Baba Gump

Pink and white blossom, daffodils blue sky and sky scrapers, these are what you see in Central Park. Oh and people. Lots of people. Especially on a day like this. it feels like being on a film set, and in fact while we were there someone was filming something for some film or TV programme. You kind of expect to see famous people just strolling around, or roller skating. The ice rink is still there. So is the zoo, which we visited only for a coffee. Well, it's only got one animal in it. It's a dog. Yes. It's a Shitsu.

Me and lizzie and Emily and Lucas had had lunch at Baba Gump on Time Square. We had a window seat so were overlooking the bright and busy pavement and high rises. Interestingly I don't think there was a clock to be seem anywhere.
Baba Gump, I now know, is the business Forrest Gump took over from his friend Baba after he was killed in the Vietnam war. It is a sea food restaurant, although you can get pretty much anything. Anything with fries. I had a steamed seafood platter. It was like Moules Mariniere but with lobster legs, and all sorts of shell fish, in a creamy garlic sauce. Emily had a load of prawns in batter and Lizzie had similar stuff. Lucas just posed in the window with Time Square as a back drop. Great photo opportunity, and chance to charm the middle age women.
So was the trip on the train trip back as he got passed from woman to woman, gurgling and giggling away. Even the stern face Manhattan Businessmen were able to raise a smile from their New York Times.
If only they knew of his middle-of-the-night antics, when smiling and gurgling is definitely NOT welcome. Wait 'till he starts crawling.
I just have to say again how great Grand Central Station is. It is just amazing, busy, clean and somehow romantic. You can imagine the hundreds and millions of people who have hurried through it's halls and passages doing mundane things like getting home. Some on secret assignations, and some on deadly espionage. I love it.

Glenbrook Road, Stamford, Connecticut

'Doesn't he look cute' she said to her friend as they passed, also pushing a buggy. 'Sure', I replied, 'but what about the baby?' They carried on walking without even so much as a glance. Emily groaned when I told her later.
I was pushing Lucas, of course. They call it a stroller in America. Emily says that there's a group of 'Stroller mums' that meeting to 'work out' while pushing the strollers. She's got all the gear. They meet in the 'Mall' to do this. I had offered to take Lucas around Stamford, while Emily had a rest. I was heading to the mall to see if I could meet up with them. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the right place or the right people. Shame.
Lizzy was also lying in. She nearly didn't make it due to a stomach bug, but got here in the end after changing her flight.
The weather this morning was bright and fresh. A lovely Spring day in New England. The pink and white blossom is everywhere. The smell is of wood resin from new chippings and freshly cut grass. The daffodils and crocuses are out and at a week or two behind Manchester. The gardens are being tidied up for the new growth. The birds are busy and noisy. Walking makes you take in the loveliness of this part of America. It could be a posh part of Engalnd itself.
Lucas is turning into a solid fellow. He's a growing boy, and he likes his food. He also doesn't like sleeping much. That's why I've taken him out. He hardly stopped crying the whole time, well apart from when he was looking cute for the two girls who blanked me. 'He's overtired' I have to explain to every passer by. Actually I think he is.
The news here is all about a pilot who went crazy on one of the internal flights. A disaster had been averted by the crew, especially the co-pilot, taking timely and decisive action. The other item is the small issue of Obamacare. Obamacare is being challenged in the Supreme Court, as it requires people to take out health insurance, and the Americans don't like that. We shall see what the court says, but without healthy people taking out insurance it can't pay to run the system. This is why the legal challenge is so important. The right wing press seem to be making more of a fuss, and I get the feeling that the challenge wont come off, as there is a precedent.
Today we met up with Emily's friend and employer at a burger restaurant. The burgers were sensational. Her friends husband is also into Dr Who, so we had a good old chat about that, I can tell you. They are still starting with the David Tenant doctor, so some way behind, and also have Torchwood and captain Jack.
Finally we came back. We're going to Boston at the weekend, but tomorrow it's off into 'the City'. The Broadway shows on include the Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Mary Poppins. The musical Chicago is also on. Perhaps I should go to that.

HYATT Regency on Chicago's river walk

I was a bit more anxious this year, travelling to America on my own. I kept feeling as though I forgot something.

I waved hello to Barbara at the American Airways desk at Terminal 3. 'Wallen said you were flying, but I didn't see your name down' she smiled back. 'I pretty sure I'm booked on the flight this morning' I replied uncertainly and prayed silently, 'please God may I be booked on'.

