I have been meaning to an update for some time, but inevitably life gets in the way.

I am on my break now & don’t have much time or privacy, but I will post an update either tonight or more realistically tomorrow on my day off.

Sorry if I seem a bit vague, but talking about negative things in my life doesn’t fill me with joy, but I will hopefully write a longish post.

Catch up soon.

Having had a look at the medication thread, I read about cataract removal by laser.

My problem is not cataracts, but as I am getting older (66 next week), hefty & diabetic, I am finding that I seem to be changing my glasses every 15/18 months.

I am more & more considering getting laser treatment, but the very idea of it gives me collywobbles.

The upshot is, I am doing an ATM.

Any all advice welcome.

Things I would like to know are how much will it cost, does it hurt. Will I have to go back for further treatment, how long will it be before I can work/ drive again.

Those are the questions that I can think of, but, as I said above, any /all advice greatly appreciated.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he will resign if Durham police give him a fixed penalty fine.

Is he putting the Durham police under pressure or has he played a blinder & wrong footed the government/prime minister?

Generally interested in what take the massive have on this. I sort of see it as a straight choice between the two options I have said, but I am very interested to hear any variations on my view.

FWIIW, I think he has played a blinder.

Over to you.

I heard this for the first time on Saturday night & I am posting it for no other reason than I think it is brilliant.

Nothing more to add at the moment except to say that I am saddened far more than I thought I would be.

Such sad news.

Just seen on the BBC website the sad news that Janice Look my has passed away.

I always enjoyed listening to her when I was on night shifts at the power station & she did the graveyard slot on radio 2.

Just read that TEHM has left the building.

If you are only ever going to be remembered for one song, then this is not too shabby.

I can’t remember if it was here or elsewhere recently a thread about favourite cover versions & for some reason I am not sure if I commented.

So here are 3 of my absolute favourites (with no doubt many others to follow).

INPO

Nazareth – this flight tonight

Bryan Ferry – A hard rains a’gonna fall

Joe Cocker – With a little help from my friends.

The mighty Slade – Darling be home soon

As I say, more to come I am sure.

Any thoughts/ opinions?

What is black and white & eats like a horse?

A zebra.

What is black and white & really hungry?

Prince Phillips cat.

Too soon?

Most of my adult life I have worked shifts. When I was younger (up until my mid 40s), I coped with this without any serious problems, but when my wife passed away shortly before my 45th birthday I asked my doctor for & was prescribed sleeping pills.

At first they did the trick, but I found that they became a way of shutting away the bad things in my life.

One consequence of living 150 miles from my nearest family/friends was that I made some appalling financial decisions & as a result I will probably have to continue to work even after I become due my state pension which is currently due to be paid in about 14 months.

No complaints, I should have thought a little more & spent a lot less & perhaps things may have panned out differently – hey ho, 20/20 hindsight & all that.

Not sure how to really describe my problem, but I do feel that just confessing/putting it out there (here) may be the best thing.

I think I have managed to get myself addicted to sleeping pills. I get them from 2 people who are prescribed them » Continue Reading.

I made a bid on eBay & set a maximum limit of £10, but somehow or other (almost certainly my sausage fingers), it has come up on eBay as £1000.

I have contacted the seller and informed them but had no reply& I have been in touch with eBay & withdrawn the bid.

I have had no reply from either.

So, my question is, assuming I have no response from either, where do I stand legally?

All/any advice is welcome as this is making me sick with worry.

For your delectation and delight, this, my favourite Christmas song ever.

The Waitresses – Christmas wrapping

Been doing some thinking about this current presidential election & it has got me thinking.

Although I always believed that Trump would get a second term (& part of me still thinks he still might do), I believe that there are some very right wing, young (ish) US politicians who are looking at how this current end game is panning out & considering it to be a game plan for a future run for the presidency themselves.

The stand off over the transition is hurting the democrats badly (not having access to security/intelligence briefings puts Biden & the country as a whole at a massive disadvantage for a start).

I believe Trump will try (& probably succeed) in appointing yet more right wing judges, fast forward execution dates (catnip to his base), maybe try & prosecute/convict someone for having an abortion (not sure how that would work, but it would fire up his base), fracking/drilling & so on. There would be bedlam.

Someone, somewhere is watching this & thinking that with a few tweaks here & there, this is how future republican administrations will act.

As I said earlier, this lack of handover/transition makes it all » Continue Reading.

Some people love certain songs while others hate them, hence their being known as marmite.

Can I kick this off with a number 2 single from 1981

Plenty of love here I suspect, possibly none more marmite to the great British public.

My son sent me this joke yesterday, &, as I say, it made me chuckle.

Man goes to the doctor & says “I think I am going deaf”

The doctor said “can you describe the symptoms”

Man replies, “certainly, Homer is fat & Marge has blue hair”…

The lovely Carol & I went to Birkenhead today to do a bit of shopping.

One of the first shops we went into had Christmas decorations for sale.

I fucking despair.

Ok. Little bit of background, for those that do not know of me or my life, I am Les, recently turned 64 & happily loved up & married to the lovely Carol after being widowed in 2001.

I also served in the Royal Navy 71-96.

I suffer with depression/lack of confidence/low self esteem, yet happy (ish) most of the time.

Now then, social media. I belong to several groups on Facebook most (But not all) are related to my service in the RN.

So far, so good.

I am in one very small group of former colleagues from 79-81 when we all served together on the same ship.

Thing is, the group conversations are predominantly racist jokes disguised as “banter”.

The politics is also 180 degrees opposite to mine. Don’t get me wrong, I have good friends who are leave voting hangings too good for the conservatives, but we have no problems rubbing along.

However, these 3 are wearing me out (an example – one of them commented on the person who reported Dominic Cummings had himself seemingly broken lockdown/ self isolation rules – when I said to my mate, does this diminish what » Continue Reading.

Like so many other people I have been doing a lot of TV binge watching during this lockdown.

Last night, the lovely Carol & I started watching a BBC series fro 2015 called Thirteen & this song is played over the opening & closing credits & I really like it.

From a band I have never heard of, for your delectation & delight, Dark dark dark (yes, I know, crap name)

I realise that I am clutching at straws here, but Facebook & Twitter are drawing a blank for me, so I thought I would give this place a try.

I am looking for a book I read way back in 1983 when I was at sea serving in the Royal Navy.

In a small American town people are being murdered & the bodies have a playing card left with them (not sure & almost certainly not relevant, but I think it was hearts).

Big twist at the end involving the police chief/ sheriff.

Any/all pointers/help gratefully received.

Julie Felix left the building 2 days ago.

I remember wanting to go to the zoo with her when I was 11, but I have always loved this duet.

https://youtu.be/f1EJ-ITAcEU

Serious question.

This may sound daft, but here goes.

As from February 1st, will my maroon EU passport be valid?

Someone posted this earlier today on a Facebook group I belong to & I think it is brilliant & bonkers.

For your delectation & delight.