You Can't Win 'em All

Eurovision Song-Fest

Well, I'm sorry to report, my hunch didn't quite pay off ... Romania coming third and Moldova somewhere in the top third .... but not so disastrously wrong as Heterocon's markings after hearing all contestants. I cannot doubt Heterocon's integrity, it's just such a shame that most of those who vote in these song-fests get it wrong.

So, we can lay to rest the Eurovision Song Contest for (the best part of) another year and return to abnormality.

Despite a reasonably early start to the day, I managed to get quite a bit done. Obtained, and potted-up, a few more oxygenating weeds for the pond as well as acclimatising some cloud minnows to the aquarium. Can I really cope with all this excitement? .... Perhaps YHWH knows!

Cultural Highlife

After yesterdays somewhat ill-fated character, today has so far gone quite smoothly. That could be because I have not as yet ventured out, nor had cause to make any vessels self-destruct, but it could also relate to the fact that I keep genuflecting before a crucifix whilst touching wood in a totally non-superstitious manner. Emerged from the cocoon of my duvet remarkably early this morning, if only to cool off a little (no smut here please), and found myself showered and dressed at a reasonable hour too!

The cultural highlight of the day is without doubt The Eurovision Song Contest; having only witnessed the semi-final contestants, and not the fourteen acts who were automatically allocated a place in the final, I have a hunch that either Rumania or Moldova could be the winner. Charismatic presentation of quite vibrant songs is what counts but, of course, if my hunch proves wrong it's all the cretins who actually vote that are to blame.

How great it is to feel relatively normal and, in denial of my better taste!

Yet Another Flush Of Senility

Having felt tired since early afternoon, a sudden flush of energy enabled me to cope with the semi-finals of The Eurovision Song Contest. One has to be quite tired though, to feel quite in tune with these musical offerings. To my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed at least three of the 25 commodities competing for the final ten places in Saturday's final. Although my concentration lapsed somewhat as the programme continued, I am pleased to report that ... I've just forgotten what I was going to say about it!

Passes the time though ... don't it! And I will be watching on Saturday DV. Oh, what sad lives we lead. Or perhaps there will have been a miracle cure and, I'll do something interesting instead.

George Galloway At The Court Of King Dubya

How refreshing it was to see George Galloway's disdain for Blairs bosses in Washington. It is strange how democratic governments believe that repetition of a smear, against opponents, prove it's veracity.

Galloway knew that it was lies that took us unto the (illegal) war with Iraq; nor did he have any culpability in supplying weapons to Saddam, but of course, the US of A were simply practising their usual ethical trading practise.

The American paymasters of Tony Blair will go to any lengths to besmirch the name of any opponent! In fact it has never been outside of their "legitimate" policies to arrange for the assassination of their opponents.

Congratulations George (G) on your recent electoral victory.

Like Going To Sea In A Sieve

The floating sensation, recorded yesterday, has already returned ... less than one and a half hours after my emergence into a new day. Perhaps as the day goes on, a semblance of what used to be my 'normality' will return. Of course, it's always a good idea to question just what it means to be normal, but I would much prefer it if that necessity never occurred.

Everything swims around me; it feels almost as if the top of my head is concertina-ing down to my chin and back again. Maybe, it's purely and simply a result of reducing my previous medication in preparation for the new one.

No-one wants this sorting out more than myself. Ill health is not exactly a barrel of laughs, but this empty cask is certainly making a lot of noise.

Slipping And A Sliding ...

It's currently 8.30PM and, my head is having tantrums against it's environment. 'Giddiness' is not quite the right word, nor is 'floating'. Le mot juste est tres elusive! An almost tender pounding radiates from the eyebrow line to a point just behind the ears; meantime the top of the cheeks tingle and, my ears are like resonating chambers for the silence of hollowness.

Has that old curse "abstainers hangover" struck again or, is this "evening sickness" one of the less recorded symptoms of the male menopause? The most probable culprit is getting out of bed early this morning .... see 'Menopausal Meanderings' and 'Why Can't I Just Accept It?' on Heterocon's Blog for more details.

