Sunday, 24 September 2023

The tweets of the week in the London Borough of Barnet 24th September 2023

 Last week, I simply couldn't find ten tweets that I felt were interesting and varied enough to justify posting a tweets of the week. It happens sometimes. It is always rather disappointing. It does seem to me that less people are using the platform and less people are interested in it recently. There were a plethora of extremely dull local politicians standing in groups holding leaflets, claiming that they were given a warm welcome on the doorstep. Of course this is nonsense. I've done a fair bit of canvassing and most people don't even answer the door. The only really warm welcome you get is when people are happy to tell you your an idiot. Your own supporters will occasionally have a nice chat, long lost friends will greet you warmly, but most people just want to get on with their ironing or watching The Chase. I do wish local politicians would be a bit more imaganative in their tweeting. 

As for my week, I had a nice curry on Weds and a couple of beers at the Mill Hill Services Club, that was about it. Anyway, enough waffle, here is what our more interesting tweeters have been up to.

1. I'll start with the one wonderful tweet from last week, that did deserve a platform. I love this


2. This blog has long supported the work Mark Amies has done to try and save the Railway in Edgware. Mark deserves an OBE for his work trying to preserve our heritage


3. Now this is what we call great tweeting.


4. One of the reasons I love this feature is because we learn about little bits of our locality like this!


5. If you want to get a tweet included here, a bit of local rock and roll history will always do the trick for me


6. If you love brutalist buildings illuminated in pink, this is the tweet for you. A shout out for the work these wondeful people do, saving lives.


7. Had to include this. It's wonderful


8. A date for your diary, raising money for a charity rather too close to my heart


9. Always worth a mention, the final resting place of British Rock and Roll legend. Lovely pics


10. And finally, keep an ear out for this forthcoming single by one of our fave local singers, who should be a megastar



And before we sign off, we thought you might enjoy a little snippet of my band, The False Dots, live at the Dublin Castle on Friday 15th. It was a real fun night, as I'm sure you'll see. Have a restfull Sunday (unless you are a Gooner or a Spurs fan, in which case, lets hope it's a good game)



No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: ,

Saturday, 23 September 2023

The Saturday List #417 - My top ten breakfasts

 I cannot believe that I've not done this before. I will let you into a little secret. The only reason my beloved missus has stuck by me for the last 38 years, through hell and hig water, is because at the weekend, I cook her a mean breakfast. This morning, she got an omlette, with shitake mushrooms, fresh green beans from the garden, onions and the finest mature cheddar. For this, she forgives me a multitude of sins. I love a good breakfast, during the week, I have porridge (no dairy) made with water and fresh fruit, which is great, but at the weekend we push the boat out. It got me thinking, what are my favourite breakfasts at home. 

1. The full English. Clare doesn't eat meat, so she gets halloumi and whatever else we can find, but I love to get the finest cumberland sausages, best smoked back bacon, black pudding from Boucherie Gerard, add to that mushrooms, fried tomatoes, fried bread (it has to be fried in the juices from the meat), fried eggs and baked beans. I have found that the best beans these days are the cheap M&S own brands. What is deffo off the menu are hash browns. They are not English and have no place on the plate. These days its a once a month treat. Below is what Clare gets! It really isn't too bad, is it?

2. Jumbo Fish Fingers on sourdough. As Clare eats fish, this is one we can properly share. I love fish fingers. I microwave them for a couple of minutes before frying and then crisp the outside. This way you don't have the horrible experience of a cold middle. 

3. A bacon and tomato sandwich. I alway toast the bread. A little bit of brown sauce on top works a treat. I fry the bacon and tomatoes together. Sadly, it is a rare treat.

4. Proper kippers on toast. As there is no fishmonger in Mill Hill Broadway (altough there is a fine one in Mill Hill East), I rarely have these. Worse still, Clare cannot stand the pong, so it is even less popular than the full English with her. Proper kippers, that you used to see hanging up in the fish mongers are the breakfast of kings, but are very rare these days. I only have them when Clare goes on a girls holiday.

5. A smoked Salmon bagel. This is a very acceptable breakfast. Even better, Clare is very partial to it. We add sliced tomatoes, gherkins, avocado and capers. Delicious. We first got the idea when we went to see my sister in Florida and got one from Einsteins bagels in Fort Lauderdale. Delicious.

6. Welsh Rarebit. There is a real art to this. You have to toast the toast first. I then spread Heinz Ketchup on the bread and a huge covering of finest extra mature cheddar, which is then grilled until it starts bubbling and turning brown. Delicious, but as I don't do dairy, it is something I almost never have.

7, An Envelope. Actually I mean an omlette, but my daughter, when she was a toddle would call omlettes envelopes, so that is what we have. My Dad used to make the best omlettes. I owe any cooking prowess to him. He always said "If you can cook properly, you will always live like a king". He also taught me to buy the best ingredients for the best flavour. When he made omlettes, he'd mix eggs, milk cornflour, salt and pepper, with a small splash of water and tea. He'd mix this up. He'd fry the fillings seperately. I've followed this (omitting the milk for me). I cook on a high heat with a lid and sprinkle best cheddar on. I love fried mushrooms, fried green beans and onions. These are applied once its plated. Some nice black pepper sets it off just fine.

