A year of ups and downs

I will be putting stuff into this bit later

Ups of course is Lucas, with the down of him and Emily going back to America

Up is becoming Clinical Director of Central Manchester Clinical Commissioning group, down is being made to go to see if I'm mental (which I'm not, I don't think)

Up is going to the gym more, down is finally accepting I can't be bothered playing football

Up is being single and pleasing myself, down is being single and having no one else to please.

Wishes for this year
Get back to 85 Kg and stay fit, make a difference in CCG, do the cardiology clinic somewhere else, visit America and perhaps India, get down to Devon at least three times

Radio 4 Christmas service

The night before last I went to take part in the recording of the Radio 4 Christmas service, at Emanuel church. Listen in, you might catch my voice singing heartily to some great tunes. It is actually a lovely service and John Bell was as insightful and uplifting as ever

Socrates is dead

I suppose I better start thinking about Christmas presents.
The last week or so has been a bit distracting. I had my iPad stolen in a house brake in. My work colleagues and I have not been seeing eye to eye, and Emily and Lucas have gone back to America. To cap it all, Brazilian football captain, doctor, politician and the player on whom my own illustrious career was modelled, Socrates, is dead. His smoking, excessive drinking and womanising finally caught up with him. For him football and life was an art, to be enjoyed rather than fretted about. I shall mourn him, as I mourn my own football career coming to an end.
Losing Emily and Lucas for Christmas has been the hardest to bare, but they managed the journey without trouble and are safely in their new home. Skype, for those of us in the 21st century, is a brilliant way of keeping in touch with people too far away to visit frequently.
The loss of the iPad and fixing the smashed in back patio door was hugely irritating. Unfortunately I can't really blame anyone but myself. The keys were in the glass door, the iPad was on show on the kitchen table and blinds open, and the lights were on and illuminating the whole place. The only consolation is that the insurance company has sorted everything out just effortlessly. I will need to reconfigure my new iPad, but I'm hoping someone can do that for me.
Work wise we seem to have come to an agreement about the partnership share due to my reduced involvement. I'm happy with it at any rate. Now I can focus on the job of Clinical Director in the brave new NHS.
The 'ConDem' changes seem to have sparked furious outrage from the Left who have become most indignant at the Government's effrontery in privatising the NHS. They forget that it was the Labour Government who started the process. I didn't hear their strident voices back me up in 2005. Nevertheless we are where we are, and I actually think there is an opportunity now to really give some radical thought to how services are provided. I think there is a chance for a 21st century co-operative movement within the NHS. I just hope someone has the courage, leadership and will to see it that way.
Now what shall I get everyone for Christmas?  But first, let me see if Emily is awake yet in Stanford Connecticut.