Fortunately I have only had two operations in my life. The first was for a knee damaged whilst running. Not in one particular run, but over a period of time as I did most of my running on hard surfaces. This aggravated my right knee and I had to have debridement of the knee cap as it had developed spurs that were aggravating the tendons and such. The op went ok but it has never been the same since. That op was around 2005, I’ve never run since. Hey ho.
London Marathon 2002
The other operation was my Gall bladder. I’d developed what they call a porcelain Gall bladder, this means the actual organ had started to calcify, and the pain I experienced in the months prior to this operation I would not wish on my worst enemy, it was awful.
That operation was a total success and everything has been fine since. I even to this day have a fairly substantial collection of stones in a medical sample pot that were handed over to me after the operation as evidence of what I’d been carrying.
Gall stones
Now if I have guests who have overstayed their welcome, a quick shake of the sample pot and starting to talk about my operation is normally sufficient enough to get them putting their coats on and saying their goodbyes.
The day always starts with a couple of cups of tea to oil the grey cells prior to doing anything that involves thought or movement.
I’ve done this for years and the two cups before the start of the day has become ritual now. If I’m on early shift at work it has to be a couple of cups of splosh before I even go out and do anything.
It’s the oil for my engine. And every engine needs that to perform well.
Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?
When I was a tot at school, we were all enrolled in the Tufty club. Tufty was a squirrel used to promote road safety and clean living whilst teaching us mere mortals not to litter.
Keep Britain TidyThe Tufty club
50 years later I’m still sold hook line and sinker to this mantra. One thing you will never see me do is litter. Not so much as a cough sweet wrapper. If I have any litter at all it goes in my pocket until it can be disposed of properly. That Little Squirrel had a massive effect on me.
It’s a pity that others didn’t join the Tufty club as my country is sinking under a population that just doesn’t seem to care about their environment.
In later life I do take it further now, I will always look to recycle and reuse, that is a big part of my blog site, it’s what I do and I will not dispose of anything unnecessarily.
It’s the only constant I really have in my daily life apart from waking and sleeping.
What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?
Probably the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten was my first portion of Beef Stifado when we first holidayed in Cyprus.
I love traditional hearty fare either at home whilst eating stews, or abroad when I stumbled upon this.
I love Greek/Cypriot cuisine, it’s one of the things I look forward to the most when revisiting the island (As well as the sun).
We head on back to our favourite restaurants, and they don’t tamper with the tastes. They are traditional recipes cooked the same for years. Untouched perfection in my eyes.
And Mediterranean vegetables cannot be bettered, the taste and colour compared to our washed out waterborne ones we have in the UK is incomparable. The freshness and taste is amazing and a pleasure to the pallet.
If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?
Pyjamas. No competition.
I know some people already seem to wear them whilst out shopping or taking the car to the garage, but I’m not agreeing with that. For me Pyjamas are for around the house and in my mind it’s pure laziness and slovenly to physically “go out” in them.
As some would say, “Chavtastic “
However, given the choice I’d happily slob around the house all day in them. For some that would be unacceptable, so I apologise, sort of.
Probably the most comfortable and light clothes I have.
Roll on retirement and maybe i can fulfil that dream of lulling about in night wear.
It’s a very personal thing for me, it’s not enforced or preached to anyone it’s just me. I spent the first 16 years of my life going to Sunday school, and then my parents left me to choose to continue or drop it. I dropped it but maintained a faith of sorts.
Spirituality is a comfort blanket for me. In times of stress and doubt I resort to my spirituality to find comfort.
I also use nature as a spiritual comfort. If I disappear out into the wilds for a good long walk it’s usually to clear my mind. And it works for me.
I probably waste too much of my day worrying about others and how they are fairing. I don’t know why I do it as to be honest most of the people I’m thinking of wouldn’t give me a second thought. There’s only so many times you can be asked for advice, and when you see those people do the complete polar opposite to what you advised you often wonder why do I bother?
I care that’s why, I don’t like to see anyone struggling, and that’s where I waste the most time every day.
