The New World - after the Alexandra Practice

I haven't added much to my blog over the last month. Partly because of time and partly because of writers block. You should all know though that everything is going just great.

I've come back from a football trip in Turkey. We had the usual degree of success and great fun. I played all games and have reasserted my position in the team.

Work is great and I'm so pleased I've moved. The Commissioning role seems to be bounding ahead. I presented my vision of Primary Care long term conditions management to the Dementia Tsar and a load of Manchester Academics last week. Also presented at a National conference of GPwSIs in cardiology. I've been asked to speak at the Labour Party conference, but waiting for 'clearance' from the MHS bosses. I don't know if the conference knows what they're letting themselves in for. It was them who started the marketisation of the NHS.

The sun is here and summer has arrived at last. I'm also looking forward to our trip to Mauritius and to see ing lucas on his first birthday.

I will provide a more detailed commentary soon.

The Last Days

Today is the last day working at The Alexandra Practice. I shall not miss the ungrateful partners who forced me to move out, and are now wanting to say sorry. I shall miss the staff, all of whom have been great and sad to see me go. Of course they don't know the full story. I shall miss all of those patients I've grown middle aged with. Many have already moved to The Range, but I dare say many wont either.
Tomorrow I start at a new place. More space, more scope for expansion, younger, fresher and exciting.
The old is past, and the new begins again. I don't want anything to do with the old after today.

Last weekend I nearly died. No really I could have. I went for a walk in the Lakes with Andy up to Stickle Tarn. Then ' a bit of a scramble' up a ridge. Jake's rake or something. One side, a 200 foot drop, the other shear rock face. One slip and I was a gonna. Not a good place to feel faint or have a fit. It was scarry. Going back wasn't an option either, as it is too steep and no way past other ascending climbers. In anycase I didn't want to look down.

Sometimes in life you just have to look ahead, move on from the past, and trust in God.

Well I survived the 'bit of a cramble' and I guess I'll survive leaving the Alexandra Practice. At least I can say I've done it and look forward to the future.

Crow Head and the blue bell walk

Its early May bank holiday weekend, so I must be in Devon. Ade and Sue have prepared a very special day out. All the spring flowers are out and their garden is full of pink, yellow and blue. I travelled down on Saturday, by train. It took four hours but went straight through. I went first class as it was off peak and cheap. Next time I come down Friday and wont bother with first class, there was little difference and no free WiFi you get on Virgin trains. This was cross country.
Crow head is a stretch of beach in North Devon. I think it's North Devon, we went through Barnstable anyway. It feels just like Mull, with one narrow road to get to it, and constant stopping to let people go by. The sheep wander across the road as if they own it. The beach is about six miles long and it's low tide. The sun was out, the dogs were silly and it was perfect.
Then a pub lunch overlooking the sea, or was it an estuary. Steak pie, chips and gravy and a pint of beer.
Next to a bluebell walk some miles away. The farmer only opens it up for a few hours in the day. As we arrive, the cars are starting to fill the car park. Several groups of people are out. The path leads us through the trees to a blue carpeted wood. This is what I've come to Devon for. Little signs point out the other different sorts of wild flowers and the trees. There is even a deer fallow, we are told. Well more of a muddy path really and no one is very convinced.
Then on to the Eggesford Beer Festival. There's a beer tent and tables and chairs . Opposite is an orning where the jazz band are playing. The Bar-B-Cue has run out of burgers. A lady with her Downs syndrome daughter are dancing to the music, while the other twenty or so look on. We must have missed the Morris Men.
The day could have ended perfectly, but it didn't. City beat Newcastle to put them in a very strong position. You can't have everything and in the end, I'd rather have beer and blue bells. Thanks Ade and Sue.

The Second Coming

Mum and Dad are coming for lunch today. They're coming over to see Emily and Lucas before the two American passport holders go back. It's funny how you get used to people being around. I shall miss them when they are gone, but they'll be back I'm sure.

Meanwhile everything else is changing. Just one month left at The Alexandra Practice and I'm looking forward to the move. I can't stomach being in the same room as my current 'partners'. I really don't think they understand how easy I have made it for them.

