old favourite Tam O Shanter.The remainder of the evenings entertainment continues with funny anedotes or jokes from whoever wishes to participate.One of my favourites was from a butcher who told us of an occassion of a customer who came into his shop to buy a ham hough (lower part of a pigs leg which is used to flavour lentil or vegetable soup)Any way he was down to the last one,he lifted it from the tray and weighed it on his scales,and said thats £1.35 in that one,shes disapointed and asks do you not have anything bigger,so he puts it back on the tray,and tells her he will look in the fridge in the back shop,takes the tray with the ham hough into the back shop and simply stands for a few moments and brings the same one back in and reweighs it,theres £1.95 in this one he says,thats more like it says the customer,in fact Ill take the two of them.More laughs Judy,same butcher,he had just taken on a young girl assistant,who was a bit of a rough diamond,but good hearted and honest as the day is long,her language was just a bit well coarse, to coin a phrase,one day he was watching her serving an elderly male customer,he asked for one pork chop,two sliced sausages,two small loin chops and a quarter pound of minced beef to complete his order,"Mr Smith do you live alone?"enquired the young assistant,"Why yes I do young lady,how did you know that?"Because your an ugly old ***********.To the butchers relief,Mr Smith burst out laughing,saying thats the funnest thing thats been said to him in years.
bye for now.
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Jill,
Thanks for sharing the wedding photos,everyone looks so handsome and beautiful,you are blessed indeed,sorry about your mums absence on such a happy occassion,but she was there in spirit.
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Good Afternoon Everyone,
Its 2.45pm here I am late in posting,surprised to be first?.Out early this morning,got to get to the church hall of ABC by 8.30am,I am the waiter this morning for the mens breakfast club,scrumptous meal of the works,bacon,eggs,hash browns,sausages sliced and links- 2 million calories per plate,thank goodness its only once a month,feedback (get it?) I was pretty good on service but they had been served previously with nicer looking waitresses-cheeky little devils.
Left church to the car park to discover my front wheel was flat,oh I must get fitter,I huffed and puffed changing to the spare.Went to the garage to get it repaired.Quiz time,put your hand up if you take your tyre to the garage for the repair of a puncture and the attendant shakes his head and says "Oh dear sir I am afraid the puncture is in a bad place,I am afraid you are going to need a new tyre".You know I dont remember the last time a garage actually repaired a puncture for me.Youve guessed yes I need a new tyre,£63 he says,I say I only want the one,I talk him down to £55,probably still was charged over the odds.
Stephanie,thanks so much for your link,I am familiar with most of the photos shown,but I still found a few surprises in there.The skyline of Glasgow has changed so much in recent years,I cannot keep up with it.Glasgow is now only second to London now for shopping,and with so many sights to see its an ideal place to visit.Charles Rennie McIntosh I just love this man,his architecture in Glasgow is stunning,also his furniture,I was watching Startrek on TV one evening and Picard was sitting at a conference table on CRM chairs,his work is timeless and can fit in with past present and future without looking out of place.You also mentioned the food.Well we always have some fun with the tourists,explaining to them about the haggis,immortalised by Robert Burns in his poem"Address to the Haggis"I have been to so many enjoyable Burns Nights where the haggis is served as a tradition,and it is a really tasty dish served with potatoes and mashed turnip.We tell the sassenachs(English)that the haggis is a game bird with one leg shorter than the other as an advantage of running round the Scottish hills,we even invite to a haggis shoot in the Cairngorms,and they are quite keen to come.
Heidi you mentioning taking the kids to the coast in Washington has me confused,there seems to be so many Washingtons in America,I thought you were in a landlocked State?Oh dear Ive so much more to learn of the geography of America,but isnt this a fun way to do it rather than sitting in a classroom?
See you to-morrow.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Beautiful warm sunny evening here,hope it continues throughout the weekend.Donny I can assure you we share similar weather changes,we cannot plan a garden babecue more than two hours in advance.
Jim was just telling me recently about his colleague John being promoted to sargeant,on his first court appearance since, he was to give evidence against a crook he had previously arrested.
John enters the witness box sporting his shiney new stripes- The judge was impressed"John can I express my congratulations on your promotion-how many years have you served my court?"
John "25 years my lord".
Accused to Judge "Excuse me your honour"
Judge to accused "Do be quiet and stop interupting"
Prosecution Bench "John may I on behalf of my team offer our congratulations also.
Accused to Judge "Excuse me your honour".
Judge getting irretated "Will you stop interupting,Ill get to you presently.
Defence Bench "John on behalf of my colleagues we would like to add our congratulations also.
Accused to Judge "Excuse me your honour".
Judge now really irritated "What is it you wish to say?"
Accused "Can I change my plea to guilty?".
Laurie, I share your love for visiting flea markets for antiques and bric-a-brac,enjoy yourself,I watch the Antiques Roadshow every Sunday evening on BBC,the numbers of people who appear sporting their item they picked up for a song that turns out to be worth a fortune is amazing.Good luck.