8. Beans on toast, topped with cheese. The procedure is pretty similar to the Welsh Rarebit, except, with a layer of beans in the middle. I microwave them before applying to the toast and then top with cheddar. As Heinz have changed the recipe, I give them a wide berth though. 

9. Poached eggs on soudough toast. If I want a light breakfast, this does the trick. I love poached eggs, with a bit of grainy sea salt and pepper on top, runny in the middle. They are the king of eggs. In a perfect world on white toast, buttered with Lurpack butter.

10. A double espresso and a fresh croissant. Back in the day, when David Anstee's bakery was at the end of my road, my perfect breakfast was a double espresso and a fresh out of the over croissant. Sadly, you can no longer get such a thing in Mill Hill, but I still hope and pray that one day, we'll get another master baker in the Broadway. 

Now, it is a rare treat on the road

No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: ,

Friday, 22 September 2023

The friday joke and a few random thoughts

Firstly, it's Friday. I think we all need a joke, so in the long tradition of Barnet blogs, here's a rather good one courtesy of our friend Mr Robert Wilkinson

And as promised, a few random thoughts. I am at a bit of a loss what to do tonight. Normally on such Friday nights, we'd have a curry, but I had one on Wednesday and I need to watch the figure. I'm still not feeling like going out too much. We've been watching the rather depressing "The woman in the wall" series, about the abuse of young, single mothers by the Church in Ireland. I find such things hard to watch, not least because I'm a a Catholic and I never had such bad experiences, but am aware of just how widespread the abuse was. We may finish off the series tonight. It is good to be challenged.

Another random thought I've been having a lot recently is about the weather. I sometimes feel that I'm going mad, because there is lots of talk about extreme weather, but for me, I seem to recall as a kid the weather was far more extreme. The snow was deeper, Mill Hill Broadway would flood, we had the summer of  '76, there seemed to be more thunder and lightening and there was deffo more fog and smog. I do wonder how much more accurate the measurements are today? I am not a climate change denier, but I'm not sure that in the UK it's really changed.

Another thought I had was about the Rolling Stones, who released a new album. There was a time around 1970, when they were my favourite band in the world. It never occurred to me that Mick Jagger would still be singing when he was 80. What seems even odder is that people such as Jacob Rees-Mogg who is nearly 30 years younger seems ancient in comparison. I find it bizarre that a character such as Mogg is younger than me. 

Another thing which I was thinking about quite a lot this week was the alure of celebrity. The current woes of Russel Brand (who is only six years younger than Rees-Mogg) have been much written about, but one thing that is not discussed is that a lot of women seem to have slept with Mr Brand and presumably were quite happy with it. I can't beleive he had any shortage of takers. It does make me wonder what fame and power do to us. I spent my teens and my twenties wanting to be a famous rock star.  Now I'm glad to be in an obscure band that does small scale gigs. It's fun and never really gave me carte blanche to grow into the sort of narcissitic dick head that thinks that people's feelings don't matter. I do wonder what would have happened if I'd have 'made it'. I'd hope I would not have gonea round exposing myself to all and sundry and bragging about it, but can we ever really be sure, if every stupid thing we do is applauded by hangers on?

And finally, some dates for your diary!




No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts:

Thursday, 21 September 2023

A shout out to two Barnet Councillors doing their job properly

 Most people who read this blog regularly would know that we have a lot to say about Barnet Council and the Councillors. Whilst much of this blogs content has been critical, over the years, we are always keen to say thank you to councillors who we see doing their job and pulling their finger out. Today we are saying thanks to two of the best.

We start with Labour's Sara Conway, from Burnt Oak. I've been involved in trying to get a man with learning difficulties, housed by an appalling landlord in a dangerous property a decent home. The poor fellow has all manner of health issues and has difficulties interatcing with the council and doctors. Myself and a group of friends have been assisting him. I blogged about the appalling condition of his propert last December. As a result of that blog, Barnet Council sent housing officers. They found that the property was unsafe and smaller than the legal minimum. It is now September and the bare minimum has been done. Barnet Homes have done nothing to assist. We have a meeting with them next week and I have no faith that they will do anything, despite two different housing officers agreeing that the dwelling is dangerous, and doctors confirming that it is detrimental to his health. I do have to give a shout out to Burnt Oak councillor Sara Conway has been supportive and constantly kept us involved. It is clear to me that Barnet Homes is not fit for purpose and should be brought in house, so decent councillors such as Sara can actually do something to sort problems out. 

If we move down the road to Edgware, we have thc Conservative Lucy Wakeley, who has been supporting our battle to save the Railway Hotel.  Unlike the previous ward councillors Linda Freeman and Sarah Wardle and her current colleagues, Nick Mearing-Smith and Shuey Gordon, who do nothing, Lucy has been on the ball and keeping people informed. She has taken a few bricks in the process. Lucy is a local and understands that Edgware has been neglected. 

To both of these councillors, I'd like to say thank you. Across Barnet, there are good and bad councillors. We are more than happy to shout out the good ones and offer support to bad ones to up their game. If you've had a good or bad experience, please feel free to share this with us. 

And finally, once more, thank you Sara and Lucy. Your efforts are appreciated.

No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: , ,

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Rog T's cancer blog - Where did the old me go and will he come back?