Yesterday was Steve Raw's 60th birthday celebration, so we all trekked up to Crowden for a picnic. It was raining of course, but cold and windy too. Just as I remember it, and just like those days camping out in Mull. Ah, happy days. There were lots of people, considering the weather, all linked in one way or another to each other. Apparently Lucas didn't like the cold, so as soon as the birthday cake had been lit and the song sung we came home. I didn't mind either, anything to get away from TJG and his smarming presence. I think I may have said goodbye to the Men's Group for the same reason. As soon as we left the sun came out. Perhaps we missed something momentous through our lack of faith and goose pimples, but I doubt it.

On Thursday night I attended a meeting of the Didsbury Lefties. I don't know if that's really what they're called, but they have been meeting for years and are ex-academics and lecturers mainly.
The house was a good sized Didsbury semi. We gathered in the kitchen then moved into the lounge. The chairs were placed in a circle and we all sat down. It had the feel of a prayer group, like people waiting and preparing for the Second Coming.
We did a double act, Martin and I. He is the Director and sole employee of the Socialist Medical Movement, and he gave his thoughts on the NHS reforms. Well, until I suggested we perhaps moved into the twenty first century.
I told the assembled about the good stuff we have been doing in Central Manchester, and that co-operation was working despite their scepticism. They wanted to know why, if the changes were so good, was there so much opposition to them from the profession. I pointed out that the BMA has opposed every change including the very inception of the beloved socialist NHS.
In the end they seemed to have enjoyed the discussion, and I had too. They're hardly a bunch of militants. In fact I think I might start going to their meetings myself, as their youth policy.

Talking of prayer groups, I was on the Emmanuel 6.15 congregation annual weekend away, last weekend. It was good. We even had a barn dance. The new vicar is obviously wanting to make his mark and take the congregation forward. We had prayers and Eucharist etc and also his vision of where we might go. We all considered his suggestions prayerfully and agreed, like the good sheep we are, to head in that direction. That direction is to try to become more like a community of the early church. More supportive of each other and more socially cohesive, instead of just turning up on a Sunday and going away again. The early church also lived their lives as I imagine an egalitarian commune might. They also expected the return of Jesus anytime. Like the old Commies are waiting in their front room for the second coming of their Messiah.

Perhaps it is time for the Second Coming, after all. Or is it already here?

A cherry blossom tree to remember Richard

I set up a facebook group of Manchester Medics, class of '79 yesterday. The numbers doubled over night. There are now about thirty members already, and talk of meeting once a month for a beer. Admittedly this was the boys, well me and John really, who both live in and about Manchester. I thought 'the Friendhip' in Fallowfield would be nostalgic enough. Tommy Ducks, the Plaza and the Conti having closed down.
There are some names I just don't remember at all.Other people I can picture but don't recall their names, and others who's names are so common that there's no way of knowing which one was a 'class of '79er'. It'll be fun to see what happens.
We planted a cherry blossom tree yesterday, to commemorate the life of Richard. What a great way to be remembered. Much better than a gravestone in my opinion. It's what I would like for myself.

Cherry Blossom in Manchester

Back home after slick trip from Newark. Now Emily and Lucas have arrived back in Manchester to sort out their longterm visa. The blossom is starting to come out. The sun shone briefly yesterday, but it's still chilly here. Next weekend I'm going up to the Lakes again.
I went to look around my new practice yesterday and have a go on the computer system at the Range practice. It looks brilliant and much better. Altogether I am looking forward to the move. In fact, the troubles at the Alexandra Practice looks like being a blessing in disguise.
I was thinking yesterday, if I had planned how I should spend the last five years of my career before retiring, this is what I would have liked to do. In other words, a reduced clinical load, two surgeries  a week. A cardiology session a week to use my specialist skills. The rest being spent on commissioining work as Clinical Director. I am very happy with my work at the moment.
I can also spend more time with Lucas.
Spring is a time for optimism and looking forward, and I feel good

The Declaration of Independence

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'

