It has been a loooong old month since my last diary blog, so you might need a cuppa and a seat by the time I finish up. Here goes... First up, on 28 March there was a gathering at St Peter's Hospital in Woking to mark the end of Molly's cancer treatment. The Bell Ringing is a great way of saying "the treatment is done now, let me move on to the next part of my life." I first met Molly only about 18 months ago, as she is Jenny's niece. She is a very tough cookie and has been through 1000 treatments over the last two or so of her 4 years. I can't imagine what Molly's parents, Sarah and Matt have been through in that time, but I have seen the strict regime, discipline and resilience that they have needed to get through the process and admire them both for it. The support, dedication and care of the various agencies, charities and nurses at both Great Ormond Street and St Peter's is a great thing to see. Now Molly has got through the treatment, she can start living life without the restraints that her cancer treatment applied. Congratulations Molly Moo, congratulations and enjoy your exciting future. And now the "normal" diary update... After a fairly quiet Easter, on 7 April we started a weeks holiday on the Isle of Wight. It was a lovely trip. <More Here> On 15 April, I celebrated 60 years on the planet with a brilliant day at Wakehurst Place in Sussex <More Here> A couple of days later, I checked the balance on my account to find that my Pension "Pay Out" from my banking days had been made, so I called the building society to find out just how you close out a mortgage. A very helpful young man told me that if I closed the account today, it would cost me £4n,nnn <actual figure redacted for a little protection>. I had expected about that figure so asked how we could clear it. I expected to hear "Bank Transfer", "BACS Payment", "Bank Cheque" or "Draft". What I was told was that "If you have a card, we are authorised to take up to £60,000 over the telephone". I had expected fanfares, cheering in the room, applause, pats on the back, streamers and party poppers, but no - 27 years with a mortgage albatross around my neck ended with me reciting 16 digits and an expiry date. The nice young man did say "Congratulations on being mortgage free". I thought that this is just a crazy world which I am inhabiting. So, at the moment things are turning out a bit different than I might have predicted. The Bank Pension has come up trumps even though I had not paid in anything for the passed 20 years. At 60 I am mortgage free, so my major monthly payment is happily a thing of the past, and as a bonus I am also receiving a pretty reasonable monthly payment from the pension pot. I have had some tricky times, especially in the aftermath of my STORM/IDS times, so without sounding like I am crowing, life is good at the moment. Back to the catchup... 21 April. After a longish wait, we had the chance to get to London and check out the Tower of London. We had a great day. <More Here> Sunday 29 April was a bit dull and cloudy, but we braced the elements and ventured to Standen House and Gardens near East Grinstead to see the Tulip Festival. The William Morris decorated house was okay (not really for me, but interesting in it's way), but the gardens were lovely and the Tulips very many and very varied. <More details here> Arsène Wenger... I have mentioned The Professor's Legacy and the debt that Arsenal and British Football owe to him elsewhere on this site, and have said that he really should have gone a couple of years ago. At last the decision is made and Arsene Wenger will leave the Emirates at the end of this season after 22 years. Good luck and thank you for the good times, Sir. #MerciArsène And finally, the cool, wet spell of weather broke for a few days after the Easter School Holidays, I was working but enjoyed some lovely views while walking the office grounds. That is plenty to be going on with, for now at least.
Adieu, Dear Reader... Let's be careful out there. Pip... pip!!
0 Comments
This is NOT an analysis of a song, merely personal observations about a song that I love. Enjoy. "Hurt" by Johnny Cash I first heard this a while before Johnny Cash died and was shocked when I saw the video, which is a hard watch. Johnny Cash recorded this for 2002's "American IV:The Man Comes Around" - the fourth in his series of albums with Rick Rubin consisting mainly of covers of great songs. I have written a little about The Man In Black elsewhere on this website - <Johnny Cash page> Originally, Hurt was released as a promotional single for the band Nine Inch Nails album Downward Spiral in 1995. I have always thought that it is a slightly double edged compliment - an honour that this legend would record a cover of your song, but just a torment knowing that Johnny Cash would make a better version than you did. Any way, the songs description of (I assume) hard drug addiction and depression stopped me in my tracks. Knowing a little of Johnny Cash's demons made the words seem very pertinent. When I saw the video which showed Cash as an old and obviously sick man, juxtaposed with old footage of his vital younger self, it brought tears. It is a great song. "I hurt myself today To see if I still feel I focus on the pain The only thing that's real The needle tears a hole The old familiar sting Try to kill it all away But I remember everything" "What have I become My sweetest friend Everyone I know goes away In the end" "If I could start again A million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way" "Hurt"
by Trent Reznor © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. I hurt myself today To see if I still feel I focus on the pain The only thing that's real The needle tears a hole The old familiar sting Try to kill it all away But I remember everything What have I become My sweetest friend Everyone I know goes away In the end And you could have it all My empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt I wear this crown of thorns Upon my liar's chair Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair Beneath the stains of time The feelings disappear You are someone else I am still right here What have I become My sweetest friend Everyone I know goes away In the end And you could have it all My empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt If I could start again A million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way |
Archives...
February 2024
CategoriesAll Christmas COVID 19 COVID-19 Diary Football Gigs I Love That Song Music Scouting Site Updates |