 

So it is now six weeks since I had a radical prostate biopsy. By all of the available measures, I am doing well. No residual pain, mostly no tiredness, 99.9% continent (can't drink too much beer and do long journeys with no loo confidently). Some signs of returning sexual function since I started taking the pills (tadalafil 5 mg a day). I had a PSA test on Monday, so fingers crossed. I believe it should now be undetectable, but a part of me is fully expecting it to be the same as it was before. There is no rational reason for this, but in this journey, every time I thought things were good, I've been kicked in the teeth, so I try and prepare for the worst whilst hoping for the best. It is a difficult journey. So to sum up, physically, it is all pretty good. I did a gig with my band on Thursday and no ill effects from the excitement (I sing and play guitar in a Ska/Punk band), apart from a bit of tiredness.

But your physical wellbeing is only ever half the picture. I feel very different in myself. I do not really like how Ifeel about myself at the moment. I am normally quite a positive and confident person, but I don't really feel like that at the moment. I almost feel like I am a different person. I feel far more cautious and less inclined to take risks. I haven't really felt like drinking alcohol at all. I am due to see a group of friends tonight for a couple of beers and a curry. Normally I'd have been looking forward to this all week, but all I am thinking of is whether I can get home safely without needing to use the toilet in a hurry. I've decided to wear a pad for the first time in two weeks as a precaution. There are a couple of gigs on, that normally I'd really fancy, but I can't really rustle up the enthusiasm to book tickets. I had the chance to drive to Manchester last night to see City play in the Champions league, but again I couldn't be bothered. Whilst we were playing the gig last friday, I found I felt pretty normal. As soon as I got off stage, I was completely wiped out. It wasn't so much that I didn't want to talk to people, I simply couldn't find anything to say. Normally I'd stay chatting to the early hours, but after a pint, I just wanted to head off home.

All of this is very unlike me. Is this just a part of the healing phase, your body saying "slow down, we need to get better" or is it just a new phase of life, part of getting older, which my body was shocked into accepting (I'm 61)?  I'm hoping that one day, soon, I'll wake up and feel like the old me, the me I am used to. The me that is spontaneous and looks for things to do, not reasons not to do them. 

I guess what I am saying is that right now, the glass is definitely half full, but all I am seeing is the empty half.

++++ A small footnote. I went out, met my friends, had a few beers and a rather excellent curry and had a lovely night. No accidents on the way home. I have realised that most of the problems are in my mind. It is fear of accidents etc that is bugging me rather than accidents themselves. I am lucky

--- About this feature 


For those of you who are regular readers and have read the previous posts on Cancer, there's what this is all about. I write this blog because knowledge is power and if you know what you are dealing with, you have more weapons in the locker to fight it. It is a personal view, I'm not medically qualified. This is for the sole purpose of information for those who are interested.This is the latest installment in my occasional series about how I'm adjusting to living with a big C in my life. 

 For those of you who aren't, here's a quick summary. I'm 61 years old and in October 2011 I had a prostate biopsy following two "slightly high" PSA tests - 2.8 & 4.1. The biopsy took ten tissue samples and one of these showed a "low grade cancer" which gave me a 3+3 on the Gleason scale. I was put on a program of active monitoring. In early February, I got the results of the a PSA test - down to 3.5 and an MRI scan which found absolutely nothing, two more tests in 2012 were at 3.5 and 3.9, in 2013 my test was 4.0, Jan 2014 was 3.8, August 2014 was 4.0, February 2015 it was up to 5.5 and my latest in August 2015 was down again at 4.6. In October 2015 I had a transperinial Prostate biopsy, that revealed higher grade cancer and my Gleason score was raised to 3+4 (Small mass + more aggressive cancer). On 22nd Jan 2016 I had HIFU (Hi Intensity Focused Ultrasound) treatment at UCHL). 

My post procedure PSA in May was 4.0 which was down, followed by 3.7 in August, and 3.5 in October which means that the direction is positive . However in January the follow up MRI revealed "something unusual which requires investigation" After a follow up biopsy, it appeared this was nothing to worry about. My two most recent PSA tests were Ok (3.7 and 4.6) and an MRI scan in March was very positive. A PSA in October 2019 was 4.6, so stable and good news, the last in May 2020 was 5.45 a small rise, so worrying, however after a review against the most recent MRI, it was decided that this was fine. My two latest ones in February 2022 was 6.7 and October 2022 was 6.6 was stable. 

In March 2023 had an MRI scan that showed 'significant change'. This lead to a biopsy that indicated a tumour of 4mm that had a gleason score of 4+4. A PSA test in June saw a rise to 12. On 9th August, I had a radical prostatectomy and am currently recovering. Early days, but hopefully the surgery has curedt he problem of cancer. My continence is good, the next batttle is erectile function.

Got the picture?
No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: ,

Tuesday, 19 September 2023

Russell Brand and the age of consent

 I've been following with interest the media coverage of the Russell Brand 'expose' with interest. I've no intention of saying anything at all about Mr Brand or what I think of his alleged behaviour. The place for that to be settled is in court, if the CPS can be persuaded that there is sufficient evidence. I'm not a fan or Brand, I've never really found him funny and haven't followed his post TV career. 