The night before had been planned as a quiet night in, after the last minute dash of the trip to Souze. Everything was paked and waiting down stairs. Andy had cooked a spag-bol, I'm not convinced he can cook anything else. A few glasses of wine, and an early night. The alarm went off on time and the taxi arrived as planned at 6 am. Better take lap top and iPad as not sure if I can use the iPad in America, and in anycase I need to do a bit of work.
T3 was starting to get busy and the Ryan Air riff-raf were gathering. For me though, no worries. The nice people from AA did their usual foresic questioning about whether I planted a bomb in my suit case and if I was a terrorist. I got through the questions without a hiccup. By now I'd learnt my lines well, 'no I haven't planted a bomb and no, no one else could have either'.
Suddenly Barbara came up to me past the others waiting to check in. It was nice to say hello, but why the sudden appearance? The anxiety levels started to rise as she approached. There was a serious look on her face. 'Can I just take you to one side' she said with a smile, but the sort of smile that is sometimes the herald of bad news. Perhaps I wasn't booked on the flight as she had said, after all she has the list of passengers, and has the power to deny travel or do practically anything she likes for flight AA55 to Chicago on Saturday morning23rd March.
'Er OK then' my heart was starting to pound by now, although my head was telling me it would be alright. I stepped out of the queue and followed her to the AA ticket desk.
' I didn't know your first name was John.' 'Oh no not that again', I thought and worried. 'It's OK' she smiled, 'I changed your seat so you've got a window seat next to the emergency exit. Now if you go to that man' pointing' he will get you checked in. I hope you have a good trip'

Yes. More leg room. Thanks barbara.

After that everything went smoothlyish, except my lap top ran out of battery. So I found a plug in the airport longe and plugged it in. The wire trailed across a walk way, but I figured people could step over it, and most did. One didn't. Oh haughty looking air hostess with an American accent and a middle aged sturby, African-American attitude. She tutted and said 'excuse me'. I said ' oh no that's fine' before I realised she was telling me off. Anyway, at least I would not be seeing her again, as she tottered on her heels, Dick Emery style, away down the corridor.

I know, you've guessed already. Yes she was my air hostess, which made boarding and the first part of the flight a bit awkward. When she came round with the first lot of drinks I asked for a bloody Mary. She looked down at me and sucked her teeth as if to say 'at this time in the morning?' Actually what I meant was a tomato juice with Worcester sauce. They didn't have Worcester sauce and I'd have to pay for 'liquor'. 'Oh well never mind then' I smiled back. 'We have have spicy Tomato Juice' said her colleague, giving my hostess a siteways look. 'Ok then' I replied sheepishly.

We came to an unspoken truce after a couple of hours, and the rest of the flight was fine. Actually, because of the absence of wind, we arrived an hour early at Chicago's O'Hare airport. Now for the fun. There were the usual queues for immigration and customs. I joined the one that everyone else did, as there were no signs. After about half an hour, a man in a uniform said, 'why don't you go to Hall B, the queue is much shorter there' So I followed the stampede to Hall B where to queue was indeed shorter, much shorter. Mainly because there were three times as many customs officer and no one new to go there.

I got through alright, met up with someone else who was going the the Riverside Hyatt Regency Hotel, and shared a taxi. I checked in. My room wasn't quite ready yet 'will that be OK, or would you like me to see if we have another room, sir?' the helpful man said. 'Well another room would be good, if it's ready' I replied, feeling a wave of fatigue sweep over me. Then hopefully 'perhaps one with a view'. 'Certainly sir, but we charge an extra $20.' 'Oh well that should be OK' I said. 'A night' he went on. Oh well perhaps not then. 'We have an extra large room' he said tapping at the computer 'it overlooks the river, and I can offer you that at a complimentary rate.' he said expressionless and still looking at the comperter screen. Excellent. I accepted. The only problem with the room was that the bed, king size, was a pull down bed from the wall. The room is sometimes used as a sitting room for an adjacent room. Today it is mine, and it is brilliant. It is at least twice the size of my front room at home, the bed is fine, and I can look out onto the river below. And there's wi-fi.

I lay down and two hours later woke up for dinner. I still hadn't checked into the conference but hey, I'll do that tomorrow. I better join the others in the bar.

I wondered lonely as a cloud

Wordsworth's wife was Mary Hutchinson, right? His sister was Dorothy and they all lived at Dove cottage in Grassmere. Annette Vallon was his French lover and mother of one of his children. Yesterday I went up to the lakes in search of daffodils. This was the wrong decision. First of all there are very few daffodils in the Lake district and secondly it caused no end of trouble. Ade and Sue were are up for the weekend and I should have spent time with them. I made a mistake. Back home everyone seemed to fall out with everybody else, especially me.
Today I'm going to watch them play football and wander up and down the touch line shouting encouragement. It's mothers day too, so hello mum, and I'll call you later. Also Anne mother of my children, and Emily, mother of my grandson. Love to you all and hope to see you later.
I wonder why life has to be so complicated?

