Another Day Another Prescription

Having recovered from the near death experience that was Diclomax I went back to the doctor yesterday as the groin strain without the painkillers and anti-inflammatories was really getting me down. So, on the principle that if at first you don't succeed, try, try, try, again the doctor has now prescribed Naproxen. That's another £7.20! Let's hope I use more than the 42p worth of the Diclomax that I managed before being incapacitated with that awful stomach and terrible back pain. Mind you if I ever seek revenge on anyone I've got over 70 extra strong Diclomax that could be put to good use.




Thanks once again to ace Southport photographer Peter Raymond for sending me this photo of the latest atheist bus advert. Very topical, very witty and very true. Thank you Peter.



As I phone my mum she soon points out that I was wrong to say that we were looking for a venue to celebrate Marion's mum Flo's 83rd birthday yesterday. It will, of course, be her 84th. I don't know, they just all seem to blur together. Apologies to my mum. Yes we all know you are younger than Flo (above).



Which reminds me of my latest trip to the doctors (good job I'm on holiday the boss would never give me all this time off).Although I am going for a groin strain, my blood pressure is being checked regularly and I am pleased to say it's really good.The doctor asked if high blood pressure ran in the family and when I said "yes" he asked if it was on my mother's or my father's side. "Neither" I said "It's from my wife's family" "How could your wife's family give you high blood pressure?" he asked.'Have you met Flo?" I asked. (thanks to www.basicjokes.com)



Orange Wednesday today so we are off to Ice Age 3D. Being on holiday we can get to the 11.20 am showing. No doubt we will be the only fifty somethings not accompanied by popcorn munching, coke slurping kids but hey, it's a free world and what else is there to do on a wet Wednesday in Southport. We still haven't seen Bruno. After reading Barbara Ellen's destruction of the film in Sunday's Observer we're not too sure about bothering with it. I really respect her judgment. I also respect that other brilliant writer from the Guardian/Observer stable, Charlie Brooker but wasn't Charlie going a bit far with his rant about Nicky Campbell on "You Have Been Watching"last week? Sadly I can't find it on YouTube so I'll leave you with another taste of Brooker that should give you an idea.Warning. Do not watch if bad language offends.

Diclomax The Wonder Drug - Not

On Friday evening I was praising the wonders of Diclomax to our friends who joined us for our anniversary dinner. As the groin strain is now into its fourth month and seemed to be getting no better I made another trip to the doctor on Thursday and she prescribed Diclomax. After just two pills on Friday I was like a new man with all the pain gone. But my salvation was short lived and on Saturday I went down with the most terrible stomach upset. I initially put it down to overindulgence on Friday but when it worsened on Sunday I realised that there might be another cause. Sure enough stomach problems are listed in the side effects but oh boy were these bad. I felt as if I had been kicked in the kidneys with a hobnail boot and my whole torso ached so much that I felt that I was on my last legs. I stopped the pills and hey presto the stomach is back to normal and the back pains are on the wane. Only problem now is the groin strain playing up again. Catch 22 really.





We are into the second week of our stay in Britain holiday and yesterday we walked into Southport to check out a venue for Marion's mum's 83rd Birthday. The new Ramada complex on the waterfront was very pleasant and we think we'll settle on afternoon tea there for her and a few friends. The weather was good for once and we found time to sit in the garden when we got back but it's not looking good for the rest of the week.



It'll be another thirty years before Marion's mum reaches the milestone reached by Henry Allingham who sadly passed away on Saturday. Son Paul was once in a TV crew who interviewed Henry and Paul told us that everyone was completely charmed by his outlook on life. Mind you if Flo does make it another thirty years, will me and Marion still be around to sort the celebration out?



One celebration that we are really looking forward to is Paul's wedding to fiancee Josephine. It seems that they have found a great venue. They may have to change the date from 13th Feb to 6th Feb but that's not a big problem and no doubt there's going to be lots of organising going on for the next six months. We hope it all goes perfectly for them. They both deserve it.

I'll leave you with the Gummy Bear Song. This video had been viewed 48 million times. Yes 48 MILLION. Why? Answers on a postcard please.