I did meet one of the victims of his humour, Georgina Ballie at an Adam and the Ant's gig at the Scala shortly after the media furore. She struck me as a very vulnerable person, who in no way deserved to get the monstering she received from Brand and Jonathan Ross (who I had liked until then). She had clearly been startstruck and badly treated and I formed strong opinions then.

The more interesting aspect about the coverage, for me, is that one of the alleged victims was sixteen and there has been media talk of grooming, etc. I have to confess I never really thought about the age of consent until I had kids (when you have daughters, it does make you aware of the perils). The laws on age of consent were designed to protect vulnerable children from predatory adults. In the UK it is 16, and at this age, a person is deemed capable of deciding whether or not they want to give consent. They can have sex with anyone of any age legally at this point. The one exception is if the person is in a position of power over them, such as a teacher, where it is 18. 

In the late 1990's, there was a proposal to lower the age to 14, but this was dropped when Labour got into power. To me, 14 seems far too young. Some people are late developers and do need protecting at such an age. The press have been talking about how a 16 year old was groomed. As the girl in question was legally above the age of consent, there is no legal impediment to her having sex and there is no legal concept of grooming for people above the age of consent. The objections are moral rather than legal.

The question must be whether or not the law is doing its job. In short, do girls of 16 need to be legally protected from dirty old men. We are not talking about where there is no consent (ie rape or sexual assault), we are talking about where a girl of sixteen decided she wants to participate in a sexual relationship with a much older man. It is worth noting that if there is cash involved, the age of consent raises to 18 (ie prostitution). Some have suggested that maybe for 16/17 year olds, there should be an upper limit of 21 for sexual relationships. I really don't know the answer. What I do know is that men generally are at there worst when they want to have sex with someone. When my daughters were younger I told them that when a man says he wants to buy you a drink, what he is really saying is that he wants to have sex with you and lower your inhibitions.I'd then say that if he is also drinking, he will be lowering his own at the same time. In otherwords, be very careful about who you let bu you a drink and be aware of their motives and that they are also drinking and their behaviour may change. 

Working in the music industry for 44 years, I've seen plenty of terrible behaviour, but all was consensual. In the 1970's and 80's, girls would literally throw themselves at successful artists. Artists would make all manner of illict substances freely available to their entourages. I never saw anyone present who didn't want to be there and no compulsion on anyone to do anything, but I do understand that younger, more impressionable people (of both sexes) at times probably did things they didn't want to do, just to stay in with the in crowd. Consenting to something is a very different thing to enjoying it. My mother would say to us as kids "Don't do anything you'll regret later". I do wonder how many of the allegations come into this category, where people reluctantly consent, to be part of the crowd, only to bitterly regret it later. One thing that the Georgina Ballie case should have demonstrated was that narcissistic people have no regard for anyone, once they have ceased to be amused by their victims.

So in short, people can be beastly, horrible and uncaring but that doesn't necessarily mean that there wasn't consent at the time. We could raise the age of consent, but then we'd have to deal with the reality that teenagers have sex withe ach other. We could make up all manner of arbitary time limits and rules. for when you can have sex with someone else. But ultimately, wherever you draw the line, it will not be perfect.

For me, the issue is whether there is consent, which can only be legally given once someone is sixteen. Parents and schools should make sure that everyone is properly educated about what exactly consent is. That it can be withdrawn before and during sex, but not after. If anyone continues to indulge in sexual activities, once consent has been withdrawn, that clearly is a legal matter, but where people get buyers regret after sex it isn't, whether they are 16 or 60. 

I can see a time coming, where if we want to have sex with someone, both parties will have to register their consent on a government computer and de-register when they cease to want it anymore. I'm just glad I was born in 1962, when everything was more simple, although I am sure that many will take a very different view.

No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: ,

Saturday, 16 September 2023

The Saturday List #416 - My top ten moments from False Dots gigs since 1979

 Last night, The False Dots played to a packed and raptuous audience at the Dublin Castle. It may possibly have been the best ever False Dots gig, certainly up there with our 2010 gig at The Purple Turtle in Camden with the amazing Sudanese singer Connie Abbe on vocals and our 1984 Dingwalls show with Venessa Sagoe on vocals. It may even have been as good as our 1982 gig in Aland, Finland at Pub Bastun, where there were drunken Fins dancing on tables. It got me thinking about my top ten memories of gigs with The False Dots. Most of these were not really musical moments, but they live long in my mind.

1. 18th July 1981. Harwood Hall, Mill Hill. A disaster all round. The PA guy let us down, there was a plague of aggressive and unfriendly skinheads, intent on trouble and a pervading air of violence. During one of our numbers, one of the skinheads walked up to me and spat in my face. I unstrapped my guitar, a Hofner Galaxy and belted him around the head, knocking him out. I then strapped the guitar back on and continued the song. Our bassplayer Paul Hircombe asked me afterwards if he'd imagined it, as I just carried on as if nothing happened. At the end of the show, I was waiting for my Dad to come to collect the gear, it was piled on the pavement and the skinhead returned with five mates, intent on revenge. I stood my ground and as they approached, I picked up a bottle of beer I'd been drinking. I was determined to not go down without a fight. At that moment, my Dad appeared with a crowbar, behind them. He was a fearsome ex RAF Aussie. He scared the living daylights out of them and they all ran away. My Dad was most complimentary about my nerve. I don't advocate such behaviour, but it was a moment I'll always remember. Ironically, some of those skinheads went on to become our biggest fans. My Dad said that sheep need a sheepdog to keep them in order.