I am so glad I didn't return to Connecticut yesterday. I was going to, rationalising that I had seen what I came to see, and really wanted to spend time with Lucas. I find myself saying these words to myself in a sort of Southern American accent. I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I spent yesterday morning on a sightseeing bus with American commentary, or last night at a play called 1776.
'The bus leaves from the front of the hotel at nine, and then every hef awer' said the helpful receptionist. First stop, Union Station. At the time it was built, the largest and grandest in the World. I think Grand Central beats it hands down, but that was at the time. I hopped off and had breakfast, and took in the atmosphere. Not terribly busy, but I had missed rush hour, and lots of renovations. I ate in the cafe and would give it a bare 'average'. Then the Red Bus route.
I'll try to remember the highlights, but there were so many of them. Lots of museums [or is it musea?] and if part of the Smithsonian legacy then entry is free. Lots and lots of memorials, including the Lincoln memorial and to all the different wars the Americans have been in. The reflecting pool, I found out, was being repaired to stop it leaking, and the whole of the National Mall was being re-done to improve soil drainage and the cultivation of a lawn. The Washington Memorial had recently suffered as a result of an earth tremor, and so was also being checked over too. It wouldn't look good if that fell down.
The city was designed by a French born gentleman called L'Enfant. He must have still been a child when he came to America. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery on high ground, so he can overlook the city he planned out. We went there later and it is quite moving to see the rows and rows of white tomb stones. To get there we have to cross the Potomac river after going round the Tidal Basin to which it connects. Although my children groan, I do think this sort of tour bus is a good way of getting an overview, literally, of a big city.

I got off the bus for lunch. Wandering around I came across a handful of tents, camped out in Mc Pherson Square. They looked pretty hippyish with anarchist literature in a shabby looking orning, and books which people could 'please borrow and return them for others to use'. The sun was warm. Three people were talking 'to camera'. No one else was there. The 'Occupy McPherson Square' movement, was obviously having a day off. It is Good Friday after all. They were probably all at church.

In the evening I took a walk around. I came across a queue of people outside the Ford's Theatre. They were waiting for a play, 1776, to begin. It was too early to eat so I paid my $70 and took my seat near the front of a packed theatre. I had forgotten my glasses, but it didn't make much difference in the end.
I didn't know too much about the Declaration of Independence, only tit-bits I'd picked up randomly, and I don't know how historically accurate this play was. It turned out to be a rather amusing musical version. Mercifully the songs were few. The acting was quite good and appropriately funny when it was meant to be. It was good to see the various characters come to life

I hadn't appreciated the political in fighting, compromises, and alliances that went on. For instance, I didn't know that Pennsylvania  through their leader John Dickinson, were such loyalists to the Crown. Benjamin Franklin, the older gouty statesman was there, also from Pennsylvania. So was our previous hero John Adams, the Massachusetts agitator; Thomas Jefferson, newly wed and reluctant author; John Hancock, congressional leader; and Roger Sherman from our own Connecticut, amongst others.

For more, if interested, see italics below:
'The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forard a resolution earlier in the year which made a formal declaration inevitable. A committee was assembled to draft the declaration, to be ready when congress voted on independence. Adams persuaded the committee to select Thomas Jefferson to compose the original draft of the document, which congress would edit to produce the final version. The Declaration was ultimately a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The Independence Day of the United States of America is celebrated on July 4, the day Congress approved the wording of the Declaration.
After ratifying the text on July 4, Congress issued the Declaration of Independence in several forms. It was initially published as a printed broadside that was widely distributed and read to the public. The most famous version of the Declaration, a signed copy that is usually regarded as the Declaration of Independence, is displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D C. Although the wording of the Declaration was approved on July 4, the date of its signing has been disputed. Most historians have concluded that it was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. The original July 4 United States Declaration of Independence manuscript was lost while all other copies have been derived from this original document.
The sources and interpretation of the Declaration have been the subject of much scholarly enquiry. The Declaration justified the independence of the United States by listing colonial grievances against King George III, and by asserting certain natural and legal rights, including a right of revolution'.

The Declaration avoided the issue of slavery, in order to get the Southern Staes on board. This stored up trouble and lead, in the end, to the bloody Civil War. They abolished slavery almost a century later under the leadership of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican. Of course, he got assassinated for his troubles, but lives on in those words of the Founding Fathers.

So now it's back to Connecticut and Lucas. I'm glad I stayed the extra day. I understand the Americans much better now. They had a point. If only they had lived up to their high ideals better. I guess they're only human. We all make pledges and declarations, and fail to live up to them.

God bless America.