In the ramblings of Heterocon you may find even more light is shed on the sorry condition of my soul! Anyway, it is now approximately 21 hours since my last (reduced) dose of venlafaxine so that could well account for some of the head-drift; in another hour or so I will be commencing the new medication .. Zispin. Perhaps this may produce miracles, otherwise I'll just have to keep calling on 'YHWH and Son'.

He, Being Dead ....

Radio Times, 16 May .... BBC2 ... 11.20pm

"One-time prime minister Jim Callaghan, who died in March, speaks frankly about his personal and political life. The only man in history to have been chancellor, and home and foreign secretary, "Sunny Jim" describes what it's like to be PM - and reveals unexpected talents."

... presumably like talking to television cameras from beyond the grave. For a prime minister, speaking frankly would also seem an unexpected talent!

From Reflux To Reflection

I'd forgotten just how disabling gastric reflux can be; every minor task performed can become a major endeavour, whilst held in the dreaded acids thrall. At present its hard to know which is the major bane of my life the acid or the mucous ... on second thoughts it must be the acid, that would account for me being so sharp-tongued. I don't really know why I bother to write this down; perhaps it's because I'm afraid of intelligent conversation, i.e. talking to myself!

Maybe, considerate being that I am, I have no wish to come up with anything remarkably profound, as it may give any readers an inferiority complex.

Helen has just gone down to Rock Connexions in town at her elder daughter's request. I'm curious to hear what she makes of it, as Beth seems quite proud of her own involvement in it. Whether, or not, it makes "church ... culturally relevant" remains to be seen. It all depends on our understanding of church! Is the teaching of Jesus (of Nazareth) relevant, now that's something I can answer in the affirmative! If we really looked to the teachings of Jesus we would see the irrelevance of many of America's church-going "moral majority". In that instance church has become a synonym for right-wing political agendas granting short-shrift to any ideas of social-justice.

Matters of Moment

I've been dwelling quite a lot on the fragility of life for the past twelve hours, ever since the better-half returned home to report that an ex-nurse had to apply the Heimlich(sic) manoeuvre to her yesterday lunchtime, when she choked on a tomato!

So much for "healthy" foods! I have never known anyone with such a voracious appetite for vegetables, both cooked and raw, as la belle Helene that the whole episode seems extra shocking.

Dwelling on matters of life's fragility, I thought of the old platitudes about close scrapes helping to make one a better person. The most common response, apart from gratefulness to be alive, should surely be the desire to fulfill as many of the lustful desires as a frail body can cope with while one still has breath in their body!!

Of course, the faith-full idealist side of me, would like to think the response will be : "I will now do much more to help those less fortunate than myself. While there's life there's hope ..." etcetera.

I do like to give thanks, to YHWH and his lad, for all the blessings in my life as well as moaning at him/it when I feel hard done by.

If you want to know why I'm blogging at such a late/early hour go to 'Biliious Ecriture' on Heterocon's blog.

As I look at my beloved, with her head on the pillow next to where mine should be, I know that I am indeed a fortunate man. Perhaps it is time to try and rest again.

All Change

How swiftly things change! On May 10 I completed my course of proton pump inhibitors and, only extremely rarely had needed antacids at other parts of the day. Last night, intermittently surrounding and penetrating my spasmodic sleep the old gullet-burn returned with a vengeance. Maybe yesterdays early ascension from duvet-land was taking its revenge.

This morning, I managed somehow to sleep (albeit restlessly ; now that's what I call a paradox!) through my wifes emergence into the land of the day people, until 11.00AM. This was not a choice, a decision made; I fell victim to my own body's demands.

I awoke to the sound of six pneumatic drills directly outside of the house, only to discover it was in reality the Hotpoint Washing Machine attempting to demolish the kitchen. Don't get me wrong, it sometimes does get the laundry clean as well but, engineering wise its not the most reliable device.

Took care of phase two of my fight with the garden ponds green water problem, before grabbing a bowl of honey-nut flakes and my morning medication. Checked the pH of the aquarium, no change but, as it was about due for a partial water change I got that out of the way before adding a further handful of aragonite coral gravel into the stockinette in an attempt to gradually raise the tank's pH.

I'm starting to feel quite exhausted at the thought of all those tasks performed, might even have to step back from the keyboard for a little while! It's time to grab a snack anyway. Au Revoir.