2. 26th September 1981, Kenton Jewish Youth club. Our drummer, Mark Barnett was a member and got us a well paid gig. Until that point, the gigs had been pubs and church halls. We turned up and were amazed to see neat rows of chairs, a proper PA system and decent lights with a great light man (who allegedly had been poached from the Bandwagon for big bucks). It is probably the only time we played to a seated audience. We felt like Pink Floyd!

3. 16th Jan 1982, Pub Bastun, Aland, Finland. Aland is an Island in the Baltic sea. It is duty free, so is a real party haven in a highly taxed Sacandinavian see of anti alcohol policies. We played 3 sets and by the end, the fans were swinging off the chandaliers and dancing on tables. As we really had to scratch around to get enough numbers, we did a cover of Space Cowboy by The Steve Miller Band. At the end Mark Barnett did a drum solo. The lighting guy put on a strobe, Mark was playing the drums like gonzo from the Muppets, banging everything as fast as possible, but the strobe made it look in slow motion.

4.  27th August 1982, Bell Motor Cycle Rally, Elstree. We did this as a three piece, Myself on Bass, Craig Withecombe on vocals and guitar and Bill Lucas on Drums. It was mostly rock covers. Criag was a great guitarist and enjoyed the chance to do lots of solos. One of the numbers we did was Sweet Jane, by The Velvet Underground. As we started to play this, a huge Hells Angel at the back made eye contact with me. As the number reached its end he started to march towards me, a massive joint in his mouth. I was terrified. He was not someone to mess with. As we hit the last note, he was standing right in front of me, glaring. I thought he was going to kill me. He then took the huge joint from his mouth and put it in mine, saying "Well done son, that's my favourite song ever". He then marched to the back. After the show, I went for a chat with him. He was a nice bloke and really knowledgeable. I can never forget that.

5. 28th Jan 1983, Gooners club at The Copper, Tower Bridge. We had a little residency here. The last show we did there, we got our Roadie, Dermot Fanning up to do a number called The Dukes of Hazard Rap. It was a mash up of country and western music, with a rap over the top. Derm was a very good looking and charismatic guy and the place went mental. It really put the nose of our regular singer, Eleanor Caine out of joint, who said she'd leave if Derm did it again. In Hindsight, I wish she had and we'd got Derm in full time!

6. 28th Feb 1984, Dingwalls. This was the moment we thought we'd cracked it. We had worked really hard on the material and I thought we were amazing. Venessa Sagoe was a brilliant singer. The venue was packed and we did a 30 minute set. As we did the last number, there was an enormous cheer from the whole audience. It was the high point of the 1980's for the Dots.

7. 15th Jan 2010, The Purple Turtle, Camden Town. Until Connie Abbe joined the band in 2009, I'd sort of given up on the idea of doing big venues. We were happy doing the odd local gig for charity. Then Connie joined and all of a sudden, the False Dots became a red hot band. We played at The Purple Turtle, supporting the legendary Bollock Brothers, feat Jock McDonald. We blew the place away. I realised just how much I loved being on a big stage at an established venue. It was the best feeling since Dingwalls in 1984. When you have a band that is really kicking, there is no feeling like it.

8.13 December 2012, Friern Barnet Library. Connie left the band, I was feeling quite down. Our long time bass player, Paul Hircombe had died of cancer and I couldn't bear playing songs that reminded me of him. I was very involved in the Save Friern Barnet Library campaign. When the campaign won, I was asked to play a few numbers. I rang up well known author, Allen Ashley, who had been our singer in 1985 and asked if he fancied doing it. Allen was in the band when Paul was taking a sabbatical, so it was not songs I associated with him, which made it easier.  He said yes, I got on to Graham Ramsey, our drummer from that era and Fil Ross stepped up on bass. In truth, we were not great, under rehearsed, and ring rusty, but it was a lovely night. What was really special was that my cousin Tessie, who is my age and lived with Downs syndrome came down and danced all night. Tessie was developing dementia and passed with covid in 2021. It is one of my best memories of her. 

9. 6th November 2015, Fiddlers Elbow, Camden Town. Allen stayed and we started to develop a great new set of music. In 2015, I started the Save London Music campaign, to protect grassroots venues. The campaign got featured on the Robert Elms show on BBC Radio London. We had a launch party in The Fiddlers Elbow, Camden Town. It was a blast. I felt the band was back where it should be. 

10. The Dublin Castle, 15th September 2023. First gig since cancer surgery on 9th August. I feel I've put it behind me, joyous to see so many friends. The place was absolutely rocking. The compliments after were joyous. Allen left the band during lockdown, last night was the first night with Tom Hammond on Trumpet. He is an amazing addition to the band. 

We have three gigs lined up. We are supporting the Silencerz at the Bull Arts centre in Finchley on 28th October, Doing the Madchat meet Sat 4th November (noon start) at The Dublin Castle and back at the Dublin Castle for an Xmas special on Saturday 23rd December.