Sauze Doulx 2012

Sammy the barmaid from Sauze Doulx
Had a favourite drink of Iron Bru
That's because she's a Scot
Which we certainly are not
Except Syko who hasn't a clue


This was one of the questions at the quiz night on day 2. Jonnie and I had gone out after dinner, and bumped into some people we met the night before. One of the tasks was to form a Limerick from the ingredient given. This was our attempt. It didn't win. A much more saucy one did.
The skiing is of course great. The other three in the party are Dave, Mort and Peter. This year it's Peter's turn to room with me. He,s a good roomy and never complains.
Skiing is a bit more worrying than it was even a year ago. although my sight can cope perfectly well, I am constantly anxious especially if I get isolated, or have to go on a lift on my own. I have done four days skiing, but skipped yesterday and also today.
The sun is out, and the snow is melting. Today is Saturday and the prediction is of crowds coming up from Turin for a weekend break. So I decided to go for a walk in the hills yesterday. Brilliant, hard work and scary. Well a little bit scary. I lost the track high up in the mountain, but decided to keep my bearings and hold my nerve.
The great thing about being lost, is that you are never quite sure where you are going to end up. Amazingly I ended up pretty much where I wanted to be. So I set off again today. I got lost again today. Finally I found myself about fifty yards from the hotel. don't ask me how.
Skiing is skiing, but in the sunshine, with right deep blue sky's it is exhilarating. Fortunately the bar we meet in for lunch is within walking distance so in about half an hour I'll head for there by foot.
Tomorrow we'll be home again, and needing to face a small storm about the quality indicators we need to set the hospital trust. Oh well, Sauze is a lovely place, with fabulous pistes. I would come again, even in the summer.
Sammy, the Scottish barmaid may not, after some of the more rude Limericks

Spring seems to be here

I've just been for a fabulous run along the river, and back through Fletcher Moss park. The crocuses are out and the daphs are poking up though the grass. Egg and bacon for breky. The sun is shining and all is well with the world.

All is very well.

I can't believe its been so long

It looks like it's been about six weeks since I wrote anything. Well the Blog master doesn't lie.

About three weeks ago I had a fit, seizure, epileptic turn, whatever you want to call it. I was about to give a presentation to a regional NHS committee called 'the Cluster'. They have taken over from the PCT and are overseeing the development of Clinical Commissioning Groups. I was to deliver a talk aimed at satisfying them that we have systems in place for preventing a recurrence of the Mid-Staffordhire NHS disaster. Here the over viewing body, the PCT then, did not have proper systems in place for holding the hospital Trust to account. There was a failure, if you like, of appropriate scrutiny and regulation. The 'Francis report' was the result of an enquiry into what went wrong and so we have to now satisfy the 'Cluster' that as a CCG we wont fall into making the mistakes of 'mid-stafs'. We wont, but we had to demonstrate it. I was looking forward to showing off how good we are. Which we are.

As I was about to stand up I started feeling very peculiar, weirdly weird. My eye sight was going crazy, in the zone where I was not able to see normally. The next thing I knew I was waking up in the back of an ambulance on it's way to the MRI. I had bitten my tongue. There was no doubt what had happened. There had been a room full of witnesses.

We joked after that I had taken the Francis report thing about scrutinising hospital services a bit too far. I did actually get pretty amazing treatment, including a visit from the deputy chief executive and the medical director. I don't think every A&E attendance gets such high level visitors. The news spread like wildfire and within a day or two I was getting messages from far and wide.

Fortunately, it hasn't happened again and I'm on medication. Brain scans are OK, so no new event.

All this has happened at the same time as my partners are making life difficult for me.

Good news though. I have got a post and accepted it, at another practice. Its a salaried post but who cares. I will see normal patients for two sessions and do a third cardiology session. Meanwhile I have also discovered that I am the contract holder for the current NHS contract, so if I go from my present practice then it has to be put out to tender. Oh dear what a responsibility. I have used my newly realised bargaining power to argue for a continued presence at my current practice to see the patients that still want to see me. Suddenly I have the best of all worlds.

The CCG stuff is going from strength to strength. We are getting widely praised for our collaborative work with the hospital, redesigning and integrating care in the community. The practices are also starting to see the benefits and becoming more enthused.

Oh, and I'm going to Mauritius again with the children and hopefully grandchild, in September.

So, it's not that nothing has happened that there has been a pause in the blog, rather the opposite. Life is good and changing all the time. God is good, but no more fits please.