Bud surprised to hear of stormy weather in Texas,I always believed you had sunshine every day of the year, practically?
Donny cannot believe you have to fork out $400 on a prescription,wow thats a lot,in Scotland we have to pay a standard charge of £4 for each item on your prescription,regardless of what the item is,I suppose in every country its a case of swings and roundabouts, hope Mr Obama makes some progress in his health reform programme,if you dont mind me as a non-American putting my tuppence worth in.
Enjoy your weekend everyone,see you to-morrow.
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Good Evening Everyone,
Iam just looking out my upstairs study window,its raining but warm,everyones gardens look so green and all the trees are wearing their new leaves,the birds are chirping away their spirits undampened by the rain.
Who wants to hear another courtroom anecdote? you do? good.
Scenario: Jims colleague is in the witness box being cross-examined by the defence laywer of a man accused of robbing a store.
Defence Laywer-"Now constable you say you are sure that the defendant is the man you seen running out the store?"
Constable "Yes Sir".
Lawyer "Yes but wasnt this crime committed in the evening and the streets were dark?"
Constable " There was a street light nearby".
Lawyer "How near".
Constable "Well, from about here to the back of the courtroom".
Lawyer "Yes well,how high up was this light?".
Constable "Standard city lampost-say 15ft".
Lawyer "Yes but how bright was the bulb?.
Constable "A lot brighter than the questions I am being asked.
By co-incidence one of my colleagues is designing and making a replacement public bench for the one gifted to Paisley from a University in Canada in 1932.
It was for a legal landmark case Donohue v Stevenson.
Mrs Donahue had ordered a bottle of ginger beer in a cafe in Paisley in 1928,it came in an obscure glass bottle which she partially poured into a glass and drank it then emptied the remaining contents into her glass and discoved a slug.Later she developed gastroenteritis,and was determined to sue the manufacturer,however there was no law anywhere in the world that she could use,but the Scottish Legal Profession agreed she had a case to persue,but couldnt proceed since she didnt have the funds to cover the court costs if she lost.However if she could prove she was a pauper she could have legal aid,she confirmed she hadnt £5 in the whole world.She won her case and was awarded £500 which was paid to her family by the time it was paid out she had died.
To commemorate her victory,the worlds legal professions are sending representatives to Paisley next year.I dont think there will be any representatives from BP Oil?.
Got to go, see you to-morrow.
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Good evening everybody,
Cloudy and some sunshine to-day warm and dry,Ann welcome back,sorry that it wasnt a pleasent experience,think I have an antedote for your nightmare,my neighbour is a policeman with whom I exchange work related anedotes,so many in fact, I just couldnt post them all here,I could actually write a book but nobody would believe them to be true.
1.German sailor appears as a plaintif in court,having been a victim of an assualt outside a bar in Glasgow,His council approaches the witness box and asks for his name,he justs looks blankly at the laywer,the judge calls the lawer to his bench and says "Am I to understand that this man cannot speak English?" It would appear so m,lord "Then why Have you not arranged for a translator"replies the irritated judge,mumbled excuses from the lawyer lack of preparation time etc.Well says the judge seems we will have to postphone."Excuse me" a voice was heard from the courtroom, one upstanding Glaswegian in the public benches said,Id like to help,"Can you speak German?"enquires the judge,"Yes" replies the wee Glaswegian"Sir I spent 10 years with the British Army in Germany and got to learn the language very well"wonderful" exclaims the judge"Now remember to repeat verbatum what the witness answers to questions put and do not embellish anything he says"Certainly m,lord"."You may approach the witness"says the judge
Glaswegian to German witness"Vosst ist your name" Judge exploded
Your are fined £50 for contempt of court"The Glaswegian leaves the court clicking his heels and interviewed later said "It was the best £50 he had ever spent"Tell you some more to-morrow,before I send you all to sleep.
Bud,we have more lochs in Scotland than you could shake a stick at,and all full of fish,maybe someday you can cross the pond and we could catch some?
Judy love the description of your home location,the lake,exclusive fishing rights(almost)close to nature Iam sure many people would love to move there and join you.
Judy hope Stan gets the bedroom Tickety-Boo ASAP,so he can sit down and relax-by jings you are running the feet off him with all your gallavanting about town,hope the chemo session goes well and you can return to normality.
See you all to-morrow,
Eric.
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Good Evening Everyone,
8.15pm here,end of a lovely sunny warm but working day.
Bud good to hear you enjoyed your time out and your shingles are on the mend albeit slowly,Iam sure I would enjoy sharing a fishing trip with you and a bottle of budweiser to boot,used to go fishing with my elder brother on the banks of an inland Loch called Glen Strathfarrer,its beautiful and owned by the Lord Lovat family (of commando fame) we caught trout but the salmon always eluded us,I used to smoke small cigars to keep the midgies at bay,methinks I should have forgot the cigars and accepted a few bites instead.