This is what we sound like these days.


No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: , , ,

Friday, 15 September 2023

Post op recovery - pills, pumps and physios - Rog T's cancer blog

 Yesterday was a significant day on my road to recovery. I had my first appointment with Mr Gerard Greene at the London Clinic to discuss my recuperation from radical prostate surgery. When I had my op on 9th August, I was advised that physiotherapy was a key part of the process and was advised to see a mens health specialist physio. After some searching, I found Mr Greene based at the London Clinic on Queen Anne St. I was quite surprised just how few specialist physios there are in the field of post op recovery. One thing I've learned on the journey is that if you see a specialist, you get better care and if you see the best you get the best care. Mr Greene is highly recommended. 

I booked the appointment nearly a month ago. I still had a cathetar in and didn't know what my situation would be with regards to post op continence and erections. Mr Greene told me that the first assessment was normally 90 minutes. There was usually a lot to discuss. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect from the consultation. I arrived at the clinic and was ushered in by Mr Greene at 2pm.

The first question was continence. This has not been a problem at all. After the cathetar was removed, I wore pads for about ten days, but as I had no accidents in this period, I stopped wearing them about ten days ago. I've been fairly careful and I am more or less back where I was before the op. Mr Greene expressed a degree of surprise that I was dry so quickly, saying it was pretty unusual. I told him I'd done pelvic floor exercises before the op, to strengthen the muscles in anticipation, a hint I picked up on the facebook groups I follow. Mr Greene told me that for most men, the main focus of the first three months was getting dry. He then gave me an ultrasound scan, whilst doing pelvic floor exercises. He informed me that my surgeon had done an excellent job (thank you Professor Christopher Eden). He said he'd not actually seen someone who's continence was as good at the same period before. He confirmed that Professor Eden has a reputation as being exceptional.  I suppose that there may be some caveats on this, not least that many men will only pay to see a top private physio when they have problems, but it was very reassuring.

Then we got on to discussing erections. I informed him that I hadn't had one since the op, there were a few murmerings. I told him that Professor Eden had written to my GP requesting I get a prescription for tadalafil 5 mg a day to try and restore function.  Rather annnoyingly, I've heard nothing from my GP. Mr Greene suggested I get on the phone and get this ASAP. He explained that the purpose of this low dose viagra type drug is to stimulate blood flow. It is a viagra type drug but at a low dose does not trigger erections. He then asked me if I'd been given a vacuum pump. This is a device that you insert your penis into and then draw the air out. This expands the penis, stimulating blood flow and causing an erection. Having a schoolboy sense of humour, I'd considered the idea a bit funny, if I am honest. Mr Greene explained why it is used and I realised I had a complete misconception as to why it is used. My assumption had been that the penis was inflated like a balloon, then the man would try and have sex before the blood dissipated. He explained that the main reason for using a pump was to restore healthy blood flow. For men such as me, that have had nerve sparing surgery, the purpose was to restore vascular health to the penis. Not having erections for a month or so, has meant that the blod vessels have got out of shape. He explained that the reason men have nocturnal erections whilst asleep was to keep the penis in good working order, for when it may be needed in the day time. The pump gets this going.

He also explained how the nerves around the prostate are bashed and bruised by the action of ripping out the prostate. They take time to recover and the pump ensures that when they do, the plumbing is in place to work.  I found this fascinating. I know from conversations with other men, that not too many actually understand this. A pump is available on the NHS and he is forwarding details of how to get one. 

I then asked him whether he minded if I mentioned him in this blog. I work on the theory that people should only be named with consent. He was delighted and we spent a few minutes discussing the general issue of the misunderstandings around the whole issue of mens health. He told me of one well educated person he'd spoken to, who thought a PSA test was a finger up the bum, not a blood test. 

On reflection, I realised that on my journey from 2011, I have learned a huge amount. Perhaps the thing that most daunts me is the fact that had I been a  gleason 4+4 in 2011, rather than in 2023, I'd have been totally unprepared. I'd not have known about nerve sparing surgery being the most important part of the picture. On thing I learned from Professor Eden and his use fo neurosafe is that when surgeons who don't use it say they will "try and save the nerves", they are just guessing. That is why some men have what is called positive margins after the pathology report of the prostate is done. With neurosafe, this should never nbe the case (a positive margin is when not all cancer is removed). 

I have a dear friend who had a radical prostatectomy in 2016. He didn't have nerve sparing and hasn't had an erection since. Now it may well be that in his case, the nerves couldn't be spared, I've not had that conversation, but I do wonder if he'd had the options I had, as a result of the journey and the knowledge I'd acquired, whether he'd have made different decisions. The problem is that when you are told you are in a state of shock and you have to decide what to do relatively quickly. I am not sure men always make the best decisions. In hindsight, I believe my decision to have HIFU in 2016 and RP with neurosafe in 2023 were both sound decisions. 

One thing that I have come to passionately believe is that, given that between 1 in 4 to 1 in 8 men (depending on ethnic background) will have prostate cancer at some point in their lives and 12,000 a year die of it, surely mens health should be taught at schools?

