Journal Entries
A (mostly) dry day
Posted Jun 9, 2002
What a difference a year makes. Last year was very wet (F32191?thread=121983). This year was mostly dry (ok there was a couple of showers) but nothing like last year. The Fleadh was much smaller - probably after the drenching in 2001 - both in numbers turning up and size of teh festival. The line up was excellent as always. Headliners were Alabama 3 in the tent and The Pogues on the main stage. We saw Alabama 3's set and then caught the last few minutes of the Pogues. Much jumping up and down was done to both and seeing Shane and the Boys end the festival with Fiesta was something 
Throughout the day there had been things to sing along to (The Wonderstuff and The Proclaimers), stuff to be amazed by (Peter Green can still play the blues, even if he seems to be not quite with it for anything else), stuff to listen to in small smokey bars (Mary Coghlan is a wonderfull blues singer and deserves to be heard), stuff to make you think (Joe Strummer and the mescelaros. The punk with a social concience - does a mean reggae set as well 
). The other bands we saw who we liked were Jesse James - youthfull ska punk, nice attitude, good brass section. If I booked bands then I'd like to put these boys on. Dropkick Murphys - Irish american punks. You wouldn't argue with these guys. Loud, fast and you couldn't tell what on earth they were on about. Bagpipes as a punk instument, who would have thought it! Best name though was the guy on first (how hard must that be) Hawksley Workman and the Wolves.
The beer tent (extortionate as always) was sponsored by Magners Irish cider. Interesting orange colour and not as bad as it looked (even though it's done by Bulmers).
So myself an MC had a good day (I did, I think she did as well). We even met the hatted trio of Munchkin, Toccata and Zantic who were out for a day of diddely diddely and also MC's sister who was there.
Not bad for a day out 
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Jun 9, 2002
Been away. Came back.
Posted May 23, 2002
Diving in the Red Sea. What can I say. I was told it was marvelous and it really was. Some of the dives I was left thinking that there was too much to take in - and they say that these are site which are going downhill because of too many divers and boats.
Some of the weeks highlights were a Turtle, 
, loads of soft and hard corals of all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. The most incredible coloured 
I've ever seen. It had the most fantastic dark blue colouring that would be superinteligent if it had the chance . 
- jacks and tuna, long sleek fishes. Seeing some lionfish hunting glassfish around a small coral pinacle and in turn being fought off by a wrasse. A large napoleon wrasse swimming towards me on my last dive there. One day returning to the jetty there was even a couple of dolphins swimming in the bow wave of the boat.
We dived in most areas - from the mainland round Sharm El Sheikh and Na'ama Bay up to the reefs in the straits of Tiran and down to Ras Mohamed. Loads to see, especially at about 5m while doing the safety stops.
While the diving was fantastic, the crew of the boat great and our guides superb, I couldn't really say I liked the heat. It was in the 30s and 40s C. Sunny all the time which meant drinking loads of water and keeping slapping on the suncream.
Flying back overnight wasn't good but at least I didn't have to go to work when I arrived back here.
Pictures are due back tomorrow including some taken underwater with a disposable camera. Should be interesting to see if they turn out
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: May 23, 2002
Fly away
Posted May 12, 2002
I'm about to go off on holiday for a week.Diving in the red sea, should be good fun with lots of 
to see
See you when I get back!
Discuss this Journal entry [2]
Latest reply: May 12, 2002
365 days
Posted Apr 17, 2002
365 days, 1 year, 1745 finger prick blood tests, about 800 injections, 1 visit to A&E in the back of an ambulance, 2 crashing hypos, 3 different specialists, 1 lost set of consultation notes, 4 full blood tests, 1 person.
April 17th 2001. A bright sunny day just after a nice easter break. I remember it well, shame I wasn't in any fit state to enjoy it. Two days in hospital and a change of my life.
Since then things have been up and down. The crashing hypos came after too much drink. The junior who saw me at my first hospital clinic appointment managed to lose the notes when I next went to see them. I've seen a different specialist every time I've been to the clinic. The nurses there are good though and do know their stuff (more so than most of the doctors I think).
Of course other stuff has happened. I've quit two different jobs and I'm currently unemployed. I want to leave London. I've found someone very special to share time with and I'm enjoying it immensely. I've ended up being treated in a hyperbaric chamber for decompression illness.
It took a while but I think I've once more found myself. Who I am, what and where I want to be for the most part.
Discuss this Journal entry [30]
Latest reply: Apr 17, 2002
Goodbye Peter
Posted Mar 26, 2002
Sorry I wasn't around to say goodbye with everyone else last week. Seems like it was forgotten to tell me it was happening. I would have liked to have been there but when these things happen I know lots of stuff needs to be sorted out and that I wasn't left out deliberatly. I have had a report on what went on and it sounds like I expected, full of people who knew you and were touched in some way by you - family, scouts church, work collegues. You were a well liked chap.
How the hell do I say goodbye when I still don't really belive what I've been told?
You were one of my best mates dad. Always there with a joke. Always making me welcome and part of the family. Seeing you with your wife shows what a strong bond there was between you. Seeing you always ready to help those around you was inspiring. Seeing you with my nephew and neice - your grandchildren was seeing a caring love that many people never see.
I really don't know what to say even though I've been mulling on this for a week and a half.
I think all I can say right now is goodbye. The news came as a big shock. I do sincerely hope that your wife and sons (and theire respective families and partners) are doing OK. I must go and call round when I'm next in the area.
Goodbye Peter.
You were a good man.
Discuss this Journal entry [4]
Latest reply: Mar 26, 2002
Phil
Researcher U55494
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."