Going to buy a cycle this weekend,local store has some on special offer at £80 still to see them though.
Donny I just loved the old American saloon cars of the fifties,as a child I remember our local bookmaker owning a blue and white chevrolet impala( WUU3)even remember its licence plate.I used to run lines for the punters for pennies,betting in Scotland was illegal then and the police turned a blind eye to kids like me.Exciting times.
Heidi glad you had a lovely time on mothers day,what is kickball ? is it similar to soccer?.
Judy I have heard of this word before- Farmville, in facebook what is it? my daughter has added me as a friend in facebook,but I am still at a loss in understanding whats it all about,still needing more lessons from Chris?.
Bye for now.
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Hi Randy,
Please pass onto Heidi my sincere wishes for a successful day to-morrow,I will pray for her full and speedy recovery.I am really sorry that you have this situation to face,but I know that you are a strong person and can give your sister the support she needs after to-morrow.
Eric.
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Hi Bud,
Talking about dogs,man walking with his dog bumps into his neighbour,who asks "going for a walk in the park?"no said the man "Iam taking the dog to the vet to have him put down" "Is he mad" asks the neighbour?"well hes not very pleased"he replied.
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Hi Willow,
Sorry to read about the experience with doctors casual and unkind remarks,I have received similar treatment myself from a doctor who refused to sign me fit to work,after I told him about being depressed from cabin fever at home,lacking human company,he told me to spend quality time with my wife instead,since I only had 2 years left to live,I accidentally bumped into him recently and he complemented me on how well I was looking,I replied well not bad for someone who has only six months left to live,and he said "Who told you that?" I replied "You did"" no I didnt" he said looking somewhat embarassed he excused himself and walked away before I had time to include a reminder of his rejoinder,about a previous lung cancer patient of his surviving 5 years ,what a character he was the doctor says adding -but you are not him.
Willow please disregard these uncaring idiots,focus instead of the pleasure you have in your mothers company,no one knows how many days,weeks,months or years each of us have, except God
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Hi Judy,
We are some pair,I started the air afer checking no one had yet posted,and during my typing you managed to beat me to the draw,by 20mins,should have skipped ABC? isnt this good fun?
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Good Afternoon Everyone,
Just back from ABC,exercising my lungs,singing hymns with gusto,simple pleasures are always the best.Cloudy bright and warm to-day dont expect to see the sun.The competition I judged yesterday,involved nearly every college in Scotland from the Shetland Isles down to Dunfries.Each college enters the best construction craft student to manufacture a timber artifact and complete it within a 8 hour period,I was one of three judges to identfy the top three,from twenty seven entrants.Briefly-ahem with your patience and indulgence I arrived in Edinburgh 5pm ,checked in Holiday Inn in Leith,had a lovely Italian meal,overlooking the harbour,moored beneath me is the Royal Yaught Brittiania,sun and blue skies scenery beautiful,Edinburgh is really a lovely city.Evening spent with my many colleagues,whom I meet about 4 times a year at seminars etc,suffice to say a few drams were throughout the evening but only for medicinal purposes,got to bed after 3am and back up at 6.30am,Telford College at 8 am,well further education used to be in Scotland the cinderella tier but not any more, this is its new building and it is gynormus,we three judges were left to our task,while our colleagues were taken for a visit to the new Scottish Parliament with 2 Scottish MPs.Had an excellent day,lovely prizegiving ceremony,someone somehow found out it was my birthday (maybe it was the pin I was wearing on my lapel) but I presented with a nice gift of a pen and pencil set.Then some photographs were taken,and home.Perfect day!.
Ned, really interested in your termite tent? story,do they envelope your house in a big bag and fumigate?we dont get termites in the UK mainly anobium punctatum (furniture Beetle) isnt it amazing how the little devils managed to swim across the Pacific just to attack your houses in Hawaii?
Judy hope you have a lovely time with your family at home for mothers day we have the same in Scotland but it is celebrated on March 17th.Hopefully I wont double click to-day.
Donny dont get your prog here ,seems I am missing something good,must write to the BBC get them to import it.
Have a great day everyone.
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Hi Judy,
Iam a bit confused regarding your results,wonder if Dr West could explain your situation with a bit more clarity? I hope the last opinion is you are still doing really well.Iam posting from college just now Iam waiting for a colleague to drive me to Edinburgh as I am a honorary judge to-morrow in a national competition,I am in invited because our college is host college next year and I will be promoted to principal judge.Competition starts early 9.00am and finishes at 5pm.Edinburgh its terrible to drive in so my colleague agreed to do it.Hotel stay overnight so I am fresh in the morning.
Got to go,see you later-take care,
More Tests
in MEMBER UPDATES
Posted
Hi Judy,
Good to hear some progress being made by the doctors,really hope the Xanax gives you the relief you have been searching for,dont want to nag you but if the doctor says 1mg three times a day,thats what you take,lets worry about side effects later.Have a super bank holiday weekend.