I'm lucky. I was diagnosed early and I armed myself with the best information, that gave me a chance of the best outcomes. I wrote a song, telling my story. Five weeks on from the operation, I am doing my first post op gig and singing this will be rather emotional for me. If you can make it along to the Dublin Castle in Camden Town tonight, please say hi. I think of myself as a survivor, not a victim. I live to fight another day and fight I will!


--- About this feature 


For those of you who are regular readers and have read the previous posts on Cancer, there's what this is all about. I write this blog because knowledge is power and if you know what you are dealing with, you have more weapons in the locker to fight it. It is a personal view, I'm not medically qualified. This is for the sole purpose of information for those who are interested.This is the latest installment in my occasional series about how I'm adjusting to living with a big C in my life. 

 For those of you who aren't, here's a quick summary. I'm 61 years old and in October 2011 I had a prostate biopsy following two "slightly high" PSA tests - 2.8 & 4.1. The biopsy took ten tissue samples and one of these showed a "low grade cancer" which gave me a 3+3 on the Gleason scale. I was put on a program of active monitoring. In early February, I got the results of the a PSA test - down to 3.5 and an MRI scan which found absolutely nothing, two more tests in 2012 were at 3.5 and 3.9, in 2013 my test was 4.0, Jan 2014 was 3.8, August 2014 was 4.0, February 2015 it was up to 5.5 and my latest in August 2015 was down again at 4.6. In October 2015 I had a transperinial Prostate biopsy, that revealed higher grade cancer and my Gleason score was raised to 3+4 (Small mass + more aggressive cancer). On 22nd Jan 2016 I had HIFU (Hi Intensity Focused Ultrasound) treatment at UCHL). 

My post procedure PSA in May was 4.0 which was down, followed by 3.7 in August, and 3.5 in October which means that the direction is positive . However in January the follow up MRI revealed "something unusual which requires investigation" After a follow up biopsy, it appeared this was nothing to worry about. My two most recent PSA tests were Ok (3.7 and 4.6) and an MRI scan in March was very positive. A PSA in October 2019 was 4.6, so stable and good news, the last in May 2020 was 5.45 a small rise, so worrying, however after a review against the most recent MRI, it was decided that this was fine. My two latest ones in February 2022 was 6.7 and October 2022 was 6.6 was stable. 

In March 2023 had an MRI scan that showed 'significant change'. This lead to a biopsy that indicated a tumour of 4mm that had a gleason score of 4+4. A PSA test in June saw a rise to 12. On 9th August, I had a radical prostatectomy and am currently recovering. Early days, but hopefully the surgery has curedt he problem of cancer. My continence is good, the next batttle is erectile function.

Got the picture?
No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: , ,

Wednesday, 13 September 2023

The best thing you can do this Friday in North West London


What will you be up to this Friday? Well if you have no plans, why not come down to the Dublin Castle in Camden Town, one of London's most iconic pub venues. The legendary False Dots, featuring your truly on guitar and vocals will be performing, and we will be unveiling a brand new addition to our awesome line up, Mr Tom Hammond on Trumpet! Over the last couple of years, our set has become very Ska/Reggae influenced and as Tom liked what we are doing, it seemed a natural collaboration. 

We've had a couple of rehearsals with Tom and the songs sound absolutely spiffing! This is how we were recently described

Nicely sardonic punk/post punk with flights of fancy and social comment in equal measure. Take on some nice ratty skanking that reminds a bit of Alternative TV, via Madness maybe, also a bit of head wobbling trippy jangling, all topped off with nicely pitched mockney vocalising. Will please fans of Squeeze, Half Man Half Biscuit and even Bad Manners I shouldn’t wonder! Excellent stuff. 

What makes matters even better is that we have three amazing bands supporting us.  This is what a recent reviews said of these

The Shoals - Master tunesmiths, with a touch of the Beatles and a shake of Ska, featuring the son of Lee 'Kix' Thompson of Madness fame on drums

Vicious Love – taking in American style slacker indie and the punk pop angst of Sum 81 and the like, this lot certainly embrace the punk nuances from across the pond  but with bits of Undertones type pop nous from closer to home. Witty and wanton with it. 

The Stylus Method -  Interesting blend of neo folk tinged pop, that you might call Britpop, and classic 60s/70s resonances....but this lot have, dare I say, bags of originality...so you might detect the spirit of Bowie or The Kinks they don't really sound like them. Great sophisticated sounding songs too. Lots of ideas, clever arrangements. I'm getting a bit of Al Stewart in the vocal - Good band, so nake sure you're in by 8pm to check them out.

Buy your tickets here in advance and save £2 per ticket  www.wegottickets.com/event/587027/

If you want a quick listen to try before you buy...

No comments:
Click on Labels for related posts: , ,

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

The Edgware development will not be utopia for its residents and no one in the council cares

We are being told that the Edgware Broadwalk development will be a major contributor to solving London's housing crisis. I'm an engineer by trade and if I am asked to solve a problem, the first thing I do is look at what has caused the problem. For ordinary working Londoners, the root cause is that property is far too expensive for ordinary people to buy or rent. The answer that Sadiq Khan and both Barnet's Conservatives and Barnet Labour have proposed, are mega developments, where a majority of the dwellings are not for people who need affordable housing. 