One day someone may thank me, I don’t know. I seem to overlook my own well being for others. Maybe, just maybe, there is someone out there wasting time thinking about me, that would be nice.
My wife’s best friend is getting married this weekend, so we have ventured away from our place in the East Midlands, down to the smoke on the outskirts of north London.
For 54 years of my life I lived in this area so I know it very well both man and child. Most of my formative years were spent in and around here just doing what kids growing up used to do. But today I’m back here as an adult and things today look so different from when I was younger. However one place looks as serene and beautiful as ever.
And that is Mr. Gilbert’s place.
When I was at my junior school we put on a show called, “The pirates of Penzance”. I remember dressing up and singing many jaunty songs but at the time I never made the connection.
Then one day, playing with my friends we ventured up to Old Redding on the borders of Harrow, Stanmore and Oxhey, where there were woods and cycle tracks and people walking dogs, in avenues of what I now know are rhododendron bushes. There was a small lake, and then when you wandered through the beautiful display of flowers you came upon this beautiful sight.
Grims dyke manor
Speaking with my parents it now became clear that we had stumbled across the former home of the dramatist W.S Gilbert, him of Gilbert and Sullivan fame who’d written that show I was in at school, it all now fell into place.
The manor is now a hotel and that is why my wife and I are here this weekend. The Manor House is steeped in history and is still the HQ of the W.S Gilbert society who regularly stage his shows in the environment in which they were written.
The main lawn and Manor HouseGorgeous views
Now Mr.Gilbert unfortunately saw his demise here at the lake in the grounds. In 1911 he was giving a swimming lesson to two ladies when one of them got into trouble whilst attempting to swim, he dived in to save her but unfortunately had a heart attack and his life ended there.
The lake areaAnother gardenOne of the gardens
The manor went through changes of ownership throughout the years before being taken over by Best Western a few years ago.
The grounds are some of the best maintained that you will ever see in a hotel environment, there is wildlife freely roaming and as we were having a drink just last evening we had the company of some small deer not far from us.
A nice fruit cider in the sunThe view from our roomBees busy at work
It’s hard to believe we are just a few hundred yards from busy main roads, it’s just so quiet. You are guaranteed a peaceful stay here at Mr.Gilberts, it our go to place whenever we are in this part of the world.
If you’re ever in this part of the world just walk through or stay for a while. There are excellent travel links to central London and not many better places than this to have a base. It’s a touch of total tranquility on the outskirts of one of the world’s most manic city environments.
Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?
My mum bless her heart wasn’t the best cook in the world but she kept us fed and happy.
Bread pudding
On the day she decided that we were going to have bread pudding the excitement level throughout the house hit the roof. She was a master at cooking bread pudding, I haven’t tasted one that could hold a candle to hers in all my years of life. She was unrivalled when cooking this.
The smell as the cooking wafted through the house, and the impatience of everyone awaiting the oven door opening was intense to say the least.
And then there it was sitting on the kitchen table in its golden crispy glory. Rarely did it last that long to even venture into getting cold. Mum had done it again, created a culinary masterpiece.
Boy do I miss that, and every time I see bread pudding I get transported back to my childhood. But as of yet I’ve never tasted one as good as mums.
Lord Horatio Nelson is my favourite historical figure. My favourite teacher in my junior years at school was responsible for this. He himself was a sailor and taught us to sail as well, as a result we learned knot tying skills, were regularly tested on our skills and generally fell head first into the whole nautical thing.
We learned of the battle of Trafalgar and many other naval operations, and Lord Nelson was our superman of the day. His whole history, what he achieved and his dalliances outside of the navy all became the topic of conversation in many a history lesson.
And then the message he displayed to rally his men, all by using flags/semaphore just blew my mind. I do honestly believe this was what got me into amateur radio communications in later life especially learning Morse code.
Still interests me to this day, a few years ago we were fortunate enough to have a tour of Windsor castle and there in a display is a musket ball pulled from Nelson’s body. I stood transfixed to that item for ages.
Probably my only true historical hero. Nothing has changed. He’s the man in my eyes.
Foxes Den 
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