A&E

Is where I spent the majority of tonight - waiting, for the most part - with my housemate, who we feared had appendicitis.

After a good hour waiting in the Walk-In Clinic she was seen by a doctor who then referred her to A&E to have more tests. After another hour she was whisked away by a burly nurse and I was confined to the taupe waiting room, with nothing but "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here" for company. Well, and an old chap who, by this point, I'd befriended through mutual disapproval of Alicia Keys' outfit on X Factor which - we decided - "left little to the imagination."

Minutes past. No sign of cramp-riddled housemate.

Meanwhile, all the flotsam and jetsam from the streets of Newcastle teemed in with maladies aplenty, and huddled round the stark television screen. Last to arrive were two gentlemen - who, I can only assume, hadn't been under a solid roof for the best part of a decade - closely accompanied by a most pungent aroma of various bodily functions.

And of course, with the night already having turned out a stunner, the only remaining seat was next to me. "Oh, huzzah", thought I.

The next hour fair ticked by, with the hacking cough emitted from my bench-fellow shaking the very foundations of my existence, and the healthy snores and grunts emanating from his friend (who, from what I could see, was suffering from nothing more than a cut finger) after having promptly fallen asleep after his arrival.

Eventually, housemate emerged, brandishing what were apparently essentially cranberry-tablets, triumphant after the care and bedside manner of a "cute doctor" with tortoise-shell glasses.

That went down a treat, I can tell you.

Leunig on Sunday

(all credits to Leunig)

God bless the lost, the confused,

the unsure, the bewildered, the puzzled,

the mystified, the baffled, and the perplexed.

Amen.

two steps back

and here I am again

Monday's Faces

On the back:

 My father:- Robt Maughan.
Photograph taken Llandudno
Summer 1922 'Craig-y-Don Hotel.'
Dad had just returned from London, having
played bowles for England
against the Australians.

apologies

A horrible, horrible week. But I am getting a grip and will be back with Monday's Faces this afternoon.

stupid

I was walking back from the Metro today and was watching a couple of men in hi-vis vests spraying graffiti off a wall. I then missed my turning, but there was someone behind me so I felt stupid turning back, so I made the next turn and realised that the pavement disappeared into the road of oncoming traffic.

Panic ensues. I then decide, "ooh, I know, I'll pretend that I got a call from a cool and interesting person asking me to meet them somewhere, hence requiring that I turn round and walk back." I proceed to walk back and make the right turn I should have made in the first place, while jabbering away down the phone to an imaginary person. Another guy is then walking towards me on the pavement - I'm still talking, giggling, and doing realistic facial expressions down the phone.

Then it rings. And the bloke looks at me. And I feel very stupid.

on the metro

The other day I saw an old couple (the husband was in a wheelchair) sat on the metro to the coast. They weren't talking, just sitting there quietly. But then the wife brought out a tube of Jaffa Cakes and peeled the lid off. She inhaled the smell of them deeply, and said a soundless "oooh." Grinning, she gave the tube to her husband and he smelled them too and they chuckled and enjoyed the smell together.

I hope when I'm old and on the metro I'll have someone to share the smell of Jaffa Cakes with.

Monday's Faces

What a sweet couple. Just lovely. Slightly shy, she's not sure what to do with her hands, he's not sure whether to hold her arm. Newly married perhaps?

Detail on the back of this one: they're called Arthur and Julia.

our visitor

I had forgotten to post about the familiar face I saw on Northumberland Street on Friday.

It was extraordinary. I cried, of course. She had come to officially open the Great North Museum, and I think she visited Princess Eugenie too.

It was honestly so strange, she's such a familiar face but seeing her in person was quite surreal - and very unexpected!

little brother

Came to visit this weekend. Completely marvellous couple of days, cannee wait til Christmas now.

Leunig on Sunday

(all credits to Leunig)

God help us to change. To change ourselves and to change our world. To know the need for it. To deal with the pain of it. To feel the joy of it. To undertake the journey without understanding the destination. The art of gentle revolution.

Amen.

ach

Fairly uninspired of late, it has to be said.

Possibly due to the fact that whenever I do anything that isn't tackling my essay I can't help but feel as though I should be tackling my essay.

Still, tomorrow is Bonfire Night: bangers and mash all round and a nice helping of spectacular fireworks should get the creative juices flowing.

Here are a couple of moments from last year:

some gems

Yum to Tynemouth Market! My room is gradually becoming a "collection"...

Monday's Faces

Found this one here at the weekend. After promising myself I wouldn't buy any more for a good while, I couldn't resist it.

I think the friends of the chap on the left would describe him as "indomitable."

Leunig on Sunday

(all credits to Leunig)

Dear God,

Give comfort and peace to those who are separated from their loved ones. May the ache in their hearts be the strengthening of their hearts. May their longing bring resolve to their lives, conviction and purity to their love. Teach them to embrace their sadness lest it turn to despair. Transform their yearning into wisdom. Let their hearts grow fonder.

Amen