Even where there are what are deemed officially 'affordable' they are still out of the reach of junior doctors, teachers, nurses, etc. To try and make them vaguely affordable, there are joint ownership schemes. The drawback for those who participate, is that you pay for decades for a property, which you will never actually own. It is not a  solution to the problem, it is a sticking plaster on a festering wound in our city, which is getting ever worse.

But lets take a second to consider what life will actually be like for the new tenants of the skryscrapers in Edgware. Of course the top story penthouse flats will be amazing with views of The Shard and the Chiltern Hills. I wouldn't mind one myself. There will be a gym for the tenants, a cinema and a few restaurants. The tube will be dead handy for trips to The West End and for those who can afford it, there will be a guaranteed parkins space, which the developers will sell at a handsome profit. There are 3365 homes,  and 465 student flats, with some 425 parking spaces for residents, so they will be at a premium. Maybe one in ten residents will get a parking space, which means that those with the deepest pockets will be fine. So there you go, if you are a rich resident, life will be good.

Now lets have a look at those struggling to get by, who end up in one of the not so luxury flats. They will effectively be excluded from car ownership. Once the blocks are built, the Northern Line will be full to capacity in busy times. Although being at the end of the line going to work may mean a seat, coming home will be a nightmare. One of the ironies of Sadiq Khan's ULEZ and mega development policy is that people are being forced to use the tube network, which has the worst air quality in the UK. I am a big supporter of clean air, but the fact Khan has done nothing to clean the air on the tube is a sign to me that he is not treating London with honesty. Ulez has done little to stop rush hour congestion and the buses are busier than ever. My son used to get the bus to school in Finchley, from Mill Hill. The 221 was packed with young people and he'd have to get up an hour early to be guaranteed to get to school and college on time. This will be true for all residents of the Broadwalk Towers who need to use the buses in rush hour. It is all very well for the YIMBY contingent to say that Edgware is well connected. If the buses and tubes are rammed, it means that journeys take far longer and are not conducive to good mental health (I know, I commuted on Thameslink for decades and often just went to the pub for hours, as there were no trains home). 


And when you are at home and want to chill out, what is there to do in Edgware? If you have kids, where are the local football fields, Netball and Basketball courts, swimming pools, Parks? You've got it, a busride away. Much is made in the plan of improving biodiversity, but this simply seems to be putting footpaths through existing nature reserves (presumably disturbing the wildlife). There is no proper provision for young teenagers to engage in sports in the scheme. 

The Ballymore pack states that there will be a  better cultural offering. They say residents asked the for the following

“We need more things to do in Edgware, like going to the cinema, and things for families and young people.”

Their response is. 

Our proposals are for a range of community and cultural uses which could include a new cinema and gym, in addition to a new library and a range of pubs, restaurants, cafés and an exciting new shopping district.

Whilst most people will be pleased to see a cinema in the plans, for those on low wages, this will be a rare treat. The less well off inmates of Ballymore Towers will not be going to the cinema more than for the odd treat. The talk of a new Library is rather misleading, as Edgware already has a good Library, that will simply be knocked down and moved. As for the new pubs, these are generally not designed for teenagers, who need to prove they are 21 to get in to many local pubs. I doubt that the less well off people struggling to pay their bills will have too much left to pay for the services of the restaurants and cafes and I do not personally see shops as being part of any sort of cultural offering.

So what will life be like for the less well off residents of Ballymore Towers in the dark winter months? If you look at the plans, around 35-40% of the buildings look out onto other towers. The view will be a pretty dismal view of other neighbours sitting in their flats. The expensive restaurants, cafe's and cinema will be a small luxury, to be enjoyed on occasion when the finances allow. Life will be be an endless trudge of crowded bus and tube journeys, passing the more well heeled residents enjoying the delights of the cafe's and restaurants. 

When the London County Council built the Watling Estate in the 1930's, a new tube line was put in with a station at Burnt Oak, to augment buses and trams. Parks were built, with football fields. The famous Watling Boys club ran football teams, boxing and other sports, for the children on the estate. Homes had gardens or communal greens out the front for the children. Doctors surgeries and Edgware General Hospital were developed. Everything was easily accessible and neighbours could have conversations over garden fences. When children broke their arm, the hospital was near and when they needed the doctor, the surgery was on the doorstep. In this scheme none of these things is true. Residents will face a long schlep on the 384 bus from Edgware to Barnet Hospital and no doctors surgeries are mentioned.

Whilst I am not at all against high rise builds for professional people, who have no children and can enjoy the cafe culture, these are not the people who are really suffering from the housing crisis. The people at the sharp end are trying to raise families and build lives on low wages. This plan fails them.  I don't really blame Ballymore. They are property developers and their sole aim is to make as much money as possible for their shareholders.

That is the truth. Barnet Conservatives who passed the SPD that allowed this, Barnet Labour are overseeing it and Sadiq Khan, who runs TFL that are Ballymore's partners, has facilitated this.  All three have failed the working families of London in allowing schemes like this to rise. 

Until we see a proper, mass council housing building scheme that is actuallly designed to give families good quality living accomodation that is fit for purpose,  nothing will improve in the real world, apart from Ballymore's shareholders bank balances and the highly paid consultants who put these schemes together and pay people to troll people who object on Twitter and Facebook. 

1 comment:
Click on Labels for related posts: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)